Environmental Sustainability Council

Draft Minutes Environmental Services Council Thursday February 19, 2015 7:30-9:30 Dogwood Room ESC Council Members: Peter Adriance, Raymond Arnaudo, Sarah Bayldon, Andy Crawford, Jackson Jost (student rep), Mary Keenan (student rep), Peter Oppenheimer, William Schellstede, Tim Stevens (chairman), Suzanne Updike Present: Peter Adriance, Raymond Arnaudo, Andy Crawford, Peter Oppenheimer, William Schellstede, Tim Stevens, Suzanne Updike (prepared these minutes) , Chris McGough (city staff liaison), Michael Collins (Dept of Public Works Director) Visitor: Bob Lufton-Thur 1. Call to Order 2. Last month’s minutes were approved 3. New Business Bob Loftur-Thun came to speak in his new role on the board of the Falls Church TV Cable Access Corporation. The board is trying to revitalize our local public access cable station with new programming. This “PEG” channel is a joint venture with the City, schools, and the FC TV cable access corp. and is funded by cable franchise fees. The board has plans to upgrade to HD equipment, is looking for new dues-paying members ($20/yr), and is offering classes on production. They plan to upgrade the website. They hope to be able to improve programming guides and offer Video on Demand when renegotiating with cable companies. Programs should be viewable on the current FCC TV YouTube channel. Bob suggested that there are opportunities for groups like ESC to use the cable access to promote ideas. He mentioned the concept of a “Smart City” program which could look at other small cities and what they are doing. 4. Old Business Planning for 2015 Members discussed whether or not the ESC should divide responsibilities and the best way to do that -- functionally or by subject area (or a hybrid). Tim Stevens wishes to step down as chair; ESC needs to find a replacement. It is thought that sharing responsibilities will lesson the burden on the future chair. Chris McGough volunteered that he can provide background on ongoing environmental issues in the community. It was agreed that members will email Peter Oppenheimer by March 10th with areas either functional (e.g., plan review, tracking state legislature) or by subject (e.g., green energy, storm water) that they wish to follow in the coming year. Tim continues to hope that someone will step up to be new chair. Solarize Next Steps City Council endorsed the Solarize Program. Once LEAP has selected its 3 vendors, the city will be able to promote the program. Suggested areas include Chamber of Commerce luncheon, VPIS, perhaps booth on Memorial Day. There will be a forum at community center, hopefully around Earth Day (will include have local resident and preschool with solar panels as speakers). Letter to School Board Chair ESC discussed a draft letter to Justin Castillo to support/request that the schools pursue LEED certification for the Mount Daniel expansion. Tim will send it out shortly, any suggested revisions need to go to him soon. 5. Informational Items State Legislation Update All legislative initiatives promoted by ESC (community net-metering, plastic bag fees, pesticide notification, plastic micro-beads) have failed to pass in the current state legislature session. VML invite Joe Lerch, legislative director of Virginia Municipal League will speak at the June ESC meeting about both upcoming legislative issues and how a group like ESC can be more effective. VPIS Five Goals document Update Draft should be available in next few weeks for VPIS and ESC comments 6. Next Meeting March 19, 2015 (Dogwood Room)