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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020_12_08 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative Meeting Notes, December 8, 2020 (Meeting via Zoom, 6pm—8pm) Attendees: Mitch Green, Sue Odierna, George Roniger, Karen Khor, Marc Karell, Mark Kramer, Kevin Crowe,Jason Rudolph and Eliza Pertz, Frank Owens,Arlene Novich, Michelle Lewis, Lisa McDonald, Mark Manley, Karin Weisburgh, Elizabeth Poyet, Kristin Andersen & Lisa McDonald (Chairs, Larch Enviro Comm.), Nick Zuba, Denise Dunn, Ellen Martin, Dylan Roy, MHS OCRA teacher Joe Liberti and MHS OCRA students Ryan McIntyre,Alexander Boswell, Juliette Remy, Svea-Liv Sheehan, Oliver Johnson and Emilia Pantigoso Notes of November 10, 2020 meeting were accepted. Mitch welcomed everyone to our Zoom meeting and introductions were made, noting that Town Supervisor Nancy Seligson had joined us. Nancy thanked all of the volunteers/members for their service and said she hoped that in 2021 the Collaborative's goals could more closely align with those interests of the Town Board to achieve greater success w/our initiatives. She'd also like to get our energy data measured so that we could be cognizant of our goals towards the NYS Climate Leadership and Community Protections Act. Also welcomed was MHS Senior and President of National Honor Society, Mam'k Chapter, Emilia Pantigoso who offered her group's services to volunteer to help out on any sub-committee(s)needing assistance. Mitch reiterated the desire to work better with the Town Board. From Mitch's "2021 Collab Programs and Budget"prsented to the Town Board during a Work Session, it became clear that each Collab program should have its own annual goals and work plan. This evening's meeting is devoted entirely to reviewing and commenting on Draft Work plans prepared by each Collab team. Between tonight's meeting and our January meeting, Work plans will be updated, reviewed and finalized at the Collab January meeting, and then presented to the TB at their late January Work Session.At the TB Work Session, the goal will be to listen to the Board, identify their priorities, and see how the Collab's 2021 activities can better support the Board's priorities. Net Zero The Collab has been asked to consider how the energy targets of NYS'Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act(CLCPA)may need to apply to the Town government, our residents, our Houses of Worship, our Clubs and our Commercial areas, what is needed to meet the NYS targets. New York's goal is 70%renewable energy by 2030 and net zero-emissions by 2040. What can our Town do to help (includes residents, businesses,schools, etc.)? How can the Collaborative help the Town meet these energy targets? Frank and Michele said it would be helpful to establish benchmarks—get a sense of what the total amount of energy used is,since that's a simple way to say how much GHG that translates into. Michele reminded us of her past work on "greening the code"and could look into this again. Frank said to use the tie- in with schools and students to see how they can help to look into energy usage. California has many programs, net zero for schools and such and he can research. Karen mentioned Bedford 2030(formerly 2020) since they've tracked their GHG and are very organized in terms of their steps—and they're local. Frank said he would reach out as he knows some folks on Bedford 2030. Frank said it's important for the Town to come up with its GHG goals to better see how we align with the State's goals. He also mentioned that our energy data was related only to our Town's buildings(and streetlights), not transportation which is a contributor to GHG. Nancy mentioned we have energy data through 2019, we need to be able to report to the community in order to get their buy-in. A good resource for this effort will be learning from others—including efforts in California,projects by NYSERDA,some of Nick Zuba's previous work on Long Island, and projects of the Living Building Challenge. 1 The goal of this effort is to update where the Town is on energy savings, but also focus on the other sectors of our community including single family residential, multi family residential, commercial/retail,social clubs and Houses of Worship. Changes in our single-family housing stock(e.g., "teardowns") were noted as creating a potential for new construction to follow a "greener"local building code which might"step up"toward net-zero requirements every five years as we get closer to 2040. Action Item: Mitch to organize a conference call to determine how to move forward on this work plan Action Item: Mitch will discuss with various Collab members about roles for this effort Action Item: Frank to follow up with Bedford 2030, and to report at the Collab January meeting on how Bedford may be addressing the NYS 2030 and 2040 goals. And if time allows, Frank will also report on how California communities are addressing their net-zero energy targets. ToM Trees Arlene said the big push of this committee is to promote the value of trees to our community with the goal of increasing the tree cover to 40%. Mitch noted the challenge of defining what 40%of tree coverage is—does it include private residences?Schools?Public property? Arlene's committee also feels there needs to be oversight on what trees comes down, that there should be more transparency as to tree permits that are given out. Do we need a tree committee with residents on it as previously was the case?She also feels the tree code could be revised to strengthen cut-down rules. Nancy mentioned that the Comprehensive Plan will look at these issues and will seek comments from the public. Also Arlene spoke to a DEC tree expert regarding a tree survey and he didn't think a survey was necessary. Better to look for tree deficient areas than survey the Town according to the expert. Sue has received a tree survey that was completed in the 1990's from Liz in Conservation that she has given to Arlene, along with the last three years of Tree City applications which includes tree information within. Action Items/Update: Sue has received updated brochures (w/current tree donation prices)from Liz and has started to promote the "Trees for our Town" program and our Tree City status through Facebook and NextDoor and a blurb was included on this program in Nancy's December E-Newsletter which went out last week. Love Your Food Karen reported that the amendment the LYF team submitted to NYS DEC has been approved, therefore, the LYF Team will be repurposing the school portion of the grant because school trips were cancelled due to COVID-19. The main change is to replace the Greenburgh Nature Center(GNC)field trips that 5th graders were supposed to go on with videos produced by GNC and our consultants(Tamar and Drew)and LMCTV. Also creating the "why"and "how"of food scrap recycling that Beth will be working on with community families in early 2021. The LYF website was updated at the end of November and it will be updated again at the end of January. Karen encouraged Collabs to spread the word regarding content—looking for creative ideas, recipes for sharing food or sharing for those in need. Please let Karen know of any stories she can share in the LYF platform. Looking forward to Collabs'and community feedback. Mark K. asked if we are keeping track of quantity of visitors to any of the websites—HY and LYF. Sue said she would get metrics out to the group. Karen mentioned that our consultants are very interested in this—who is reading the updates, are we reaching people and if not, how can we improve that? Karen said that would be helpful info. Action Item/Update: Sue to get metric information for these pages from the IT Dept. She has requested this of IT prior to Jan. 12, 2021 Collabs meeting. Sue received data from IT that she is compiling and will forward. 2 Repair Café George reminded the Collabs that due to the pandemic, the March 2020 Café was cancelled but he is keeping in touch with the volunteers who had signed up to let them know that we will reschedule once possible. Also, George has started a Facebook group. He has begun posting to the page and encouraged us to check in from time to time. He will be doing the same for NextDoor. George would love ideas from the group on how to keep Repair Café on peoples'minds and spread the word. Action Item/Update: Sue asked George to send her info on his FB page so the Town can duplicate (or share) his posts to Town FB pages and other area FB pages. George has sent the info and this has been done. Either search FB under"Mamaroneck Repair Café" or click here: https://www.facebook.cornZgroups/162728075538406. Please post and comment on George's page or about the page on your own FB page! Resilient Emergency Back-up Power Frank discussed background of this idea—with loss of power, residents are frustrated, but even more so with the noise of generators around them disturbing the peace, especially now as many are working from home. In trying to think broadly about solutions, Frank said ideally we'd all have solar power, and batteries would power the solar. This can work for some, though not all, as it's very expensive. Frank said it would be great to also look at the other end of the spectrum—how we could communicate to residents what the least expensive way(s) to provide power are? Also communicate to residents that those with generators should put a sound attenuating device around the generator to decrease the noise. Mark K. mentioned how few generators in his neighborhood have vegetation around them to muffle the noise. Nancy was asked about permit requirements and reported that portable generators do not need permits. Permanent generators do, but neither require sound barriers of any kind, including vegetation (unless there is a specific zoning issue that pertains to this). Mark K. reported that in Murdoch Woods, neighbors have spoken to neighbors to request generators be used at times of day that are not too early or too late so as not to disturb each other but that it would be nice if the Town had some type of ordinance. Nancy reported that the Town Board is hesitant to legislate restrictions during emergency periods. Action Item: As part of this effort, the team should consider modifications to the Noise Code to reduce noise impacts and improve neighborhood quality of life. Healthy Yards June reported that planned HY events had to be rescheduled due to the pandemic, including events at the schools, but they are discussing plans and events for 2021: • Goal for 1st quarter is to increase number of residents who take the healthy yard pledge. • For 2nd quarter,Arlene is working with students on the "Bee Team/Healthy Yard"video. (MHS is the first school in NYS to raise bees and CBS has profiled them. The HY team wants to combine the Bee Team project with the healthy yards program since a healthy yard leads to bees.) • Another idea is for a HY Garden Tour as was done in Bedford, they'd like to have this in the 3rd quarter. • For 4th quarter 2021, a campaign to mulch mow and not to use gas-powered leaf blowers is the plan. June emphasized that anyone could have a healthy yard, whether they have a large garden/backyard or an apartment windowsill with a tomato plant. Mitch asked Nancy how to introduce HY program to multi family residences. He thought it would be helpful to get in touch with property owners/building managers and wondered if the Town could help with that. 3 Nancy reported that the Town has a list of Presidents of all of the buildings in the Washington Square area and perhaps we could reach out to them since they suggested having an annual or semi-annual meeting with the Town to discuss mutual interests. The other area is Richbell Road. Mitch thought perhaps they'd also be interested in resilient backup emergency power. Action Item: Mitch to f/u with Nancy and the HY Team to see how the Collabs could help the Town Healthy Clubs Lisa M. spoke about her efforts and those of Ellen Martin's(who for years has worked with area clubs to promote sustainability and waste reduction). Using the model that the Green Tigers have used in the school district(making use of staff,parents,students), they've identified members at eight area clubs and pitched the idea of a multi-year initiative to get the word out on well-established programs in the community such as HY and LYF since they're in synch with what the clubs are doing. In addition, they'd like to encourage clubs to take advantage of incentives to help make club grounds more amenable to electric vehicles and advise them that there is EV Charging Station installation financing available. These programs are through NYS and also Con Ed. Lisa also thought it might be a good idea to recognize the staff members'sustainability efforts. Ellen added that her main push is for the clubs to get rid of single-use plastic and she is starting to see progress. Action Item: Sue 0 to check with Nancy on whether Club achievements in sustainability can be mentioned on either the Collab Town web page or posted to the Collab Facebook page.There is an opportunity here to utilize Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM)to create an informal "competition" between Clubs to demonstrate progress. Action Item: The Food Scraps Team will help the Healthy Clubs Team understand the implications of the County's new Food Scraps program. In particular, even though the Town may have no specific role, it will be important to know if"large food scrap generators" such as the Clubs will be mandated, quite soon, to undertake recycling programs. OCRA(Original Science Research Action) MHS Students"Green"App Michele explained that this app,for residents of the town and the two villages, aims to show residents how to lessen their carbon footprint. The site is divided into five categories Water Capture/Reuse, Low impact Lawn & Gardens,Alternative/Low Carbon Transportation, Composting& Food Waste Reduction, Eliminating Single- use Plastics. The App's focus is supporting users to make a Quick Translation of thought into Positive Environmental Action. In CBSM terms, to foster Behavior Change that is easy, repetitive, and visible. The students are adding the content, working with Michele. The goal is to get all relevant information into the OCRA Team by the end of 2021 Q1 (March 31). Michele suggested that Collabs review the files and give feedback. Action Item: Sue to contact Joe Liberti and coordinate distributing existing GreenAPP info to the Collabs for review Action Item: Mitch suggested scheduling a call between himself, Michele and OCRA teacher Joe Liberti and students Community Solar Frank reported that Phase One of the solar panel installation on the Hommocks Ice Rink roof will be in late spring/early summer 2021. Goal is to offer this first to low-and moderate-income residents;the Town and, if possible, the Collabs need to work with developer Sunlight General to make sure this happens. 4 We want to engage Hommocks students and teachers in this project;getting a class or classes to follow the progress would be a great educational experience. Frank 0 suggested that next spring's Hommocks Community Solar completion will be an opportunity to popularize this in the Town. Might there be an educational component to this,perhaps the creation of a video which highlights the concept, objectives, approval process and implementation of the project?Like the RBI Video competition the Collab sponsored in 2018, this might be an opportunity for MHS'video club and environmental club to combine forces. Community Solar Phase Two would be for the developer to propose solar panel installation on the part of the Hommocks roof that belongs to the school district. Mark M added that he has spoken to a Hommocks teacher who leads the Green Tigers at the school and the teacher finds the solar panel idea interesting. Also Mark M. has contacted Asst. Superintendent for Business Operations Sylvia Wallach to discuss this. Karen reminded the group that the district has adopted a sustainability mission (in their practices not simply their curriculum)and so they are more open to concepts like the solar panels these days. Community Solar Program by Sustainable Westchester-Nancy added that SW has solar programs available also that residents can take advantage of. Eliza commented that we should emphasize how safe solar panels are since sometimes parents worry about the unknown. Food Scraps Recycling Karen reported that,starting in January, the Town will be participating in the County's new residential food scrap recycling and disposal program. (The County uses the term "food scrap,"not"food waste",so we are now, as well.) The Food Scraps committee is working to make food scrap recycling part of our culture, a norm, that people who care recycle food scraps. To create a visual cue, using what we've learned through our Community Based Social Marketing,stickers have been designed and will be ordered shortly that say "Larchmont/Mamaroneck —Recycle Food Scraps"and "We Compost". Residents can place the stickers on trash cans, recycling bins or even on car bumpers so others can see. The committee continues to deliver food waste kits;they've delivered 40 since May. The committee is also supporting curbside collection, as that can facilitate food scrap recycling pickup down the road. She and Lisa M are also providing guidance on the food scraps pickup in the VoL starting in the spring that OCRA students will do using quadricycles. Action Item 1: Mitch asked Karen to find out if private clubs are considered "large generators" of food scraps as mandated by NYS to recycle food scraps as that would be an incentive for them to get started on this, and communicate the requirements to our Healthy Clubs team. 5G Environmental Health Eliza reported that this past year was about putting together a wireless ordinance based on Rye's wireless code and that it has been presented to the Town Board in an effort to educate residents about the issues of 5G such as: areas that are off limits,setbacks, how 5G affects trees, how often frequencies should be monitored. The idea is to have restrictions but not deny 5G completely. Ellen added that property values are affected as residents won't want to live next to them so that is another issue to consider. Action Item: As an effort for 2021 Q1, Eliza, Ellen and others should reach out to other Collab programs,to see where objectives can mesh and the wireless code and 5G messages can be reinforced. 5 Air Quality and Noise—Leaf Blowers George R noted that the effort to work with the two villages on a uniform law was not successful but he's wondering where we should go from here regarding the Town and its gas-powered blowers. Mitch asked Sue's opinion on what the TB thinks regarding blowers and Sue recalled that the TB wasn't sure that electric blowers would be adequate to handle wet-lawn conditions during heavy leaf season. Kristin reminded us that it's very early as the VoL law isn't in effect yet and that they'll have more data once it is(beginning of 2022) and it might be for ToM to move further on this issue depending on public opinion on the new VoL law. Action Item: George and his team should consider reaching out to some of the other Collab programs (e.g., Healthy Yards, Healthy Clubs) on aligning messages, so our leaf blower concerns can be reinforced in more places, and also to consider working together with the Resilient Emergency Power team on modifying the Noise Code. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm. The next meeting will be held on: Tuesday, Jan 12, 2021 via Zoom 6