Environmental Sustainability Council

Environmental Sustainability Council Meeting Thursday, May 19, 2016 Minutes ESC members present: Peter Adriance (Vice Chair), Ray Arnaudo (Chairman), Sarah Bayldon, Tom Cash, Andrew Crawford, Peter Oppenheimer, Phil Skotte, Cory Weiss Student representative: Hannah Trauberman Others present: Loren Bruce (Senior Planner, City of Falls Church Planning Division), Tim Stevens (ESC ETS Chair), Kate Walker (Staff Liaison), Jason Widstrom (Stormwater Program and Engineering, City of Falls Church); Josiah Dunker (public participant); Marsa Skotte (public participant) 1. Call to order. 2. Public comments. None 3. Last month’s minutes approved 4. New business  Stormwater: o Jason Widstrom briefed the ESC on the City’s stormwater program and EPA MS4 plan. The state of Virginia is tightening compliance on Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for pollutants entering local waterways and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. One of the big challenges for the City is bacteria, but the greatest source of bacteria is waterfowl. The City is working on developing a strategy to encourage geese to leave. The City is also encouraging residents to take appropriate care of pet waste, another source of bacteria. o With respect to the TMDL for phosphorous, sediment, and nitrogen entering the Chesapeake, the City needs to accomplish 5% of its target by 2018 and 100% by 2028. The City plans to achieve these targets through redevelopment by taking up old impervious cover and running stormwater through filter systems, e.g. stormwater at BJs is running through rain gardens. o Public education on stormwater is tough. The City has a goal of reaching 20% of citizens. The City could use help reaching out to schools, possibly by incorporating the issue into Operation EarthWatch.  ESC Vision: o Cory Weiss presented a draft ESC Vision statement for discussion. Group comments included:   Add a note on applying environmental standards to small scale development.  Consider assessment of City’s performance against COG goals.  Add more specific goals, initiatives to flesh out VPIS goals on e.g. GHGs.  Note that there is some debate on baselines, current tree canopy levels, etc.  Include goal to remove invasive plants/vines from trees. 5. Informational items  ESC Energy Transition Sub-committee update: The group is looking at COG’s baseline greenhouse gas emissions. The Solarize initiative is complete, and FCC came in second. There is consideration of possibly conducting free efficiency tests with LEAP (Solarize partner) to encourage more mechanical verification that homes are efficient.  Electronic participation in meetings: the ESC voted to approve the policy on participation in meetings via electronic means.  Staff items: There was very good turnout for the Howard E. Herman Stream Park habitat restoration event. The City has gotten funds to plant native plants. Kate Walker is doing outreach at the farmer’s market. Kate also noted that an Arlington library has added an Energy Lending Library.  City Council will recognize Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week on June 4.  Action items: o Comments to Cory on vision statement o Kate to explore whether Mary Riley Styles Library can purchase Energy Lending Library (similar to one that an Arlington library has made available). o Need backup for Streetscape Task Force. 6. Next meeting  Thursday, June 16, 2016 (Dogwood Room, City Hall)  Notes: Sarah Beaman Bayldon