JerryShechter on "Policy and Outreach Work Group MInutes - 12.14.06"

JerryShechter — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:45:33 +0000

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

Policy and Outreach Subcommittee

(excerpted from Carbon Waste report – the same process was followed for each group)
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.

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

Results of Policy and Outreach Committee Meeting – December 14, 2006

Results are listed in order to priority from highest number of ‘early victories’ to highest number of ‘need more information’.

Public Education and Involvement

G – 20
B – 5
Y – 0
• Monthly neighborhood meetings (14 green)
• Engage the religious community (3 green)
• Community energy “tips” – newsletter (2 green)
• Public involvement – how to take part as an individual (1 green)
• Outreach to public entities:
o Municipalities
o Counties
o School Districts
• Public education awareness – climate protection (5 blue)
• Broad public education about how we live and how it impacts the future of our planet: the “American Dream” may not actually be such a good idea.
• Target college age with education about home performance = next generation of home buyers.
• Public campaign to get all sectors of society to understand the risks and participate in meeting the challenge. (2)
• A home performance disclosure when home is listed for sale. (KS used to have disclosure, but at time of closing, not early enough in the process for potential buyers to utilize the information in decision making.)
• Develop citizen and business criteria for sustainable practices – recognize actions and measure.

Transportation

G – 6
B – 1
Y – 0
• Leave the car at home once a week campaign.
• Create incentives for people to use public or alternative transportation.
• Encourage and facilitate mode shift to transit, bikes and walking.

Green Infrastructure

G – 9
B – 5
Y – 3
• Foster city-wide green infrastructure policies, plans and projects (8 cards)
o Promote green building practices through city regulatory and tax incentives.
 Practical: Impact the upcoming revision of city building codes to conserve energy – rely on renewables, etc.
 Work to remove legislative and regulatory obstacles to renewable energy options.
o Green building practices / permit program
o Green building – green everything! – stop addiction to turf, value water, etc.
o Minimize storm water runoff requiring pumping and treatment, using green solutions.

Utility Conservation of Energy

G – 3
B – 9
Y – 0
• Provide incentives for utilities to help customers reduce energy use. (2 cards)
o …with net metering (1 card)
• Require utilities to generate power from renewables.
• Lobby for state policies that transform energy utilities into energy service companies whose primary goal is to maximize efficiency rather than generation.
• Utility program to loan the value for improvements; pay back for improvements via tariff on the meter (stays with the house).

Tax Policy to reduce Green House Gas Emissions

G – 3
B – 10
Y – 2

• Offer TIF funding only to projects that embody sustainable building / land use standards (2 cards)
o Use the 3 P’s to establish guidelines which development must implement:
 Planet (environment)
 People (social)
 Prosperity (economy)
• Carbon “tax” to encourage change in order to fund efforts
• Incent and motivate change in status quo development mentality
• Tax incentives for hybrid vehicles, etc. (yellow)

Smart Growth Policies

G – 1
B – 12
Y - 7
• Building / Development policies – no further development outside of urban core – prioritize dense / infill development.
o Institute growth boundaries; ordinances or programs to limit urban sprawl.
o Secure metro-wide compact to stop subsidizing sprawl.
o Focus investment and growth in established areas.

Market based approaches

G – 3
B – 1
Y – 3
• Promote and provide incentives / rewards for energy conservation using market-based approaches.
• Provide incentives to reduce energy consumption.

Urban Agriculture

G – 1
B – 3
Y – 1
• Promote urban agriculture local food – not transported from afar.

Additional Comments
• Policies, programs and commitment MUST extend beyond political terms. (Y–3)

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JerryShechter on "Policy and Outreach Work Group MInutes - 12.14.06"