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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Citizens' Sustainability Committee 10/15/2018MINUTES CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE OCTOBER 15, 2018 Upon a motion by Member Schmid, second by Vice -Chair Gritters, and a 7-0 vote of the Citizens' Sustainability Committee, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented (AYES: Edwards, Gatons, Gritters, Guinaw, O'Donnell, Rosenberg, and Schmid; NOES: None; ABSENT: Raya ). V. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VI. NEW BUSINESS A. DISCUSSION on Sustainability Committee Goals. Director of Community Development Ryan,Stendell- introduced Management Analyst Amy Lawrence. Ms. Lawrence would be taking over Deborah Glickman's position, and Ms. Glickman would be transferring to the Economic Development Department. Mr. Stendell explained that staff meets with the City Council to discuss City goals. Therefore, he asked what goals the Committee would want the City Council to consider. Chair Gatons asked Ms. Lawrence if she had any background with sustainability. Mr. Lawrence responded that she has experience with solid waste and recycling programs. Chair Gatons shared that recycling has always been a critical issue for him, which brought him to the Committee seven years ago. Since Burrtec is paid through property taxes, he felt the interaction between Burrtec and the community has been lost. He said he would like to integrate the City's BrightSide publication with recycling, as well as, highlight areas that have been converted to desert landscape. He asked if the City still has the Recycling Technician position. Mr. Stendell replied no. The City has a Management Analyst position assigned to the City's recycling and sustainability function. Chair Gatons mentioned he walks along Hovley Lane West every morning and he does not see the community recycling. He stated he would like to see more integration between the City and Burrtec for recycling. Ms. Lawrence informed the Committee that Heather Horning (Public Works Department) manages the Solid Waste and Recycling franchise agreement with Burrtec. In addition, the City contracts a recycling consultant that goes out into the community and does educational outreach to commercial, businesses and multi -family housing complexes. She noted the City continues to have oil recycling and shredding events. Member Tommy Edwards said he is not sure if the City has any outreach programs with schools, and mentioned his granddaughter reminds him what needs to be recycled. 2 GAPlanningUWonica OReilly\Sustainability Committee\2018WIinutes\10-15-18 min.dou MINUTES CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE OCTOBER 15, 2018 Ms. Lawrence communicated that as part of the franchise agreement; Burrtec goes out to the schools and provides recycling presentations to the students. Chair Gatons asked if the Committee could receive a report from Burrtec on recycling. Mr. Stendell replied yes. Chair Gatons stated it was helpful when Burrtec had inserts with their statements. However, the connection has been lost to the community. The Committee agreed there should be a section in the City's newsletter regarding recycling and water conservation. Chair Gatons commented that he has seen many people throwing trash in the bins at Presidents Plaza, and there are items that should not be going into the bins. He asked if anyone has brought it to the City's attention. Mr. Stendell replied yes. He mentioned Presidents Plaza is part of a larger redevelopment project, as part of the project, the trash bins would be relocated to a more secure location. With a landscape background, Vice -Chair Gregory Gritters felt it is important for developers to make room for trees in parking lots to dissipate the heat island effect. - Additionally, water is an important element and a resource to be conserved. He said they should look at how to use water efficiently and effectively to have the best quality of life for the community and citizens. Councilmember Gina Nestande agreed with Vice -Chair Gritters and noted she had information on the subject. Vice -Chair Gritters commented that there are things that they could do to mitigate climate change through proper planning. Chair Gatons mentioned the Committee discussed "deasphaltification" several years ago. He said it would be interesting to see what the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) did for their new building at Hovley Lane East, which could possibly be used as an example. After the deasphaltification study, Mr. Stendell stated that the City significantly reduced the parking lot standards and added that the City also has shade tree requirements. He believed shade trees would provide a better quality of life than a metal shade structure. However, .there is a counter if there is a solar panel system on the shade structure. The problem is who would pay for the exactions because developers panic when pavers or solar systems are mentioned. It is an added cost to the project. He reiterated that the City reduced the parking standards, modifications to the lighting ordinance, and modifications to the shade tree requirements. Mr. Stendell said he is interested at looking at the information from Councilmember Nestande and Vice -Chair Gritters. 3 GAPlanningWonioa OReilly\Sustainability Committee\2018\Minutes\10-15-18 min.docx MINUTES CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE OCTOBER 15, 2018 Member Edwards mentioned the Committee could look at electric vehicles. Councilmember Nestande asked Member Edwards if he felt the City needed more charging stations. Member Edwards responded that the City would need more charging stations, but he does not know if developers should be required to include the stations for new developments. Vice -Chair Gritters mentioned that there should be some type of sustainability credit for a developer. He indicated there are different ways to achieve sustainability criteria through paving, trees, solar, or charging stations and let the developer decide which would appeal most to their market. He said it is probably worth looking into what other cities are doing. Mr. Stendell noted that grant funding has helped to add charging stations in different areas of the City. Vice -Chair Gritters inquired if bike or scooter companies have approached the City of Palm Desert. Mr. Stendell replied no. He did not believe Palm Desert is dense enough to have a bike or scooter programs. Member Edwards noted that'bike or scooter programs might work well in some areas and not in others. If the City considers a program, he suggested a pilot program. Vice -Chair Gritters commented that anything the City could do to help people get out of their cars and on a bike would be great. Member Edwards mentioned that SunLine ridership by students has increased. Chair Gatons said he would like to see the increase of ridership in the BrightSide, with additional information on having fewer cars on the road and fewer emissions. Mr. Stendell briefly updated the Committee of recent improvements to bike lanes, future green -colored pavement striping, and the CV Link. Councilmember Nestande commented that she does see people riding their bikes to work during the summer months due to the weather. Member Edwards noted that Sunline carries between five and 9,000 bicycles a month. During the summer months, they do not carry bicycles in the morning; however, they carry them in the afternoon. Following discussion regarding electric bicycles, Mr. Stendell said staff would do some research and meet again before the end of the year. He commented that staff would have -program recommendations for the City Council to consider, and he would like to share the information (White Papers) with the Committee. 4 GAPlanning\Monica OReilly\Sustainability Committee\2018\Minutes\10-15-18 min.docx MINUTES CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE OCTOBER 15, 2018 Management Analyst Deborah Glickman noted that items the Committee discussed are the following: 1) further discussion concerning recycling; 2) water conservation; 3) heat island effect; 4) sustainability credit for developers; and 5) further discussion regarding electric bicycles and vehicles. Member Guinaw inquired if there is an update to the Environmental Sustainability Plan. Mr. Stendell responded that the plan is not much different. He explained that the plan was not shelved; however, staff has been challenged to find creative ways to collaborate with agencies to promote recycling or other programs. Ms. Glickman suggested that the Sustainability Committee receives a copy of the Environmental Sustainability Plan and bring the plan to the next meeting for review. The Committee discussed meeting before the end of the year and Mr. Stendell replied that he would look at a date for the next meeting. Staff would also look at meeting dates for 2019. VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VIII. OLD BUSINESS None IX. REPORTS AND REMARKS None X. ADJOURNMENT With Committee concurrence, Chair Gatons adjourned the meeting at 4:14 p.m. �1(1, • Q Monica O'Reilly, Recordi ecretary 5 GAPlanning\Monica OReilly%ustainability Oommittee\2018\Minutes\10-15-18 min.docx