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Home My WebLink About2010-03-22 RCC MIN• City of Chula Vista, Council Chambers 276 Fourth Avenue MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Stillman, Vice Chair Gilgun, Commissioners Cory, Rahimzadeh, and Turbide MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: By Chair Stillman at 3:58 p.m. ROLL CALL: March 22, 2010 MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Ulloa • STAFF PRESENT: Conservation & Environmental Services Director Meacham, Environmental Resource Manager Reed, Sr. Secretary Fields OTHERS PRESENT: MOTION TO EXCUSE: None None C APPROVAL OF MINUTES ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: January 11, 2010; February 8, 2010, and February 22, 2010 minutes were approved. For the members of the RCC who also serve on the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG), resident Robert Ross brought their attention to a presentation they may be interested in reviewing, which may relate to topics being discussed at the next CCWG meeting. INFORMATION ITEMS: 1. Home Upgrade Carbon Downgrade Update: Appliance Program Manager Reed gave an update to the RCC on a new program they are working on with a number of community partners, which will be launched on Earth Day, April 22"d. This Appliance Exchange Rebate Program will give community members an instant discount at participating appliance stores if they purchase high efficiency clothes washers, refrigerators, and/or room air conditioners. We will be using SDG&E/CPUC Energy Efficiency and Federal Conservation Block Grant funds for this program, and we're hoping to piggy-back off of a broader statewide program known as the Cash for Appliances Program that will be launching the same day. That program will offer rebates up to $200 and we're hoping that through our program, this extra little bit of money will help direct those sales to our local retailers. To receive the point of sale rebate, the sale must be at a participating Chula Vista retailer, and the appliance must be installed at a Chula Vista address. So we're trying to build that economic engine here, but also reduce or local energy use, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions. There are a number of community partners including the Chula RCC Minutes, 3/22/10, Page 1 of 4 • Vista Chamber of Commerce, SDG&E, and we've been in discussions with all the major appliance retailers in the City including Lowes, Sears, Home Depot, Best Buy, Costco, and Pacific Kitchen and Bath. Manager Reed added that the replaced appliances will have to be recycled through the program, and that the appliance retailers have worked out how to handle that. 2. Alternative Transportation Initiative Options Director Meacham discussed alternative methods of transportation, primarily bicycling policies. He stated that the city was working on a Master Plan to address the subject and that the City planned to apply for the bronze entry level of bike-friendly community this year. He recommended that a working group be formed for this project. Commissioner Cory commented that she thought it was an important issue both from the point of view of reducing use of fossil fuels and conservation because of where the mountain bikers especially sometimes ride their bikes. Regarding telecommuting, which was on the list of sample initiates, she commented on a program she had heard about how cost- effectiveness telecommuting is from many points of view. Director Meacham mentioned the re-striping of City parking lots and the new carpools spaces, which will also accept parking or hybrid vehicles. Commissioner Turbide asked how much the City's current telecommuting program is utilized • within the City. Director Meacham responded that he did not know, but stated that he could get the numbers. Chair Stillman commented regarding the bicycle project, in terms of the Third Avenue Master Plan, that she felt drivers are uneducated about the rules of the road in terms of bicyclists. She also mentioned that on Third Avenue, they are putting in a bike lane that will run along the outside edge of the angled parking between parked cars and traffic. She felt that this will create a dangerous situation for bicyclists when cars are backing out. Commissioner Gilgun asked when the working group would begin. Director Meacham stated that he would like to bring it back at the next meeting, and would need at least one Commissioner to participate in the sub-committee group. ACTION ITEMS: 1. Chapter 20 Revisions to conform to AB 811 Manager Reed gave the presentation. He stated that the current code includes a section dealing with municipal solar utility that restricts those types of solar leases from being put on alien on a property. The revision would add language clarifying that AB 811 or PACE-type programs could be offered in the City of Chula Vista and that those programs could be put on a property tax roll. Manager Reed added that staff is also proposing to add "water" in the title of Chapter 20 because in this chapter is our Free Resource and Energy Business Evaluation, which does look at water as well as energy, and Chapter 20 is also where the City just codified our outdoor water conservation ordinance. RCC Minutes, 3/22/10, Page 2 of 4 . ACTION: Commissioner Turbide moved that the Resource Conservation Commission recommend that Council accept the policy revisions to Chapter 20 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code to include water and language that the City of Chula Vista does not prohibit in this draft. Commissioner Gilgun seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Clarifying CEC Loan & SDG&E Financing Manager Reed gave a brief presentation on two loans that the City has been approved for by the California Energy Commission. One loan is a one percent interest loan to change out about forty-six hundred street lights with energy saving induction technologies, and the other loan, which is at three percent, is to install about five hundred kilowatts of solar photovoltaic on eleven municipal sites, and to do some energy-efficiency lighting improvement at fifty-two municipal sites. He stated further that the item going to Council is to clarify that Council is comfortable with us pursuing these loan agreements to finance energy efficiency and renewal energy improvements at municipal buildings. ACTION: Commissioner Turbide made a motion that the Resource Conservation Commission recommend that Council adopt the Resolution. Commissioner Rahimzadeh seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMMENTS Director Meacham discussed two topics: • California Proposition 16 - An effort to increase the number of voters required to pass a local utility or Community Choice Aggregation Program from the current simple majority to a two thirds vote. • Backup Generation Options For Utility Grade Projects -The City is trying to catch up with the rest of the region regarding access to broadband services, and has met with key industry players to discuss master planning for cell towers in the City. The City has approximately five hundred facilities in the city from five major carriers and one minor carrier. One carrier is requesting to add diesel back up generators to their existing sites. CHAIR COMMENTS None COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Turbide mentioned a San Diego resource person related to telecommuting who might also be a possible resource for the City. • Director Meacham asked if one of the Commissioners who attend the Climate Change Working Group meetings would periodically give an update of those meetings to the RCC. Commissioner Gilgun suggested listing a CCWG Update as an Information Item on RCC agendas. Chair Stillman agreed that this information is very important. Commissioner Rahimzadeh mentioned that he was excited with what he was getting out of the Climate Change Working Group meetings. RCC Minutes, 3/22/10, Page 3 of 4 . Chair Stillman discussed Councilmember Bensoussan's involvement in a recent conference for green cities where the City of Chula Vista had been highly spoken of for its progressive efforts over the years, and that she had picked up wonderful ideas from the other elected officials in attendance that she wanted to start sharing with the RCC and the CCWG. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 5:27 p.m. to a regular meeting on Monday, April 12, 2010, at 4:00 pm in Council Chambers, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Prepared by: y ~.. Sheryl Fields Sr. Secretary • • RCC Minutes, 3/22/10, Page 4 of 4