HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-1-24 Climate Action Commission Agenda Packet
Iowa City Climate Action Commission Agenda
Monday, April 1, 2024, 3:30 p.m.
Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall
410 E. Washington St., Iowa City
Meeting Agenda:
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of March 4, 2024 minutes
4. Public Comment on items not on the agenda
-Commentators shall address the Commission for no more than 3 minutes. Commissioners shall
not engage in discussion with the public concerning said items.
5. Announcements – informational updates
a. Action items from last meeting
i. Staff to invite Sarah Walz to return at a future meeting
b. Air Quality Council Work Session
c. Upcoming events
i. Earth Expo (AmeriCorps, April 6)
ii. Neighborhood Energy Blitz (April 20)
iii. Other events in the community (Commissioners)
6. Unfinished/Ongoing Business
a. Discussion of Bicycle Master Plan – Sarah Walz, Johnson County MPO
b. Climate Pollution Reduction Grant – update and discussion
i. Suggestions on defining “good green jobs” and workforce development goals
c. Visioning indicators of success in climate action – any additional metrics, next steps
7. New Business
a. Iowa City/UI Pledge Project Recommendations – University of Iowa students
8. Recap
a. Confirmation of next meeting time and location
i. Monday, May 6, 3:30-5 p.m., Emma J. Harvat Hall
b. Actionable items for commission, working groups, and staff
9. Adjourn
If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this meeting, please contact
Sarah Gardner, Climate Action Coordinator, at 319-887-6162 or at sarah-gardner@iowa-city.org. Early
requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
MINUTES PRELIMINARY
IOWA CITY CLIMATE ACTION COMMISSION
MARCH 4 , 2024 – 3:30 PM – FORMAL MEETING
EMMA J. HARVART HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Michael Anderson, Michal Eynon-Lynch, John Fraser, Jamie
Gade, Zach Haralson, Wim Murray, Brinda Shetty, Michelle
Sillman, Angie Smith, Gabriel Sturdevant
MEMBERS ABSENT: Ben Grimm
STAFF PRESENT: Sarah Walz, Daniel Bissell, Sarah Gardner, Diane Platte
OTHERS PRESENT:
CALL TO ORDER:
Sturdevant called the meeting to order.
APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 5, 2024 MINUTES:
Fraser moved to approve the minutes from February 5, 2024. Shetty seconded the motion, a
vote was taken, and the motion passed 10-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Action Items from last meeting (Staff):
• Staff contacted Tyler Baird, city forester, who will present at the May meeting
• Staff contacted Sarah Walz, transportation planner, who will present at this meeting
Upcoming Events:
• P&G presentation to City Council (March 19)
• Local Government Sustainability Efforts (AmeriCorps, March 16)
• Earth Expo (AmeriCorps, April 6)
• Neighborhood Energy Blitz (April 20)
• Shetty noted the UI Office of Sustainability website hosts an Earth Month Hub for events
UNFINISHED/ONGOING BUSINESS:
Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
• Gardner summarized new updates since October 2023 and noted a change to the
spreadsheet: the elimination of the column for actionable items for commissioners.
• Sturdevant asked for details about the Midwest Air Source Heat Pump Collaborative.
Climate Action Commission
April 3 2023
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2
Gardner described the contractor training for all of eastern Iowa that is occurring at
Kirkwood’s Cedar Rapids campus in April.
• Eynon-Lynch asked about TR-2 “Require climate change analysis for new subdivisions
and rezoning.” Gardner described reaching out to the original authors of the Accelerated
Actions document to discern the intention. Fraser filled in some details. Eynon-Lynch
noted potential for digging deeper into building equity into new neighborhoods. Gardner
offered to return to this topic in future discussions.
• Sillman asked about the heat pump “Get Pumped” campaign. Gardner described the
targeted messaging campaign aimed at residents and also businesses. A February
survey gathered information about heat pump related questions.
• Haralson asked for details about the online solar dashboard for the Public Works
building. Gardner noted ideas in the works: installing a sign with QR code along the trail
in front of Public Works and replicating the dashboard for the Airport solar project.
• Sturdevant asked if there are changes to the Climate Ambassador program. Gardner
described the new in-person format for the next training and the changes to the
curriculum, including the activity borrowed from the Climate Resilience Corps program.
• Gade asked for details about Resilience Hubs. Gardner described partnering for the
Phase One planning process with Empowered Solutions, which was founded by the
former sustainability manager for Linn County who had helped establish two resilience
hubs in Cedar Rapids. Depending on pilot program success and funding, other partners
for resilience hubs will be engaged in year two or three.
• Fraser asked about the Strategic Communications Plan (SLPP-2). Gardner described
the “What R You?” insulation campaign, past and future, as well as other communication
messages.
• Sturdevant asked for updates about the Root for Trees program. Gardner summarized
its ongoing success.
• Shetty asked about Neighborhood and Population Outreach (AP-4). Gardner noted that
the Amy Colbert with Tippe College of Business is compiling a toolkit for equitable
outreach for the six-county area participating in the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant
planning process. Gage asked if this toolkit would be able to be applied City-wide across
departments and divisions. Gardner said the hope is that it will be written in such a way
that other departments can draw portions from it to use in their own outreach.
• Gardner noted ICAAR has invited the Green Designations trainer back to do another
training, and that the trainer herself has written a grant to enable her to cover her own
fees. Fraser noted this indicated the training has become self-sustaining.
• Sturdevant asked for details about the Sustainability Operations Guide for Iowa City
organizations. Gardner provided context and noted a convening of Purchasing Officers
for cities across Iowa that will take place in May. Fraser emphasized the need, in
communications efforts, to understand audience.
• Sillman asked about the collaboration with Iowa City Public Library for native plantings
on the Ped Mall. Gardner described the work in progress, noting the signage will connect
with Spot the Hot efforts.
Visioning indicators of success in climate action
• Commissioners discussed prioritization and potential metrics from the 2018 Climate
Action and Adaptation Plan summary of actions.
• Eynon-Lynch noted the rationale for devising metrics: many actions summarized in
CAAP updates will likely not be reflected in measurable GHG community emissions, but
some way of measuring or reflecting these successes would help assign value to them.
Climate Action Commission
April 3 2023
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• Commissioners reviewed the list of actions from the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
and each shared what they felt to be the top priorities. Collectively, these were: compact
and contiguous development (2.4), on-site renewable energy systems and electrification
(1.4), and tree canopy (4.6), which all received four to five votes
o Other prioritized actions receiving two to three votes included: community solar
projects (1.5), funding mechanisms (5.4), energy efficiency in residences (1.1),
public transit (2.1), community gardens and access to healthy, local foods (5.2),
local products and responsible purchasing (5.3).
o Other actions receiving a single vote included: energy benchmarking (1.6),
emerging technologies (2.2), bicycle and pedestrian transportation (2.3),
commuter options/passenger rail (2.5), recycling at multi-family properties (3.1)
composting (3.2), reducing consumption (3.3), communications and outreach to
connect with vulnerable populations (4.2), and public health especially as it
relates to heat (4.3).
• Metrics ideas offered:
o number of people biking
o square foot per resident (home size) or square footage of pavement per capita
o tons of waste in the landfill
o dollars invested in climate initiatives
o dollars saved through community solar
o survey on the health impacts of trees, particularly mental health
• Other ideas mentioned:
o The shift to “electrify everything” is reflected in 1.4 and 1.5.
o Funding mechanisms are seen to impact everything else. Policy change can also
be a lever.
o Routes, Sunday busses, and a more regional transit plan all support equity.
o Adding storage (battery) to 1.4 will help load-leveling and resilience of the grid.
o Community gardens may benefit from an educational component.
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion of Bicycle Master Plan
• Sarah Walz from Johnson County MPO presented on the Bicycle Master Plan, as
summarized in the slides in the agenda packet. Due to lack of time for discussion,
commissioners will send questions to Climate Action staff and Walz will return to a future
meeting.
RECAP:
• Confirmation of next meeting time and location:
o Monday, April 1, 3:30-5 p.m., Emma J. Harvat Hall
• Actionable items for commission, working groups, and staff:
o Invite Sarah Walz back.
ADJOURNMENT:
Eynon-Lynch moved to adjourn, Smith seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion
passed 10-0. Meeting adjourned 5:05.
Climate Action Commission
April 3 2023
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4
CLIMATE ACTION
COMMISSION ATTENDANCE
RECORD
2023-2024
NAME
TERM EXP.
4/
3
/
2
3
5/
1
/
2
3
6/
5
/
2
3
7/
1
0
/
2
3
8/
7
/
2
3
9/
1
1
/
2
3
10
/
2
/
2
3
11
/
1
3
/
2
3
12
/
4
/
23
1/
8
/
24
2/
5
/
24
3/4/24
Michael
Anderson
12/31/2025 NM O/E X
Michal Eynon-
Lynch
12/31/2024 X X NM X X X X X X NM X X
Elizabeth
Fitzsimmons
12/31/2025 X X NM O/E X * * * * * * *
John Fraser 12/31/2024 X O/E NM X O/E X X X NM X X
Jamie Gade 12/31/2025 X O/E NM X X X O/
E
X X NM X X
Ben Grimm 10/31/2023 X X NM X O/E X X X X NM X O/E
Zach Haralson 12/31/2025 NM X X
Matt Krieger 12/31/2023 X X NM X O/E X O/
E
X O/E * * *
Jesse Leckband MidAmerican
Rep
X X NM X * * * * * * * *
Wim Murray MidAmerican
Rep
X X X X X NM X X
Michelle Sillman 12/31/20025 O/E O/E NM X X X X X X NM O/E X
Brinda Shetty UI Rep X X NM X O/E X X X O/E NM X X
Angie Smith 12/31/2025 X X NM X X
Gabe Sturdevant 12/31/2024 X X NM X X X X O/E X NM X X
Matt Walter 12/31/2023 O/E X NM X X X X O/E X * * *
KEY: X = Present
0 = Absent
0/E = Absent/Excused
NM= No Meeting
* No longer on Commission
Iowa City
Bicycle Master
Plan
UPDATE 2023 -2024
2
Trail 27 miles
Local Trail 10 miles
Sidepath 26.5 miles
Bike Lane 17 miles
3
Downtown & Central Neighborhoods
•Madison Street 4-to 3-lane
conversion.
•Jefferson and Market Streets
buffered bike lanes from
Madison Street to Governor
Street.
•Burlington Street bike lanes
from Madison Street to
Riverside Drive.
•Bikeways from Eastside
neighborhoods to Iowa River
Corridor Trail.
•Bike turn boxes at signalized
intersections with bike lanes.
•Future 1-way to 2-way
conversions?
4
Bike Turn Boxes
5
Westside Neighborhoods
•Bike lanes on Benton Street, from
Greenwood Drive to Mormon Trek
Blvd.
•Coralville Trail connection from
Crandic Park to 1st Avenue in
Coralville.
•Future buffered bike lanes on
Sunset Street
•Future bike lanes on Melrose
Avenue in University Heights.
•Future bike lanes on Mormon Trek
Boulevard from Hwy 1 to
McCollister Boulevard.
•Future bridge replacement for
Highway 6 and Burlington Street
bridges.
6
Eastside Neighborhoods
•Buffered bike lanes on
Rochester Avenue,
from 1st Avenue to
Montrose Court.
•Buffered bike lanes
and 10-foot sidepath
on American Legion
Road from Scott
Boulevard to
Barrington Road.
•Bikeways to South
East Junior High and
City High.
7
Southside Neighborhoods
•Bike lanes on Keokuk
Street, South of Hwy 6.
•Bike lanes on Southgate
Avenue.
•Bikeways on Sandusky
Drive, Burns Avenue, and
Lakeside Drive.
•Hwy 6 Trail segment from
Heinz Road to
Fairmeadows Boulevard.
•Future 4-to 3-lane
conversion will provide
buffered bike lanes on
Gilbert Street, south of
Southgate Avenue.
•Future Trail link at west
end of Southgate Avenue.
8
Protected Bike Lanes
9
Lane position and “sharing”
Primary
Riding in the center of
the lane improves
visibility. It’s the best
option to deter unsafe
passes, particularly on
slower urban roads.
In the gutter
You are easily
overlooked and can
become boxed in when
wanting to maneuver
around parked cars or
make a turn.
Secondary
Ride further out (3-5 ft
from the gutter) to
avoid debris, storm
drains, and other
hazards. This also
provides room for
maneuvering —a good
option for faster roads.
Bicycle
position on
the road
•Topic 02
24 28 28
43
35
23
34
26
15 13
22 20
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Bicycle Collisions (2012 -2023)
Bike Collisions
12
Education
Branding and Wayfinding
13
Partners
•Iowa City Bike Library
•Bike Iowa City
•Bicyclists of Iowa City
•Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County
•Iowa City South District Neighborhoods
•Geoff’s Bike and Ski
•World of Bikes
•Big Grove