Environmental Sustainability Council

Environmental Sustainability Council/Energy Transition Subcommittee Meeting Minutes December 15, 2022❖7:30pm 300 Park Ave, Dogwood Room, Falls Church, Virginia 22046 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call Attendees: ESC Members: Mike Trauberman (Vice-Chair), Jon Ward (ETS Chair), Jennifer Tabola, John Ferris, Andrew Crawford; Christopher Behr, City Council Liaison; Debbie Hiscott; Planning Commission Liaison: Tim Stevens; Student Liaison: Gia Khan, City Staff: Andrew Young (ESC Staff Liaison); Alex Ramey (Public) 3. Public Comment Period No public comments 4. Approval of 11/17/2022 ESC Meeting Minutes Andrew Crawford moved to approve the minutes from November, 2022. John Ferris second the motion. The minutes were approved 5-0. 5. 2020 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Results Andrew Young provided a presentation on the Regional Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reductions by the Council of Governments (COG). See agenda for the presentation. The update on GHG will now be completed every 2 years. GHG Emissions decreased by 24 percent from 2005-2020. Andrew will provide to ESC a document that provides COGs methodology for estimating the GHG emissions. Andrew Crawford noted the increase in population over the next few years in Falls Church will make it more difficult to reach the 2030 goal. The City of Falls Church community-wide GHG emissions decrease by 22% between 2005 and 2020, despite a 34% growth in population. The major factors in the Falls Church GHG emissions are energy usage in buildings and transportation. Tim noted that COG estimates City of Falls Church transportation emissions as a component of the estimate for Fairfax County. Falls Church transportation emissions are not estimated independently. Jennifer Tabola noted the offsetting benefits of the tree canopy. Jon Ward noted that local trees annually sequester a really small part of the city’s emissions, so it's not a place the city is likely to find a lot of offset opportunity. Michael noted that GHG emission reductions are based on state programs, and we will need to follow any changes to state policies. This may make local efforts even more important. Michael noted that Virginia is a Dillon Rule state and the state goes by the 2018 residential building code weakened for wall insulation and air tightness. We will be at this code for at least another 3 years. This will make local efforts to reduce emissions more important. Andrew Young recommended ESC consider ways City Council could incentivize ways to reduce GHG emissions of residential and commercial buildings as well as transportation. It was also requested to look for ways to increase the amount a data necessary to make recommendations. For example, EPA’s Energy Star benchmarking portfolio manager data. 6. “Review of Bicycling in Falls Church” Virginia Tech gave a presentation at the Planning Commission Dec 7 meeting on their “Review of Bicycling in Falls Church.” The review is ongoing, but Tim went over their current findings. Safety is the primary reason individuals do not take up biking. The students recommended better markings and signage to slow down cars over protected bike lanes—due to conflicts with stakeholders, costs and space. The students have seven bike paths for review and enhancements, including proposals for students to go from W and OD bike path to high school/middle school. Andrew noted the need to review parking within the city. John Ferris noted the needs of the Falls Church Master Cycling Plan identified in this review and should be the starting point of any revisions to the Plan. Debbie Hiscott noted working with stakeholders to get more public buy-in. Tim Stevens recommended working with developers to promote cycling to offset parking. In addition, Tim recommended that ESC review the report when it comes out to provide its recommendations to the city. 7. 2023 Planning ESC needs to write a 2022 Year-End Report that includes accomplishments from 2022 and goals for 2023. This is typically a task for the Chair, volunteers to help write the report will be appreciated. The January 2023 meeting of the ESC will be a business meeting. This will include going over administrative requirements for sub-committees, reviewing charter, electing officials, meeting schedules and sub-committees. Michael noted the ESC should identify what its members and the City Council wants to work on during 2023. Andrew Young recommended identifying data needs that would assist in City decision-making.  Jennifer requested a brainstorming exercise for identifying and prioritizing goals for 2024, as part of the business meeting. Andrew Crawford and Jennifer Tabola agreed to organize portion of the meeting. 8. Subcommittee and Liaison Reports • City Council The key milestones in the budget development are: Council Budget Guidance Statement Dec 12 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) Presentation to Planning Commission Feb 15 Public Hearings on Budget April/May Adoption of FY 2024 Budget Ordinance May 8 The CIP has an environmental lens review • Planning Commission Tim Stevens reported on the comments the Planning Commission received on the Transition Zone proposal. Commission did not January 25th meeting will be a work session on the recommendation for T-Zones to City Council. • Habitat Restoration Task Group. No report • Education Task Group. No report • Energy Transition Subcommittee Jon provided an update on having an energy session as part of the City Fall Festival. • Staff Liaison Update. No additional report Operation Earthwatch is active again. ESC members are encouraged to write articles for the Falls Church New Press 9. Adjourn