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Home My WebLink About2017 Community Climate Action Meeting Report_final.compressed Meeting Report: Community Meeting #1 for the Iowa City Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Location: Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn Street, Iowa City, IA 52240 Date: November 2, 2017 Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Attendees: 95 participants registered at the sign-in tables; 13 Steering Committee Members; 4 members of the Consultant Team; and City representatives Mayor Throgmorton, Assistant City Manager Ashley Monroe and Sustainability Coordinator Brenda Nations AGENDA ITEMS 1. Presentation. Iowa City Sustainability Coordinator Brenda Nations, Steering Committee and Consultant Team led an introductory presentation that touched on the rationale for developing a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), the City’s overall targets, efforts to include broad community input and instructions for the evening’s activities. See Attachment 1 for the slides that were presented. 2. City Resource Table. The City staffed a resource table with supporting documents that lay the groundwork for the development of the CAAP. To see these documents, please visit the city’s website here or go to www.icgov.org and search “climate.” Also, participants were invited to provide any additional general comments and suggestions. The following were received:  Add an electronic survey option for people who don’t enjoy crowded rooms (also to save people’s time.  Less verbose presentation—it was nice but speakers spoke too long.  The activity was great and engaging!  Thank you for your work!  It would be great to have prairie and natural areas as part of adaptation. 3. Interactive Writing Wall. Participants were asked to write responses to the prompt “What does climate action mean to you?” There were a total of 57 responses as shown on the following page. What does CLIMATE ACTION mean to you?: Outreach, Education and Communications! A better climate in the future for my grandchildren Local Foods No pesticide use! The Earth will not exist for a long time with OR without us. It’s our decision if we want to continue being able to survive on our planet. The time to act is now. Plant-based Stop CAFOS Compassion Permaculture! Organic /pesticide free food Clean water is not a political issue Love But not toxic/GMO corn (which also happens to be local) or CAFO meat Coming together as a community for mutual survival and reducing global warming skills. Eat less meat Understanding the science in non partisan There is so much distraction right now, but if we don’t address climate issues, all other victories become pyrrhic. Talking implementable initiatives that reach a large group to have maximum impact. Being responsible for our place in the web of life. Using our energies and creativity for the benefit of all the life born and unborn. Resisting Trump’s anti-climate/resources measures! Restoring resources for future generations Ride the bus Get kids on board local everything plant based-diet health bodies healthy climate Sustainable, just and abundant living for all life on Earth! Everyone belongs/everyone matters: Whole foods; whole child (includes inner child); whole cities Protecting our resources (example) Turn empty buildings into small businesses and indoor town squares. Feed me your leftover dinners (drew food in a house) Trump is creating an opportunity to rebuild the cultural norms he is destroying in new ways to reflect: social justices, environments, and living in balance w/ nature Use permeable pavement on the ped mall! For is our medicine! Please stop poisoning our food!!! Amen!  Climate Awareness. Must be able to reach those who don’t feel a need to be involved, because they haven’t directly been impacted yet! There is not time to hide or ignore. Local is global. Working as a community Educating everyone about our planet and protecting it. Please collaborate in building a safe food system – clean air, clean water, clean soil (used “ to indicate repetition of the word clean) (someone drew an arrow hitting the direct target in the “o” of “to”) I love the additional benefits you covered – reduced household energy costs, clean energy jobs, etc. We need to use these to reach those who aren’t moved by the climate argument. We need as broad of support as possible. Affordable, inclusive neighborhoods/housing options Believe in science while looking to ancient ways radical change in living is imperative Ensuring all our children will have a world worth living in. Creativity! Keeping a safe environment for future generations Ramp up renewable energy use as fast as possible! Buy from outside Iowa/Iowa City, if needed, while also ramping up our production. Apartments with garden spaces: Affordable apartments and garden space (section 8 inclusive) Polar bears and coral reefs Saving the human race from extinction. Being aware of how we use our resources. Stop pollution! Keeping the spread of water and water borne illnesses to a minimum Thinking about your choices and actions Native food sovereignty! Climate action means saving humanity (drawing of a burning Earth next to this thought) Thinking 7 generations into our collective future. What happened to the neighborhood grocery store? A better future for our children and grandchildren! NOW- not later we need to do something proactive! Transit service from outlying towns to downtown. Transit to CR <->IC. Have you seen the traffic on 380? Make Iowa City greater 4. Strategy Tables. Participants were instructed to visit each table to review draft strategies on energy, transportation, waste, adaptation and other (catch-all). When reviewing, we asked participants to tell us two things: 1) This is good for Iowa City, if agreed, place a blue voting dot next to it; and 2) I can play a role in this strategy, if agreed, place a green voting dot next to it. Additionally, participants were invited to write additional strategies at each table. Below are the results for each strategy area, followed by the individual results for each table. See Attachment 2 for photo documentation of the voting results. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 NEXT STEPS 1. Meeting Evaluation Survey will be sent to all participants who signed up and said we can contact them 2. Prioritization of Strategies 3. Broader community-wide survey ATTACHMENTS 1. Presentation slides 2. Pictures of original voting dot results 3. Photos from the meeting 11/9/2017 1 Community Meeting #1 for the Iowa City Climate Action and Adaptation Plan November 2, 2017 • 6pm-8pm Jim Throgmorton, Mayor Brenda Nations, Sustainability Coordinator City Goals 2020: Reduce emissions by 26-28% from 2005 levels 2050: Reduce emissions by 80% from 2005 levels 11/9/2017 2 Why develop a climate plan? •Define the climate challenges and opportunities •Establish strategies that help reduce our impact on the climate while readying us for our changing climate •Ensure benefits for all members of the community •Measure our progress over the long term Common-ground climate-related interests •Reducing household expenses •Reducing municipal and business operational costs •Clean environment & air •Weather preparedness Ingrid Anderson, Chairperson of the Steering Committee Steering Committee •Formed by City Council ordinance •13 members •Key stakeholders that represent Iowa City’s diverse community •Provide input and leadership on climate work •Engage people and businesses in Iowa City on the plan 11/9/2017 3 Vision Statement Iowa City will take immediate action to embrace opportunities, address challenges, and respond to the realities of climate change . Our efforts will reach our entire community using proactive and collaborative strategies including community engagement, local partnerships and technological advancements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and spur economic growth. Our goal is to create a more resilient, equitable, and livable Iowa City for all. Lindy Wordlaw, Project Manager – Consultant Team Timeline Mitigation and Adaptation •Mitigation: Addresses causes of climate change •Strategies to reduce or prevent GHG emissions •Adaptation: Addresses impacts of climate change •Strategies to prepare for and adjust to current/future impacts 11/9/2017 4 •Impact potential •Cost •Equity •Co-benefits •Other potential factors Strategy considerations Tonight’s Activities •Strategy Tables (primary activity) •Interactive Writing Wall •Resource Table Strategy Tables Five (5) Tables •Energy •Transportation •Waste •Adaptation •Other – (everything else!) Strategy Tables 11/9/2017 5 Strategy Tables Other Activities •Interactive Writing Wall •Resource Table What happens next? November - December •Survey about this meeting – did you provide us with your contact information? •Meeting documentation + prioritization of strategies •Community-wide survey to gather more input For more information: Brenda Nations Sustainability Coordinator City of Iowa City (319) 887-6161 Brenda-Nations@iowa-city.org ENERGY - 1 ENERGY - 2 ENERGY - 3 TRANSPORTATION - 1 TRANSPORTATION - 2 TRANSPORTATION - 3 WASTE - 1 WASTE - 2 WASTE - 3 ADAPTATION - 1 ADAPTATION -2 ADAPTATION - 3 OTHER - 1 OTHER - 2 OTHER - 3