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2017-04-03 Committee on the Environment Minutes MINUTES CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT April 3, 2017 After determining that a quorum of the Committee on the Environment of the Denton City Council was present, the Committee on the Environment thereafter convened into an Open Meeting on Monday, April 3, 2017 at 1:33 p.m. in the City Council Work Session Room 215 E. McKinney, Denton, Texas. Present: Council Member Dalton Gregory, Council Member Joey Hawkins and Council Member Keely Briggs Also Present: Jon Fortune, ACM; Kenneth Banks, Utilities Director; Katherine Barnett, Sustainability and Special Projects; Jonathan Gregory, Conservation Program Coordinator; Stephanie Corley, Sustainability Coordinator; Deborah Viera, Environmental Compliance Coordinator; Tabitha Millsop, Business Analyst and Kim Mankin, Administrative Supervisor REGULAR MEETING: A. COE17-022 - Consider approval of the Committee on the Environment meeting minutes of March 6, 2017. Approved as circulated B. COE17-020 - Receive a report, hold discussion and give staff direction regarding creation of Green Business Program. This presentation was given by Jonathan Gregory. There are several reasons to start a green business program. One is strategy in the simply sustainable plan. To identify and recognize Denton community sustainable businesses. To increase sustainability education and awareness, and to provide a link for businesses to engage with residents. Committee Member Hawkins added that it is vital to support the local businesses, they live in the community and the environment is important to them as well. Gregory gave examples of supporting programs, a couple were the City of Austin and Seattle Public Utilities. The suggested model for Denton includes: -Free application processes based on our own sustainability criteria -Approved business members to be recognized by the City -Offer educational resources and direction to business owners -r businesses/business districts -Host an annual Green Business Fair to engage community Committee Member Briggs asked about the website and how we could coordinate efforts regarding the environment to be in a single place instead of different areas. Barnett added that it webpage. Gregory talked about the actions to implement the plan that include: - -Develop an application and evaluation process -Develop a logo and webpage to communicate/promote program -Partner with Denton Chamber of Commerce to identify businesses -Education and outreach Conservation Program Coordinator the sustainable schools was missing. Committee Members believe this is a great idea and could encourage businesses to recycle. C. COE17-021 - Receive a report, hold discussion and give staff direction regarding update to Simply Sustainable plan and timeline. Katherine Barnett gave this report stating that this plan began in the 2011, adopted in August 2012. The sustainability plan is a living document that is updated frequently. We are now at the five year mark so staff wanted to take a more in depth look at the plan. Staff will look for more community involvement partnering with John Cabrales and his group. The areas that need to be reviewed is the executive summary and the Sustainable Denton individuals, communities and businesses. Departments would be added and highlighted, our stories need to be told as well. Water focus areas include minimizing wastewater impacts on the environment, rewrite and adopt changes to the Drainage Design Criteria Manual, maintain high quality drinking water and to exceed minimum regulatory compliance with TCEQ Municipal Stormwater Permit. Additions would include metrics for water audits, and fats, oils and grease line flushing. Briggs asked if the City collects the fats, oils and grease from restaurants. Barnett answered no, it is contracted. Banks added that the City permits the haulers. Briggs then asked where it goes, Banks answered it is normally recycled. Barnett continued with air quality and GHG Management that includes strategies to develop and implement a sustainable fleet program, and develop a GHG program for municipal operations. Additions would be to add metrics on yearly reporting of GHG emissions from municipal operations, yearly reporting of GHG emissions from community, Methane from landfill operations and fuel economy of Sustainable Fleet. Energy Conservation and efficiency strategies include expand commercial and industrial energy efficiency program. Staff wants to adopt the most current building codes and exceed IECC minimum requirements. Consider developing a sustainable building rating program. Improve the energy efficiency of existing homes and buildings. Changes and additions include the addition of 70 percent renewable goal by 2020. Continue to explore adoption of PACE Program at county level. Consider energy efficiency goals for low-income and rental housing properties. Land Use and Open/Natural Space strategies include promoting infill incentives, evaluate affordable housing programs, revise and implement subchapter 17 of Denton Development Code, and implement brownfield site clean-up program. Briggs stated that she had seen where the Brownfield funds were being cut, will that affect us. Banks answered it is possible, there are two types of Brownfield Grants; assessment grants and clean up grants. Assessment is money to determine if the ground has a contamination issue, a cleanup grant will actually provide money to clean up a contaminated area. The site at 121 Exposition was a cleanup grant. The City of Denton has been successful when they applied for grants, but the cuts will affect everyone. Briggs asked about gas well inspections and how many inspectors that the City of Denton has. Barnett stated that she will find out. Transportation, staff has partnered with Julie Anderson (Bike and Ped Coordinator) for education purposes. A strategy that will be added includes revising the current parking standards to provide flexibility and reduce environmental impacts. Also expanding the existing metric to track sidewalk improvements in addition to new sidewalks. Hawkins asked if there is a sidewalk inventory at this time. Barnett answered there is an inventory. Education, communication and community will include creating a Sustainability Advisory Council. Create a Green Business Program to identify and recognize sustainable businesses. Utilize additional methods of communication to improve outreach to citizens and business community (i.e. social media, newsletters, website, face to face). Material Resources Management will promote cleanup activities. Establish formal environmentally preferred purchasing policy. Divert Solid Waste from Landfill through recycling. Set a percentage goal for diverting waste from the landfill. Local Food Production will encourage community gardens within the city limits. Evaluate opportunities to increase access and availability of locally produced food. Increase the number of vendors participating at farmers markets and craft fairs in the community. Staff would like to add beekeeping and implement a survey to try and estimate the number of backyard gardens, chickens and bees and how to increase percentage. Briggs asked the number of chickens that one residence can have. There was discussion regarding this item. Banks added that the ordinance allows for eight chickens on a single property. Resiliency section potential topic areas include: Climate Adaptation Energy and Water Availability Population Growth Environmental Impacts Infrastructure Evaluation and Planning After final discussion, the item was closed and the next item was introduced. D. COE17-024 - Receive a report, hold a discussion, and provide direction regarding Denton Development Code Subchapter 17 Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs). Deborah Viera gave this presentation. The Denton Plan was first adopted in 1999. The map was created before 2001 interim regulations was based on a computer model (GIS) using different parameters (data). It was not 100% accurate, field verification was needed. A definition of the FEMA 100- year flood plain maps (FIRM) is: To provide a national standard without regional discrimination, the 1% annual chance (100-year) flood has been adopted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as the base flood for floodplain management and flood insurance purposes. A 1% annual chance flood (or base flood) has a 1% annual chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The 1% annual chance floodplain identifies areas that are expected to be inundated by the 1% annual chance flood. The FEMA 100 year floodplain maps are not a perfect match but a good fit. Viera showed three maps with developed us undeveloped floodplain. Criteria for mapping developed and undeveloped floodplain is not consistent. FIRMs are updated on a regular basis (new FIRMs, LOMRs, LOMAs, etc.). Standards should be applied based on site conditions when development is about to happen and not based on an outdated map. There was much discussion regarding the maps. Code policy changes are to: Make the code clearer Improve organization Make the code easier to understand Multiple presentations Changes in policy Proposed changes include the amending the ESA map Viera then showed the chapter organization in sections with the markup changes for developed and undeveloped floodplain. E. COE17-023 - ACM Update: 1. Update on RECs Purchase for UNT 2. Matrix CONCLUDING ITEMS A. Under Section 551.042 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, respond to inquiries from the Committee on the Environment or the public with specific factual information or recitation of policy, or accept a proposal to place the matter on the agenda for an upcoming meeting AND Under Section 551.0415 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, provide reports about items of community interest regarding which no action will be taken, to include: expressions of thanks, congratulations, or condolence; information regarding holiday schedules; an honorary or salutary recognition of a public official, public employee, or other citizen; a reminder about an upcoming event organized or sponsored by the governing body; information regarding a social, ceremonial, or community event organized or sponsored by an entity other than the governing body that was attended or is scheduled to be attended by a member of the governing body or an official or employee of the municipality; or an announcement involving an imminent threat to the public health and safety of people in the municipality that has arisen after the posting of the agenda. Kenneth Banks handed out - Texas Watershed Steward Information Briggs What can COD do to promote businesses for emission reduction? Update LED Presentation Citizen Environmental Advisory Board research other cities do we need here Update DME solar The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 2:40 p.m. Approved on August 14, 2017.