City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Sustainable Practices, 17 Nov 2022

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From YouTube: 11.17.2022 Sustainable Practices Blue Ribbon Committee

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11.17.2022 Sustainable Practices Blue Ribbon Committee

A

Okay, so the meeting tonight will run through what we've got going on we're going to run through the.

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Acceptance of the me the minutes from last meeting new business, the big topic for the exciting topic.

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For tonight is the transportation and climate action group presentation. You know that was what.

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Everybody's been waiting for this month and then old business is going to be climate action plan.

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Update green building subcommittee, we were going to have a presentation on the plastic problem, but.

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Jess had to be out of town, so we're moving that to december. Is there anything I'm missing? Oh and.

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We do have if there's any other business. I know there was mention of other business. I.

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Don't know if you want to give us a little teaser first or if we'll just wait till the end and then.

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We'll we can ask you yeah very briefly: there's a bill in congress that has a chance of passing.

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That would provide direct uh support to coastal communities. Okay, who are at the effect of sea.

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Level rise in storm surge and uh senator shaheen is actively supporting it now co-sponsoring it.

B

um Senator hassan has not yet and uh representative pathos has not yet so, let's.

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Bring that we'll bring that up at the end as other business and I'm sure some folks will probably.

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Have some questions? Thank you yes, john couldn't come tonight. He's got some health issues and.

C

um I just wanted to follow up on the clean energy new hampshire proposal. I think you're.

C

Going to talk to the city manager and just hear, what's up with that, okay.

A

Okay, all right, so, let's get started with the minutes. The acceptance of the minutes from last.

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Month, I'm assuming everybody read those and do we have uh a vote for accepting those meeting minutes.

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Move to approve imminence okay. Well, I should have asked first if there were any concerns or.

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Changes but okay, anyone want a second a second from effie, so we will the meeting minutes from.

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October 27th have been accepted, okay moving into new business, and that is transportation, climate.

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Action group, the tcag and we're going to get a presentation tonight and bill I'm going to hand.

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The floor over and the meeting to you, okay, well, thank you and thanks to the committee.

D

For including us on the agenda and apologize for creating a new acronym tkeg, I couldn't help it.

D

um We are, I guess, formally, a subgroup of the climate solutions group and.

D

We formed in july and have been meeting since um since august weekly and this.

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Is actually the first time we've actually met each other other than weekly meetings on zoom.

D

So this is a great privilege to actually see these people that they're, not this big.

D

um Our let's see peter I'm just trying to make it.

E

Big yeah I'm trying to share a screen in case we get anybody.

E

Can't uh yeah, but that's not so you're thinking that online they'll see the yeah they will.

F

They're going to see it big because you're still screen sharing, so you should be fine.

E

Okay, all right so we'll. Hopefully this will work.

E

D

Okay, great there you go. Thank you. So um our uh vision is to develop climate-friendly.

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Transportation solutions as input to the portsmouth cap and, um in so doing, serve as.

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Advisors, providers of food for thought to this committee to climate solutions.

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And to city staff, and it's a very big topic, this committee and climate solutions have.

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Particularly climate solutions have heard different versions of this presentation and.

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Every time we hear to make it smaller make it smaller, like the zoom, the zoom frame. So this.

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Is our attempt to having negotiated with peter on time to try to keep this to 20 minutes? Although I.

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Think we've got a little wiggle room for some comments. After each of our five topics and in.

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The check-in- I think you you- you met the committee members or our group members. Each of us has taken.

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One of five what we consider to be core topics, so for me it's shared mobility, which includes public.

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Transit matt and jonathan are talking about walking and biking fred e-vehicles ken who is.

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Not here he had a last minute medical emergency, so we don't get his architect's wisdom on land.

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Use and transportation, but we have the wonderful slide deck that he helped put together and his.

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Slides and I'll I'll try to say a few things about that. It's really a very important topic. uh Ani is.

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Talking about community engagement and then we've had the benefit of of ben uh when he can join us.

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On uh representing uh the echo club and fort smith high, but uh if we continue the activities of this.

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Group, we hope to get a lot more involvement from the high school, but uh next slide. Thank.

D

You and we have a set of core principles which I think I've presented to this committee earlier, is.

D

We've gotten input from you on our vision and principles and early early strategies and the.

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Strategies is the most important part of what we have have to say and in squeezing this slide, I.

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Managed to drop the first core principle, which is sustainability, and it's much easier to talk about.

D

Every transportation strategy through the window of reduced greenhouse gas emissions, I mean that's.

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Hard enough, but when you look at that and say, we also want to talk about the classic three e's of.

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Sustainability, environment, economy and especially social equity, and I think, you'll hear a little.

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Bit of the flavor of that in our our once over lightly tonight view but sustainability and since.

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This is the sustainability committee, it's quite appropriate that that we're apply. That is our.

D

First, core principle: shifting to transportation we're looking for where the opportunities are to.

D

Take transportation from arguably the biggest sectoral source of greenhouse gas emissions.

D

In portsmouth, as it is nationally and globally to start offering some possible solutions that.

D

Could find their way into the cap in the two categories of strategies that we've focused on.

D

And these are really classic. You'll find these in probably every one of the inventory of best.

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Practice caps that that this group has reviewed is a mode shift from climate, unfriendly modes.

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Personal motorized vehicles to our carbon friendly carbon neutral modes to reduce vehicle miles.

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Travels and that means more public transit, shared mobility, law, walking and biking demand management.

D

Shopping from home compact development to reduce the length of trips, all those sorts of things just.

D

To get people out of climate unfriendly modes into carbon friendly modes and to transition.

D

To alternative fuel vehicles evs, we take a systems approach. We don't like looking at individual modes.

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Fragmented, we don't like planning modes fragmented, we don't like investing in modes fragmented. I.

D

Think there's a lot of that going on in portsmouth like there is in most communities the the approach.

D

As a principle is to look at at how all these modes connect together and we've tried to do.

D

That with our five five topics and strategies and then again something that we've heard from this.

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Committee and from peter going into the cap the really significant importance of public.

D

Engagement, community engagement and building political will for implementation, because if.

D

That wasn't necessary all these wonderful things would all already be done. We've had we've had.

D

We'd have greenhouse gas, friendly transportation, wonderful bike lanes, we'd have state-of-the-art.

D

Public transit, but all these things take changes and first in travel, behavior and second.

D

um Often, investments, uh public or private investments next next slide.

G

um So our first topic is there you go thanks, peter is, is shared mobility and shared mobility.

D

May be an unfamiliar concept riding a bus is shared mobility, but also car sharing bike.

D

Sharing e-scooter sharing and then using apps to access all those, ideally all together. So if you.

D

Want to go from point a to point b and I think you'll see that in a lot of available apps. But.

D

The state of the practice is to really have that as a way of connecting to get around the city of.

D

Portsmouth, to get from portsmouth to cng, to get to boston, to get to logan, to get to portland to.

D

Find a bike share to to get on the coast or get on wildcat. I mean that that is really what we.

D

Mean by shared mobility- and it includes- but it's not limited to buses next slide and in running.

D

Through our five topics, we follow a pattern of first short introduction of the topic and its.

D

Potential relevance to the cap, then a few words about the portsmouth context that may make this.

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Hopefully a bit easier to undertake because things have already in in place and then third, a strategy.

D

And that's how we squeeze the time. We went from lots of strategies to one strategy per topic to.

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Try to give you something interesting to think about and maybe discuss, but the secret is we've.

D

Got lots more strategies, we're only going to talk about one per topic, but hopefully there'll be the.

D

Interesting ones and then a best a best practice and in the case of shared mobility, a wonderful.

D

Best practice that I got to enjoy when my wife and I visited savannah this spring, we arrived.

D

Without a car we didn't even think about driving there or renting a car. It's like portsmouth only.

D

Bigger historic lots of traffic virtually no parking, but what they have that we don't have.

D

Is this wonderful free circulating bus that goes through the historic district it serves residents.

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Workers and tourists and it's managed by the city of savannah by the savannah public transit agency,.

D

And then an association of private businesses, particularly hotels and they fund it with a.

D

Yes, you call it a pillow tax, a dollar a night that generates a million dollars. This is a non-profit.

D

So they can take tax, deductible contributions from ngos or businesses or individuals and.

D

There's no need for a car there. If you're visiting we rented a car when we left town.

D

uh But our one strategy for this is to try something like that in portsmouth. That would.

D

Complement existing bus service, whether it's from coast to public agency or from from uh wildcat.

D

We have uber and lyft complement that as well, but something that could be a proof of concept.

D

That would provide service. That really is not present. That gets you from primary origin to.

D

Primary destination directly without the need to transfer easy to use app-based.

D

Hopefully able to take advantage of all the new federal funds- and I say this is.

D

A 40-year u.s department of transportation civil servant, who just retired there are.

D

Piles of wonderful programs for climate and public transit and walking and biking and.

D

Great opportunities for the city to tap into that, and so that's the one idea we have for this and.

D

With our pattern, we could take a couple of quick comments on this, but we want to get through our.

D

Topics pretty quickly, so we have time to talk about next steps, but any any thoughts on the.

D

Viability of this, besides things, we can't do like no pillow tags. It looks like there's something to.

C

Hold bikes on the front of yes, definitely I have been on the bus and it is great, have.

D

You been on this yeah, it's wonderful every day, every 10 minutes it just oops oops and it's free.

H

We have an example of this in portsmouth, uh the trolley that we run over the holiday season, yeah.

D

So this would be a variation on that theme. In fact, it could be expanding that, ideally and again, as.

D

A proof of concept it could be evaluated. I think the critical part of it is not the technology or.

D

The operations but it's the funding- and there was some discussion of micro mobility, which fits into.

D

Some of the flexible schedule and routing that's possible with shared mobility in the first round.

D

Of discussions over the mcintyre- and I think that got stuck on a shuttle back and forth to parking.

D

Garages from mcintyre, which to me didn't seem like it would be very useful, but could be a key first.

D

Part of something that might link cnj and p's and affordable housing coming on route 1 south.

D

um Yeah so partnership, I lived in park city utah and there they they have in their downtown.

A

Area they have a shuttle that, if anybody's been there that runs around, it's actually looks like.

A

A trolley, but I've used it a number of times to get from. You know one end of the downtown to the.

A

Other end, it just comes around and it's free. We probably have 10 examples from savannah to.

D

Charleston to salem and burlington montpelier if you've been up to acadia and you've ridden on the.

D

L.L bean bus that serves tourists, bike, riders and workers. So that's our one! That's our one concept.

D

So we'll roll on to the next concept, which is math and jonathan, talking about uh bike bed.

I

Oh yeah, so um jonathan and I focused on this, but with a lot of input from everybody's, a.

J

Topic, everybody uh had a lot of ideas on um so um I have a lot of good news to share on this.

J

Portsmouth has been named the most walkable city in the state. That's in large part due.

J

To our compact development, especially in the downtown core, and also investments in sidewalks,.

J

And other improvements that have been made over the years, our walking and biking commute rates.

J

Are well above the national average, with around 5.7 percent of commutes on foot and 2.4 percent.

J

By bike motorcycle or taxi- and that was according to the 2014 bike ped plan across the u.s, we know.

J

That about half of all car trips are for under three miles, probably similar here. So there's a.

J

Great opportunity to shift some of those trips out of single occupancy vehicles to other modes.

J

To reduce greenhouse gases that of course includes e-scooters and e-bikes, as we talked.

J

About already this morning or this evening and I'll mention, e-bikes are now outselling.

J

Electric cars two to one so there's been a huge uh boom. There there's also a lot of enthusiasm.

J

For bike and walk improvements, as you see in the photo there, the mayor's ride, that was half the.

J

Crowd and lots of great energy around biking for recreation, but also very much for transportation.

J

um There are so many co-benefits around community health safety, reduce congestion and parking demand.

J

Equity, we could talk about for a while and also economic benefits to better walking and biking.

J

A lot of the good work around policies and plans has already been done here in.

J

Portsmouth they just need follow-through, so we do have a bike friendly and walk friendly.

J

Community policy complete streets policy, I've had a safe routes to school program for years.

J

And we have a very comprehensive bike and pedestrian plan in 2014, updated last in 2018.

J

um If we could see the next slide, we did look at peer examples and I'll just show one from.

J

Charleston not moving too far from savannah in the field. I like that it ranks strategies.

J

By emissions, reductions, cost and priority, which is not something you see quite in.

J

That sense from the bike bed plan, because it's not focused on greenhouse gases in the same way.

J

um But besides hard infrastructure like bike lanes, they call for wayfinding safety, education.

J

Safe bike, storage and so on. These are all important, but research suggests that more.

J

Than anything else concerns about the safety of cycling and especially the fear of getting.

J

Hit by cars or what are keeping people off of bikes, so we have a number of recommended.

J

Strategies, many of which are already in reports like that bike, ped plan or the portsmouth master.

J

Plan and just need follow-through. Our top recommendation is for an update to the bike.

J

Ped plan that prioritizes completing gaps in the places that are most likely to allow.

J

A mode shaft, so I think that means focusing on roots linking housing, employment, shopping.

J

And especially, public transit such as the route, 1 woodbury and maplewood corridors, this plan update.

J

Should identify clearly what can be done at low cost in the near term? Let's say two years and.

J

Also, what should be prioritized in the six-year time frame of the cip, then beyond planning the.

J

Actual progress toward that network should be reported at least annually to the city council.

J

So that's what I have if they're thoughts comments, questions we could take a couple.

K

I love that you talk about the safety thing because I think that that's sure I've had that.

K

Experience, you know you go and you like for a while, and then you have one like close call.

K

And you're like yeah, I don't know if I want to do that every morning on my way to work and it.

K

Only takes one and it's good to hear that that's high on the list, because I think that's important.

H

I just I wanted to say that one of the things that was the most disappointing thing to me.

H

After joining the city, council was when we were going through the cip budget and realizing that.

H

There wasn't funding for a bike ped there wasn't additional funding in the cip budget for this year.

H

And that you know that budget process starts in the fall, so it's already begun for next.

H

Year, but that coming into the council kind of in the middle of the cip and looking at.

H

It and saying uh we don't have any funds, and that means like for the next year and a half.

H

We're not putting additional investment, there um was really disappointing, and so hopefully.

H

We can push for more funds so that by july we have fun sitting there. Maybe that will be easier with.

D

That kind of information in a cap for bike, ped or shared mobility or any of the other topics, because.

D

Then that gives you a reference, particularly if there's a public and a political commitment to.

D

The cap, it's much easier than to say you know from math to appear before the capital budget.

D

Committee and say this is a really important link. It's a really important link, because one.

D

Reason it's in the cap, what about funding from sources outside of the city, like the department.

A

Of transportation, there must be grants and other programs for walkability bikeability.

A

um Right absolutely and having worked for seven years on a hundred million dollar walk-in bike.

D

Federal program there are lots of new funds in the both the uh influx inflation reduction act.

D

Slash climate act in the infrastructure bill and a lot of those are managed through the rockingham.

D

Planning commission or new hampshire d.o.t, but they're intended for local governments. So there.

D

Is a there is a process to be played, but there is money, that's available yeah and I think in our in.

J

Our full report on this topic, we included a link that you had found that lists all the different.

J

Categories of funding available so that that's in there also there's flexible funds that come.

D

To the state dot and to the rockingham planning commission, that's it may be called highway funds.

D

But it's intended to be flexible funds and cities can make a case through the planning process. That.

D

Portsmouth participates in to prioritize that, through through the planning process.

L

I would say um one of the deterrents that the school board hears a lot.

L

Is if you look in our direct downtown area, there's very few places to place bikes and and we're in.

L

Theft I just had to attend the ward, 3 and ward 5 forums and bike theft is really on the rise.

L

And and even at our schools, we don't have enough racks for the kids that want to rise, like I think.

L

To one quick change is taking a look at where we offer bike racks in places that are accessible so.

L

So that it encourages the use of bikes more, I think jonathan has thoughts on that, but.

J

Yeah or at the high school there's there's not enough: no, nor any of the elementary schools yeah.

I

I've been in discussions with councilor cook about that. It's frustrating that.

I

um Fortunately, saber has uh donated a bike: rack which is supposed to was ordered and should be.

I

Arriving a little bit of time but yeah yeah, so we're donating a bike rack to the high school and.

M

And maybe we should talk also to elementary school. I mean no one has approached us but yeah, but I.

J

Think safe storage is a big theme, especially with expensive e-bikes. Now people love to ride them, but.

J

They don't feel safe, leaving them for 20 minutes, so indoor storage, if possible, we don't think that.

J

They necessarily need charging in um on location. Most people charge them at home, but uh indoor.

J

We're safe, you know, storage, which certainly seems like money well spent. If it's city city funds for.

D

That, if that's what's preventing people, I know a lot of times too, that can be a business incentive.

K

I steamboat there's, I remember being in a place in colorado and it was. The businesses had a bike.

K

Rack they can, they didn't have to pay for their signage fees so like there was just like they.

K

Did trade-offs like that? It was something that a lot of businesses are doing anyways and it's for.

K

Them it's a bike rack and it's people coming oftentimes to their coffee shop over there. So.

K

I think there's some creativity. The federal tax code allows businesses to provide transit benefits.

D

For employees and take a tax deduction for that and that's been expanded over the years to cover.

D

um Biking as well, whether it's showers or bike helmets all to try to counterbalance the.

D

Incentives of free parking and that's been in place for a long time and I commuted to.

D

Boston for decades benefiting from c j tickets being paid by the federal government and that's.

D

Available to all all businesses and I've not heard of that being applied much in portsmouth.

N

I note the hanover street garage is undergoing renovations. Now. Is there any opportunities to add.

N

Covered semi-indoor bike storage in there I know years ago I got to travel to amsterdam for work.

N

And right next to the train station is a parking garage dedicated to bicycles that has like 10.

N

000 bikes in it yeah finding your bike is a little intimidated sure. Isn't there a bike.

I

Storage in the camper garage I mean, I think there used to be yeah know if there's plans for it to.

H

Be in there or not, I don't know I haven't heard of any, but so I think that our our risk in this.

D

Presentation is that we get wonderful discussions and don't roll through. So maybe maybe we can keep.

D

The option of continuing this at another meeting, but I think really what what we would love to do.

D

Is get through all of these and have enough time to get some discussion with you about.

D

Next steps, if any for this group to continue to be useful, but maybe take a note of things that.

D

Are are interesting. You know, I think everybody is interested in transportation. That's that's really.

D

Clear so if you don't mind we'll roll on to the next topic, which is uh fred talking about evs,.

O

So, uh based on the second question, everybody seems to be familiar with evs and you probably know that.

O

You know evs have a potential to greatly reduce carbon emissions. um It takes. It takes carbon to.

O

Build an av, but once you put it on the road, uh you start you start getting benefits from from having.

O

A zero emission vehicle and it's also dependent on the electric grid, the cleaner, your electrical.

O

Grid is the the better the more beneficial the ebs are. So as your grid improves the car. You.

O

Bought you know last year is going to be more efficient because your grid is more efficient.

O

um And so you know things like community community power, as that comes online. That'll help us be able.

O

To charge up evs more more efficiently and and the auto industry is you know, is- is shifting gears to.

O

To uh projecting that you know another decade or two all of its vehicles would be electric.

O

um So so there's a big trend there. In fact, ford is building a big uh factory in tennessee, just.

O

For building pickup trucks, electric pickup trucks, hopefully they're cheaper than libyan, but yeah.

P

uh Ranger, just making electric ranger yeah and amazon uh is putting a hundred thousand.

O

uh Electric uh vans on the road so that when they're bringing you packages, they're, not you.

O

Know spewing carbon into your neighborhood, uh so you know so the trend is, uh is there so the.

O

Question is: uh how can we take advantage of it here? uh Obviously, portsmouth can think about you.

O

Know electrifying its fleet of vehicles, but the big benefit for portsmouth is to get the.

O

Residents help the residents uh you know, buy and use electric vehicles, so the uh the main.

O

Thing that that we can do to enable that is by you know, improving the charging infrastructure.

O

um You know so there's a lot of ways we can. We can do that. One of them is to.

O

um The inflation reduction act uh has provisions for 500 000 charging stations nationwide and those.

O

Funds are available for us to tap into to uh to be able to start building some more charging stations.

O

um And also to do some more planning in terms of you know some like the founding garage has. I.

O

Think three chargers per floor um as time goes by we'll probably need more of them and make.

O

Sure that all the parking areas- surface parking, curbside parking has uh has charging available.

O

um And uh the other thing is that uh looking at building codes making sure that, as we build new.

O

Buildings, whether it's residential or commercial, that there's some kind of guidelines in terms.

O

Of making allowances for for charging and particularly multi multi-family housing, you.

O

Know apartment buildings and things like that which I think are underserved. You know somebody.

O

With a garage and a driveway can just plug into an outlet. But if you live in an apartment, building or.

O

Something like that, it may not be so easy to get access to a charging facility and the best place.

O

To charge your car is at home because it's it's cheaper and it's um it's easy to run the batteries.

O

So, um and also in looking at multi-family housing, we have to make sure we include.

O

You know all income levels, so if it's uh you know, worker housing or low income housing, they should.

O

Have equal access to those kind of facilities, and also, we can even think about uh ev charging.

O

um As a source of tourism, you know so if people knew that they could stop in portsmouth and employ.

O

You know go into a lot that has charging and go have a nice dinner before they drive out the.

O

Bar harbor, or something like that, you know that could be a way of bringing a tourist and also.

O

You're getting economic advantage of being kind of a leader in that sort of thing. So, in terms of.

O

The the commandment action plan, we think that for evs is one of the elements of climate action plan.

O

uh You know a charging infrastructure is a key thing to include in that plan and to invest in.

O

Tonight next slide, so as bill said, we looked at a lot of climate action plans for other uh areas. This one is from.

O

Marin, county california uh marin is bigger than fort smith. That says about 10 times the population.

O

So it's not an even match, but it's it's very uh interesting in terms of the aggressiveness through.

O

Which they're pursuing climate change across all all areas, so they they in their in their.

O

Climate inventory they determine that one-third of their carbon output comes from the transportation.

O

Industry, so that they're targeting it targeting it heavily in this plan and their goal is also very.

O

Aggressive, they want to reduce their total carbon emissions across all all areas uh to to 40 of what.

O

It was in 1990, so that's a pretty aggressive goal and for transportation they're pursuing.

O

All the types of things we're talking about here, you know more bicycling and walking and busing and.

O

Things like that, um but evs are have a key part of that. You know giving the site, given the size.

O

Of marine county- and they want to put 45 of the cars on the road, uh have them converted to evs.

O

By 2030 and they, uh their estimate is by doing that. They'll achieve 86 percent of their of that.

O

Of that climate of that carbon reduction goal uh through the evs and then the other elements of the.

O

Plan make up the other 14, so um I mean all those things are very beneficial, but the point is that.

O

uh You know investing in the evs um has a very big impact because a lot of people you know use cars.

O

So um that's that's kind of the message. Any questions about that have a comment on.

Q

That, yes, those who do not know uh this past city count. This current city council has included 750.

Q

000 in this, in our cap improvement plan, it's 150 000 every year, starting this upcoming fiscal year.

Q

For electric vehicle charging stations, both level two and level three uh dispersed throughout a.

Q

Public land and it's on back order, I'm guessing to do supply chain issues, but there's a level 2.

Q

Charger that's going to be installed at the bridge street lot once it comes in.

K

Kind of speaking on the virtues some of the stuff from the green building and infrastructure.

K

Committee, we're working on is taking a page of making sure that as parking lots get repaved.

K

On the municipality side, but even if the charging station maybe isn't put in that the infrastructure.

K

To be able to put it more easily in is while it's being torn up and replaced and same with.

K

Some of the public buildings, but there is a whole. I think the multi-family thing is a really good.

K

Thing to look into because that's huge! What what type of and how much funding is available.

A

For charter for the city to implement uh charging stations through the inflation reduction act and.

A

And I guess I I guess for the question for the on the city side is: are we pursuing getting funds for.

A

Charging stations through that mechanism- I I don't have a detailed answer for your question, but I.

O

Know that there's a lot of different components of that of that bill and um and bill's provided some.

O

Details about that that we can look at and kind of, see exactly where that funny would come from and.

O

How much is available? We should note that this is the cliff's notes, version of the presentation and.

D

We'll provide this and the longer version, plus we have two to three page topic: summaries for each of.

D

These many of which have some of these links like to the the federal funding sources. So I want to.

A

Piggyback on something you said earlier bill is the question: is there was some great what you're.

A

Presenting so far- and I don't want to derail us- there's there's some great actions that we as the.

A

City and the citizens could start taking and it would be fantastic. You know at some point here in.

A

The future, to pick some of these out like it'd, be great to do more research on the charging stations.

A

And how do how would the city go about acquiring funds or obtaining funds through the inflation.

A

Reduction act and what could that? What could we purchase with with that right? What could we do.

A

And those you know these things take a long time right. There's a lot. I understand there's a lot of.

A

Paperwork and processes to go through, but to start pushing some of these things. Well, I think these.

D

Are intended to have an impact on climate and fast track, and perhaps before the congress, I guess it's.

D

Already changing but the the funds are there, the funds are committed and I think secretary pete.

D

And the rest of the 50 000 agencies, I think, very eager to roll those twins out, but each of those.

D

Has a different process, and probably peter and kate's, not yourselves, your colleagues and staff.

D

Do this sort of thing we'll look into that and try to get more detailed answer yeah. Thank you.

A

Fantastic information yeah just uh before we yeah sorry, I was just going to have one other comment.

N

I was at a conference yesterday in massachusetts, the passive house massachusetts one day, symposium.

N

And another potential overlap for uh the building subcommittee is one of the things they're putting.

N

Into their updated stretch, code is that new construction will be ev ready, so they at least.

N

Have to put in the electrical infrastructure for future charging, even if they don't have chargers.

N

Built in right then, which I don't know it we're a different state with very different rules, but.

N

um That'd be something to try to promote in our own building codes. So what maine is like that?.

K

So what does that mean aubry like they have to have a 220 outlet out to the street or something.

N

um I think it's a 50 amp circuit has to be built in that's dedicated for that.

N

um Not necessarily out to the street, but at least the capacity of the overall electrical uh panel.

N

Has to be- and there has to be a dedicated circuit, ready to go if somebody's ready to put it in so.

N

They don't have to, you, know, bring in new lines from the street a whole new panel. Everything at.

N

That point cool for a transition to the next topic, which will be a quick topic. Because uh ken uh who.

D

Is the land use guru had a last-minute medical problem, so it wasn't able to join us so I'll, be.

D

Doing a real short version of that, but I think just looking at that slide. I think you can see.

D

Consistency with our principles that we're looking at connectivity between all of our topics and.

D

Strategies- and you can see those laid out right there in marin county's cap, which at least from.

D

The transportation perspective is probably one of the best ones. I think that I've seen really.

D

In the country, but you can see all the elements there, the maybe next next slide peter for the.

D

For the for the land use and all these elements fit into the broader and complex but critical.

D

Topic of aligning transportation and land use decisions, and I just found out that ken wasn't.

D

Able to join us today at about 15 minutes before the the meeting, so I'm not going to spend much.

D

Time on this, maybe there'll be a chance for him to talk about it in more detail, but the.

D

Truth is if we're trying to scale transportation, greenhouse gas reductions if the development in.

D

Place and the new development in the future is not planned and invested with the thought of.

D

Transportation going both directions, aligning transportation with development and development.

D

With land, the inevit it'll be inevitable that the bike paths will be empty and the buses will.

D

Be empty and the ability to have scale sorts of impacts will be lost. This is, is done through.

D

A lot of different mechanisms, things that portsmouth city staff and organizations are.

D

Very involved, with things from land use policy to zoning, to incentives for developers. We were.

D

Just talking about charging requirements for land use when we get a chance to have.

D

Ken talk a bit more, he can talk about parking in lieu of requirements that might, in other.

D

Communities best practice communities require developers who are not who who waive parking.

D

Requirements for new development to commit to trip reduction through transit benefits or through.

D

uh Uber and bus, pickup and drop-off facilities, just all sorts of things, to reduce the greenhouse.

D

Gas emissions and the travel vehicle miles traveled over there, employees as part of of the.

D

Development process and the zoning that can also include charging infrastructure. We know that the.

D

Brick yard development market is going to have 30. charging. I believe 30 charging stations for.

D

Its residents, a very nice amenity and something that gives them an opportunity to carry herald.

D

Their environment, environmental commitment, same thing with other other sorts of organizations that.

D

That can either be encouraged through education, incentivized or required, and there are lots of.

D

Best practices on that, our our one, uh great, and I think very interesting strategy here is the is.

D

Complete neighborhoods in the 15-minute city, and that is looking both at strengthening existing.

D

Quasi 15-minute cities, you know I live about a mile from downtown, so I consider myself.

D

In a 15-minute city, although I can't get groceries and hardware- and I guess.

D

Pretty close, though, and I know that ani and jonathan are very very happy in the west.

D

End, which is a 15-minute, commit community. The strategy is to strengthen that, where.

D

It exists and to look for places where it would make sense to add new ones. You can.

D

See this the radius there, a five minute walk: 15 15-minute bike rides often the 15-minute city.

D

Includes transit options as well, and paris is quite famous for that. So that's our one.

D

Top priority strategy for this topic and we've got lots of other ones that are are related to it. But.

D

Like our other topics, you can see that there it brings in all these elements, the mode shift and.

D

um uh The land use as well any thoughts and questions on this yeah. I don't know if it's a.

E

Question, but how does it fit in um when you said paris, it reminded me that they have all sorts of.

E

Shared bikes shared vehicle, and how did that fit into all this? Is that something that that rise or.

E

Is it god that fits into both the walking biking topic that matt and jonathan worked on and the.

D

Shared mobility, one as well, it could fit into the land use as well and uh paris very uh consciously.

D

Combined the um all the shared bikes, which I think there's some of that in portsmouth. But lots and.

D

Lots of u.s cities and international cities have that it's pretty well pretty well established and.

D

In many cases, transitioning to electric bikes and paris did that in combination with major.

D

Investments in safe bike lanes and protected bike waves in combination what's interesting is that.

D

That's fairly recent, just like the dutch cities haven't had those in that infrastructure that.

D

Everyone admires so much for generations. It's it s, conscious policy and conscious investment.

H

Some of this is also we talk about land use and housing. We need to get away from.

H

Our single family zoning that eliminates the opportunity to have multi-family and.

H

Businesses within those same zones, you can't build some of the most desirable cities. We.

H

Have or neighborhoods we have in portsmouth, you can't build now with our existing zoning and.

H

That's a real challenge, because people then, if they're, if they're living at the further.

H

Distance, you are from the center the less likely you're going to have a neighborhood.

H

Shop to go to or a neighborhood grocery or you're going to have neighbors who live in.

H

An apartment complex, you know, if you're in a single family, home you're, just you don't see that.

H

Absolutely and this sort of thing doesn't make sense, with single occupant houses. Only jonathan.

D

I don't know if you wanted to say anything about about that in the the role of density, because.

D

I think we we've talked about that a bit, even though we probably haven't highlighted it enough.

I

No, no, I agree with with you know: we have to do it with a single family uh donating a lot.

I

Of the zoning in the west end, for example, uh is is none of the houses are conforming.

I

um None of the properties are conforming with with the with the way it's zoned, as if it's.

I

As if it were in a way manner or something like that and it's it doesn't make sense.

I

um Anyway, and and then um right, it's important to have the density that's important to to reduce.

I

The distances between buildings and reduce the parking requirements and that sort of thing make.

I

Can I just add in something I know ken wanted to include was mention of the portsmouth 2025.

J

Master plan that includes some of these ideas about complete neighborhoods and I think it.

J

Doesn't so much recommend forcing a single-family neighborhood to change to allow duplexes, although.

J

That would certainly be fine with me where I live in my single family neighborhood, but.

J

It targets like commercial plazas that are not performing as well on the tax rolls you know. I.

J

See one that like has a christmas tree sale in december, which tells me that, for the busiest.

J

Shopping month, they're not using all that parking lot and it suggests well, you could have housing.

J

And office and retail and everything all in this one plaza better biking and walking, transit.

J

All connected so especially focusing on on those opportunities and it's in our plans and some of it.

J

Just needs follow-through, which is a perfect example of aligning the land use, development.

D

And transportation, and particularly if some of those underused plazas, are used for affordable.

D

Or workforce housing then supported with um affordable public transit and bike facilities.

D

Then you're really getting at the core elements of household affordability, which is housing.

D

And transportation but that's tricky to do and getting this into a climate action plan. I think.

D

Is critical? It's it's a little different than the specifics we can do about about shared mobility or.

D

Walking and biking, but it sort of holds everything together ben this quickly reminds me of the dream.

R

I have for all of america's derelict malls and plazas to be rezoned and re. You know rejuvenated.

R

And turned into housing or mixed use, or some sort of more productive use of dead space. I I.

R

Don't know how far the city can go where the peas authority- I don't know you- know the legalese of.

R

That but you know it's something: it's happening. It's happening around the country, portsmouth.

D

Smart growth had a really wonderful presentation from an architect working on those exact sorts.

D

Of things and with wonderful examples, I didn't say was that two three years ago, maybe really.

D

Excellent yeah, some years ago, yeah southgate plaza as an example they've been putting housing in.

E

So another great discussion: it would be even better if ken were here, but maybe there will be.

D

A chance uh another time, um so, let's roll along to our last topic, which um yes, okay, one more one more.

D

Slide- and this is also yeah- this is the land use as well, and these are uh yeah yeah, really.

D

Quickly, these are are things we really have just been talking about in this discussion of key key.

D

Elements I mean particularly the uh incentivizing for the development, but you see a role for.

D

Walking biking in public transit, we haven't mentioned livable communities, but that quality.

D

Public spaces is actually in really important part of it and I think, as we we've referenced.

D

Many times portsmouth has building blocks in place to pivot off of we're, not starting with a.

D

Blank sheet, whether it's the bike, ped plan or the blue ribbon committee's policy recommendations for.

D

Transportation or the master plan, the elements are there and hopefully, if the climate action.

D

Plan can be another key source for pivoting when it comes to actually making investment.

D

And policy decisions, but let's go to the next topic. Community engage which like land use, is.

D

A broad but actually critical, foundational element of what we're thinking about honey.

E

It's not showing the whole slide if you're it's next. I think next slide.

D

I think you've got an animation animation, no yeah.

E

The missing ken did these beautiful, slides that fixed them and probably animated ears.

M

Well, first, I want to say that I think uh councilor cooking council denton, where two of the three.

M

Counselors, who rode the bus during the last municipal um campaign, election campaign and.

M

um We need more people like you, I mean we need you. Well, it's more like you to show the way.

M

um Because I ride the bus- and I don't know too many people who ride the bus here.

M

um So yay yay west, so I'm going to read because otherwise I get carried away in.

M

Okay, um so community engagement was my topic and it is a powerful tool to incentivize.

M

These behavior changes any solution to the climate crisis in our country.

M

um Will include dramatically reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and the transportation.

M

Sector is typically the largest emitter at 30 to 40 percent, nationally and locally.

M

So actions taken voluntarily at the individual and household level can significantly contribute.

M

To the overall emissions reductions- and we can do that, even if we don't have any policy changes.

M

In portsmouth, a lot of people are willing to make changes to address climate issues, but they may.

M

Not know where to start so shifting individual behaviors is an integral scalable component of.

M

Achieving necessary emissions reductions and almost a century of research shows that people.

M

Are influenced by the behaviors of others right so engaging some people in individual action can.

M

Lead to many more people engaging in those actions, so community engagement would allow us to engage.

M

More people and also allow the cap to focus on a more inclusive and equitable dialogue with all.

M

Transportation users from all neighborhood- that's where it's like things, um and also to draw on all.

M

The existing organizations- they may not all be local, they may be regional. I put some logos on.

M

The slide those are already in place and they already have access to groups in the community.

M

And we can also look at other communities of similar size and background second slide. Please.

M

So um community engagement should be included in the implementation of our strategies. Here.

M

Tonight, but also in the larger scope of this committee and I chose to highlight portland maine.

M

um For my strategy, portland maine has this program called ctl community transportation leaders whose.

M

Focus is to bring more community involvement in shaping a more inclusive public transportation.

M

System, and so their goal is different than ours, obviously, because ours is greenhouse gas emissions.

M

Reduction but it could be adapted to um to get our community more involved in this transportation.

M

Shift mode, the participants for that program are passionate about transportation. They have.

M

A lot of ideas, knowledge about this focus and they are trained. They become ctl community.

M

Transportation leaders they are trained during a six-week program and then they go out in the.

M

Community and they share what they have learned and they create their own groups of advocates.

M

um And it also give them a chance to have a seat at the table.

M

So um implementing a program like portland would require internal organizational.

M

Champions who are committed to um cultivation of a necessary buy-in and also accountability.

M

And this approach would engenders, it would engender a bottom-up process which might bring.

M

Some resistance or strong reactions, but from what I've read and from what we've discussed.

M

I think if we keep focus on greenhouse gas um emission reduction and if we reach out to those.

M

Organization in my first slide, you know: if we keep in mind those, then we can stay focused and.

M

um Get to results, um the portland maine program and others that we then identified in our best.

M

Practices document use social marketing and also universal design and other methods to engage.

M

Individuals, wherever they are in the community- and I think that's very important, regardless of class.

M

Race, gender, age ability, etc, and we can tailor a message that will encourage everyone to share.

M

Their behavior to change their behavior to more sustainable transportation practices. So that's.

M

All thank you. Thank you. There's a quick comment on that. Otherwise, we'll flip very quickly through our.

D

Sort of summary, slides and and then I'll leave it to urban uh peter. If we've got a little bit.

D

Of time to talk about next steps, because I know we've taken a big bite out of your agenda, yeah.

A

If we could kind of move it along because we do, we just have a couple old business items and a few a.

A

Few things to go to after you're done yeah, so very let's just do the last slides really quickly. This.

D

Is our part of our of our vision, which is the sort of vertical stack and you see in portsmouth uh the.

D

The really the focus of investments uh is they're down at the bottom of the private vehicles and.

D

um Freight, which often we have very little as a city uh influence over but we're trying to.

D

Stress where the opportunities are for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation.

D

Sector and that's giving more attention to those top public transport cyclists, pedestrians, but.

D

Doing it in a way that connects all of those so, for example, improving first mile last mile access.

D

To really attractive public transit to make it uh competitive with personal vehicles next slide.

D

And this is a summary of our five topics and I think we we're trying very hard to connect.

D

Those together, so I think, you'll see that the one topic really links through dotted lines to.

D

All the other topics, it's complete, complete packages which I think is really really.

D

Essential you see the community engagement being really under underpinning for that, because we're.

D

Talking about building community and political support for likely travel, behavior changes to.

D

Incentivize, that and potentially political and community community public support for.

D

Public and probably private sector investments in some of these strategies to actually get at.

D

The large knocking down the large greenhouse gas source of transportation and last slide.

D

Is just once over quickly with our priority strategies and then the last slide is as much.

D

Time or even a few minutes- and maybe this is something to carry over for another meeting.

D

Is your ideas on next steps? For this I mean this group has been very hard working for three months.

D

I think a lot of passion reflected in this. We have approached it as input food for thought going into.

D

The climate action plan- I think peter in this committee, have stressed the importance of getting.

D

A run sort of a running start on generating ideas, but I think we really see this as a as.

D

A contribution to community engagement that will be in essential part of the climate action plan.

D

But we would love to get any uh uh feed feedback on ways this group and these ideas can continue.

D

To contribute to the climate action plan, first, as it's developed and ultimately, as those reduction.

D

Strategies, transport in other sectors will need to be implemented. So that's that's our story.

E

I just have a questioner yeah. um This is great. Thank you guys for putting all this together and.

E

And uh it is a critical part of the climate action plan, but it also is a first step in terms of well.

E

It seems like you, have a set of presentations or one presentation for outreach that you could go.

E

Talk to the community about and whether that's now or whether it's through the identified part.

E

Of the climate action plan, but we're going to need volunteers to talk to the community, and so I guess.

E

Maybe, for me, a next step would be helpful to think about how you could bring it out to the public and.

E

Where you know, one of the things we're talking about is is: where is an event where you could.

E

Go and- and you know, sort of team up with someone who's doing something and take a few minutes to.

E

Talk about transportation and get support, because what we really need is support in the community to.

E

Bolster the the ask of the city council for more funds so that the community is on board and and.

E

These are great points you make and really doable. A lot of them are really doable in portsmouth. So.

E

I really like how you kind of how it kind of fits in with what you can do here in the city. So a lot.

E

Of it, a lot of it's spoken to some municipal or federal or other funding sources, but a lot of it.

E

Is also what people can do on their own, so that's the key I think is, and private businesses yeah.

A

So I was gonna piggyback on I'm sorry what what peter said and and maybe in december the group.

A

Could come back with a couple of recommendations, for you know, here's two or three things that.

A

The the group feels we could start taking on action right now. So, for example, if there's lots.

A

Of federal funds that are available right, you know what would it take to start the process in.

A

Moving forward on some of those, because if that's going to take three months six months, you know.

A

Then we're not using city dollars right we're not using tax dollars. You know we we're talking about.

A

You know getting uh federal dollars and using those, but I mean I think, that's I don't know.

A

What others think about that? My recommendation is, you know next next meeting to come back and.

A

With a couple of these, and and as peter said, they're going to have to have.

A

The ability to be able to go, you know, volunteers, to be able to go out into the community and.

A

To push these not only with the city but with the community too, but the community yeah yeah.

K

I think one of the things I'd be really interested is we talked about like there? We have a lot of.

K

These plans, um and though some might need updates, I think what councilor cook was saying, was.

K

You have the plan, but the follow-through and also going back and being like hey. We made this plan.

K

We're not doing these parts or we're not we're not on track for where we intended when we made this.

K

Plan and knowing where those points are because there are already things that have been approved.

K

And have had support in their approval and been passed and something that you can already stand.

K

On in a way, and so instead of asking for you know what people might view as new funds, it's.

K

This was already you know in promise to the community and through this plan,.

K

um And it sounds like there are some opportunities for things that are already in some of these plans.

K

To stand on a bit and be like we're upholding things that we've already seen, because it is.

K

Disappointing, I think when you know, and it hard on you start understanding the sentiment of like oh.

K

Like another plan, you know, and the follow-through is such an important part, and also not just the.

K

Follow theory, but also share it, like sharing with the community the follow-through right, so that.

K

They see it and connect the dots as well. I need kate and josh to be riding that bus every day.

M

Well, maybe uh savannah boston will all write it. Oh.

H

If we could be writing grants for these federal funds, but I think probably the limiting factor.

H

That the biggest limiting factor is staff hours to do the research to write the grant.

H

um And on the ground put things in I mean there's, there's a backlog of transportation projects to.

E

Do now I think so, yeah you know it's it's money, it's not just money. I mean we everybody in this.

I

Room for sort of middle street, I mean it's yeah, there's more than just money. It's just there's.

I

Community buy-in that needs to happen yeah, that's right now. I think one of the things that the group.

H

um Could do is I love this idea of community transportation leaders.

H

And I don't, I don't think it's something that the city would have to be to start.

H

I think it's something that a group of caring individuals could start a group. I, when you were.

H

Talking about this, I was thinking about you know, like leadership, seacoast right, you know.

H

The people who who do those those programs, then they go out as ambassadors into the community.

H

For the program and then more people want to be selected and want to be chosen, there's no.

H

Reason why the community can't start a community transportation leaders program like in portland.

H

Even if it's not a city run event, the city could ultimately take it over. If that was the desire, but.

H

But at least get it started so that you have kind of a selected class of people to go through.

H

A program, and then all it would require, is a meeting space and people doing prep people giving.

H

Volunteer hours to set something like that up, you think about non-profits in the way they they do. It.

F

I just I I look at that and I think we could start there. You know that's something that that might.

H

Be a good thing. One of the things that we've wrestled with is is our mission as a group to.

D

Improve transportation in portsmouth period or is it to make transportation recommendations for the.

D

Cap and those are not those aren't the same thing but they're closely related and any improvement.

D

To transportation that makes alternatives more attractive is going to reduce greenhouse gas.

D

Emissions, but I think the the way many of us have looked at this is the cap provides an opportunity.

D

To do some of these things that really need to be done. So one of the things that I think is helpful.

D

For us, and maybe that we can help contribute to is the importance of the cap and how that can.

D

End up leading to some of these things that are just missing missing in portsmouth, so I think.

D

Every one of these is a great discussion and we we could focus on one or more of.

D

Them on the on the next meeting, but I think maybe this anticipates a later topic that.

D

You have on the agenda for the update on the status of the cap because once some.

D

Of these strategies hold up and they end up in the table like matt presented for.

D

um Let's see charleston, you know it's in the cap bike, ped shared mobility, 15-minute city.

D

Here's how much investment is here is, you know a million metric tons of carbon reduction, uh then.

D

That adds an impetus, that's miss has been missing. They that's not going to determine.

D

Creating a completely different transportation uh effort, but it does provide an opportunity to add.

D

Some some impetus so, for the sake of time, one more comment from effie and then we're going to move on.

C

Yeah and um just briefly a lot of you know that we've been looking for a long time at uh community.

C

Interactive platforms where people would want to do something about climate change in our community.

C

But not know what to do and they'd go on this site and there'd be things and a lot of them would be.

C

Related to transportation, so it's one aspect of community engagement and that's partly what.

C

Annie talked about where one individual picks up a behavior change and the neighbor sees asks.

C

About it, and maybe a girl scout group or a church group takes on a particular topic where they like.

C

Transportation and they all address it in their own way- the school group yeah the school group.

M

We really want to do it in all these neighborhoods, because I work now by the mall on gosling road and.

M

um I write there, I walk there and I see people that walk, who walk and ride the bus or whatever.

M

And I want them, I want them at this table to say it's hard or it's easy or I want more of this. I.

M

Don't want just me who lives in my I'm live in my comfortable place. I can walk to hannaford's.

M

And get my hair done and everything I want. The others work not um usually at the table.

M

And I'm willing to do the work, but I don't want to be the only one doing the work. Okay. So, let's.

A

Let's uh close this topic out but bill, are you willing to come back with the group in december.

A

I will check in with the group my suspicion is probably yes, okay, so kind of count on that to.

D

Be confirmed, okay, all right. So let's move on uh we're. Gonna move on to the old business. The next.

A

Item up is climate action plan update peter, so um we got five proposals in. I don't think I said.

E

That's very exciting: um we're moving moving fast on it better than zero yeah five times.

E

Better than zero, um some of them look really good. um They all look really good frankly, but.

E

um You know, obviously, this kind of thing some rise above the other some for from different places. I.

E

Feel like I can't really talk too much about it, the in terms of who the firms are, but I can say.

E

That we got good good results um and we already um met as a staff team to go over the five proposals.

E

And have some not a final decision, but some a decision point to move on from. I don't know if I.

E

Can say more than that, but it's very exciting and we're looking forward to some really good outcomes.

E

And- and you know asking for some information back from some firms- and things like that, so um I.

E

Think by the next meeting we should have a uh top candidate. Can I ask if there's a kind of a rough.

A

Time frame for award that the city has in mind now that the proposals are in, I would say, probably.

E

By the end of november, we'll have a probably a top choice, hopefully, but it could be the middle.

E

Of december, but between before christmas, let's say that that's fantastic yeah, okay,.

P

uh Just a point, I brought up the last meeting I'll bring it up again.

P

You know like we had the subcommittee to put together the proposal. I I was thinking it.

P

Would be useful uh to have a sort of maybe call it an advisory group to work with whoever gets.

P

The contract to keep them on the track and keep them going and keep the dialogue happening and.

P

Make things happen in the way that we want them to happen at the speed? We want them to happen.

P

Just bringing that up again well, certainly there's going to be uh and and actually.

E

In the all the proposals they mentioned working with city volunteers, but I think.

E

um We haven't really fleshed out how that's all going to look but yeah. I think that makes sense.

R

Okay, two great just a quick question. um So you're going to be focused on a candidate.

B

um November early december, then, what happens? I think we'll have a we'll. Have a you'll have a.

B

Contract cool, hopefully yeah before christmas, I think we'll have a contract. Are you saying.

P

By the december meeting, or maybe it's a january meeting but like is it a summer.

E

Meeting you think so that's fast, okay, I hope so. I hope I don't regret saying that. But yes yeah.

N

And then what's the timeline for them to actually do the work and uh we're hoping.

E

To have we'd like to have it done by this time next year, the whole cap.

E

There'll be a lot of work in between now and then, but that's optimistic. Would that be having it.

Q

Completed as in approved by the city council, ready to go to the city council before okay.

E

December, hopefully, um that's the goal. That's the goal this this year and there's going to be a lot.

E

Of work in terms of uh volunteer support, I know there's a lot going on already, but figuring out.

E

How to dovetail that's going to be important, and so we'll be talking more about that, but really.

E

I think we're asking asking them to be ready to work with city volunteers, we're asking them.

E

To bring information to the public about what climate action looks like and then get information.

E

Back from the public about what they want, what they want to see and what they want to do and what.

E

They support, and so that's you know, that's sort of the give and take and then the climate action plan.

E

Hopefully, isn't like some big long thing, we don't want it to be. We want it to be at real actions.

E

That we're taking forward so it's going to be the next steps and- and I think there will be a lot of.

E

Tie into different reports that are out there and things that, because that will be information, they.

E

Can use to bring to the public? You know the bike. Ped plan said you wanted. I won't bring this up.

E

Bike lanes on middle street or something along those lines, you know um what do you think about.

E

That these, these are things in this plan that weren't implemented. What about some of these.

E

Or or if that's transportation but then there's a whole other, you know the master plan had a whole.

E

Bunch of recommendations that could be looked at, you know there's a lot to bring forward so.

N

Do we have any influence on setting the timeline? Can we can we give him a deadline for it? Yep all.

N

I'm thinking is that uh december is right after the next election and who knows what.

N

The city council makeup will be at that point hopefully similar to current, if not.

N

I thought we talked to didn't. We talk about a cat before before.

E

Well, that might be a little too aggressive, but that was before the second round right.

Q

Yeah right yeah, if we, if we didn't, if we had gotten five proposals, initially it'd.

E

Be easier, but it's possible we'll see how they how they shape up, but.

R

It's really fun: it's delicious sitting sitting in this room, yep hearing about it and now it's yeah.

E

It's moving along yeah yeah, pretty exciting. Okay, any more to add I mean they all of them looked.

F

Pretty they were all different and they were all had really cool, innovative ideas and the.

F

Community engagement sections of a lot of these had really interesting different proposals like.

F

A lot of them brought up city hall or town hall, style meetings and different neighborhoods sort.

F

Of level engagement for the most part, I think all of them really touched on equity issues and trying.

F

To address underrepresented groups around the city, which is going to be really important for this, I.

F

Think, especially with the engagement and a lot of the timelines, look pretty good for community.

F

Engagement, I think, for that phase one part is pretty much all spring into early summer. Next.

F

Year so it's going to be long and thorough, I think so. I think we're in good shape, hopefully, hopefully.

A

Right now, okay, any other questions comments on on the cap. Okay, moving on, I can add to that yep.

E

um Because, after you have brought it up, the the clean energy new hampshire, okay, the.

E

City is going to join as recommended by this committee. The city manager was on board and.

E

We're gold members we're not members yet, but we have authorization to go ahead. It was it was too.

A

Gold and was there standard or something yeah? Oh so we're top tier yeah. So we get like uh you get.

E

More uh more free uh t-shirts free um passes to an event exactly passes to an event. We do the clean.

A

Orange new hampshire event, okay, so that could be. Could those you be used? I know the city's paying.

A

For that membership, could those seats be used by not only city employees but also same members of.

A

This committee, that's what I got to figure out, how we, how we give those out, but um okay yeah. I would.

G

I would hope we could at least get a couple for the commitments lottery lottery. This is like extra.

A

Baseball tickets. You know yeah, that's not like taylor, swift, tickets, oh gosh, so that's good! Yeah.

E

Okay, anything else on the clean energy because did john did you say effie that john also had.

A

Some comments about that or no john had brought it forward. He brought it forward.

A

He's a member and put it on the agenda so he's an individual member yep all right good for him.

A

Right off, okay, um next uh old business item is the green building subcommittee update yeah.

A

Is that you tori it is um so last meeting we talked about.

K

Direction we go at this, originally, we were pushing towards looking- and this is talking.

K

A municipality policy so policy by the city for city projects, specifically originally, we were.

K

Talking about having that be a policy that was a city council policy and we kind of shifted towards.

K

Looking at instead of that method, maybe going more through city manager, because it is such a.

K

Internal process and that maybe it makes more sense to do that and leave the kind of city.

K

Council side for when we're doing more community based initiatives, um so reframing that definitely.

K

Some conversations do with peter on what maybe, how to brief, how that looks different depending.

K

On what direction I've been getting, I've had a couple of meetings with people who seem interested.

K

To come and give perspective who are in industry, which has been really great, I think that's a big.

K

Part as we're coming up with these the city, one is a little bit easier because the scope and scale is.

K

Rather controlled, but especially as we get into the community and you're getting into private.

K

And you're getting into development and more perspective, the better because it gets a little.

K

Bit more complicated so have a couple of people at least one um likely a couple more who might be.

K

Interested in helping aubry and I um and talking with peter on that side of things to just get.

K

More perspectives throughout the industry um kind of that built environment is industry is important.

K

um So that's moving along and hopefully we will. I can finish up kind of re-framing, that policy.

K

And getting it back to dpw and then in the city manager's hand to hopefully push that.

K

Down the road and then kate connected me, and we have a meeting with our inspector because he is.

K

Interested in talking starting to talk about you know green building code within the city. He just.

K

Did a pretty comprehensive review of the city building code, somebody's interested in talking.

K

About and possibly, incentives and where building inspections and permitting can come into that.

K

Equation so that meeting will be next week, and I'm very excited about that- I think that's an.

K

Awesome opportunity first conversation will just be figuring out where, where we see that I think as.

K

Kate mentioned before time and hours on the city staff side is always a really hard thing, and so.

K

Figuring out how we can do this that, where it's not like solutions, not hire another person to you.

K

Know do more work because that might not always be reasonable, um so good conversations to be had.

K

All around so definitely progress and I think that there's a lot of conversations. I know the.

K

City policy, I definitely would like love to put in front of the transportation groups. There are.

K

A lot of overlap on some of that stuff. um I think it all will be it yes that, but I want to make sure.

K

That you guys have input as well and if there's other ways that maybe it could be phrased or moved.

K

At differently and better, I think that's really that input. So yes, that's where we're at and.

A

Did I see in a newsletter city newsletter or someplace, where they um building department were.

A

They going to do a seminar on that for builders, about green building or something like that.

F

Yeah so so the co, the elding codes, are updating, they're kind of like in the they're, a middle.

K

Child right now um you can still use old codes, but in not very long you will have.

K

To use the new code, so they give a buffer time period essentially, um and we are about.

K

To switch over not to the newest code but to the second new news code, because we were wrong.

K

Real old code and now run kind of old code, but it's also state. That's a state thing.

K

Sure what the law is about cities taking, I don't think we can take.

K

On a newer code than the state has accepted, I don't think so.

E

Yeah without some yeah there's some yeah there's some ways to do it. Yeah.

K

So, that's probably what that is, because when you have new code, there's new requirements and numbers.

K

That people have known for the last three four years are suddenly changing and so um and energy.

K

Codes get are getting more and more part of that building code conversation often that has to do.

K

With installation amounts and certain practices on that side, but I think you had mentioned in a.

A

Previous meeting that a lot of builders will actually exceed what the codes are, because.

A

Right I mean that just makes sense right to build buildings that are the the codes are, don't go far.

A

And these are the national codes. I thought you had said really. Even now, don't go far enough. Well, not.

N

Even close yeah, that's something that I would say there is that the code set the floor and it's like.

N

Code's, the worst building that you can legally build exactly so yeah codes are codes, are a.

K

Floor mostly, um and so on the energy side. You know you don't have the same safety conversation that.

K

You have maybe on the structural and fireside work, it's rather obvious why we need surgery.

K

There's a double side to that. The the codes were written, looking from a historic perspective and.

B

As new advances in building performance and energy management come to the floor, they can often bump.

B

Up against standards that already exist, so it's a it's a it's an interesting area, I'm wondering.

B

If you've had any contact with the new hampshire chapter of the u.s green building, council, good.

K

um Yeah and lead and passive house and some of the standards are part of what we're proposing.

K

In a lot of our policies, they're a great way to go about that in a way, that's a lot of a lot of.

K

Builders and projects are going that direction. It's not because code told them to it's, especially.

K

Any building that's built so like federal, has very high standards for these things, because they also.

K

Are interested in you know, they're, maintaining and paying for the energy in these buildings, so.

K

There's you know the 40-year life payback on. These is obvious, it tells you which way makes sense and.

K

That's being efficient, it gets harder when you talk start talking about development or building.

K

Things for quick sale, because, if you're building something to just sell it, you don't care how.

K

Much the energy bill is, and that's where, having that floor and having energy codes is important.

K

Because then you have that baseline, but the energy code is not is not uh very inspiring. Let's put it.

K

That way, uh but practice tends to be above, and I think, a big part of the builders, especially on.

K

The smaller side, that's an important part of the conversation is programs like new hampshire, saves.

K

Programs that incentivize, remodeling and stuff like builders like that it is a it's a structured.

K

Way for their business, it brings in revenue and business- that's clear and and can often have.

K

Incentives for them as well, and so it tends to be received pretty positively on that side. As long as.

K

It's not super super restrictive, um because at the end of the day too, you have to make sure that it's.

K

It's not upgrade to something that's incredibly expensive and difficult or.

K

Don't upgrade right and then you have to be able to have reasonable things in between.

K

Is that right, so I understand that the the quick turnovers develop developer project.

E

Doesn't have an incentive to build. This is the same thing with rental properties. So if they're.

E

Not going to be paying for the utilities yeah so any way to incentivize that building um yes, yeah.

K

It's harder to do it in a positive manner. I would say it's harder to incentivize, um because it.

K

You so there are like um hanover and a couple. Other cities have approached when they when.

K

They approach their energy, they also approach the demand side and try to reduce it, and they.

K

Do things like window inserts and these types of programs and they work and they're good and.

K

A renter can do those and put those in rentals if they're, paying for utilities right and maybe.

K

Their landlord doesn't particularly care, but they do um they aren't as flashy as solar panels or.

E

Other things, so they don't uh you don't hear about it. The phrase is often like uh energy efficiency.

K

Isn't sexy like no one? Like the the other side, the supply side tends to get more attention.

K

um So there are a lot of options on that side. um It's a little bit trickier but they're. There.

K

As you say, the real challenge around that is is the affordability level. That's what you're.

H

Fighting constantly, if you have dual, if you've competing interests, you want green buildings, but.

H

You also want affordability, you know where's the good balance yeah. How do you make them affordable.

E

And green, yes, yes, well, and I mentioned earlier, I was just at a symposium yesterday on on all.

N

This for massachusetts- and there are a few takeaways from it- um one was they're making.

N

Massive improvements on their their state building code, and especially the stretch code, which I was.

N

Actually surprised to find out that um the current stretch code, 300 communities in massachusetts have.

N

Adopted and only 52 haven't so most of the stages adopted, those and they're about to be.

N

Updating that, but then one of the big feedbacks from actual practitioners in the field is like.

N

Yeah but where's the enforcement. You know the inspectors all over the place, just aren't checking.

N

For that you know, they're checking that the structures right that the plumbing is good, that.

N

The electric isn't going to electrocute anybody or burn the building down, but they just didn't.

N

Have the bandwidth to then look at the details of the air ceiling barrier and the insulation.

N

And all that stuff, so that there really needs to be investment, put into that side of it as well.

N

um And I I just saw an article today that was actually really depressing, but also.

N

um Brings to four how important this is in that one of the um things that was put out.

N

At the current cop conference is that the built sector in the world has lost ground.

N

um Just from 2020 we're two percent higher in emissions worldwide than we were then from the.

N

Building or actually I'm sorry that was four percent higher for just the built environment.

N

Over 2020 and two percent higher than the peak, which was in 2019 before the pandemic, so we're.

N

Actually losing ground, so this is an area that we really need to be putting a ton of energy.

N

Into and and worldwide it's like 35-ish percent of greenhouse gas emissions is the built environment.

N

So it's right behind transportation. It's the the next biggest thing to do.

K

And that's often not including the manufacturing of the materials for the built environment,.

E

I wonder if that is partly because the world is developing more and so that's exactly it.

N

um Is that improvements are being made, but the square footage of the built environment.

N

Is moving faster than the improvements for efficiency well in life cycle, right you're, when.

K

Right and you're going to be dealing with that for a long time and.

K

You know a card of 500 000 miles is still 15 years. You know so you're. Just talking about decisions.

K

That are made 50 years ago are still very relevant right. That conversation and those numbers.

K

um So it's unfortunate because it makes it hard because you're making progress but you're really.

K

Fighting a lot of buildings and then you know breaking the historical context and.

K

New buildings is not the only way foreign yeah yeah key and I think, there's a huge opportunity.

K

With um the energy costs that are happening and that people are feeling that and they're.

K

um 100 rightfully very concerned about that and that's a security thing. That's an equity.

K

Issue in our communities and thing programs that focus on improving affordably, approving.

K

Improving buildings, whether you own them or not, is something that will hit home with a.

K

Lot of people, so I think it's something that we really should consider, because.

K

And we've talked about a little bit like how do we do those next steps and how do we tie these into.

K

um Maybe certain things funding community projects, um and so it's all part of the conversation.

K

It's uh it's a big one. We might see some interesting developments in the energy efficiency.

R

Sector out of the uk, because everybody's feeling, the pinch as far as energy prices.

R

Go it's them, so maybe I I have no idea but it'd, be fun to research and see what, if anything, has.

R

Developed in that space and see if we can apply it here, I'm gonna be honest and I do uh I don't.

K

Think that we have a technology issue in green building issue, we have the we have the methods we.

K

Have the technology? Yes, it can be better and yes, there are innovative ways to make it better, but.

K

You can you can get there with what we have now yeah the technology. Is there what what.

N

Isn't there is the fools buy-in and uptake the architects that know to build to design to that.

N

As engineers that know how to assigned to that, and the builders and trades people that know how to.

N

Assemble them and the people that see the value and want to want to build that way.

N

It's a paradigm shift and but you're absolutely right, bevan that all the the best technology for.

N

It is coming out of europe because they've been dealing with higher energy prices for a long time. Well and there's there they've now got their their hands is being forced. So you know.

R

You know so you can probably more buy-in just out of necessity.

R

So hopefully we don't get to that point here, but would be interesting to see if, if some of.

R

That momentum, if we could find a way to translate that because, like you said we have the technology.

A

So next steps summary: where do you meeting with building inspector get the municipal policy in.

K

The city manager's hands and with dpw a little bit more and hopefully get that rolling down the road.

K

And then the next, like big step, is figuring out on the community side. On the you know, outside of.

K

The city, green building codes or initiatives or programs or community, and what those look.

K

Like and how those balance- and I mean funding- is always part of that conversation as we know so so.

B

You want to have a conversation about that. I'd be happy to. I formed the green building council.

K

In new hampshire, I didn't know that.

P

Well, there you go and the economic, the economics are actually on the side.

B

Of green buildings, oh that yeah, that's the myth is that they're, expensive yeah.

A

I I just want to put in a plug for some of the uh work that we've started doing on the sub. The.

A

Sub council for uh community engagement, which is jazz safi and I and I know jess.

A

Just had a conversation with the library is it community coordinator? Well, I can't remember what.

A

Her title is something like that: uh she's very interested in the library is very interested in.

A

Hosting community engagement talks programs workshops whatever it may be, they really want.

A

To get more involved in that and recently we had what was it button up yeah I missed it, but it was.

K

It great it was good and I missed that, but you know that button-up presentation or event. That's.

A

A perfect example: it's a great space for public meetings too yeah, and I just put in a plug to the.

R

Eco kids, at the high school about this committee, but then somebody said well. We used to be doing a.

R

Lot of drawdown stuff- and I don't know much about the drawdown group but those things that were you.

R

Know weren't at the library community things. Those are things that the students are are really into.

R

And would like to contribute so if there's any new new initiatives, you know we want to would.

E

You say ben that students would rather do things in person or online or is it a mix like everybody.

R

It's complicated we're having this problem with seco students for sustainability. Some people want.

R

To do digital and some people don't and I'm in the camp of like I got so burnt out on zoom that I I.

R

Want the the personal interaction and then some people are like, I want to go, go drive anywhere.

R

And so then you get people who don't show up to either one it's like you, you get the worst of.

R

Both worlds does it have to be one or the other, so I think the the hybrid that's an excellent.

R

Segue, I think the hybrid model might be the the best, at least for now, but people certainly would.

R

Come to an in-person event, yeah, we just have to work on our hybrid techniques. This is the best.

R

I've seen so far, I think, there's definitely some space for uh student involvement with.

K

That municipal policy too, that hopefully we'll be going through, even if it's just when, hopefully the.

K

City manager brings it to the council for official approval. You know, that's that's schools. That's you.

K

Know- and I know that's a big thing for a lot of students is they're learning and they care about.

K

These things and they're sitting in a school that doesn't always exemplify those values, um and so I.

K

Hopefully, maybe we can coordinate that too, because I think it's always great to see young involvement.

K

Saying yes, this is, then you wrap you rounded up uh two or three classmates. That said, they were really.

D

Interested in the transportation group, but too busy at the moment and as you as I would say, as.

R

Bill has seen we we are interested, we are also unreliable at times, but uh we can certainly be.

R

Conduits to other students, like that's kind of how I see myself it's like well, if I can't do.

R

It I'll find somebody else who might be able to so there's a good networking place and and.

R

That was a that was a strange uh phenomenon, that of three people. Nobody could make and.

R

It's not always they're all really interested, but um I think people will be a little more.

R

Available going into the winter, with the the college stuff behind us more and more.

R

um And you know younger students too, we just have to we have to convince them that it's not scary.

R

We have to say it's: okay, they're, nice. um So that's an ongoing struggle, but.

R

There are certainly ways I mean happy: we've we've communicated for for quite a while and.

R

Again, sometimes, students are hard to explain cage, but eventually it can be done. There are.

R

Ways of doing it so yeah, I'm always my my inbox- is always open to anybody. Okay, all right so.

A

I don't want to cut you off, but you're good, I'm good, all right. Let's move on to uh new business.

A

Wes you wanted to take a few minutes. Thank you. Yes, the reinvestment in shoreline economies.

B

And ecosystems bill would bring direct support to seacoast communities using funds from and largely.

B

Offshore wind and other uh energy uh programs that have to pay taxes to the federal government.

B

um There is a chance that it will pass. It can pass in this congress before the end of the year.

B

um I know this because people that don't cat reach out to me.

B

Casually sent me a note the other day saying that that's the way it is.

B

Is a co-sponsor of this bill in the senate? The bill also exists in the house. uh Chris pappas.

B

Is not a co-sponsor, nor is maggie hassan. Yet um quite simply, I'm here to ask uh this committee.

B

You individually to communicate with chris and maggie well communicate with all three of them.

B

One to gene to say thank you for your leadership. Second to uh maggie and and chris to please step.

B

Up and co-sponsor this, the more that very simply, the more co-sponsors a bill has the better the.

B

Chances of it uh passing this happens to be a bill. That's a smart bill from the standpoint.

B

Of adapting to and preparing for greater impacts of climate change, it's a bill. That's bipartisan!.

B

um It's uh so it's an easy, it's an easy sell and the council has a history of going out on a rim.

B

Limb and endorsing something as weird as carbon fee and dividend years ago, what was the title of.

Q

The bill again, the investment reinvestment in shoreline economies and ecosystems and.

B

What else, but if you undercover, if you look it up, uh you can use the acronym rising r-I-s-e-e.

C

You find it, can you tell us what the bill number is yeah, let's see if I could find it.

E

I'm so used to looking white house. You could just use that acronym and get to.

B

The builder and there's a separate bill in the senate and the house: okay, do you.

H

Know that in the senate, they're called the gang of ten, but the the bipartisan group.

H

Is supporting this? Well, it's it's sitting in committee.

B

Bill at the end of the year, um the author of the bill, senator whitehouse from rhode, island.

B

This is probably the most enlightened and uh progressive person on climate.

E

And the the for portsmouth- it's actually really good too, because it takes revenues.

E

From offshore wind to local communities along the coast, so it could even be even a bigger.

E

Benefit for coastal communities, so being the basketball guy that I am, I said on a note to.

B

The entire city council, the other day asking that you establish a resolution.

H

No and now I'm in the question of how do I follow up, no, I said on the legislative subcommittee I'll.

H

Reach out to the mayor is that I talked to jane and she's, going to put it on the agenda.

E

Good okay, see, thank you, that's exciting! Oh you have to do it yeah. It's already done right. Yeah.

B

Good, so that's a that's a testimony to people's awareness and readiness to act.

K

I think that's an example of how we don't have to wait for the cap.

K

I mean resiliency, we don't have to and we haven't we've been doing things like you know, that's.

K

We all know what the cap's going to say and that's that we live on the ocean and that's well and the.

E

Same with green buildings, you know the municipal, green building policy. We've we've only built lead.

E

Certified buildings and I think that will continue, but it's important to show you know a commitment.

E

To it, if we're, especially, if we're going to tell people in the community to do it so yeah also the.

H

Really important element here is the idea that it's going to fund local communities that, with.

H

Direct impacts, because in the state of new hampshire. If if the federal government gets.

H

Out ahead of this and says we're going to fund local communities with shoreline impacts, then.

H

The state can't come back and say we're going to allow wind farms, but all the funding, the.

L

Taxation goes to the state not to the local right. Communities are mostly impacted, so I.

H

Think it would be important to have federal legislation yeah and I look at it. We kind.

A

Of have this disproportional situation with the hotels here in the city, and we can't do a pillow.

A

Tax because of state legislation- and then you know, but the tax dollars collected here- tend to.

A

Not end up here in portsmouth from all those hotels and restaurants, but that's another. That's.

A

For another meeting another day, all right so is there? Oh sorry, does everybody know how to reach.

B

um Our members of congress found a contact page, a very small print yeah. The website .gov.

B

um Yes called dc.

A

All right, thank you, we're going to finish on time. Thank you for including beautiful, absolutely so.

A

Want to close the meeting out, do we want to stop the recording and then we'll just do a.

A

Quick check um takeaway we're trying to do this thing where we say the next meeting is december.

C

15Th, oh yeah and who's gonna go after the notes, yeah. That would be important and it is you know.

C

It's an early one because of christmas right, just like this one december 15th, yeah, okay,.

A

And I don't know a who is, uh let's see I was supposed to be note taker and so I'm more than.

C

Happy to be the note taker for december 15th. Well, usually the note taker is the presenter of the.

E

Next meeting, so that would be tori john kennedy isn't here, so he could either be the note taker.

E

Or you could be the note, he was a note taker, though wasn't he was the note yeah if you're.

E

Out of sync, but either john or tori would present, and you can be the note taker if you're, yes, I'll.

A

Be note taker and tori. Are you going to be here on the 15th and you will yes be facilitator hank? Oh.

A

That was so easy. Well, I think john. Can I think, if you'd rather have him it's up to you really.

K

Summer, I think well we'll just coordinate with john and corey at john and tori before the next.

E

Meeting and figure out who that is, oh, yes, okay, facilitator is, but you can be the note taker. I.

A

Haven't done it yet yeah you'll learn. Okay, so um I know bird always likes to do a takeaway. We.

A

Just run around the room: real quick, stop the recording and recording stuff. Okay.