Environmental Sustainability Council

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL (ESC) and ENERGY TRANSITION SUBCOMMITTEE (ETS) Thursday, July15, 2021, Virtual Meeting via Microsoft Teams, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. DRAFT MINUTES Version 2 1. Attendees: ESC Members: Andy Young (Chair), Stacey Evers (Vice Chair), Mike Trauberman, Jon Ward, Andy Sakallaris, Andrew Crawford, Joseph Schiarizzi, Student Member: Terah Nguyen; City Council Liaison: Debbie Hiscott; Planning Commission: Tim Stevens; City Staff: Kate Walker, ESC Staff Liaison; Alvaro Astorga, Project Engineer Guests: Stacy Noblet (ESC/ETS), and Morgan Yi (public) 2. This meeting was held via electronic communications using ‘Microsoft Teams.’ This meeting was held pursuant to and in compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3708.2 and state and local legislation adopted to allow for continued government operation during the COVID-19 declared emergency. 3. Public Comments: None 4. Park Avenue “Great Street” – Alvaro Astorga, Project Engineer Alvaro presented drawings and the review schedule for a transition of Park Ave and adjacent streets to a “Great Street” which would be a more attractive pedestrian-and bike-friendly environment, with the City properties identified as a campus area. The area included extends from Washington Street to Virginia Avenue, and on Little Falls and Maple Ave from Park Avenue to West Broad Street. The City hired Walter Phillips as consultants to create a conceptual design, which was submitted to VDOT for cost estimation (about $11M), and the City was awarded a grant to fund the project. Preliminary design by Volkert Inc. began in April. The 30% design layout will be reviewed with Boards and Commissions beginning in November 2021. Improvements to the area could include:  Widening sidewalks  Placing utilities underground  Easing street crossings  Creating a gateway to Cherry Hill Park  Making a gateway to the City campus at Washington and Park  Creating dedicated bicycle lanes  Lower speed limit  Possible one-way traffic  Expanding the Farmers Market space onto Park Avenue from Virginia to Maple The ESC is very willing to help with advocacy for bike and pedestrian priority. We will have the opportunity to comment on the plan as it develops in the future. 5. Preparation for City Council Work Session July 19th, 2021, 7:30 pm ESC members discussed what topics they wanted to bring up before the City Council on July 19th in order to best utilize the opportunity. Topics discussed included building on the ESC’s goals for 2021 (City government leading by example, multi- modal transport options and electric vehicles). Other topics discussed included:  Setting ambitious environmental goals, such as becoming a net-Zero Carbon Community by 2050  Being a leader locally and in the Commonwealth  Understanding City Council’s environmental priorities  Decreasing natural gas usage  Supporting energy efficiency  Decreasing vehicle use  Identifying small, high-visibility local projects to increase civic engagement, such as EV chargers, or the plastic bag tax  Making environmental issues top of the City’s Virginia Legislative priority issues  Asking City Council to treat environmental issues as a higher priority in Special Exceptions entitlements  Increasing glass recycling options in the City  Reducing consumption  Expanding educational environmental studies opportunities  Increasing the City’s communications capacity It was agreed that Chairman Young would consolidate and refine talking points from the discussion and prepare the presentation for the City Council meeting. 6. Development Plan Review Schedule The Broad and Washington Project (NE corner of the junction) is in the site plan phase. Staff review noted that the LEED checklist, bike storage and EV chargers need to be addressed before approval by the Planning Commission. The Founders II project second submission is due in August and the ESC may be asked to review the documentation at its September meeting. The One City Center second submission is undergoing review by city staff. Staff will discuss their comments with developer and the submission will likely be referred to Boards and Commissions in the September/October timeframe. The West Falls Church Project Special Exception Entitlement is currently under review for a new developer amendment request for an additional floor to be added to the senior housing building. 7. Subcommittee Reports Energy Transition Subcommittee (ETS) Jon Ward The ETS Chair briefed the group on three initiatives they are currently working on: 1. ETS is planning an electric vehicle outreach event, including ride/drive if possible; 2. ETS is looking into the economics of rooftop photo voltaics and batteries for schools and city buildings, and 3. considering a survey of city staff and school staff on the use of electric vehicles. ETG Sarah Bayldon nothing to report Habitat Restoration Task Group (HRTG)/Urban Forestry Commission (UFC) Amy Crumpton nothing to report 8. Other updates - Staff Report Kate Walker Kate informed the group that a tour of the new High School is being planned for September. Technical staff from the project, specifically energy engineering, will be on site to discuss environmental aspects incorporated into the project. All ESC members are invited. Kate will circulate a list of questions prepared by ETS and a final date will be forthcoming. In response to a question from Stacey on the W&OD Dual Trails project, Kate noted that there have been a few delays but the project continues with paving, striping and signage and plantings, with an August/September completion date expected. Stormwater Taskforce: Andy S Andy attended the Stormwater Task Force/VPIS town hall. He drew attention to the city presentation given at the meeting and suggested that the maps presentation was especially interesting. Bike/Market Event: Andy Y/Kate W Andy reported that he and Kate had been continuing with planning for a bike/market event in Fall of 2021. The proposal will go into a new staff review process. Question: Joseph noted that rainwater collection is incentivized with cash payments in Washington DC. Kate mentioned the availability of free rainbarrels in the City, through the RainSmart program, and Tim noted that a credit is also available from the stormwater utility fee for a recognized rainwater collection system. The question highlighted the need for improved communication of environmental programs in the City. 9. Review and Approval of June 17th 2021: Minutes were approved. 10. Adjourned 9:30 p.m.