Environmental Sustainability Council

Meeting of the Falls Church Environmental Services Council Thursday, January 17, 2014, 7:30 - 9:00 pm Dogwood Room (G Level), City Hall APPROVED Minutes (taken by Peter Adriance) Present: Peter Adriance, Ray Arnaudo, Sarah Bayldon, Bill Schellstede,Tim Stevens, Absent: Peter Oppenheimer, Suzanne Updike City Staff: Allison Lohrenz, Michael Collins Guests: Seth Heminway 1. Call to Order – The meeting was called to order at 7:30PM 2. Public Comments - None 3. Welcome/Introduction  Director of Public Works, Mike Collins, PE, was welcomed by chair, Tim Stevens. Mike spoke about his favorable impressions of the City since leaving Arlington Public Works to take the job as Director here. Discussion with the ESC members followed: o Ray Arnaudo emphasized the need for education on the storm water ordinance. Mike Collins mentioned that brochures are being developed and there will be information on the City website. Many citizens are not yet aware of the coming changes. The ESC is very much in favor of helping to educate about the ordinance, including assisting with hosting a town hall style meeting. o Peter Adriance suggested holding a poster session like the one done recently and very effectively by the Planning Commission for the Transportation Plan. It will be important to make citizens aware that the storm water provisions are part of a regionwide set of requirements being enforced to protect the Bay. 4. Approval of Minutes (December 2013) -- Approved as corrected 5. New Business  Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Plan Community Meeting o Allison distributed extra copies of the Transportation Plan handout from the weekend poster session. She noted that Paul Stoddard would like the ESC to be involved in offering comments on the Plan, both in writing and through speaking at the Council meetings. Formal requests to review the Plan will come in February and May. o Tim pointed out that the Plan should stress the benefits of greenhouse gas reductions from increased biking and walking. Green infrastructure needs to be included. We should invite Paul Stoddard to our next meeting to discuss the plan. We will also need someone to take the lead on preparing comments.  ESC 2013 Annual Report o Tim circulated the draft ESC Annual Report and solicited feedback. Comments included:   Add speakers we had during the year  Paragraph 4: add language about our support for ongoing education of the community o Tim will speak to Council at its next meeting, giving highlights of the report. He will also share a copy with former resident and staff liaison with the ESC, Annette Mills, who maintains a strong interest in our work.  Dan Sze is our new Council liaison. We will welcome him back when he next joins us.  Tree Commission – Allison informed us that Ben Thompson, City Arborist, is leaving. He oversaw the Tree Commission. The City is advertising to fill his position as soon as possible. In the meantime, the Tree Commission is without a staff liaison. o It was proposed that the ESC and Tree Commission hold joint meetings in the interim until a new City Arborist is hired. Tim, Allison, Mike Collins and Larry Dorr (Tree Commission Chair) will meet ahead to form an agenda. A common set of minutes could be produced. The Tree Commission feels this could work in the short term. o AGREED: That the ESC and Tree Commission will hold joint meetings until a new Arborist is found. We will evaluate how it is working as we go along. 6. Old Business  Stormwater Credit Task Force o Seth Heminway made the point that Churches with large parking lots should be made aware that there are steps they can take to reduce runoff (soil amendments, plantings, etc.) and that credits will be offered for certain measures if taken.  Conservation Easements - TABLED 7. Informational Items  2014 State legislation updates – Town Hall meeting with our state legislators, Marcus Simon and Dick Saslaw is this Saturday, 1:00PM at the community center. Good opportunity to speak out in favor of community net metering and bag fee bills. Tim will invite Marcus Simon to one of our ESC meetings.  Energy Audits (LEAP) – Modified energy audits for $45 are available from LEAP. When this was advertized on Falls Church Common Place it generated a healthy response.  Green Fire Viewing o Peter Oppenheimer and Angela from the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVTC) are spearheading the showing of this film (Thursday, February 27, 7:00PM, Community Center, Teen Room). NVTC is providing the film. It would be desirable to have VPIS cosponsor (i.e. no money required, lend its name, share with its lists.)  AGREED: Peter Adriance will discuss the desire for VPIS cosponsorship with Mike Connelly, President of VPIS, and obtain an answer before February 1 so that publicity being prepared can reflect it. 8. Set Next Meeting  Dogwood Room, 7:30 p.m. February 20, 2014 – Minute Taker: Ray Arnaudo