Environmental Sustainability Council

City of Falls Church Environmental Services Council Agenda Thursday, February 21, 2013 7:30 - 9:30 pm Falls Church City Hall Magnolia Room, G Corridor 1. Call to Order 2. Public Comments 3. Old Business 7:30pm- 8:00pm Stormwater Utility Public Outreach Program (Jason Widstrom, City Engineer) 4. Approval of Minutes (January 2013) 5. New Business 8:00 pm– 8:30pm Energy Efficiency/Climate Change Presentation (Ralph Yatsko) Elect a Vice Chair 6. Discussion items Streetscape tree and shrub maintenance 7. Informational Items Operation EarthWatch, Habitat Restoration, and EPA Green Power Challenge updates By-laws update 8. Other Business ESC Website 9. Set Next Meeting 10. 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).  Minutes Falls Church Environmental Services Council Thursday, February 21, 2013 7:30 - 9:30 pm Magnolia Room ESC Council members: Bill, Schellstede, Peter Adriance, Raymond Arnaudo, Sarah Bayldon, Peter Oppenheimer, Tim Stevens, Suzanne Updike, Present: Tim Stevens (Chairman), Peter Adriance, Sarah Bayldon, Peter Oppenheimer, Suzanne Updike, Bill Schellstede, Ray Arnaudo, Allison Lohrenz – City Staff Liaison, Johannah Barry - City Council Liaison Visitors: Jason Widstrom - City Staff, Warren Bruce - City Staff, and Arthur Binkowski - Energy Efficiency/Climate Change Task Force Old Business Stormwater Management ‐ Jason Widstrom briefed the ESC on the progress to date and plans for the near future in the adoption and implementation of the Storm Water Management Plan. The Plan, including the creation of an independent stormwater management utility, was reworked to reduce out‐of‐pocket expenditures by the City through bond financing, a delayed creation of reserve funds, and operational efficiency through sharing of crews and other costs with the sanitary sewer operations. On the basis of this lower cost projections the Plan has been adopted by the City Council with the provision that it be introduced to the public and widely discussed. A next step will be a public meeting sponsored by the two political parties and the CBC on February 28. Bill Schellstede will participate in that meeting on a panel of members of the Watershed Advisory Committee, the locus of the Plan's development. ESC's hosting of a next public meeting in April was also discussed. It appeared that ESC's most fruitful involvement might be in highlighting the environmental imperative to address stormwater runoff and the generation of participation at the residential level in the City's overall effort. New Business Energy Efficiency/Climate Change Sub‐Committee – Arthur Binkowski shared a slide presentation of the history and current activities of the EE/CC "task force," including the status of the Community Energy Plan. Details regarding efforts to reduce emissions and the use of energy were displayed. He reported that the financial constraints on the City have led to the Plan's held in abeyance at the City Council level. Some discussion was had on an alternative mechanism for beginning these efforts by becoming a part of Arlington's energy plan which is much farther advanced. Several suggestions were offered on the text in the Power Point presentation. 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 the revised rewrite of the bylaws and to ask Allison Lohrenz to submit them to the City Attorney for review. Administrative Issues * The newly edited Bylaws were unanimously approved and thanks were offered to Ray Arnaudo for his work in bringing these up to date. * Ray Arnaudo was unanimously elected to the position of Vice Chair. Other Business – * Inviting a presentation semi‐permeable concrete paving institute was discussed.  * The schedule of the Habitat Restoration Sub‐Committee was shared. * Johannah Barry agreed to sign a letter to residents regarding the EPA challenge (subject to discussion with the City Council). * A speaker from Three Degrees will present at the March 19th meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. * 200 children completed the Earthwatch program in this academic year and will be provided with t‐shirts in May. Adjournment – 9:15 p.m. Next meeting is Thursday, March 21, 2013.