Energy and Sustainability Advisory Committee

Rockland Energy and Sustainability Advisory Committee (RESAC) AGENDA Date/time: March 7, 2023/5:00-6:30 pm Committee Members: Mary Ellen Eagan, Connie Evans, Todd Schwendeman, George Terrien, Guests invited: Julie Hashem, Jenny Carter, Student member: Joshua Placides Zoom Link (Zoom Only): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5040315241?pwd=eFhHaWJ4ZmhNakRmQ0VIQko4VmlKUT09 1. Welcome: Joshua Placides Oceanside HS student 2. Minutes today: 3. Review and vote to approve / See copy of minutes below and in amend minutes from 01/03/23 separate email 4. Public Comment: 5 minutes 5. Updates: • Mayor appointed Jenny as “liaison”, I requested reconsideration with suggestion of Sarah Austin. • Rockland DVM is researching number of EV registered to date, they are busy and will try to get to it • Member to attend/monitor CC mtg, monitor agenda • Minutes Template 6. Sustainability Coordinator • Brief update on GHG Inventory progress Jenny Carter 30 min • Discuss Rockland’s 2-year Climate Action Plan for 2045 Carbon Neutrality, specifically: o Criteria for plan objectives o Objectives o Actions 7. Bike to work week – Updates, Todd 8. Proposal for HS student See attachment and below participation in RESAC 9. Expand thinking for membership search, include publicizing annual goals 10. Eff. Maine Annual Mtg highlights - Mary Ellen, Connie 11. Finalize 2023 goals Establish action plan and timeframe See below 12. Adjourn: 6:30 Notes/ideas Leasing options Sundog/Revision Get email address for RESAC Preparation for quarterly report  Rockland Energy and Sustainability Advisory Committee (RESAC) Minutes Date/time: February 7, 2023/5:00-6:30 pm Committee Members attending: Mary Ellen Eagan, Connie Evans, Todd Schwendeman, George Terrien Guests: Julie Hashem, Jenny Carter Zoom Link (Zoom Only): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5040315241?pwd=eFhHaWJ4ZmhNakRmQ0VIQko4VmlKUT09 Agenda Item Agenda Item Details RESAC Discussion/Action Items Welcome Members in attendance: Connie Evans, George Terrien, Mary Ellen Eagan Guests: Jenny Carter, Julie Hashem Minutes today: M Eagan until 6p; C Evans from 6-6:30 Review and See copy of minutes below M Eagan move to accept; G Terrien 2nd; approved unanimously vote to approve / amend minutes from 01/03/23 Public No public comment Comment: 5 minutes Updates: Mayor agreed to ask for CC member to Mayor indicated that Jenny should be liaison; RESAC does not accept be liaison to our committee that proposal. C Evans will respond to Mayor. Fire Chief, follow up on Idle Reducing Fire chief interested in idle reduction technology and has requested Technology assistance from RESAC in identifying funding sources. J Hashem will Rockland DMV is researching number make a couple of calls to find state resources and discuss with M of EV registered to date Eagan. Contacted Patricia Chacon-Roche, she C Evans reported that there may be another person interested in is awaiting return of the director to joining RESAC; will update committee as appropriate. access info. No interest from UMO in in Partnership Projects; will submit One applicant for HS student member proposals again next year. on committee. Stuart Sylvester confirmed that there is no age limit on membership Committee position posted at Mid- Coast Climate happy hour gathering UM Partnership Project, Projects not chosen. Sustainability Bike to Work week: May 19, 2023 John Sommo and Todd Schwendeman are involved; J Carter will Coordinator follow up with them after meeting. RESAC was involved in 2022. Updates, Jenny Carter (45 min) Development of CO2 emissions Former sustainability coordinator prepared a municipal GHG baseline/GHG inventory inventory for City of Rockland for 2018. J. Carter now using ICLEI Use of ICLEI tool software to update/finalize 2018 inventory, which will establish Consideration of MCOG work in this baseline for future comparisons. J. Carter also indicated that there is area (See MCOG info. below) a graduate student (who lives in Rockland) who will be assisting. City is also exploring partnerships with MCGOG for creating GHG baselines. Once complete, it would be appropriate to prepare a 2023 inventory (in 2024) that would reflect progress over the last five years resulting from new city policies and other actions. Community outreach to increase Goal: community outreach campaign. What should we focus awareness of and access to campaign on? J. Carter led brainstorming discussion to identify topics for outreach and outreach ideas.  sustainability related incentive Potential topics: programs. Focus on existing Efficiency Maine incentives, e.g., rebates Focus on EV incentives and other federal incentives (lots of material available online already – no need to reinvent – challenge is to identify communication channels) Investigate revolving loan fund concepts with Efficiency Maine for future programs – identify timeline for planning for future progams (See notes from Jenny Carter) Outreach ideas: Farmers market tabling Library talks Weekly articles in Free Press Section on city website – update and publicize Work in schools Recognition program for businesses Success stories/Sustainability spotlight Member to Request for fulltime SC to be stable line attend/monitor item in budget at salary and with CC mtg, benefits commensurate with other City monitor staff. Budget is being considered now. agenda Consideration See below and previous email of 2023 goals Consideration of Draft Phase 1, Rockland CAP Adjourn: 6:30 Leasing options Sundog/Revision Get email address for RESAC Preparation for quarterly report RESAC ANNUAL GOALS 2023 – Working Doc 1. Work to secure the position of Sustainability Coordinator as a stable budget item as a Full Time position with salary and benefits commensurate with other City Employees. 2. Contribute to the collaborative effort to develop a Climate Action Plan for Rockland with the Sustainability portion included or in development. 3. Increase engagement of this committee with CC by requesting CC liaison and monitoring/attendance of CC meetings by a member each month. 4. Support efforts of City Council to use a “Sustainability Lens” on purchases and other decisions. 5. Work to clarify and modify if necessary, CMP or PUC regulations that would allow flexible distribution of locally generated power, both residential and larger sources. Once secured, plan for utilization of these new options with publicity to community and consideration of municipal solar project. 6. Work with SC, CC and local businesses to develop a plan to reduce and plan for elimination of non-biodegradable take out and packaging containers. 7. Work with SC and Window Dressers Organization to plan and advertise a Window Dressers build in Rockland. 8. Provide input and support to Sustainability Coordinator to identify and achieve City Fleet and associated infrastructure transition to EV’ 9. To elevate the importance and associated visibility of “Active Transportation”, RESAC will provide support to host a Bike-to- Work Day by engaging City, Rockland Rolls, Main Street Rockland, sponsors and others. 10. Actively petition City to repaint “bike safety sharows” city-wide and expand “bike safety street striping”.  11. Actively support East Coast Greenway route planning through Mid-Coast to achieve dedicated bike lane. Mary Gaudette: Science Teacher mgaudette@rsu13.org Jennifer Cross jcross@rsu13.org Gifted and Talented Advisor STEM and Liberal Arts Academy Coordinator Oceanside High School Proposal to include Highschool students with interest in sustainability and energy issues on the RESAC. The RESAC serves as both an advisory and project oriented committee of the Rockland City Council. Its function is to advise the City Council on decisions related to the energy and sustainability of Rockland, to research energy related issues in order to better inform decisions and to lead annual sustainability related projects. We would like to include high school students, preferable a junior and senior, to serve with us and contribute the perspective of the upcoming generation living in Rockland. We look forward to finding students with a strong interest and optimally experience in, issues related to energy conservation, renewable energy and or sustainability. Ideally there would be a junior and senior student working with us. Students would become voting members after a year of participation on the committee. Guidelines for student: One junior and one senior student who is a Rockland resident. Strong interest in energy conservation, renewables or sustainability issues and motivated to learn more Available to meet on zoom on the first Tues. of the month, 5:00 – 6:30 PM Teacher recommendation Willingness to work ½ hr -2 hours per month on preparation for meetings or projects as they might arise Student opportunity: To contribute in a meaningful way to the need for an urgent response to the climate crisis To work with committee members who are passionate about the sustainability of Rockland Provide community service To learn about municipal operations, especially how sustainability issues fits into the task of balancing all the needs of a community Committee Opportunity: To have access to the perspective, ideas and concerns from the upcoming generation to include in sustainability planning.