2023-08-22-SLC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Sustainable Lexington Committee Minutes of August 22, 2023 benefits. Peregrine will help Maggie determine some outreach to help increase the number of small businesses on CCA. Lexington EV adoption and vehicle emissions. Mark Sandeen presented charts showing that Lexington is #1 in the state in adoption of electric vehicles per capita and #4 in total numbers, but also ranks high in vehicle miles driven, resulting in slightly increasing emissions. He suggested the key challenge for the town is less about increasing the number of EVs (which we should continue to do) but reducing vehicle miles driven. Some discussion followed, focusing on the importance of a system of well-connected, safe bike lanes and a functioning, reliable public transport system. Discussion of SLC 2-year priority goals for Select Board. Cindy explained that the Select Board is planning a facilitated meeting of committee chairs on Sept. 11 to help identify two-year priority goals for Select Board consideration. She shared some suggested goals and members of the committee provided feedback, including others that might be added to the list including: environmental purchasing policy, artificial turf policy, improvement of existing buildings, facilitating more solar throughout town, urban forest master plan, and strong implementation of the FFF pilot. Maggie pointed out that many of these are in the draft Climate Action and Resilience Plan, and a commitment to implement that plan (and the Zero Waste Plan) would go a long way. Sustainability & Resilience Officer discussion and updates. Maggie reported: •She is presenting to the Select Board on the Resolution Framework (operationalizing the town’s equity and inclusion and climate resolutions) on Sept. 6. •The public comment period on the Climate Action and Resilience Plan has closed, and she is working with KLA to finalize the plan by the end of the month and is preparing an implementation strategy. •Andy and Ricki are working with Maggie on a LexElectrify campaign with a number of activities this fall, including a new one-stop electrification page on the website adapted from a checklist developed by Green Newton. The official launch is at the Sept. 12 LexCAN meeting, with a grander launch at the energy fair on October 28. Andy is working on a slide show for presentation to community groups and asked for help identifying candidates. •Maggie has had a couple of meetings with Homeworks Energy to discuss improvements they could make to better coordinate with town programs. •The Fossil Fuel Free Pilot application was submitted August 8; no news yet. •The compost pilot is going well. Robert Beaudoin reports that the town sent 85 fewer tons of waste to the incinerator this July compared with a year ago. Together with those still paying Black Earth, there are now 2600 households participating. Options for encouraging greater participation, including reduced rates as numbers grow, are being explored. A key is to get the cost into the operating budget, as the pilot was funded with ARPA funds. .2