Energy and Sustainability Advisory Committee

Rockland Energy and Sustainability Advisory Committee (RESAC) AGENDA Date/time: Tues. Jan 9, 2024/5:00-6:30 pm Committee Members: Mary Ellen Eagan, Connie Evans, Todd Schwendeman, Lee Humphreys, Nathan Smith Student member: Joshua Placides, Scarlet Labbe-Watson Guests: Nate Davis Sustainability Coordinator: Jenny Carter, Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89227588114?pwd=N29hTTBIaXFMSTI1NThGTUxWNzJBUT09 Welcome and housekeeping: a.​ Recording secretary for today: b.​ Review and approval of minutes 12/05/23 (See minutes below) c.​ Public comment: 5 min.: d.​ Additions to the agenda Additions to the agenda: Updates and Business a.​ Discussion of CC Sustainability Focus this month: Nate Davis, CC rep. b.​ Consideration of further action on Dark Skies policy, determine level of interest. Nate Davis c.​ Update on Municipal Divestment of Fossil fuel holdings, Jenny Carter, Scarlet Labbe-Watson d.​ Update from Sustainability Coordinator: Jenny Carter Energy Expo Dates, Revision Energy needs 6 months lead time e.​ Window Dressers update: Connie Evans f.​ Harbor clean up: Lee Humphreys update on meetings with Theresa and planning g.​ Service Learning Project ideas for energy analysis proposals h.​ Bike to Work Day: Preliminary plans, date? i.​ MDOT Design for proposed infrastructure upgrades at Maverick and Camden Streets, Todd See safety concerns below j.​ CRP Grant: Energy Efficiency Priorities – See below. Jenny has started work on application Ongoing – Future considerations not to get lost 1.​ City website update. Is there a plan? 2.​ Waste reduction, preliminary steps/plans, No plastic option-Background from other towns 3.​ New member recruitment/update to “New member information” on Google docs 4.​ Strategies to do a better job publicizing what we do/distributing info? 6:30: Adjourn  Rockland Energy and Sustainability Advisory Committee (RESAC) MINUTES Dec. 5, 2023 Date/time: Tues. Dec. 5, 2023/5:00-6:30 pm Committee Members: Mary Ellen Eagan, Connie Evans, Todd Schwendeman, Lee Humphreys, Nathan Smith Student member: Joshua Placides Guests: Nate Davis, Scarlet Labbe-Watson Sustainability Coordinator: Jenny Carter, Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89227588114?pwd=N29hTTBIaXFMSTI1NThGTUxWNzJBUT09 Welcome and housekeeping: 1.​ Introduction of visitors: Scarlet Labbe-Watson, Watershed HS student 2.​ Date for next meeting will be Jan. 9 a.​ Recording secretary for today: Connie Evans b.​ Review and approval of minutes 11/07/23: Approved c.​ Public comment: 5 min. None d.​ Additions to the agenda: Service Learning Project, Sharon Klein Updates and Business 1.​ Consideration of support for Municipal Divestment of fossil fuel (See email below) 8. a.​ Nate Davis, Scarlet Labbe-Watson. Scarlet is a Watershed HS student who is working to get municipal and other entities in the state of Maine to divest from investments that support the fossil fuel industries. LD 99 requires state to divest. Prior to this meeting, Jenny spoke with Theresa in City Finance and found that Rockland’s investment portfolio does in fact hold investments in the fossil fuel industry and is talking with banks on how to divest. Scarlet requested that we see draft of the City goals in this regard and also suggested that this committee respond with a letter of support. b.​ FOLLOW-UP: Jenny will follow up with Theresa on the City’s intentions and how to move forward with support for divestment and then committee will decide next step. 2.​ Sustainability Coordinator: 20 min. Jenny Carter, See “Update presentation.” 3.​ Window Dressers update : Connie Evans Feedback sessions and plans for next year are happening next month. 4.​ Harbor clean up: Preliminary steps: Lee Humphreys/Jenny Carter. Lee is making contacts with former participants, date the Saturday around Earth Day 2024, April 20, 2024. Jenny will secure bags from City, Josua will contact Key club for participation and be HS contact person. 5.​ Harbor Trails Program: Grant opportunity - Todd https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/grants/recreational_trails_program.shtml i.​ This is an 80/20 grant, Todd contacted Joan Right, Chairof Harbor Trail Program and she said they ii.​ don’t have a project ready so won’t be applying.  6.​ City website update. Is there a plan? Not discussed 7.​ Service Learning Project: Shaon Klein – Connie has emailed her twice about when the applications will be available, but not received by this meeting date Upcoming topics: Time permitting 1.​ Waste reduction, preliminary steps/plans, 2.​ No plastic option 3.​ New member recruitment/update to “New member information” on Google docs 4.​ Strategies to do a better job publicizing what we do/distributing info? 5.​ Update and organize new member info. on google docs 6:30 PM Adjourn Maverick/Camden Street Upgrades: Safety Issues Statement, Todd We have reviewed the MDOT Design for proposed infrastructure upgrades at Maverick and Camden Streets in Rockland, ME. This intersection is one of the most dangerous traffic intersections in Rockland. We strongly believe that this design is limited in scope and essentially a “band-aid” to address a very serious safety problem in our community. Rockland is a growing community and do not believe this design adequately considers our future. We recommend a full redesign integrating a traffic smoothing/higher degree of safety rotary as the core design component as well as the incorporation of “active transportation” and pedestrian infrastructure. These forward-looking design components will better position this strategic traffic location for improved safety and smooth traffic flows. Note that funding for this project is an 80/20 split between MDOT and the City of Rockland Please provide comments to MDOT before 12/21 via the link below: <h4HlXvvbEK7aimpj1vXzV.png> Rockland, Camden/Maverick Street, Intersection Improvements storymaps.arcgis.com In addition, comments to the City of Rockland can be directed to: City Council and City Manager, Tom Luttrell. Public participation at a too-be-defined City Council Meeting when this topic is on the agenda is critical to achieving a safer intersection for Rockland. When this date is set we will provide an update. Thanks for making Rockland a better place to live. Sent from my iPad The long and short is…..do we feel this design, essentially some addl. pedestrian striping, an addl sidewalk and some flashing lights is acceptable to the Rockland community…..I Do Not……. This is arguably Rockland’s most dangerous intersection w/ annually more than 4 million crossings (MDOT 2023 data) with equivalent +200,000 gallons of non-renewable fossil fuel required for stopping/inkling and accelerating……..no inclusion of any “active transportation” components…….would seem a better option would be some form of flow-through traffic infrastructure (rotary, round-a-bout, etc) commensurate with a progressive, growing, forward-thinking community Note this is an 80:20 (MDOT:Rockland ) funded project……eg we should have some substantive input given we’re ponying up 20% of costs…. So…..is this something RESAC would like to input CC on? Hello Connie, There is a new CRP grant with a February 16th deadline for “Energy Efficiency Priorities”, which is very general and could include anything from a volunteer “corps” of advisors or assessors to local training or workforce development. https://www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/vendors/grants It’s the first grant listed on that page, and the “Amendment #1” shows that they moved the Q&A session to *today* at 1:30pm Zoom for 1:30 is https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/87872325696 Wanted to pass along if you or other Rockland Energy Committee members are interested! A City/Town has to apply for the money. Rockland is the only eligible town in our area because it has 1 census tract classified as disadvantaged in the federal screening tool (CEJST). Best, Amanda  Rockland Energy and Sustainability Advisory Committee (RESAC) 11/07/23 Meeting Minutes Date/Time: Tuesday, 10/07/23 Committee Members Present: Connie Evans, Todd Schwendeman, Nathan Smith, Lee Humphreys Student Member: Joshua Placides Sustainability Coordinator: Jenny Carter Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/i/5040315241 Welcome and housekeeping ​Recording secretary for today: Lee Humphreys ​Review and approval Minutes for 10/03/23 Approved of minutes: ​Public Comment: ​Addition to agenda: Connie mentioned that Joshua had topics of interest to be discussed later. Updates and Business ​Update: CC presentation, Nathan Smith Nathan thought the presentation went well. He received positive feedback. The CC asked if the Electrification Expo would be held again next year at the same time. Nathan hoped the presentation “cracked the door open” to let the CC know what we were up to. The tech help provided was fine. Todd gave a positive review of the presentation. Connie asked if CC updates should be quarterly. Todd suggested biannual updates. Jenny thought one in the spring and another in the fall would be best. ​Sustainability Coordinator: 20 min. Jenny Carter (See attachment for power point presentation) Discussion regarding Community Action Grant: Input from High School Students is important Ideas for content and distribution of survey discussed. Connie: “Where would you like to cycle to?” Todd: “How does survey get distributed?” Lee: flyers/posters with survey info and access info. Joshua and Nathan concerned about quality of data. Survey should be representative of population. Jenny will provide survey info within the next 3 weeks so members of this committee can comment. Focus should be on bicycling for transportation vs. recreation. GHGe Inventory is finished. All members agreed that this was a job well done producing valuable data. Connie and Todd want to be sure this info gets out to the public. Members brainstormed many possibilities for doing this. Jenny will work with the high School. Electrification Expo: Successful with positive Feedback. Looking Ahead: Jenny will be coordinating the bike project and will compile a progress report. Jenny offered to help Lee with harbor cleanup project. Dates were discussed, perhaps the Sat. just before Earth Day in April would be preferable to having the event on a Monday. Lee will begin reaching out to DMR, Land Trusts, Pen Bay Stewards and others to help plan the project. ​Window Dressers Update: Connie Evans, Mary Ellen Eagan GHGe Inventory is finished. All members agreed that this was a job well done producing valuable data. Connie and Todd want to be sure this info gets out to the public. Members brainstormed many possibilities for doing this. Jenny will work with the high School. Electrification Expo: Successful with positive Feedback. Looking Ahead: Jenny will be coordinating the bike project and will compile a progress report. Jenny offered to help Lee with harbor cleanup project. Dates were discussed, perhaps the Sat. just before Earth Day in April would be preferable to having the event on a Monday. Lee will begin reaching out to DMR, Land Trusts, Pen Bay Stewards and others to help plan the project. ​Window Dressers Update: Connie Evans, Mary Ellen Eagan 305 inserts were made and 30 rewraps. The work was finished 2 days early. Wonderful volunteers with just a few glitches. People who ordered windows were confused about the procedure. Next year customers need to be more engaged. Connie and Mary Ellen will do it again next year and already have a site. Todd did transportation of materials. Todd stressed need to have metrics published. This was a very successful community project leading to lower fuel consumption and warmer homes. 6:30 PM Adjourn