Environmental Sustainability Council

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL (ESC) and ENERGY TRANSITION SUBCOMMITTEE (ETS) Thursday, September 15, 2022, Virtual Meeting via Microsoft Teams, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. DRAFT MINUTES 1. Call to Order: 7:30 p.m. 2. Reading of Virtual Meeting Notice 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. Roll Call Attendees: ESC Members: Joseph Schiarizzi (Chair), Jon Ward (ETS Chair), Sarah Bayldon, Tatiana Eaves, John Ferris, Jennifer Tabola, Amy Crumpton, Andrew Crawford; Student Member: Alexis Niemi; City Council Liaison: Debbie Hiscott; City Council Member: David Snyder; Planning Commission Liaison: Tim Stevens; City Staff: Cindy Mester, Andrew Young ESC Staff Liaison; Public: Christopher Behr, Patricia Aburano 4. New Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Joseph Schiarizzi and Cindy Mester announced that Andrew Young started this week as the new Environmental Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Falls Church. Andy took over as the Falls Church staff Liaison to the ESC. Because of his new role, Andy resigned as a member of the ESC. Jennifer Tabola added her appreciation to Andy to taking this position and the benefits of having Andy’s continuity as the new Environmental Sustainability Coordinator. Jon Ward added his appreciation to Cindy for her support for the past months as Acting Liaison to the ESC. 5. Public Comment: No public comments were submitted this month. 6. Speaker Presentation- ETS recommended CCMEAP topic: EV Infrastructure Jon Ward provided the following introduction for the guest speakers. The Draft Energy Action Plan has been under review since last year. The City Council has recommended having a publicly approved plan before expenditures of significant funding. A consultant through the Council of Governments will be on board in the October/November timeframe. To assist with ESC’s, City Council’s and City staff’s understanding of elements of the plan and to prepare for next fiscal year, Jon Ward arranged to have Antoine Thompson from the Clean Cities Coalition speak at this meeting to speak on electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure support in the City. a. Antoine M. Thompson, Executive Director, Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCCC)  i. Clean Cities Coalition (https://cleancities.energy.gov/coalitions/greater- washington and https://gwrccc.org/) The GWRCCC is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to provide assistance to Northern Virginia, DC and surrounding Maryland Counties to promote the use of clean transportation fuels, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gases and environmental justice. The GWRCCC hopes to facilitate the installation of 375 charging stations in the area over the next two years. This includes mostly Level-2 chargers (4-6 hours to fully charge) and some Level-3 chargers (15-30 minutes to charge) in the area. GWRCC is looking for locations for these chargers. This is focused on public charging locations, which includes schools, post offices, government centers, fleet parking, and condominiums. The process for installing the chargers includes site ownership, environmental and electric assessments. The Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act (BIA) included significant funding for EV chargers along highways. It was recommended to reach out to Virginia Department of Transportation if Falls Church is interested in participating in this program. GWRCCC will host their annual stakeholder luncheon on October 20, 2022 at the National Press Club. Planning and education are needed to improve the use of EV vehicles. Planning at the local level needs to include maintenance (15 to 20% of chargers are not functioning at a given time), maintenance agreement and plan, and ensure staff is trained. Staff need to understand the importance of EV adoption as well as maintenance (outside staffing is not effective). City council and staff are recommended to: • Come up with the 5-15 sites of proposed EV chargers, including curbside sites. It can be on private property as long as the majority of the day is for public use (supermarkets, senior centers, etc.) • Some of the costs will be borne by the host. • Governments need to look at equity associated with location of charging centers. In response to a question from Mr. Stevens, new developments should request early to have a Level-3 charger for commercial developments. There are many Level 2 chargers available.  In response to a question from Patricia Alvarado, condominium associations and owners will need to approve and work with the utility on power requirements including load capacity for chargers. Joseph Schiarizzi noted the costs associated with automobile transportation and requested a dollar for dollar analysis on carbon reduction comparing money spent on public transportation vs. EV automobiles. If we are going to invest $1 million in chargers, when $100,000 could provide a new bus route. In response to a question from Andrew Crawford, Mr. Thompson said an overall strategy for chargers should include: Establishing a committee of public and/or private sector to create a plan for EV program. Have standards for up-time for chargers. Decide who will be responsible for developing the standards vs. the commercial operators of the stations. “Don’t be the last community to get them in your area.” The next 24 to 36 months will have an explosion of charging. Have more than one charging company for the community, but set standards for all to follow. Establish an aggressive education program on EV. b. John Morrill, Division Manager, Fairfax County, Innovation & Sustainability Mr. Morrill coordinates and tracks the various Fairfax County offices that utilize EV. Fairfax County is going to work with homeowners associations (HOAs also known as “common interest communities”) to install EV. There are over 1700 homeowners associations in Fairfax County. Placing EV chargers faces obstacles when developments either do not have assigned parking or have assigned parking where homeowners run power cords from their homes past sidewalks on parking lots. Fairfax is developing a game plan to see if HOAs are interested: At county expense, Fairfax county will pay for feasibility and cost impacts. Fairfax would like to pilot an incentive program with HOAs. This was driven by a Fairfax County board member request. GWRCCC also has a multi-unit dwelling program that compliments this public program. GWRCCC will launch a series of tools during their October 20 program. Mr. Morrill also highlighted the necessity of education on this subject. Mr. Thompson also noted that GWRCCC has a number of awards to recognize individuals doing good work that supports this work. 7. Federal Inflation Reduction Act- ETS overview The discussion of the EV Infrastructure used a lot of meeting time , so Jon Ward recommended that ESC have a discussion of the Federal Inflation Reduction Act in a future meeting. 8. Electronic Public Meeting Participation Resolution update There has been some state code changes recently and City Council recently approved the end of the COVID  emergency effective October 1, 2022. Therefore, ESC is to go back to in-person meetings for its members. While the members will meet in person (some exceptions apply), the meetings can still be virtual for public, guest speakers and anyone not appointed by the City Council. Environmental Sustainability Council Temporary Resolution 22-01 is recommended by the City Council and conforms to state code. Cindy Mester noted that this only applies to City Council appointed members of the ESC. Joseph Schiarizzi noted that CDC predicts 100,000 Americans will die from COVID this year. 2022 Public Meeting Participation Resolution Andrew Crawford proposed adoption of Environmental Sustainability Council Temporary Resolution 22-01, with Jennifer Tabola seconding. The ESC adopted the proposal (6 ayes to 0 nays) with Joseph Schiarizzi abstaining. 9. Coordinator Report (Andy Young/ Cindy Mester) Council Board and Commission Appreciation Picnic- September 19, 2022 6pm, Cherry Hill Park. This picnic is a way for the Council to show its appreciation for the work of the ESC. ESC member vacancy Andrew Young has resigned from the ESC creating a vacancy. The City will initiate the process to fill this vacancy. Interested individuals will need to attend one meeting of the ESC prior to City Council interviewing applicants. The following were briefly covered by Cindy Mester as a transition report to Andrew Young. A number of plans are being reviewed. Fellows Park Master Plan Comments Submitted Joseph Schiarrizzi noted that ESC provided comments and will continue to support the community garden. Park Avenue Great Street Walking Tour Summary comments are being compiled by city staff Zoning- Transition Zones New planner on staff assigned, including working on community engagement. Mr. Trainer has offered to come to an ESC meeting (October or November) Climate Change Mitigation Energy Action Plan Status-Andrew will continue to work with the pending COG contract. CHP Energy Improvements at VA Village- site visits and income verification underway site visit for next Thursday. City Councils Workplan has been adopted. There will be a letter out to Boards and Commissions. Joseph Schiarizzi noted his support for a Green Bank, which Falls Church can now partner with a local locality to make it more feasible. 10. Review and Approve Meeting Minutes for July 21, 2022 Jon Ward moved to approve the meeting minutes, with Sarah seconding. The minutes were approved (7 ayes to 0 nays). 11. Subcommittee & Liaison reports: 1. City Council; Councilman Snyder noted his appreciation for the input for improving the biking situation, excited about the new appointment and are constantly seeking new ideas to pursue and make things better. He is looking forward to ESC comments on the T Zones. At the COG Board, Mr. Snyder voted in favor of creating a electric vehicle regional planning effort. NVTC to keep progress going for bus rapid transit on Route 7. 2. PC (Planning Commission Member Tim Stevens); Mr. Stevens noted the discussion at the COG on their building performance standards for existing buildings for emissions reductions in Montgomery County and the District of Columbia. Montgomery County has experienced a 30% reduction in emission from 2005 to 2018 with a portion of these reductions from buildings. Virginia Tech Students are providing a report in the November/December timeframe recommendations for biking. 3. ETS (Chair Jon Ward) Jon provided an update on his discussion with the City’s Human Services Advisory Council about the parts of our community eligible for rate savings and efficiency programs, including shared solar and Inflation Reduction Act programs. 4. ETG (Sarah Bayldon); Sarah and Naomi Goodwin will talk to Andrew Young about the future of Operation Earthwatch. 5. HRTG (UFC Chair Amy Crumpton) Schedule is established for the fall invasive plant removal. October 8 will be at Crossman Park and October 22 and November 5 at Howard Herman Park. Rescued native tree adoption will take place at the Festival on September 17 and a rescued native tree adoption will take place at the farmers market on September 24 in conjunction with the Neighborhood Tree Program.