All
right, welcome to the January 14th
environmental board meeting. My name is
Don Williams. I'll be your chair
tonight. Um, as usual, we have a hybrid
meeting tonight. So, some people online,
some people in the room. If you're in
the room, put your sign up and I'll call
in order. I see them come up. If you're
online, just put your hand up and I'll
keep an eye out for you guys there on
the screen.
JC post. Great. And Alex B, can you hear
the back of the room? Okay. Okay. Great.
Uh Tommy Anderson
>> here.
>> Nancy Davidson
>> here. Tommy has an excused absence.
Pradi
>> here.
>> Pan
>> here.
>> Mina June.
Don Mc Williams
>> here.
>> Alex Lee Ter
>> here.
Ann Newm,
Keith Gonzalez,
>> and John Smith here.
>> Um, there any comments to the previous
minute from the December 16th?
Good.
Any public comments?
>> Yes. and pleasures to make public
comment.
>> Yeah. Why don't you come up to closer to
the mic?
Did I try to sort of face them too or
fine?
>> Yeah, just go ahead and face the room.
That's fine. Okay.
>> Hi. I think I can see everybody. Good
evening.
Um I'm an Fletcher. I'm a resident and a
member of People for Planet Action. It's
good to see you all again.
Um, first of all, I'd like to thank the
sustainability department for proposing
improved and new actions to the building
energy and transportation land use
sections of the IAP update. uh many of
them relate to uh people for climate
actions critical uh actions and uh these
critical actions will really strengthen
our plan and achieve better results
toward our greenhouse gas emission
reduction targets. Um some examples of
these uh that I saw in the memo were um
to develop and expand energy efficient
outreach and incentive programs. Um I'm
thinking that energy smarty site is an
example of that. And um with this one I
would like uh you uh to consider in the
implementation section of the updated
plan a timeline for assisting most
residences to make this energy
transition over the next 25 years.
That's about how long it'll probably
take if we get on it. and it's needed to
meet our 2015 target.
Um second uh another item uh is
modifying benchmarking program to cover
buildings under 20,000 square ft. Uh
this one fills a gap in our middlesized
commercial buildings to make sure we're
including everyone or giving all an
opportunity.
Um, next uh action uh is remove building
code updates because the state energy
code has made significant improvements.
Uh, and they noted that it's good that
advocacy at the state level is still in
our actions because I just learned of a
proposed state house bill 2147
which would dismantle the state building
codes for the next 10 years. Uh these
are codes that are currently have been
working since 2007
very well to gradually increase
standards uh for being green building
and the proposed bill would even prevent
cities from requiring the gradual
increase. So um this bill should be
monitored uh and its first committee
hearing I don't think it has been
determined yet.
Another item action item that I noticed
was assess potential for a home energy
score or ordinance. This is new action
and a priority uh for people for climate
action. Um it has been implemented in
other cities and states and our state
has not passed legislation related to
this uh for three years now that it's
been introduced at the state level and
uh in three years in a row and uh
despite improvements being made to the
bill to make it more affordable. So it
seems like it may be time for um uh
Isiqua to explore and act on this on our
own. Uh and other cities have already
done it.
Uh, another item is accelerate market
transformations of residential
properties away from natural gas. Um,
it's good that this is consistent with
other cities and would allow for our the
expanded programming that we need.
One more house house uh building one um
incentivize electrification for
commercial properties. That's also
another important step. Those are all
really great I I think um the
strengthening kinds of things in the
transportation and land use department.
There are also a lot of great actions.
Um I'm just going to highlight a few
that seem high highly critical to people
for climate action. One is city code
upgrades uh to improve climate and
environmental protection across multiple
pathways uh and expand sustainable
design standards because things are uh
technologically changing and there are
more um more different things that you
can do to be sustainable. We want to
make sure that our codes reflect that.
Uh the next thing is expand multifamily
charging requirements and I appreciated
the part that says with technical
assistance always needed with multif
family to make it work. The next one is
advocate and partner regionally to
improve transit network. Uh this of
course is a really basic one. Uh but
it's great to add the demand shuttles
and the exploration of free ridership on
some routes. I think that's a a a good
addition for us. And then another one is
remove required transportation
management action plans. There was no
explanation of why there was the removal
on this and so I'm um hoping that at
this meeting I'll I'll find out more
about that.
Uh and then I just also wanted to thank
uh you for the information um and the
inclusion of ebikes uh and e-
motorcycles in I learned a lot from
those and I want to thank you for that
aspect um getting into that because it's
very timely. So I look forward to the
environmental board discussion and I
hope to learn a lot. Thank you.
first agenda tonight is going to walk us
through.
>> Thanks. Um so this is I believe the
third time we've had a look at our work
plan. Um, back in December, we looked
through the draft work plan and
anticipating the needs and the topics
that would come before the board in
2026.
There were several suggestions from the
board on additional topics that they
would like discuss this next year. So,
we have worked to incorporate them into
the draft. And I'll I'll flag some of
these items in just a moment. Um,
tonight we are looking for any
additional topics you all want to make
sure are discussed this year or any of
these topics that you don't feel like
are necessary to come before the board.
Um, we'll be asking for approval of the
work plan tonight and then I'll be going
to the mayor and senior leadership for
review and approval.
So, I'll walk through a couple of items
um or just summarize kind of what's
what's on the work plan for this year
and there's one or two that we'll have
just a bit of additional explanation
around. Um so, the climate action plan
update is obviously a big lift for staff
and the board this year. We anticipate
several meetings between
tonight and April where we'll really
focus in on those sections of the plan
and work towards approval and a
recommendation towards council.
Potentially we may have a couple of
special meetings uh just to make sure we
get through all the content and have all
the input from the
um we have a few additional items that
will be coming to the board um this
spring. the storm water plan. Um and
then actually one that was just added
yesterday uh that's not in here is the
transportation improvement um program.
So that is another one scheduled for
March. Um
one a couple items that were requested
by the board was around um emergency
response and resilient efforts. Um Dave
and I have talked with our emergency
manager about bringing that into our
February meeting where we'll also be
talking about the community resilience
and well-being section of the climate
action plan. Um so we'll work with Jared
to integrate that conversation into the
um discussion around the plan update.
Um there was interest in a followup on
the wildlife and waste concerns. Um Sam
provided a memo
back in December that summarized the
data and next steps. Um we'll have her
come and have a conversation with the
board and determine if there's any
action that the board requests.
Um and then moving in later in the
spring, um we'll be discussing updates
around the urban forest management plan.
Um the board just uh requested a little
bit of additional conversation around
how the city
manages forests for wildlife and
integrate that into that conversation.
Um and then there's been requests to
have a conversation around streams and
ditches. Nancy, do you want to provide a
little more context on this topic?
>> Sure. Um, so during the conversation,
we've gotten a few emails from Connie
Marsh related to streams and ditches and
then I've had conversations with Jeff,
the head of the parks department. Much
of it, Conniey's concerns related to the
water body that once parallel to the um
reun trail near the new dot park that's
being constructed by communities kind of
where the temporary under construction
and the issue is is that a stream or is
that a ditch and how is it handled in
the code? Um,
apparently there's some confusion and
the title 18 code isn't very clear on
how you count ditches. Not very clear if
that's if you have to go back to an 18
something map to kind of define it. Kind
of wonder who built that code back to
the 1800s to figure out if a water body
is a stream or a ditch. So, I think
there's some room here for conversation
and but I did want to add something. So,
I'm hoping that we can move that up. I
cannot be here in May.
>> Yeah.
>> But I'd also request I know that um
community planning is taking to the
council um topics
that are going to be considered in title
18. I don't know when they're but I know
that committee has that happen and I
would ask that this be included in it. I
mean it's probably just a definition and
in my conversation with uh Jeff Wling
who's the
he the director of hearts and he said
yes he totally supported the idea of
somehow coming up with the definition
that works the issue came up. So we're
going to get it right the first time.
back to see if we can't get a better
definition of what I did show them and
what a stream is and not have to look at
1890 maps to figure that out.
I don't have all the facts, but someone
will bring it forward to us in the
future. That's why it's hopefully
region.
>> Do you have a place to bring that
forward?
>> Um, yeah, I'll follow up.
I'll touch base with Jeff and Minnie. um
possibly April.
>> We also need to include something about
drainage
pods,
storm water ponds,
>> a lot of those are integrated
and those are
those are typically separated from
streams. They're not
in line with systems. You should address
eventually good style ponds.
There's a lot of conversation going on
about what happens when they turn into
wetland.
Suggest we have that session later
alone is fairly
ideal. There's how ecology defines um
online
how
to
>> add that.
>> Would you like to bring bonds as a
topic?
>> Well, I'm just Is it something we should
consider? It's another waterway.
connect
to streams.
>> There's a lot that are actually
developed.
>> You have a storm water plan coming in
March. Should we ask is it
>> um Evan and Mike? Yeah. From public
works. I could ask them to talk about
how the city manages those. Yes.
How many there are, where they are, how
the use
>> um so a few adjustments we'll be making.
One is um adjusting the timing of the
streamings of streams and ditches and
I'll see when the t 18 docket
um if how it'll line it up with that.
Um, and then we will also be working
with Sam over the next year as she
starts to develop a compostable
serviceware policy. This is part of a
grant that we're doing jointly withish.
Um, we'll have our regular kind of
administrative procedures with board
elections. Um, bringing you budget
topics. One thing we're looking at for
the board elections that some of the
other boards and commissions have done
is adjust the timing of electing the
chair and vice chair so that if we have
new members starting in May, they are
not having to elect a chair and vice
chair at their very first meeting before
they get to know everyone. Um so looking
at whether that's June or some um boards
they've even pushed out to the fall. So,
um, that may require a change to our,
uh, rule regulations. So, a thing we're
evaluating.
>> Kind of on a different topic. So, this
is on the budget. You start talking
about the budget. In the past, the
criteria for the CI was brought to the
environmental court. And you talked
budget over is that criteria coming back
so that we could fire and climate
related emphasis into that or is that an
option like the CIP update and those
criteria would be done in 27. So these
will be the acts that David and I are
going to be bringing forward. So, we'll
provide you all a summary of what we're
anticipating moving forward, how we're
working with other departments on their
budget ask um for any initial input.
>> So, is this the big year for a budget or
is it next year?
>> This is the big year. Um yes. So, we'll
be developing the 2728 budget this year.
>> So, why is the CIP not be being included
as part of that? This is big year. A lot
of departments will be making requests
for that.
>> It is considered. It is part of that but
the criteria is worked on in the off
year with the budget so they rotate.
>> Um and then moving in later to summer
and fall um we'll be
looking at the sustainable building
requirements in title 18. Um, this is
something we'll talk about tonight too
with the actions, but currently we have
a lead certification or green building
requirement in the city and we want to
allow other pathways for sustainable
meeting sustainable building
requirements. So, that's something we'll
be seeking input
um from the board on.
Um there was a lot of interest in
wildlife. So we added another topic
around kind of everything the city does
around planning programs and policies
associated with wildlife. Um the other
topic was around how we manage our
forests for wildlife. This was there was
interest in looking a little more
broadly.
Um and then again moving into some more
administrative items towards the end of
the year with our um reporting
>> requirement. Yes. a natural systems
checklist. Previously, we had asked to
see examples of how that's being
implemented.
>> Yeah.
>> Yes. Yeah.
>> Um, great. And then I think the other
thing we're hoping to get in um at least
one field trip. Um, we're also having
conversations about possibly doing a
tour up at Timber Ridge with their
emergency manager to look at their clean
buildings work on how they're becoming
more energy efficient um as well as
their emergency management procedures.
So, we'll try and get a couple field
trips scheduled throughout the year.
Um, any other requests? Um, we'll be get
storm water ponds we'll add in there.
Um, we'll add in the the transportation
plan and then adjusting the timing of
the streams and ditches. Is there
anything else folks want to make sure
appears on this initial work plan?
Recognizing it does update throughout
the year as new topics come or more
urgent topics.
>> We're just looking for kind of a thumbs
up. we can move forward. Okay, Alex
Praj, any questions, concerns, revisions
from either of you?
>> Um,
>> I had one question, Stacy, if there's an
opportunity for us to invite the new
mayor or any cedar um city leadership to
come and meet us for one of our meetings
that are upcoming.
>> Yes. Um, I will ask about that.
I know in the past they've kind of
assigned a council member to come to
boards and commissions. I think it fell
through with our assigned council member
a couple of times. So, I'll see if we
can um have someone come.
>> Great. Thank you.
>> Keep going. Okay.
All right. Um, so very similar to last
time, um, or December meeting, what
we're planning to do tonight is pull out
a couple sections of the climate action
plan and review the revisions that we're
proposing to the actions. Tonight we're
going to look at uh buildings and energy
and then transportation and land use. Um
we'll walk through all the proposed
changes that we have for the actions for
the buildings and energy first and then
take input discussion and then we'll
move into transportation.
Um
let's see. So tonight, really just
looking for that feedback on kind of the
action concepts. Uh we still have a lot
of words smithing to do, but at least
want to make sure that we're hitting the
right set of actions and that you feel
like we're encompassing highest
priorities for moving forward in the
climate action plan.
Um, what I will do really quickly before
we move into buildings and energy is
have David just talk about the metrics
committee because there was a question
that came up from Tom today about
metrics. So, if you want to just give a
quick overview of that group and what
they're going to be doing, that'd be
great.
>> So, um, the third committee that we have
for the climate action plan, there was
the previous committee on natural
systems and one on land use. Third
committee is going to be the veterans
committee. Um Raj will be a participant
in that uh committee. Um there is still
space if any other insurance board
member would like to join that. Um but
we are hoping that um we'll kick that
off soon and have about uh two meetings
similar to the the other um committees,
one in February and one in March. um
where we are going to be digging into
this question of metrics. Um how we uh
assign metrics to actions, how how we
handle metrics uh associated with
actions, especially those that are uh
difficult to um quantitatively uh
measure or even qualitatively measure.
um think a little bit critically around
um some of the targets in the climate
action plan. For the most part, the uh
metrics committee is going to be focused
mostly on process, how we're dealing
with metrics in the plan. And then we'll
be able to take that uh feedback and
incorporate it into the plan itself as
we uh fine-tune how the metrics um or
how we're measuring uh the impact and
implementation of the climate action
plan. So uh hope that we can share out
the results committee meetings uh in
April and that some of this will be uh
incorporated as we as we go with action.
>> So tonight if as we're going through the
actions if you're getting really excited
about how we're going to measure all of
them and report out on them contact
David and you can join the metrics. I
think Jamie is also going to be on it.
Be great to have Jamie back in
the lead.
>> That is our next meeting.
>> Okay. So, we're going to do there's
there's not a special meeting around
that.
>> We have been talking about the metric
for
this current
one.
>> That'll be it. Yeah.
>> So, we have ideas.
>> Great. Um, so we'll move into buildings
and energy actions. This is the first
time you all are seeing these updated to
the actions. They haven't been through a
committee process. These were ones that
David and I felt like we could um
provide some recommended revisions to,
as you heard from our public comment,
we've um really tried to integrate some
of the priority actions we've heard from
people for climate action. Um so this
section of the plan is really focused on
reducing energy and fossil use in new
and existing buildings. Um everything
from residential to commercial.
Um so like the December meeting, we'll
walk through these. I'll walk through
all the proposed revisions first just so
you have a sense of um the full set and
then we will take comments um questions.
Um so the first one is developing energy
efficiency outreach and incentive
programs. That language we are proposing
to retain. Um, we'll probably make a few
minor modifications to the description
language just so it can be a little more
um encompassing and uh would include
kind of the types of programming that we
may do in the future.
Assess potential for energy benchmarking
program. The current language in the
plan is to establish an energy
benchmarking program. Um, we've shared
with you all about our clean buildings
incentive program. There's existing
state law that requires energy
benchmarking for buildings 20,000 square
feet and above. Um we are interested in
potentially looking at filling that gap.
Um buildings 5,000 to 20,000 square feet
where we would explore kind of the
feasibility of having a local smart that
would require them to report their
energy use. Um, this is something a few
other east side cities are interested in
in doing. Um, it's a pretty big uh
capacity hit to run a benchmarking
program. So, we want to be really
thoughtful and make sure it's something
that we'd be able to handle in this, but
it help fill that gap um for buildings
that aren't currently covered by state
real quick.
Um, this was spoken to at public
comment, but the next one is strengthen
energy efficiency building codes. We're
actually recommending removing that. Um
there's really strong state energy codes
in place. Um and we have several other
actions throughout the plan that speak
to continued advocacy at the um state
level. Um I was not aware of the house
bill that was mentioned earlier.
Obviously, that's something we would
track and if that went into place, we
consider bringing moving this action
that's currently in 2021 into our
updated plan.
Um, we have a new action where we're
proposing to assess the potential for a
home energy score ordinance. Um, this is
spoken to in the public comment. It is a
priority for people for climate action.
Um this is essentially when a home is
being sold, they report out um their
energy score. Um the home is kind of
rated for its energy efficiency.
Um it is being used in Oregon. It's run
at the state level. Uh I think we want
to look at
implications here and how that could
work on a more localized scale or at a
regional scale. Um, I think we have some
questions about equity and making sure
it's a fair program. There's a program
down in Berkeley that um has a home
energy score requirement and then
there's actually some incentive dollars
available to help people improve their
energy score. Um, so there's just a lot
of questions we have and and examine it
further before we move it forward.
Um, conduct electrification outreach. We
want to retain that action.
Um
the next action was implementing the
regional heat pump campaign. We wanted
to expand that language um to
accelerating market transport
transformations of residential
properties away from natural gas. Um, we
thought this would be more inclusive of
where our campaigns and programming are
going where we will continue to um
implement rebates and incentives for
heat pumps, but we're also looking at
hot water heaters and improved
weatherization,
um, battery storage, just a whole wide
array of solutions for helping people
transition away from natural gas. So, we
just wanted to make sure it was a bit
more expanded language. Um, this
language would also mirror language um
used in the Belleview and Redmond plan
updates.
And then the next one, incentivizing
electrification.
This we wanted to just differentiate by
changing the language to incentivize
electrification for commercial
properties so that we have specific
actions more focused on residential um
and those focused on and just really
emphasize that importance of working
with commercial
um advocating for increased electricity
grid reliability. We are recommending
retaining that.
Um enacting an all electric building
code. Um that is the current language in
the plan. We are recommending changing
that to assessing potential policies and
partnerships to advance electrification.
Um all electric codes have been
challenged across the country in court.
Um, we don't know if there's a pathway
for that here. We're not opposed to it.
But I think with this revised language,
it would allow us or it would open up
the door for other avenues to look at
regional initiative, state initiatives,
or maybe it does end up being more of a
local initiative. Uh but just to allow
more flexibility versus focusing our
efforts on a code that just may not be
feasible um or may be um illegal as
challenged in court.
Um evaluating community solar projects.
We're recommending revising that to
allow for flexibility that would be um
really looking at community benefiting
renewable energy projects. So expanding
beyond solar um and really just opening
up the door so we can do programs and
incentives and rebates for more than
just um solar.
And next one promoting renewable energy
financing incentives. We're just
recommending revising that to include
storage. Um I think we're seeing uh
really that promotion and programming
around um battery storage is essential
both for supporting um grid resilience
um as well as kind of local resilience
during power outages.
Um and I'll just mention the last one
real quick is encourage enrollment in
PSC's green power program. We just
wanted that's very specific. We wanted
to revise that just for um for language
similar to encouraging enrollment in
offsite renewable energy programs that
would just be a little bit more
expansive than beyond PSC's green power
program.
That is it. Sorry, David. Are there
other comments or things or just jump in
as there's questions? Um, so yeah, we
wanted to really just open up questions
on any of the proposed revisions. What
did we miss? The ones in here you really
like, ones you want us to change. Um,
really just want feedback on those that
the board wishes to comment on tonight.
>> Thank you. Have you first
muted the
>> Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. Sorry. Yeah, I
couldn't hear clearly. Yeah. So, Stacy,
um, you know, I have a question
associated with this regarding the
electricity grid reliability and
stability. I know we had asked the mayor
at one time last year, you know, um if
there were formal assessments and you
know um real evaluations if the
electricity grid or PAC PAC seems to be
the primary provider and if their grid
is stable or reliable enough to
continuously provide the increasing
electric demand. Right? Um and I don't
know if this necessarily falls under the
you know the ICAP or the environmental
board perview but my worry is you know
with all these um electric vehicles and
all other uh green energy programs you
know actually taking an effect suddenly
we might find ourselves in a position
where the electric grid is completely
unstable or you know I may be
exaggerating but my point is this needs
to be done and this needs to be a city
priority. Um, and I'm wondering if
anything is being done uh in that
respect and if there is any way we can
push for that.
>> Yeah, great question. Um, not sure I
have a
real clear response for you, but just a
couple things that are happening. I
mean, Bellevio and Redmond are actually
funding their own studies to look at can
the grid kind of handle electrification
over the next 10 or so years. Um, and so
we're looking forward to seeing their
results and just seeing any kind of
recommendations that come out of that
study. Um, PSSE is um putting in more
capacity in Isiqua. Um and then the
other item that we'll be really
promoting is a lot of the energy
conservation, the demand response um
type programs that PSC is running to
really cut back on energy use even if
there's increased electrification,
cutting back on how much um is consumed
where possible or making sure that um
the timing of that consumption is when
there's less of a hit on the grid. Um so
we'll um we can probably share any kind
of studies that come out from our
neighboring partners and um once we have
a chance to connect further with the new
mayor just kind of see what's on his
radar for working with PSSE too and
share that back the group
>> right I think I think that would be a
great idea and you know means in some
way I feel like you know we and the city
needs to keep tabs on this you know
because um Um I I I think that is going
to be genuinely a hurdle all across the
country not just for our city. Um and
then I had one more question and I know
it's not associated with this particular
slide. Um, and I kind of forgot. I know
we had looked at the emergency
preparedness
plan at some point and I know it was a
part of IAP or is it a separate plan? We
had looked at Stacy because I I had a
question associated with that.
>> The emergency Yes, that there is a
separate plan. Um Jared, our emergency
manager, will join us in February and
talk a bit about the emergency
management program and how they work on
resilience. Um so sorry I just had one
suggestion on that Stacy because I know
I didn't say it earlier because for the
environmental board work plan right I
personally think every year we are
seeing the weather related emergencies
you know increasing this year it was
flooding last year it was bomb cyclone
you name it and something or the other
is there and which is not necessarily
expected by the city right it's coming
in different forms we don't expect
necessarily
at that time or that season. Um, and so
the emergency preparedness plan for the
city needs to be a priority and I think
maybe we should add that to the
environmental board work plan for this
year.
>> Yeah, that's a good question. I don't it
it is definitely a priority for the
city. there is no board or commission
that really advises on that plan. Um I
can mention that as a that's a interest
and definitely where there's the
intersection with the resilience piece
and the climate work. Um David and I try
to bring those topics forward to you
all. Um but I can I can plague that and
just get some input from our leadership
on thoughts. But I think we'll continue
to bring those topics. I know Jared's um
very interested in in sharing the work
he does and emergency management is one
of our think is on
looking at our uh our 2026 priorities
from the mayor but emergency management
is one of those very top priorities. So
you will see it come out quite a bit at
council um over this next year.
>> Okay. Thank you. Thanks. Um back
on the one you're proposing to remove
alto together the stren energy
efficiency building codes.
>> Um not opposed to that but maybe a
reference to supporting the state energy
codes monitoring them or something along
those lines
>> just in case they go sideways on
something.
Yeah, and there's a number of appendices
that are proposed to those codes
throughout the years um throughout the
year that cities can opt into adopting.
So, I think that's a that's a great
amendment where we do monitor that um
and work with staff to determine whether
or not.
So I feel like there's two things that
I'm missing from this list and so I'm
going to talk some concept.
First one is it feels very much like
we've missed the energy conservation
talks about going to getting away from
gas getting into the
>> but there's no specific thing to
continue to push energy conservation.
People should turn their lights off when
you go out of the room. A lot of those
>> Yeah. energy efficiency or energy
benchmarking, it's still you have to
hear the words. They have to be
something monitoring. It's something
that you're pushing. I don't see energy
conservation.
And as you guys all know, I love all the
lights at the Costco parking lot, but I
love the seat turned off at some points
are nearly shut down and even beautiful,
but it's just doesn't send the right
message as you drive down the freeway
that it's lit up like a Christmas tree.
I'm sorry. That's how I strongly feel
about it. So, energy conservation and
working with our community to produce
this like I'd love a little more night
sky in this community. I think there's
an opportunity but I also think it's the
right message which is we need to
conserve energy even if we are using
LEDs it still uses
>> yeah that is great that is the intent
with this first one but knowing that
that wording isn't
>> you got it that's great and
>> just you have to send that's what we
need
>> okay yeah that's fantastic
Is there another another one?
>> No, the other one was you guys know
that's my favorite question.
>> And we'll be talking about dark sky when
we get to community resilience and
wellbeing.
>> Yeah. So, I'm glad you brought up the um
the grade reliability. Are we going to
have too much electricity coming from
it? Um, so the way I understand it leads
into something that I wanted to talk
about. So, and that Stacy um touched on
a bit. So, the way I understand it is
there's um we have enough energy
um but there's certain times when we
have peak times. So in the um in the
winter the peak time is but in the in
the spring and summer the peak time is
just in the evening from 5 to 8 p.m. And
then um now in the fall and winter it's
from uh
uh it's in the morning and the evening
from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and then the PM
one. Um and then sometimes we have you
know the uh the pe we use a whole bunch
of electricity when it's super cold or
super hot.
Um and those are the times that we need
to try to balance out. And there's a lot
of great tools to do that these days.
Um, and then people are even using like
batteries and um, they can fill up their
battery like in the evening if you're on
a time of use plan through BSC and get
really cheap electricity and then um,
use your battery to power everything
else during the peak times. Um, and then
there's like you can seamlessly
seamlessly control your heater and a lot
of your appliances.
So I'm thinking maybe that is something
like demand response is a little bit
different than efficiency and um
conservation. So I'm wondering if demand
response should be one of our um columns
>> because in my mind
it's um it's going to be super
important. And then um last year, maybe
this last year, I went to I listened to
a Northwest Power
and Conservation Council meeting because
I'm a total geek. And um what they were
concerned about wasn't necessarily like
more electricity coming on and EVs and
stuff because a lot of people charge at
night. they're they're really concerned
with uh uh the data centers and Bitcoin
and stuff like that. So that's
what is throwing a wrench in everything
all around the country and the world.
So,
um I'm not sure how we're going to
control for that, but luckily at least
some of the um some of the tech
companies are paying for their own
electricity and
I'm not even sure if they're going to
use the same lines because we don't have
enough transmission lines to deal with
all of that. So, that that was my first
one. And then the second one is um
around advocacy.
So it everything's in there. Um BE24,
you know, talking about um
advocate for increased electricity grid
liability through state and utility
regulatory
ruling rule making legislation. So and I
know that there's like a legisl
legislative person in the city of Isqua.
So, um, as a as a citizen that likes to
try to help guide the process and get
the city to comment things on things
that I think would be powerful, um, it
would be great for us to know who those
point people are, you know, like is it
going to be the mayor? Is it going to be
sustainability? Is it going to be this
legislative person? Um,
so maybe that leads to a fight and so
they know who they are too. because
everybody needs to know what their job
is.
>> Yeah.
>> And maybe maybe they is there already a
person that deals with all of that
besides legislation.
>> Um yeah, just the ledge update at the
end of the meeting. Um, so the way it
works with the city is we have a
contractor that she has the city's
legislative priorities and she's
tracking bills and place them for staff
um where they align with the city's
priorities where there may be an impact
to the city. So we don't actually have
any particular a staff person um on
point. Um and then that filters through
um the staff that she raises them to to
the subject matter experts. So like
David and I are pulled into the energy
sustainability related build that come
through. Um, so it's a little different
than some other cities um have their own
government affairs or legislative staff
that are reviewing the bills, but um
here in some ways it's great because
they're pulling in the staff that these
bills would directly affect.
>> What about um other commenting
opportunities to the UTC and
other regulation?
>> Yeah, so case by case basis. So
sometimes we're flagging those to um the
contractor to say is this something we
should be uh commenting on. In some
cases it may be our legal team that
we're flagging them to and then raising
up to the mayor. We think it's
important. So many of the items that you
share with us um we would have reached
out directly to Mayor if she was
interested in commenting. Um still
figuring out how that process.
Yeah.
Great. Thank you.
>> This is just a question. Yeah, we're
talking climate action plan here.
>> We're talking a lot about electricity
and fossil.
>> Um I'm wondering where we talk about
water usage consumption, conservation,
is that in another plan
>> that um so some of that will be covered
in the section we'll cover we'll talk
about in February. be our natural system
section.
>> Okay.
>> Um but if they're
around energy consumption associated
with water use
>> more about the resources, you know,
buildings use electricity.
>> Yeah.
>> So it's covered somewhere.
>> Yep. Absolutely. Yeah. So February. Um
and we'll keep as we're preparing the
materials, we'll keep an eye out for
that. maybe flag it if we see it as a
gap because I'm trying to I can't
remember exactly the water conservation
actions there.
>> There will also be in the uh climate
resilience section if some natural
system actions get moved over to to
that. Um it would be addressed a little
bit there as well when it comes to water
quality and kind of how water
quality.
Chain did you say did you say just water
consumption or you're also talking about
how the water runs off
>> I was thinking mostly water consumption
as city builds out
all the buildings have
to
deficient
standard
That's right. And probably when the
building is built, they're about half.
Um, yeah, we should make sure that those
are February meeting the natural systems
water resources section. Um, we'll flag
those for you all or maybe we see some
gaps and need some addition if they're
not sufficiently
Rash.
>> Yeah, thanks Don. Uh so I just wanted to
add something to what um an mentioned
and you know I think an you had a lot of
good points and uh I do think the
advocacy and you know um what you
brought up is an important aspect and um
to your you know comment regarding the
data centers and you know how do we
maintain the electric uh electricity
grid stability. There has been some
tools being considered and used and at
least in India in some cities I know for
a fact they have been used where the
city um was proposed and created an
alliance between the different
businesses in that city where especially
for manufacturing plants because they'll
be using a lot of electricity in a
single day or the single shift. They had
a rotating schedule developed for the
power usage where you know each um
manufacturing plant will have one day or
certain number of hours when they will
not have the power at the facility. Mean
that was just planned power outage for
that particular manufacturing plant and
so each of them were on rotating
schedule to make sure that there is no
sudden you know like the to maintain the
stability of the electricity grid. So
these kinds of things can be done and
they need to be done more at a city
level under policy and will be pushed
out through businesses. I just wanted to
bring this up since you know you
mentioned data centers and these are
some of the things that can be done or
being done. That's pretty much it. Thank
you.
Uh yeah, on the resilience uh and energy
infrastructure point, I think um it it
was during the bomb cyclone, I think the
charging stations were a really big
thing at the resilience hubs. Uh and I
think uh if it's not already being done,
just making sure we're prioritizing uh
that and renewable energy infrastructure
at those sites and energy storage. Um so
if there is grid you know unreliability
that at least those places are um you
know uh at those and those alternative
sources energy
one of your actions was about outreach
and just thinking through that I think
that just an idea for you guys
concepts you need to really educate
homes on how best to improve their
possible.
I think I think there's a lot of
there's many ways you can your home add
insulation potentially put those in
electrical management systems that
crawl space. Um
point I want to make is that we got to
careful not to have people come and sell
us things like
our new window is really worth
a lot of times if you engage with
company do some outreach they're just
trying to sell
we need to have sort of holistic look so
we give homeowners
that if the new windows white look cool
nice but they may not do anything
they may not significantly
reducing costs as opposed to potentially
adding legislation
building
outreach is a good one but I think we
need to think about it be careful that
we don't just have window sales
committed to offer prepaid offer
discounts on
Yeah, that's a great point. Um, PSSE
used to have an MV audit program where
they would send a professional out to
your home and kind of advise you on the
top changes that could be made that
would really improve efficiency. That
program doesn't exist anymore. So, we've
this has been a priority of PCA and
we've talked about with the ESG bringing
back the audit. Sure. There's a study
that somebody's done that weighs all
these alternatives
study that could have been 30 years ago
and it's still applying.
>> Absolutely. Yeah. So, I think Yeah. I
think that's a great great point and I'm
hearing a lot of comments where this
first one I think um
while we I think we had a lot we were
intending to put in the description that
covered many of the items you all have
raised tonight, it might be best to um
break this one up to really emphasize
that conservation, the demand response,
the homeowner education. And so we'll
look at how to break up a little bit
more.
>> Yeah,
>> mine's a little It's just a little fun
thing that I heard the other day. Um
that is um in Australia so many people
have solar panels now um you can get
them put on really fast than a week or
two um that there's a whole bunch of
there's extra extra electricity
>> and so instead of storing it um they are
just giving people free electricity um
during certain times every single day
and so they can just use a whole bunch
electricity during those times and then
not as much nucle.
So yeah, I'm hearing um probably
splitting up those first one to make
sure we're covering those three topics I
just summarized. The conservation,
demand response, and then that homeowner
education around um best investments for
efficiency. Um, Don had a comment around
the state energy efficiency building
code probably retaining that in some
form that is around monitoring
um and just and then to the kind of
appendices that we continue to monitor
and assess whether to integrate into our
code. And then I didn't hear any other
major changes to the action concepts. a
lot of great feedback and comments. Um,
anything
that we missed in terms of
and as feel free to you all think of
something later this week, please
go ahead and send those to us.
All right, we will move into
transportation and land use focus area.
Um so you all have um touched this
section in one way where um last summer
we worked with a committee um to receive
some feedback on how to revise this
section. We shared that information with
you all in the fall and then um we met
with transportation advisory group and
PPC to do some initial vetting of
concepts and actions and policies
um and and shared the feedback that we
received from them with this group. So,
some of these will look familiar. Um,
but here tonight, we really wanted to
get your feedback on this section, which
is really focused on how do we improve
land use to decrease reliance on
vehicles and emissions from vehicles.
Um, so again, I will just walk through
each of these actions first to provide a
little reasoning of the revisions we're
proposing. One thing I did not know is
um I attached the ordinance for ebikes
and e- motorcycles just because that
ebikes has come up in particular at
conversations with this group and with
the transportation advisory group when
we start to think about actions that
really promote ebikes. Um that ordinance
is um it's really an ordinance for these
motorcycles um which there's a lot of
safety concerns, there's age
restrictions. Um there's usage
limitations. Um the city really wants to
emphasize that they support and promote
ebikes, especially the class one and two
ebikes that go up to um 20 miles per
hour. There will be some other
restrictions for the class 3 ebikes that
go faster um and just limitations of
what they can be used, but the city
wanted to ensure that this ordinance is
not interpreted as trying to limit
ebikes. But they really the city really
sees them as um one of our tools in our
toolkit. So um wanted to make sure that
that was included or
could be uh uh help you all in um
providing some basis as we look at the
questions.
All right. So um this first one is a
little bit of a combination. So in the
current plan we have an action that is
around incentivized dense mixeduse
transit oriented development. Um, we
wanted to
kind of uh expand what was meant by
that. Um, where this section of the plan
really looked at a lot of updates to
title 18, our land use code, which were
completed,
but we want to ensure that there
continues to be a climate lens applied
to city codes. And so we're proposing an
action that's pretty broad, but it's
about ensuring that sustainability,
climate, and the environment are
considered in updates to city code. So
that would include probably mostly our
land use code, building code, um would
be probably the priority ones. Um,
so it's a little bit of a broad action,
but um, instead of having uh, a whole
set of actions that look across the
different city codes, we wanted to have
kind of an overarching one.
Um, the next one does get into a
specific piece of city code because we
know this is on our war plan. This is
um, around expanding those sustainable
design standards. So I spoke about this
earlier. Um in title 18 we um
incorporated in the last update the
requirement for a lead certification for
buildings of a certain size. That is one
green building certification. It is a
very expensive certification.
We want to open up the opportunity for
other buildings to build green um but
receive other certifications or points
where they can meet the intent but maybe
they aren't labeled with um the lead
symbol. Um so I'd be working with you
all in our planning department to um
develop some additional standards to be
inerted into code
um the missing middle housing in
discussing with our planning department.
We are proposing removing this. It was
incorporated um there was code
incorporated into title 18 their state
requirements. um they didn't feel like
it was a action that was needed in the
IAP.
Uh we have a couple new ones here that
have come out of the committee
discussions this summer and further
discussed with uh the transportation
advisory board. Uh the first one is
around moving removing parking minimums
um for multifamily buildings that have
easy access to transit.
Um and then the next one is around um
looking at requirements for biking or
multi- modal networks for new
developments um really to improve access
for biking and other um modes of
transportation. So these are two kind of
development requirements um or policies
that would be considered.
Um there uh was a action around
implementing our mobility plan. We're
proposing updating that to change the
name. Um and then as we've discussed
with you all and some of the other
boards and commissions. What we would
like to do with this action is really
highlight some of the climate benefits
of that plan. um and that it will
the IAP will retain the importance of
these other plans that it's connected to
from the by emphasizing the climate
lens. Um and we're not losing that
connection to these other plans and
their importance.
Um the next one we're proposing to
retain this is promoting commute trip
reduction and teleawwork. Um this is the
program we do with uh the large
employers in the city um to help reduce
emissions through
uh employee commutes.
Um advocating and partnering regionally
to improve transit network. We're
proposing to retain this, but we
received feedback from you all um at our
last discussion around transportation
that we should expand the description to
look at the potential for demand
shuttles. Uh bringing back I believe a
circular shuttle um exploring free
wrership on some routes um which I think
Ann you've shared in the past and that's
come up through um people for climate
action. Um so it would just be kind of
an expanded definition of that action
and the types of programs we might
explore.
Um updating land use codes to promote
multimodal transportation. We want to
retain this but um just emphasize in
there the ebike
uh the scooter charging I think this
one. Do you want to was this requiring
in um
>> developments to make sure in multi-
>> Yes.
>> Okay. So this would be I think this
actually came up at tab
>> in just development projects
>> for um with new development projects and
particularly multifamily to make we
there'd be an added requirement to make
sure there's sufficient ebike and e
scooter charging
not just storage but there'd be a place
for residents to charge so that would be
a add-on to a building
um the transportation management action
plans. This one came up in public
comment that was proposed to remove. Um
I need to double check with our planning
manager, but I think that's already
incorporated into title 18. Um but I
will confirm that and we'll follow up
with you all anything there.
Um expanding EV infrastructure. The
current language says cityowned. Um
we're recommending changing that to
public EV infrastructure.
Um David and I are trying to get out of
the business of uh owning and managing
EV chargers. Uh we have a few on our
plate, but we really want to promote uh
kind of public private partnerships so
that the city is not spending a lot of
our staff time um dealing with
maintenance um and management of those
chargers. So we want to expand public
charging infrastructure, but just look
at different models for doing that.
um multifamily requirements um or excuse
me um the current language in the plan
speaks to requirements for EV
infrastructure and single family. We are
recommending changing that to
multifamily and expanding those. Um
single family requirements were
incorporated into the state building
code. There are multifamily charging
requirements as well. We are interested
in exploring potential increase in the
requirements, the percentage of parking
spaces that would need to be um EV
ready. Um
Redmond has done this for their
multifamily buildings. They just passed
a policy that 100% of parking spaces
need to be EV ready. I believe
um we discussed that with TAB.
They were not opposed to it, but they
want to understand if that would have
negative consequences where maybe multif
family might not want to build here. And
I believe we discussed this with you all
back in the fall and there were some
concerns raised. So, um, we're
interested in exploring, do we want to
go above the state code and have
increased requirements or Belleview is
running a program right now to provide
technical assistance for multifamily to
increase their EV charging. So, just
looking at some different options there.
Um, promoting state and federal um, EV
incentives.
We just were recommending removing state
and federal just uh not knowing where
incentives or reates might go in the
future. Uh there are no longer any
federal ones. Um and then a new one, I
think this is the last one. um would be
looking at the potential for any require
building requirements to put in solar
carports if there was a newer
redeveloped parking lot. Um both for the
cooling benefit um but then for also
potentially some resiliency that could
be um incorporated into a project like
that.
So wanted to just
if we'd want to put forward a policy.
So that's a lot around kind of
multimodal land use and that
intersection. So we'll open it up for
feedback. Any gaps, major concerns, any
of these you really like or
>> uh Okay. So one idea is evaluation of
escooter
um vendors that provide services to our
little town such as other
larger municipalities like Seattle. Uh I
don't know. I I have some trepidation
about going in that direction just
because our infrastructure for
multimodal transportation is
up to the mark where it should be and so
there will be ill consequences of of
flooding our sidewalks and central with
these devices. But I think it's
something we need to evaluate
and
maybe uh we could roll it out in a very
limited and measured way uh such that it
wouldn't cause a big problem. I know one
of the things that's being evaluated or
maybe acted on in Seattle, I'm not sure
where this stands right now, but they
are are geo fencing uh some some of the
usage so that well you you can't leave
that scooter just anywhere. you must
leave it in a designated spot or you're
going to get a charge to what you do or
some such. So those solutions are being
worked on and deployed in some
municipalities.
Um I think this is a thing and we should
move in that direction someday. Maybe
that day isn't this day, but in the time
frame of this plan, it probably will be
a thing. And so have a line item for
that sort of evaluation. Evaluate the
feasibility of we're not we're not ready
to say yes, we should do it today. But
evaluating the feasibility for future
deployment is something that we should
think about.
And that kind of feeds in with my little
comment on the uh one of the metrics
that we should be looking at is how many
miles of of bike lanes do we have or
more generally multimodal transportation
corridors in the city of Isiqua. There's
there's room for improvement in that
area where the squad is not that good in
that area in my opinion. And uh we
there's a there's an old adage in
quality and circle parlance of well if
you want to improve something you've got
to measure it. All right let's measure
how many miles of bike lanes multi
mobile transport lanes we have and that
will allow us to cause us to think about
it enough to oh yeah I guess we should
prove that it helps you in that
direction anyway. So that was just one
thought on the metrics. I guess maybe I
need to get plugged better into the
metrics committee on that area. You can
go down the the list of every action we
have and contemplate well how can we
measure that? Well, some some can't be
measured directly. Some can and some
can't and some you have to have a proxy
an indirect proxy measurement but you
need to give it some thought and try.
Um that's all I have.
>> One comment just on the e- scooter
ebike. Um that is an action in the
mobility action plan. So we'll call that
out because recognizing that's a
priority for climate action. Um there
was a pilot program that was proposed to
council three two or three years ago.
Um
>> yeah 22 or 23. and um council decided
not to move forward. It's been on our
radar to do kind of more assessments and
studies to look at a program that
council might support very maybe limited
pilot. So, we'll make sure to figure out
how to highlight that whether it's under
um the implement mobility action plan or
maybe it deserves a call out. Thanks for
raising.
>> So, as I think about when the original
climate action plan was approved by
pounds one of them work. Um I think
about how ebikes expand in their use and
their sales. I mean, they are a big
deal. And so, as I think about as we
implement this plan, they're going to
get to be bigger and bigger and we don't
really say much about
>> there's an opportunity here to get ahead
of the game instead of kind of
responding to the game.
And so, I think we and I don't really
have an answer of what it is, if that
makes sense. But I think we need to call
out advice because it is a huge
opportunity to solve a problem and that
is to get the cars off the road to get
people to transit centers to get on the
light rail currently trying to do the
buses and to get them out of their cars
and so I think it's something we need to
starting to measure and assess happening
with just Tom was talking to me about
which is the um systems to get people
moving around the community But we know
that people are going to continue to
purchase those and it may reduce our
reliance on cars and therefore create
our network. So I think there needs to
be a place to talk about that and to
begin to assess because there is a great
opportunity here to get people to
transit centers and to get them to other
places.
Yes,
I was just about this
section. There's nothing in the call
about light rail.
>> Seems like there ought to be some
specific action actions for light
railing
ahead for integration with other
transportation modes. all of maybe
service the city cities should start
studying lessons learned
best practices from other locations like
trails just seems like that's the
biggest thing that's going to happen
it's still a ways out but
we should start working in a great plan
now Um,
and we should maybe have an action to
try to get it here sooner
>> instead of just I don't know, maybe
that's all being discussed somewhere
else in the city.
>> That's a good flag. Yeah, that's also um
widely covered in the mobility action
plan, but I think that's one of the
challenges. We have so many plans that
are really working together. But that's
something we'll um we will plan to
emphasize
here. And maybe what we can do is bring
you all the language that's in the
mobility action plan for particularly
these two topics that you've raised and
make sure you feel like it's sufficient
or is there any add-on that
see
so yeah those are great great
highlights.
Uh as far as uh building a bike biking
culture goes, I think uh I think in a
lot of places I've lived and in Seattle
uh where that had a strong uh kind of
community of cyclists uh practical
reasons commuting and everything.
There's been like community uh nonprofit
like bike shops and uh at least programs
for folks to learn or or you know get
the tools and the time and space to to
maintain or repair bikes or even just
you know get on bikes and uh I think uh
we've got a lot of great bike shops in
Isl
but they're all you know and they're
kind of like geared towards uh people
with money to to to spend on like on
biking things like that. So, I just uh
uh I I see the tool library as a
potential opportunity for that kind of
programming. Um and even if it's not
like a brick and mortar type thing, cool
to have kind of city sponsored
>> uh bicycle program.
>> That's a Are you Yeah, we only
creating a biking culture is something
we've been talking a lot about with our
transportation planner. We have it in
here more around kind of new development
policy, but are you maybe pulling that
out as a separate action because that
could relate to maybe the city is
sponsoring free bike classes with REI or
working with a nonprofit to have a
chapter established here.
infrastructures obviously a huge
component but also as far as that
cultural piece goes just making sure
people have you know that those cultural
programs or opportunities to engage.
>> Okay. Yeah, maybe we'll think about
kind of action we could propose about
that.
Great. Um, so what I heard, um, when we
were just talking about maybe pulling
out something around bike culture, going
beyond kind of the policies that would
help create that, um, we will send you
all the language for the mobility action
plan around the ebike, escooter, share
programs, and light rail and make sure
you all think that's sufficient for um,
linking to in the climate action plan or
do we need something else in here to
emphasize boost. Um, and then we also
talked about highlighting ebikes and
ecooters. We think about how to do that
through the actions or maybe there's
even envisioning like a call out box in
the climate action plan that's just
talking about kind of the evolution of
ebikes and e scooters and the city needs
to be monitoring that and thinking about
how to bring in here or maybe there is a
specific action we call out. So, we'll
play around a bit with some language
there.
I think
those were Yeah. And around the light
rail language, we'll just um make sure
there's um language there around
advocating and looking at pushing up
timelines.
>> Anything?
>> Just another thought picking ahead. Is
there any actions to like work with the
state um lobby to make changes for like
widening state around 900 from all the
way through to
something where you
city would action
try to make bigger always
they talked about past years ago that
failed
you've already
lost state.
>> Yeah, that's a good question. I know. I
mean, that's council is very involved in
highway 18 and council's been talking
about 900 and ways to improve traffic in
Isaka. I'll take a look at what's in the
ability action plan. I'm guessing it's
probably covered there, but we'll pull
out that language.
>> Just think like back to
>> great.
Well, it was rather ineffective in terms
of improving the throughput on this
Hobart road. You know, let's do a
bypass. Well, let's not bother doing
bypass because it won't help because
there's so so many bottlenecks on that
two-lane road. And King County is not
solving those.
It was there was some effort to try to
through that and no problem.
Well, you know, nothing's going to
change unless
nothing's going to get through unless
I'm no traffic engineer. I always hear
about how widening highways and stuff.
There's going to be some bottleneck
nearby or induced demand or whatever
that just counteracts that pretty
quickly. So I think if we are making
infrastructural adjustments maybe focus
multimotal opportunities like bike lanes
or bus lanes or those
>> I'm just thinking about town I grew up
in the US
>> when I was a child they came through the
state came through and put took a
two-lane road completely lightning made
it into a freeway and they took off tons
of houses by
Now all that traffic just smoothly goes
through
by itself
to do that
to get get more money out of that state.
But uh anyway, big changes take a long
time to do and
it happens at the state.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I know it's a priority for
council because whenever we do the
community survey, traffic is the number
one concern from the community and so
council's been having some discussions.
So I'll I can
>> like even down see there are certain
freeways just go through the tunnels
through passive
try to reduce the
hugely expensive but what's it going to
look like in 50 years?
So just on that subject, um I don't
think so it would be great to have buses
and bus stops in Maple Valley and black
women in that area and to get people on
mass transit over to 405 and then they
wouldn't be coming on at least not on
the local program. So that's an idea
that I've had. And then maybe maybe that
could happen to get people off of SR 900
as well.
I don't know. Just just some thoughts.
How can we improve?
>> Maybe we need space.
Well, great. Thank you for all the great
feedback. Um,
maybe just real quick as we wrap up that
those IAP sections review. Is is this
process working for the IAP review? We
have one we have two more focus areas to
review next meeting and we're planning
to kind of bring the action revisions to
you in a similar way. Just want to see
if that is working for you all. You feel
like it's a decent way to provide
feedback.
>> I think so. I mean there's been great
discussion around.
>> Okay. Been great for us. Um so yes, next
meeting we will look at um small topics
uh natural systems and water resources
and community resilience and well-being
including kind of a new structure to
that section. Uh so we may have a bit of
a long meeting uh next meeting because
we're also planning to bring in
greenhouse gas inventory and a little
bit of overview of emergency management
to feed into that community resilience
discussion. Um, and then we anticipate
that'll kind of wrap up the deep dive
into the focus areas and then we're
looking at probably a special meeting in
March and then possibly a special
meeting in April to uh look overall at
the climate plan revisions and hopefully
get to your recommendation to move it
forward to council in April.
For me, it was fun breaking up that
first and
>> great. Yeah, we can look at if that
structure would be beneficial for that
final.
Right. And then we have a few reports
and other updates that All right. Um,
first uh thing I just wanted to know is
I believe this Friday board and
commission applications will open for
the environmental board. We have one
youth position opening, one regular
position, and three alternates. Um, I've
reached out to folks whose positions are
ending. Encourage you all to reapply.
Um, but uh, we will send out that
information to the full board. reach out
to your networks, folks you think would
be a good fit to bring on to the board.
Um, and then any questions on that?
Uh, and then in good news, I'll let
David first share about our breaking
news at five o'clock.
Yeah, as of a couple hours ago, we just
received news that we are getting a
large grant from Fiji Found Energy to um
electrify the community center at uh
transition from natural gas to uh
electric heat pumps at the facility um
which will also have the added benefit
of um allowing cooling in the facility
as well. Um so so that is one of our
resilience subsites. Um it's a priority
uh site for us to uh upgrade
infrastructure electrifying uses about
10% of our natural gas use um from city
operations. So all of that will be
addressed through this project. Um so
yes we got um about a little over
twothirds of the projects is going to be
funded from the PSC.
>> Way to go
>> city funds
the expectation and then maybe
additional funds from PSC if that can
>> we'll see. Are you looking at batteries
at all?
>> Next step will be to look at to take
another look at solar and potential
batteries that would go with that
project. Um it would probably be a phase
two. Um as we as you plan you're
thinking ahead,
>> correct? We are just actually asked the
state for uh funds through an allocation
that would allow us to uh re-evaluate
the feasibility and potentially develop
designs for a solar uh system at the
facility that could also be connected to
a future battery similar to the micro
grid project going into center.
>> I was just asking that since the senior
center's not very big and power goes out
center has much more opportunity
I wasn't going to bring this up on
focused feedback for the energy
infrastructure stuff, but has anybody
heard of like the gravity uh water
pumping water up as an energy storage
feature? And then I don't know, we have
water at the end. So, we've had some of
those conversations with our uh water
manager, Gabby. She's she's fantastic.
And that is something that we are
interested in evaluating whether or not
some of that technology could work
within our water system. Um within our
um capital improvement plan, there are
some projects coming up where um in the
next medium term maybe um where those
projects could potentially be
incorporated into into some of those
projects. So that goes to some of that
action language related to broadening
from just solar to more renewable energy
since that could then incorporate water
based renewable energy wind based or or
any other options.
>> Yeah. Cool.
>> Some really cool stuff out there for
that. So
>> um great and then uh two other quick
grant updates. both PSSE, I believe I
may have shared at the last meeting, we
also received a grant from PSSE for our
ebike rebate. We'll be doing that in
partnership with Belleview and Redmond.
Uh that would have just come in um at
that last meeting. Uh and then the state
will also be really re-releasing second
round of Ebike rebates in the spring.
So, we'll be coordinating with the
state. ours will likely be released
after theirs, but there'll be a lot of
fee rebates out for the community um
this spring. Um and then we also
received a PSSE grant in partnership
with the school district to do design
work for shared fast charging and solar
and battery backup at the Isqua School
District administrative building. Um
that would be charging that could be
shared between district fleet um
potential electric buses in the future
and then for city kind of emergency
needs like for police or um other public
works trucks as we electrify them if
they need a quick charge um via shared
location. So that funding is just for
the design work and to develop strategy.
So, we have been very busy this year
with our grants. Way to go. Um,
couple other quick updates. As you all
may know, um, Zach Hall resigned from
council to focus on his work at the
state level. Uh, so the council is going
through an appointment process right
now. On Monday, they narrowed it from 12
applicants down through four. Um, and I
believe the next series of questions and
presentations, it's on the 20th of this
month and they're hoping to make it.
Um, and then legislature
is in full swing. Um, we've already been
looking at bills. Just a couple, one of
the flag that we reviewed last week is
one proposed actually by um, Senator
Hunt on residential battery incentives.
really interesting one. Um I believe
that one came in last year but didn't
move forward. Um a plastic bag ban I
wanted to bring up because John uh
recommended that when we were looking at
the IAP actions last month um looking at
a full plastic bag ban instead of
allowing the reusable plastic bags. That
is
the state legislature for consideration
this year. Um and the city I should
mention the city spoke
or um submitted signed in in support of
that as well as the residential battery
incentives. Um and then there's been
some other police related thing on that
been um supporting.
Um
and then yep already mentioned our
anticipated topics for February and yeah
just as a heads up we may go a little
bit long and folks um can just plan on
that. We just want to make sure we have
sufficient time to cover those very
timely topics. And Karen, did you have
any youth updates? Okay,
>> there's another billion look at the
number with me, but it's related to 6
PPD and fire fees
1935 I believe it is.
>> Okay.
>> To try to offset the damage,
>> there's a bill uh proposing a ban that
Hall is
sponsored for too.
Okay. So, there might there's
>> Okay,
>> that sounds great. Um, yeah, we haven't
seen that one come in for you, but I
know Hall's been looking on for and
requiring alternatives.
Yeah,
>> other
Thanks, Alex. Any
question?
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> That is the new era.