Environmental Sustainability Council

Meeting Notice Falls Church Environmental Services Council Thursday, September 20, 2012 7:30 - 9:30 pm Dogwood Room (Level G), City Hall AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Public Comments 3. Approval of Minutes (August 2012) 4. New Business Development Projects/Special Exceptions Review Process 5. Old Business, Discussion items Update/Discussion of Storm Water Management/Chesapeake Bay TMDLs (Bill Hicks, Director of Public Works, P.E., CFM) Administration of Substandard Lots Update on LEED Standard Update on Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan Solid Waste Ordinance Amendment - ESC Comments Informational Items: Legislative Agenda; EPA Green Power Communities 6. Other Business 7. Set Next Meeting 8. Adjournment The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability call 703 248-5456 (TTY 711). Please do not remove Posted 09/17/12  Falls Church Environmental Services Council Thursday, September 20, 2012 7:30 - 9:30 pm Dogwood Room (Level G), City Hall DRAFT Minutes by Peter Adriance 1. Call to Order – The chairman called the meeting to order at 7:30PM. a. Members Present: Suzanne Updike, Tim Stevens, Bill Schellstede, Peter Adriance, Ray Arnaudo, Sarah Bayldon b. City staff: Allison Lohrenz, Bill Hicks, 2. Public Comments – none 3. Approval of Minutes (August 2012) – deferred 4. New Business a. Development Projects/Special Exceptions Review Process - The next development coming up is The Reserve at Tinner Hill. (TBC) There will be a work session of the City Council and the Planning Commission with the developer on Oct. 1, at 7:00PM. No public comments will be accepted at that meeting, but it would be a good idea to monitor it. The development is anticipated to look like Pearson square, contain a grocery store, four floors residential, etc. It is anticipated to qualify for LEED silver certification. The plans will be referred to boards and commissions following the Oct. 1 meeting, 4-6 weeks before the first public hearing. See www.fallschurchva.gov/reserveattinnerhill. ESC is welcome to submit comments at any time. 5. Old Business, Discussion items a. Update/Discussion of Storm Water Management/Chesapeake Bay TMDLs - Bill Hicks (Director of Public Works, P.E., CFM) reviewed several issues related to the existing plan: i. Bill addressed two main topics - water quality and the proposal for a storm water utility. Regarding water quality, Bill addressed the issue of impervious surface area and whether it relates to water quality with respect to Chesapeake Bay regulations. He explained that the percent impervious coverage of a site does not directly correspond to water quality because it does not take into account the results of any mitigation efforts (e.g. underground storm water detention, rain barrels, etc.). The standard City staff thinks is currently applicable is .41 pounds per year, which theoretically (using formulas) would allow only 16% impervious coverage (assuming no mitigation). However, it is unlikely City Council would approve such a low percentage (which is substantially below neighboring jurisdictions). Regardless of how this is resolved, Bill would like to see the subject of percent impervious coverage allowed on a site to be removed from the environment section of the ordinance and moved to the zoning  section, as this would clarify that percent impervious coverage is not a water quality issue, but one more closely associated with the level of density and general appearance of neighborhoods desired by the community. Regarding development of a storm water utility (i.e. separating storm water from the general budget), Bill explained that work continues by staff, and that the key decision to be made is more political than engineering. A storm water utility would be comprised of three components: expenditures, revenues and cost recovery. Staff can develop the first two in a relatively straightforward manner. The third will be up to City Council. There are various ways cost recovery can occur, but the two main alternatives are ad valorum (i.e. a fixed percentage added to real estate taxes, which are a function of the value of a property) and direct measurement, which would likely involve assessing the impervious coverage of every site, and using that to assign cost recovery. Neighboring jurisdictions use the ad valorum approach due to the complexities of direct measurement. Bill said that this will need to be resolved by Jan. 1 if a storm water utility is to be established in the next budget. Bill indicated that the City will need a redrafted water ordinance by July 1, 2014. The ESC will need to track progress on all of these issues in order to provide advice to City Council. ii. Under the capital improvement plan work is being done in several areas: the 100 block of W. Broad (rebuilding broken pipe); the upgrading of a pipe on Reagan branch near TJ; a flooding concern on Douglas Ave, near Red, Hot & Blue; City Hall Campus water retention to prevent flooding on Great Falls St.; and Pearson Branch and Coe Branch streambed restoration. All this amounts to $10 million over five years. b. Update on LEED Standard – new green building policy. If we have new construction, we have to meet certain LEED standards. We should look at existing buildings. Need to train staff on LEED standards. We now have something to measure how we are doing. We should have a LEED standard for residential as well as commercial. c. Update on Pedestrian and Bicycle (PED) Plan - Staff put in 2.5 years on the PED plan and several public meetings. Due to loud public opposition, the plan may not proceed. Some of those in opposition at the earlier public meeting were put on the review committee. Council believes the community is satisfied with the current PED situation and is reluctant to move forward. The city currently has no resources to build sidewalks. Some feel the PED plan should be terminated. Are there smaller things that could be done? i.e. Vienna has signs that say “share the road” in bold letters. i. Staff is working on safe routes to school using highway improvement money and grant money. City will pay only $20K  out of $1.2 Million. Projects include: Roosevelt crosswalks and sidewalk. West street sidewalks both sides. ii. Just because several residents were upset by the plan, it doesn’t mean the plan should be thrown out. Much of the plan has merit. iii. AGREED: Suzanne will draft a letter to encourage taking steps to implement sections of the plan on an as needed basis and to look carefully and positively at opportunities to improve pedestrian and bike access and mobility. Tim will send her the comments the ESC had submitted earlier. d. Solid Waste Ordinance Amendments - ESC Comments -- A motion was made and seconded to support changes put in place by staff. After discussion it was approved. i. AGREED: Bill will write the letter re: the solid waste ordinance to city clerk. Informational Items:  Legislative Agenda – Tim wrote a very good letter to urge the legislature to allow local jurisdictions to determine what to do re: plastic bags.  EPA Green Power Communities (GPC) - The City has been accepted for the GPC challenge, which is to achieve 3% green power purchased, residential, city and commercial. Other Business –  The City is looking for a new green space manager. Allison will circulate a description.  Ben Thompson, city arborist, is getting certified in a program of the Virginia Natural Resources Institute. 7. Set Next Meeting – Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 8. Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 9:20PM