Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutIC-CAAP Community Meeting 2 Report_final Meeting Report: Community Meeting #2 for the Iowa City Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Location: Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn Street, Iowa City, IA 52240 Date: July 11, 2018 Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Attendees: 93 participants registered at the sign-in tables; 7 Steering Committee Members; 3 members of the Consultant Team; and City representatives Mayor Throgmorton, City Council member John Thomas, Assistant City Manager Ashley Monroe, Sustainability Coordinator Brenda Nations, Recycling Coordinator Jane Wilch, and Sustainability Communications Assistant Katelyn Weisbrod. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Welcome. The meeting was opened with a welcome from Mayor Jim Throgmorton. 2. Presentation. Ingrid Anderson, Chair and Matt Krieger, Member of the Steering Committee for the Iowa City Climate Action and Adaptation Plan led Iowa led an introductory presentation that explained the City’s community-wide emissions reduction targets, the planning process and the actions that, when implemented, will allow the City to reach its emissions goals. See Attachment 1 for the slides that were presented. 3. City Resource Table. The City staffed a resource table with supporting documents. 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 comment was received: • Build more networking and collective impact goals into planintersectionality with affordable housing and increasing minimum wage 4. Activity #1/Breakout Group Discussion. Participants were asked to pick one table topic that interested them the most and attend a discussion on the actions in the plan. The breakout groups included the five sections of the plan (Buildings, Transportation, Waste, Adaptation and Sustainable Lifestyle) and Outreach/Equity. 5. Activity #2/Iowa City Climate Pledge. ACTIVITY #1/BREAKOUT GROUP DISCUSSION The prepared discussion began with a brief discussion of the topic. At the five action area tables, there was review/discussion of the actions in the Plan. At the Outreach table, there was discussion on the level outreach needed to implement the plan, and the importance of equity – that everyone across Iowa City benefit from this plan. As such, after brief discussions on the topic, the facilitators were asked to then engage groups in a series of questions: 1. Who should we be talking to/Who are our partners? (Up to 10 minutes) 2. What might be some of the barriers to implementing these strategies (Up to 10 minutes) 3. What are some potential solutions to these barriers (Up to 10 minutes) 4. (recapping the 1st question after discussion): Based on our discussion, is there anyone else we should be talking to? (Last call, 1 or 2 minutes) These questions were meant to serve as guiding discussion questions, so each group did not necessarily follow this exact order. 3 Table 1 - BUILDINGS 4 BUILDINGS Partners Barriers Solutions • Utility implement automatic benchmarking • Future legislators and bills • Restaurants • HBA • Homeowners • HERS raters, realtors • Appraisers – addenda that captures value of energy use • HVAC contractors and installers • Neighborhood competitions • Are we getting useful information? • Cost for upgrades • Replacement costs and embodied energy of new products • Time (reduce time to implement projects, etc… Solarize Program) • Renters – tenant/landlord responsibilities • Contractor payment incentive (example: Drywall costs to install board but not sealant) • Recent legislation and utility programs • Efficiency toolkits (check out from library) • Pool of money for rebates from savings on current projects • Learn from past successes (JoCo as partner) • Education with models and case studies o Workshops o Training • PAYS program • Energy districts (community?) or municipal utility • Community knowledge bank • Build awareness with commercial owners about usage • Berkeley borrows money and then allows users to borrow and pay back on utility bills • Local carbon tax • Facility operator training • Adopt a building to upgrade it • Green rating program for businesses • Energy Star ratings posted on buildings Additional Partners? • Americorps – audits and updates • Friends of Historic Preservation • School District o Business o Students/parents o Curriculum o PPA (power purchase agreement) opportunities • Habitat for Humanity • Financial institutions • Labor unions • Material suppliers NOTE: 9 people signed up to remain involved in some aspect of implementation of these actions. Table 2 - TRANSPORTATION 6 TRANSPORTATION “Coordinate” Barriers Solutions • Bicycle/pedestrian: talk to City about fixing potholes • UI Cambus – plans for fleet conversion • Bicycle: Not friendly in Iowa City; slow down traffic • Electric Vehicles: not the way to reduce ecological footprint • Transit: Coordinate with neighboring towns o Re-evaluate existing bus routes in Iowa City and surrounding towns • Coordinate with Iowa Department of Transportation, other cities who’ve done this o Sidewalk gaps, parking lots o Unsafe: IDOT designated highways • Smaller buses • Encourage people to take transit o Parking ramps not necessarily encouraging o Coordinate transit use, maybe restrict permits for parking ramps • Coordinate with ridesharing services (Uber, Zipcar) • Deter ramp parking by increasing parking fees • Coordinate with biking advocate groups o Bike Library • Employees incentivize carpooling o Flex hours – reduce congestion • Coordination with Downtown District o Businesses should offer incentives to customers (e.g. waived parking) • Weather • Money • Drivers’ attitudes • Commuter safety at night • Pedestrian/Bike traffic navigating construction zones o Solution: diverting traffic, not eliminating right of way • Lack of accessible toolkits in community for bikes • Suggestion: Incentivize walking, biking downtown to shop • Shortage of bike parking • Protected bike lanes and full lanes not widely available o Solution: Bike plan; protected not yet in budget; Cedar Rapids doing this o Barrier: Cultural/Attitudes about roadways • GHG reductions measured by shifts in transportation from auto to ped/bike? • Land use policy – case to increase density to make transportation options more viable • University sees students as customers • Compact development • Low-income housing developments downtown • Incentivizing people who work downtown o Decrease use of transportation • Smaller buses, increased lines, longer run times (e.g late night routes) • Public education campaign to address cultural barriers o Talking about co- benefits (e.g. public health) o Coordination with university, especially interns (students from College of Public Health) • Expanding the pedestrian mall • Interconnected transportation system consideration: Increasing mass transit • City App for complaints (e.g. Go Request) • Encourage students to not bring cars to school o Residential parking permits • Ridesharing App for students o Coordinating with implementer, across cities NOTE: 1 person signed up to remain involved in some aspect of implementation of these actions. 7 Table 3 - WASTE 8 WASTE Partners Barriers Solutions • Schools • Restaurants • Grocery Stores • University of Iowa • Hotels • Farmers Markets • Industries • Manufacturers • Community Groups • Construction • Nursing Homes • Dorms/Dining Halls • Downtown District • Churches • Farms/Agriculture • Businesses • Chamber of Commerce • Apartment/Multifamily • Education/knowledge o How to do it, and o How to get involved • Communication from officials to individuals, restaurants • Money/profitability • Don’t want to change • Reduce size of garbage cans • Education, how-to • Use landfill methane for energy • Ambassador within partners • Promote reuse economy • Community/university partnership • Sustainable purchasing • Resolutions to regulate/recommend single-use waste reduction • Recognition for green business • Plastic bag fee • Research incentives • Education at football games NOTE: 3 people signed up to remain involved in some aspect of implementation of these actions. 9 Table 4 - ADAPTATION 10 ADAPTATION Partners Barriers Solutions • Developers (development community) • City (ordinance) • County Public Health Department; Social Services Department • Emergency Management (County) • Other municipalities (counties, local agencies, etc.) • Nonprofits • Politics ($) • Enforcement • Civic engagement • Mistrust with agencies • Early action – pre- design phase • Language barriers • Work schedules • Educating the layperson • Different motives, sensitivity of certain “charged” language/words (e.g. “ban,’; “climate change”) • Political barriers • Advocacy groups, representative, etc • Mandated income/funding stream (funding mechanism) • Continually educating people • Health in ALL policy • Visiting nurses • Linking trusted people/institutions • Involving/engaging schools, youth, children, etc. • Public advocacy, environmental education • Americorps/Conservation Corps • Civic Engagement (“political will”) • Neighborhood associations • Local/community challenges (e.g. PTA groups) • New houses – innovative strategies (rain barrels) • Expanded electric vehicle parking • Shifting the conversation (bottom to top) • Incrementalization (plastic bags) Additional Partners? • Sustainability Working Group of Johnson County • Good Neighbor Group (e.g. 100 Grannies) • Johnson County Republican Central Committee (Bankers) • College of Public Health NOTE: 6 people signed up to remain involved in some aspect of implementation of these actions. 11 Table 5 – SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE 12 SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE Partners Barriers Solutions • Chamber of Commerce • Restaurants and grocery stores o Signage – labeling – competition o Baseline – comparison o Recipes and demonstrations • County – Local Foods Coordinator • VegFest in Coralville, 9/29 • University of Iowa o Veg meals cheaper? ▪ Vegetarian meal plan o Education about plant-based • K-12 schools • Neighborhood Associations • Incentives for less willing partners • Cost o Myth about cost? o Education about health benefits • Time commitment • Culture • Substitutions/skip s for people not plant based • K-12 Education • Non-believers • Buy-in – Action • Convenience • Supportive Laws • Students o Student organizations o Mandatory trainings o Professors/class es o Curriculum • Readily available/convenient information • Community gardens • Community outreach – translators Additional Partners? • Retirement communities • Senior Center • Community centers • Meat producers • New parents/family lifestyle • Americorps NOTE: 9 people signed up to remain involved in some aspect of implementation of these actions. 13 Table 6 – OUTREACH/EQUITY 14 OUTREACH/EQUITY Partners Barriers Solutions • Iowa Utilities Board – policies • Politicians • Plumbing, HVAC Contractors • Landlords; Landlord Associations (Education/Cost ) • University (connection and support; leadership) • Americorps • Energy Companies • K-12 students • Bankers (low interest loans) • Those struggling ($; language) • CWJ (communication ) • Crowded Closet (reach struggling families) • Manpower and volunteers • Uncoordinated voices/communication lacking • Political environment • Waiting for the leader • Taking things for granted o Short-sighted • People shutting us down • Expand Green Iowa Americorps o Increase info out there o Insert K-12 schools (sustainable schools program-thru Americorps) • Transportation App – reliability • Walking-friendly community/community wellness in smaller neighborhoods o Connect with Iowa Walking College • Local solar projects o Smaller businesses o Onsite solar, rooftop gardens • Affordable housing • Safe, local foods • Awards/Recognition • CBJ • Commissions (City) • ***Urgency*** • Storefront signage & labeling • Contractors and architects o Ensure adhere to building standards & profit • Permaculture and horticulture o Coordination • Plan must have transparency and contacts for plan idea • Tie green requirements for building to development o ranking • High occupancy man not be as equitable o Involve building staff, HBA, students, residents, Affordable Housing Coalition • Elected candidates that support mission (support) • Government bodies will need to take on projects without other funding • Trail Trekkers – self initiated groups • Talk to neighbors – we all learn and teach 15 ACTIVITY #2/IOWA CITY CLIMATE PLEDGE The last activity of the meeting was an activity to encourage meeting participants to consider taking at least one or several steps in their individual lives to help reduce emissions across the entire community. Participants were invited to check off which ones they could commit to, keep the pledge form for themselves as a reminder, and document their pledge commitment online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ICclimatepledge 16 ATTACHMENTS 1. Photos from Community Meeting #2 2. Presentation Slides 17 18 19 7/20/2018 1 Iowa City Climate Action and Adaptation Plan July 11, 2018 – Community Meeting #2 Tonight’s Meeting •Welcome – Mayor Jim Throgmorton •Presentation on the Plan •Meeting Activities •Short Breakout Discussion •Take the Climate Pledge! 7/20/2018 2 Timeline •2025 Goal: Reduce emissions by 26-28% •2050 Goal: Reduce emissions by 80% Planning Process Recap •9 Steering Committee Meetings •2 Community Meetings* •Stakeholder interviews (internal & external) •Survey: 800 respondents •Research + integration with existing city services and departmental work 7/20/2018 3 Planning Process Recap •Goal: Identify set of actions that when implemented, will achieve Iowa City’s emission targets Plan Contents •5 action areas •How Iowa City reaches its emissions reduction targets 7/20/2018 4 Buildings – Taking Action •1.1 *Increase energy efficiency in residences •1.2 *Increase energy efficiency in businesses •1.3* Increase energy efficiency in new buildings •1.4 *Increase on-site renewable energy systems and electrification •1.5 Initiate community solar projects •1.6 Support energy benchmarking tools •1.7 *Continue to increase energy efficiency in city-owned buildings Top: Air sealing to prevent leaks Bottom: Adding insulation to prevent heat loss 7/20/2018 5 Transportation – Taking Action Top: Bike parking at the library Bottom: Mass transit riders •2.1 *Increase use of mass transit system •2.2 *Embrace electric vehicles, alternative fuel vehicles, and other emerging technologies •2.3 *Increase bicycle and pedestrian transportation •2.4 *Increase compact and contiguous development •2.5 *Increase employee commuter options •2.6 Manage parking options •2.7 Reduce the city’s vehicle emission footprint 7/20/2018 6 Waste – Taking Action Picture: Recycle bins promote reducing what we send to landfill •3.1 Increase recycling at multifamily properties •3.2 Increase composting of organics •3.3 Increase waste-source reduction •3.4 Establish partnerships to divert construction waste from landfill •3.5 Reduce waste at city facilities •3.6 Create a comprehensive waste management plan •3.7 *Complete a feasibility study to capture methane from wastewater operations •3.8 *Complete a feasibility study to generate energy from landfill methane 7/20/2018 7 Adaptation – Taking Action Picture: Ralston Creek •4.1 Conduct a vulnerable populations asset mapping exercise •4.2 *Develop communications and outreach plan for vulnerable populations •4.3 *Analyze climate-related public health impacts in Iowa City •4.4 *Coordinate extreme weather preparedness planning with local agencies •4.5 *Assess citywide and neighborhood stormwater management •4.6 Expand Iowa City’s tree canopy 7/20/2018 8 Sustainable Lifestyle – Taking Action Top: Kids watering a garden Bottom: Aerial view of community garden in Iowa City •5.1 *Encourage a plant-rich diet •5.2 Expand community gardens and access to healthy local foods •5.3 Encourage the purchase of local products and responsible purchasing •5.4 *Create funding mechanisms to support community-wide climate action •5.5 *Incorporate this climate plan into the City’s sustainability communications •5.6 Initiate a green recognition program •5.7 Develop internal city sustainability operations guide 7/20/2018 9 2025 goal: Reduce 2005-level emissions by 26-28% 2050 goal: Reduce 2005-level emissions by 80% 7/20/2018 10 Meeting Activities •#1 Breakout Session/Small group discussions •#2 Climate Pledge •Purpose: In depth discussion/input in key areas •Six Tables: Buildings Transportation Waste Adaptation Sustainable Lifestyle Overall Outreach & Equitable Distribution of plan benefits Activity #1: Breakout / Small Group Discussion •Directions: 1. Choose the 1 topic that interests you the most 2. If it’s too crowded, please make a second choice 3. Participate! All input is welcome and desired! 7/20/2018 11 Activity #1: Breakout / Small Group Discussion •Purpose: Consider some simple steps you can do starting today Activity #2: Take the Climate Pledge! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ICclimatepledge 7/20/2018 12 Activity #2: Take the Climate Pledge! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ICclimatepledge Activity #2: Take the Climate Pledge! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ICclimatepledge 7/20/2018 13 Thank you for coming!