CITY-COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD ON CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC EQUITY

200 E. Wells Street City of Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 Meeting Minutes CITY-COUNTY TASK FORCE ON CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC EQUITY Ald. Nik Kovac and Sup. Supreme Moore Omokunde, Co-Chairs August Ball, Pam Fendt, Julie Kersick, Ted Kraig, Ayanna Lee, George Martin, Janet Meissner Pritchard, Barbara Richards, Pamela Ritger, Erick Shambarger and Rafael Smith Staff Assistant: Linda Elmer, lelmer@milwaukee.gov, 414-286-2231 Legislative Liason: Luke Knapp, lknapp@milwaukee.gov, 414-286-8637 Monday, November 11, 2019 2:00 PM City Hall, Room 301-A Meeting convened: 2:03 P.M. Members present: Nik Kovac, Supreme Moore Omokunde, August Balll, Pam Fendt, Julie Kersick, Ted Kraig George Martin, Barbara Richards, Pamela Ritger, Erick Shambarger and Rafael Smith Members excused: Ayanna Lee and Janet Meisner Pritchard. 1. Administration of the Oath, by City Clerk Jim Owczarski. City Clerk Jim Owczarski administered the oath to all members present. Ms. Linda Elmer administered the oath to the two members who arrived later (George Martin and Julie Kersick) 2. Introduction of Members. Members introduced themselves and said which organizations they represent. 3. Welcome by Pres. Ashanti Hamilton and Chair Theodre Lipscomb, Sr. President Hamilton thanked Sup. Omokunde and said this is a tremendous opportunity to save the planet. He looks forward to implementing their recommendations and encourages members to help ensure they do get implemented. Sup. Omokunde gave a few remarks on behalf of the County Board Chair, Theodore Lipscomb, Sr. He wants folks to be able to work in this green economy. 4. Presentation by Assistant City Attorney Peter Block on open meeting and open records law. Assistant City Attorney Peter Block wasn't present, so City Clerk Jim Owczarski spoke on this issue. The Task Force would like experts who are not members of this Task Force to serve and lead work groups. A quorum of this body would be seven City of Milwaukee Page 1 CITY-COUNTY TASK FORCE ON Meeting Minutes November 11, 2019 CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC EQUITY members. Members were cautioned to not "reply all" in e-mails sent to this group. Mr. Martin would like the information presented by Mr. Owczarski in writing, such as in a memo form. Members asked about creating work groups in regards to quorum. Any documents provided to all members or during a meeting should be provided to the staff assistant to be added to file 191039 so they are available to the public. Discussion needs to be restricted to items on the agenda. Assistant City Attorney Peter Block arrived and said any subgroups that make recommendations would be subject to open meetings laws. The default for any vote is a majority vote. Ms. Richards purchased a book titled, Climate Action Planning, for all members - that would not be subject to open records requirements, but a copy was added to the Municipal Research Center Library for public access. 5. Discussion on role and purview of the task force. Mr. Martin said there is a lot of conversation about climate, but not as much relating to how its tied to economic equity. Ald. Kovac said the way the city makes the change as it affects minorities is very important and the economic equity will have to happen first, then the climate change. Ms. Richards said the Milwaukee Economic and Climate Alliance has some digital resources she would like to share, as well as the book, Climate Action Planning. The timeline is a concern for members, but it can be extended as needed rather than presenting an incomplete report. Mr. Martin also noted that the 2020 budgets are already adopted. Mr. Shambarger suggested submitting updates. The task force approved a plan with concrete steps 6 months from today, which would be May 11th. 6. Presentation by the Environmental Collaboration Office of the City's climate and equity actions to date and ECO's planned approach for achieving our 25% renewable energy goal. Mr. Erick Shambarger said the Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO) was created in 2006. Flooding and storms are Milwaukee's major threats. Ms. Richards thinks that tree planting is very important piece, particularly trees which provide food. Ms. Ritger would like an emphasis on the protection of older trees. Mr. Shambarger said a lot of the energy use is industrial use. Mr. Martin said other cities have large buildings that generate energy and distribute it to neighborhoods. Milwaukee Water Works uses $6 million worth of electricity a year. Certain states can buy power from private companies, but Wisconsin does not permit that. Part of the purview of this body needs to tell all levels of governement what it needs to do. There aren't a lot of solar businesses in Milwaukee - most are surburban. WE Energies prohibited Eagle Point from working with the city (currently the case is in court), but has offered two pilot programs. Ms. Fendt said that energy-efficiency programs don't generate a lot of jobs. Mr. Kraig noted that energy-efficiency work will pay off over time, but it's a matter of getting capital up front. WE Energies must do more in terms of forgivable loans. Unbilled financing is also a possibility with a certain percentage going to energy efficiency projects on the property. Ms. Fendt said weatherization programs have been around for 40 years, so a number of low -income homes may have been weatherized over that period. Michael Cummings, citizen, said WE Energies seems to be the cog that prevents the wheel from turning and the Public Service Commission (PSC) writes administrative rules that tend to benefit WE Energies. 7. Set next meeting agenda items, date, time and location. 1. Formation of work groups - how many and who should be on them. City of Milwaukee Page 2 CITY-COUNTY TASK FORCE ON Meeting Minutes November 11, 2019 CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC EQUITY 2. Economic equity and job aspects of it. Public community meetings. Two public meetings. 3. Creation of a six-month timeline. Within 7 days members will present a vision of where we are going and creation of subcommittees. 4. Presentation by the county on their sustainability efforts, particularly on transportation. Members supported meeting twice a month. The next meeting will be November 26th at 2:00 in Room 301-B. Amara Lang - citizen - what public input will there be? What about mass transit for those that need it the most, rather than downtown and put utilities under public ownership? Maherral Barti - husband of Ms. Lang - the goal is 25% as being realistic and, once attained, set a new goal. He also suggested looking at nuclear energy - Paris gets 81% of its power from nuclear energy. He also said that businesses created this problem and the burden should be upon them. Linda Frank - Milwaukee Equity and Climate Alliance - how will the city get the starting data on greenhouse gas emissions. Ms. Frank also suggested breaking down the data by producers by sector. 191039 Communication relating to the final report and activities of the City-County Task Force on Climate and Economic Equity. Sponsors: THE CHAIR Meeting adjourned: 4:48 P.M. Linda M. Elmer Staff Assistant City of Milwaukee Page 3