City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Sustainable Practices, 30 Mar 2023

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From YouTube: 3.23.2023 Sustainable Practices Blue Ribbon Committee

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3.23.2023 Sustainable Practices Blue Ribbon Committee

A

uh So I'm gonna go ahead and we can start recording. I guess.

A

um Go we'll call the meeting officially to order.

A

um We are going to skip the second item on the agenda. The acceptance of minutes from january.

A

26Th and february 23rd reporting in progress right, that's, okay! So yes, the meeting has been called to.

A

Order and we're skipping the second item on the agenda: the acceptance of the minutes, um because.

A

We don't have quorum, we will review them again next month and hopefully we'll have quorum by then.

A

um So tonight we're really starting with the community engagement committee update. So I don't.

A

Know who was going to speak that to that tonight? Is it effie or I guess no, if he says she's, not I'm.

B

A very maybe bill- and I were going to okay share a little bit. Okay uh I'll, give you a context for.

B

Bill and I walk pretty much every week and bill put together some ideas that we've been talking.

B

About the main concept is the end result. We would like to get feedback from the committee.

B

On this, as a concept.

B

Community engagement has always been a challenging part for the sustainability committee.

B

First time peter britz and I put up a slideshow on the new staff. He said. Okay, if we got everybody.

B

In the community to follow the natural step, we'd only have two percent of the population.

B

So the real shift that needs to happen in the next short period of time is to get.

B

The community, and so community engagement is tops on our mind, many of us as we're going. So how do we.

B

Do that to accelerate and scale the change that we want, so our suggestion for a plan is to have.

B

Portsmouth climate action, which is a community organization synergize with the cap with the.

B

Folks are putting together the cap, and all other committees do get a forum that would be ongoing.

B

This year and maybe go into the following years and what it is is basically.

B

Seacoast can which used to be sea ray, has four or five committees so we're thinking. If.

B

Starting this year,.

B

We had five events like uh events at the library that would be consecutive.

B

And each of the subcommittees on c-can is relating to the sectors and the climate action plan.

B

So we would like to be able to have the community action support, synergize, educate.

B

Ourselves and everybody about the plan, so it's kind of an ongoing systems approach that would.

B

Repeat itself each year, so if the first one which bill knows a lot about, is transportation.

B

So we could model. What would transportation look like if there was a program at the library that.

B

Supported the plan, and so that's kind of the gist of a bill will go on and if you want sure, just a.

C

Little bit, in addition, I mean we're thinking. We would call these community conversations so very.

C

Very informal and they should be relevant and supportive and complementary of the community.

C

Engagement that the consultants doing for the cap so make sure not to be duplicative. We like.

C

The word complementary and content and in timing, I think, because the transportation is 30 percent of.

C

The greenhouse gas emissions typically and shows up in every best practice cap that we've looked.

C

At that's sort of a of a predictable good one, and because we've done a lot of work on that already.

C

As a pilot, maybe try that out and see how it might be adapted for other topics that could be the ones.

C

That align with the sea ray or the seacoast can working groups or not, I mean the other ones that.

C

Are likely would be things like buildings and energy and maybe waste and recycling compost, food.

C

To see if there's an interest in doing those, but these would be very low-key, informal conversations.

C

I think we would want to make sure to coordinate with peter and kate and the consultant for the.

C

Cap to make sure that that there's a way that this sort of blends in and is helpful in terms.

C

Of their program, timeline and timing- and I think very important to this- is this concept.

C

Of community of practice, I mean transportation is what I do, but it's something that people get.

C

Very interested in I mean it's not difficult to get people to show up and take lots of different.

C

Sides and debate transportation, but I think what's what's really key- is relating it to.

C

Climate and get the transportation interested parts of the public to be thinking in terms of.

C

Well, what are the sources from transportation of greenhouse gas emissions and what are the.

C

Changes that might contribute to a ambitious cap target that could be included could be included in.

C

The cap so a chance for educating involving getting one part of the community. You know.

C

Whether it's energy buildings, transportation food thinking about the cap getting interested in it.

C

Contributing to the development with input, you know, I know the the consultant is charged with.

C

Community engagement- and I I know that the budget is tight for that and peter and kate.

C

And this group have made very clear that that there's a value in in volunteer activity and.

C

Getting some groups engaged in this particular one, the transportation and climate- if that is.

C

A pilot that we do, I think we would like to do it with portsmouth smart growth, so it would be a.

C

Combination really co-hosted by portsmouth climate action, tcag and portsmouth, smart growth and.

C

um Do it sometime, that's useful, the cap. We like the idea of community of practice and.

C

If this goes well, then maybe these are folks that have an interest in the cap development, but maybe.

C

After the cap is done in the implementation, so it's a a group that then becomes advocates for.

C

Whatever the transportation related actions are that are that are in the cap, so we we wanted to.

C

Get some input and feedback from this group on that and see if it looks like this is heading in.

C

A good direction and maybe fine-tune some sort of short short concept for this.

A

There any thoughts.

D

I think it's a great idea. To start, I mean it's something: we've talked about a bit is to start.

D

A reoccurring program with themes that are very relevant to people here in this community and it.

D

Serves multiple purposes, but ultimately it's people will show up to the library, because.

D

They're topics that impact their lives that make a difference, so I think, from a community.

D

Engagement perspective, it's it's a great idea, just to add to that. I really like the idea of.

E

Engaging with portsmouth smart growth, it was pre-covered, they would have recurring.

E

um Forms, I don't know if it was twice a year or quarterly and I think they've only.

E

Done one since covet began, and that was for the community power very planned. So we just.

E

Partnered with them, if they're open to that, I think that would be they. They are one of the tk.

C

Members is a as a portsmouth smart growth board member and is has queried the other board. Members.

C

And has I guess, four of the ones he's talked to are are um interested in it. I mean they've been.

C

Relatively quiet, so this I think they see this as a chance, maybe to get re-energized.

C

And I think the fact that there's a cap may uh being developed by the city adds some importance.

C

Other than just coming up- and you know talking about your transportation ideas- it's the cap.

F

Y thanks um last night, when we talked about this, um I said I think that our cat addresses not.

F

Just mitigation, but adaptation and resilience- am I right, kate, yeah? Yes, okay, so I think it's important.

F

I looked at the uh concord, massachusetts, climate action plan and they had affection. I forget what.

F

The topic was called, but it was something like natural resources, environments and another topic.

F

You know resilience and adaptation, so I think it's important to include those categories.

F

Especially, it's not it's related to mitigation, but it's more about people seeing these changes.

F

Nationally, with extreme weather and public health, things coming up like asthma and new.

F

Diseases because of the changing climate, so I think it's really important, especially being.

F

A seacoast parent to address adaptation and the environment generally, and I think, when we.

C

Talked about it last night, I I said that that of all the sectors it fits in as relevant for.

C

Transportation in terms of infrastructure and bridges, roads, flooding, emergency, evacuation.

C

So at least with transportation that could be a part of it, but it seems like that could also be a.

C

Topic all by all by itself, I think we had hands over here. Chris yeah, I like this idea. My only.

G

um Thought in it, though, is that you know I've been to a number of things that.

G

um Like portsmouth action, committee or c ray have done in the past, and I think they have a.

G

Way of preaching to the choir, you know, most of the people are going to come out to an in-person event.

G

Already interested they're already engaged, so you kind of get a lot of the same faces and I think.

G

Our bigger challenge is: how do we reach all those people are not those people. You know everybody is.

G

Beyond that and two or three stages back uh and I I can't say that I have a solution to throw.

G

Out there, but I think that that's something we really need to wrestle with you know that's what.

G

I think that you know, like the app that you're, I think, you're going to be talking about the right.

G

Power things like that might be that thing that can get us into that next level, like I'm trying.

G

To learn spanish now or relearn spanish um to take a trip and I'm doing this little duolingo.

G

App and it's addicted, you know, I'm literally in there when I should be asleep playing around with.

G

This thing, and oh, my god, I can get more points. If I do another lesson and like some way to that.

G

To really kind of engage people in a fun way that kind of sucks them in and gets gets beyond the the.

C

Right action definitely does that, but I think in organizing this we we would want to really.

C

Coordinate carefully with the with the community engagement consultant on the cap to get their.

C

Ideas both on how to organize it, so it has its greatest use. You know there are there surveys or.

C

Questions they would like to ask: would they like to be on the program as well, so it wouldn't be a.

C

City run activity, it would be the this volunteer pca and portsmouth smart growth. But that's it's.

C

It's a good point and that's maybe something where the consultant will have some good ideas chest. I.

H

Was I had a thought very similar to that of a lot of times, depending on how you're advertising you.

H

Might be preaching to the choir or people that are already trying to do their something for.

H

Impact themselves, and so it's a question of how do you get people outside of the community? That's.

H

Already trying to get involved, and one thing that at least I found talking with people outside of.

H

Sustainability or that are new to it, greenhouse gas emissions is something that they can't really.

H

Tangibly see, but they can see like plastic in the ocean, so people attach to that so thinking through.

H

What are the different, tangible areas that people can see and really hook into and whether it's.

H

Whether it's weather, whether it is sea levels, rising and think about what communities are.

H

Impacted by that, so, let's think of sea level, maybe there's part of the historic society that with.

H

Sea level, rising it's going to impact homes, how can you get those people involved or maybe it's.

H

um Maybe it's something with the weather and it's the surf community, but surf community, probably.

H

Wants the bat the weather for for bigger waves, but but just thinking about how the different.

H

Because it's it's when something's an externality a lot of times, people go well yeah. I know it's.

H

An issue, but they don't do anything but what it actually comes back and impacts them in different.

H

Areas which it's impacting all of people in different areas, how can you think about the.

H

Way that the different communities are going to get impacted and the groups that they're parts of.

E

Is that a very out of left field idea, but between me mentioning the last portsmouth.

E

Smart growth event being at 3s and then um audrey speaking, maybe think of getting a band to show.

E

Up because different people show up to see music and there are a bunch of local bands who might be.

E

Interested now that would have to require money to pay the band, but you would get a different crowd.

E

To go, see the band and then, if you stick around you'd, learn something like maybe.

E

Pitch something at the beginning have the band play. Maybe people stick around.

A

Just um I'll just add to that, I was going to suggest that maybe partnering with some.

A

Of the event venues in town to having having a pre-show or a post, show discussion for anything.

A

That's already planned that we're going to have an audience where that maybe wouldn't normally show.

A

Up, I think it's it's logical, right, you're, going to get completely different thoughts from that group.

I

Well, several thoughts.

I

The whole preaching to the choir.

I

Those of you who have run for office know that it is the person-to-person.

I

Communications that really make a difference.

I

um Talk as we may about good marketing and good signage, I didn't interrupt. Everybody is.

J

There, a charles sullivan. That's me, your jeep's rolling down the hill, oh shoot! Oh my gosh! Oh no,.

K

The most excitement in 10 years- hello- he usually has an e-scooter. So I don't know.

C

If alternative vehicle tonight- oh no okay, so it it really, it really comes down to.

I

With those of us who think this is a good idea are ready to uh individually invite.

I

People and invite people that we might not otherwise talk to conservatives, for example,.

I

um With regard to the program itself, I like josh's idea of a ban, I think that's great. At the end.

I

Or maybe a little bit the beginning, but then get down to it, um and I also like small groups.

I

So that people don't come in and go to watch a movie or watch television to have people engaged.

I

And looking at uh the question on the on the docket um and certainly transportation is a.

I

Great one transportation in many respects is the most authority of the topics and.

I

So small groups, I think that the what bert- and I I think in pca have been thinking about is.

C

Small informal community conversations because we probably don't have the resources or the war with.

C

Wherewithal to do something more ambitious, but it seems like a lot of these ideas, maybe are relevant.

C

To the community engagement consultant, but granted they probably have a very limited limited budget.

C

As well so some of these things would need to be sort of turbo charging that, if there's a if.

C

There's an interest, so are you thinking smart growth event? Is everybody familiar with the.

I

Smart growth events where they bring in it would be it would be a partnership between portsmouth.

C

Climate action- and it was an organizationally, I'm structurally- is it filling up, 3s art space.

I

No, no, I think we're talking house parties, no we're thinking of something like uh the filling up. The.

C

Levinson room at the library which is probably like 50 to 80 people in small groups, talking.

C

About ideas and very much focusing on the cap, which is what what is portsmouth transportation,.

C

Carbon footprint now I mean that's, I think something that's a starting point and we'll.

C

Be part of the analysis that the consultant's doing and where are the possibilities for change.

C

um You know with transportation, it's fairly straightforward, where the possibilities are.

C

It's just getting the interest to make yeah. It's changed at least the will yeah um speaking as a.

I

As a citizen coming to all this, where can I find the cap or whatever is being created as we speak,.

G

It's a work in progress. There's a consultant. That's been hired yeah. I know that.

I

I know that, but I in my gut a contract was created and the contract defines what's.

I

Going to happen, and there are possibilities and opportunities all along the way, if we're, if we're.

I

Committed to community involvement, then it has to start right now, not when it gets formulated.

I

Do you know what I'm saying item five agenda today? What's that item five on.

G

The agenda today, it's well and there's a section already on the website about it.

A

On the city website on the city website, yeah yeah any updated, were you here last.

D

Month, where the consultant, oh, they came in and they presented the whole plan. I know from and.

I

I didn't watch the whole yeah video. I read the notes, I thought they were great notes.

B

So I think we have to build on what you're saying and.

B

We don't need to wait for the cap, that's the intent! Why we've been meeting we're now in.

B

Our 77th week of meeting weekly with portsmouth climate action and we talk about it. It has the.

B

Community of practice is something that is ongoing and that we are many people doing many things and.

B

That's why we're starting to put this out now for exactly what you said. We can't wait.

B

For something so but- and we are in such a complex environment, I was giving a course.

B

In israel- and I was trying to say there is the drawdown dr foley was saying now.

B

Let's do it and I said, let me see it showed this. This chart, which was.

B

All a sustainability: well, the reason we can't do it so easily one: it is invisible.

B

Greenhouse gases are invisible, so we don't see them, that's one difficulty. The second thing is we.

B

Can't do one thing without affecting everything else and third, the most difficult thing from my.

B

Perspective is to get people to work together and synergize, rather than spend their energy.

B

And that so that's why we're putting this out now? How can we make sure that this plan.

B

Is communicated uh where we don't have vested interests? I think all of us need to be not.

B

Attached to our plan, however, do we do need to be highly conscious of the time commitment, one other.

B

Quote was from anfield to and anthony guterres we're on thin ice in terms of climate. If your.

B

People heard that and thin ice is now instead of going down we're continuing to go up. The ice is.

B

Getting thinner that means we have less time. So how do we carry that and a spirit of good will.

B

And work together and I will wind up by a positive thing that we had hand prints at the uh parties at.

B

The library and we grew people there, and some of them were really good, but one of the best ones was.

B

Skip the straw, and why does skip this straw, make a difference? We had 30 40 people from there from the.

B

Outcome of that alone, one woman called up, and she said I own a story here, I'm doing it and I there.

B

Is maybe five or six people who did things so I think we're right all of us. How do we get to the.

B

Biggest audience, how do we get hooks that bring people in if it's uh my grandson went to a bike.

B

Rodeo for saber so to so anyway, I'm just happy that we're talking about it and the main thing.

B

That we want to do tonight is see. Do people want to continue as a committee, at least, if we're here.

B

uh To continue this dialogue to bring to the consultants, that's kind of the outcome that we.

B

Wanted us to people yeah I mean, is this something we should continue to formulate and I think very.

C

Soon, we should touch base with the consultant to make sure that this is a useful undertaking.

C

I just want to don't want to get too much into the cab update, but I like the idea of ongoing meetings.

L

And not even just this year but next year, because one of the drawbacks with the consultant is that.

L

We really get three major workshops with them and then you know they have the plan and they're done.

L

And it's on us to really continue the conversation, but something that peter and I are putting putting.

L

Into planning right now for early april and hopefully it'll be a regular bi-weekly or monthly.

L

Thing is first we're going to have a meeting for organizing volunteers and breaking them out into.

L

Categories of how they can reach wider audiences and do categories like who can table who can.

L

Focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, who can go to certain events, things like that. So I think.

L

Once we get out and get volunteers, organized it'll be really helpful to have community conversations.

L

That can reach those volunteers and further educate them and get them more involved and.

L

Then we can bounce back and forth on how to further do outreach, but I think hitting the.

L

Ground running is something that we desperately need to get into so peter, and I are hoping to.

L

Start like two weeks from now and really get the ball rolling on that, but I really do like that.

L

Ongoing piece, I think, that's going to be really important just to build on that. If you get those.

B

Volunteers, this is where I see a synergy wordy and so there's something existing. They could kind of.

B

Build on it and build on and do that so uh would it be helpful to have a meeting.

B

When, when are you meeting or do you need any more input from uh to synergize with this plan or not.

L

I, I think definitely I think peter and I were hoping to have this volunteer organizational.

L

Meeting organizational meeting scheduled for um second week of april, but something that.

L

We really need help with is brainstorming who to reach out to how to reach out to people to.

L

Get them to come to this organization, their organizational meeting, but also what are the.

L

Different categories that we want people to focus on, how can we break people out into groups and we.

L

Want to try to figure that out beforehand, so we're not sort of going in blind and having people show.

L

Up and saying: hey I'll, do tabling events, but we really want to put people who are good at.

L

What they do in the right spots to be able to succeed in all different aspects. So if we could.

L

Have some sort of sit down with people who are interested in helping to lead the volunteers with.

L

Peter and I and our consultant, that would be great within the next two three weeks.

L

Just a little spitball meeting, maybe when are you and uh where? Where is.

B

Peter tonight I know he's gone peter's on vacation until next wednesday, yeah.

B

It is his birthday on monday or sunday saturday. That's all right! So that's! Okay! If he didn't have.

B

His birthday with him, so when he gets back, why don't you I can send out something to schedule.

L

I don't know who's interested, but we can do that through email. If anyone like sorry what what is.

H

The actual commitment is it three times for so the consultant is planning three separate workshops so.

L

The first one will be may 4th and that will be um getting community community members together.

L

And to sort of um learn what community members interests in excuse me, adaptation.

L

And resiliency projects would be like what their concerns are for the city um just to sort of gain.

L

A portfolio on what they should be working on for different projects that they should put in the cap.

L

um But so that's going to be a big sort of community outreach thing and to get people.

L

To that first workshop peter and I want to set up a regular meeting of volunteers that are able to.

L

Go out into the community and talk about just not only just the kind of an action plan, but also talk.

L

About the events that are happening so make sure that they know about the may 4th workshop. That.

L

We have a climate action plan and consultants and that they're going to events that we're you know.

L

Helping to table at or are running things like that, so, okay, getting the volunteers organized.

L

Will be a feat in its own, but that's what we need: help with volunteers, to help volunteers and you're.

H

Saying yes and you're sending all of us a note about that. I can indeed that will be tomorrow's.

L

Job, yes, thank you, yeah their thoughts. Yes, go ahead, idea out of left field, but wes had mentioned.

E

um Opposing sides, which got me thinking and again aubrey, made me think this because of music, um one.

E

Thing which didn't happen due to the pandemic is uh tristan was texting me the other day from the.

E

Pressroom he was going to have a hug it out event once a month where you'd have people from opposing.

E

Sides just kind of have their argument, but hug it out so that you could probably enroll him and.

E

He has a much wider audience than I think anyone else here has mm-hmm two things. Actually uh one is.

I

uh We- and the we here is citizens of the climate lobby- has done a lot of work in creating dialogue.

I

And having small groups and um people of opposing views and very different views.

I

uh Find common ground, which hopefully, these kinds of events, would do and would facilitate.

I

Secondly, I I'm sitting here with a question of what are the intended outcomes from these.

I

um And I what I've heard is a better understanding of what's going on with the cap, but I think.

I

They're bigger opportunities, I think, there's potentially an opportunity for people to walk.

I

Away with a greater insight of possibilities of how they might shift their own lives with regard.

I

To transportation, that's where bright action comes in, we want to that's where individuals can.

B

Go on and actually take actions. The end result of any of this is that the culture changes in.

B

The way we live and behave in relationship to the environment is there did I address.

M

um Well, I would just want to add the piece that I hope as we progress with these events and you.

M

Know maybe once they're fine-tuned and things that we consider sort of to josh's point, but a little.

M

More broadly, taking the show on the road a little bit kind of to your point. You know the people who.

M

Are connected to the library and engaged in the library might be a bit of the kind of preaching.

M

To the choir, so I would hope that we would try to go to some of the areas in the community where.

M

They might not be able to access the library so easily or they might not have the time to attend.

M

An event on five o'clock on us, you know a thursday or whatever, so that we consider that we are really.

M

Reaching our entire community as we're trying to do these outreach efforts and it's really engaging.

M

Everybody just to build on your idea and to connect to volunteers. If people came to a mobility.

B

uh Presentation some of the volunteers were there and said their job was to take it to the.

B

High school take it to the meadows take so that it would now be as synergistic that they would.

B

Come they don't have to create it? There might be already a program and that's how we would.

B

Connect, so they don't have to create it, you don't have to create and then we're helping each other.

B

Everybody in that way, that's the kind of thing. If we didn't have this discussion, I wouldn't.

B

Even thought about that, but that's what I think is yes, there is a there is 90 people come to the.

B

Foreign affairs for eight weeks at the library and it's a great group of people and they'll have.

B

A lot of influence now, if we had 10 of those who were volunteers who said yes, I will take.

B

It to my church, I will take it here. I will take it there. That could be a very useful contact and.

B

We've had a long tradition with portsmouth and listens before the pandemic. We were doing a a.

B

Inclusion uh dialogue and we were in the fourth week of it, and then we we stopped halfway through.

B

So portsmouth listened, if that were, I don't know that kind of what you're saying wes that brought.

B

People together and really tried to get dialogue, so we have a big tradition here and how can we.

B

Utilize on that aubry, um I had a thought that essentially was wes's thought in a sense in that I.

G

Think he brings up a really good point about like when you were campaigning and josh was campaigning.

G

um And I even helped my friend cliff when he campaigned. You know going door-to-door meeting.

G

People handing flyer saying you're pitch and then moving to the next house. That's.

G

A lot of work to do uh there's I don't know how many five thousand ten thousand houses in.

G

Portsmouth, their residences there's a lot, but if there was enough of a people, I'm thinking like.

G

Eco club be great to tap into that where, even if um you know my thought was kind of like okay, like.

G

There's a major thing coming up may 4th might be too soon, but like okay, we're having this event.

G

We want to get a bunch of people there for the official action plan if, like on a saturday, a bunch.

G

Of people can go out and even if you hit like every third or fourth house, engage with people.

G

Hand them a little flyer that it's happening and a qr code. They can scan for more information if they.

G

Can't go and hey, would you mind just handing these to your two neighbors and then you go.

G

The next third house over because we can't hit everybody some kind of thing like that- might get.

G

Into the broader community that just is not paying attention at all. I think you're right and you have.

A

An expert canvasser right here and josh denton he's really good at it. um Use him as a consultant.

A

If you can convince him, sit behind your computer too, I'm not as good as josh. Josh is really good.

A

um But um the other thing that that maybe is worth considering is reaching out to.

A

The neighborhood associations, because then they have their own email lists of all the neighbors.

A

And they're a lot and there are a lot of organizations it's a really great way to.

A

Reach out to a large number of people who don't necessarily subscribe to the city newsletter.

A

um And you can also ask the neighborhood associations if they have anyone who's interested.

A

In helping out getting the word out, something I had told peter, it would be interesting to have.

A

um Kind of little climate discussions on the side of national night out, because all the.

A

Neighbors, you know kind of gather in the community in various places, and so it's you know if you had.

A

A group at each national night out that was their willing to even have with a table at each one to.

A

Discuss the climate action plan that isn't until the first tuesday in august, but still we're still.

A

Engaging people I think at that stage, so it's an opportunity to reach a larger group of people.

A

um And there are other events throughout the year because of the 400 that give you other.

A

Opportunities to engage that, maybe are atypical we should probably have. There should probably be.

A

A booth at um pro-poracements market square day this year, maybe even at children's day, which is.

A

Coming up really really soon, um you know all of those kind of community events that occur. It's.

A

One more chance seems like all of these things are going to be essential if, at the end of the day, the.

C

Community is going to feel an ownership of the cap and then a commitment to implement the cap. I mean.

C

It's probably every idea, that's been put forward, probably isn't necessary, like in all of the above.

C

Strategy and I think that the coordination with the consultant is going to be important because.

C

They've got limited limited hours, but I think it's all these other ideas and the volunteers and the.

C

Engagement is what is going to be essential if the thing's going to succeed, definitely.

L

I just want to follow up on that point about. The events is that we do have a running list.

L

Currently, with our consultant that, if anyone would like to add to please send me an email.

L

Of different events, so, like the earth day stuff, we have market square day, chowderfest chili fest, the.

L

Electric vehicle event, which is going to be in the fall but still might be a tabling event and.

L

Farmers markets we're hoping to have a booth every saturday at the farmers market that we can have a.

L

Couple people volunteer at hopefully not me every saturday, but a couple people along with me, but.

L

Thinking of those events and where we can reach the most people is exactly what we're trying to.

L

Figure out now and get on the ball, so we can start planning it and making sure we have people set to.

L

Do that and then the consultant will make all the materials that we can bring to those events.

L

So, like workshops in a box is what we originally planned, but they're going to help us make flyers.

L

Handouts they're going to be doing qr codes for us and updating the website for us and giving us.

L

Different links to hand out to people and just good handouts- I guess so that is great stuff.

L

To be on top of so, if anybody has any other ideas for events, that'd be great yeah, two things, um one.

I

I didn't intend that we go door to door like campaigning so much what I was trying to get.

I

Across is that, as my friend carol hollis says, there are people out there just waiting to be.

I

Asked all they need is, is you for us to open our mouths and start a conversation with them about.

I

Climate action and they're interested. Secondly, I really like the neighborhood idea and I like the.

I

Notion of networking with various organizations, one of the things I've found to be really helpful.

I

Is to put together the communication for them to give to their people. The flyer is all teed.

I

Up, it's really simple: for them all they have to do is cut and paste to drop it into their email. Yeah.

A

That's why I thought about that, because I'm on the board for my neighborhood association and.

A

We won't advertise, for uh you, know any for-profit or you know any like anything like, but if it's a.

A

City event will gladly circulate something or if it's a city related program, so it makes sense to.

A

Me that this would happen across the city. We have a huge email list. I think it's a great idea. Yeah.

G

um Is there like a database of all the city, neighborhood committees they're, it they're.

A

The contact for that is citywide neighborhood committee has all those contacts, and you know.

A

Another opportunity, maybe, is at the senior center. You know the senior center has regular ongoing.

A

Programming, that's another demographic we could hit by having you know, maybe a monthly session.

A

At the senior center to talk about where we are in status- and you might get a a different group.

A

And also the rec department has a great list of of people that take part in rec programs, so that.

A

Might be another avenue of reaching out? I don't know how thrilled they will would be about, but.

A

It's worth trying yeah, I think also we talked about through the schools too, is that you know.

D

It's part of the curriculum teaching kids about you, know the environment and climate action and.

D

um You know so maybe we give the kids like you know, you're talking about. Like a you know, one.

D

Page or something I know, we don't want to print off too much paper, but maybe it's just a qr code.

D

They go home, they talk to their parents about hey. This is what I learned today in school and hey the.

D

Teacher said: there's this qr code: you can scan. If you want more information right, I mean, but that's.

D

Just one of many of what we're talking about right, there's all these different demographics out there.

D

And there's different chat communications channels to reach all these different people. We gotta get.

A

Creative yeah, you know. Maybe um this group should also share information with the school board.

A

Too, that might be worthwhile or having or having um the portsmouth climate solutions.

A

Group share information, more information come in and do a presentation for a school board.

A

Might be another way to get there's so many there's so many people that.

A

Probably reach out to other people, so any other thoughts on this.

A

No, no, I think we like it bert bill. Okay, then I guess we'll go ahead and move on to the next.

A

Item the next item is standing committee versus blue ribbon committee discussion. So.

A

Do you want me to introduce that one? I can do that too. Okay about it, but please do um I raised this.

A

Issue actually at the last meeting and part of the reason I raised this committee is because, or this.

A

Discussion is because I chaired the governance committee and we've done this thorough review of.

A

Committees this year and the last part of our review was looking at different categories of.

A

Committees, so that people can better understand our committee structure in the city and when I.

A

Had the list of blue ribbon committees, there were about four on the lists that have existed for over.

A

10 years, my question was: hmm are these really blue ribbon committees, because a blue ribbon committee.

A

Is supposed to be a committee that is tasked with is given a very specific task in a discrete time.

A

Frame to achieve that task and appointed by the mayor, approved by the council, but that serves.

A

Kind of the term of a council and then maybe if their work is still ongoing, they don't complete.

A

Their task, it kind of extends over into the next council period. So clearly, this committee's work.

A

Is much more long-term than kind of a standard blue ribbon committee task um and the committee's.

A

Been around for a long time, so the question was: does it even fit the parameters anymore of a.

A

Blue ribbon committee, and should it be instead of standing committee and the governance committee.

A

Had discussed approaching these individual committees that are in this position and.

A

Saying hey: what do you want to do? Where do you see yourself going so that's why I raised the issue.

E

Having been on this committee for seven of the past nine years,.

E

I've thought, since I first got on it, this should be a standing committee versus the blue.

E

Ribbon committee, especially now that there's more members attending and we could actually.

E

Do something significant, which would be overseeing the um implementation of the.

E

Cap not implementing it herself actually having a group and with the standing committee you could.

E

Have things written into it like one member will be from the conservation committee? One.

E

Member will be so on and so forth, school board, eco club, and I think it would give us more.

E

Credibility and more across a structure but in a good way like if the meetings would be.

E

To an end, and we would have a set objective, but the ordinance could always be changed to tweak.

E

Whatever that objective is, if I think it would make sense, and that would be the right time to.

E

um Move forward, but it is a lengthy process to do that and even if, let's say we put our.

E

Ideas together I'll gladly draft an ordinance we can bring it to the governance committee.

E

Kick it around bring it back here and even to get to the government's committee go in.

E

Front of the city council and then to be adopted require at least three readings. So it's a very.

E

Very long process, I think it's worth starting now versus starting in the summer, we're like.

E

Wait a minute a bunch of us might not be in the council by the time this gets adopted so.

E

hmm Do that I've thought about it quite a bit yes, and I I'd weighed both sides.

B

um And where I'm coming down is.

B

We can't be business as usual uh with peter taking the new title, a sustainability planning.

B

uh That's already changed the whole context of where we were in a sense.

B

Because peter has the big picture on sustainability, as he's been on this committee.

B

For years, I think with the people on the screen and those of us here, there is more on the ground.

B

Connectivity to real life action, that's taking place, it used to be we'd come in and a lot of.

B

People were here, but we didn't have as much the times weren't as urgent. So I'm thinking with the.

B

Urgency there's a couple of things that I was hesitant to do um is to give up the informality of.

B

The committee, however josh- I really like it if you have the to write it up and with the two of you.

B

Knowing what the culture is, I think one of the reasons the committee has lasted for the way and.

B

The length of time and the joy it's given to the people who've been on the committee.

B

Is that there's a culture that we've established and I don't know if that's uh I think it's.

B

Certainly, what I enjoy doing the check-in question: how many other committees in the city have it.

B

None that I'm on, but I'm only on six, so yeah. So what I I'm aware of.

B

We've developed a culture which forms relationship comes first.

B

The individuals come first and as we get to know each other, we get to know our strengths and also.

B

The areas where we could use them develop so I see the committee uh if we could build that in.

B

I don't know because I don't know the mechanics, but if you I'll just put out as a question.

B

It's hard to write in.

B

The less tangible things, but there are things like rotating chairperson, a person taking minutes.

B

Checking question check out question and those can be really deadly if people are doing them.

B

In the wrong spirit, so I'm aware that you don't build that and then say: oh god, do we have to go.

B

Through that again, so that was what I was fearful of losing and I would say we would want to become.

B

A committee because we're that significant to the running of our culture and our society now.

B

And I would like us is as it's written we could build that in. That would be my take.

I

I really like that bert um and I'm, as I think about it, I start getting excited.

I

It's like a transformed committee. It's a instead of a regulatory committee. It's a.

I

Promotional community committee, it's a kind of cheerleading the community for getting.

I

To be sustainable and resilient, and uh I don't know of a lot of precedent for that.

I

But for portsmouth to generate such a committee, which is really exciting.

L

um I think peter wanted to say a few things about this, but he's not here tonight, so he just wanted.

L

Everyone to know that he doesn't feel a particular way about this discussion, but he did want people.

L

To know that there were some cons associated with becoming a standing committee and that.

L

We wouldn't be able to have as large of a member group currently we're at 19. right and there's a.

L

Cap for standing committees- I believe now cemetery committee is 18., so yeah yeah, all right, yeah.

L

Look that up again, um but also he felt that we were being provided a lot of flexibility.

L

With how often we can meet and who we're allowed to invite and people on the committee.

L

Do not necessarily have to live in portsmouth, which is a requirement for other standing.

L

Committees, so I think you want people to know that, and also if we did decide to vote to be a.

L

Stand standing committee, he had a methodology of how that would happen along with writing a.

L

Letter, but also approaching having the chairperson approach the mayor first and laying out exactly.

L

The plan and getting the marriage support before we write anything up, I think, was his suggestion.

A

um If it helps, I think the mayor's, probably already there probably on board yeah, I think.

B

He suggested it one time when he was here. Yes, as a matter of fact, yes yeah, so that's positive.

A

There I do have I. I have that question too, how many people.

A

Are not um residents of portsmouth that are here? I don't think offense, though okay, okay,.

N

The eco club are not member or not. We could get around that eco club, we could say people.

E

In the school system, right right, it's the same with the economic development commission, so.

A

um The chamber of commerce um rep, it represents the chamber of commerce, so isn't necessarily a.

A

Resident but there's a representative: it's a discussion. I've actually been having.

A

um Because I'm working with arts and nonprofits as well and there's a discussion.

A

There around having a more permanent arts committee, but most of the organizations.

A

um Their ceos don't live in the city because, frankly, artists rarely can afford to live.

A

Importance, portsmouth anymore, which is really unfortunate. So it's about making organization.

A

Giving organizational memberships versus individual memberships and and that's how.

A

You manage that if the organization is in portsmouth, so eagle clubs in portsmouth.

A

So that's how you kind of address that I think, but we I don't know if we have other members, if does.

A

Anyone know if we have any actual members right now that are not residents. West has addresses on.

D

It on the website, I believe, yeah does it so that would immediately tell us, even if somebody's, not.

D

Here present tonight, if we have anybody, that's not in portsmouth, because I think we have an.

D

Address for everybody, I think so. I thought there may have been one, but I don't think there was.

O

Truth in advertising- I'm not actually a member of the committee. Yes yeah you're.

D

Not on the list yeah well and that's something else you could write into the ordinance is that.

A

um The committee welcomes participation.

A

From you know, with welcome participation of community members, so so it's usually.

A

um Standard practice and following robert's rules is that you have the committee discusses and then.

A

You have a public comment period where you know the public comes in comments, but you could say.

A

um In the ordinance that this committee has a different structure that they welcome community.

A

Participation in the discussion of the committee even like to piggyback on that yeah chaz, you gave.

D

That great presentation a couple meetings ago I mean we don't want to lose that right. The ability.

D

For people like like jazz to come in here and or tk, oh yeah, yeah and tcag too right exactly.

A

If it helps at all, I actually invite people all the time to the governance committee to present.

A

So I think that that's standard in most committees is that if you have somebody who you want to come.

A

In and present you can invite them to come in and present, and is there a charter or a.

I

Statement of purpose or some kind of structure for other standing committees in the city.

I

Oh yes, strait of wharton ordinance for the city. That's chapter, one of the administrative.

A

Ordinance outlines the structure of all of our our standing committees.

A

So they're all different. So if it helps at all, you know they're all very different and in fact.

A

um The cemetery commission committee was really unusual. They were set up just a year and a half.

A

Ago and they were set up almost like a blue ribbon committee in the sense that all their members got.

A

Reappointed every two years with the new council and they had 18 members, they actually just came.

A

Back to us and asked for a change and they want to reduce their membership so that they can meet.

A

Quorum because they never can get quorum, so they can never make decisions which would be.

A

Maybe the case for us tonight, but they're not that's not going to eliminate participation. They.

A

Envision that those the other five members will still show up, but they won't have to show up to.

A

Actually do business as a committee, so um quorum. Rules, though, are the same whether or not you're a.

A

Blue ribbon committee or a standing committee- it's just they wanted a smaller number than they have.

A

So they came back for that change. Is it possible that a draft of what this would look like could be.

I

Given to this group like for the next meeting, so that by the time it gets into the formal.

I

Process we've, given it some thought and yes and as far as the size goes or you've, given.

E

It some thought, I think, um let's say, there's 18 people currently in the committee. The ordinance.

E

Could actually be written in a way where, like the current members become members, but then it will.

E

Shrink when members leave so there's different ways to craft it, so 18 is unwielding. We want.

E

To get down to 12., it could be hey. New people won't be appointed now grant that there will be.

E

Terms, but normally people are reappointed if they want to be, but then that would just be a natural.

E

Downsizing which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because we would still have public.

E

Participation and everything else, so we just keep it more inline versus some larger committees like.

E

The cemetery was yeah yeah. You can have ordinance language that sunsets, you can also have. um uh We.

A

Actually have language in the cemetery committee change that is before the council right now.

A

um That basically says it: it's anticipated that as soon as this passes, the mayor will reappoint.

A

Everyone that's on this committee currently so so that it doesn't, it doesn't alter the current.

A

Makeup of the committee that that's part of the vote too, is that the mayor's going to do that so.

A

um So you can provide instruction outside of just the ordinance or how you want it handled.

B

Yeah as well correct that if there is a standing committee and the new.

B

Turnover of counselors, the committee remains correct and it's only the blue ribbon committees.

B

That the mayor appoints to um how does how does somebody get on just say we we want.

B

To have somebody new, what is the typical process for somebody? uh Bill wants to come on now say how.

B

Would that happen? It's the same process as a blue ribbon committee. The mayor appoints the council.

A

Approves the difference is that blue ribbon committee's all sunset at the end of a council.

A

Term, so all the members have to be reappointed at the beginning of every new council term.

A

Whereas when you have a standing committee, people have defined terms like you could.

A

Choose how long? What? What are the length of terms you want? Do you want two-year.

A

Terms three-year terms four-year terms for your committee and those individuals are appointed.

A

On a rotating basis, you try to set up kind of a rotation so that you only are report.

A

Like if you have three-year terms, a third of the committee gets reappointed each year.

A

um And then the mayor would make those reappointments. So it's the same process. That's the.

A

One thing that that this committee has a kind of a really unusual structure for the rest of the city.

A

um This committee has been operating under kind of a rule that people just get appointed.

A

And then it kind of they kind of never get reappointed and they're just.

A

um Which is um which is fantastic and has been, but I think that that's going to end.

A

Because it'll end this year, because what we're trying to do is normalize the rules around.

A

Around what standing committees are and what blue ribbon committees are, so it makes makes.

A

Sense not just to the residents but to the legal department, because right now um this.

A

Is one of those community? Those committees? That's really far off- we've never been reappointed. Yeah.

B

Right, it's a yeah yeah if we're just operating here, so knowing that we don't currently have.

O

Quorum is there a point in making a motion to initiate this process, or is this something we.

O

Just put on to take a vote to see if we want to do it I mean, is there any opposed? I feel like we're.

O

Kind of all leaning in that direction, uh but I don't know, but what I hear is josh- is going to put.

B

Out a potential draft, I guess sometimes do we need emotion or something like that. Oh yeah, there was.

E

A motion just for a draft be brought back to the next meeting. That would definitely help committee.

E

Yeah, but I think steve the point you're making is: is there consensus, yeah yeah are.

O

We going oh, yes, have we decided yeah okay, so I want to make that motion. Well. Okay, so.

A

I'm looking for a motion to come back at the next meeting with the draft to establish.

A

Standing committee for sustainability- I will make that motion, but to your point, if we don't have a.

G

Quorum can can we even do that we can vote, but it won't. It won't be reflected in a minute. I mean it.

A

Like it can be noted in the in the notes from every meeting, but it's not yeah exactly okay.

A

Second, the second all in favor, okay, any opposed; okay, all right; okay, okay,.

A

um With that, I do have like just a few more questions before we move on. If I can.

A

um For joshua to help josh with drafting um is: are there any particular organizations you want.

A

Represented on this committee, besides eco club, that that you want to have a seat at the table,.

A

Like well school board and dpw yeah school board and what we do with a city usually is we say the.

A

City manager will have a representative on the committee and the city manager gets to assign.

A

Who that is- and we can say too if we want to- and that would be fine, I'm just showing up yeah yeah.

B

You're, like the rest of it, you're, not a problem.

B

So I can vote what's in facts on to committees when she was here, and I.

M

Think john kennedy has sort of potentially taken that role. I can't remember what other.

M

Committee she was on, but that seemed to work well to have present from here. Okay,.

M

Does anybody remember that I didn't hear what you said what other committee bex was on that.

M

Was sort of like when I was starting, but I know that a lot of people in this that it was helpful.

M

To have her from energy brian was on the energy advisory committee energy advisory committee, which.

E

Is also a blue ribbon, oh see, okay, so she was just doing both because she was interested in both and.

E

This was less formal than that committee is yeah, it was just I want to be on both okay.

A

But it's I mean it's a thought to think: do we need a portsmouth energy advisory, but um this is.

H

A non-profit by one thing that was uh that became apparent is everyone is some form of a tinkerer.

H

With saving extra lumber in their basements and trying to figure out what to do with it, the port.

H

City maker space would be a good one to have involved, which is right behind you. Yeah yeah.

I

The smart growth group, but it.

I

I don't think I'd write it into the ordinance: okay, okay, yeah. That's what I'm asking I'm like.

A

Is there anyone that we so like? What is the successor to group to siri? Oh see.

B

Seacoast c-a-n sees those kindness action now.

A

So I had a question around that: does it make sense to have a representative you already.

B

Have several people I know I know, but it gives them an opportunity to have somebody who maybe.

A

Isn't a resident? Well here: here's here's! Here's! What I'm finding- and this is what's so tricky.

B

um We've had people from the school board who really dug their teeth in and done things.

B

um And looking at where the next two three four years, five years are going.

B

uh I'm trying to think who are the people at the table like brian you come in.

B

Because you're interested and you have passion for the content that you have you're working on it.

B

Friend- and this is why I wish peter were here- and you from the city's point of view- if this.

B

Committee is going to get traction with the city and the climate action.

B

um I think we want to take a systems, look and see you know. We have two.

B

Counselors, this has never happened and what were really an unusual times.

B

And so we're talking, let's get if people are going to give their time. The reason I say.

B

um Seacoast can most of the organizations I know are fighting to keep people involved and to have.

B

A clear mission of what they can do- these are places I've been going for years and in some way,.

B

uh We can give each other that synergy. So I ask you the question: I'd ask josh I'd, ask.

B

Brian from a city point of view, if we really want to get the city on board to get traction.

B

And get input from the community and from the community. We want this to be pretty high level.

B

Functioning in front, if we can get it and so that it has, uh people are coming together.

B

Who have their fingers in a lot of areas where they have influence anyway? So I I'm.

B

Just that's what came to my mind, I don't have any ideas, but that's what I'm thinking right.

G

Peter and or cape planning committee automatic or does that have to be specified as well.

E

Normally the city manager gets to have a representative yeah yeah, okay,.

B

And that that's raises another question.

B

uh Peter has now a lot on his plate and he's been put in a position where I don't think.

B

He's ever uh trained to be an administrator, but he has a lot of skills in that, and so is.

B

Do you know his intent about uh the committee? Has he I wish you were here tonight so yeah? I.

L

Committed to staying with this group in the conservation commission from what he's said so.

L

Far, which are his two big responsibilities, but um just talking about reaching different city.

L

Connections, I think also we've been doing a lot of forth with the library you know just as to.

L

And they have a large influence and they have a lot of connections. I don't know if we can.

L

How complicated it might be to have multiple city department roles tied into this committee.

L

I think that would lend a pretty big hand. Yes, you can. You can request a library representative, it.

A

Might end up being somebody who's on the library board of trustees, but it's still you can. You can.

A

Have that conversation? Because we do have committees that have a library representative.

A

So it's possible yeah. But what did you say that m stood for in the seacoast climate action.

E

Now now, okay, that works yeah. They push they put that on him because he wanted people yeah. It was.

B

Originally pecan- and I thought that was a nut corn smith, the kind of action yeah. I just wanted to say.

F

I've worked with a number of groups over the years and it it's really a good idea not to restrict.

F

Yourself in these kind of governance provisions for one of these and one from here and one from.

F

Here and then it's up to the chair and then the mayor and the city council, whether to approve.

F

People, but you know running the group: if we saw we were missing someone with an environmental.

F

Background, maybe we would look on the conservation commission and find someone or or something but to.

F

Require all these positions really is restrictive and it's very difficult because, as I'm sorry.

F

Someone was saying I couldn't make out who it was. Maybe it was her it's hard to get people to serve.

F

So um I just feel like it's good to have a couple of these positions um requires, but not too many.

K

Yeah yeah, that's fair, I think um yeah. My question is really to the tune of like do.

A

We want to include a seat for anyone. Any organization, in particular that.

A

Maybe wouldn't be represented because they don't have a portsmouth resident representative.

M

So so, we'll make sure we'll include eco club priority is them eco club. I would want to make.

M

Sure that students are always here and part of this, regardless they're, so young, therefore.

A

My question is: do we have three or four seats? We have three currently, okay, that works. Okay, we'd.

B

Have two and then they and then what we said: we always want a feeder group and here's what.

B

That, basically- and that was brought up, it was.

B

How can we do the best mentorship for you guys so that we're giving you the skills that you need and.

B

This is a good thing, so we wouldn't want to place a number on it, so three or four, but they can show.

B

Up anyway, that's the kind of informality that we've done am I accurate. We would need to specify.

A

How many members in a standing committee or net so, but if what they had a representative? But if.

B

Three or four of them came no, they could still come. That's what I'm like it wouldn't matter.

A

But you'd have like three that are officially on the committee right right. It could easily switch.

N

Over as people graduate right and speak three spots for yeah, exactly can it switch over month.

G

To month, just like three representatives from eco club, without being specifically, I mean technically.

A

Technically it can, but preferably it wouldn't. I guess, is the you want some continuity, but.

A

um But the exam- the edc example- is: there's the chamber of commerce seat right. So.

A

So somebody yeah different people can come to represent the chamber. It's usually been, though, so.

A

I don't know if this is sort of the question you were asking, but so when we have those three seats.

M

Like they don't have to apply each of them individually or no. No, so it's just understood.

M

That we yeah threes okay, we would have to define that in the ordinance. We need to be really clear.

A

Because what happens with, um if you, what happens with the general ordinance, is it it'll say one.

A

Person from this department or one you know if, if we want to specify where the city department.

A

Folks are coming from. Usually we try to leave that to the city manager to make that call, but.

A

um But we do have ordinance that specifies, and in this case you'd want to make sure it.

A

Says three members from the high school eco club and in that case you'd, want to say to.

A

Be appointed by the eco club, and so it's it's clear. The mayor's not making those appointments.

A

You know: okay, two questions about um the students, one um I've seen a number of committees that have.

G

I guess alternate members that only are voting members. If other people aren't there or something.

G

Could something similar be with the uh eco club like there's three standing members, and then they.

G

Have three alternate members and those could be lower division class people that are kind.

G

Of training to be the full members, or something like that that they can fill this with yeah, it's.

A

Just, however, you write it okay and did they um get to be full voting members in a standing committee.

G

Or not? Yes, good! Yes! Yes! Yes, that's a great thing! Yes! um Are there any members of this committee.

I

um Who are health professionals bring the whole perspective? Health.

M

And I I have my doctorate degree in physical therapy right, not a medical degree. I mean you.

M

Know it's not like a doctor or a nurse, but it's in healthcare. It's interesting.

I

Okay, okay- um and I was thinking people at risk- are people on the seacoast.

I

We might think about how to have somebody from the seacoast.

I

And I I like the list of uh areas that bill enumerated, starting with transportation and.

I

Buildings and going down to waste treatment of waste, can you say: there's people on the seacoast.

D

Methods, seashore, sure, okay, but then how do you qualify that I don't know yeah I'm throwing.

I

We're at an id time of throwing out ideas and um people on siri street. Their businesses are at risk.

I

We have, we have a good, solid storm. Siri street is underwater right. uh Anybody who is on well.

I

I guess portsmouth per se doesn't have a lot of real c sharp frontage. It begins in rye. I.

D

Live on the north mill pond so and then you're pretty safe. That's why I was yeah, I'm safe on.

I

The north mill pond we get a lot of high tides, though yeah I've seen a few yeah coming right up.

D

In the neighborhood- and so that's what I was asking I mean, and do we good good you handle.

I

You answered that yeah. The way you usually handle. That is, if you feel like you're you're,.

A

Missing, like a skill set or a certain type of person, the committee and you've got room on the.

A

Committee, like you've, got a few spots open. Is the committee tries to recruit people and ask.

A

Them to apply for a role yeah, I don't think we'll have that issue with open spots. I don't think so.

E

Either and I think well not immediately, no, no, so um if, if it's okay with everyone, I think we.

A

Need to move on to get to the next few topics, and so, if everyone's happy we'll go ahead and move to.

G

um I just want to clarify, because I'm trying to take the notes and got a little lost.

G

um Is there anybody, besides eco club, that we definitively decided we want to be seats on the.

G

Committee other than city representative and city councilors school board. There is a school board.

A

Seat correct: there is a school boutique currently. Is that something that's that we've decided we.

G

Want to keep, I think we get, we could put it in the draft ordinance I mean, then we could play around.

E

With the draft ordinance next right, okay- and we that's probably a conversation, everything yeah- we.

O

Don't have to finalize all the details right now right now right and we can ask the school board.

A

If they want a, I think that's an important yeah like we don't want to make them unhappy.

A

So um with that, let's move on to the cap update okay I'll make this really brief and.

L

Then I'll send details about the volunteer event in email tomorrow or monday, but.

L

um So the consultant we were going to try to get them to come here tonight, but they.

L

Were not able to so they gave me a little bulleted list of stuff that they've been.

L

Working on and we've been working on with them so I'll breeze through that.

L

um So we're working on the project website. We have a page in the planning department, web.

L

Page online, if you go through there, it may not be live yet we still have to get it approved. I think.

L

But it'll be on the plans and reports tab and we're also going to work on linking it to the.

L

City home page and the sustainability page, which I will be updating soon,.

L

um And so we have a sort of a project description up there right now and we're going to be adding.

L

Photos and graphics and so sort of as we get updates and we have different events.

L

We'll be posting those and we'll be posting updates, and um what the consultant's working.

L

On currently things like that, so it's sort of like the go-to page for qr codes that.

L

Automatically link that to everything that you can sort of click on to get to other places.

L

um Let's see in the con consultant also has given us sort of a narrative that we are going to be.

L

Attaching to all of the boards and committees in the city and the departments to send around.

L

In the month of april, for an update and it'll specifically ask them to start thinking about.

L

Climate action and what they do in their daily lives, but also day-to-day in their work and with.

L

Their boards and commissions ask them to start thinking about climate action and resilience and.

L

What they do- and it's also a plug for the meeting in may, which is workshop number one, so hopefully.

L

We can get department representatives there and also board and committee representatives. There.

L

As well so that will be going out soon. We have an outreach plan drafted, and that is what peter and.

L

I are working on with the consultant and also a representative from the library sarah cornell is.

L

Reaching out to a lot of groups, so that's going to hit the ground running with this volunteer.

L

Workshop that we're getting together that I'll email more about a crosswalk analysis of local and.

L

Regional plans is underway should be complete early in april, and that will help identify.

L

Big goals and targets and strategies for consideration in portsmouth that will bring.

L

To the may 4th meeting as well to sort of um further sort of narrow what the community wants.

L

To see happen, and then the first workshop is in may it'll be may 4th in the city council.

L

Chambers from 6 30 to 8 30 p.m, we're hoping to get a big crowd, but also have some white boards.

L

And make it interactive so we can have people get up, walk around go into big breakout groups.

L

And sort of brainstorm from there and have someone taken minutes, probably a consultant.

L

That'll be note-taking and making sure we get everything and we have a brand name for the.

L

Project that the city manager approved last week called portsmouth's climate future, so that'll be.

L

The branding that you see on a lot of the flyers and on the website as well, um it's great yeah, so.

L

That's pretty good, and I think that is it for now but, as I said I'll, send out an update tomorrow too.

L

Mine was that what was the date in the council room? So it's may 4th from 6 30 to 8 30 p.m.

E

Okay, you know what day of the week that is, I could easily check it's a thirsty thursday. I think I'm.

L

Putting in my calendar right now we're sort of coming into the theme of picking all thursdays.

L

Because it's sustainability community days so we're doing 6 30 to 8 30 p.m. But I think we.

L

Might have to for some of the volunteer workshops we might have to pull that a little bit earlier.

L

Or maybe make it even longer, like 5 30 to 8 30 5 30 to 9. we're still trying to figure that out.

L

What's kind of a good time for people and what day of the week for people that are just us so.

L

um That's what we're working on worksmith climate, portsmouth's, climate future future there, the.

L

Future we went through a lot of iterations right, good course with climate future. Do you have a logo.

B

For that not yet, but we're working on it. So when is the volunteer training that you need people for.

L

So we're thinking it'll be the second week of april. We have talked to someone in the library and.

L

We're thinking april 13th tentatively, I'm not sure what time yet but it'll be at night. um Whether.

L

That's 5, 30 or 6 30, we're not sure yet, but that's what we're trying to hold and we couldn't get the.

L

Levinson room so we'll be doing the hilton garden inn room which is upstairs, which has a maximum of.

L

20 people, but they said we can go over if we want so we've gone up to 35 in there. I think oh perfect.

L

Okay, hopefully we get that many people, but um they were all friends, yeah yeah, that's that's the plan.

A

um And give us again our orders on that? What we're supposed to do to support you for that.

L

So so the plan for that is to get everyone who's interested in volunteering to come april. 13Th.

L

With ideas for um any events and we'll have we'll bring out our ideas and categories.

L

For volunteering that we want to see happen, but we want everyone to come with an idea of.

L

What they can do of what they want to do, what they're capable, who they're capable of capable.

L

Of reaching out to so our categories, right now for volunteers are people who will do outreach.

L

Specifically for workshop number, one people who will reach out to businesses around the city and.

L

Drop off flyers that will create for you things like that, so we're hoping we can have businesses.

L

Put up flyers that say this business believes in portsmouth's climate future. Something like that.

L

Like something that will go along with branding will have a category of volunteers that are.

L

Specifically doing social media, so we do have a social media person in the city. His name is monty.

L

And he's going to be helping us with connecting to different city accounts, but I think it'll be.

L

Really important to get the neighborhood accounts, so every neighborhood has their own facebook page.

L

Reaching out to the eco club, kids, all the high school students, things like that and then we're.

L

Looking for a group, that'll do diversity, equity inclusion, outreach and who specifically has.

L

Background in that, and then also a group, that's willing to table at events like farmers, markets.

L

Market square day children's day things like that yep evie did you want to say something yeah. I.

F

Wanted to ask what time is the event on april 13th, so we're thinking sometime at night, we haven't.

L

Decided yet, but likely: okay, 5 30 to 7 30 or 6 30 to 8 30; we're not quite sure how long we'll need.

L

Yet sure, but we'll finalize that all and send it out soon: yeah yeah, it's that also thursday.

L

You know we were thinking tuesday, then peter's like well. I gotta do thursday. So we're sticking.

F

Thursdays april 13th is the day of the uh climate summit at unh, oh okay. How do we feel about tuesday.

F

Sorry I was asking laura lee, I'm pretty sure it's that date april 13th my degree.

L

Is climate time and it's at night too yep yeah, yes,.

K

Perfect: okay! Well! um Keep that date in the back your mind, but very far back we'll think we'll.

L

We'll rethink, uh we just chose it the other day, but I think we also had april 11th open.

L

Just in case um I'll send out the details when that's finalized: okay, maybe the 11th okay, yeah.

L

To rethink that, for that is just come ready to figure out what you want to volunteer for and come ready with.

L

Ideas for volunteering as well and we're going to try to not just reach out to like. I said this.

L

Group, but we're going to try to get all the boards involved as well see if anyone from.

L

The city staff would like to come and volunteer we're going to try to reach out via social media.

L

To advertise about the volunteer workshop and then flyers around town, so like flyers in the.

L

Library, flyers and businesses downtown things like that. Just trying to figure out how we.

L

Can get word of mouth out to get volunteers? It's gonna be fun. Yes, thank you. Yep cap update for now.

A

Yeah, I want to make sure we get to this next topic, because it's a really important.

A

One and as we started it last time and I want to have a little bit more discussion.

A

Around it, so the next item on the agenda is the head start ideas on climate action.

A

So I want to see where we are on.

A

The head start ideas. I know that we got. We got some input, that's about. Please.

A

um Steve, do you want to take that um uh sure? Okay, very briefly, um looking at uh climate plans around.

O

Country, you can pick out certain patterns, so what I basically presented to the committee was that.

O

You know a lot of the stuff was not a great big mystery. We know a lot of the actions that.

O

Are going to appear in the climate action plan? So what can we do to help? The council help the city.

O

Get a head start and not sit around and wait for it to be handed to us when we.

O

Already know a lot of what's going to be in it, so so this is not the pre-kindergarten program.

I

Right yeah, so I guess we were looking for suggestions, it's a great idea and are you so let.

D

Me pull on that thread a little bit farther slick tea cag, I think t-cag's a perfect example. Maybe.

D

Of what right, so, the tcat group's been doing some great work and what I mean the path you're headed.

D

Down I mean this is based on science. It's based on so much work. That's in best practices best.

D

Practices, and so we're not waiting for the cap is that kind of what you're that's exactly yeah yeah.

O

And I've had conversations with peter and brian I've been meaning to get together with you. I've.

D

Been I've had some conversations with peter about doing more solar on city property yeah, so we're.

O

Just thinking about these music together, you know what I mean: yeah, like the t-cag, do they have like.

O

Okay, what's their wish list, what are their top three things that they want the council to do.

O

Right now, we've got, I mean we did our uh write up by topics and we've got five topics in each.

C

Of the topics ends with uh a preferred top priority strategy and then other strategies.

C

um Now, whether any of those are low-hanging fruit, probably there are some or at least variations on.

C

Those that might be low hanging fruit and I could probably think of a few off the top of my head.

C

But a lot of the other things are take longer term commitments. I mean certainly on the walking biking.

C

As an example, we have a excellent city, walking biking plan with prioritization and one of our.

C

Recommendations was to update that again, but really almost all of those take some kind of.

C

Investment in some kind of time, things like safe routes to schools could could be an initiative.

C

The the transit benefits program where businesses can take tax deductions for giving transit.

C

Passes to their employees and there's even some provisions for benefits to employees for biking.

C

Those are things that are really are low-cost sorts of things. It wouldn't be for the city.

C

For their employees, if they added it but for any employee, if, if you did an outreach, let's say to.

C

uh Peas and employers to do that, because I think it's pretty unusual in portsmouth, but is part of.

C

The tax code, I mean that all those are things that lead to reducing trips and vehicle miles travel in.

C

Greenhouse gases, so it does lend itself it's nice and specific, just like solar would be specific.

C

Some things that are city things, some things, business things some things community things.

D

So how do we? How do we track you know like, and I don't know if people know that I've been having.

D

Conversations with I started out talking to peter about wind, but I've shifted to solar and so we've.

D

Had a number of conversations not only about um pushing it or to do more on city property, but.

D

Also to maybe put together an outreach program for businesses within portsmouth, it seems like there.

D

Should be some way that we start tracking some of these initiatives that are ultimately supporting.

D

The cap uh that are being driven by people on this committee are being driven by people on.

D

Pca and other groups too, so that we have complete visibility to all these different actions that are.

D

Going on these sorts of things could be included in these community conversations, so it's not only.

C

What are your ideas for the cap? But what are some of the media changes with greenhouse gas, because.

C

All of these are in the right action. Let's say the the shift to transit or replace one trip a week.

C

By walking or biking you can you can actually see what your greenhouse gas reductions would.

C

Be for doing that and that will include a range of different sorts of things, some that could be.

C

Considered low hanging fruit, yeah yeah, one of the things I always think about is um community-wide.

A

Composting, pickup and, and while that would be a long process to develop at the city. If the city.

A

Is going to pick up, but maybe there's a way to find uh work with mr fox, for example, right to.

A

Set up kind of neighborhood demand for composting, so what I had told someone is, if you had enough.

A

People who wanted it and were requesting it in a particular neighborhood, maybe you could get.

A

Mr fox, then, to do pick up in that neighborhood once a week. So it's about creating the demand.

A

The commercial demand, rather than providing the service of the city.

O

So um I told you I was going to come on the wish list that yeah, so I'll, try and blast through it.

O

um And so what I did is I tried to use those categories that I talked about last time that they.

O

Found- and I also kept in mind your advice- that maybe things that don't cost money right off the.

O

Bat would be good, so, um okay, so the first thing um renewable energy. That was one of the categories.

O

I would ask that we would look into potential new locations uh for pro projects for solar.

O

Three locations that have always kind of been on the back of my mind. These are just examples.

O

Would be like the jones they have? Are we doing anything there? Tpw facility has a big rooftop.

O

Can anything be done there? I do remember us talking about floto voltaics at one point.

O

um At the bellamy reservoir, um these are just just three examples. Are there any.

O

Municipal incentives we can do for solar. That might be a tax thing, so that might cost money.

G

um So, to be clear when you're talking about locations that would just be like.

G

Putting forward the work now to just identify locations getting ready, yeah, that's not going to.

O

Cost any money, that's visible, think about it, look into it like get the ball rolling like it's the.

D

Path, I'm going down I've been I've, got a dialogue going with the city of beverly massachusetts, which.

D

Is they've just they're they're in the middle of doing some fantastic stuff they're putting solar.

D

Everywhere over parking, lots of buildings and fields, they're doing a lot of stuff yep, um so.

O

The next category was buildings um so, and these are just you know, ideas on just spitballing.

O

Here but I just said um how about require new construction or renovations to meet much higher.

O

Standards of efficiency than we currently do uh require renovation of city buildings to meet much.

O

Higher standards of efficiency than they might be meeting right now and I've heard of some places.

O

Out, like maybe it's california, possibly even requiring energy audits before a home, is sold.

O

So that the buyer knows what they're getting into um the next category was vehicles.

O

Instruct city departments to come up with a plan to electrify their fleets.

O

Including plans for on-site charging.

O

And having in as far as the city concerns have a maybe develop our charging, uh so we've talked.

O

About developing charging infrastructure around the city, um maybe sort of formalize that plan.

O

uh A little bit better than sort of like oh, we can do this here. Maybe we can do this here.

O

And have it reflect the needs of of what the usage would be rather than I know we had this.

O

Conversation about everybody who thinks about vehicle charging and they want the fast charges.

O

Right off the bat and we've seen that that's sometimes just not the most feasible thing.

O

So so sort of tighten up that that strategy waste operations I have advocate for epr legislation.

O

Looking at the feasibility of curbside composting.

O

What was that? First, one? You just said: feasibility of extended producer responsibility, legislation.

O

um Yes, I guess a bottle bill would be epr, but I'm thinking like I know, but yeah yeah yeah.

M

Yeah yeah bottle bills, it yeah, that's it that's epr for sure, um and I almost hesitate to mention.

O

Things like multi-stream recycling or pay as you throw, because I I fear for the person who.

O

Brings that up in a council meeting, maybe the end of their council career, I'm sure.

O

um So you know approach that one at general in peril.

O

um And under public transportation I just wrote, engage with tcag because they've done.

O

All the work already, but two other things that weren't necessarily in those five categories.

O

um And this was taken from a drawdown. Actually, I think one of their top.

O

Things that they mentioned was uh refrigerant. Management could have a huge impact on on climate.

O

Change and maybe the city should come up with a plan to address that reclamation and and leakage.

O

And maybe the most important is there some way that we could incorporate, maybe not mandate but.

O

If we want to be an equal municipality, I think everything that the city does should at some level.

O

Take into consideration sustainability of what we're doing at all levels, whether it's the budget.

O

Whether it's zoning, whether it's you know whatever, is there some way to incorporate that at a high.

O

Level, so all city decisions are kind of looking at that. As a category of of the concern yeah.

O

Everything everywhere yeah one of the goals of the cap: okay, yeah he's creating that framework.

A

Yeah everything everywhere all at once is that that thought. That's exactly that.

A

um This is a great list. um I think I can report back that the green there's, a green buildings.

A

Group that is currently working on a few of these things, so that should help um like the.

A

New standards for renovations working with our we've been working with our our chief building.

A

Inspector on changing standards and possibly putting in place new green building standards.

A

So we've already been doing that and working on city policy around around city buildings.

A

So, and and not just city buildings, but any kind of capital project the city does so.

A

So- um and aubry was there this afternoon at a meeting with me um yeah, so there is some of.

A

That is actually happening, which is good I'll. Be really brief, because we're running low on time, but.

E

Over the past nine years, I've pushed to varying degrees of success. Things like pay as you throw.

E

Keep bringing up multi-stream recycling curbside composting that actually was very successful when.

E

I purchased that initiative. It started, ended up in the 10 rebate for everyone who had mr.

E

Fox was expanded, the their clientele by 50 when that existed, and uh the jones ave I'm guilty of.

E

Not remembering the exact outcome, but there's a prior study done saying there shouldn't be.

E

Solar, I brought it forward, maybe 10 years later, saying hey. We should look back at this. I think.

E

The outcome was, yes, we can do solar, so it's all been brought forward over the past couple years.

K

It's great, and I would uh the point of refrigerant management is very important and it's it's very.

G

Regulated like anybody, who's dealing with that stuff, there's very strict things that they have to.

G

Do you know if you decommission a system, you have to capture all the refrigerant. That's in there.

G

How all that's done varies from tech to tech, but um but that is something that's very highly.

G

Regulated already- and I don't think the city would really be able to add anything to that.

G

Locally, the city's got a great program right with um sorry brian. I point to you in the city.

D

Yes, great program, I've dropped off a mini fridge, you know and you pay ten dollars or whatever it is.

D

But at least you, you know that they're going to properly, hopefully properly dispose of it right.

D

Which is really good, so I you know, I don't know if that, if that those types of things, if that's what.

O

We were thinking or you're, there's also concerns about like existing existing installations of.

O

Like natural gas lines that you know for homes that have natural gas other, is there leakage in.

O

Those lines yeah that sort of thing studies that have shown that those lines are incorrect. Just.

O

They're, just legal, I mean it's scary. I saw an article about that, so I know what I know.

D

What you're saying I didn't realize, there's a natural gas lines leak as much as they do.

A

Yeah, these are things I don't want to think about, but it's pretty awful um does anyone else want to.

A

Share or do we want to hurry up? We've we've hit our time frame, so I want to give you guys a heads.

A

Up can we go back to I mean I I know I said this earlier. I love what steve what you brought up here.

D

um But it just seems like we should have, I mean there should be some sort of like.

D

Running list of these are the activities, and then people can report out on them periodically.

K

So that you know we all know what's transpiring, it also seems like all. This is good input for the.

C

Cap because it's sort of like um things that are maybe have a high potential of advancing.

C

And maybe have some momentum and then also for subcommittees too. So we could say you know like.

D

I I just was really interested in doing more solar in the city, so I've been talking to peter about it.

D

But that doesn't mean like does, are other people interested in it too, and you know.

D

You know, that's great, you know I'd love to work with other people on that too. Well, and that's.

A

A discussion that green buildings subcommittees having as well so it'd, be great to like make sure.

A

That everybody's aware of all the groups and what they're talking about too. I think because I think.

A

Some of these things aren't being addressed right so so maybe we should make a list and.

A

Put this list out and let people claim it right share my list, I'll email, the group or whatever, but.

O

I guess the yeah, maybe the point of it is yeah, so I mean this is just the wish list that I made up.

O

So some of it's being acted on, maybe some of it's not so then you can look at it and say: okay well,.

O

Maybe we should do something about this. Do we need a subcommittee to look into that, or do we need so.

O

I just want to kind of put it all out there and yeah and sticks- I guess yeah, so yeah yeah. I think.

A

It's really helpful, actually one one additional idea: instead of paying per what you throw away.

H

Jeremy did the exact opposite and people really liked it there. It was called the p fund and.

H

Whenever you buy a beer, for instance, there's a 25 cent core charge and it's automatically added to.

H

Your tab and then, whenever you brought the bottles back in exchange it for new ones, you'd get you'd.

H

Get money back or you just leave your bottles next to the recycling and and random people who collect.

H

Them and bring the whole thing down and deposit it, so it was adding additional fee on top of the beer.

H

Or glass bottles that you'd return it so there's incentivizing in the opposite way: right right, yeah,.

K

Just it worked really well throughout germany, I mean everyone recycles their glass. How is that.

G

Different from the bottle bill that jessica was bringing up I'm refreshed by memory. It's so you.

M

Pay a deposit yeah officially when you buy the bottle and then when you return the box, which is.

C

Every other state in new england yeah, which all the states around us do, except for new hampshire.

O

Yeah, okay, okay, typically, so I guess getting back to. I know what we're talking about epr extended.

O

Producer, the is the idea that, like a manufacturer, yeah is responsible for their product from birth,.

O

Cradle agree or yeah and back and recycling, so it puts the cost on them, as opposed to the.

O

Consumer to clean up afterwards yeah and gives them incentive to make it recyclable as possible.

M

Bring dumpsters and even rent the space to have the dumpster there and collect.

M

Textiles, that can't have another life and then they take them, and I don't know all the details.

M

So I don't know what they get recycled into, but that might be a consideration since a lot.

M

Of people mentioned clothing that yeah yeah yeah. You know it's holy that you can't really.

M

Seamstress, you don't really know what to do with it anymore, so yeah yeah.

G

I did just have a thought based on what herb was saying uh to the refrigerant stuff, because.

G

Where I work my mind was really focused on like hvac refrigerant, you know grocery store.

G

Type things not like your refrigerator that you need to get rid of and by the city having a cost.

G

To do that, that's a disincentive to do the right thing. Yep, you know. That's like! Oh I'm not going.

G

To bring to the city I'm going to throw in this dumpster behind you know the grocery store. So I.

G

Don't have to pay that fee and then it just gets crushed and it gets in the atmosphere and there.

G

You go, maybe that's a simple thing that the city can do is get rid of that disincentive by saying.

G

Yes, please bring us these things, we'll dispose of them properly. I mean there's a cost to that, but.

G

It's probably we have household hazardous waste day, which is very popular. You know about two times.

J

A year it's free, but people have to line up and come so I mean you could have a similar. I guess.

J

You know bring your refrigerator day. What I mean you collect, you collect refrigerant type stuff at.

G

um The transfer yard anytime, it's open for those hazardous waste days are very specifically like.

J

Paint thinners and stuff- I was just thinking of us, that's something similar, I mean yeah, you.

J

Could we could, I suppose we could charge 25 bucks to bring your household hazardous waste.

J

But we don't right, you know, that's actually a state program which is.

J

I, like the we get some money from the state to run a great program right. There might be a way to.

A

Also there there has to be a program around latex paint too, which is, I think, latex paint is one of.

A

The challenges um that people deal with because, in order to get rid of it, you have to dry it out.

A

To throw it away, you're not allowed to you, you can't just throw it away if it's liquid.

A

Right and there's no one that collects it regionally. Believe me, I've looked because.

A

I inherited several shelves of paint when I bought my house and um the disincentive there.

A

Is is that it takes a long time it's hard to do it's hard to dry out a full can of paint, and so.

A

People do things like pour it down the drain at their homes. I know that you hate hearing this.

A

But so you know maybe expanding our programming to include other types of waste things that we don't.

A

Want to end up in our water system, for example, um you know, so that's also a consideration right.

A

um Is there anything else? Do people want to add? Oh yes, sorry I know we're over. I just want to give a.

D

Quick update on bright action, that's what I yeah! Yes, so bright action! We at the beginning of this.

D

Week we got all the materials that they needed. There was content. There was pictures, there was.

D

All sorts of stuff yeah, we got all the details to them. Beginning of this week, it's probably going.

D

To take them about a week or so and then they'll have the site set up and then we'll want to do a.

D

Soft launch so like people on this committee- and you know others will will let give folks a url.

D

To go out there and we'll have a feedback period, so we can kick the tires, you know and then we do.

D

Obviously, we want to coordinate with others from a community engagement perspective to decide when.

D

We want to launch the thing right so when we want to launch the site, but there's no reason why we.

D

Won't right away do a soft launch and really get familiar with it and understand what it.

D

Can and can't do what strengths its weaknesses and all of that so just want to let people know.

D

It's exciting: it's right around the corner and you'll be able to get your hands on it very soon.

O

Question about that, so I think when a while back when, when after you first saw that I.

O

Went to see what it was all about, I made an account yeah if you already have an account.

O

um Speech sort of joined onto that page we probably can we're migrators yeah, because.

O

I'm in that boat too, there's a number of us, okay that are in that boat that have exactly.

D

As you do have an account- and so it's funny you bring that up, because I just thought about that.

D

Yesterday I was thinking home, we're gonna have to you know, associate people that are already.

O

Recording yeah so there's a few people in that boat. That's fine, yeah, okay, yeah yeah,.

D

The questions, thank you. um The last thing on the agenda is a reminder of upcoming earth day.

A

Events and I believe portsmouth climate action is managing a lot of this yeah.

A

Yeah, so I will try to be brief because we won't see you again as a group before then so.

M

um Our earth day, kickoff event is april 21st, which is the day before earth day from four.

M

To seven it's at the connie bean center we have about 30 groups that have agreed to participate.

M

At this point, including non-profits city organizations, citizen-led action efforts.

M

um The vision is really to be a event where education is the focus so that we can invite.

M

The community to come, learn and see how they can get involved and take action, because our vision.

M

Is that action that earth day will actually be a day of action and you'll be out doing something to.

M

Commit to being a little more sustainable, whether that's formally doing a beach cleanup or that's.

M

You donate to one of these organizations, or you start a compost, pile or you just commit to taking.

M

Some action to be a little more sustainable, we will have. The juicery has donated 900 healthy.

M

Bites: snacks so we'll have limited snacks as well we're working on potentially music. There.

M

Will be part of our request to the participants? Is that they'll be activities for people of all.

M

Ages, so we hopefully should have some activities and different things to get people to engage.

M

Part of it is also get it. The consultant will be there, so hopefully they can start.

M

To get some feedback from the community about priorities around climate action and those pieces.

M

I think those are the highlights of the day before then on earth day. There are a few.

M

um Specific events happening, the conservation commission is leading a trail stewardship where.

M

They're going to do some maintenance and care for some of the public trails.

M

They haven't figured out where, but it might be like the little harbor loop or.

M

um I don't know, I think they talked about sagamore highlands or something so they're kind of still.

M

Figuring that out, there'll be a cleanup out on pierce, island and evie is coordinating a massive.

M

um Clean up effort I'll, let her tell you about that. Yes, so an effort to try and involve the.

N

Entire school district, not just the high school and the members of the eco club.

N

We've set up cleanups around the 42 different neighborhoods in portsmouth, and so an eco club.

N

Member or portsmouth high school student will meet a group of elementary school students.

N

In their own neighborhood, in hopes to promote environmental stewardship, where they can clean.

N

Up the trash they see along the road and just kind of learn how that affects the environment and what.

N

They can be doing to help and then middle school students also led by high school students, will be.

N

Starting the cleanup process of their different various sports fields, something that connects.

N

More to middle schoolers and also just kind of getting um any other city project done.

N

That might be needed and then at the end everyone will come together with all the trash. That's been.

N

Collected in a spot that we haven't determined yet um and kind of the mayor has agreed to come.

N

And speak there to kind of just bring everyone collectively together at the end of the day, so.

E

Abby is there still no homework that weekend? There is still no homework that weekend, just making sure.

K

A

It's great um with that. um I think we want to take a final round the room takeaways for tonight.

B

B

I noticed that this committee's function was to be high level, always thinking that would be such.

B

A small committee and what I saw tonight, we did high level thinking we've done process thinking.

B

We've done structural thinking and we've got down to cleaning up the elementary schools.

K

So we're working up and down the levels and everything everywhere all the time.

L

We might have lost some zoom people, we did I'll just say no we're still here. Oh, we still got john.

L

um I'll just say all of this is very exciting and april is going to be a very busy month for us.

L

But I think there's going to be a lot of great things to do and I'm excited for the volunteers.

L

I think, with us alone, it'll be great, but with how many more people we can connect to I'm.

L

Really excited so it's looking good. Actually, I'm gonna go to john before we go to josh just so that.

A

We can include you john yeah, thanks kate yeah, a lot of good stuff tonight and.

P

um Looking forward to actually kate to uh uh getting engaged with the consultants.

P

And uh finding out what they're looking for and see how we can get uh you know.

P

Continue to keep the people in this room engaged in that project reporting stopped.

A

Right, I'm looking forward to working on a draft.