Green Team

Morgantown Green Team: Minutes of the May 4, 2015 Meeting Attending: Lisa Lagana (Chair), Mayor Jenny Selin, Trevor Lloyd (City of Morgantown Liaison), Pam Cubberly (Green Nights), Joey James (Downstream Strategies), Jim Kotcon (Energy Committee), and Amanda Stoner (Re- cycling Intern). I. Old Business None. II. New Business A. Morgantown Solar Co-op. Joey James brought the Green Team up to speed on progress to recruit members of the Morgantown Solar Co-op, which the Green Team now officially sponsors. The co-op has attracted some 45 members, of which at least 30 have fully qualified roofs, that is, assessed by WV SUN as appropriate for solar panel installation. Due to the tragic death of WV SUN’s Bill How- ley in a car accident in April, Emily Stiever will step back in to run the upcoming early May informa- tional meetings scheduled for later that week at several locations and times. After these meetings, a subset of co-op members will form a selection committee and an RFP will be issued to potential in- stallers of solar panels for co-op members. Joey felt the promotion committee, including John Bird, Pam Cubberly, and himself and WV SUN staff, including publicist Ben Delman, had done a good job getting the word out to homeowners, business people, and farmers. He had received a number of calls from people asking for more information, as well as from potential solar installers. The Morgantown co-op will be the largest solar co-op in West Virginia. Co-ops in Wheeling and Charleston are still small in comparison. Pam said that, after the info meetings, the promotion committee and WV SUN would decide if they will schedule another meeting timed more conveniently for farmers, who have an extra incentive to go solar through USDA “REAP” grants of up to 25% of the cost. The meeting would ideally be held just after a farmer’s market on a Saturday in late May and include the USDA REAP representative who lives in Wheeling. Action: Team members present were urged to continue to post flyers about the May information meetings, especially around campus to ensure a good showing at the meetings.1 B. Sustainable Morgantown Initiative. Joey James was happy to report that Downstream Strategies had received its grant from the Appalachian Stewardship Foundation for Phase III of the initiative. Downstream had applied for $50,000, but was awarded $40,000. Of this, $10,000 will be dedicated to the solar co-op, of which $4,000 will go to Community Power Network and WV SUN for its work helping establish the Morgantown Solar Co-op and seeing it through installation this summer. CPN has also itself applied for an ASF grant. Downstream Strategies, especially Joey, will now get started on components of the initiative, for ex- ample, working with Dan Conant of Solar Holler and MOSAIC to encourage multifamily residences 1 Note: All three meetings later that week were well attended; 15–20 at both the Evansdale and Mountain Lair meetings and 5–6 at Downstream Strategies, including business people.  to go solar. It was suggested that the Morgantown Housing Authority might be involved in identify- ing appropriate properties. Going solar could be a useful advertising point for attracting residents to a “sustainable living” situation. Another component is to encourage home energy audits in the city. C. Urban agriculture ordinance revisions. Mayor Jenny Selin reported on a recent workshop held with Planning Commission members and a citizens working group that formed after last September’s Green Night forum on urban agriculture. The proposed ordinance changes presented at the Planning Commission’s meeting in April by City Planner Chris Fletcher would move forward with some changes agreed on at the workshop. The chief concern expressed by some commission members re- lated to impacts on property values. There was some discussion about requiring a setback for chicken coops away from neighbors’ fencing, as is true for sheds. Beekeeping did not appear to be an issue and would continue to be essentially unregulated. Mayor Selin thought it would be good for someone on the Green Team or citizens’ working group to present the essentials of why promoting urban agri- culture would bring value to Morgantown. Action: Jim Kotcon agreed to present the case for urban agriculture at the next Planning Commission meeting, including positive success stories, possibly on “slides” or a PowerPoint. D. Recycling. Recycling intern Amanda Stoner has been invited to present her report on regulations and opportunities for expanded recycling in the city at the City Council’s “Committee of the Whole” on June 30. Pam Cubberly asked if the team would find it useful to meet with Jeff Hays of Republic Ser- vices at the next team meeting in early June. He had asked to come to discuss recycling in the city. The team agreed this would be useful, especially given the timing a couple weeks before she presents her report to the City Council. Action: Pam Cubberly will let Jeff know that the team looks forward to meeting with him on June 1 at City Council Chambers. E. City liaison on Green Team. Trevor Lloyd, now former City liaison for the Green Team, has left City employment for a new job, but intends to remain a Green Team member and continue work on expanding recycling in the city. His replacement as City liaison is still to be determined by city offi- cials. F. Bike to Work, May 15. Mayor Selin encouraged everyone to spread the word about Bike to Work Day on May 15. Folks will meet at 8:15am at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park for coffee and treats. They will then bike down the rail-trail and up into town. Emily Vasile is the organizer and can be contacted for more information. III. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm. Minutes submitted by Pam Cubberly, May 8, 2015. Next meeting: June 1, 5:30pm to 7:00pm, in City Council Chambers, 389 Spruce Street.