Boards and Commissions

Commission on the Environment

 Meeting Minutes
February 16, 2006

Attendees: Faith Klareich (FK), Doug Beard (DB), Kris Dighe (KD), Alicia Hosmer (AH), Jerry Leighton (JL), Tolulope Odunlami (TO), Geoff Sanders (GS) and Nate Wall (NW).

Absent: Jaskaran Singh (JS).

1. Welcome, News and Agenda Review
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 pm in the Blue Crab Room at Rockville City Hall.

2. Meeting Minutes Approval
Motion to approve January 10, 2006 meeting minutes as revised passes by unanimous vote.

3. Working Group Updates & Issues
FK reiterated that part of role of working groups was a fast turnaround on review of City documents or proposed policy before it is submitted as final.  This will likely involve having materials distributed as they come up, between regularly scheduled meetings, and may require comments before the following meeting.  Would like to have this process in place so that the Commission doesn’t miss opportunities for comment.

TO mentioned that the High Performance Building (HPB) working group (WG) had met twice, and have a third meeting scheduled for February 23rd.  Up to this point, they have been discussing the role of the HPBWG, and different ways that jurisdictions have approached green buildings.  This segued into the next agenda item.

4. High Performance / Green Building
FK mentioned goal of getting HPB concepts in front of Mayor & Council worksession for initial buy-in on the process of crafting a HPB program that will work for Rockville.  FK mentioned that the several options that have been floated out to organize this process include 1) having the full Commission involved in the process, including stakeholder interviews, etc.; 2) having the HPBWG function in this role, with additional Commissioners participating if their interests/schedule allows; and 3) the formation of an independent task force, appointed by Mayor & Council.

JL felt that an appropriate process would be having the Commission draft the ordinance, have legal review it, hold a public meeting, get comments, revise if necessary, then take to M&C.  The guidelines for the program should be placed within the ordinance with the evaluation/monitoring requirements in guidelines outside the ordinance.

GS feels it would be appropriate to get stakeholder input even before the Commission started drafting the ordinance.  In favor of using the Commission + HPBWG to run stakeholder process prior to creation of ordinance.

TO and JL made the point that when considering this ordinance, should consider emphasis on High Performance vs Green buildings, as well as on the difference between building a good building, and operating it in an efficient, environmentally friendly/sustainable way.

Due to time constraints, FK tables this discussion until the HPBWG meeting on February 23rd.

5. Rockville Science Day - May 7th
NW explained goal and audience of Science Day, to be held May 7th this year at Montgomery College.

AH to coordinate with NW to have Environment Commission presence for education / outreach at Science Day.

6. Commission Reappointments, Vacancyy, Chair
FK mentioned that the all “active” applicants (those within the last year) will be invited to the upcoming March meeting.  Would like to fill the vacancy soon.

Commission unanimously votes to recommend reappointment of KD, JL, FK, AH and DB to the Mayor & Council to serve another 3-year term on the Commission on the Environment.  In addition, the Commission unanimously voted to recommend the reappoint of FK as the Commission Chair for another one-year term.

NW to notify City Clerk of Commission recommendations.

7. COPT Development / Celera Property Overview
NW explained that there had been a citizen request to discuss issues with the redevelopment of this property with the Commission.  The residents were ultimately unable to make it to tonight’s meeting.  NW presented the site plan carrying a 1984 approval with no “expiration date”, and explained that this property was unique in the entire City in this regards.  Showed NRI/FSD which shows scope of tree loss if the 2 proposed (and approved in 1984) buildings and additional parking lot are constructed.  Mentioned that the developers are working with the City to make the plan more conforming to modern day standards, including getting rid of economy-sized parking spaces but also agreeing to lose a row of parking to widen the tree buffer.  There are several other issues with this property, which could be discussed if this issue is officially brought to the Commission.

8. Staff Updates
NW mentioned that the first draft on the City’s “Environment” chapter of the Environmental Scan had been submitted to the City Manager’s office, and was available for Commission comments.  NW requested comments by the end of the month.

The “Built vs. Natural Environment” zoning ordinance white paper will be presented to Mayor & Council on March 6th along with Forest and Tree Preservation Ordinance (FTPO) issues.  FK mentioned that she will likely be in attendance.

FYI – Interviews have begun for the Chief of Long-Range Planning position.  Several of the candidates have some open space program, landscape architecture or other similar environmental background.