Climate Action Plan Standing Committee

Climate Action Plan Standing Committee Meeting Minutes April 20, 2022 A. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 5:33 pm. Attending: Karin, Liz, Tara, Ben, Kate, Robin, Ben, Lydia, Nathan, Wendy Compton-Ring B. Approval of Minutes from March 16, 2022 Meeting A motion was made by Karin and seconded by Robin. Minutes were approved unanimously. C. Communications/Outreach/Education – Housing Committee Update (Wendy Compton-Ring and Ben Davis) Wendy talked about the 2016 Housing Needs Assessment and the 2017 Strategic Housing Plan, giving an overview of some of the tiered strategies from the Strategic Housing Plan. She discussed how many of the affordable housing strategies stated in the plan should lend to more walkable, bikeable neighborhoods, therefore hopefully lowering vehicle miles traveled within the City. She summarized a few of the affordable housing projects underway with the Housing Authority including the SNOW lot. She also said there is a new Housing Authority non-profit group called Housing Whitefish that is aimed at the fundraising side of affordable housing. She also gave an update on new ADU standards and the WB-T zone that will be at City Council on May 2. The City has hired a housing coordinator that will start in June to help with housing initiatives as well. D. Protect Our Winters Update (Brian Schott) Brian was not in attendance so this item was postponed. E. Coordination with Climate Action Plan • Budget Questionnaire responses from Dept. Directors and FY23 Goals (Karin) Karin explained that the questionnaire was created to prompt City Directors to consider how they might better include Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals into their department goals for the upcoming year. She summarized a new goal that was created by Public Works to better incorporate CAP initiatives into City-wide priorities that included electric charging stations, increasing the efficiency of city fleet vehicles, supporting public transit, encourage non- motorized transportation, offset Wastewater treatment emissions, and expand recycling/composting programs. Kate added that we should add a goal about supporting and engaging with community groups such as POW that are doing great work in the realm of climate. F. Project Updates • Community Solar Project (Karin) Public Works has been communicating with Flathead Electric to request information on current energy use of the Wastewater Treatment plant so they can better address the energy offset of solar panels. They’re working on negotiating an MOU for the project soon. • Parking Management update (Tara/Nathan) Karin, Nathan, and Tara met to discuss some strategies for the Committee to encourage a paid parking program in the downtown. Tara prepared a section of the Transportation Plan discussing existing parking resources and parking goals from the Parking Management Plan and Nathan prepared a draft letter to Council requesting a work session and a City Council goal about a pilot paid parking program. Nathan gave an overview of the letter that will also be sent to the committee before the next meeting to be discussed and voted on at that time. • Proposed Electrification Strategy (Robin) Robin discussed that instead of focusing so much on reducing emissions, the climate action plan should refocus on eliminating the use of fossil fuels altogether by transitioning from natural gas to electricity. She identified a few strategies that could be slightly changed in order to better advocate for electrification. Robin made a motion (passed unanimously) that the committee prepare a white paper on the topic to include potential next steps for electrification strategies. Robin and Lydia will be a subcommittee to prepare this paper with technical help from Karin. Karin will also make updates to the existing CAP Strategies and Action matrix by end of summer. G. Other Committee Status Updates • Earth Day – Community Activities Update: Bike/Walk to Work Event – April 22 (Karin) Kate brough Sweet Peaks gift cards for winners of the trivia and bike/walk event. Carla Bielski is still looking for volunteers for the bike/walk event on Friday morning 7-9. There will also be an event at FVCC on earth day starting at 10:15. H. Comments from the Board Kate said Flathead Valley farmers markets are all working towards zero waste initiatives by incorporating composting and will need volunteers this summer. Ben mentioned that Clean up the Fish is this Saturday starting at 8:30. Public Comment No public comment. I. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 pm.