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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2-3-25 Climate Action Commission Agenda Packet Iowa City Climate Action Commission Agenda Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, 4:00 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 Jan. 6, 2025 minutes 4. Announcements/Reports a. Welcome new member, Emma Bork b. Action items from last meeting i. Staff will follow up with an email containing link to Council work session, legislative priorities, link for Inclusive Transportation virtual discussion registration, and Habitat for Humanity video c. Public comments for items not on the agenda moved to the end of the meeting i. Comments on agenda items will need to take place during discussions of those items d. Events i. Inclusive Transportation discussion with author (Feb. 4, 6 p.m., Zoom) ii. Climate Ambassador Training (Feb. 20-April 17) iii. Other events in the community (Commissioners) e. Update on Comprehensive Plan efforts for Iowa City 5. New Business a. Midyear presentations from Climate Action Grant awardees – Antelope Lending Library, Bur Oak, Nomadic Foods b. NCS survey transportation mode data – review/discussion 6. Old Business a. Revisions to equity mapping approach - discussion 7. 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. 8. Recap a. Confirmation of next meeting time and location i. Monday, March 3, 2025 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 sgardner@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. MINUTES PRELIMINARY IOWA CITY CLIMATE ACTION COMMISSION JANUARY 6 – 3:30 PM – FORMAL MEETING EMMA J. HARVAT HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Michael Anderson, Jamie Gade, Ben Grimm, Zach Haralson, Nadja Krylov, Wim Murray, Brinda Shetty, Angie Smith, Robert Traer MEMBERS ABSENT: Emma Bork, Michelle Sillman STAFF PRESENT: Daniel Bissell, Sarah Gardner, Megan Hill, Diane Platte OTHERS PRESENT: Scott Hawes, Sarah Furnish, Jana Garrelts, Barbara Eckstein, Rachell Truitt CALL TO ORDER: Gade called the meeting to order at 3:31. APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 2, 2024 MINUTES: Shetty moved to approve the minutes, Smith seconded, and the motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA: None. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Welcome and introduction of new members Nadja Krylov and Robert Traer Action items from last meeting (staff): • Staff reported that commissioners can support the City’s legislative priorities by calling the Capitol. Haralson asked if the wording for clean energy inclusion in new building code standards was posted anywhere, and Gardner offered to follow up. • Staff contacted Darian Nagle-Grimm about someone from Transit presenting to CAC in 2025 Community survey results presentation: • City Council work session tomorrow, January 6, will cover the community survey results. One of the two custom questions included in the survey was from Climate Action about commuting. The current data about commuting in Iowa City comes from an ACS survey that uses a point-in- time method of data collection. The community survey question calls for an averaged-over-time response, which may yield different insights. Gade asked if the data show demographic subsets and Gardner affirmed it can. Events: • Inclusive Transportation community conversation Jan. 30 noon, ICPL Meeting Room A Climate Action Commission January 2025 Page 2 of 4 2 • Inclusive Transportation virtual Q&A with author Feb. 4, 6 p.m., Zoom • Other events in the community (commissioners) - none NEW BUSINESS: Midyear presentations from Climate Action Grant awardees, summarized in slides in agenda packet. • Scott Hawes reported on how Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity used grant funds for air sealing a home under construction. o Krylov asked if Energy Recovery Ventilators can be installed as a retrofit and Hawes affirmed it can. o Shetty asked how many homes have been built by IVHFH; Hawes reported nearly 200 homes have been built in the community so far, with 2-3 homes added per year. o Haralson asked if the energy-efficiency upgrades are a new development and Hawes reported that they have been standard procedure. o Grimm asked if there is a trade-off between energy efficiency upgrades and cost of the home. Hawes explained that the financing package can be structured around the income of the household (28%) through subsidies. o Grimm asked if there are families that can afford a more environmentally friendly home but there are not such homes to fill those needs. Hawes posited that a builder does not collect a higher profit margin from educating potential home buyers; they generally just explain what increases the cost of the home. • Barbara Eckstein explained how Trinity Episcopal Church will use funds for window rehab of seven windows that face a courtyard. Two bids were received, one was accepted, and the church is ready to move to next steps on the project this winter. A video by a parishioner will complement the project. The Historic Preservation requirements of the building meant that communication with City staff took place early and often. o Haralson asked if there is an estimate of cost-savings on energy bills. Eckstein noted the building has been jerry-rigged over so many decades, the general strategy is to walk back decisions that have been made over the years to create a comprehensive space. She noted this project is a step toward a long-term effort to add solar panels to a portion of the roof. • Sarah Furnish and Jana Garrelts reported how Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County used funds for a community garden for the 3-year-olds classroom. o Gade asked if there are plans to expand to other locations. Garrelts reported the Pheasant Ridge site has a small garden. Election of Chair and Vice Chair • Shetty moved to nominate Gade as Chair, Grimm seconded, and the motion carried. • Anderson moved to nominate Haralson as Vice Chair, Gade seconded, and the motion carried. OLD BUSINESS: Discussion of 2025 Climate Action Commission meeting times and dates • Krylov reported seeing good results from a 12:30-2 meeting time to strike a balance between public comment opportunity and a schedule that works for presentations from professionals. Climate Action Commission January 2025 Page 3 of 4 3 Traer reported flexibility. • Commissioners discussed scheduling needs. Gade asked if moving the public comment period to the end is possible; Gardner affirmed it could. Anderson noted that a special meeting time for public comment (listening session) would be helpful. • Haralson moved to schedule CAC meetings 4-5:30 on Mondays, Shetty seconded, and the motion carried. This schedule will begin in February. RECAP: Confirmation of next meeting time and location: • Monday, February 3, 4-5:30 p.m. Emma J. Harvat Hall Actionable items for commission, working groups, and staff: • Staff will send a follow-up email with items discussed at this meeting. ADJOURNMENT: Krylov moved to adjourn, Traer seconded, and the motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 4:51. Climate Action Commission January 2025 Page 4 of 4 4 CLIMATE ACTION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD 2024-25 NAME TERM EXP. 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 9/ 8 / 2 4 10 / 7 / 2 4 11 / 1 8 / 2 4 12 / 2 / 2 4 1/ 6/25 Michael Anderson 12/31/2025 NM O/ E X O/E O/E X O/E X X X X X Emma Bork 12/31/2026 X Michal Eynon- Lynch 12/31/2024 NM X X X X X O/E X X X X * John Fraser 12/31/2024 NM X X X O/E X X X X O/E O/E * Jamie Gade 12/31/2025 NM X X X X X X O/E X O/E X X Ben Grimm 10/31/2026 NM X O/E X X O/E O/E X X X X X Zach Haralson 12/31/2025 NM X X X X O/E X O/E X X X X Nadja Krylov 12/31/2026 X Wim Murray MidAmerican Rep NM X X X X X X X X X O/E X Michelle Sillman 12/31/20025 NM O/ E X X O/E X X X O/E X X X Brinda Shetty UI Rep NM X X X X X O/E X X X X X Angie Smith 12/31/2025 NM X X X X X X X O/E X X X Gabe Sturdevant 12/31/2024 NM X X X X O/E X X X O/E X * Robert Traer 12/31/2026 X KEY: X = Present 0 = Absent 0/E = Absent/Excused NM= No Meeting * No longer on Commission CLIMATE ACTION GRANTS 2024-25 MIDYEAR REPORTS DEC. 2, 2024 i c g o v .o r g /C l i m a t e A c t i o n G r a n t s “With our ROAMS service, we bring library materials right to front doors so everyone can access literature. We don’t require proof of ID or residency to check out materials, removing those barriers as well. Our ROAMS service reaches approximately 18 households and three childcare centers a month. We serve approximately 100 people with these deliveries, sharing up to 225 books each month.” Highlight: Custom-made tote bags from repurposed boat sails are sturdy enough to hold more books than plastic bags, while keeping books protected from the elements. They not only eliminate our plastic usage, but also help upcycle materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, turning them into something practical and environmentally friendly. Contact: Alexis Kurth, Antelope Lending Library Goal: to reduce the number of single-use plastic bags used for ROAMS (Requested Open Access Material Service) home delivery. Reusable Totes for Antelope Lending Library BEFORE AFTER While 150 households will receive shrubs, the other 50 households will get a container flowering plant that will support pollinators. By providing container gardens, this project will reach people who rent or do not have a yard but still would like to support pollinators in city limits. “This project could jumpstart Iowa City homeowners’ native gardens, reduce the use of pesticides, and reduce the number of non-native plants, manicured lawn space, and mowed land.” Bur Oak will also provide educational information on the importance of planting native plants and video/written instructions on how to care for the shrub or plant. Goal: to give native shrubs and flowering plants to 200 households in Iowa City, increasing pollinator and bird habitat within city limits. Contact: Jason Taylor, Executive Director of Bur Oak Land Trust Native Shrubs Distribution with Bur Oak Land Trust “When ordering food and beverage, rather than receiving it in a single- use container that is disposable, our customers will be offered a reusable food or drink container that they can return to us on their next visit to be sanitized and reused!” Highlight: “This project fits our larger operational goals as a plant-based food business with a focus on sourcing local ingredients and supplies and continuously implementing sustainable business practices. With our heavy mobile food presence at events, and our large volume cafe, encouraging reusables for to-go orders is the best way to reduce material waste and become more sustainable.” Goal: to eliminate eliminate over 15,000 single use disposables in the first year through purchasing purchase an initial stock of 1,500 reusable d rink containers and 500 reusable food containers. Contact: Molly Kirby, Kindred Coffee Reusable Wares for Nomadic Foods Date: January 30, 2025 To: Climate Action Commission From: Daniel Bissell, Climate Action Analyst Sarah Gardner, Climate Action Coordinator Re: Transportation Mode Split The purpose of this memo is to highlight potential insights from the recent Iowa City Community Survey as related to transportation mode use, how the data compares to that of the American Community Survey (ACS) information collected by the Census Bureau, and potential ways it can be used to inform Iowa City’s efforts to achieve 55% of vehicle trips with more sustainable options as called for in the city’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). The CAAP identifies these sustainable options as increased use of public transit (Action Item 2.1), electric vehicles (Action Item 2.2), and bicycle and pedestrian transportation (Action Item 2.3). Background ACS data is collected from a randomized sample of 3.5 million addresses in the U.S. through mailed questionnaires, phone interviews, personal visits from Census workers, and responses received through the internet. The sample data is then used to estimate characteristics for communities, states, and the country as a whole. 0F 1 Question 32 on the survey asks respondents “How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK?” and allows for one response from the following options: car, truck, or van; bus; subway or elevated rail; long-distance train or commuter rail; light rail, streetcar, or trolly; ferryboat; taxi or ride-hailing services; motorcycle; bicycle; walked; worked from home; other method.1F 2 The resulting ACS estimates are held to be scientifically valid but have some notable limitations, including: • The data are entirely focused on commuting to and from work and do not account for other types of trips, and • The data are unable to capture more multi-modal travel behavior in which a person uses more than one transportation option in a day, week, or across seasons. In order to better understand multi-modal travel behaviors in Iowa City, the city opted to include a related question in the National Community Survey (NCS) conducted by Polco between September and November of 2024. Like ACS data, information was collected from a sample of Iowa City households (277 residents total) and used to estimate information for the community as a whole. Sample data was solicited by mail and through the internet. Question 14 on the survey asked respondents “Averaged over a year, how many times per week do you travel by bus/ bike/walking/driving a vehicle alone/driving or riding a vehicle with others (i.e. carpooling)?” and for each mode could respond “5+ times per week,” “3-4 times per week,” “1-2 times per week” or “0 times per week.” The ACS includes working from home as a commuting mode, while the Iowa City community survey did not ask about working from home arrangements. The results are shown below in Figure 1: 1 U.S. Census Bureau, Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data, Sept. 2020 2 U.S. Census Bureau, Why We Ask About Commuting/Journey to Work (accessed Jan. 21, 2025) January 30, 2025 Page 2 Figure 1: NCS Data on Transportation Mode and Frequency of Use Analysis A comparison of the ACS data to the NCS data shows close alignment between the percentage of residents reporting driving alone, carpooling, or transit usage as their dominant transportation mode (utilized 5 or more times per week), while the results for walking and biking were both higher in the NCS data, as shown in Table 1 below. This variability may be the result of respondents factoring in trips made for reasons other than commuting (such as walking to a nearby park or biking recreationally). Table 1: Percentage of Iowa City residents using different transportation modes per ACS and NCS data Mode American Community Survey Iowa City community survey (5+ week) Driving alone 54% 54% Carpool 8% 10% Transit 10% 10% Walk 16% 37% Bike 3% 10% Worked from Home 8% N/A Other 1% N/A In examining the NCS data for Iowa City residents, the different responses can be thought of as likely reflecting the following patterns: • 3-4 times per week mode use: residents who make a regular practice of switching between modes • 1-2 times per week mode use: residents who use these modes more occasionally • 0 times per week mode use: residents who are wholly dependent on other modes. Table 2 below shows the corresponding results for these modes with some notable findings in bold. Table 2: NCS response rates related to multi-modal transportation use Mode Regular use (3-4 times per week) Occasional Use (1-2 times per week) Do not use (0 times per week) Bus 7% 19% 65% Bike 4% 16% 70% Walking 18% 32% 12% Carpooling 21% 35% 33% Driving alone 15% 20% 10% January 30, 2025 Page 3 Parsing this data yields some important insights: • Walking is the most commonly used active transportation mode, utilized at rates almost twice that of other modes. • A sizeable number of people use the bus and bike occasionally and represent an important opportunity to increase usage. • The data indicate that roughly 10% of residents may be transit dependent, while 26% ride transit occasionally or regularly by choice. • Residents carpool at rates slightly higher than other alternative modes of transportation, though more residents report never carpooling as compared to never walking. • ACS data suggests 11% of residents of Iowa City do not have access to a personal vehicle.2F 3 The difference between this and the residents who reported never driving alone may represent those who have voluntarily given up a vehicle or those who never travel without other family members or friends in a vehicle. The NCS data does not include a breakdown of transportation use by demographic group, but the ACS does report on commuting habits based on age, sex, race, and income. Women are somewhat more likely to drive alone (57.5% vs 49.3%) while men are somewhat more likely to walk or bike (22.5% vs 15.8%). Men and women are about equally likely to use public transit (10.1% vs 9.3%). The ACS sample size is too small to represent all but white race and Hispanic or Latino origin, so it will not be presented here. Application Overall, these survey results suggest a multi-modal environment in which many Iowa City residents are comfortable with varying their means of transportation between many different modes. Just over half of commutes are made by driving a vehicle alone, with other options exercised at rates higher than the national average. Shifting from 55% of trips made by car to 55% of trips made using alternative modes likely will be best served by continuing to ensure multiple viable options exist and encouraging residents to fit the best option to the trip at hand. Doing so requires shifting mindsets in which driving is the default whether or not it is the most suitable. Each of the insights noted in the previous section can be used to help identify opportunities and inform engagement activities related to alternative transportation, as outlined below. Walking: As this is the preferred alternative mode by a wide margin, there is less need to educate and inform residents of the benefits of walking. Engagement can focus on supporting residents in their walking activities by continuing to provide safe and reliable pedestrian facilities, and efforts to encourage more frequent walking can focus on the high number of Iowa City residents doing so. This could include language suggesting residents join friends or neighbors to walk to a specific destination. Bus riding: The 19% rate reported for occasional transit usership represents a significant opportunity to increase transit usage simply by encouraging residents to do so more often. This is particularly relevant for efforts to increase ridership through the Fare Free initiative. Occasional riders are already familiar with the basics of where to wait for a bus, how to board and signal for a stop, that no payment is needed, and are likely familiar with the bus route closest to their home. Residents using the bus occasionally may be encouraged to do so more frequently by emphasizing the positive aspects of riding a bus (convenience, cost savings, friendly/hassle-free service). They may also be encouraged to explore bus routes to other parts of the city beyond home and work and for reasons other than a commute (i.e. travel to and from downtown events on Saturdays). 3 U.S. Census Bureau, “Selected Housing Characteristics,” American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates Data Profiles, Table DP04, 2023 (accessed January 24, 2025) January 30, 2025 Page 4 Biking: Similarly, the 16% rate reported for occasional bike ridership suggests an opportunity to encourage such riders to do so more frequently. Those doing so presumably own a bike and are likely already familiar with the basics of riding it in Iowa City. Engagement efforts could focus on encouraging those who do so recreationally to consider opportunities to ride their bike to work, and those who ride a bike seasonally could be encouraged to broaden the times of year they ride. The rising prevalence of e-bikes may be a useful tool in helping occasional riders broaden the destinations to which they are comfortable riding. Carpooling: This alternative has historically received less attention than other alternative modes but clearly deserves consideration given the high comfort level with carpooling evidenced by the 21% and 35% rate reported for regular and occasional use. More data may be needed to better understand whether these trips represent carpooling among family member or coworkers, but regardless a campaign celebrating this alternative as a climate-friendly choice may help connect an existing practice with climate benefits. Taken together, the data suggests an umbrella campaign that encourages residents to utilize alternative transportation options more frequently and in the company of friends and neighbors may offer a promising path forward. As data also consistently shows people are more likely to be engaged by close personal relations,3F 4 a campaign with a theme along the lines of “Better with a Friend” could be developed to make use of these insights and encourage others to take along or join someone else utilizing alternative modes of transportation. It is also important to recognize current limitations to any such efforts. The latest laborshed analysis for Iowa City conducted by Iowa Workforce Development and released in 2024 shows that while 53% of Iowa City’s workforce live and work in Iowa City, 47% of the workforce live outside of Iowa City. Most residents who live in Iowa City also work in Iowa City, with only 15% of residents commuting to a different community for work. Nearly half of those who work here, however, come from another community. This presents a challenge with boosting alternative transportation modes including transit, walking, and biking. While commuting distances may make active transportation modes such as biking and walking unfeasible, a regional approach to public transit may be able to shift some commutes currently undertaken by vehicle toward transit. In the meantime, however, encouraging carpooling where possible and the use of electric vehicles for commutes requiring a car are the most climate-friendly pathways currently available. This should be undertaken while exploring regional transit options and encouraging electric vehicle charging infrastructure at employment centers. Climate Action and Outreach staff welcome additional thoughts and suggestions based on this data and will continue to monitor and report on these and other data sets to track progress towards emissions-free transportation. 4 Ballew, M., Carman, J., Verner, M., Rosenthal, S., Maibach, E., Kotcher, J., & Leiserowitz, A. (2024). The attitude-behavior gap on climate action: How can it be bridged? Yale University and George Mason University. New Haven, CT: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Date: January 30, 2025 To: Climate Action Commission From: Daniel Bissell, Climate Action Analyst Sarah Gardner, Climate Action Coordinator Re: Equity Review The purpose of this memo is to explore an alternative approach to mapping efforts to support the equitable deployment and participation in climate action programs in Iowa City. Action items 4.1 and 4.2 of the Accelerating Iowa City’s Climate Actions 100-day report calls for an equity review using GIS mapping tools. Such maps are intended to help staff and members of the Climate Action Commission evaluate the reach and effectiveness of climate action programs and can inform changes to how those programs are marketed and operate. Background Since 2021 climate action staff as part of program reviews have prepared maps displaying the geographic distribution of households within Iowa City participating in climate action and other related city programs. Programs mapped include energy audits performed by Green Iowa AmeriCorps, utility discounts, housing rehab energy-efficiency loans, stormwater grants, root for trees, and the insulation grant program. These vector data were then overlayed with various demographic data by census tract. Demographic variables included race and ethnicity, median age, educational attainment, or income. When the federal government directed that 40% of benefits of federal environmental spending flow to disadvantaged communities under the Justice40 initiative, the decision was made to map climate action program participants layered on top of disadvantaged census tracts as identified by the Justice40 initiative. This was done to align city practices with federal practices, allowing for continued program monitoring while also helping identify potential alignment with related grants. The demographic criteria employed by the Justice40 initiative identified two J40 census tracts in Iowa City, as shown in Figure 1 below. Figure 1: Justice40 tracts in Iowa City January 30, 2025 Page 2 Although this approach was initially useful in identifying some federal grant opportunities, as climate action staff continued to explore different grant opportunities it became apparent different programs and agencies were utilizing varied mapping criteria to identify priority investment areas, sometimes with a shifting timescale factor depending on application year. The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for example, used two different maps to identify priority investment areas based on multi-layered demographic criteria, while the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) used maps based strictly on median income data for the census tracts but with different thresholds for urban and rural areas and program years. At the same time, as climate action staff utilized the different maps, they came to understand some of the limitations of each, most notably data that was intended to identify areas of disproportionate economic burden but that was often skewed on the local level by concentrated student housing within the downtown core. At the same time, climate action staff engaged with a graduate student at Iowa State University who was interested in conducting an analysis of Iowa City’s climate action programs utilizing a “vulnerability index” created as part of her graduate thesis project. While reviewing programs and data with the student, climate action staff realized that participation in the city’s utility discount program showed wide distribution across the city. It became apparent analysis at the tract level was less useful in identifying concentrated differences between areas of Iowa City where household incomes and demographics within any one tract tend to be more mixed than within tracts in larger metropolitan areas. Reasoning participation in the utility discount program could serve as a proxy to help gauge the effective reach of other programs aiming to serve economically constrained households, staff experimented with creating “heat maps” that showed participation in the utility discount program and the insulation grant program for comparison. These maps are shown in Figures 2 and 3 below. Figure 2: Heat map showing utility discount program participation in Iowa City January 30, 2025 Page 3 Figure 3: Heat map showing insulation grant program participation in Iowa City The resulting maps revealed a specific geographic area with low participation and helped staff identify actionable next steps. The neighborhood services outreach specialist was engaged to assist with targeted outreach to residents in these areas, including promoting the insulation grant program in a newsletter, and performing direct outreach with neighborhood associations in the area. Climate action staff also began exploring whether a map layer identifying multi-family housing might help further refine the analysis, as it may account for some of the variance in program participation. Recommendations Iowa City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and Accelerating Iowa City’s Climate Actions 100-day report identify equity as both a goal and co-benefit to climate actions undertaken by the City. With the likelihood of the Justice40 initiative being phased out by a new federal administration, it is a good time to reevaluate how equitably climate action programs are distributed. Staff sees advantage to utilizing local data sets (such as the utility discount program participation data) as the basis of a more locally-tailored method of analysis than a reliance on federal methods or census data alone might allow, especially when this analysis influences the allocation of local resources. Such an approach can aid staff and the commission in understanding of how climate action programs and resources are distributed throughout the community. Staff propose to create similar heat maps to the one shown in Figure 3 for current and future climate action programs to aid in this analysis. Climate Action staff welcome additional thoughts and suggestions of how to best complete equity reviews of climate action programs and how to communicate those to the commission and to the public.