Sustainability, Energy, & Resiliency Committee

DRAFT Minutes December 7, 2022, 6:30 P.M. Remote Participation Board Members Present John Hayes, Chair Rick Nye Erin Casey Doug Bowker Phil Koch Elvis Alvarez (arriving late) City Staff Present: Stacy Kilb, Sustainability Engagement Coordinator (recorder) Vanessa Pineda, Energy Manager Esmeralda Bisono, Manager Board Members Absent Phil Koch Chris Cantone, Vice Chair Jeff Cohen, City Council Liaison Public: SATV (recording) Rosimara Sneed KK Attendee Lauren Makofsky (future Board member) Maeve Carson Introductions Guest Speakers: 98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 ♦ TEL: 978.745.9595 FAX: 978.740.0404 ♦ WWW.SALEM.COM  • Janelle Rolke, City of Salem Waste Reduction Coordinator: Reducing Waste Around the Holidays: ‘Tis the Season to be Green • Staff for SalemRecycles. Liaison for Beautification Committee. • Trees • Phil Koch opines that cut trees are not a solution and suggests buying a small tree that can later be planted outside. However, it is pointed out that not everyone has space to plant a tree outside at all, let alone every year. o Rental may be a good option in urban environments where people do not have space to store or plant trees. ▪ https://www.occasionalmagic.net/ (Does not rent live potted trees, but may be a more ecological option than purchasing all your Christmas décor) o John Hayes comments that it may be a good idea to discontinue the Christmas tree bonfire, though he understands this may not be a popular sentiment • Proper Disposal of String Lights • Holiday Packaging & Waste • Reducing Wrapping Waste o Stacy Kilb suggests using Engineering Plans as wrapping paper • Reduce Gift Waste • Tentative Styrofoam Recycling Event: Sat. Jan. 14th, Beverly High School Nathan Gray, Founder, Plastics Recycled • www.plasticrecycled.com • EcoBricks outline • Presentation – Trash to Treasure: o https://www.canva.com/design/DAFD_66HYsU/pF3SWyQzV9VT4U3dWZ5ulw/view?utm_conte nt=DAFD_66HYsU&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishshare link 98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 ♦ TEL: 978.745.9595 FAX: 978.740.0404 ♦ WWW.SALEM.COM  • What we do: Collection, Education, Products. Taking on plastic waste, collection, reuse, redistribution to other larger scale recycling facilities • Products: Using recycling machines to make products out of bottle caps and recycled plastics. Available: https://plasticrecycled.com/store • Education: Schools, public events, companies, consulting with cities. Hands-on, in-class, and onsite events • Collections: $99 monthly fee is for cap collection, includes the bin, you fill, they pick up monthly, fits 50-60lbs of plastic caps. Bin itself is made of recycled caps • Phil Kock asks how to recycle artificial trees? They [Plastics Recycled] have not come across a piece of plastic they couldn’t recycle, given enough time, funding and experimentation. But Nathan hasn’t done it yet. They are a solution-based company. They make sea turtle keepsake ornaments, back splashes, etc • Phil Koch: Any work done on the legislative side? E.g., raising the bottle deposit, adding in water and juice bottles? This is not Nathan’s forte, dealing with current plastic waste is. He will leave the legislative efforts up to others who are more qualified • Rick Nye: What types of plastics can they recycle? Any on a small scale. #1, 2, 4, and 5 are preferred. He likes to stay away from #6 b/c of odor on melting and toxins. #7 is a mix of everything, so is hit or miss. HDPE (listen to recording) windows, doors, siding, railings. Bowls, planters, sea turtles are #4. Take single use plastic and turn into long-term use items • They sell products including benches (sponsorship program available), planters, and tile backsplashes, but not individual boards (yet) • Two benches may be going in or may already be in one of our Community Gardens • Erin Casey: as you look to expand on the North Shore, where are your pinch points? o There is enough plastic waste out there, education is going great, bringing things full circle and selling products is a good effort, but being a startup means they don’t have the machines or employees yet, and need to find people to back up and support this. “I would be happy to go out of business,” says Nathan (if there was no longer a need) • Does he work with Change Is Simple? He did speak to them, Stacy to reconnect them. • Esmeralda: Who else in the City has he spoken to? Signature parks for benches? SPUR, Salem High are big contributors • John Hayes wants input from a community that is taking this on to get information on the pros and cons of the issue. City Updates Sustainability & Resiliency Department Update (Esmeralda Bisono) • 2 final candidates for Director meeting w/Mayor on 16th and 19th, Mayor to make final decision by end of month o There were 8 applicants, 5 were interviewed, and there are two finalists. Interviews were in person 98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 ♦ TEL: 978.745.9595 FAX: 978.740.0404 ♦ WWW.SALEM.COM  o Can SERC see the resumes of the two finalists? Uncertain, it was mentioned, but the Dept. did not even see resumes, it was just HR and the Mayor’s office. John Hayes opines that at least staff should be able to see resumes, but Esmeralda notes that we have accepted that this is the process, and she has faith that the Mayor’s office and HR will make a good decision o John Hayes comments that there is a lack of transparency. Phil Koch agrees and feels that SERC should be part of the process o City is in “limbo” without a hired director of the Dept. • Department is hiring Sal Faustino who was the ambassador for The Point project as an outreach person; he is now working on graphic design of interpretive signs and monthly Department newsletter • The Department is also seeking a part-time Energy Coach; though not yet posted, this is a grant-funded position paying $30/hr. • Salem was awarded Community of the Year by Massachusetts American Planning Association. Presentation of the award is this Friday 12/10. Esmeralda is attending. https://www.apa- ma.org/calendar/events/celebrate-planning/apa-ma-awards/ o Projects: Climate Change Conference Preservation in a Changing Climate o Point Neighborhood Resiliency project o Hiring of a DEI director o Will tour Offshore Wind port in New Bedford while there/Esmeralda to send photos o Publicity? Unsure, Planning Dept. running this, can ask Energy Manager Project Updates (Vanessa Pineda) • Salem is on a list as one of 10 communities for EV pole mounted chargers, awaiting NGrid approval o John Hayes asks: we are not yet approved for the pole mounted? We are on the list but NGrid has not said anything yet, still waiting o How many communities are in the pilot program? • GC program, grant outlines o Reduce GHG emissions and long-term energy costs, City must report energy consumption within municipal buildings and schools each year, also emissions, and projects that will help reduce these. Allows us to apply for Green Communities Grant o Electric Vehicle Charging Stations - scoping locations for ground mounted stations under the Grant. Klop Alley Lot, Police Station, Church St. Parking Lot are being considered. We are looking at four dual-port units per location. Sept. 2024 project completion target o PD EV: purchased 1 vehicle, waiting for delivery • 25 A Comprehensive Energy Project: Ameresco has been awarded the contract and will be working w/Dept. and Beth Greenblatt to complete the Investment Grad Audit of all municipal buildings, including schools, and to implement the ensuing energy saving projects o Team reviewing Applicants: ▪ Vanessa Pineda, Sustainability & Resiliency Department ▪ Stacy Kilb, Sustainability & Resiliency Department ▪ Elizabeth Pauley, Schools 98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 ♦ TEL: 978.745.9595 FAX: 978.740.0404 ♦ WWW.SALEM.COM  ▪ Alan Dionne, Fire Department ▪ Anthony Delaney, Chief Procurement Officer ▪ Beth Greenblatt, Beacon Integrated Solutions o Vanessa provides some additional details about the company. https://www.ameresco.com/ Ameresco will conduct the Audit and design all associated projects o Only buildings will be audited, not fuel use by vehicles. This is tracked separately in MassEnergyInsight o John Hayes notes that 21 or 22 years ago, he had his first geography major intern in a collaboration w/Pat Gozemba of SAFE. The student did the first Energy Audit for the City. All info at that point was on paper, and it involved lots of photocopying. It was the first time the City did anything digital Sustainability Engagement Coordinator Update • Flood Hazard Overlay District (FHOD) Working Group Updates & Opportunities for Input (Stacy Kilb) o City is updating this Ordinance to take into account climate change and resiliency o Important to have someone from SRD on the committee, so I attend meetings o Public Input: will be a community forum and website once a Draft is available • Signs o Forest River: Seven (7) 24x36” sustainability signs are installed but have accessibility issues. Stacy to present at January meeting and visuals to be posted on SERC website and Facebook page ▪ Rick Nye comments that he appreciates the signs, and Stacy Kilb notes positive feedback from Next Door o Forest River: Two (2) artist signs are in development. Both will explain the artists’ processes and thoughts behind the projects. The one near the splash pad will be a sign, and the one on the wall next to the mural will be a plaque o Forest River: (1) One Welcome Wayside kiosk is in development. This is a larger, upright sign that is not interpretive but is mean to orient visitors to the park, providing a map, list of amenities, rules and regulations, and contact information, as well as a small bit of history and our land acknowledgement o The Willows: One (1) interpretive sustainability sign about the water management aspects of the project there is in development. It will be located near the accessible swing o Mack Park: Working with Kerry Murphy in the Health Dept, a series of smaller signs are being developed for the Mack Park Food Forest. They will describe how and when to sustainably harvest plants, and their uses/benefits • Outreach Projects & Events: o Working with Erin Casey on drought outreach for the coming year o Working to bring back some version of the Living Green & Renewable Energy Fair; trying to connect to Salem Chamber. John Hayes is pleased that the event is being brought back and notes that SERC is here to help 98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 ♦ TEL: 978.745.9595 FAX: 978.740.0404 ♦ WWW.SALEM.COM City Council Liaison Update (Stacy Kilb on behalf of Jeff Cohen) • Nathan Gray, Janelle Rolke and others will be before the Public Health, Safety & Environment subcommittee in 2023. They will be working with Councilor Varela to address needed revisions to the ordinances that apply to trash and recycling. Stacy will let the Committee know when this is. • Jeff is moving forward with the Green Building ordinance and developing language for bicycle parking. Once he has the final language, he will submit for review with SERC Public Comment None New Business New SERC Members • Jack Nessen to receive 2nd approval at City Council on Thursday December 8th • Lauren Makofsky to be submitted to City Council in the new year Discussion of potential speakers and topics for next year • A subcommittee will be formed to determine these. John will participate. Stacy will reach out to Chris to let him know of his required participation. Erin Casey will also be on the subcommittee. Please send ideas to Stacy, John, and Chris • Janelle Rolke, Waste Reduction Coordinator, will be back in January with a deeper dive into compost, recycling, and trash generation by the City • John Hayes notes that members should review John Bolduc and John Dalzell’s presentations January Invited Speaker: Janelle Rolke, Waste Reduction Coordinator (Deeper dive) Other Discussion Doug Bowker is concerned about the lack of transparency re the staging and construction area of the Offshore Wind Terminal. He brought this up before but was dismissed. All pictures presented show it from an angle that makes it look not very large, but it is huge. Architectural visualization is his job – he generated scale 3D model images. It will be seen for miles. We will get a negative reaction as this rolls out and people are caught off guard. We need to present it to soften the blow, or reinforce the positives, as there are many. Those who live nearby will see them, and it will be like having NASA rockets in their backyards. Shadows will be a block or two long. How should we present it to mitigate/put a positive but honest spin on it? It only takes one election for all of our progress made to be completely obliterated. It only takes a couple of councilors to be voted out or a different mayo to stall sustainability efforts. It would be terrible to have this happen because people are upset about a major change they felt tricked into. 98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 ♦ TEL: 978.745.9595 FAX: 978.740.0404 ♦ WWW.SALEM.COM John Hayes comments that we all have to follow this project, and SERC members should attend any public meetings. John has appeared at public meetings on Nov. 14th (compliance w/MEPA), and on the Nov. 16th public information zoom, he let the audience know he was speaking as Chair of SERC and professor of Climate Change Policy and Natural Resources Development, Geography. There will be another public meeting in the Spring where Doug’s comments can be presented. This will be on the Environmental Impact Report. The Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) is out: https://salemoffshorewind.com/permitting/ He encourages Doug Bowker to present these concerns at the upcoming public meeting on the EENF. Doug Bowker can look at mitigation measures used in surrounding communities. SERC should also review so it can be a watchdog. Doug will re-forward his images to the group. Approve Meeting Minutes – November 9, 2022 A motion to accept the minutes, pending any final edits to be submitted by Friday at noon, is made by Phil Koch, seconded by Doug Bowker, and passes unanimously. In favor: Erin Casey Nay: Doug Bowker None Rick Nye John Hayes Absent: Phil Koch Chris Cantone Elvis Alvarez Upcoming City Committee Meetings Recycling Committee: First Tuesday of the month, 1/3/23, 6:30-7:30PM Tree Commission: Third Monday of the month, 1/16/23, 6:00PM Conservation Commission: Third Tuesday of the month, 1/15/23, 6:30PM Upcoming Events Next SERC Meeting - Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at 6:30PM on zoom (regular link) Adjournment A motion to adjourn is made by Rick Nye, seconded by Erin Casey, and passes 6-0. The meeting ends at 8:04PM. In favor: Rick Nye Erin Casey John Hayes Doug Bowker Phil Koch 98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 ♦ TEL: 978.745.9595 FAX: 978.740.0404 ♦ WWW.SALEM.COM Elvis Alvarez Absent: Nay: Chris Cantone None 98 WASHINGTON STREET, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 ♦ TEL: 978.745.9595 FAX: 978.740.0404 ♦ WWW.SALEM.COM