Green Committee

Antoinette Mailliard John Gleazer Jenna Franquelin Millie Pease AGENDA Green Committee Cynthia Butler Tuesday, October 10, 2023 - 3:00 PM 1307 Washington Street Calistoga, CA 94515 Page 1. ROLL CALL 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA Public Comments is an opportunity to address the Green Committee on items of interest to the public that do not appear on the agenda. Comments should be limited to three minutes. The Committee cannot consider any issues or act on items raised during Public Comments. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.1. Draft Minutes from Green Committee Regular Meeting on September 12, 3-4 2023 GC Draft Minutes 09.12.2023 4. NEW BUSINESS 5. OLD BUSINESS 5.1. Foodware Ordinance Implementation Update 5-7 Foodware Q&A Final 5.2. Downtown Bicycle Parking Project Update 8-9 Public Comment Concerning Bike Parking 5.3. Elementary School Project Update 6. AGENDA ITEMS 7. COMMITTEE MEMBERS' COMMENTS & REQUESTS FOR DISCUSSION 8. ADJOURNMENT I declare that a copy of this agenda was posted at City Hall, 1232 Washington Street, among other locations within the Calistoga city limits, on October 4, 2023, no later than 4:30 p.m. Lauren Clark, Secretary to the Green Committee SPECIAL ASSISTANCE: Each City entity offers public programs, services, and meetings in a manner that is reasonably accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. Each City entity complies with all applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and California law, and does not discriminate against any person with a disability. If a person with a Page 2 of 9 disability requires information or materials in an appropriate alternative format (or any other reasonable accommodation), or needs any assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact Lauren Clark at 707.942.2763 or lclark@ci.calistoga.ca.us. In making a request for assistance, advance notice to the City 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make suitable arrangements. Page 3 of 9 Item #3.1. CITY OF CALISTOGA GREEN COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES September 12, 2023, Calistoga Community Center 1307 Washington St. Calistoga, CA 94515 1. ROLL CALL Committee members present: Chair Antoinette Mailliard, Millie Pease, Cynthia Butler Absent: Vice Chair John Gleazer, Jenna Franquelin Staff members present: Lauren Clark 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.1 Draft Minutes from August 8, 2023, were approved unanimously after making an edit to the last sentence in 5.1 to say that small trash bins would be purchased not the stickers. 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.1 Oath of Office to New Green Committee Member- Cynthia Butler The Oath of Office was given to the new member, Cynthia Butler. Committee member Butler gives a brief background on her studies and her interest in joining the Green Committee after hearing there was an opening. 5. OLD BUSINESS 5.1 Foodware Ordinance Implementation Update An article was posted in the Tribune about the Foodware Ordinance, but it was not the article that was written by committee member Pease and Chair Mailliard. They discussed concerns that the photo included in the paper is of products that are not compostable. Committee member Pease purchased the green waste bins and was given the compostable stickers from Upper Valley Waste Management. She passed them out to the businesses within the City that requested them. Discussion ensues about posting more to the City website and making it easier to get to. Discussion ensues about asking students from Sonoma State University to help make graphics to be posted to website that show what is compostable and what is not. Graphics from Sebastopol are distributed to the committee members as an example. Staff member Clark agrees to work on the graphics for the website. Discussion ensues about having another Q&A meeting later in the year. Discussion ensues about purchasing more bathroom trash bins to provide to businesses within the city. A motion by Chair Mailliard for the purchase of 12 more bins is seconded by committee member Butler and approved unanimously. 5.2 Downtown Bicycle Parking Project Update Chair Mailliard presents an update on the downtown bicycle parking project. Vice Chair John Gleazer has not been able to gather more bids for the proposed project. 5.3 Elementary School Project Update Chair Mailliard presents an update on the elementary school project. Committee member Franquein has been working on resolving the issue of transportation. There Page 4 of 9 Item #3.1. GC Meeting Minutes September 12, 2023 Page 2 of 2 is possible funding available through Napa RCD, but the school district has not applied. Committee member Franquelin will reach out to the school district about the grant. 6. COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ IDEAS & REQUESTS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION Committee member Pease reports on anti-idling. Discussion ensues about what could be done, but it is agreed that it be put on hold for now. Committee member Pease announces that she has heard of a grant that was given to the City from the hydrogen microgrid project. She requests that the money be used for green projects. She will research the topic to present at the next meeting. Committee member Pease announces that the grant for the street sweeper hasn’t been approved yet by the Upper Valley Disposal Committee. Discussion ensues about the need for new bins for the City. Committee member Butler agrees to research the cost permanent bins the City streets. Committee members discuss having a banner over Lincoln Ave. to help promote composting. Committee member Pease and Chair Mailliard discuss the letter to the suppliers and agree to work on it before the next meeting. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 4:24 PM. Page 5 of 9 Item #5.1. Calistoga Foodware & Waste Reduction FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Calistoga’s Reusable Foodware and Waste Reduction code changes are designed to meet the public’s desire to minimize wasteful and polluting food packaging. 1. What businesses will be affected by the new Calistoga Foodware code changes? • All merchants selling food and/or drink to their customers. • Including restaurants, grocery stores, delis, coffee shops, ice cream vendors, bakeries, food trucks, tasting rooms, hotels, motels, B&Bs, etc. 2. When do these code changes take effect? • The changes go into effect on March 20, 2024. 3. What are some highlights of the code rules? • For Dining-in: Single-use/disposable foodware will not be permitted. Reusables only. This also applies to outdoor spaces where service is provided. o Straws must be compostable. o No more single-use condiment packages. Refillable containers or dispensers only. • For Take-Out: Condiments and accessories, including utensils, straws, napkins, etc., are permitted by customer-request only. (This is already state law.) • For Take-Out/ Leftovers: Containers and accessories offered must be made of all-natural fiber, compostable materials. (Exception for hot beverages and soups only. See Items 7 and 8 below.) • There will be a mandatory $0.25 charge for all Checkout bags. • Both checkout bags and small “produce bags” must be compostable paper or green “bio-bags,” except that plastic bags are permitted where liquids or melting/defrosting frozen items are likely to result in spills/leaks. • No polystyrene of any kind may be sold or distributed within the City limits. Page 6 of 9 Item #5.1. • Where food vendors supply trash bins for customer use, there must be three bins, side-by-side, for (a) recyclables, (b) compost (food waste, soiled paper such as napkins and paper towels), and (c) landfill. • Only those plastic items labeled with recycling code 1 or 2 are recyclable. 4. What about items that say, “compostable in a commercial facility”? • Generally, plastics displaying a green leaf and/or stating, “compostable in a commercial facility,” contain polylactic acid (PLA). • Despite the “biodegradable” or “compostable” labeling, PLA is not currently compostable by most disposal facilities, including Upper Valley Disposal, and items containing PLA are thus not permitted. 5. Are cardboard to-go containers compostable? • Clamshells and other Takeout containers made entirely from all-natural, compostable fiber such as paper or uncoated cardboard are compostable. • Clamshells and other containers with any sort of shiny wax or plastic coating are neither compostable nor recyclable and are not permitted. 6. What about take-out utensils? • Single use utensils made from all-natural fibers, such as bamboo, palm leaf, birchwood, sugarcane, or uncoated cardboard are compostable. • Utensils made of plastic, corn or potato are not compostable and are not permitted. • Single-use utensils are not permitted for dining in. 7. What about takeout containers for liquid foods, such as soups, etc.? • Plastic containers are permitted for liquid takeout foods. These containers must be recyclable (labeled with recycling code 1 or 2). 8. Is there a compostable single-use, to-go coffee cup? • Single-use coffee cups, though they appear to be plain paper, are lined with a plastic coating, making them neither recyclable nor compostable. • Because there is currently no compostable, single-use hot beverage cup on the market, single use coffee cups will be allowed - for takeout out only. Page 7 of 9 Item #5.1. • Single-use coffee cups are not permitted for dining-in. • Businesses are encouraged to offer a discount to customers who bring their own cups. 9. What is recyclable? • Currently “recyclable” includes plastic items with a recycling code of 1 or 2. • Clean paper and cardboard are recyclable. • Rinsed glass bottles and jars, metal cans, plastic bottles and jugs (recycling code 1 or 2 only) are all recyclable. 10. Who is responsible for code enforcement? Are there fines for violations? • Calistoga code enforcement officers are responsible for enforcement. • The code office will first issue a notice of violation as a warning. If the violation is not corrected by the date specified on the notice, a fine of $100 is issued for the first citation, $200 for a second citation, and $500 for each subsequent violation. 11. May food vendors charge an extra takeout fee to cover the cost of compliance? • Merchants are permitted to add a fee for Takeout items if they wish. • Only the $0.25 checkout bag charge is mandatory. Page 8 of 9 Item #5.2. ‭Public Comment to the Calistoga City Council on October 3, 2023‬ ‭Good evening council members. My name is John Gleazer and I have been a resident‬ ‭of Calistoga for almost twenty years now.‬ ‭As a former member of this city’s Active Transportation Advisory Committee and a‬ ‭current Green Committee member, I am encouraged to see a growing number of folks,‬ ‭young and old, bicycling around town. Hotels and other businesses have provided‬ ‭bikes for their customers. The Vine Trail will soon be completed bringing more bikes to‬ ‭town. This is a good sign. Young and old benefit from this physical form of‬ ‭transportation. The ATAC committee has always promoted it as a healthy mode for‬ ‭getting around, and the Green Committee hopes that some folks will forgo the car and‬ ‭opt for a bike whenever possible.‬ ‭But bike parking is a growing problem. To meet the needs for secure bike parking the‬ ‭city over time has installed U style or Wave style bike racks here and there around‬ ‭town. They handle only one or two bikes each, so there are many of these scattered‬ ‭about. Some bikes are simply propped up against a pole or wall or left partially‬ ‭blocking a sidewalk. I suggest that a better solution for the growing number of bikes is‬ ‭to have a single central location that accommodates many bicycles at once, rather‬ ‭than a scattering of single racks that clutter our public spaces.‬ Page 9 of 9 Item #5.2. ‭Allow me to propose an inexpensive solution. The city built, at the onset of the‬ ‭pandemic period, a sturdy and attractive parklet at the northwest corner of the‬ ‭Washington and Lincoln Avenue intersection. But it has been little used since then,‬ ‭mostly because it is not connected with any restaurant or cafe. I would like to propose‬ ‭that the parklet be converted to a central bicycle parking station. Minor modifications‬ ‭are all that are needed. For example, the removal of the interior bench and shortening‬ ‭of the side walls to provide easy entry and exit. The new use would not impinge on the‬ ‭adjoining sidewalk or street parking. With the placement of a long grid rack inside that‬ ‭can handle up to 32 bicycles it would go a long way to improving the bike parking‬ ‭situation in the center of town.‬ ‭I have a plan that members of both the ATAC and Green Committees have expressed‬ ‭support. And the Green Committee will likely soon agree to cover the costs of the‬ ‭modification in its budget. I will send my plans to city staff as soon as they are‬ ‭approved by the Green Committee. My hope is that staff can review this proposal and‬ i‭nclude it in future discussions by council members. It will go a long way to cleaning up‬ ‭the bike parking problem in town. Thank you.‬