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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Cmte - 05-12-2014 � � I CITY OF PALM DESERT �---�,7.--�� CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMITTEEE ; - MINUTES • • MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014 — 2:00 P.M. ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE ROOM 73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CA 92260 I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Robert Leo called the meeting to order at 2:02 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Member Tom Edwards at 2:08 p.m. Member David Koller Member Eric Corey Freed at 2:08 p.m. Member David Mourhess Member Dean Gatons Member Ralph Raya Member Gregory Gritters at 2:23 p.m. Member Dennis Guinaw CITYCOUNCILACT'ION Member Bruce Kassler APPROVED nFNiED Member Courtney Lingle RECEIVED OTHER � Member Susan Rosenberg _ eciPd�� � F,'�.Q Member Luke Taylor MEF,TING DATE,_.jt�f �3-�'-� Chair Robert Leo AYES:�'1, fr�it�4����-1 ���1, ; a.tu1Q NOi�S:�'o�tM `—" Also Present: A13SFNT: '� " Ai3�TAtN: �K.Q Van Tanner, Council Member v�tt�FiED 13Y: rn Susan Marie Weber, Council Member at 2��Ot�►.t�nl.on �'i1e with City C�e�•k's (�ffice John Wohlmuth, City Manager Lauri Aylaian, Director of Community Development at 2:07 p.m. Mark Greenwood, Director of Public Works Tony Bagato, Principal Planner Ruth Ann Moore, Economic Development Manager Lisa Ream, Recycling Technician Monica O'Reilly, Recording Secretary Michelle Dan, Youth Committee Member Jessica Kozlak, Youth Committee Member Cassidy Quilling, Youth Committee Member MINUTES CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MAY 12, 2014 III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Ms. Cassidy Quilling, Youth Committee member, communicated that she will be attending Cal Poly in the fall. She said that two other Youth Committee members will attend the Citizens' Sustainability meetings. Ms. Michelle Dan and Ms. Jessica Kozlak, Youth Committee members, introduced themselves to the Sustainability Committee. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Citizens' Sustainability Committee meeting of February 10, 2014. Rec: Approve as presented. At the beginning of the meeting there was not a quorum to approve the minutes; therefore, Chair Leo moved to New Business. At 2:55 p.m., Chair Leo returned to the Consent Calendar for approval of the minutes. Upon a motion by Member Gatons, second by Member Taylor, and a 8-0-3-2 vote of the Citizens' Sustainability Committee (AYES: Edwards, Freed, Gatons, Gritters, Kassler, Leo, Rosenberg, and Taylor; NOES: None; ABSENT: Koller, Mourhess, and Raya; ABSTAIN: Guinaw and Lingle), the Consent Calendar was approved as presented. V. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VI. NEW BUSINESS A. SELECTION of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson Member Guinaw moved, by Minute Motion, to nominate Chair Leo for another year as Chairperson; and Member Rosenberg volunteered to serve as Vice Chairperson. Motion was seconded by Member Gatons and carried by a 9-0-4 vote (AYES: Edwards, Freed, Gatons, Guinaw, Kassler, Leo, Lingle, Rosenberg, and Taylor; NOES: None; ABSENT: Gritters, Koller, Mourhess, and Raya) B. WATER CONSERVATION (Tony Bagato, Principal Planner) Mr. Tony Bagato, Principal Planner, stated that he emailed the City's water efficient and landscape ordinances to the Sustainability Committee. He said that he does not want to change the water efficient ordinance. However, he is looking 2 G�\Planning\Monica OReilly\Sustainabihty Committee�2014\Minutes\5-12-14 min docx MINUTES CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MAY 12, 2014 at changing the landscape ordinance for commercial, industrial, and residential. He asked the Sustainability Committee if they had any comments. Member Bruce Kassler commented that the ordinances currently in place are good; however, there does not seem to be any policing once the landscape and irrigation is constructed according to the approved landscape plans. For example, a gardener will turn on the irrigation controller for an hour a day, four times a day instead of five or ten minutes a day, two times a day. He said he understands that the City is not able to check every water meter, but can there be a program where there is some policing being done. Member Luke Taylor said that the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) is policing water use with the tier rate structure. He mentioned that he does inspections for the County of Riverside. He explained that after landscape is completed on county projects, they hold a bond for a year. After a year, he performs another inspection to make sure everything is working properly, and check that the plant material was not replaced with high water use plant material. Ms. Lauri Aylaian, Director of Community Development, asked Member Taylor if bonds are held on private or public projects. Member Taylor responded that bonds are held for public projects. Member Eric Corey Freed mentioned that the City of Paso Robles created a water offset program during a water state of emergency. He explained that a certain amount of water is allocated to the customer. If the customer used less than the allocated amount, they could give the offset amount to other people. If the customer used more than the allocated amount, they had to pay for the water. Mr. Bagato stated that CVWD oversees water, and it would be CVWD's responsibility to declare a water state of emergency. Member Freed asked how much power the City has since there is a water d istrict. Mr. John Wohlmuth, City Manager, responded that the City of Palm Desert historically has designed public areas with drought tolerant landscape. He noted that this was to done to demonstrate that drought tolerant landscape can look good and be a theme in the City. He agreed with Member Taylor that CVWD's tier rate structure is the best way to enforce water conservation. He mentioned that CVWD has an offer for residents to have irrigation clocks replaced so that they are programmed by month. Beginning July 1, the City is partnering with CVWD on a turf buyback program. The City is also purchasing flags for all City inspectors to carry in their vehicles. He explained that if an inspector sees a broken irrigation head, it will be flagged. The City and CVWD's contact information will be on the flag. Mr. Wohlmuth stated that it makes sense to tackle 3 G.\Planning\Monica OReilly\Suslainability Committee�2014\Minutes\5-12-14 min docx MINUTES CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MAY 12, 2014 irrigation issues before strengthening home issues (faucets, showerheads, and toilets). Member Freed asked if the City could influence CVWD. Mr. Wohlmuth responded that the City works with CVWD. They are currently working together on the turf buyback program and flag system. He stated that he would be reluctant to tell the CVWD board of directors and general manager what they need to do in Palm Desert. CVWD is in the water business; the City is not. Member Freed mentioned that the City of Palm Springs has offered to set aside funds to incentivize waterless gray water systems for existing homeowners. He asked if the City of Palm Desert could do something similar. Mr. Wohlmuth responded that the City has put in $100,000 into the turf buyback program. He noted that the City has gone through next year's budget process, and additional funds have not been set aside for sustainability purposes. However, the City Council could consider using money from reserves. Councilmember Van Tanner asked Member Freed to explain a waterless system. Member Freed explained that a waterless urinal does not flush, and used for urination only. He also explained that with a gray water system you can save water from one sink, and use that water to flush the toilet. He commented that the Sustainability Committee is not short on ideas; however, he would like to know what is possible. Mr. Bagato stated that many items being discussed are educational. He stated that he would like to form a couple of groups to work on the education for water conservation and single-use plastic bags. Chair Leo asked for volunteers to assist Mr. Bagato on the education program for water conservation. Councilman Tanner and Members Freed, Kassler, and Taylor volunteered to work with Mr. Bagato on the water conservation education program. Member Tommy Edwards suggested working with someone from CVWD. Mr. Bagato mentioned that Member David Koller works for CVWD. He also mentioned that Ygrene has been contracted by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), and they will cover water infrastructure. He noted that the City's Code Department will be working with CVWD on enforcing nuisance water. 4 G\Plann�ngVvloNca ORellly\Sustainabtlity Commdtee12014\Minutes\5-12-14 mm.docx MINUTES CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MAY 12, 2014 VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VIII. OLD BUSINESS A. UPDATE ON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS (Tony Bagato, Principal Planner) Mr. Tony Bagato, Principal Planner, reported that the second reading of the ordinance was approved with a $.10 charge for all paper bags. He mentioned that the retailers on EI Paseo are concerned with the $.10 charge for paper bags since they already provide paper bags for free. He stated that he would like to form another group of inembers of the Sustainability Committee to work with the retailers and do more research. Member Freed commented that the $.10 charge did not come from the Sustainability Committee; it came from the grocery stores. He stated that he rather not see a $.10 charge. It makes sense to have a charge for the grocery stores, but not the retailers. The Committee agreed with Member Freed. Chair Leo directed staff to move forward with what the City Council prefers. Mr. Bagato stated that he will work directly with the retailers group. Councilman Tanner asked what Palm Springs is doing with the $.10 charge. Member Freed responded that they are charging $.10 across the board; however, they do not have an EI Paseo. At the conclusion of discussions on the $.10 charge, Mr. Bagato asked for volunteers to assist with the single-use plastic bag education program. Chair Leo and Members Guinaw and Lingle volunteered. Member Gatons inquired about the thickness of bags. Mr. Bagato responded that in accordance with the ordinance drafted by CVAG; a reusable bag is considered either cloth, woven, or a plastic bag that is at least 2.25 mil thick. Member Gatons asked if the retailers will change the thickness of the bags so customers can get the bag. Mr. Bagato responded that he hopes in a year, when the ordinance goes into effect, the retailers will all have uniform bags so he does not have to worry about enforcing the thickness of bags. 5 G\Planning\MoNca OReilly\Sustainabihty Committee�2014Vv1inutes\5-12-14 mm.docx MINUTES CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MAY 12, 2014 Mr. David Fletcher, Chartwell Properties, Palm Desert, California 92260, mentioned that he received a call from the president of the downtown retail district in Palm Springs. After reading the newspaper, he realized that the ordinance passed in Palm Springs without input from the retailers. Mr. Fletcher said that the retailers may now go back to the Palm Springs City Council because they are not onboard with that decision. IX. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Committee Members Comments Member Taylor commented that he is looking fonivard to working on the water conservation program. Member Rosenberg commented that she would like to see something in the BrightSide reminding the citizens to take a reusable bag to the store. She would also like the store owners and employees to get educated. The clerks automatically want to put items in a plastic bag. Member Lingle said that she has found single-use plastic bags very interesting and educational. Member Gritters apologized for being late. He stated that he also is interested in water conservation. He is also happy to hear that the City is budgeting funds for the turf buyback program. Member Gatons circulated a copy of The Pinecone Press Waste and Recycling Newsletter. He commented that the newsletter comes with their quarterly Burrtec statement. He noted that the newsletter is sponsored by the County of San Bernardino and Mountain Disposal. Member Gatons stated that he would like to see something similar with the Burrtec statement in Palm Desert. Ms. Lisa Ream, Recycling Technician, responded that she could look at the franchise agreement regarding inserts. Member Freed commented that Chair Leo gave a rousing speech at the City Council meeting regarding single-use plastic bags. Member Edwards commented that he likes seeing the progress on plastic bags, and he is interested to see where they go with water conservation. With three additional Sustainability Committee members, Chair Leo returned to the Consent Calendar to approve the minutes (see Consent Calendar). Councilmember Tanner noted that the City is changing turf to desert tolerant landscaping at Desert Willow. 6 G\Piann�ng�Monica OReiily\Sustainabdiry Cwnmittee�2014\Minutes\5-12-14 min docx MINUTES CITIZENS' SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MAY 12, 2014 Mr. Wohlmuth added that they are looking at reducing turf, and reducing some of the sand traps on both courses at Desert Willow. Ms. Ream mentioned that Coca-Cola has a LEED certified building in Coachella, and they are having a tour on May 15 at 10:00 a.m. She said they have five spaces available. Please contact her if interested in going on the tour. Member Gatons noted that the Arrowhead building off the Interstate 10 is also a LEED certified building. Member Gritters commented that the 30 acres retrofit at Desert Willow could potentially save over $100,000 a year in water. It was announced that August 11 is the next Citizens' Sustainability Committee meeting. X. ADJOURNMENT Upon a unanimous vote of the Citizens' Sustainability Committee, Chair Leo adjourned the meeting at 3:02 p.m. (AYES: Edwards, Freed, Gatons, Gritters, Guinaw, Kassler, Leo, Lingle, Rosenberg, and Taylor; NOES: None; ABSENT: Koller, Mourhess, and Raya). � -. �- , Monica O'Reilly, Record' g ecretary 7 G\Planning\Monica ORe�lly\Susta�nab�hty Committee�2014Vv1inutes�5-12-14 min docx