KC Climate Protection Forums Forum: Carbon Offsets Work Group

JerryShechter on "Carbon Offsets/Waste Management Minutes - 12.14.06"

JerryShechter — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:43:54 +0000

Kansas City Climate Protection Plan
Work Group Meeting Notes
December 14, 2006

Carbon Offsets and Waste Management Work Group

Summary of Work Group Activities

The following question was posed to the work group: What are the 3 most important measures we must implement in Kansas City to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020?

Participants were instructed that preference should be given to the following criteria:

• Build on existing initiatives
• Identify Low Hanging Fruit
• Economically viable options
• Options with partnership opportunities across the community
• Measures that have been successfully implemented in other cities

Participants were given three “sticky” notes on which to write their recommendations. The notes from the group were posted on a wall, and organized in columns by similar topic.

The work group reviewed the results and adjusted some of the placements after discussion. When there was general agreement on the groupings, the “dot” exercise was performed.

Each participant was given three sets of colored dots and asked to place them by the columns to help prioritize the initiative recommendations. Dot colors and definitions were:

• Green – “Early Victories” – Implementation can begin before April 2007
• Blue – Critical & Strategic, but Long Term – Will take more than 2 years
• Yellow – Need more information to determine priority level

Results

Results of the exercise are summarized on the following pages. Each heading represents a column or grouping of responses. Each bullet under that heading is a suggestion from the work group that was placed in that grouping. The number of green, blue, and yellow dots placed on the grouping is also listed under the heading.

Also attached is a list of comments or suggestions received from the work group participants on how to move forward or things to do differently next time.

The meeting chair and facilitator noted a number of potential initiatives that were not discussed but warrant consideration in future meetings. Those are also listed.

Carbon Offsets and Waste Management Recommendations

The underlined headings are the general categories or groupings of recommendations. Bulleted items beneath each heading are the specific comments received.

G = # of green dots
B = # of blue dots
Y = # of yellow dots

The categories are listed in the order they were arranged on the wall in the workroom, from left to right.

Open Space Preservation

G – 1
B – 3
Y – 3

• Use conservation easements to preserve open space

Education and Outreach

G – 3
B – 2
Y – 3

• Encourage other communities in the metro to participate in climate protection work
• Get into as many elementary schools as possible with our message
• Bring about a shift in consciousness
• Neighbors coming together to conserve and generate powerful fulfilling community

Integrate Carbon Offsets with Local Stormwater Management Initiatives

G – 3
B – 8
Y – 0

• Natural stormwater management
• Green solutions for wet weather problems
• Increase stream setbacks/required set-asides for greenspace in developments/Increase green infrastructure & greenways
• Enhance/preserve greenspace in developments, especially associated with floodways

Promote Native Landscaping

G – 7
B – 1
Y – 0

• Native landscaping – quit mowing, store carbon
• Plant natives – reduce mowing & fertilizing
• Expand native landscaping – sequesters carbon, stormwater management, reduce need for mowing which reduces CO2 emissions from high emitting engines, reduced maintenance costs

Improve Soil Capacity to Store Carbon & Improve Soil Quality

G – 0
B – 0
Y – 2

• Micorizzal fungi, No till, Urban agriculture, Eat Local, Glomalin

Plant Trees

G – 9
B – 0
Y – 1

• Neighborhood tree planting
• Plant trees – street trees, yard trees; Reforest larger areas
• Participate in a regional urban forestry plan – see Sac Tree Foundation’s “GreenPrint”
• Greater City funding for trees in parks & along streets
• Expand tree planting – quantifiable effects: sequesters carbon, removes pollution, reduces energy costs, reduces temperature & urban heat island, and increases property value
• Modify property taxes to give a discount for land covered by tree canopy

Plant Vacant Lots

G – 4
B – 1
Y – 0

• Vacant lots/community gardens
• Plant vacant lots with tree farms, then transfer to street trees
Promote Green Roofs and Related Site Features

G – 4
B – 3
Y – 3

• Green roofs, new buildings
• Promote green roofs including “infrastructure” for tools/maintenance
• Tree requirements for parking lots

Expand Recycling – Commercial Applications

G – 4
B – 3

• Recycle at multi-family buildings and at public events (e.g. – Plaza Art Fair)
• Expand KC Recycles to include municipal and commercial recycling with specific recycling goals
• Increase commercial recycling
• Recycling for commercial businesses, apartments, etc. (everything that’s not done now)

Expand Recycling – Residential Applications

G – 4
B – 6
Y – 0

• Increase curbside recycling
• Expanded recycling – curbside & drop-off; items that are recycled
• Design recycling stations for home builders & supply stores to install in new/remodel homes/kitchens
• City commit to permanent Community Recycling Centers, including expansion as education centers for environmental programs
• Provide incentives to increase recycling in low-income neighborhoods (Curitiba, Brazil)

Solid Waste Management Planning

G – 0
B – 3
Y – 7

• Long term solid waste plan that looks at integrated management and innovative alternative for diversion
Enact Ordinances that Promote Sustainability

G – 3
B – 5

• Revise LEED ordinance to include all major developments and establish minimum target for construction waste recovery
• City ordinance like Chicago to require C&D recycling

By-Product Synergy

G – 4
B – 3
Y – 5

• By-product synergy – recycling unwanted by-products as raw stock for another
• Expand recycling & market development of industrial by-products
• Find use for methane as energy source (some trash trucks use some methane)
• Use the BTU value in trash in place of fossil fuel
• Technical assistance to businesses to increase industrial by-product utilization

Reduce the Volume of Product Packaging

G – 1
B – 5
Y – 3

• Change product packaging to promote reuse instead of recycling, conserve both methods and energy
• Increase city purchasing of recycled content and reduced packaging products

Suggestions that Relate to the Other Work Groups

• Develop more powerful & dependable rechargeable small equipment. Re: trimmers, saws, mowers, and eliminate the use of 2-cycle gasoline engines (received 6 yellow dots)
• Energy conservation in buildings – new construction design, retrofit systems, weatherization
• Create more bike trails with commute to work as an objective
• Use less energy – create programs to encourage weatherization, use of alternate sources

Comments, Feedback, & Suggestions from Work Group Participants

• Green dots were used to identify things that can be done fast. But maybe we should identify the most important things to do and look at ways to speed them up.
• We may need to explain some of the topics. Not all work group participants are familiar with each topic.
• The “dot” voting was done by category. And within categories there are specific items that may be Low Hanging Fruit, and others that are long term actions. We probably need to discuss how to prioritize and separate items within the categories.
• Let’s develop an email distribution list for the Carbon Offset/Waste Management Work Group, and correspond before the next meeting to exchange information and ideas
• Low Hanging Fruit action items should build upon other initiatives that are already underway in Kansas City. For example: Promote green stormwater initiatives as part of the Overflow Control Program; Advance stream setback ordinances to preserve woodlands; Expand existing recycling programs.
• Are there any assignments for the next meeting?
• Identify missing elements that we didn’t catch today for the next meeting
• Participants would like to get copies of the notes generated by the other work groups, too

Topics to Add to the Discussion at the Next Work Group Meeting

Worthwhile issues that have not yet come up in discussion.

• Green tags
• Cap & trade programs
• Getting involved in carbon exchange markets
• City incentives - KCMO require that all TIF funding be contingent upon LEED buildings, LID site design, and construction waste recycling plan

JerryShechter on "Carbon Offsets/Waste Management Minutes - 1.16.07"

JerryShechter — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:42:38 +0000

Meeting Minutes

Kansas City Climate Protection Plan
Carbon Offsets & Waste Management Work Group Meeting

January 16, 2007

The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m., by Jamie Frazier, Chairman. Meeting attendees signed an attendance roster.

Jamie Frazier provided introductory remarks, and:

• Summarized the reports made to the Steering Committee at their December 2006 meeting
• Reviewed the schedule of upcoming meetings that will lead to the preparation of the Phase I Climate Protection Plan for submittal to Mayor Barnes and the City Council in early April
• Noted that the presentations scheduled for today’s meeting address some of the topics that generated strong interest at the December 14, 2006 Work Group meeting.

Ted Hartsig, Applied Ecological Services made a presentation to the group on carbon sequestration. Some of the key points discussed included:

• Native prairies, in addition to forests, can provide carbon sequestration in our region. Up to 70% of the plant organic matter is in the very deep root systems of native grasses.
• Native vegetation provides ancillary benefits such as reducing stormwater runoff and providing cooling effects.
• Prairies can sequester approximately 1 ton of Carbon/acre/year.
• Group discussion noted that sequestration rates reported in the literature for forests ranges from approximately 0.5 to 4.5 ton C/acre/year.
• Kansas City might wish to explore becoming a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange. Ted has worked with that organization in the past and can provide contact names.

Stuart Bullington, Kansas City Water Services Department, made a presentation on the Ivanhoe Neighborhood 10,000 Rain Gardens project. Key points included:

• After being told the project qualified for funding, the City recently learned that the project would not be funded this year. The City is still interested in conducting the project and may look for alternative sources of funding.
• Information material was passed out to the group, including a case study in Baltimore. It was noted that the Baltimore project started with one funding source, but eventually grew to bring in 36 partners.
• The intent of the Ivanhoe project is to integrate stormwater management demonstrations with urban revitalization efforts. There are plans to construct 250 rain gardens, disconnect downspouts, and install rain barrels. Further, the project would hire 8 summer youths to help with the work, and work with homeowners on energy conservation issues.
• The neighborhood includes approximately 4,000 parcels, including 1,800 vacant lots. There are 238 land trust lots in the neighborhood. It is also hoped that ownership of some of them can be obtained for rain garden construction.
• A goal of the project will be to demonstrate means to replicate successes in other neighborhoods to help this type of program expand elsewhere.

Michael Shaw, Kansas City Solid Waste Division, made a presentation on recycling efforts in Kansas City. Key topics included:

• There were four landfills serving the Kansas City region, but one recently closed. In response, hauling and disposal fees are rising.
• The KC Recycles Program is doing well and growing. The value of materials collected by the vendors through curbside recycling should reach $2 million this year.
• Drop-off centers accept many items that are not included in curbside recycling
• The amount of trash Kansas City is collecting is going down.
• Neighborhood cleanup assistance programs are very popular.
• Kansas City going to start a pilot recycling program for pedestrians this spring, placing dual trash/recycling bins on street corners. The City is also starting a pilot program to use biodegradable trash bags.
• Other initiatives that are in the planning stages include: Mobile recycling centers that can be moved to various locations; Apartment recycling programs; Solar panels for recycling centers and drop-off locations; Food waste recycling program for City Market; Expanded composting of food and yard waste
• The City is also developing a Long Term Solid Waste Management Strategy to coordinate these initiatives

David Dods asked the group for feedback on topics they would like to hear discussed at the February 6, 2007 meeting. Suggested topics included:

• Promoting urban/local agriculture, to keep food production close to home, especially promoting no-till and organic approaches
• Urban forestry
• An update of the KC zoning ordinance changes that are underway, especially as they pertain to promoting landscape preservation and sustainable development
• Construction & Demolition Waste recycling

It was requested that all presentations should specifically cover the potential for greenhouse gas reductions provided by the topic

Participants were also asked to provide, prior to the next meeting, information on education and outreach activities relative to global warming that they are involved in or aware of. Staff will distribute a form to participants for this purpose. Materials are to be submitted to Jerry Shechter by February 1, 2007.

The next meeting is on February 6, 2007.

ronmclinden on "Carbon Sequestration"

ronmclinden — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 08:57:47 +0000

I'll defer to Helene and others about the details, but I like the idea of planting trees. Trees provide shade (and thus coolness), they hold rain water and thus reduce flooding, and they also sequester carbon -- at least as long as they are standing.

The city is far behind in replacing street trees, and there are a lot of treeless yards around town as well.

Let's have the city prepare street tree planting locations -- bore the holes, then loose-fill them, thus leaving easy digging for citizens. Specify what kind of tree is to go in and let citizens (or neighborhood groups) do the planting.

Also encourage people to plant trees in their own yards. MDC and KCPL have helpful guides on what to -- and not to -- to plant and where.

Importantly, create a registry of all such trees and issue a marker of some kind that can be attached to the tree -- Climate Protection Forest Project - 2007.

Ten thousand rain gardens? Yes. And let's also have a million trees.

jfrazier on "Carbon Sequestration"

jfrazier — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 03:21:15 +0000

Global warming is real and we must take decisive and timely action to slow or reverse its impact, both for us and future generations. Please use this forum to provide input to the Carbon Offset work group of the KC Climate Protection Planning process. We are interested in strategies that KCMO or the Kansas City region can implement to capture and store or sequester CO2 to reduce its impact on global warming. We will be having working sessions to consider recommendations to the Steering Committee on Feb 6 and Mar 6.

- Jamie Frazier, Work Group Chair