Green Building Task Force

GREEN BUILDING TASK FORCE (GBTF) December 12, 2012 – Meeting #3 Environmental Resource Center 290 E. Central Street 1:30 p.m. PRESENT: Task Force Members: Neil Brady, Melissa Cox, Lisa Drew-Alton, Jason Hainline, Ronda Headland, Brad Kielhofner, Jennifer McClure, Zach Miller, Michael Nesbitt, Joel Thomas Technical Resources: Barbara Lucks, Jason Bekebrede, Vanessa Brandon, Chris Coulter, Matt O’Reilly, Ralph Rognstad, Cara Shaefer, Chris Straw EXCUSED: Task Force Members: Emily Fox, Jared Rasmussen Technical Resources: Paula Brookshire, Errin Kemper ABSENT: Jeff Barber, King Coltrin GUESTS: Jennifer Johnson and Harry Alper – Sierra Club STAFF: Fred Marty, Deputy City Manager -- City of Springfield; Jonathon Gano, Todd Wagner, Carrie Lamb, Sara Garretson, Kimberly White – City of Springfield; Chris Coulter -- Greene County Welcome and Introductions Barbara Lucks, Facilitator, opened the meeting at 1:39 p.m. in the Environmental Resource Center, 290 E. Central Street, welcoming task force and community members in attendance. Self introductions were given by all attendees. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the Green Building Task Force Meeting #2, held November 14, 2012, were approved by consensus as distributed. Staff Discussions A communication from Mayor Stephens, sent to all board/task force attendees was read to task force by Ms. Lucks. Issues for small group discussion that were identified in previous meetings included: Process, Energy, Stormwater, Codes and Residential. These were reviewed by the task force and it was agreed that the issue of “codes” should be included in the discussions of all groups, rather than as one separate group topic. 1 Task Force members, technical resources and staff members formed the following four groups for discussion and research relating to green building, according to their expertise on the subject. (*denotes technical resource/staff). Process/Policy Ronda Headland Lisa Drew-Alton *Matt O’Reilly Emily Fox Jeff Barber *Jonathon Gano Structure Jason Hainline *Cara Shaefer Brad Kielhofner Joel Thomas *Chris Straw Site/Stormwater Neil Brady Melissa Cox *Carrie Lamb Jared Rasmussen King Coltrin *Kevin Barnes Residential Jenifer McClure Jason Bekebrede Zach Miller Michael Nesbitt *Chris Coulter *Vanessa Brandon The groups were given three categories to discuss and research per issue – change, instruction, and benchmarks. Attendees re-grouped for further discussion of issues, per group, at approximately 3:20 p.m. Items included in these preliminary discussions included: Structure Energy Code • Update the code • How to go beyond the code • Define “beyond the code” Baseline standards = Minimum Standards • Incentives to encourage going beyond minimum • Impact on developers and enforcement Policy/Process o Establish Guiding Principles o Minimize City/County resources required o Acknowledge Third Party Rating Systems o Incentives/Trade-offs 2  o Process Tools  Check lists, etc.  Path for innovators o Consider local needs for Green Building Community o Encourage recognized innovation o Policy can include low hanging fruit o Identify obstacles o Identify sustainability officer for community o Encourage renewable energy o Position Springfield (with CU) as leader o PACE o Legislative process o Tax incentives  Personal Property Tax abatement  Enhanced energy zones Site/Stormwater o Identifying issues to study  Complete Design Standards – include incentives  Keep track of Stormwater Task Force progress  Hard to show Return on Investment o Will look at other desired requirements, such as habitat preservation, etc. Residential o Funding needed for City/County staff training o NAHB Certified Green Professional training o Incentives might include tax abatements, etc. o Current process working well o Work with lenders, appraisers – offer education/training Overall – from group when they reconvened o Enforcement of existing codes needed before new codes are adopted o Make this (enforcement) a disincentive for bad behavior o Review fines/fees as a method of funding enforcement efforts Next Meeting Date The next three meeting dates were discussed and scheduled for: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 20, 2013 – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2013 – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Adjourned The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m. 3