GRC 11-7-11 Meeting Minutes
Kirsten Taylor
GRC- I am forwarding the minutes from Monday’s GRC meeting. Thank you Jonathan for detailed and nuanced minutes! -Kirsten
11/7/11 GRC meeting
J. Mason
N. Lee
E. Newman
B. Bassett
Kirsten Taylor
J. Harrington
Bruce opened the meeting. We need to set some specific goals for the Green Power campaign. PSE wants us to get 125 new customers by the end of 2012. It would be triple what we have this year. If they will give us a grant they want to get enough customers to pay for it. In the past they have had a minimum goal and stretch goal. The City will be asked to make some kind of commitment like buying green energy for some facility and to provide marketing and staff support. It would require Council approval. Energy savings from LED lights in Town Center could be used to fund the project. The GRC would take the lead on the project. The GRC needs to be out in the community to promote it. Glen Boettcher is researching the ROI on the LED lighting.
Goals:
Can we get the Council members to buy Green Power? It is only $4 per month minimum investment.
The Council also needs to buy in. The City’s investment to reach a Partnership Level of participation would cost less than $100 per month. To do the highest level of partnership would be $250 per month. So the range is $1,200 to $3,000. The City needs to sign on before the end of the year with a verbal buy in. It could also focus just on one facility like the Community Center.
What about cosponsors? It would be better to have cosponsors. It would be a non-financial commitment to get members to sign on. Elliot noted that we should start with organizations that were in 22 Ways. Should we follow a similar strategy for Green Power?
Other groups:
IslandVision
School District
TIMI
Emmanuel
Chamber of Commerce
Emmanuel
QFC—could pass out marketing materials
Farmers market
Gray Plano said that he would be willing to spend $100 per month to buy Green Power. There could be some anonymous earmarked donations to buy Green Power. This takes the issue off the table. They want money for solar panels for each elementary school. But making it school specific may cause conflicts.
Nancy L noted that the word sponsorship usually implies that an organization is making an investment. Endorsing is a better word.
Solar panel revenues could be used to pay for Green Power.
Elliot noted that a subcommittee should be created for Green Power. 22 Ways would be the second subcommittee.
Bruce gave an example of possible marketing materials for PSE campaign. How would PSE respond to marketing materials that put PSE in a negative light? We want to separate message from PSE. Investment made today will benefit your children’s future.
Nancy mentioned that we really need to do a good job of educating people about the benefits of Green Power. You are making a contribution to a non-profit organization that is providing renewable energy. PSE pays entrepreneurs to generate the REC credits and the power from the entrepreneurs. You need to be concrete about what the $4 contribution will do. If we get 125 households, how will your community benefit? We need to convince people that PSE as a corporation is not the primary beneficiary. Green Power should be highlighted and PSE relationship should be understated.
The group decided to put off discussion of the Green Business Program until the next meeting. We could follow the Eastside Business Alliance which is based in Bellevue.
The internal City employee challenge is over. Two maintenance groups will probably win. All 9 groups participated. There was 100% participation for four groups. The winning group will be awarded a pizza party, probably in early December. The spirit of competition helped. The next stage is looking at what we can do with City facilities. We might want to invite all the 22 ways participant groups to a recognition ceremony, possibly second meeting in January.
Elliot mentioned that we want to start third phase of 22 ways. We had a club, church, business and a civic organization. We need to reach out to Kiwanas and Lions, other groups for each type and preach the old story. We don’t want to lose the momentum. Elliot wants to give a presentation to the interfaith church council. What about Farmers Insurance. How about real estate agents? The winners will be publicized in MI Reporter. The National Charity League? A subcommittee should take responsibility for this.
How do we define ‘steering committee?’ What are the rights and responsibilities? Attendance once a month and join a subcommittee and live the GRC way? Steering committee members should be required to check in if they can’t come. There should be a joint meeting once a month and a once a month subcommittee.
Submitted by Jonathan Harrington
