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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-3-25 Climate Action Commission Agenda PacketIowa City Climate Action Commission Agenda Monday, March 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 Feb. 3, 2025 minutes 4. Announcements/Reports a. 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 b. Events i. Earth Expo (1-4 p.m. April 5, Robert A. Lee) ii. Neighborhood Energy Blitz (April 26) iii. Other events in the community (Commissioners) iv. Recording of the State of the City Address and Inclusive Transportation discussion posted to the City’s YouTube channel c. Update on Comprehensive Plan efforts for Iowa City 5. Old Business a. Call for two volunteers to serve on Climate Action Grants scoring committee 6. New Business a. Proposed reusable food container grant (staff) b. Resource Management update/discussion of Environmental Management System (EMS) Objectives and Targets (Jane Wilch, Recycling Coordinator) 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, April 7, 2025 4-5:30 p.m., Emma J. Harvat Hall b. Actionable items for commission 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 FEBRUARY 3 – 4:00 PM – FORMAL MEETING EMMA J. HARVAT HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Michael Anderson, Emma Bork, Jamie Gade, Zach Haralson, Brinda Shetty, Michelle Sillman, Angie Smith, Robert Traer MEMBERS ABSENT: Ben Grimm, Nadja Krylov, Wim Murray STAFF PRESENT: Daniel Bissell, Sarah Gardner, Diane Platte OTHERS PRESENT: Casi Elton, Alexis Kurth, Jason Taylor, Molly Kirby, Connor Jenkins CALL TO ORDER: Gade called the meeting to order at 3:59. APPROVAL OF JANUARY 6, 2025 MINUTES: Traer moved to approve the minutes with a correction to strike “Traer reported flexibility;” Smith seconded, and the motion carried. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Welcome and introduction of new member Emma Bork. Action items from last meeting (staff): • Staff sent information about Council work session, legislative priorities, Inclusive Transportation webinar registration, and Habitat for Humanity video. Events: • Inclusive Transportation virtual Q&A with author Feb. 4, 6 p.m., Zoom • Climate Ambassador training (Feb. 20-April 17) • Other events in the community (commissioners) - none Update on Comprehensive Plan efforts for Iowa City • Gardner gave an overview of the Comprehensive Plan and noted that Commissioner Smith would be representing the Climate Action Commission in that process. Smith spoke about the process and the first meeting. NEW BUSINESS: Midyear presentations from Climate Action Grant awardees, summarized in slides in agenda packet. • Alexis Kurth reported on how Antelope Lending Library used grant funds to replace limited-use plastic with 60 reusable upcycled tote bags made from retired sailboat sails. Climate Action Commission February 2025 Page 2 of 5 2 o Haralson asked the name of the company that made the totes. Elton answered Renegade Marine. • Jason Taylor explained how Bur Oak Land Trust is using funds to increase native shrubs for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee’s, as well as other pollinators’, habitat. Of 225 shrub packets available, over 50 have already been reserved in the first week of the program. o Traer asked if a handout accompanies this program. Taylor affirmed that the shrubs will be distributed with educational materials. o Gade asked what the grant purchased. Taylor explained the grant paid for supplies: the plants, pots, soil, etc. o Smith asked which neighborhoods needed more pollinator resources. Taylor mentioned Eastside Neighborhood and explained how Bur Oak is working with T’Shailyn in Neighborhood Outreach. • Connor Jenkins and Molly Kirby reported how Nomadic Foods / Kindred Coffee used funds for a glass jar program to reduce the use of disposable cups. They have also instituted reusable containers for their wholesale beans. Their next step is to adopt reusable food containers for mobile service. o Smith asked about storage space and Kirby explained their staggered reordering system. o Gade asked if other businesses were asking questions about implementation. Kirby noted that Daydrink uses all glass containers, and Gardner noted that other businesses have been reaching out to the Climate Action and Outreach office about reusables. o Haralson asked about lessons learned. Kirby reflected that patrons have been surprisingly supportive. • Bissell described the timeline for 2025 Climate Action Grants and noted that commissioners would be asked at the next meeting to serve on the scoring committee. NCS survey transportation mode data • Bissell summarized the memo from the agenda packet. • Traer asked if weather has been a factor in designing the survey, noting that he walks when the weather is better and takes the bus when the weather is inclement. Bissell noted that while ACS focused on a single week, the NCS data captured averages for a year. • Smith asked if any of the data were surprising. Bissell described seeing a decrease in working from home since the last ACS data collection, but the number of people driving alone has also decreased. • Smith commented she was pleasantly surprised that 10% of people in Iowa City reported riding bikes; it is much higher than the national average of 3% and is worth celebrating. Gade suggested the popularity of e-bikes may help boost the number of riders. • Bissell noted that both walking and biking were reported at higher levels in the local (NCS) survey than the ACS survey. Gardner suggested that leisure rides were likely included in the NCS survey, while the ACS survey focused solely on commutes to work. • Commissioners discussed moving people from recreational riders to bike commuters. • Traer asked if the NCS survey included Coralville Transit and CAMBUS. Bissell said that only Iowa City residents were surveyed. Traer noted that many bus riders likely use all three systems. • Shetty asked a clarifying question about Table 1: whether respondents could choose more than one transportation mode that they take 5+ times a week. Bissell affirmed that was the case. Climate Action Commission February 2025 Page 3 of 5 3 • Haralson asked about how the goal stated in the climate action plan to achieve 55% of trips with a more sustainable option might be measured, noting that the questions asked by the survey had a slightly different focus. Gardner said that travel diaries or travel surveys would be the traditional way of gathering such data but was unsure if that method was employed by the Johnson County MPO. She offered to inquire about it, and said the intention was to include the same transportation mode question in future iterations of the community survey to help track changes over time. • Gardner informed commissioners about the data-collection opportunity around the new protected bike lane. • Traer asked if CAMBUS and the Coralville transit system had been asked for their ridership data. Bissell affirmed their data was available. OLD BUSINESS: Revisions to equity mapping approach • Bissell summarized the history of equity mapping efforts within the Climate Action and Outreach Division and explained the newest approach. Borrowing the color system of heat maps, it is possible to show the “density of participation” in a program such as the utility-discount program and the insulation program. • Gardner gave details about the learnings gleaned from the insulation mapping exercise and how this approach lends itself well to further action. • Traer asked if data exist about student housing and where it is situated. Bissell and Gardner noted information was limited regarding student housing. Gardner also noted the limitations of analysis based on census tracts or a reliance on Justice 40 tracts in Iowa City, which is more mixed by area than bigger cities and where nuanced differences are more important. • Haralson asked for more information about the utility discount program, noting that it is a proxy for below-median-income households. Gardner explained it is the water discount program run by Iowa City. Haralson asked if City staff were confident that the water discount program was distributed equitably. Gardner affirmed it was a long running program and widely distributed. Gade asked how households were contacted about participating. Gardner offered to find out. • Haralson asked if the heat map scale was the same between the maps. Bissel confirmed that it was not, but Gardner offered to provide maps that had like scales. PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA: • None RECAP: Confirmation of next meeting time and location: • Monday, March 3, 4-5:30 p.m. Emma J. Harvat Hall Actionable items for commission, working groups, and staff: • Staff will follow up with an email about whether commissioners may participate in Bur Oak’s shrub program, whether the MPO uses travel diaries as data collection, and how households are notified of the utility discount program. Climate Action Commission February 2025 Page 4 of 5 4 ADJOURNMENT: Traer moved to adjourn, Haralson seconded, and the motion carried. Meeting adjourned 5:21. Climate Action Commission February 2025 Page 5 of 5 5 CLIMATE ACTION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD 2024-25 NAME TERM EXP. 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 / 2 5 2/ 3 / 2 5 Michael Anderson 12/31/2026 X O/E O/E X O/E X X X X X X Emma Bork 12/31/2027 O/E X Michal Eynon- Lynch 12/31/2024 X X X X O/E X X X X * * John Fraser 12/31/2024 X X O/E X X X X O/E O/E * * Jamie Gade 12/31/2025 X X X X X O/E X O/E X X X Ben Grimm 10/31/2026 O/ E X X O/E O/E X X X X X O/E Zach Haralson 12/31/2026 X X X O/E X O/E X X X X X Nadja Krylov 12/31/2027 X O/E Wim Murray MidAmerican Rep X X X X X X X X O/E X O/E Michelle Sillman 12/31/2025 X X O/E X X X O/E X X X X Brinda Shetty UI Rep X X X X O/E X X X X X X Angie Smith 12/31/2025 X X X X X X O/E X X X X Gabe Sturdevant 12/31/2024 X X X O/E X X X O/E X * * Robert Traer 12/31/2027 X X KEY: X = Present 0 = Absent 0/E = Absent/Excused NM= No Meeting * No longer on Commission From:Sarah Gardner To:Sarah Gardner Subject:CAC follow up items Date:Monday, February 10, 2025 4:28:19 PM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png image005.png image006.png Hello, Commission members! As promised, I’ve followed up on a few items from our meeting last week and wanted to pass along that information to you. First, our city attorney’s office confirmed that Climate Action Commission members can participate in the shrub program being offered by Bur Oak Land Trust except members who served on the scoring committee last year. As they played a more direct role in funds being disbursed to Bur Oak, that would be considered a conflict of interest. (Apologies, Jamie!) Hopefully the satisfaction of helping a worthy organization and program extend is a bit of its own reward. For anyone else interested in the program, you can find information as to how to sign up at this link: https://buroaklandtrust-bloom.kindful.com/e/native-shrub-project. And of course anyone, regardless of whether or not they served on the climate action grant committee last year, is welcome to forward that link to people you know in hopes of increasing participation. Second, I touched in with Kent Ralston and he confirmed the MPO does not currently use or have plans to use travel diaries for data collection. I did ask if he had thoughts as to how we might track progress toward a goal of 55% of trips utilizing transportation alternatives, and he suggested an approximation based on vehicle miles travelled (VMT) might be possible. We get VMT data from the DOT each year; it’s actually the basis of the GHG calculations that go into our inventory, so there’s some nice alignment there. He is going to engage the MPO staff with thinking through how such a calculation might be made and will let us know what they suggest. Finally, I also checked with our revenue department as to how residents are engaged with the utility discount program. Residents are informed of the program if they appear to be experiencing a hardship paying their utility bills, and residents also have inquired about the program independently. In both cases they are given a short form to fill out to verify program eligibility (which is verified by Johnson County Health & Human Services or the Social Security Administration). Residents can apply any time during the year and will receive coverage through the end of June, when the city’s fiscal year ends. Ahead of that deadline, residents are contacted with an option to reapply for the following year so that there is no gap in services. That’s it in a nutshell! There’s a bit more information on the program’s webpage: https://www.icgov.org/government/departments-and- divisions/finance/revenue-utilities/utility-discount-program. I’m happy to follow up with any other questions you might have. A copy of this email will be included in the next agenda packet for members of the public who have an interest in these questions. As a friendly reminder, due to open meetings law, it is advised you do not use “reply all” to respond to this message. Sarah J. Gardner (she/her) Climate Action Coordinator p:319-887-6162 410 E Washington St Iowa City, IA 52240 ICgov.org/ClimateAction WWW.ICGOV.ORG Iowa City Transit is now FARE FREE! Learn more at ICGOV.ORG/FAREFREE Date: Feb. 24, 2025 To: Climate Action Commission From: Sarah J. Gardner, Climate Action Coordinator Jane Wilch, Recycling Coordinator Re: Reusable Food Containers Grant Background The purpose of this memo is to outline a pilot program to launch in April 2025 that will provide financial assistance to businesses seeking to replace disposable food containers such as cups or to-go containers with durable containers that customers may return to the business to be cleaned and reused. This program flows from Action Item BE-2 in the Accelerating Iowa City’s Climate Actions Plan, which calls for education efforts to reduce waste and consumption of material goods at the source. It builds on outreach to Iowa City restaurants and residents undertaken by Resource Management staff following the elimination of clamshell containers from the list of plastic materials able to the accommodated by the Iowa City recycling program, as well as related research into perceived and existing barriers to use of reusable containers at Iowa City eateries. The program also recognizes a growing trend among Climate Action Grant applications for reusable container projects. One such project was funded in the Fiscal Year 2023 grant cycle, two in Fiscal Year 2024, and staff have received multiple inquiries from other businesses in both years following the award announcements. The intention of this grant program is to create a pool of funds, jointly funded and administered by Climate Action and Resource Management staff, that is available on a rolling basis so as to allow businesses to access the funding without being asked to wait twelve months or more to move forward based on the Climate Action Grant cycle. The program would also allow such projects to access funding on a more level playing field without having to compete against larger building improvement projects such as solar installations or HVAC system upgrades that have larger and more easily calculated emissions reductions for Climate Action Grant purposes. Program Description Under the pilot program, staff propose to offer grants to interested businesses or organizations for the purchase of reusable food containers such as drinkware or to-go containers, with the following parameters: • Funding amounts for each project would be jointly determined by Climate Action and Resource Management staff based on a project budget submitted by the business or organization as part of the application, in amounts up to $5,000 per applicant. • Businesses and organizations would not be eligible to receive the grant multiple times, but once only, with the intention that cost savings realized from eliminating repeat purchases of disposable goods would be reinvested by the business or organization into future purchases of reusable items. • Funds would be provided as a reimbursement of costs upon submission of receipts for the purchase of the durable goods. • In addition to funding reusable food containers, a portion of the grant could also be used to purchase necessary storage supplies such as racks or bins for the containers. • Grant funds would not be available for dishwashing equipment, but participating businesses and organizations interested in related mechanical equipment purchases would be encouraged to apply for Climate Action Grant funds for high efficiency equipment. • As part of the program, participating businesses and organizations would be required to work with City staff to identify and promote opportunities for customers to utilize reusable containers of their own in addition to those provided by the business where allowable by public health codes. Goals This program aims to reduce barriers to the use of reusable food containers with the hope of helping businesses and organizations establish self-sustaining programs for doing so. Preliminary discussions with businesses and organizations revealed knowledge gaps about what would be allowable under current health codes in terms of reusable containers brought to the facility by customers themselves, particularly following COVID-related restrictions. For this reason, an important part of this program focuses on education and assistance communicating with both staff and customers as to reusable container options. Funding An initial pool of $20,000 for the project would be established for the pilot program, drawing on $10,000 each from Climate Action and Resource Management funds. The funds would be available until exhausted or the end of calendar year 2025, at which time the program would be evaluated for continuation. Potential grant funds through the Iowa DNR have been identified by staff that could be pursued to help scale up or support future iterations of the program, the application for which could be strengthened by demonstrated pilot program success. Success Benchmarks: • Four or more businesses or organizations apply to participate in the pilot program and successfully initiate or expand their use of reusable food containers. • Purchases of reusable containers by the business or organization are supplemented by customer use of their own reusable containers where appropriate. • Participating businesses document reductions in purchases of disposable food containers and report on those reductions by weight to Climate Action and Resource Management staff for data tracking and future grant writing purposes. • Customers engaged to bring their own containers to these businesses or organizations feel confident in using reusable containers at other unaffiliated locations.