HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 11
Environmental Initiatives Committee
Meeting Minutes (revised draft)
DATE: Monday, May 11, 2009
TIME: 7:30 PM
LOCATION: Parks & Recreation Building,
26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills
NOTICE TO PUBLIC
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Environmental Initiatives Committee
regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s
office located at Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California during normal
business hours.
1. Roll Call
Present: John Harpootlian, Lew Jamison, Peter Evans (acting chair), Breene Kerr (council liason)
Absent: Raj Reddy
Also present: Steve Schmidt
2. Committee Officers
Peter Evans was named chair and secretary
3. Approval of Minutes, April 20, 2009
4. Energy/Environmental Forums:
The committee agreed to hold a GHG forum in mid June, Lew will coordinate; Steve Schmidt offered to
assist. 1h speakers and presentations plus Q&A. The focus will on greenhouse gas emissions; where the
emissions come from, how to reduce them and what California laws may compel us to do so.
We agreed to assess the schedule for subsequent forums based on our experience with this one.
5. Earth Day Recap
The committee discussed our presence at Earth day and how we can gather more interest. We will have a
table at the town picnic June 7. We’ll have panels for the same subjects as the upcoming GHG forum.
We’ll also approach several residents about displaying EVs.
6. LAH Climate Action Plan:
The committee agreed not to prepare a formal climate action plan. As a member of ICLEI we owe an
annual update of government actual emissions. Debbie Pedro will prepare this, and the first one is due in
August. We still need consistent annual updates of townwide community gas and power use from PG&E.
The committee agreed to request time at the 5/28 council meeting to recommend to the town council that
LAH participate in a joint energy efficiency proposal to the CEC for “small city” ARRA funds to be
directed to home audits.
The committee also agreed to request time at the 5/28 council meeting to recommend that the town
consider applying for ARRA funds to support a school bus program, and to prepare an analysis describing
the potential GHG and efficiency benefits of such a program.
7. PV Financing (AB811)
Breene reported that it is likely that some funding plan based on AB811, possibly supported by a federal
load guarantee, and involving public debt will come together this year. Such a program may be a taxable
municipal bond, and the loan guarantee would reduce the interest rate. It may be regional or statewide’
also, New Mexico, Maryland, and Colorado have state legislation similar to AB811. Such a program could
provide funding for energy efficiency initiatives such as pool pump or a/c compressor replacements as well
as PV. There is nothing specific the EIC needs to do
8. LAH Town Hall:
Not discussed
9. Public Comment
None
10. Adjournment: 9:00 pm