Environmental Sustainability Council

Environmental Services Council Agenda Thursday, April 18, 2013 7:30 - 9:30 pm Magnolia Room, G Corridor 1. Call to Order 2. Public Comments 3. Approval of Minutes (February & March 2013) 4. New Business  301 W Broad- Harris Teeter Project (Comments due May 13)  Stormwater Ordinance (Comments due April 22) 5. Old Business 6. Discussion items  Bicycle Plan, Complete Streets, Green Streets  Discourage City consumption of water in plastic bottles 7. Informational Items  City Environmental Events, EPA Green Power Challenge  PPA venue  Next legislative program  Stormwater Utility Update 8. Other Business 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).  Meeting of the Falls Church Environmental Services Council Thursday, April 18, 2011, 7:30 - 9:30 pm Magnolia Room (G Level), City Hall Minutes (Drafted by Ray Arnaudo) Members present: Tim Stevens (Chair), Peter Adriance, Ray Arnaudo, Sarah Bayldon, Bill Schellstede, Suzanne Updike; Allison Lohrenz (City staff liaison) Observers: Nikki Koch and Charles Anderson both of Falls Church. 1. Call to Order – The meeting was called to order at 7:30PM 2. Public Comments – Charles Anderson of Falls Church attended to observe the discussion and provide comments on the ESC’s oversight of the Harris Teeter proposal. 3. Approval of Minutes (February and March) – Approved 4. New Business --301 W. Broad Street-Harris Teeter Project - The ESC discussed the proposal for a mixed-use project at 301 W. Broad Street, to include a Harris Teeter grocery store, in a planned multi-story complex. The project offers a number of positive features for the City, but the ESC considered the environmental impacts of such a project. It was generally agreed that comments made on the last large-scale development project on Tinner Hill would apply. These include recommending that LEED Silver certification should be pursued by the developer for the project to improve energy efficiency. We would also recommend that the developer purchase RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) which will help them achieve a higher LEED score, and help Falls Church City reach the EPA Green Power Community challenge targets. We also urge the developer to install adequate parking spaces for bicycles, as well as conduit in the apartment garage parking area so that it will be easier and less costly to facilitate charging of personal electric vehicles in the future. We will also encourage the developer to use pervious pavers in the planned outdoor plazas, and to consider develop rooftop gardens or green spaces. We concurred with recommendations that the sidewalk width be at least 20 feet facing Broad Street. Bill Shellstede agreed to draft a letter to the Council conveying the ESC comments. -- Stormwater Ordinance– The Chair reviewed the ESC’s presentations on stormwater planning at the community forum on April 3 in the Community Center, and to neighborhood churches and other institutions with large impermeable surfaces on April 4. ESC Chair Tim Stevens acted as host and introduced the session, focusing on historic (and largely unsuccessful) efforts to address non-point sourced stormwater pollution. All agreed the meetings were successful in presenting the problem to the community, although the concerns of all to the expected fees required to cover the new costs were a focus of comments. The Chair agreed to reiterate views previously expressed by the ESC in advance of the expected adoption by City Council of the Stormwater Ordinance on April 22. --Use of Plastic Bottles – The Chair noted a recent resolution by Arlington County to restrict that region's public expenditures for the purchase of plastic water bottles. City Staff Liaison Lohrenz was asked to investigate the current costs associated with water bottle use by the city government to determine if the ESC should recommend a similar course of action by the City Council. 5. Old Business --Bicycle Plan - The ESC briefly discussed the bicycle/pedestrian plan discussed by the City Council last year had failed to gain the necessary traction for implementation, and the Chair suggested the ESC should consider recommending to City Council that a resolution be passed adopting a "Complete Streets" policy (which includes planning for bicycling). The Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments adopted a resolution in May of last year, encouraging the 22 jurisdictions in this area to adopt such resolutions (http://www.mwcog.org/uploads/committee- documents/bF1dXlpX20120517141002.pdf). Beyond that, MWCOG is currently considering whether to adopt a resolution regarding "Green Streets." 6. Informational Items --EPA Green Power Challenge – The Chair reported that Falls Church is approaching the halfway mark for its efforts to reach our goal of becoming the first Virginia city to meet the EPA Challenge to meet their environmental and greenhouse gas reduction goals. --Power Purchasing Agreement – New Virginia legislation permits solar panel producers to enter into contracts with non-profits to allow easier arrangements to share in the costs of construction, an idea long supported by the ESC. PPAs allow non-profits (like churches) to acquire solar panels without paying the large up- front costs, and to benefit from federal tax credits. --Legislative Agenda – The Chair urged members to suggest sustainable development and environmental protection ideas for the 2013 Virginia state legislature to consider. 7. Upcoming Events: the City Liaison reminded the ESC of upcoming events --Electronic recycling extravaganza : 27 April --Rain Barrel workshop and sales : 3 May 8. Next Meeting -16 May (Minutes: Updike) 9. Adjournment- 9:30