Environmental Sustainability Council

Minutes Falls Church Environmental Services Council Thursday, January 17, 2013 7:30 - 9:30 pm Dogwood Room ESC Council members: Bill, Schellstede, Peter Adriance, Raymond Arnaudo, Sarah Bayldon, Peter Oppenheimer, Tim Stevens, Suzanne Updike, Present: Tim Stevens (Chairman), Peter Adriance, Ray Arnaudo, Sarah Bayldon, Peter Oppenheimer, Suzanne Updike, Allison Lohrenz (City Staff Liaison) Visitors: City resident New Business Intermodal Transit Plaza Tim Adriance led the discussion of a proposed project funded by the Federal government to create an intermodal transit plaza at the intersection of South Washington Street and Hillwood Avenue. Ideas for the proposed project include minor re routing of traffic, construction of a bus shelter, installation of improved signage, a bike rack, benches, shade trees and a rain garden. ESC members proposed additional ideas such as incorporating stormwater management elements, bike lanes, and use of recycled materials in any construction. Allison Lohrenz offered to share a URL to the City’s web page on the project and encouraged the ESC to announce its support for the project. The ESC agreed to further discuss the project at its February meeting. Old Business Stormwater Utility Financing (Jason Windstorm, FCC Civil Engineer) – Jason Widstrom elaborated upon the presentations made at the December ESC meeting by Bill Hicks, David Bulova and himself on the proposal to create an enterprise fund to finance stormwater improvements throughout the City necessary to addressing flooding and EPA water quality mandates. The discussion focused on two financing options – an ad valorem tax or a utility fee based on each property’s impermeable surface area. The emerging consensus among ESC members favored a utility fee, in part because it would allow financial incentives to be offered to property owners to encourage the adoption of best management practices and other approaches to controlling and/or minimizing stormwater runoff. Town Hall budget meetings on March 16 and April 13 will include on their agendas stormwater utility financing. Allison Lohrenz noted that the City is working to prepare a public outreach plan. ESC bylaws rewrite update – Ray Arnaudo summarized the minor revisions to the draft rewrite of ESC bylaws he had presented at the December meeting. These included streamlining of certain provisions, improved formatting, and some clarifying information on subcommittees. After a brief discussion, the ESC voted unanimously to approve in principle the revised rewrite of the bylaws and ask Allison Lohrenz to submit them to the City Attorney for review. Legislation Program – Tim Adriance provided an update of VA General Assembly legislative developments. (The 45 day session of the 2013 General Assembly began on January 9.) The bag legislation introduced earlier this week was voted down but the power purchase agreement legislation may get rolled into a renewable energy efficiency bill. Other Business – Tim Adriance offered to prepare a summary of the ESC’s annual accomplishments for submission to the City Council and asked for members to send him short summaries of tasks they’ve taken on that merit inclusion in an accomplishments report. He also reported that he had met with City Staff and a consultant from Three Degrees to discuss the EPA Green Power Initiative in which the City is participating. VPIS reportedly agreed to make a $100 purchase of green power. Adjournment – 9:15 p.m. Next meeting is Thursday, February 21, 2013. Minutes prepared by Peter Oppenheimer