HomeMy WebLinkAbout9-9-24 Climate Action Commission Agenda PacketIowa City Climate Action Commission Agenda
Monday, September 9, 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 Aug. 5, 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 provide link to recording of update to City Council on progress under the
Fare Free Transit pilot program
b. Upcoming events
i. Climate Fest
1. CoCoRaHS Training (tentative; Sept. 23, 4:30-6:30 p.m.)
2. Fare Free Celebration (Sept. 24, 5-8 p.m.)
3. Community Sing/Film Screening (Sept. 25, 5:30-6:30 p.m./7-8 p.m.)
4. Personal Electrification Plan (Sept. 26, 3-6 p.m.)
5. Nonprofit Nerd Out (Sept. 27, 2-4 p.m.)
6. EVs at the Market (Sept. 28, 7 a.m. – noon)
ii. Other events in the community (Commissioners)
6. Unfinished/Ongoing Business
a. Program updates:
i. Resilience Hub pilot (Tamara Marcus, Empowered Solutions and Rachel
Rockwell, Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County)
ii. Insulation Grants (staff)
iii. Root for Trees (staff)
iv. Fare Free Transit pilot (staff)
7. Recap
a. Confirmation of next meeting time and location
i. Monday, October 7, 3:30-5 p.m., Emma J. Harvat Hall
b. Actionable items for commission, working groups, and staff
8. 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
AUGUST 5, 2024 – 3:30 PM – FORMAL MEETING
EMMA J. HARVAT HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: John Fraser, Jamie Gade, Zach Haralson, Wim Murray, Michelle Sillman,
Angie Smith, Gabriel Sturdevant
MEMBERS ABSENT: Michael Anderson, Michal Eynon-Lynch, Ben Grimm, Brinda Shetty
STAFF PRESENT: Daniel Bissell, Sarah Gardner, Megan Hill, Diane Platte
OTHERS PRESENT: Blake Careo, Matisse Arnone, Dakota Thurston, Gabe Himan (Green
Iowa AmeriCorps)
CALL TO ORDER:
Sturdevant called the meeting to order at 3:32
APPROVAL OF JUNE 3, 2024 MINUTES:
Fraser moved to approve the minutes from June 3, 2024. Murray seconded the motion, a vote was
taken, and the motion passed 7-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Action Items from last meeting (Staff):
• Commissioners are invited to listen to the upcoming City Council work session on Fare Free
metrics; staff will share a link to the recording following the session.
Upcoming Events:
• City Council work session: Fare Free update (Aug. 20, 4 p.m.)
• Bus shelter mosaics design workshop (Aug. 7, 5:30-8:30 p.m.)
• Bus shelter mosaics deployment (Sept. 8)
• Energy Mini-Blitz (Aug. 10, 9 a.m.-noon)
• Climate Fest
o CoCoRaHS Training (Sept. 23, 4:30-6:00 p.m.)
o Fare Free Celebration (Sept. 24, 5-8 p.m.)
o Community Sing/Film Screening (Sept. 25, 6:00 p.m./7-8 p.m.)*
o Personal Electrification Plan (Sept. 26, 3-6 p.m.)
o Nonprofit Nerd Out (Sept. 27, 2-4 p.m.)*
Climate Action Commission
August 2024
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o EVs at the Market (Sept. 28, 7:30 a.m. – noon)
*Denotes events with opportunity for CAC host
• Other events in the community (Commissioners) -
o Gabe Hinam from Green Iowa AmeriCorps with Parks and Rec. invited commissioners to
Party in the Park this Thursday, 6:30-8 in North Market Square Park, for a Pedal Power
event that will encourage biking in the community.
UNFINISHED/ONGOING BUSINESS:
Visioning metrics/CPRG/Climate planning activities
• Gardner summarized the work on the regional plan being developed under the Climate Pollution
Reduction Grant (CPRG) process. She noted Iowa City’s Accelerated Action Plan runs through
2025; it could be refreshed rather than overhauled. An enlarged section on Adaptation – or a
plan specifically targeting Adaptation -- may be appropriate, since our community has seen
climate impacts, such as extreme weather events increasing, sooner than anticipated.
• Gardner described the Environmental Management System (EMS), the system already used by
the City’s landfill and recycling programs to track efforts and assign metrics toward continuous
improvement. The Commission could experiment with a pilot effort using a similar approach to
track progress toward a few priority climate action goals. The aim would be to determine if this
approach makes sense for climate action efforts, if it could be sustained through staff and
Commission efforts, or if it would make sense to request the help of a consultant to pursue full
implementation.
• Gardner proposed the following for the year ahead: identify some priority actions for an EMS
pilot and the corresponding objectives and measures, undertake a reprioritizaton/refresh of the
action items within the current CAAP/Accelerating Action Plan, explore the possibility of an
Adaptation Plan, and continue to monitor progress on the Regional Plan.
• Fraser offered support for a plan that adapts as needed, likening the process to a five-year plan
for a business or organization that changes more frequently than every five years.
• Sturdevant voiced support for input from commissioners and community members and
prioritizing these local ideas over an outside consultant.
• Gardner invited commissioners to take time before the next meeting to consider whether the
current Climate Action Plan allows Iowa City to do the work we need to be doing for the next
five years and whether an Adaptation Plan would be beneficial to the City. The Fare Free metrics
presentation and a possible future presentation on EMS metrics might guide the process of
developing climate action metrics.
• Fraser and Sturdevant emphasized the importance of “doing both at the same time:” keeping
tabs on the established plan and continually thinking on new additions.
Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
• Gade asked if the Electrification Incentive Program was the program in which the landlords
agree to accept Housing Choice vouchers in exchange for electrification and efficiency updates.
Gardner affirmed that was the case and provided some additional details on the program, which
now has six properties (three duplexes) participating.
o Sillman asked the age of the houses. Gardner knew one of the properties was at least 40
Climate Action Commission
August 2024
Page 3 of 5
3
years old.
o Haralson asked the locations of the houses. Gardner believed they were located on the
south side of Iowa City.
o Gade praised the program.
• Fraser noted how much demolition happens in Iowa City during the month of July. Gardner
offered information on a demolition debris recycling program that City Resource Management
staff recently visited.
• Gade asked about the new Climate Change Analysis requirement for new subdivisions under
Transportation. Gardner affirmed that the comp plan is being updated.
• Sturdevant asked for details about New City Facility Construction under Adaptation. Gardner
clarified that this refers to city-owned facilities. For example, when the new landfill facility is
constructed, the plan will ask whether there are adaptation principles that can be considered
(i.e. backup energy in the form of storage or a generator).
• Smith noted the recently submitted application for a Gold Level Bike-Friendly community and
expressed enthusiasm for the feedback that will result. Gardner shared a report about the
popularity of a social media post about the bike rack installation on Chauncey Parking Ramp.
• Sillman asked about grant funding for EV charging infrastructure in parks. Gardner shared a
grant proposal to bring solar-powered EV charging stations, which are not grid-tied, to City parks
was pursued by not funded. The effort ran aground in legalities: under Iowa code, if a device
both generates and sells electricity, it runs the risk of violating the legally protected monopoly
that a utility has in its service area. Iowa statutes also require collecting tax on charging for EVs.
Resolving these legal questions will be a necessary step for the next try on such grant
opportunities.
• Sturdevant asked about resilience hubs and Gardner noted that next month’s meeting will
include a presentation about a resilience hub at Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County.
• Gade asked about the status of the Equity Review of Neighborhood and Population Outreach.
Gardner affirmed that it has been developed, and when it becomes publicly available,
commissioners will receive a copy.
• Sillman asked about 36% canopy coverage in the urban area. Gardner noted that the City’s goal
is 40% canopy coverage.
• Haralson asked about HERS rating work and if there are further steps to be developed there.
Gardner clarified that the HERS rating would not be included in the MLS, but it is a certificate
that realtors can use to help sell the property. Making a HERS certificate standard practice
creates a helpful feedback loop. Haralson asked if there is a rating for buildings that are not new
construction. Gardner explained the PERL rating is for existing construction.
o Sturdevant noted that builders working on remodeling projects might enjoy a similar
incentive as the HERS incentive.
RECAP:
Confirmation of next meeting time and location:
• Monday, September 9, 3:30-5 p.m., Emma J. Harvat Hall
Actionable items for commission, working groups, and staff:
• Staff will share with commissioners some updates on the Fare Free metrics discussion.
Climate Action Commission
August 2024
Page 4 of 5
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ADJOURNMENT:
Sillman moved to adjourn, Fraser seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed 7-0.
Meeting adjourned at 4:50.
Climate Action Commission
August 2024
Page 5 of 5
5
CLIMATE ACTION COMMISSION
ATTENDANCE RECORD
2023-2024
NAME
TERM EXP.
8/
7
/
2
3
9/
1
1
/
2
3
10
/
2
/
2
3
11
/
1
3
/
2
3
12
/
4
/
2
3
1/
8
/
2
4
2/
5
/
2
4
3/
4
/
2
4
4/
1
/
2
4
5/
6
/
2
4
6/
3
/
2
4
8/
5
/
2
4
Michael
Anderson
12/31/2025 NM O/E X O/E O/E X X
Michal Eynon-
Lynch
12/31/2024 X X X X X NM X X X X X O/E
Elizabeth
Fitzsimmons
12/31/2025 X * * * * * * * * * * *
John Fraser 12/31/2024 O/E X X X NM X X X O/E X X
Jamie Gade 12/31/2025 X X O/
E
X X NM X X X X X X
Ben Grimm 10/31/2023 O/E X X X X NM X O/E X X O/E O/E
Zach Haralson 12/31/2025 NM X X X X O/E X
Matt Krieger 12/31/2023 O/E X O/
E
X O/E * * * * * * *
Wim Murray MidAmerican
Rep
X X X X X NM X X X X X X
Michelle Sillman 12/31/20025 X X X X X NM O/E X X O/E X X
Brinda Shetty UI Rep O/E X X X O/E NM X X X X X X
Angie Smith 12/31/2025 X X NM X X X X X X
Gabe Sturdevant 12/31/2024 X X X O/E X NM X X X X O/E X
Matt Walter 12/31/2023 X X X O/E X * * * * * * *
KEY: X = Present
0 = Absent
0/E = Absent/Excused NM=
No Meeting
* No longer on Commission
Date: September 6, 2024
To: Climate Action Commission
From: Daniel Bissell, Climate Action Analyst
Sarah Gardner, Climate Action Coordinator
Re: Insulation Grant program
Background
The purpose of this memo is to provide an update on the Insulation Grant Program
administered by the Climate Action and Outreach division as the program enters its third year.
Within Iowa City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, adopted in 2018, Action Item 1.1 calls
for efforts to “increase energy-efficiency in residences.” As a result, a Residential Energy
Efficiency Program was proposed in June 2021 to provide a suite of rebates for energy
efficiency measures including insulation, EV readiness, tankless water heaters, and
programmable thermostats in Iowa City residences. The program was designed to provide
partial funding for each to complement existing energy efficiency programs from MidAmerican
Energy and loan programs through the Community Development division of Iowa City.
In consultation with the Climate Action Commission and Neighborhood and Development
Services (NDS), it was determined that a simpler, phased approach would likely increase
participation among homeowners. The program was thus streamlined to implementation in
April 2022 to focus on increasing attic insulation and electrical service panel upgrades, with
both being covered in full for income qualified households, defined as those at or below 80
percent of the area median income. The offerings were also rebranded from “Residential
Energy Efficiency Program” to the “Insulation Grant Program” and “Electrical Panel Upgrade
Program,” in recognition that “energy efficiency” is a broad term that does not make it
immediately apparent to homeowners what might be funded.
Upon review of the program in June 2023, staff determined to further streamline the program
for Fiscal Year 2024 to focus solely on funding attic insulation and related ventilation and air
sealing costs in response to the comparatively high cost and low uptake of the electrical panel
upgrades and the more immediate benefits of increasing insulation to participating households.
The projects continued to be funded in full for income qualified households, and a robust
“What R You” marketing campaign helped increase awareness of and participation in the
program. The program has come to be known among residents as “Insulate Iowa City,” with a
companion webpage on the City’s website, icgov.org/Insulate.
September 6, 2024
Page 2
Program Goal
Heating and cooling a home are typically the largest use of energy in households, and in Iowa
City energy use in buildings contributes the largest percentage of greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions, 77% as of the most recent GHG inventory. The Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) estimates homeowners can save up to 15% on heating and cooling costs by air sealing
and insulating attic spaces, with 9 out of 10 residences in the U.S. lack adequate insulation.0F
1
Data collected by the U.S. Energy Information Administration and broken down by decade,
meanwhile, show the older a home is, the more likely it is to be poorly insulated or lack
insulation entirely, as shown in the graphs below.1F
2 In Iowa City, more than half the housing
stock is more than 40 years old, with a median construction date of 1982.2F
3
September 6, 2024
Page 3
The desired outcomes from the Insulation Grant Program are first and foremost to address this
lack of insulation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy use, lower utility bills for
Iowa City residents during both the heating and cooling seasons, and improve household
comfort, especially in periods of extreme heat or cold. Improved insulation also is a
recommended first step toward other household climate interventions, helping prepare
households for future electrification and clean energy investments. A properly insulated home
ensures that upgraded HVAC equipment, especially heat pumps, as well as solar arrays can be
properly sized, which saves on both the purchase price and operational costs.
Program Description
Since its inception, the program structure has also been streamlined with an aim to reduce as
much as possible potential barriers to participation. As currently administered, an interested
homeowner or renter will contact Climate Action staff by phone or email to initiate the process.
The Climate Action Analyst then confirms that the adjusted gross income (AGI) is below 80%
area median income based on household size, by comparing the household AGI as confirmed
through a copy of the most recent tax return to a table provided by NDS. Renters are also asked
to provide verification from their landlords allowing for participation in the program. Once
approved, the homeowner contacts his or her preferred local insulation contractor(s) for an
estimate. With that estimate, an agreement is drawn up wherein the City agrees to pay the
contractor the full cost of the project including attic insulation, air sealing, and ventilation up to
a cap of $5,000. The homeowner also agrees to receive a free energy audit performed by Green
Iowa AmeriCorps and signs an information release so that MidAmerican Energy directly
provides the Climate Action and Outreach office energy usage data for a period of 12 months
before, and 12 months after project completion.
The simple, streamlined process, from application to project completion, has proven to be a key
to the program’s success to date. This is enabled in part by the use of local funding, which
allows for fewer application and reporting requirements as compared to those attached to
state or federal grant funds. Projects can be completed within a few months, typically,
depending on the workload of the selected contractor. Homeowners have also expressed an
appreciation that the program does not require them to pay for the work themselves and then
be reimbursed, as they do not have to first save up for the cost of the project themselves but
can move swiftly from application to project initiation.
Unresolved challenges in the program include a slow turnaround to receive household energy
data from MidAmerican Energy. Despite every household completing the necessary release
form and the requests filed in a timely manner with the utility, only data from 5 homes of the
115 participating households have been received by the Climate Action Analyst from the utility
to date. It is not clear how to better facilitate obtaining this information. Another challenge has
been contractor capacity. With a limited number of contractors equipped to perform this work
locally, a loss of equipment by one local contractor resulted in a significant backlog in projects,
even as another contract absorbed the existing slate of projects.
September 6, 2024
Page 4
Even so, the program has grown steadily in the last two years, both in the size of projects and
number of households enrolled to participate. Although FY24 shows fewer households served
than FY23, a combination of the aforementioned contractor bottleneck and diminished funding
resulted in a larger waitlist of homes that had been approved for the program in the previous
fiscal year but have been carried over into the current fiscal year for project completion. Both
the participating households and contractors serving them have expressed high satisfaction
with the program, and one of the program successes has been the development of strong
channels of communication with local contractors. When staff began to anticipate budgetary
constraints following the elimination of the emergency levy, conversations initiated with
contractors about their willingness to provide quotes to households and set up a waitlist proved
very productive, and local contractors have begun advertising the program themselves. Staff
hope that these channels of communication will help facilitate enrollment and participation of
local contractors in the state administered Home Efficiency Rebate (HOMES) and Home Energy
Rebate (HER) programs funded under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that is anticipated to roll
out in 2025, positioning Iowa City households well to take advantage of that funding
opportunity.
Funding
To date, a total of $279,908 has been invested in the program, drawn from the Emergency Levy
funds, serving 115 households. The current waitlist includes an additional 7 homes. The
proposed budget for FY25, drawn from the general operating fund, is $100,000. It is projected
to serve between 30-35 households, based on average project costs of the previous two years.
Nearly a third of this budget is already committed to waitlisted homes.
Fiscal Year Total Expended Number of
Households
Average Cost Per
household
FY23 $122,585 62 $1,977
FY24 $157,323 53 $2,968
Staff anticipate requesting a budget amendment in late 2024 to apply some of the remaining
Emergency Levy funds to serve additional households through the end of FY25. The amount
requested will be determined by the number of waitlisted homes at that time and anticipated
continued enrollment rate.
Future Considerations
To date this program has been funded by an emergency levy. Iowa City no longer has the ability
to collect such a levy, so a new source of funding must be found if this program is to continue.
In early 2025 it is expected that HOMES and HER rebates, administered by the Iowa Energy
Office using federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act, will become available. These
September 6, 2024
Page 5
rebates will offer up to $1,600 for improvements to insulation for an income-qualified
household. Given the average costs of such projects, it is likely these rebates will only cover a
little more than half of a typical insulation project.
One possible structure for the program in the future may be to cover the difference in cost
between the amount funded through HOMES and HER rebates and the total project cost,
allowing the City to stretch its constrained financial resources further. Such an approach will
require continued and ongoing engagement with local contractors as well as the State Energy
Office in order to succeed. To date, Iowa is among the 28 states and territories that have not
yet submitted an application to the Department of Energy to initiate the approval process for
its rebate program design. An application is anticipated to be submitted in late 2024 or early
2025.
Another possible approach for the future of the program could be to create a tiered funding
structure in which households at or below 50% of area AMI continue to receive funding in full
for insulation projects while households at or below 80% AMI but above 50% are asked to cover
a portion of the costs themselves. As with the previous approach, the added complexity of such
an approach will require ongoing engagement with contractors in order to succeed. It is a chief
aim of the Climate Action staff that as much of the additional administrative burden be
absorbed by staff as possible rather than create barriers for participation for either households
or contractors.
Climate Action staff will continue to monitor the awaited application and rollout of the HOMES
and HER programs and anticipate consulting with the Climate Action Commission in 2025 as to
the recommended structure for the continuation of the program.
1 https://www.energystar.gov/saveathome/seal_insulate/why-seal-and-
insulate#:~:text=Most%20homes%20in%20the%20United,and%20comfort%20in%20your%20home.
2 U.S. Energy Information Administration, Office of Energy Demand and Integrated Statistics, Form EIA-457A of the
2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey
3 https://www.census.gov/acs/www/about/why-we-ask-each-question/year-built/
Date: August 27, 2024
To: Climate Action Commission
From: Megan Hill, Climate Action Engagement Specialist
Sarah Gardner, Climate Action Coordinator
Re: Root for Trees FY25
Background
The purpose of this memo is to provide a background of the Root for Trees program, an update
on the activity of the fifth year of the program, and what the future of the program might look
like. Action Item 4.6 in Iowa City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan calls for the expansion of
the city’s tree canopy. At the time of the plan’s adoption in 2018, City staff were already
engaged in tree planting efforts in public right of ways and natural areas. Based on this it was
concluded to further increase the canopy would require engaging residents and businesses to
plant trees on private property as well. An incentive program was deemed the most effective
means of doing so, which gave rise to the Root for Trees program.
The program launched in October 2020. It was administered by Parks and Rec staff and funded
by the Climate Action and Outreach division through use of funds from the emergency levy. In
2022, the program was brought fully under the direction of Climate Action and Outreach, which
has continued to both administer and fund the program since that time. The program has
functioned in largely the same way since its inception with one notable exception. Initially a list
of eligible tree species was provided to participating nurseries with an aim to increase tree
canopy diversity. This proved too difficult for nursery staff to monitor and administer at the time
of sale. As a result, in subsequent years, rather than provide a list of several species that could
be purchased, a prohibition against just two types was established and printed directly on the
vouchers to make it clear to both customers and nursery workers which trees were ineligible for
purchase. Maple trees were prohibited on the grounds of being overrepresented in Iowa City’s
tree canopy, and pears were prohibited as some species of pear tree are highly invasive. This
model proved successful and has become the standard practice for the program.
Program Description
Under the Root for Trees program, residents and businesses within Iowa City are able to apply
for one voucher per property per year to offset the cost of a tree purchased at either Iowa City
Landscaping & Garden Center or Earl May Garden Center. The vouchers cover 50% of the cost
of a tree up to a maximum $125 discount (for a total tree value of $250). Income-eligible
residents are able to receive a voucher covering 90% of the cost of a tree, up to a maximum
$225 discount (for a total tree value of $250). This program runs parallel to the City’s fiscal year,
with vouchers available from September through May each year.
The trees obtained through the program are to be planted on the purchaser’s private property.
Residents wishing to plant their tree in the right-of-way are required to submit a permit for City
approval prior to the purchasing of the tree. Residents are advised to call Iowa One Call for
utility locating prior to digging. Throughout the program, staff have received periodic requests for
assistance with planting the tree from residents who are physically unable to do so themselves.
When this occurs, the City’s AmeriCorps team has provided assistance with planting trees at
those residences.
September 6, 2024
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The Root for Trees program is marketed across all City social media accounts including
Instagram, Facebook, and Nextdoor. A press release is sent out when the program initially
opens and reminders to apply or redeem vouchers are sent out via email to program
participants throughout the program cycle. The program is featured in the Climate Action
newsletter throughout the year and advertised at public events. During the FY24 program cycle,
marketing efforts were updated with language to make it more explicitly clear that businesses
were also eligible to apply for a voucher.
To aid with data collection and recordkeeping for the program, the vouchers are designed with a
space for the garden center employee to fill in the plant species purchased and total discount
amount to be reimbursed at the time of sale. The nurseries then return the voucher to the
Climate Action and Outreach office in order to be reimbursed. Each voucher has a unique
number, which helps keep track of tree species, purchaser, and location of the tree. Typically,
two-thirds of the vouchers issued are redeemed in a given year. Those that are not redeemed
within a program cycle cannot be redeemed in a subsequent cycle, but households and
businesses with unredeemed vouchers are encouraged to apply again for a new voucher in a
following year.
During the FY24 program cycle, 298 standard vouchers and 16 income-qualified vouchers were
redeemed, for a total of 314 trees planted. Nearly all of these trees were planted at residences,
with a modest increase in the number of vouchers redeemed by businesses. Nineteen trees
were planted within Justice 40 tracts. The attached maps show the distribution of tree plantings
in Iowa City during the FY24 program cycle and all tree plantings through the program to date
with gray areas denoting the two Justice 40 tracts. Of the $50,000 budgeted for the program in
FY24, $35,117.75 was spent. The average voucher redemption was $112.56 per tree, which is
slightly higher than the overall program average of $108.55 per tree to date.
Program Goals and Successes
Trees provide a variety of benefits to the environment and are an important part of the City’s
Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. They are a tool for both mitigation of and adaptation to
climate change, by serving as carbon sinks the pull carbon dioxide from the air while also
providing shade to help cool the surfaces below their canopy. The evapotranspiration process
within their leaves further cools the surrounding air. Trees also contribute to maintaining
biodiversity within urban areas by providing critical habitat and forage for a large variety of
insects, birds, and mammals.
To date, the Root for Trees program has achieved a number of successes that will aid in
achieving these benefits for Iowa City in the future, including:
• Over 1,600 households have received vouchers through the program to date.
• 1,309 trees have been planted through the program to date, and staff expect to surpass
1,500 trees planted during this program cycle.
• $142,038.67 has been spent to date on trees, for a total tree value of over $300,000.
Estimates vary, but cities can expect between $21-$38 in net annual benefits per tree in terms
of corresponding carbon sequestration, air quality improvement, stormwater management, and
other ecosystem services.0F
1
Future Considerations
Now in its fifth year, the Root for Trees program began accepting application in August 2024 for
the FY25 program cycle. The application period will end May 1, 2025, and vouchers expire May
16, 2025. Once again, $50,000 has been budgeted for the program. In years past, the program
was funded through the emergency levy. With the elimination of that funding source, the
program this year is being funded through the general operating fund.
September 6, 2024
Page 3
On the whole, Root for Trees has proven to be a successful and highly popular program among
Iowa City residents. It has been used as a model for similar efforts in other cities, including a
part of the Cedar Rapids ReLeaf program. Although the program has yet to fully expend the
amount budgeted toward it annually, as the number of participants rises each year, staff
anticipate a time may come when the budget will either need to be expanded or a cap set for
program participation.
Staff do not currently have a means to track how many trees expire within the first few years of
being planted, but some participants in Root for Trees have reported losing their saplings to the
rising deer population within Iowa City, drought conditions, or other stressors. When this
happens, they are encouraged to apply again for another voucher in a subsequent year.
Currently, the program has no allocation to support tree care, but there are ongoing efforts to
help set participants up for success, including information on tree planting and care that gets
mailed with the vouchers and a video on tree planting currently in development.
It is conceivable in a tight budget year a cap may need to be placed on how many times a
household can participate in the program within a certain amount of time. Should this happen,
staff will look to the Climate Action Commission to provide guidance as to an appropriate cap
and time limit. Consideration should be given in that case as to whether other forms of support
to help the trees survive should be implemented, such as providing “tree diapers” or tree collars
similar to those used for trees planted in public spaces.
The Root for Trees program also does not cover tree removal. In recent years, staff have also
been contacted by residents looking for assistance with the cost of removing dead ash trees
from their property. A preliminary effort was made to investigate whether a portion of Root for
Trees funding might be used to help residents faced with these costs, but the per project costs
(an average of $8000 per tree removal), would have quickly exhausted the total funding for the
program and removed only a small number of trees. Efforts were made, unsuccessfully, to
identify alternative state or federal funding programs that might assist with these costs. Whether
or not the city should dedicate funds to assist with tree removal, particularly given the increasing
likelihood of storm damaged trees due to climate change, remains an unresolved question that
may require Climate Action Commission input in the future.
1 McPherson, Greg, et. al., “Municipal Forest Benefits and Costs in Five U.S. Cities”
https://www.fs.usda.gov/psw/publications/mcpherson/psw_2005_mcpherson003.pdf
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University of
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Iowa City
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1 category
1 category
Root For Trees Redemption FY24
County of Johnson, IA, Iowa DNR, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, SafeGraph,
GeoTechnologies, Inc, METI/NASA, USGS, EPA, NPS, USDA, USFWS
9/6/2024
0 0.9 1.80.45 mi
0 1.5 30.75 km
1:72,224
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Root for Trees Redemption 2021 - 2024
County of Johnson, IA, Iowa DNR, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, SafeGraph,
GeoTechnologies, Inc, METI/NASA, USGS, EPA, NPS, USDA, USFWS
9/6/2024
0 0.9 1.80.45 mi
0 1.5 30.75 km
1:72,224
City Council
One-Year Check-In
Rolling to a Greener Future
Performance Management - Iowa City Transit
Problem Statement
Ridership Goal
SMARTIE metrics
Interventions / Solutions
Fare Free Iowa City
First year impacts
Funding
Next Steps | Council direction on Fare Free Iowa City
Agenda
“Process by which cities tackle their
biggest challenges through activities
that enable strategic thinking,
targeted resource allocation, and
responsive decision making”
What is
Performance
Management?
Performance Management
Steps
Establish
Project
Team
Develop &
Implement
PM Routine
Act,
Evaluate
& Adjust
Develop
Problem
Statement
Identify
Performance
(SMARTIE)
Metrics and
Set Goals
Develop
Interventions
/Solutions
Stakeholder
Engagement &
Communications
Plan
Problem Statement
After declaring a climate crisis in August 2019, the City of Iowa City established an emission reduction
goal of 45% by 2030 with a vision to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Not only are marginalized populations most at-risk from the effects of climate change, but existing income
inequities have widened due to rapidly rising costs of housing, childcare, healthcare, transportation, and
other essential costs of living, with lower-income households being disproportionately cost-burdened.
Since its peak in 2011, transit ridership has declined at an average rate of 3.5% per year, while the population
has increased an average of 1% annually.
The City views increasing public transit use as an effective tool to reduce transportation related emissions
while simultaneously supporting reduced household transportation expenses. An efficient transportation
network, that includes a barrier-free public transit system, can affect all constituents through greater
community resiliency; efficient land-use patterns; a less congested road network; increased discretionary
income; and safe, reliable, and accessible transportation for all residents, employees, and visitors.
DNG
GoalGoal1.91
million
annual
rides by
2030
Equivalent to taking approximately
13,900 vehicles off the road
Comparable to the annual energy
use of about 7,700 homes
To absorb this amount of CO2, you
would need to plant around 1.06
million tree seedings, and let them
grow for 10 years
45% reduction in
transportation carbon
emissions by 2030
(64,000 metric tons)
Transit RidershipTransit Ridership
We will
need to
add about
400,000
more rides
1,505,184
FY24 Ridership
1,910,000
FY30 Ridership Goal
+222
Rides per day 68,000
Additional rides per year for
next six years
+111or
Round trips
Goal:
Transit
Ridership
Goal:
Transit
Ridership
SMARTIE Metrics
Carbon emissions reduction1.
Transit ridership2.
% Change in ridership compared to national average & peer cities3.
APTA Ranking: Urbanized Areas with Most Transit Travel per Capita4.
On-time performance5.
Access to transit (including boarding and alighting by stop)6.
Capacity metrics7.
How do we measure Transit success?
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
0.0
500000.0
1000000.0
1500000.0
2000000.0
FY19 to FY20: -22% decrease
FY20 to FY21: -55% decrease
FY21 to FY22: +109% increase
‹#›
1,902,350
2.4%
FY 2000 - 2024
Fiscal Year
1,563,657
1,486,351
1,156,346
525,416
1,055,600
1,984,441
1,256,474
FY24
1,505,184
851,383
1.91Goal
MILLION RIDES
Transit Ridership
Ridership comparison
Ridership by Route
Paratransit RidershipParatransit Ridership
CJ
Ridership 20% higher,
but still well short of
pre-pandemic levels
$29.00/ride
$4.85/ride
FY24 Paratransit Cost per Ride
Fixed Route Transit
APTA RankingAPTA Ranking
Top
Five
“Urbanized Areas with Most Transit Travel”
2023 American Public Transit Fact Book (2021 data)
Currently
16th Place
Currently
16th Place
Goal
1. South Iowa City
2. Court Street
3. Eastside Loop
4. Downtown Shuttle
5. Lower Muscatine
6. Peninsula
7. North Dodge
8. Oakcrest
9. Towncrest
10. W
est Iowa City
11. Rochester
12. Highway 1
13. South Gilbert
0
20
40
60
80
100
120Fix e d R o u t e T r a n s i t
CJ
On-Time PerformanceOn-Time Performance
72% of trips departed within 5 minutes of a
stop’s scheduled departure time in FY2024, up
from 69% in FY 2023
> 1
Minute
Early
> 7
Minutes
Late
< 1
Minute
Early
5-7
Minutes
Late
0-5
Minutes
Late
62%83%
50%79%
79%71%61%79%63%66%68%64%
77%
85%Goal
On-Time PerformanceOn-Time Performance
Pick ups Pickups w/ Appt.Total Trips
0
20
40
60
80
100
120Par a t r a n s i t 82.6% of trips arrived within 10 minutes of the
scheduled pickup time in April 2024
> 30
Minutes
Early
> 30
Minutes
Late
10 - 30
Minutes
Early
10-30
Minutes
Late
W/in 10
Minutes of
Schedule82%86%83%
CJ
99%Goal
Calculate GHG
emissions &
transit
ridership goals
Complete
"Iowa City
Area Transit
Study” &
Implement
preliminary
service level
recommendati
ons
Launch “Fare
Free Iowa
City” pilot
Evaluate and
improve bus
stop amenities
including
transit
interchange
Design and
construct new
Transit Facility
Enhance
service levels
to reach
ridership goals
S ummer 2 02 4 2024 - 2027 J ul y 2 0 2 1 - M a y
2 0 2 3
20 25 - 20 30August 20 23 2 02 5 - 2030 +
Assumptions:
Staffing is stabilized
Fleet is operational
Robust marketing and communications plan in place
<- Past Future ->
How do we get to 1.91 million rides?How do we get to 1.91 million rides?
Interventions / Solutions
+450,000
M O R E R I D E S O N T R A N S I T
Climate ImpactsClimate Impacts
+43%
I N C R E A S E O V E R F Y 2 3
-31,251
M E T R I C T O N S O F C A R B O N E M I S S I O N S
Equivalent to taking approximately 6,800
vehicles off the road
Comparable to the annual energy use of
about 3,800 homes
To absorb this amount of CO2, you would
need to plant around 514,000 tree
seedings, and let them grow for 10 years
+3%
I M P R O V E M E N T I N O N -T I M E P E R F O R M A N C E
$1,290,000
P U T B A C K I N T O P O C K E T S O F T R A N S I T R I D E R S
Community BenefitsCommunity Benefits
Faster boarding
Improved access to
affordable transportation
Reduced traffic congestion
Staff BenefitsStaff Benefits
Faster boarding
Reduced “timepoint stress”
Reduced conflicts at farebox
Less staff time involved in
fare administration and
collection
Staff retention
COVID stimulus
Annual federal funding
Parking fee increase
1% Utility Tax
(anticipated FY26)
FundingFunding
CJ
Next StepsNext Steps
Council direction on Fare Free Iowa City program
Fareboxes are at end of useful life and are no
longer supported
If returning to fare, we need a year of lead time
to order new equipment
New Transit Facility
Expected completion 2027
Bus Stop / Interchange Improvement program
RFP in 2024/2025
Expand electric fleet
Enhance service levels to reach ridership goals
1.91
million rides
by 2030