HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 5The
Environmental Initiatives Committee
Regular Meeting Minutes
DATE: July 5, 2018
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Parks & Recreation Building,
1. Roll Call – Committee members: April Anair, Peter Evans, Drew Grewal, Pat Lang,
Aileen Lee. Council Liaison: Roger Spreen. Community Member: Steve Schmidt
2. Approval of Minutes - Minutes not available for review
3. Updates:
• Education initiative for Town citizens regarding environmental issues: Srini
not in attendance
• GHG : Steve – No new information reported separate from discussion regarding
SVCE and connection with GHG goals
• Green Building : Sheela, Drew – Not discussed
• SVCE : Peter – Peter Evans reported that the SVCE advisory committee had
discussed and ranked potential programs to promote energy efficiency. Their op
candidates included: residential electricity monitoring, an electricity bill
“explorer” to help you examine your use relative to peers, residential beneficial
electrification readiness, and multi-family EV charging. The EIC discussed and
ranked ideas that it would support. In order of priority: (1) publicizing incentives
around storage for solar PV, (2) neutralizing the purchase cost of heat pump hot
water heaters for new homes and major remodels, (3) incentivizing use of EVs
with town staff, and electrifying the garbage trucks that serve the town.
• Water Conservation : Peter – Not discussed
4. Next Door Town Survey update – Not discussed
5. New Initiatives – The committee discussed the issue of single use plastics and
whether the Town Picnic might be a good forum for both targeting reduction of the
town’s use and conducting public education on the issue. The Committee agreed to
get further educated on the topic.
6. Comcast – Not discussed
7. Public comments - None
8. Adjournment
The
Environmental Initiatives Committee
Regular Meeting Minutes
DATE: April 5, 2018
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Parks & Recreation Building,
1. Roll Call – Committee members: Pat Lang, Aileen Lee, Peter Evans, Drew Grewal,
Srini Srinivasan. Community member: Steve Schmidt; Council Liaison: Roger
Spreen
2. Approval of Minutes (January, March) – Minutes not available for review
3. Updates:
• Education initiative for Town citizens regarding environmental issues: Srini
Srinivasan proposed an Energy & Environment Seminar Series of seminars on
various topics ranging from Energy Efficiency to Water Conservation and Solar
Energy (specific topics TBD). Motion to approve: Peter Evans; second: Drew
Grewal. Unanimously approved
• GHG : Steve provided an update. Sheela is working on the Town’s annual CDP
submission. Peter noted that SVCE is conducting a GHG inventory on all their
participating towns.
• Green Building : Sheela, Drew – no update
• SVCE : Peter – Customer program advisory group will make recommendations
at June meeting.
• Water Conservation : Peter – Peter reported that Purissima Hills has received a
grant from Santa Clara Valley Water District and should be able to complete
smart meter conversion. Committee discussed whether we should initiate an
assessment of the effectiveness of the water efficient landscape ordinance.
4. Next Door Town Survey update – Aileen to follow up with Deborah on post to
Next Door
5. New Initiatives to present to Council – EIC should choose new priorities for this
year to put before the Council (e.g. revive Green Building effort?)
6. Comcast
7. Public comments
8. Adjournment
The
Environmental Initiatives Committee
Regular Meeting Minutes
DATE: March 1, 2018
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Parks & Recreation Building,
1. Roll Call – Committee Members: Sheela Veerina, Peter Evans, Steve Schmidt,
Drew Grewal,April Anair, Pat Lang, Srini Srinivasan; Community members: Kjell
Karlsson
2. Approval of Minutes – Not available for review
3. GHG plan – consideration of new initiatives to help us achieve our targets –
Identify top 5-6 initiatives and get feedback from Mayor Radford
4. Updates on standing agenda items
• Green Building – Drew and Sheela to go over June 15, 2017 council meeting
tape and make improvements to EIC proposal for new residence and second
unit before taking it to John Radford
• SVCE – Brainstorm of potential recommendations for SVCE investment in
customer programs: 1. EV charging station, 2. heat pump water heaters, 3.
efficient appliances, 4. PV solar, 5. Selection of vendors, financing and
rebates package (like Diamond Certified) because homeowners need support
to choose wisely, 6. List of devices that need to be upgraded, more efficient,
closer to code for older homes, 7. SVCE customer outreach web site with
equivalent of PG&E rate calculator (Sun Share as an example of a good
interface), 8. Feedback on carbon footprint, 9. comparison to other cities in
the area
• Water conservation – not discussed
9. Discussion of any potential new initiatives that EIC members are interested in
pursuing
• What to do about Earth Day Sunday April 22? Suggestion: have a booth to give
out free/cheap (but good quality) LED light bulbs then pass out info about GHG
or other environmental issues
• Seminars--EIC needs to give some for LAH. Srini will give educational seminar
on PV and Storage at town hall notification to town via NextDoor through
Deborah
10. Public Comments
11. Adjournment
5.
• SVCE – At next meeting, members invited to suggest ideas for SVCE’s
customer advisory group programs.
• Water conservation – has water ordinance on landscaping been effective
6. Discussion of any potential new initiatives that EIC members are interested in
pursuing
Broadband coverage by Comcast would be within our charter as revised to include
town infrastructure. Discussed whether this was something the group wanted to
pursue further.
7. Public Comments
8. Adjournment
The
Environmental Initiatives Committee
Special Meeting Minutes
DATE: January 18, 2018
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Parks & Recreation Building,
1. Roll Call – Sheela Veerina, Pat Lang, Peter Evans, April Anair, Aileen Lee
2. Approval of Minutes
3. GHG plan – consideration of new initiatives to help us achieve our targets –
Discussed potential to pursue efficiency initiatives through SVCE resources. Linked
to discussion of SVCE customer advisory group.
4. Updates on standing agenda items
• Green Building
• SVCE – At next meeting, members invited to suggest ideas for SVCE’s
customer advisory group programs.
• Water conservation – has water ordinance on landscaping been effective
5. Discussion of any potential new initiatives that EIC members are interested in
pursuing
Broadband coverage by Comcast would be within our charter as revised to include
town infrastructure. Discussed whether this was something the group wanted to
pursue further.
6. Public Comments
7. Adjournment
The
Environmental Initiatives Committee
Regular Meeting Agenda
DATE: December 7, 2017
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Parks & Recreation Building,
9. Roll Call - Members in attendance Pat Lang, Sheela Veerina, Aileen Lee, Peter
Evans, Drew Grewal. Community members: David Fribush, Kjell Karlsson, Steve
Schmidt, Roger Spreen (Council Liaison),Megan Winslow (Los Altos Town Crier)
10. Approval of Minutes – Minutes not available for review
11. Presentation on Gas Leaf Blowers (Dave Fribush at the invitation of EIC
member Pat Lang). Dave Fribush presented on the environmental and noise
impacts of gas powered leaf blowers. Committee members agreed that the use of
gasoline powered leaf blowers raises important issues around noise and air pollution,
but were divided as to whether to recommend action on the part of the Town
Council. No action was taken; committee members suggested that public education
might be a good next step.
12. Discussion of amendment to EIC charter requested by Council member
Corrigan. Councilmember Corrigan had suggested that the EIC consider amending
its charter with the following addition to the list of its charges and duties: “Review
other environmental initiatives to be proposed to the City Council, subject to the
appropriate hearings, that would affect other aspects of Town policy including
residential development and Town infrastructure.” Councilmember Corrigan
suggested this modification to reflect the tighter relationship she thought the EIC
should have with the Silicon Valley Clean Energy. Sheela Veerina made a motion to
modify the EIC charter as proposed, Peter Evans seconded the motion, and it was
approved unanimously. In addition, Pat Lang brought a motion to add a specific
reference to Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Sheela Veerina seconded the motion, and
it was approved unanimously. Based on these two actions, the EIC charter would
read as follows:
The charges to and duties of this Committee shall be:
a. to assist the Town in the development of and refinement of the Council’s
Environmental Strategic Goals for Town-owned property;
b. to recommend a set of initiatives that would lead to the progress and achievement
of these goals; and
c. to review other environmental initiatives to be proposed to the City Council,
subject to the appropriate hearings, that would affect other aspects of Town policy
including residential development, Town infrastructure, and the relationship with
Silicon Valley Clean Energy
13. Town survey on climate change and climate action. Peter Evans shared proposed
language for a simple survey of Town Residents, to be administered via NextDoor.
The proposed question: “The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy is
the broadest international alliance of over 7,400 cities and local governments, with a
shared long-term vision of promoting and supporting voluntary action to combat
climate change and move to a low emission, resilient society.
(see www.globalcovanentofmayors.org). Should Los Altos Hills express its
leadership in climate action and sustainability and become a signatory to the Global
Covenant?” Peter Evans made a motion that the committee ask Deborah Padovan to
post the survey question on NextDoor on behalf of the Town, Pat Lang seconded the
motion, and it was approved unanimously.
14. Updates on standing agenda items
• Green Building
• SVCE
• GHG plan
• Water conservation
No action was taken on standing agenda items
15. Discussion of potential new initiatives that EIC members are interested in
pursuing
No action was taken on new initiatives.
16. Public Comments
17. Adjournment