Arvada Sustainability Advisory Committee (ASAC)
July 9, 2014 Minutes
Arvada City Hall
The meeting called to order at 6:30 pm by Nancy Ford, Chair
In attendance: Ken Anderson, Karlyn Armstrong, Allen Best, Chuck Clark, Natalia Ekberg, Nancy Ford, Kara Giblin, Doug Magee, Teisha Rowland, Randy Weinert, and Jessica Prosser.
Guests were Dan Cupit, chair of Arvada Transportation Committee, and John Feruzzi, City of Arvada staff and liaison to Transportation Committee
Absent: Elizabeth Geisleman, Suzanne Gilfoil, Tara Rae Kent, and Chris Rose
June 11, 2014 Meeting Minutes: Minutes approved
Review Meeting Agenda: Add discussion of possible ASAC field trip
Public Comment: None
Presentation: By Dan Cupit, Arvada Transportation Committee (TC) Chair, with committee update
· Transportation Committee activities include:
i. Involvement in comprehensive plan update
ii. Gold Line commuter rail; committee looks at walkways, bike paths and roadways
iii. Planning such as a possible circulator to connect Arvada’s transit stations, and City roadways such as Indiana St., Ward Rd. / Alkire St. and Ralston Rd.
iv. Community input such as through surveys
v. Projects such as creation of a missing sidewalks inventory, and traffic calming options
vi. Strategy development at its 2013 Transportation Summit
vii. TDM (Transportation Demand Management) and reviewing more than 100 studies for best ideas
viii. Last Mile – Looking at areas within a mile of the City’s three transit stations
· Current transportation projects include:
i. Lamar St. improvements
ii. New Garrison St. walkway between Ralston Rd. and 56th
iii. Flashing yellow turn signalization
iv. Alkire St. bike lanes
v. The Gold Line such as the Olde Town parking garage (due in 2016), and the Kipling station
· Questions by ASAC included if TC is working with adjacent cities on bike / pedestrian lanes; whether another missing sidewalk can be added; and, how traffic volume is measured on certain streets?
· TC wants feedback, meets the 4th Wednesday of the month, and would like an ASAC representative to attend their meetings.
Report from City Staff/ City Council Liaisons:
· Committee visited the City’s EV charging station on north side of City Hall
Presentation: By Allen Best, History and use of carbon taxes
· History of environmental problems and carbon use
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i. Gift of carbon – Coal for last 250 years, the industrial revolution, but there’s a cost
ii. Gold brought people west – In 1860, 150 gold mills in Clear Creek valley; water pollution issue
iii. 1960s – Front Range air pollution, mostly due to cars
iv. 1970s – Clear Air Act; seminal law to clean up the nation’s air
v. Efforts have been made for international collaboration
vi. Can’t assign current events to the problems (Hurricane Sandy, recent heavy rains); most damage occurs in the future
· Can have a positive impact on the economy if subsidies are reduced for certain types of energy sources
· A carbon tax is typically a fee on the source of emissions, ie. Per gallon of fuel
· A carbon tax might change behaviors – Change to a cleaner fuel (natural gas) for electricity generation; pay for what you use model
· Various carbon taxes in place – Norway and British Columbia, Australia overturned their tax
· Questions by ASAC included how does a program work; how to make citizens act; what effects on Arvada (unclear but water availability could be an issue); and, how to demonstrate outcomes?
· Next steps work with CML and Colorado Climate Network on Resiliency project, work with Arvada emergency preparedness to plan for extreme weather events; and, possibly update City Council in the future
Waste Management at City Events
· Good waste management efforts targeted at the community (such as drop-off locations) but application at community events sporadic; recent July 4th event appeared to have no recycling, only blue trash bins
· Discussion of events with waste diversion programs ranged from Fort Collins’ Sustainable Living Fair, Sustain Arvada Festival; recent People’s Fair had 75 Zero Hero stations with paid staff; Chamber’s Sand in the City event used a two-bin system (recycling and trash) by Republic Services
· Ideas discussed were that sustainability can save money but isn’t free; using volunteers may not be best; consistency is good for education; multiple events in Arvada by different groups
· Next steps discussed were have a waste management fee built into cost of events; site a local waste-sorting facility; event policy in Olde Town (part of BID), and ASAC involvement; City has contract with Republic for City facilities; attend Festivals Commission meeting to discuss/reinvigorate recycling commitment; City has events permit but no mention of waste; make event waste a 2015 Milestone?
Discuss August Presentation / Memo to City Council:
· Discussion of August meeting / social event with City Council – Presentation / update routed to ASAC, comments due July 16th
Old Business:
· Olde Town composting and mention of meeting held to continue moving program forward
Updates by Committee Members:
· Working with parks department on chemicals used in City parks
· Little Free Library mentioned
· Possible October ASAC field trip was discussed
· New Business: None
Agenda Items for Next Meeting: Elections, updates on 2014 Milestones, and catch up on ASAC business
Adjournment at 8:40 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Doug Magee, Secretary
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