Environmental Sustainability Council

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL (ESC) Thursday, May 17, 2018, Library, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. DRAFT MINUTES 1. Call to Order: Members: Cory Firestone Weiss (Chair), Thomas Cash, Andrew Young, Jon Ward, Sarah Balydon, Katie Deal (student), Hannah Trauberman (student), Evelyn Duross (student), Niharika Singhvi (Student). City Staff: Kate Walker (Environmental Programs Coordinator). City Council Member/Liaison: Dan Sze. Public: Jennifer Tabola, Joy Page, Andy Sakallaris. 2. Public comments: None. Comprehensive Plan: Natural Resources Chapter survey / exercises: Kate Walker described the Comprehensive Plan as a means through which the community tells the City government what to do, and she said it must accurately and completely represent the community. Kate and Cory led an exercise in which each attendee selected (from a list of topics / categories commonly addressed in environmental plans and rating systems) the three highest-priority risks/problems in the City, and then the three topics which the City had the greatest potential to address. Kate collected all comments that attendees wrote down in the exercise. Discussion consisted mostly of attendees speaking to the comments they wrote. The topics chosen most were: a. Green Education b. Green Buildings c. Transportation d. Zero Waste When attendees repeated the exercise role-playing as various stakeholder constituencies, the topics of Air Quality and Open Space received an increased number of selections. Attendees broke into 4 groups to brainstorm goals and strategies applicable to the 4 top- ranked topics. The groups highlighted the following:  Green Education: simplify composting rules & options; establish neighborhood liaisons; publicly recognize business that perform well environmentally and describe what they are doing  Zero Waste: educate citizens more about compost and recycling; promote aspects of the sharing economy to save money/shipping and reduce packaging waste from many citizens buying similar products when low utilization rates. To save time, results from the Transportation & Green Building breakouts were not discussed since they have been topics of recent ESC activities, but Kate collected the work products. They are summarized at the end of this document. Dan Sze noted that despite having an Urban Forestry Division and arborist, the City does not have an Urban Forest Management Plan.  Action Item #1 (All ESC): Reach out to neighbors for their opinions on environmental aspects of the Plan. Be aware of differences and bring responses to the ESC and Kate. 3. West Falls Church Development Project. Andy Young noted that his initial top-level review of the six qualifications packages submitted in response to the Request for Conceptual Proposals (RFCP) did not highlight sustainability experience or concepts. Dan Sze said that David Tarter and Letti Hardy are the two City Council members on the RFCP Evaluation Committee. He urged ESC members to go online, review the packages, and suggest things the Finalists should take on (http://www.fallschurchva.gov/1954/WFC-Economic- Development-Conceptual-Prop). Cory asked ESC members to prepare to read the draft Request for Conceptual Proposals (RFDP), ahead of its release to the bidders in June. Jon reminded ESC attendees that he had given them editing privileges to an outline of the draft RFDP, so that they could record comments in a shared environment. 4. On-going Business: Mason Row. Dan and Cory noted that updated plans for the Mason Row project will soon be distributed to Boards & Commissions for comment. 5. Subcommittee Reports:  Habitat Restoration Group (HRG): Kate said the Spring events were completed and that members should see visit Isaac Crossman Park to see the restorations and improvements. A ceremony would be announced before Memorial Day, and Mayor Tarter would be attending. 6. Next Meeting  Thursday, May 24, 2018: WFC Development Project, Stormwater & Energy Panel. MEH Middle School Library, 7:30 p.m.  Thursday, June 21, 2018. TJES Library (Media Room), 7:30 p.m. o Minutes from April meeting will be approved in June if a quorum is available. Abbreviations / Terminology:  None  Summary of Brainstorming Session Risks & Opportunities: Category Subcategory Risks Opportunities Water Stormwater &  More development means more impervious  We can clean our streams streams surface. Add increased rain and we have a big  Stormwater BMPs with each new development or problem. rebuild  Urban stormwater run-off - one of the largest  Leaf clean-up and litter/plastics clean-up sources of water pollution*  Need to plan for climate change especially with respect to water/flooding and trees for shade in heat  Will increase as challenge due to continued development  Increased development and increased rain events & storms - flooding Water resources  [At risk]* Floodplains Sewer system Category Subcategory Risks Opportunities Zero Waste  More participation in compost programs and  Conscientious community – lots of opportunity to composting could be implemented in the reduce waste* schools to reduce food waste  Previous community interest and support-  Waste piles up fast, and it is important to achievable goals control it due to many potential negative  Increase composting program – not confronted by effects that things like plastic has difficulties with recycling  We need to reduce waste, focus on reuse  Waste affects litter, quality of life, stream quality, Chesapeake Bay and economics of City’s waste management plan  Impact within and outside CFC – achievable  Produce a lot of waste in a small area be[cause] a lot of people in a small area  Business owner waste zero because it might be very difficult to adequately recycle & compost  At Mason it would be nice for the recycling program to go back to being extremely well- functioning. And we should try to endorse composting. Life Urban forestry  We have a good urban forest and need to keep it Wildlife Habitat  Wildlife/biodiversity With construction,  Wealthy Preserve open space for wildlife residential lots with bigger houses, increasing  With such little open space remaining, prioritize population and pets, people on foot/bikes, any open space protection/acquisition wherever how and where will habitat support food, possible/politically feasible* water, shelter and place to raise young Green  We can incorporate green infrastructure more infrastructure effectively Health & well-  Business owner More access to organic foods being Food systems Open space  Wealthy might be concerned that we have too  Visitors create opportunities many people in too small a space  Adults w/o children want a walkable place to live  Wildlife/biodiversity less of it - competition Category Subcategory Risks Opportunities Built Light Noise Environment Energy  We will eventually empty the planet of oil  Supports other initiatives  Cleaner, more reliable and ultimately cheaper energy  I feel like our energy resources right now are good, so we can continue working to improve our energy resources  Emphasize energy efficiency & sustainable materials in all building  Renewable energy investments  Change Virginia law  Falls Church has authority and wherewithal to go to 100% renewables*  Finding sustainable sources of energy means better air quality and if it is more efficient then it could be better for the economy  Finding Sustainable sources of energy is an opportunity to financially benefit the City of Falls Church Category Subcategory Risks Opportunities Built Transportation  Adults w/o children My commute will become  Decrease single occupancy vehicles Environment unbearable  Decrease pass-through/cut-through traffic  Transportation affects air quality, noise,  [no comment] (cont’d) safety, wasted time, gas emissions, so big  Huge potential unique to CFC to local payoffs to addressing transportation redesign/envision transport issues. However, it’s its own chapter in the  Elderly adults particulate matter reduction, air comp plan quality  Increasing congestion and not enough transit  Transportation accessible for disabled adult options getting to work*  Will grow as challenge due to surrounding  Short distance transportation in the city provides community impact opportunities for us to make a difference here  [no comment]  Transport – CFC demonstrates future of  Affects City residents, visitors and economy sustainable transport. Anchored by 2 metros, bike  Lot of people transporting in small space trails, 2.2 square miles, walkable to schools, entertainment, food, etc.  [no comment] Category Subcategory Risks Opportunities Green building  Especially with the new school, it is important  New school = opportunity to construct new buildings that are  Lots of new buildings and a policy would be environmentally friendly, because they last a impactful long time and If not green then they will have  [no comment] many negative impacts  Building a new school is a great opportunity to  Multiple expansion opportunities in the near build green future  Creating more green buildings my influence more  It is important to focus on getting buildings people to live in Falls Church like the new school and the building being  Building standard built [next to] Clare & Don’s to be LEED  Special exception conditions certified  Zoning  Would be good for new high school and other  Tons of new residential & commercial building development that will be locked in 50+ years – needs to reflect  Without public pressure = minimum required climate and clean energy, green infrastructure – a and a little “extra” vs. comprehensive cutting once in a lifetime opportunity! edge potential befitting the community CFC  Draft policy work already complete represents  Attract class A tenants, reduce our footprint  Suboptimal situation  Uneven expectations by commercial/residential developers Community Public  Public employee Need public involvement to  Concentrated public/people so may be easier to involvement do my job join people together  City & private investment is essential for sustainable infrastructure and GHG reductions, so public education of options & rationale & economics is important  Cost constraints are important, so emphasize more cost-effective or have to leave because taxes too high Environmental  Low-income building codes & taxes are  CFC is one of the few cities in VA I feel that justice pricing me out takes action for environmental sustainability  Low-income Accessible transit  Noise & litter and traffic reduction in low-income housing  Subsidized green energy to protect against cost- Category Subcategory Risks Opportunities of-energy escalation Green jobs  Wealthy investing in new businesses in the City  Investment  Incentive education, mentoring, investment in this emerging market Health & well-  [no comment]* being  Young children Grow up healthy with healthy habits Government  Wealthy Taxes without results; impact on City coordination businesses Category Subcategory Risks Opportunities Community Green Education  If more people are aware of the implications  Prepare the next generation for cutting edge jobs (cont’d) of their actions and of how to live a more and create lifelong environmental stewards sustainabile lifestyle, this will help CFC be a  Green education because teaching more people more green city. about the environment will create an more  It would be good to introduce sustainability to environmentally friendly city. kids in the schools (kind of like Operation  Retiree I want a good library and walkable city EarthWatch, but more widespread) center – build green, solar panels. Fewer cars in  Would aid with all issues overall center of city. Green projects at Senior Center.  FCCPS are our biggest asset/expenditure –  [Young child] Grow up in city and can make integrate env. policies with school –critical to most difference in future if educated. Learn daily success broad - public engagement habits. Popularize Operation EarthWatch. In-  Lack of 21st century env/sustainability school education. literacy/STEM connected to community  Families Give my kids a leg up with problem-solving and real-world laboratory environmental education.  Not enough people in CFC are aware of the  Create a more environmentally conscious ways to protect the environment generation of CFC kids, which will ultimately  The most effective way to promote result in a greener city with many benefits for its environmentally-friendly buildgins and plans citizens. is to inform everyone in the community &  Use env/sustainability literacy as a key schools about environmental impacts and how organizing principle of the education system, to resolve issues supporting students to be better prepared to LEAD into the 21st century  Public employee – teacher Teach children about sustainability and make schools greener  School child Green education – if I don’t learn about the importance of environmental sustainability then I won’t know what steps to take to improve my community environmentally. My school and community should help with this process. Category Subcategory Risks Opportunities Energy Air quality  [School children] I want to grow up in a  We can work to implement more structures and community with clean air, so my community trees to continue improving air quality as it isn’t and I can be healthy. Things like too much bad right now at all. development that’s not eco-friendly and carelessness of actions can harm this.  Air quality is bad and will be an increasingly significant problem  [Elderly adults] health issues  [Visitors] No comment* Climate  We are not preparing for changing climate adaptation  We need to prepare for increased rain, flooding and heat  How do we resource a mitigation strategy to a warming/changing [climate] budget  [Families] increased heat & extreme weather are dangerous  [Disabled] risk of extreme events to day-to-day life & housing* Climate  In absence of federal policies on climate  Encourage private investment to reduce GHG – mitigation change, cities are more important than ever in requires education reducing GHG emissions Natural hazards [Added] Materials  Use sustainable, low toxicity products such as cleansers etc.  Sustainable procurement  Within City government control Goals/actions ideas: A. Green Education  Specialized school programs/curriculum  Sustainability & changing green economy   Guest lecturers  Integrate “green” theme throughout K-12  Teacher training and resources  Implement composting and improve recycling in schools  Outdoor classroom  Senior center/community center programs  Door-to-door/neighborhood liaisons  Business outreach  Green marketing/recognition program o Best recycling o Best energy reduction o Etc. B. Green Building  Geothermal  Net + energy  LEED plat  Residential – solar energy  Energy efficiency standards  Stormwater mitigation  Landscaping o Walkabitiy o Connectivity  Hi density – incentives/low density o Regulation requirements  Reduced costs of energy o Income security C. Transportation  More bike friendly  Better access to metro; forms of transit, microshuttles  More walk-friendly access & sidewalks  Increased public transit   Supporting EV infrastructure o Charging stations o Only 33 in the present  Encouraging more carpooling, bikeshare, public transit  Safer routes to school  No fossil fuel-powered AV vehicles with single rider D. Zero Waste  Plastic bags  “Personal Hygiene”/Mixed Material papckaging  Styrofoam  Packaging (mail order etc.)  Water bottles  Convenient recycling receptacles  Multi-family & business composting/food waste  Straws  Electronics and batteries  Fluorescent/hazardous waste disposal close  Community swap meet  Re-use/sharing economy  Pizza boxes  Eliminate single-stream recycling