Faith Klareich (FK), Doug Beard (DB), Tolulope Odunlami (TO), and Sura Yakowitz (SY).

Kris Dighe (KD), Jerry Leighton (JL), Geoff Sanders (GS).

Staff Liaison Nate Wall (NW), Audra Lew (AL) - applicant for vacant student Environment Commission position,  Beri Kravitz (BK) -  member of the Community Outreach working group and applicant for vacant position, Jon Landenburger (JLa) - applicant for vacant position.

1.

The meeting was called to order at 7:33pm in the Blue Crab Room at Rockville City Hall.

Motion to approve November 14, 2006 meeeting minutes passes by unanimous vote.

FK, DB, TO, SY and NW introduce themselves to new applicants.  FK mentioned that the Commission was specifically looking for an individual interested in heading up the Community Outreach working group to fill the vacant regular position.  She also described the appointment process: applicants are to give their background, their reasons for being interested in working on the Commission, and ask any questions they may have; the Commission will then discuss the vacancies at their January meeting and make recommendations for appointments to the Mayor and Council for their February 5th meeting.  Newly appointed Commissioners would then join the Commission for the February 13th meeting.

AL is a master’s student at Johns Hopkins majoring in environmental policy and ecology.  She lives off of Avery Road, and is interested in putting her education to use to help make her home a more environmentally-friendly place.

BK has been interested in the Commission via the Community Outreach working group, which she has been participating on.  She has a background in civil and environmental engineering, specifically wastewater treatment, and lives in Potomac Woods.

JLa has lived in Rockville almost his entire life.  His kids are now in Rockville high schools, and he feels he has more time to contribute to his community.  He has been an activist with CCAN (Chesapeake Climate Action Network), and has also been working with a side group on energy regulation.  He is very interested in Rockville’s natural environment, especially since he lives in Burgundy Estates and has a stream running through his back yard.

NW explained the Mayor & Council’s November 20th request for additional information on green building programs in light of both DC and Montgomery County’s green building bills.  FK mentioned that with other jurisdictions taking action, the M&C are interested in how this may affect Rockville, and what actions we could/should be taking.

FK said that we may want to take a look at the stock of buildings in Rockville: since Rockville is mainly developed, most new development will be redevelopment; how would a green building program applying to buildings 10,000 square feet and greater (like Montgomery County’s ordinance) affect the existing stock of buildings in Rockville?  Is there a more appropriate size to use for Rockville?  How would this affect redevelopment?  NW will check on the availability of this data.  FK assumes that we would need at least 3 months to get data and analyze it, so our immediate response should detail the Commission’s current thinking on this, and our final response can include the data to support a Rockville program.

SY asked if the Commission’s previous work on green building recommendations could be used for this purpose.  FK mentioned that it would certainly be incorporated, but that she felt there was need for additional data on building sizes, energy consumption if available, etc.  SY wanted to make sure that non-energy features (i.e., the other 5 categories on the LEED scale – sustainable sites, water efficiency, materials and resources, indoor air quality and innovation & design process) were accounted for in any proposed green building legislation.

DB asked how residential buildings would fit into an ordinance.  NW explained that of thw two main types of development – public and private, the private developments (commercial and residential) were typically differentiated in the ordinance.  Commercial (and multi-family residential) typically had set achievement targets just like the public or municipal buildings.  Private single family residential was typically handled mainly through education and outreach on green remodels and additions, homeowner improvements for energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality, etc.  Typically do not put any “green” regulations on new SFD.

DB thought that the EC should append all older documents that the Commission has produced concerning green buildings to this new response to the Mayor & Council to show what we’ve been thinking about, and show that we’ve been working on this.  The cover memo could then include the new Montgomery County and DC legislation information.

FK to create a matrix explaining Montgomery County and DC legislation to accompany a cover letter to Mayor & Council.  NW to provide ordinances / information as needed.

SY explained the proposed Watersheds & SWM Working Group projects for the coming year:
1. Cabin John Watershed Plan & Study – Review and comment in preparation for upcoming revisions and updating.
2. Business Brochure – Produce and distribute brochure to Rockville businesses on importance of and methods to protect the watershed.  (In conjunction with Community Outreach Group)
3. Residential Brochure – Produce and distribute brochure to Rockville businesses on importance of and methods to protect the watershed.  (In conjunction with Community Outreach Group)
4. Self-Education – Take classes on watershed monit0ring, cleanup, protection, etc.
5. Monitoring Program and Cleanups – Organize a volunteer stream monitoring and cleanup program, to include recruitment of volunteers, identification of stream & area to be monitored, training of volunteers (possibly through Audubon Naturalist Society), etc.
6. Schools – Develop fun seminars for students to learn about watersheds and streams, stormwater runoff, water quality and quantity; to include identification of appropriate age, program, and schools in Rockville.

TO explained the High Performance Green Buildings Working Group goals:
1. Homeowner & Business Energy Tips – “big stuff” : things like window replacement, insulation, glazing, solar, etc.  First steps to consider in the energy performance of your home or workplace.  Can use LEED Homes and LEED EB as a guide; other resources.
2. Homeowner & Business Energy Tips – small things you can do to save big on energy bills
3. Seminars for schoolchildren on energy efficiency
4. Energy Fair

BK explained the Community Outreach Working Group goals:
1. Energy Fair – this will probably be the first thing.  Can also tie in other things to this, such as launching a “Change a Light” program for compact fluorescent lightbulbs.  This will target an adult audience, so want to separate from Spring Earth Day (often children-oriented events) to the Fall of 2007.  Would like to get some vendors, NGOs, etc.  Will get M&C support first.
2. Environmental Awards – Want to alter it a bit to create three categories: citizen, business and residential.  Citizen could be an activist with an NGO, volunteer with environmental groups, etc.  Business and residential will be similar to previous awards.  Will need to determine best way to get submissions, and determine judging criteria.
3. Develop a “road show” – something to take to City events, civic association meetings, etc.  Gain visibility in the community and distribute information.

AL suggested making a poster which could be posted at the nature center, other City buildings.

FK mentioned that she and NW should be copied on all working group emails just to stay in the loop on progress on these sorts of issues.  We should try to be more proactive on these sorts of issues where we have the ability to comment on on-going City projects.  FK did some research on pervious pavements, and found a list of “certified” contractors from Tom Evans at the Maryland Ready Mix Concrete Association.

After discussion on the pros and cons of pervious pavement versus the existing bioretention pond shown on the site plan, the EC decided that this site would be best served as a demonstration project for the City.  There would be an opportunity to install some monitoring wells to determine how well the site was actually infiltrating the stormwater, and determine where this technology might best be applied at other more restricted sites throughout the City.  SY mentioned that this infiltration monitoring could also potentially qualify for innovation LEED credits.  The Commission will prepare a statement on this to present to the City and/or Planning Commission.

Agenda item tabled until next month.

NW mentioned that the Stormwater Management Utility Study went before the Mayor & Council and received authorization to move forwards.  This will potentially create a dedicated funding source for stormwater management, watershed and other water quality improvement activities – a very good thing.

The Refuse Pilot Study went before the Mayor & Council last night, and did not meet with as positive a result.  There is residential opposition to portions of the pilot project, centering around the move from twice weekly to once-a-week pickup.  Other aspects of the pilot – automated vehicles for reducing worker injury and the ability to move towards single-stream recycling, etc. were accepted.  This issue will need to come before Mayor & Council again before decisions are made.

The City will be making an offer for the Chief of Environmental Management, with the hope that the new Chief would start in mid-January.

The College Gardens SWM Pond / Park will be going towards the Mayor & Council December 18th.  This project has had an excellent public participation component, and staff is not anticipating any upsets.

The City has been continuing with the development of its Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) program.  We have received initial documents from our consultants that are under review, including comments on the City’s proposed Water Quality Protection Ordinance that will likely be going to Mayor & Council in February 2007.

Meeting adjourned at 9:40 pm.

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