20180509 Environmental Stewardship Committee LEED for Cities Presentation
May 9, 2018 Environmental Stewardship Committee Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 7
MINUTES OF
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING
MAY 9, 2018
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ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Judith Leroux, Chair
Dawn Scott, Secretary
Linda Chipperfield
Sarah Boren
Sarah Dark
Steve Kallao
Chip Drysdale
STAFF:
Shane Corbin, Director of Planning and Community Development
Brian Broedell, Planner
Jennifer Johnston, Building Department
OTHERS:
Vatsal Bhatt, LEED for Cities representative, via web conference
Suzanne Shaughnessy
1. Call to order.
The meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m. in the Commission Chambers by J. Leroux.
2. LEED for Cities presentation.
S. Boren stated she works for the U.S. Green Building Council of Florida in LEED (Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design), a green building rating system, and gave a presentation
on the LEED for Cities program. Vatsal Bhatt called into the meeting to discuss the LEED for
Cities program, which was designed with the goal of how to scale the LEED for Buildings
program to a city level. He stated LEED for Cities uses a platform called ARC, similar to
Energy Star Portfolio Manager. He stated that Atlantic Beach could be one of the first cities to
adopt this program.
L. Chipperfield stated that the LEED program is actually accomplishing the goal of building
green buildings within a generation.
S. Boren stated the LEED for Cities program recognizes and awards performance, and the
performance is scored relative to a robust data set. She stated the goal of the program is to
cultivate a new generation of high-performance cities. She said that what the different cities
participating in the program measure gets done, and what gets measured gets improved, and
what gets improved and done gets celebrated by the LEED program. She stated that 14
metrics are used for performance scoring and certification, and scoring is 1-100 in 5 different
categories: energy, water, waste, transportation, and human experience. She said these are
high-level metrics, and some cities are tracking some but not all metrics.
V. Bhatt explained the Gini-coefficient definition.
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S. Boren stated that there are parameters available for further performance tracking and there
are 5 steps to certify for LEED for Cities. She said that the city’s performance score takes
complex data and simplifies into a simple score, which determines what LEED-level a city
would be given. She said that the LEED scoring is an open and integrated platform, and
includes LEED, PEER, SITES, WELL, and other certifications and rating systems.
L. Chipperfield asked if Atlantic Beach would be the smallest city registered as a LEED for
Cities community.
S. Boren said she thought so, but the City of Hoboken might be smaller.
S. Corbin asked if the City of Atlantic Beach would be considered a city or community, and V.
Bhatt answered it would be up to the City, but the parameters would be the same.
S. Boren stated that Washington D.C. is a LEED for Cities certified city, and that was used in
Washington D.C.’s application to host the new Amazon Headquarters.
S. Dark asked how long the application and certification process would take.
V. Bhatt stated that it depended on how much data exists, and Washington D.C. took 5 days to
apply, due to the fact they had data already collected.
S. Boren asked if CO2 emissions had to be measured for municipal buildings or for the entire
city, V. Bhatt stated it would be the City as a whole.
S. Corbin stated that we don’t have as much control over the CO2 emissions from a house
versus a city building.
S. Boren asked how CO2 emissions were measured, and then incentivized homes to reduce
their CO2 emissions.
V. Bhatt stated that 100% participation in the program is very difficult, but the U.S. Department
of Energy has data that can be used for the City.
S. Boren stated that the number can be captured from the U.S. Department of Energy’s EERE
site and showed the CO2 emissions for the City.
V. Bhatt stated that other data can be captured from other websites regarding transportation
data.
L. Chipperfield asked if data from 2015 would still be relevant for reporting, and V. Bhatt said
that collecting data is a big undertaking, and the program could give flexibility to cities for
collecting the data, and LEED asks for the data and the documentation of the data collection.
S. Boren stated that we won’t reveal the holes in the data tonight but the framework will help
us find out.
J. Leroux asked if the City collects any data currently, and S. Corbin stated that he had
previously determined emission data points using fleet gas usage, and other data points
should already be tracked for crimes, water consumption, and education using census data.
S. Boren stated that the next question would be how to we score the data and determine
priorities for setting goals.
J. Leroux stated that on a practical level it would involve several departments and asked how
the data would be collected from City staff.
S. Boren stated that other cities have set up sustainability teams that meet regularly, like
Orlando.
V. Bhatt stated that they would be happy to be their technical team
S. Dark asked if sustainability would fall under the Planning Department or other departments.
S. Corbin stated he would be happy to help and would need to determine the cost to present to
the City Commission.
V. Bhatt stated the LEED for Cities is a pilot-program, so he could determine the costs and get
back to the Committee and he was very happy that the Committee was motivated to be a
LEED for Cities city.
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J. Leroux stated there seemed to be a consensus on moving forward with the program.
S. Boren stated that you can’t set policy without knowing the current data points and stated
that Atlanta set a goal for 90% for waste diversion without knowing the current waste diversion
data.
J. Leroux stated it is a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor and serve as another
model for the program.
S. Boren stated that she has seen that the first applicants to a pilot program tend to get the
most resources from the U.S. Green Building Council.
S. Dark asked what role the Committee and Subcommittee would play regarding collecting
data and setting goals and incentives.
S. Boren stated that Cincinnati and Cleveland had incentivized tax abatement for green
building, and the program needs to adjust to the culture and community.
S. Corbin stated the LEED for Cities Subcommittee meeting was set for the next day but had
no agenda.
S. Boren stated that the Subcommittee could be more sustainability-oriented and start setting
goals.
S. Dark asked if registering was the first step of the process, and S. Boren said that there is
not a how-to manual since every city is different.
J. Leroux stated the Mayor had emailed her saying how great it is to see this for our City.
S. Boren stated that LEED for Cities can help with Moody’s resiliency rating and risk mitigation.
3. Approval of minutes.
B. Broedell stated that he had minutes for the Arbor Day Subcommittee meetings for review
and signature. S. Dark brought the motion to approve the minutes, and C. Drysdale seconded
the motion. The minutes from the previous meeting on March 14, 2018 were approved
unanimously.
4. Courtesy of the floor.
S. Shaughnessy stated that the importance of the Committee is for overall projects regarding
City infrastructure. She said that when she helped form the Committee, the Mayor asked her
why it was needed. She said that previously, a retention pond that was proposed would have
taken out many trees, but due to the Tree Committee at the time, they saved the City from the
installation of a terrible plan. She said that if it is not already set up to have the Committee to
review plans before they are executed, it needs to be suggested, and she will also make the
suggestion. She said that there will need to be people on the Committee who can read
blueprints and engineering plans. She stated the City arborist could be invaluable for plan
review that may involve trees. She stated she would like to nominate S. Corbin for the
Leadership Jacksonville program, and he would have the opportunity to meet contacts all over
the City of Jacksonville.
S. Corbin stated he appreciated the opportunity and had participated in Leadership Southern
Indiana.
5. Arbor Day Event 2018 review.
S. Dark said she felt overall it was a nice event and was excited for next year, and the only
hiccup was that the school needed a better audio/visual system.
May 9, 2018 Environmental Stewardship Committee Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 7
J. Leroux said that D. Scott deserved a special thank you for making the Arbor Day shirts, and
thanked City staff, including Scott Williams.
S. Corbin said thank you to the Committee members for being doers and not leaving work for
City staff.
S. Dark asked about the signs, and S. Corbin stated they are still in his office.
J. Leroux stated that the Commission has set the date for future Arbor Days, suggested by the
Committee, and will coincide with Florida’s Arbor Day, the third Friday of January.
L. Chipperfield asked if there is a running calendar going forward to plan for the future. J.
Leroux stated that since the Committee is new, they can set the calendar, and that S. Williams
had three more stands ready for future plaques.
S. Dark asked about finding trees in the City for the future nominations.
S. Corbin suggested nominating trees if the ceremony will be once per year.
S. Dark said she would like to see more than one tree a year.
S. Boren asked if it would make sense to nominate one tree per sector.
S. Dark stated that a heritage tree had to be a large diameter tree, be a certain species, or
have historical significance and be certified by Commission, and hopefully would be on public
property.
D. Scott asked about nominating trees on private property.
J. Leroux stated there might not be interest to nominate heritage trees on private property, due
to restrictions.
L. Chipperfield stated she like the promotional possibilities, and groups like the Girl Scouts
could nominate trees, and could be Committee outreach.
S. Boren asked if other cities had linked their heritage trees for a heritage tree walk.
S. Dark suggested a heritage tree on private property could have a plaque on the home, like in
the Springfield area of Jacksonville.
J. Leroux said she liked how excited the students were about their trees, and if only a quarter
were planted, it would be a success, and she said that for next year, they can encourage the
students to send pictures and videos of the trees being planted.
6. Tree Subcommittee Report.
C. Drysdale stated that there was not a quorum present for yesterday’s Subcommittee
meeting.
J. Leroux asked if the workload was difficult.
C. Drysdale stated there are no major pressing issues and had a conversation with City staff.
J. Leroux stated that the ordinance states that the Subcommittee must have a meeting once a
month, and that seems unwieldy, and to possibly tweak it.
C. Drysdale stated the work is being done, but there might not need to have a meeting every
month.
S. Dark asked what her role as an alternate would be on the Subcommittee and reads emails.
C. Drysdale stated she could be part of a quorum.
S. Dark asked if her vote would count if all other members were there.
S. Corbin stated he will check on the role of alternates.
S. Dark stated it might make more sense to have three people on the Subcommittee and
switch out members as needed.
C. Drysdale stated the reason for the alternate was to have an odd number for voting, and two
members would make a quorum.
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J. Leroux stated that the Committee could tweak and change the ordinance where the
Subcommittee meets only when there is a problem and not every month.
L. Chipperfield asked what constitutes the need for a meeting.
B. Broedell stated the ordinance might state that the Subcommittee establish a regular meeting
schedule.
J. Leroux stated that she wants to be in compliance with the ordinance, streamline, and show
that the Subcommittee is doing work, and suggested an Environmental Stewardship
Committee page on the City’s website with Committee updates on their work.
S. Corbin stated the ordinance states that the Subcommittee was to establish a regular
meeting schedule or have a meeting at the Environmental Stewardship Committee.
S. Dark stated that the Subcommittee could report on how many permits were reviewed and
inspections attended by the Subcommittee.
J. Leroux stated that the communication could be improved.
S. Dark stated that anyone can view tree removal permits and can apply to be on the
Committee.
S. Boren asked if the Committee can have their own page on the City’s website, and B.
Broedell stated that there is a page on the website for the Committee.
S. Boren stated that Arbor Day pictures could be posted on the site.
L. Chipperfield stated that she thought there were more edits to be posted for the City’s
website.
S. Dark asked if subpages could be created from the Environmental Stewardship Committee’s
page, and S. Corbin stated he believed it would be possible.
7. Environmental Stewardship Committee 2017-2018 Work Plan review and discussion
(to include workshop and seminar suggestions).
D. Scott stated the public education initiative should be the Committee’s next priority.
S. Dark stated the website could be used for outreach, and the Arbor Day event was outreach.
J. Leroux stated that educational outreach could include Facebook videos, quarterly seminars,
and mosquito control using bat houses.
S. Corbin stated that bat houses can be constructed to control mosquitoes and will bring
information to the Committee.
C. Drysdale stated he and his son will build bat houses and make a video, and could partner
with the local Scouts, schools, and other groups.
J. Leroux stated there is a Bat Conservancy of Florida that has material, and suggested
members could propose workshop ideas that they are passionate about.
S. Boren stated she likes workshops because it encourages follow through, and the U.S.
Green Building Council has green movies that matter, and the Committee could host a green
movie series.
S. Dark stated that the proper tree pruning workshop idea suggested at the last meeting would
be a great video, and could use a certified arborist, and City staff could set the example for
proper pruning of trees on public land.
L. Chipperfield stated the work plan could be used to determine what workshop topics to
suggest.
S. Boren stated that the Committee has four big areas, and during the next visioning process,
there could be 4 Subcommittees for measuring outcomes.
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J. Leroux asked how the outcomes could be measured, and L. Chipperfield stated for example,
if the bat houses worked, the City would have to use less pesticide due to the increased bat
population.
S. Corbin asked if the Committee would like to set a date for an outreach event with speakers.
S. Dark stated 4th of July is usually when people start trimming palm trees.
S. Boren stated that she would caution holding an event just to hold an event, since people are
busy and it may be difficult to get people to come, and an event could be held quarterly, like
welcoming new residents.
S. Boren stated it didn’t have to be a physical event, and it could be a push via social media
and videos.
C. Drysdale stated that educational material could be sent out with the monthly newsletter that
is sent with utility bills, like the contractor debris information.
J. Leroux asked if the members read the newsletter, and stated she pays her bill online, and
the newsletter idea is quaint and could be going away. She said palms could be the first
educational event and asked if members wanted to share ideas with S. Corbin.
S. Boren said the Committee could hold educational events quarterly, and each event could be
different, with a different topic in various formats.
J. Leroux stated a monthly event frequency would be tough.
S. Dark asked what staff needs to update the website, and S. Corbin stated content is needed.
8. Proposal – Student Art Installation.
S. Corbin stated that public art falls under the umbrella of the Committee via the ordinance.
L. Chipperfield asked if the Committee has a budget, and S. Corbin said no.
S. Corbin stated the City was contacted by the University of North Florida sculpture park to
rotate out the existing sculptures to another location. He said It is first come first serve, and
the cost for the 2-year program is $6,000, and he stated that the cost could be decreased by
using City staff. He said a location would be needed. He stated it could be paid for via grants
and the sculptures could be rotated year after year.
S. Boren asked if there were sites in mind, and S. Corbin said he could see it along the
Mayport Road beautification and City parks.
S. Boren stated there are a large number of grants for public art in Jacksonville.
S. Dark asked how fast the Committee would need to act.
J. Leroux asked if a vote would be needed.
S. Dark stated she likes the idea. S. Kallao stated that metal sculpture art is appearing in
Dutton Island from rogue artists, and the Committee could contact these artists to install a
sculpture for free.
S. Corbin stated the City might not make the deadline for the sculpture park this time, but it
could be in future plans.
J. Leroux stated it is not at the top of the list, but it would be a great idea.
S. Boren stated she is interested, and a tow truck could also scrape the sculpture’s concrete
pad.
9. New Business.
S. Kallao discussed the information he gathered on City parks and easements and expanding
it for the website.
S. Boren stated she doesn’t want to miss opportunity to create budget for the budget cycle.
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S. Dark stated the Committee should have homework for next month, including website items
and budget line items.
J. Leroux stated ideas can be sent to S. Corbin, and he stated to send him budget items.
S. Dark asked when the parks master plan would start, and S. Corbin stated it has already
started. He said it is mapped, the prior plan is gathered, and staff will be performing park visits
starting tomorrow.
S. Dark asked if there is any benefit to have a Subcommittee to assist with the parks master
plan, S. Corbin stated not yet, but possibly after more information is gathered.
S. Kallao offered to help with the parks master plan.
L. Chipperfield asked if website is contracted out, S. Corbin stated the individual departments
handle their own web pages.
J. Leroux stated the Committee will send content ideas to S. Corbin for the website.
10. Adjournment.
The motion to adjourn was brought by J. Leroux and passed with no opposition. The meeting
was adjourned 8:19 PM
(Minutes respectfully submitted by Jennifer Johnston on June 6, 2018.)
__________________________________
Dawn Scott, Secretary
ATTEST:
____________________________________________________
Shane Corbin, Director of Planning and Community Development