Environmental Sustainability Council

Environmental Sustainability Council/Energy Transition Subcommittee Meeting Agenda May 16, 2024❖7:30pm 300 Park Ave, Council Chambers, Falls Church, Virginia 22046 FallsChurchVA.gov/OneStopShop • Call to Order • Roll Call ESC Members: Joseph Schiarizzi, (Chair), Michael Trauberman (Vice-chair), John Ferris, Christopher Behr, Matthew Cunningham; Jennifer Tobola (via video) David Stile City Council Liaison: Debbie Hiscott, City Staff: Kurt Lawrence, Student Representatives: Lilja Anderson, Hayden Kusic, Wendy Abstone, Jon Ward (ETS Member) via video. • Mike moved to allow that Jennifer be allowed to participate via video. Chris second the motion. Motion carried unanimously. • Public Comment Period No public comments were received • Approval of April ESC Minutes • Mathew moved to approve the April ESC minutes from April. Mike second the motion. The April ESC minutes were approved unanimously. • Updates from City Hall • Demographics Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan Update Response Matrix • Kurt reviewed the responses from City staff writing the Demographics Chapter to the comments made by ESC during the April ESC meeting. • One Stop Shop • Kurt demonstrated the new One Stop Shop website. The One Stop Shop will be linked to all ESC Agendas. Kurt will ask City staff if it tracks the number of users to the page. Kurt will be working on additional information for heat pump driers, geo-thermal and educational videos. Chris requested that the page include a survey to track users interests. • Solid Waste Management Plan • The final draft of the Plan has been completed and will be submitted to City Council on May 20 and adoption on May 28. • Bike Master Plan • 3 outdoor walking meetings will be held in mid to late June. The meetings will review the priorities of the proposed routes. Matt recommended to have a walking meeting at 3:00 as the students leave the high school. • COG/NVTC Updates • Kurt provided an update on the work of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. • Budget and Environmental Priorities • Kurt provided highlights of the COG budget including the environmental priorities. A significant amount of the COG funds are devoted to transportation and environment. COG total budget is approximately $44 million. • Climate, Energy & Environment Policy Committee  • COG has its own Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee, which it the policy advisor on a number of environmental issues. Debbie Hiscott is on the Policy Committee. Joseph stated that he would be glad to be an alternate for this committee. • Metropolitan Washington 2030 Climate and Energy Action Plan • Kurt reviewed COG’s 2030 Climate and Energy Action Plan. COG has a goal of a reduction of 50% by 2030. There was a question if COG has a carbon neutral goal. The Plan includes a number of priorities COG is promoting across the region. Kurt will review this plan for potential links to the One Stop Shop website. • Mike noted that COG includes MD, DC as well as VA. Therefore, some strategies that can be used in DC and MD but may not be allowed in Virginia. • New Regional Tree Canopy Goal • Kurt reviewed the COG regional tree canopy goal of 50% across the region. Early next year, COG will be releasing a regional tree action plan. Falls Church also has a 50% canopy goal in the Comprehensive Plan, and needs to raise its canopy by approximately 8% to reach this goal. • Chris noted that homeowners may not be able to use solar panels due to trees. He requested data to determine if there are ways to utilize solar panels and meet the 50% goal. • Bus Rapid Transit • Kurt reviewed the Envision Route 7 website, including information on bus rapid transit. Much of the interest in the BRT is to increase bus usage. NVTC presented to the Council on Feb 26. Joseph asked if there were ways to expedite some of the proposals in this plan. David Schneider represents Falls Church on NVTC. • CPRG Grant Update • Kurt reviewed COG’s plan for EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. Falls Church can send letters of support for the COG application and work with COG on ways to utilize funds once they become available. • EV Test Drive Event at Meridian High School • Jon Ward noted that these is a new energy club at the High School. This included and EV test drive event that had 20-25 participants in test driving EV automobiles. • Jon also added comments on the implementation of the CAEP, included electrifying appliances. Kurt added that the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for 2023 is scheduled to be posted late 2025. • GOEAP & CEAP Budget Review • Joseph led a discussion of the environmental aspects of the City’s 2025 budget and Capital Improvement Program. Joseph is drafting a letter to Council including requests for additions to the budget. • Planning Commission recommended to fund rooftop solar. Planning Commission recommended funding on many of the items in the CAEP.  • Kurt noted that Dominion Energy Solar Assessment for solar feasibility study. Money was taken from last year’s budget to fund the study. Kurt believes it was grant money. It may not be funded with City funds but is still being pursued. The study is moving forward and is funded. • Debbie noted that an ESC letter regarding its priorities for the budget would be important. • Mike noted that the unfunded portion isn’t the study, rather it is the funding to put solar panels on the roofs. • Jon noted that there is $50K for a commercial energy auding and $120K for an audit for city and school buildings. • Kurt to provide any update on this audit program. • Debbie noted the new process being used by the city to establish priorities for projects. • Debbie noted that it is a 6-year Capital Plan, but it is only approved one-year at a time. Items can be added each year and does not need to wait 6 years to be funded. • Mike noted the issues with staffing, including a project manager being hired for EPW, but will have other projects beyond GOEAP. The person who is assigned to implementing the GOEAP will have a number of other projects they will need to oversee. Debbie noted the intent to have the GOEAP implemented throughout all staff, not just Kurt and a part-time project manager. • Mike noted that the consulted estimated that it would take 3 FTE to implement the GOEAP. • Joseph also added a request for a tree inventory, neighborhood tree program, adding pedestrian improvements and bike lanes. There may be a need to specify bike lanes and installation of solar panels. • Jospeh to finish drafting a memo on the budget and will present at the next meeting. • Andy will come to the June ESC meeting to explain why it appears to show that the purchase to the fleet are for less efficient vehicles. • State Legislative Update • Mike provided an update on state environmental legislation. No major legislation passed. The Budget passed and included funds for resilience, in particular in the coastal areas. However, the greenhouse gas initiatives was taken out by the Governor.