Sustainability Committee

Sustainability Committee Minutes Thursday, February 8, 2024 8:00 A.M. VIA ZOOM PURSUANT TO CHAPTERS 113 AND 115 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES (AS AMENDED IN ORDINANCE 22-28), AND RESOLUTION 22-29, ENACTED ON MARCH 22, 2022 Members Present: Kim Bixenstine, Council Member, Committee Chair Nancy Moore, Council Member Tres Roeder, Council Member Shanna Keown, Citizen Member Julia Larouche, Citizen Member Norman Robbins, Citizen Member Heather Weingart, Shaker Heights City Schools Board Member (ex-officio) Others Present: Jeri E. Chaikin, Chief Administrative Officer Christina Yoka, Chief of Air Pollution Outreach, Cleveland Department of Public Health Jefferey Issacs, Shaker Heights City Schools Board Advisor Joshua Romig, Shaker Heights Public Library Community Engagement Librarian Michael Peters, Sustainability Coordinator The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Kim Bixenstine at 8:03 A.M. * * * * Approval of the January 11, 2024 Meeting Minutes The draft meeting minutes were presented for approval with Kim Bixenstine noting a correction on the City Council Members who are members of the Forward Together group. It is Carmela Williams and Sean Malone. It was moved by Nancy Moore and seconded by Shanna Keown that the minutes of the January 11, 2024 meeting be approved as amended. The acceptance of the minutes was unanimously passed. * * * * Discussion on Air Quality One of the goals and priorities of the Sustainability Committee for 2024 is air quality and the guest speaker this month was Christina Yoka, the Chief of Air Pollution Outreach for the City of Cleveland Department of Public Health. Ms. Yoka, who has been in this role for several years, shared a presentation with the group. The presentation covered various aspects of air quality and air quality monitoring. The Cleveland Division of Air Quality is the Ohio EPA’s delegate as the local air agency serving both the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. This includes monitoring, enforcement, permitting, and outreach. The Division operates a 24-hour complaint hotline for air quality concerns such as smoke, open burning, and odors. The Division has a County-wide program called CLEANinCLE: Community Leveraged Expanded Air Network in Cleveland. This program, which is in the initial stages of implementation, will install 30 air monitoring stations. A community engagement process will determine the locations and the data is expected to identify hotspots for enforcement. This data will be used to develop an air quality dashboard and improve the response to health issues such as asthma. The program will monitor ground level ozone and particulate matter. Ground level ozone is created by chemical reactions of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. The presence of these compounds increases risk for those with asthma, children, older adults, and outdoor workers. Particulate matter is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. This particle pollution is defined as PM10 (inhalable particles with a diameter of 10 microns and smaller) and PM2.5 (those with a diameter of 2.5 microns and smaller). These can get deep into lungs and potentially into the bloodstream. Residents can get involved in these efforts through scheduled public meetings, by volunteering for a ride-along interview, volunteering for a project, and as Community Air Advisors. The project schedule includes community meetings starting in February and going through October. Partners in the program include Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, Case Western Reserve University, the Better Health Partnership, and the Cleveland Clinic Respiratory Institute. The Division also oversees the Electric Lawn Mower Rebate Program. The program is open to all residents of the County, with those scrapping a gasoline mower and purchasing an electric mower receiving a $100 rebate gift card. The program is funded through the Ohio EPA with additional support from the City of Cleveland. The results of the 2022 and 2023 programs are a reduction in emissions equivalent to 477 light duty vehicles. The 2024 program is expected to have funding for 300 rebates. In wrapping up, Ms. Yoka also mentioned the new Federal EPA announcement on particulate matter. Released on February 7th, this strengthens the level of the primary annual standard for PM2.5 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter from 12 micrograms. This will likely result in more non- compliance days and greater awareness of air quality risks. Questions and comments from the Committee included: • Kim Bixenstine asked about Shaker Heights’ standing on the air quality map, but that data was only for the City of Cleveland. • Nancy Moore thanked Ms. Yoka for her guidance as the City started its lawn mower rebate program and asked about the public education approach to the air quality impacts of mowers and blowers; Ms. Yoka indicated that we are in the early adoption mode but the programs from Cleveland, Shaker Heights, and other cities are highlighting the health impacts and how electric equipment can help to mitigate this issue, we will see more of this going forward with the caveat that not everyone will be comfortable with the transition. She also noted the Sustainability Committee February 8, 2024 Page 2 of 4  importance of native plantings and reduced turf grass as another approach to reducing emissions. • Kim Bixenstine introduced new participant to the meetings from Josh Romig, the Community Engagement Librarian from the Shaker Heights Public Library. • Shanna Keown asked about the data collection and how hot spots will be addressed once identified; Ms. Yoka noted that there are some immediate actions that can be taken by understanding the sources of pollution (such as inspections, permits, compliance) and identifying “pop-up” operations that may not be currently identified to ensure compliance. Revisions to the local air pollution ordinances will also be informed by this data. Climate change events, such as the wildfires that impacted local air quality, will also be able to be documented and lead to action. • Kim Bixenstine discussed how the City might address this topic, including placing a sensor in the Lee Road corridor. Michael Peters noted how as we start this monitoring process we will then have a baseline of data from which to work on future planning and action. He thanksed Ms. Yoka for expanding on some of the consideration the City should take when planning this program and how the resulting data could be contributed to the wider regional effort. Kim Bixenstine added that this program could then expand to other locations, with Ms. Yoka noting that patterns will develop and that different sensors can be aligned to federal data guidelines. She also responded to the question about the time and effort involved to review the data, which can vary depending on the device and if it is for City use only or for other programs. • Nancy Moore asked how sources of pollution can be determined to be most significant, for example, if lawn care is a minor source how does that impact programs or help determine what needs to change most. Ms. Yoka responded that the composition of the pollution can help determine the focus of efforts, with data like emergency room visits for respiratory issues overlaid on the pollution data. Air pollution is a regional problem, so all efforts contribute, for example converting the City fleet to electric. * * * * Subcommittee Updates Stormwater & Greenspace (Julia Larouche) • One of the subcommittee members, Christine Medvedev, is on the Shaker Schools Advisory Committee for the building renovations. • Next month Principal Chris Hayward will present to the Committee on sustainability efforts in the Shaker Schools. • Grown Not Mow will have its first planting event of the season on April 13th from 1:00 to 3:00pm at South Park and Courtland Boulevards. Trees and cages will be purchased and volunteers are needed and can register through the Doan Brook Watershed Partnership website. • Composting efforts continue, with over 13,000 pounds collected so far though the Lomond Community Pilot; the City of Cleveland and Rust Belt Riders received a USDA grant to expand public food waste collection in the city in what could be a model that Shaker Heights emulates to expand on the Lomond Pilot. • The subcommittee is working to identify uses for the composted material so we are both contributing to and using the compost. Sustainability Committee February 8, 2024 Page 3 of 4  • Plastic Free Lunch Day is approaching and outreach is being conducted to see what can be supported this year. • The Lawn Care Rebate ad hoc group met to discuss the plans for 2024; it will be May 4th at the Service Center; similar to last year’s program with the addition of leaf blowers in addition to lawn mowers. There are plans to conduct outreach to commercial users too. • Onaway School will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with a possible tree planting; there is also a planned tree planting for Arbor Day with the Woodbury School (which will be in Southerly Park). Energy Subcommittee (Norman Robbins) • The home energy audits available through Dominion Energy are coming to an end, with eight households who signed up for the program. • One company has been identified that will continue to provide residential home energy audits and the subcommittee is looking to identify others so residents can still access this service. • The Unitarian Congregation and other faith communities are raising awareness of the 15 easy and low-cost steps homeowners can take to reduce energy use created by the subcommittee. The Congregation has a place in the basement, where post-service coffee is held, where members can post about their efforts. There is interest in replicating this at the Library. Shaker Youth LEEDs / High School Advisory Group (Shanna Keown) • The group met to discuss the EcoChallenge and Biomimicry Challenge. • They are investigating a new software platform for the EcoChallenge. Flyers have been distributed to the High School and the event is being promoted for the flex block (Heather Weingart will help to promote). • If you’re on Instagram please follow the EcoChallenge and SYLEEDs. * * * * Chair’s Remarks/Old Business/New Business • Thank you for enthusiasm and work; if anyone has suggestions for diverse candidates for Citizen Members please reach out. * * * * There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Norman Robbins and seconded by Nancy Moore at 9:02 A.M. The next meeting is scheduled for March 14, 2024 at 8:00am. __________________________________________ Michael Peters Sustainability Coordinator Sustainability Committee February 8, 2024 Page 4 of 4