Environmental Sustainability Council

Minutes Falls Church Environmental Services Council Thursday, October 15, 2015 (7:30 - 9:0 p.m.) Community Room, Community Center ESC members present: Andy Crawford (stand-in Chairman), Sarah Bayldon, Chris McCloud, Peter Oppenheimer, Cory Weiss Others present: Chris McGough (Staff Liaison), Kate Walker, Loren Bruce (Senior Planner, Falls Church City Planning Division), Richard Buskell (President and CEO, Spectrum Development) 1. Call to order. 2. Public comments. None 3. Last month’s minutes approved 4. New business a. Community Forum: Schools of the Future. Loren Bruce, Senior Planner with Falls Church City’s Planning Division encouraged members of the ESC to attend the forthcoming Schools of the Future forum, to be held Saturday October 17 from 9-12pm at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. The objective of the event is to discuss the future of education in Falls Church City as well as the city’s priorities for evaluating bids to renovate or build new MEHMS and GMHS buildings. b. Mason Row. Richard Buskell, President and CEO of Spectrum Development, joined the meeting to discuss the Mason Row developments. i. Environmental aspects of the new plan for the development include: 1) commitment to obtain National Green Building Standard Silver for the residential component; 2) LEED certification for the hotel component; 3) stormwater management, including green courtyards, underground detention vault that will improve water quality and release water on timed basis (MS4 BMP); 4) soil remediation around Sunoco site, site of former dry cleaner; 5) one charging station; 6) bicycle racks and space for Capitol Bikeshare on Park Avenue. ii. Comments are due to City Council by 10/30. ESC will review latest plan and draft comments for submission. Andy Crawford will start draft and circulate to ESC. c. City’s legislative agenda. The City requests input on legislative agenda, due November 16. Cory Weiss will compile ESC member’s suggestions and begin drafting request first week of November. 5. Old business a. Environmental Coordinator Position. City is interested in creating a term position through the end of FY16. Initial focus would likely be on the Green Power Program.  City Council has yet to decide on the role, with some members seeking more information including on budget. 6. Informational items a. Staff update. 1) Chris McGough will attend Urban Sustainability Directors Network conference at end of October. 2) Proposal for new development at Stratford Motel will not proceed. 7. Next meeting, November 19th, 2015 at Dogwood Room, City Hall a. Potential topics for discussion: i. Revisit roles & responsibilities of ESC members ii. Consider articulating principles for sustainable development in Falls Church City iii. Curbside composting (presenters could not attend ESC meeting 10/15 as planned) iv. FCCPS and Solar – letter from VPIS b. Notes: Adriance