Environmental Sustainability Council

Falls Church Environmental Services Council Thursday, July 19, 2012 7:30 - 9:30 pm Dogwood Room (Level G), City Hall MEETING AGENDA 1. Call to Order: Welcome to members of the Climate Change/Energy Efficiency Work Group 2. Public Comments 3. Approval of Minutes (May and June) 4. New Business: 40 minutes Guest presentation by DVP: Green Power Communities Program Members may propose additional topics for discussion 5. Old Business, Discussion items: 70 minutes Recommendations for legislation (Tim Stevens) Update on LEED Silver (Brenda Creel) Public Outreach (Bill Schellstede and Suzanne Updike) 6. Informational Items 7. Other Business 8. Set Next Meeting 9. Adjournment  Meeting of the Falls Church Environmental Services Council (ESC) Thursday, July 19, 2012, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Dogwood Room (G Level), City Hall Minutes (Taken by Peter Oppenheimer) Members present: Bill Schellstede (Chair), Peter Oppenheimer, Sarah Bayldon, Suzanne Updike, Tim Stevens, Raymond Arnaudo, Allison Lohrenz (City Staff Liaison), and Johannah Barry (City Council Member) Absent: Peter Adriance Other: Kathy Philpott‐Costa attended and announced her intention to submit an application to join the Environmental Services Council. 1. Call to Order – The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m.  Welcome to members of the Climate Change/Energy Efficiency Work Group o Bill Schellstede welcomed to the ESC meeting members of the City of Fairfax Climate Change/Energy Efficiency Work Group. 2. Public Comments – None 3. Approval of Minutes (May & June) – Approved. 4. New Business  Guest Presentation by DVP: Green Power Communities Program o Sarah Baumstead, a Dominion Power (DP) contractor, made a presentation on DP’s Greenpower Program and EPA’s Green Power Communities Program. Both are voluntary programs that encourage cities and towns to use renewable, or “green”, energy to reduce their use of fossil fuels. The City of Falls Church City Manager has authorized a small payment necessary to join DP’s Greenpower. The program will be publicized in a variety of ways in the coming months. 5. Old Business  Recommendations for Legislation o Tim Stevens provided a briefing on the two legislative proposals he recommends that the ESC endorse and submit to the City Council. Annually, the City Council votes on a  recommended environmental legislative package to present to our State Senate and State Assembly delegates. The first proposal is to support legislation that would allow communities to enter into Power Purchase Agreements. The second proposal is to authorize localities to regulate plastic bags such as is done in Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, MD, both of which have a 5 cent bag tax. Identifying just two recommendations is a departure from past practice hen the ESC endorsed multiple recommendations. The objective is that by limiting the number of proposals endorsed, they will garner greater attention and reflect the ESC’s prioritization. o The ESC unanimously voted to approve both recommendations.  Update on LEED Silver o Tim Stevens reported on City Council deliberations regarding the adoption of a Green Building Standard. The City Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution September 10. Tim Stevens committed to providing a draft of the resolution to the ESC for its review and comment. 6. Informational Items  Solid Waste Management o Allison Lohrenz made a presentation on the City’s solid waste management program, focusing in particular on the residential recycling program. The residential recycling rate in the City increased 17% from 2010 to 2011, in large part due to the distribution of the new, larger, recycling carts. The new carts are still being delivered to some households. Lohrenz also responded to questions about commercial recycling and provided an overview of that program and how the City seeks to assure compliance (e.g., warning letters and notices of violations). Lohrenz reported that the City generated approximately $33,000 in FY2011 (July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012) through the sale of yard waste stickers. These revenues go into the City’s general fund. 7. Other Business  None. 8. Set Next Meeting – Thursday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m. 9. Adjournment – Meeting adjourned at 9:16 p.m.