[Carmel Climate Action Advisory Committee on July 22, 2025.]
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>> SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED TODAYTODAY THE CARMEL COUNTY CLIMATE ACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR JULY 22, 2025.
WE'LL START OFF WITH THE ROLL CALL. I DIDN'T BRING A PAPER COPY.
DID YOU BRING ONE? I GOT IT RIGHT HERE.
>> OKAY. WE HAVE A QUORUM. WE HAVE SEVEN, WHICH IS GOOD.
WE'LL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT ORDER, ITEM NUMBER 3 ON THE LIST IS GENERAL COMMENTS. AND AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE JORDAN COLE. JORDAN IS GOING TO SPEAK TO US, WHICH IS REALLY NICE. I'VE READ SOME OF THE BACKGROUND YOU GOT. SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT HIS GROUP IS TAKING ON MEET PERFECTLY -- OR MEET PERFECTLY OR COINCIDES PERFECTLY WITH THE CARMEL COUNTY ACTION PLAN. SO
JORDAN. >> HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JORDAN COLE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF CARMEL. THANK YOU FOR THE COMMITTEE FOR GIVING ME TIME TO SPEAK AND GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
AS WAS MENTIONED BY TONY, I'M REPRESENTING A GROUP CALLED STRONG TOWNS CARMEL, WHICH IS PART OF A NON- PROFIT THAT ADVOCATES TO CHANGING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN TO ONE THAT IS SAFE, STRONG, AND LIVABLE.
LOCALLY OUR GROUP IS EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CARMEL AND POTENTIAL TO MAKE PLACES LIKE MIDTOWN AND CARTER GREEN MAER ACCESSIBLE TO MORE PEOPLE WITHOUT ADDING TRAFFIC. WE'RE NOT SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON CLIMATE. THE TYPES OF PROJECTS WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR ALIGN WELL WITH THIS COMMITTEE'S GOALS AND CARMEL'S ACTION PLAN.
THE THREE I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY ARE SAFE ROUTES, WALKING AND BIKING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.
THIS IS FROM THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN REPORT.
IN 2018 THE TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNTED FOR 20% OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
REDUCING OUR DEPENDENCY ON CARS OBVIOUSLY TO THIS GROUP I THINK IS CRITICAL TO ENHANCING AIR QUALITY, IMPROVING HUMAN HEALTH AND MEETING OUR GOAL OF NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050. TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE ALTERNATIVES TO DRIVING, THOUGH, THAT ARE SAFE, EFFICIENT.
PRETTY SHORT FOR A WALK AND ALMOST NOTHING ON AN E-BIKE.
HOWEVER, MOST PEOPLE STILL DRIVE BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY EASIER. THEY CAN DRIVE STRAIGHT PICKING THE SAFEST ROUTE, AND THERE'S GUARANTEED TO BE PARKING WHEN THEY GET THERE, OFTEN RIGHT OUT FRONT. BUT TRAILS LIKE THE -- ARE SAFE AND EFFICIENT BECAUSE THEY ARE MOSTLY SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE TRAFFIC.
THEY'RE LOW STRESS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. BECAUSE THEY CONNECT WITH DESTINATIONS LIKE MIDTOWN AND CENTRAL PARK, PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO USE THEM NOT JUST FOR EXERCISE BUT AS FOR TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS.
MYSELF AND MANY MEMBERS OF OUR GROUP USE THESE TRAILS EVERY DAY TO GET TO SCHOOL, GROCERIES, AND RESTAURANTS. COMPARED TO ROADS AND PARKING GARAGES, THESE ARE RELATIVELY SMALL INVESTMENTS THAT ARE ALREADY HELPING REDUCE GHE EMISSIONS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE AUTUMN GREENWAY, WHICH IS A TRAIL THAT WAS PART OF THE BOND FROM LAST YEAR AND THAT'S IN PROCESS. WE THINK THIS IS GOING TO CONNECT THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WITH OLD MERIDIAN, MIDTOWN, AND THE REST OF OUR PATHTHETWORK.
WE CAN GET EVEN MORE EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS BY LAYERING IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO EXTEND HOW FAR PEOPLE CAN TRAVEL WITHOUT A CAR. THE CITY REVEALED THAT INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS SUPPORT BY 85% OF THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS FROM LAST YEAR.
WE'RE HERE TO SHOW THESE OTHER FACES OF THESE RESPONDENTS WHO SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
LASTLY, STRONG TOWNS CARMEL SUPPORTS BUILDING MORE HOUSING WHERE PEOPLE CAN WALK, BIDE, OR RIDE A BUS TO MANY MORE AMENITIES. THE HOUSING TASK FORCE HAS ALREADY IDENTIFIED A NEED FOR MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING.
WE SUPPORT LEGALIZING BACKYARD COTTAGES, DUPLEXES, AND STARTER HOMES ON SMALLER LOTS AS OPPOSED TO WHOLE APARTMENT BLOCKS, WHICH -- SO AS OPPOSED TO WHOLE APARTMENT BLOCKS, THIS KIND OF DEVELOPMENT IS STABLE, GENTLE DENSITY THAT DOESN'T REMOVE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER.
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IT DOESN'T REQUIRING BULLDOZING.WE THINK THESE THREE PROJECTS IMPROVING OUR PATH NETWORK, ADDING PUBLIC TRANSIT, AND LEGALIZING MORE HOUSING CHOICES WILL HAVE THE MOST IMPACT ON ACHIEVING CARMEL'S CLIMATE GOALS. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THESE AND OTHERWISE TO IMPROVE CARMEL. I INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS ON STRONGTOWNSCARMEL.ORG. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. >> SO CAN I I A QUICK QUESTION? YOU JUST REITERATE YOUR THREE GOALS? ZBLIM PROVING PATH NETWORK, IMPROVING PUBLIC TRANSIT, AND LEGALIZING MORE MIDDLE HOUSING
CHOICES. >> I HAVE A QUESTION, IS YOUR GROUP FOR THE AUTUMN GREENWAY GOING EAST AND WEST, HAVE YOU ALREADY MAPPED OUT WHERE THAT TRAIL WOULD BE, WHERE IT WOULD CONNECT? AND HAVE YOU GUYS DETERMINED IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ARTERIES COMING OFF THAT GOING ANY OTHER AREAS AND SO FORTH? HAVE YOU DONE ANY STUDIES ON THAT?
>> SO WE HAVEN'T DONE ANY STUDIES.
THIS IDEA CAME FROM A RESIDENT PART OF OUR GROUP A COUPLE YEARS AGO PART OF THEIR HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT. MATTHEW SNYDER HAS LOOKED AT IT AND MET WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMNT TO TALK ABOUT IT, AND IT'S KIND OF IN THE PROCESS. BUT, YEAH, THE CORRIDOR WOULD GO ALONG AUTUMN DRIVE AND GO THROUGH WHAT IS MOSTLY VACANT LAND HERE, BUT POTENTIALLY THERE IS SOMERECTOMY OF WAY THAT NEED TO BE PURCHASED BY THE CITY AND GO ACROSS GUILFORD AND CONNECT TO WHAT IS 126TH STREET, AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A BICYCLE PATH WITHIN THE PROVIDENCE APARTMENT CONDO OR COMPLEX. AND IT'S FENCED OFF.
AND IF IT CONNECTS TO THAT YOU BE A CONTINUOUS PATH FROM OLD MERIDIAN TO 3RD STREET WHERE THE TRAIL WOULD BE. SO YOU WOULD CONNECT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL OBVIOUSLY AND ALL THE -- ALL THE RETAIL ALONG OLD MERIDIAN AND ALL THOSE COMPLEXES, TWIN LAKES, LAKES OF CARMEL THAT CAN ALSO TAKE THAT TO GET THERE WITHOUT HAVING TO INTERSECT WITH TRAFFIC.
>> OKAY. THAT SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANKS, JORDAN.
I APPRECIATE IT, AND KEEP US INFORMED OF WHAT YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND HOW WE CAN -- I MEAN, FOR DISCUSSION FOR THE COMMITTEE, I SEE THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC ORGANIZATION THAT WE COULD WORK WITH AND GAIN SOME INSIGHT FROM AND ALSO PROVIDE
INSIGHT TO. >> I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION WITH THOSE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE ALONG AUTUMN GREENWAY. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT IT, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE INCLUDED. AND THAT PATH IS ALSO WORKING WITH THOSE EXISTING NEIGHBORS IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO LIKE YOU SAID IT IS IN THE BOND, BUT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THOSE NEIGHBORS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT MAKES SENSE AS A PATH THROUGH THE CITY OF CARMEL BUT ALSO DEFINITELY MOST CERTAINLY WITH THOSE NEIGHBORS AND THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS. >> SOUNDS GOOD.
OKAY, WE'LL MOVE TO ANY OTHER GENERAL COMMENTS OR ANYTHING.
OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ONTO ITEM NUMBER 4, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM MAY 27, 2025. TAKE A VOTE ON THAT. ALL APPROVE.
>> ALL RIGHT, IT'S APPROVED. OKAY, SO WE'LL MOVE ONTO ITEM NUMBER 5, GENERAL PROGRESS UPDATES. UPDATE ON COMMUNICATION WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND CHIEF OF STAFF.
I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM YET. I'LL SEND OUT ANOTHER E- MAIL TO FOLLOW- UP ON THAT SINCE THEY HAD A CHANGING OF THE GUARD KIND OFOF TOWARDS THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND SEE IF WE CAN')T GET ANOTHER MEETING SET UP TO GO OVER WITH THE MAYOR'S PRIORITIES AND SEE IF THEY'RE READY TO BE RELEASED TO US YET TO SEE IF WE CAN COMBINE OUR EFFORTS, PICK OUT WHICH ONES WOULD BE MOST BENEFICIAL AND POSSIBLY THE EASIEST AND MOST COST- EFFECTIVE TO WORK ON THAT THE MAYOR'S ALREADY IDENTIFIED THAT MEET WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON WITH THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. UPDATE ON COMMUNICATINS AND MARKETING.
>> THANK YOU. REGARDING COMMUNICATIONS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE MET IN JUNE -- JUNE 26TH WITH THE CLIMATE FELLOW THAT'S INTERNING FOR THE SUMMER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
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COMMUNITY SERVICES, SAMUEL, AND HE'S BEEN WORKING ON DEVELOPING CURRENT POSTS AS WELL AS FUTURE POSTS FOR THE CITY NEWSLETTER. THE LATEST ONE WAS COMPOSTING, AND I SECHBT THAT SENT THAT TO YOU ALL I THINK TODAY IF THERE WERE OTHER AVENUES YOU WANT TO PUT IN YOU HAD ACCESS TO. SOME OTHER TOPICS WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR THE FUTURE INCLUDE SOLAR, E-BIKES, FOOD WASTE, BUYING LOCAL, AND FAST FASHION. WE ALSO HAVE TALKED ABOUT GETTING THE NEWSLETTER POSTS MORE DISPERSED THROUGH EITHER SOCIAL MEDIA OR POSTING SOME OF THAT CONTENT DIRECTLY ON THE CITY WEBSITE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS IT IN THE FUTURE AND LINKING IT OR PUTTING IT ON THE CLIMATE DASHBOARD AS WELL.I'D SENT SOME OF THE STATISTICS FROM THE -- YOU KNOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING THAT NEWSLETTER AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CLICKING ON THAT SURVEY. IT SEEMS THAT'S WHAT'S GETTING THE MOST CLICKS, I GUESS, FROM THE NEWSLETTER.
WHICH, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN JUST READ THE E- MAIL AS WELL AND BE GETTING THE CONTENT.
THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO CLICK IT, BUT PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING WITH THE -- THE QUIZ.
SO WE'RE JUST TRUCKING RIGHT ALONG WITH THAT, AND I THINK IT'S GOING PRETTY WELL SO FAR.
I'M GOING UTILIZE THE CLIMATE FELLOW FOR AS LONG AS WE HAVE HIM, AND GET THAT CONTENT SET UP SO WE CAN KEEP DOING THAT EVERY MONTH. THANK
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
FOR -- >> CAN I ADD A COUPLE THINGS? SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT HAS TAKEN US A FEW MONTHS TO GET ORGANIZED AND GET A PROCESS IN PLACE.
BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD PROCESS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WHICH KIND OF -- BEING ABLE TO RELY ON THE CLIMATE FELLOW KIND OF ILLUSTRATES THE POINT BECAUSE ONE OF OUR JOBS IS TO IDENTIFY RESOURCE NEEDS, AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW OUR PROCESS KIND OF DEPENDS ON HAVING MORE STAFF SUPPORT.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION ON THE QUIZ THAT IS GETTING SOME TRACTION.
IT'S NOT GETTING NEARLY ENOUGH TRACTION.
SO THE QUIZ ON TREE MULCHING HAD 53 RESPONSES.
THE QUIZ ON NATIVE PLANTS ONLY HAD 27.
AND THEN THE MOST RECENT ONE ON IRRIGATION ONLY HAD 37.
SO WHAT THIS SAYS TO ME IS A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE IS THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY SECTION IS ALMOST AT THE END OF THE NEWSLETTER, SO MOST PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AREN'T GETTING TO IT.
BUT IT ALSO MEANS THAT WE NEED TO HELP DISSEMINATIONS, WHICH IS WHAT YOU MENTIONED.
SO, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP WITH PROMOTION.
I KNOW I THINK AT THE LAST MEETING SOMEBODY MENTIONED GETTING IN FRONT OF THE SMALL BUSINESS. I KNOW THERE'S A MEETING COMING UP, SO WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT GETTING IN FRONT OF THEM SOMEHOW. AND THEN OTHERS HAD MENTIONED BEING ABLE TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THESE THINGS INTO YOUR NEWSLETTER OR YOUR OUTREACH EFFORTS, YOUR NETWORK. SO, ALEXIA, THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW TO GET THIS INTO THE CITY NEWSLETTER INVOLVES PUTTING TOGETHER AN INFOGRAPHIC, WHICH IS GREAT.
IT SERVES THE NEWSLETTER'S PURPOSE.
BUT IF YOUR NEWSLETTER REQUIRES OTHER GRAPHICS OR OTHER FORMAT OR, YES, I WANT TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD BUT I NEED THE INFORMATION IN THIS FORMAT, PLEASE, THAT WAS -- I OFFERED TO DO THAT.
SO PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT FORMAT THAT IS FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER. I KNOW THAT UTILITIES PUTS OUT A QUARTERLY, I THINK. SO THINK ABOUT THAT.
AND AS TIME PERMITS, I'LL REACH OUT TO FIND OUT WHAT FORMAT YOU WANT THIS INFORMATION IN.
I KNOW FOR ME AND THE CARMEL GREEN INITIATIVE, I NEED IT IN A CERTAIN FORMAT BECAUSE OUR NEWSLETTER IS LAID OUT IN A CERTAIN WAY, AND IT DOESN'T LEND ITSELF TO THE INFO GRAPHIC. IT JUST DOESN'T WORK. WE'RE TRYING TO REFINE THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT. SO ANYWAY, ANY HELP WITH THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT. SO YOU SAID -- IS THE NEWSLETTER IS THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GETTING OUT
IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN GET ON SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE I
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KNOW THAT'S AN EASIER TOUCH POINT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS ANY OPINIONS ON THAT.>> I THINK WHEN I REACHED -- WHEN I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE MARKETING AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, THEY DO THEN PUT A POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I THINK I'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF THE OTHER ONES OUT THERE. AND I'VE SAID HERE'S THE CONTENT FROM THIS NEWSLETTER, CAN YOU PUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND I THINK THEY'VE DONE THAT.
>> OH, THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF
>> HAVE WE CONSIDERED WE CAN ALSO PUBLISH IN "GOOD DAY GOOD DAY CARMEL" AND CURRENT IN CARMEL.
I'VE BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE, IT TENDS TO ONLY BE ON FACEBOOK, A LOT OF US WON'T TOUCH
FACEBOOK. >> I WILL SAY I'VE BEEN WORKING ON GETTING IN CONTACT WITH THE CURRENT PUBLISHING. SO I'VE GOTTEN IN CONTACT WITH THEIR LIKE OVERALL -- SOMEONE WHO'S NOT INVOLVED IN THE MINUTE DETAILS.
THAT'S IN THE WORK AND THEY SEEM PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT, SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO DONATE TO US, LIKE THAT SPACE IN THEIR -- IN THE NEWSPAPER. I'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON GETTING IT INTOINTO STROLL MAGAZINES, WHICH I THINK COULD BE A GOOD TOUCH POINT AS WELL. AND A QUESTION FOR MAGGIE.
WOULD WE BE ABLE TO GET IT INTO, LIKE, HIGHLIGHT OR --
>> DEFINITELY. BUT ONCE THE SCHOOL YEAR GETS AROUND AND THEY GET THEIR FOOTING, BUT I'LL DEFINITELY REACH OUT ONCE THAT COMES TO
TIME. >> AND IF THEY NEED A CERTAIN FORMAT, LET ME KNOW. I CAN CHANGE IT. WE DID HAVE AN ARTICLE ABOUT IRRIGATION I THINK, RIGHT, IN THE CURRENT. SO WHEN WE GET THOSE WE'RE TRYING TO FEED THE CURRENT THOSE ARTICLES, BUT THEN IT'S UP TO THEM TO PUBLISH THEM. AND THEY'RE WILLING TO -- I THINK THEY SAID THEY'RE WILLING TO, SO THEY DO WHEN THEY HAVE
MAGGIE, DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE, LIKE, A DIFFERENT ARTICLE FOR THE HIGHLIGHT
NEWSPAPER? >> I THINK IN TERMS OF HIGHLIGHT THE ROUTE WE WOULD GO IS HAVE -- I CAN BE THE ONE WHO CORRESPONDS WITH THEM AND HAVE THEM WRITE IT BECAUSE THE WHOLE PURPOSE IS TO HAVE THE STUDENTS WORK ON THEIR WRITING, SO WE WOULD GIVE THEM ALL OUR INFORMATION, AND WE COULD SAY THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
WE CAN MAYBE TALK ABOUT THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING AND THEY WOULD PUBLISH THAT. THAT'S KIND OF THE IDEA I'M
THANK YOU. >> I'VE GOT A QUICK QUESTION SINCE WE'RE ON THIS SUBJECT RIGHT NOW.
I WAS GOING TO WAIT UNTIL LATER, BUT SINCE WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE VIEWERSHIP AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT NOT JUST WITH OUR SECTION BUT THE NEWSLETTER IN GENERAL, WE HAVE ON MAIN COMING UP SOON AND THEY AUCTION OFF OR SELL-OFF THE RAIN BARRELS.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR THE CITY OF CARMEL IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CARMEL CLIMATE CLIMATE ACTION COMMITTEE TO OFFER UP ONE OF THOSE BARRELS AS A PRIZE AND HAVE THE CONTEST BE A SCAVENGER HUNT THROUGH A SERIES OF NEWSLETTERS WHERE THEY HAVE TO CLICK AND FIND CERTAIN INFORMATION AND THEN PRESENT IT? I MEAN, JUST AN IDEA.
AND WHOEVER DOES THE MOST OR THE QUICKEST, YOU KNOW, GETS A RAIN BARREL. I MEAN, WOULD THAT BE -- SOMETHING LIKE THAT JUST SOMETHING TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO ACCESS THE NEWSLETTER MORE, TO ACTUALLY SEARCH IT AND READ SOME OF THE
ARTICLES? >> I THINK IT'S A GOODGOOD BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE THAT DO ENGAGE ARE MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY VISITED, IF I HAD TO GUESS. I THINK IT WILL BE A LONG TIME OR A LOT OF WORK FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE TIME TO GIVE. THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION.
BUT IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY COMMENTS ON THAT.
>> IT'S A GREAT IDEA, TONY, BUT THE ONE THING ABOUT THE RAIN BARRELS IS THAT THEY ARE A MONEY RAISING FOR OTHER RAIN BARREL AND OTHER INITIATIVES WITHIN CARMEL UTILITIES. SO IF WE REALLY WANTED TO DO THAT, WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BUY THE RAIN BARREL THROUGH SOME SOME÷÷SORT AUCTION, WHICH IS HOW THEY DO IT. AND SOME OF THESE RAIN BARRELS CAN BE -- HAVING BOUGHT ONE OF THEM, CAN BE SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS, SO --
>> OKAY, MAYBE NOT A RAIN BARREL UNLESS THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD DO.
BUT WE COULD USE RAIN ON MAIN ALSO AS THE KICK OFF PLATFORM WHERE WE COULD HAVE FLIERS AROUND. THEY ALWAYS HAVE A LITTLE SCAVENGER HUNT FOR THE
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KIDS. AND WHEN MY GIRLS WERE LITTLE THEY WOULD ALWAYS PARTICIPATE IN THAT. AND WE COULD HAVE ONE FOR ADULTS, AND IT WOULD LEAD THEM TO THE NEWSLETTER, AND WE COULD PROVIDE THEM WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FLIER WHAT TO DO, GO ONLINE, YOU KNOW, READ THE NEWS LETTERS OVER THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS.THERE'S CERTAIN ITEMS IN THERE YOU'VE GOT TO FIND IN THESE NEWS LETTERS, AND WE CAN EMBED THEM, AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY INCREASE VIEWERSHIP THAT WAY AND HAVE A NICE QR CODE ON THERE WHERE THOUGH THEY SCAN IT AND REGISTER AS A RECIPIENT OF THE NEWSLETTER
AUTOMATICALLY. >> I KNOW THAT THE FARMER'S MARKET DOES A SIMILAR THING.
IF YOU GO EVERY WEEK YOU CAN PICK UP, LIKE, A PUZZLE PIECE AND AT THE END OF THE SUMMER YOU'LL HAVE A WHOLE PUZZLE.
SO I THINK WE COULD DO SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT.
AND WHILE WE'RE ON THE FARMER'S MARKET, IS IT EVER -- WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR US -- ONE OF US TO SIT AT THE INFORMATION BOOTH AND WE CAN MAYBE PROMOTE THE NEWSLETTER OR EVEN GETTING OUR OWN BOOTH, MAYBE?
>> THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. WOULD WE BUILD A TEAM UP WITH THE MARKETING FOR A COUPLE SATURDAYS OR SOMETHING AT THE FARMER')S
>> IT'S SOMETHING WE COULD ASK THEM.
>> WE'D HAVE TO ASK THEM, YEAH.
>> AND THEN GET PEOPLE FROM THE COMMITTEE THAT ARE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER. BUT IF PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER AT THE FARMER'S
MARKET, I DON'T KNOW WHY NOT. >> OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ONTO PRIORITY INITIATIVES AND UPDATES. NEEDS FOR UPDATED INITIATIVES ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE TO ADMIT I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD IN A COUPLE WEEKS, SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANY UPDATES HAVE BEEN MADE OVER THE LAST TWO, THREE WEEKS.
>> I AND WANT TO SAY THE LAST TIME AT THE LAST MEETING I WAS GOING TO TRY TO PUT IN AN APPLICATION FOR GRANT CC COMPOST FOR WITHIN CARMEL.
UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL IT ALL TOGETHER IN TIME.
LANE, I'D LIKE TO REALLY SET A MEETING WITH YOU SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN REQUEST FROM REPUBLIC BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE SUPPOSEDLY A $10,000 GRANT EVERY YEAR FOR US TO DO THIS SO --
>> WE DID UPDATE THE -- WE HAD A MEETING WITH STAFF FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO PUT ANY UPDATES ON THE DASHBOARD THAT THEY HAD, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD MEETING. WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION AS WELL AROUND SOME OF THE STRATEGIES. % SO IF YOU TAKE A LOOK, THERE SHOULD BE UPDATES ON THERE. AND ON THE -- UNDER THE STRATEGIES TAB ON THE DASHBOARD, IF YOU CLICK -- THERE'S A LIST FORMAT, BUT IF YOU CLICK THE DASHBOARD FORMAT, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE A BREAK DOWN OF ALL THE STRATEGIES AND WHAT PHASE THEY'RE IN. SO WE DO HAVE ONE THAT'S -- I WOULD SAY COMPLETED. IT'S IN A CONTINUOUS FORMAT, THOUGH, AND I THINK THAT'STHAT'S PUBLIC EDUCATION ONE BECAUSE THAT'S ONGOING.
AND THEN THERE'S TWO THAT ARE COMPLETED AS WELL, SEVEN IN IMPLEMENTATION, EIGHT IN THE PLANNING STAGE, AND THEN 24 NOT STARTED. AND ONE INACTIVE.
THAT'S KIND OF A NICE LITTLE TOOL TO BE ABLE TO SEE A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE ARE WITH ALL OF THE STRATEGIES.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HAVING THESE MEETINGS PROBABLY BIANNUALLY MAYBE TO UPDATE OUR STRATEGIES ON THE DASHBOARD AND KEEP IT RELEVANT. AND THEN THE CLIMATE FELLOW SAMUEL HAS ALSO BEEN TRYING TO ADD MORE LINKS FOR RESIDENTS TO INTERACT WITH. SO EITHER, YOU KNOW, READ MORE INFO OR WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP. SO HE'S BEEN GOING THROUGH AS HE CAN TO EITHER CREATE SOME OF THAT CONTENT OR FIGURE OUT THERE'S WEBSITES THAT WE CAN LINK TO.
AND ONCE THOSE ARE DONE, WE'LL GET ALL THOSE POSTED ON THERE AS WELL.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. AND IT LOOKS LIKE QUITE A BIT HAS BEEN DONE JUST IN THE LAST WEEK, A LOT OF UPDATES AND
EVERYTHING SO -- >> YEAH, I THINK WE JUST MET A WEEK OR TWO AGO.
>> MOVING ONTO ITEM NUMBER 7, DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES.
JOHN'S NOT HERE AND ERIC'S NOT HERE.
LANE IS THE ONLY ONE REPRESENTING CARMEL UTILITIES. YOU WANT TO GIVE US AN UPDATE IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> SURE. I DON'T HAVE A LOT, BUT I HAVE TALKED TO TARA WASHINGTON. SO SHE'S ON OUR STAFF.
SHE'S ALSO ON THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, SO IT'S A GOOD WAY FOR BOTH OF US TO KIND OF COME AT THE ADMINISTRATION AND COME AT THESE GOALS TOGETHER.
AND SHE'S -- SO, KELVIN, SHE'S WHO WE NEED TO GET WITH ON REPUBLIC BECAUSE SHE MANAGES THE REPUBLIC CONTRACT FOR US AND SORT OF OUR CONTACT. WE'LL GET WITH HER AND I KNOW SHE'S LOOKING AT COMPOSTING AS WELL. SHE MENTIONED -- SHE SENT
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ME THIS. THE WATER USAGE ASSESSMENT, SO AS WE GET OUR AUTOMATEDMETER, ALL AND WE'RE PRETTY MUCH FINISHED WITH THAT SO MOST CUSTOMERS HAVE THOSE METERS SENDING READINGS MONTHLY TO US. AND WE ARE VERY CLOSE.WE'RE PROBABLY A MONTH AWAY, MAYBE SIX WEEKS AWAY FROM LAUNCHING OUR NEW WEBSITE AND PORTAL FOR CUSTOMERS TO WHERE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION.
SO THEY'LL GET REALTIME USAGE -- WATER USAGE AND REALTIME ACCESS TO THE REPORTS.
I THINK ONCE THAT IS LIVE IS WE GET EVERYBODY CONNECTED TO THAT, THAT'S A PLACE WHERE WE CAN START DOING A LOT OF EDUCATION AROUND USAGE. THERE'S THINGS WE CAN ADD TO THAT WEBSITE TIED TO THE PORTAL. WE'RE CLOSE TO THAT, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. I KNOW SHE WAS WORKING ON SOME DATA THAT SHE AND OUR TEAM -- METER TEAM -- I'M NOT QUITE SURE THE DATA IS WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE KIND OF ON HOW TO PARSE IT OUT AND REALLY UPDATE OUR GOAL AND INITIATIVE IN THAT. SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THAT AND GET THAT TO WHERE IT -- WHAT IT TELLS US IS ACCURATE AND IT'S HAPPENFUL, RIGHT? SO I THINK THEY'RE WORKING ON IT. SO THAT'S KIND OF AN UPDATE ON THAT ITEM.
AND ANOTHER ITEM IS WE ARE DOING AN ENERGY AUDIT ON ALL OF OUR FACILITIES. AND SO PART OF THIS HAS COME AS I'VE STEPPED IN TO THETHE IN OUR BUDGETING. THEIR BUDGET WAS JUST A VERY BIG, BROAD BUDGET THAT WE WOULD GO THROUGH EVERY YEAR, AND I'M USED TO A VERY DETAILED LINE ITEM BUDGET AND HOW TO MANAGE OUR ASSETS ACCORDING TO THAT. SO I'M WORKING ON THAT.
YOU ALL WILL SEE THAT AT OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION THIS SUMMER REAL DETAILED ON WHAT DOES IT COST TO OPERATE THESE ASSETS THAT WE OWN AND HAVE TO MAINTAIN AND REPAIR AND REPLACE AND SET RATES TO DO SO? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT BETTER INFORMATION AND WE'RE GOING TO START TRACKING THAT.
AND A BIG CATEGORY OF OURS IS POWER AND HOW MUCH WE'RE USE AS WELL TO GET BETTER INFORMATION AROUND THAT. SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS WE'RE DOING INTERNALLY THAT MEET -- I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE GOALS FOR OUR AREA AS WELL
ONE THING WE'VE DISCUSSED IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS LAST YEAR AND IN WORKING UP TO NOW WAS LOOKING AT THE CITY'S IRRIGATION I THINK THE CITY'S DOING ABOUT THREE TIMES A WEEK. ARE WE STILL DOING THAT RIGHT NOW DURING A LOT OF THIS RAIN WE'RE GETTING? IS IT STILL BEING TURNED ON THREE TIMES
A WEEK? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION THAT I WILL FOLLOW- UP ON BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THIS WE'RE NOT IN THISTHIS BUT WHETHER IT'S PARKS AND STREETS, I CAN CHECK WITH THEM ARE WE TWO DAYS OR THREE DAYS, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? SOME OF THIS METER ONCE WE GET THE PORTAL, WE'LL BE ABLE TO BETTER LOOK AT WHO ARE THE MAIN USERS, HOW MUCH IN THE CITY IS USING, HOW MUCH CAN WE AFFECT THEIR USAGE AS WELL AS THEMTHEM GETTING IT OUT TO THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. >> BECAUSE ONE THING WE WANT TO LOOK AT IT CREATING TWO OR THREE ZONES WITHIN THE CITY OF GREEN SPACE THAT WE IRRIGATE THREE TIMES A WEEK, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW MUCH WATER WE'RE USING AND THEN REDUCE IT TO TWO TIMES A WEEK AND COMPARE THE ENERGY SAVINGS THAT WE GET BUT ALSO COMPARE THE GREEN SPACE.
WAS IT STILL VIABLE? WAS IT STILL -- IS TWO DAYS ENOUGH TO DO IT TWO DAYS A WEEK? BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE HEARING THROUGH EXPERTS AND STUFF A LOT THROUGH IRRIGATION IS TWO DAYS A WEEK IS AMPLE ESPECIALLY FOR THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY. IF WE UTILIZE NATIVE GRASSES AND EVERYTHING THAT ARE MORE ACCUSTOMED TO, SAY, DROUGHT OR NOT QUITE AS MUCH RAIN THAN OTHER AREAS, THAT WOULDN'T BE VIABLE. AND, YOU KNOW, JOHN 'S TOLD US IN THE PAST THE BIGGEST AMOUNT IS MOVING ENERGY.
IF WE CAN REDUCE THAT DOWN TO TWICE A WEEK AND BE SUCCESSFUL WITH IT AND SHOW ON THE DASHBOARD AND OTHER AREAS WITHIN THE CITY HOW THAT'S IMPACTING THE BUDGET AND SAVING MONEY AND SAVING ENERGY AND REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT BUT ALSO IN WATER CONSERVATION AND RUNOFF AND EVERYTHING, FROM DOING THAT, WE CAN PASS THAT INFORMATION OFF TO THE RESIDENTS AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE. I GOT MINE DOWN TO TWICE A WEEK THIS YEAR.
SO FAR IT'S FINE. I ONLY ACTUALLY WATERED MY YARD
[00:30:04]
THREE TIMES THIS YEAR. I GO AND SHUT IT OFF WHEN I GET RAIN. BUT MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS DO IT THREE OR SOMETIMES FOUR TIMES A WEEK. THERE ARE SOME THAT DO IT EVERYTHING MORNING. I SEE THEM DO IT AT 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON, AND THAT JUST BOGGLES MY MIND BECAUSE HALF OF IT EVAPORATES BEFORE IT CAN SETTLE DOWN. IF THE CITY CAN DO IT, IT WOULD PROVE OUR POINT THE RESIDENTS CAN DO IT, TOO, AND WE CAN WORK WITH THE HOAS AND EVERYONE TO SPREAD THE WORD. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS WITH THESE NEW METERS BECAUSE THEY'LL DO IT REALTIME.>> I'LL CHECK IN WITH THE STREET DEPARTMENT, TOO, TO SEE WHAT THEIR USAGE AND EVERYTHING IS BECAUSE I THINK MATT WOULD HAVE SOME ANSWERS ON THAT FOR SURE.
>> AND MATT AND I MEET WEEKLY, SO I CAN BRING THAT UP TO HIM AND ASK THEM WHERE THEY ARE. I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT AS ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON, SO THAT'S AN EASY -- EASY BUTTON FOR
ME. >> AND WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT PREVIOUSLY WHEN JAN DUFFY WAS HERE AND THE METERS AND PUTTING THAT INFORMATION ON THE DASHBOARD. I THINK THAT'S WHAT TARA HAD BEEN WORKING ON. SO ONCE YOU GUYS HAVE THAT READY, SHE CAN WORK WITH ME AND GET THAT ON THE BASH BOARD AND MEASURING AND SEEING FROM MONTH TO MONTH OR YEAR TO YEAR WHAT OUR IRRIGATION NUMBERS ARE AND HOPE SALE SEE IMPROVEMENTS IF WE MAKE ANY
CHANGES. >> THIS IS MY FIRST MEETING WHEN I WE MEET TWO MONTHS AGO, AND SO I DO KNOW THAT SOME HOAS WERE STARTING TO WANT TO SEE THAT.
WE'RE ABLE TO GET THAT TO THEM. SO I THINK WE'LL SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT IN THAT AS THAT INFORMATION IS READILY AVAILABLE TO THEM AND THEY ACTUALLY EVALUATE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY SPENT AND MAYBE MAKE SOME INROADS THERE.
YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING OF TARA. SHE TOOK A ROAD TRIP UP TO PURDUE AND MET WITH THEM TO DISCUSS VARIOUS GRASS VARIETIES THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY USE THAT ARE MORE DROUGHT RESISTANT BUT STILL PROVIDE THAT -- WHAT WE HOPE MOST OF OUR CITIZENS WOULD WANT IN THEIR YARDS AND PUBLIC GREEN SPACE.
SO I WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT, BUT SHE SAID IT WAS A VERY INFORMATIVE TRIP AND THAT THERE WERE SOME IDEAS. AND I THINK THAT PURDUE WOULD BE WILLING TO EVEN DO SOME PILOT WORK WITH US, IF WE PICK SOME AREAS AND SAID LET'S JUST TRY THIS. SO THAT TESTS THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF GRASS THAT NEEDS ONCE A WEEK OR MAYBE EVERY OTHER WEEK.
WHAT THEY HAVE, THEN WE CAN START DEMONSTRATING ITS BEAUTY AND HOW IT FITS IN WITH OUR PUBLIC SPACE, AND THEN WE CAN TALK TALKING TO OUR CITIZENS ABOUT THAT, HOSS AND OTHERS.
SO THERE ARE SOME INITIATIVES THERE WE'RE CONTINUING TO PURSUE. AND I THINK PURDUE RECEIVED A FEDERAL GRANT FOR THAT RESEARCH. I THINK I REMEMBER READING. BUT ALSO IN CULMINATION WITH OUR ENERGY AUDIT, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE HOW MUCH ENERGY IS USED ON IRRIGATION, IF YOU GO THAT SPECIFIC TO IT. AND THEN WE CAN SHOW HOW MUCH WE CAN SAVE IF WE REDUCE IT BY ONE- THIRD, LIKE ONE TIME A WEEK INSTEAD OF THREE TIMES A WEEK. I THINK THAT'LL BE SIGNIFICANT NOT JUST ON DOLLARS BUT GREENHOUSE GASES AS WELL ON THE UTILITY COMPANY. SO THAT'D BE NICE. THANK
YOU. >> I THINK IT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLY ON IN THIS COMMITTEE THAT WATER UTILITY, BRINGING WATER OUT OF THE GROUND IS 50% OF USAGE FOR THE CITY OF CARMEL. AND I ALSO KNOW THE WATER USAGE IN THE SUMMER IS FOUR TIMES GREATER THAN THE WATER IN THE WINTER, AND THAT'S ALL IRRIGATION. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT STARTING TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS, EVEN HOUSEHOLDS, NOT JUST HOSS, NOT JUST THE CITY TO START TO GO TO TWO TIMES A WEEK. I MEAN, I BELIEVE INDIANAPOLIS HAS ALREADY DONE THAT.
BUT THE OTHER THING IS WE PROBABLY NEED TO TALK TO ALL THE IRRIGATION COMPANIES THAT SERVICE THIS AREA.
WHEN WE HAD A HOUSE HERE, THEY AUTOMATICALLY DEPROGRAMMED IT FOR FOUR TIMES A WEEK. WE NEED TO START ENCOURAGING THOSE COMPANIES TO CUT BACK AND PUT IT DURING EARLY MORNING HOURS DURING THE MORNING AND EVENING, WHICH IS BETTER, NOT IN THE MID- AFTERNOON AND WHATEVER.
AND THE OTHER ONE IS ENCOURAGING INSTALLATION OF RAIN GAUGES, WHICH AUTOMATICALLYAUTOM ATICALLY THE SYSTEM FROM RUNNING WHEN IT'S RAINED.
SO THERE'S SOME EASY THINGS TO DO, BUT THE OTHER PART IS WE NEED TO BRING SOME IRRIGATION BECAUSE THEY'RE -- A LOT OF
[00:35:01]
HOME OWNERS ARE PROBABLY JUST HAVING IRRIGATION COME IN WHEN THEY DO THE TURN ON IN THE SPRING, PROGRAMMING THE SYSTEM. AND I KNOW THE TWO WE USED AUTOMATICALLY WENT TO FOUR DAYS A WEEK.>> I WOULD REITERATE THAT. IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD A LOT OF THEM DO IT FOUR TIMES A WEEK, AND I THINK IT'S MAINLY BECAUSE THE IRRIGATION COMPANIES WHEN THEY COME IN AND TURN ON THE SYSTEM EVERY SPRING, THEY TELL THE HOMEOWNER YOU NEED TO DO IT THIS AMOUNT OF TIMES. THEY'RE GOING TO BELIEVE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE THE PROFESSIONALS COMING IN AND TURNING ON THE SYSTEM. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT INSTALLED IT. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT SHOWED THEM HOW TO PROGRAM IT, SO THEY'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO THEM.
SO IF WE CAN START TELLING THEM TO ENCOURAGE THEIR CUSTOMERS TWICE A WEEK, IT'S NOT GOING TO DAMAGE THEIR SALES ANY, BUT IT'S GOING TO HELP THE CITY OUT DRAMATICALLY. SO IT'D BE NICE TO GET SOME TYPETYPE OF MEETING WITH THEM AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT
IT. >> SO I KEEP WONDERING WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES DO WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? IS IT -- IS TARA ABLE TO ABSORB THIS WHOLE
PROJECT? >> BE A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC IN THIS WHOLE PROJECT.
>> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. THE PROJECT BEING IT'S RELATEDRELATED TO OUR STRATEGIES THAT TONY MENTIONED, AND THAT IS SHE MET WITH PURDUE.
IT'S A NICE -- IT'S A GREAT PARTNERSHIP TO IDENTIFY VEGETATION THAT IS A LITTLE MORE DROUGHT RESISTANT AND CAN GET BY WITH LESS IRRIGATION, THAT CAN BE DOCUMENTED, APPROVED AND ALL OF THAT AND SO THAT IT CAN BE SHARED WOULD THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES.
>> SHE DEFINITELY CAN DO THAT. AND THAT FALLS KIND OF WITHIN HER PURVIEW OF -- OF KIND OF OUR CUSTOMER RELATION AND EDUCATION AND THERE'S ANOTHER PERSON THAT WORKS WITH HER AS WELL.
I THINK THOSE ARE -- THOSE ARE INITIATIVES WE WANT TO SEE AS WELL, SO THEY KIND OF FALL WITHIN OUR UTILITY STRATEGY.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU. >> AND JUST ONE MORE.
THE IDEA OF, LIKE, HONING IN ON THIS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE SAVINGS COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED, LIKE KNOWING KIND OF THE SCIENCE BEHIND WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHERE WE CAN GET THROUGH, I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER -- I DON'T WATER MY GRASS AS A MILLENNIAL, BUT I HAVE A TON OF THISTLE IF YOU NEED SOME. COME PICK UP SOME AT MY HOUSE IF YOU NEED IT. BUT THE IDEA WE'RE LOOK AT IT ON A SUSTAINABILITY FRONT I THINK IS GOING TO MATTER.
IF YOU GET THE DATA, EVEN THE IDEA HOW MUCH IS PARKS PAYING FOR WATER AND UTILITIES, HOW CAN WE PULL WHAT YOU'RE DOING TOGETHER WHICH IS GREAT NOT ONLY THE BUDGET SIDE BUT FOR THE CITY TO SAY WE CAN MEET CLIMATE GOALS AS WELL AS SAVE FINANCIAL RETURNS FOR THE CITY TO USE FOR OTHER THINGS.
>> I AGREE. I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHERE -- THAT GIVES US THE GREATEST LIFT TO GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF WE CAN BE GOOD WITH OUR BUDGET, AS WE ALL KNOW WITH SENATE BILL 1, THE BUDGET'S A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC RIGHT NOW. SO I THINK THAT NOW'S THE TIME TO APPROACH IT THAT WAY.
>> I GOT A QUESTION FOR -- KIND OF PROCEDURAL QUESTION FOR THE COMMITTEE. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THESE PROJECTS SIX, SEVEN MONTHS NOW. HOW DO WE AS A COMMITTEE MAKE IT OFFICIAL TO MOVE THIS FORWARD? DO WE NEED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CITY COUNCIL? DO AN OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATION FOR THE UTILITIES AND PARKS? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO GET THIS GOING? WE GATE LANE HERE SEATED AND JOHN'S RETIRING. KIND OF PUT THINGS ON THE BACK BURNER, NOW, BUT DO WE NEED TO MAKE THIS OFFICIAL OR CAN WE JUST DISCUSS?
>> LANE, CAN YOU GUARANTEE RIGHT NOW YOU'RE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT AND CAN REPORT BACK IN TWO MONTHS?
>> I CAN GUARANTEE I'M WORKING ON THIS PROJECT AND WILL REPORT BACK IN TWO
MONTHS. >> THE OTHER THING, TOO, IS IT IS ONE OF OUR IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES.
AND SO AS LONG AS WE CAN KEEP UPDATING AND REPORTING BACK, I THINK WE'RE GOOD. ALTHOUGH I THINK YOU ARE RAISING A GOOD QUESTION, AND THAT IS JUST THE GENERAL PROCEDURE AND PROCESS FOR UNDERTAKING DIFFERENT -- DIFFERENT STRATEGIES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THE SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR WOULD DO, IF WE HAD
ONE. >> AND THAT KIND OF LEADS INTO SOMETHING ELSE FOR DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES. WE HAVE A INTERN THIS SUMMER, IS
YES. >> HAVE THEY BEEN ASSIGNED CERTAIN PROJECTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? WHAT ARE THEY WORKING ON? ANY UPDATES THERE?
[00:40:01]
>> YEAH, SURE, I CAN GIVE YOU SOME
UPDATES. >> WE'RE PROBABLY ABOUT A THIRD THROUGH THE SUMMER ALREADY.
>> SO ONE OF THE PIECES THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS THE NEWSLETTER POST TO GET US SET UP WITH CONTENT BY THE END OF THE YEAR. SO THAT RESEARCH IS AND FORMATTING IS ALREADY DONE. AND ONCE THEY'RE DONE WE CAN KEEP SPEEDING THAT INFORMATION TO THE MARKETING AND COMMUNITY NEWS LETTERS. AND LIKE I SAID THEY'VE BEEN UPDATING SOME OF THE TIPS OR WHAT RESIDENTS CAN DO SO WE CAN POST ON THE WEBSITE AND ALSO THE DASHBOARD. HE'S WORKING ON CDP REPORTING, WHICH IS THE CLIMATE DISCLOSURE PROJECT. THE CITY HAS REPORTED ON THAT IN THE PAST, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN A YEAR OR TWO MAYBE SINCE WE'VE DONE THAT. SO WITH HIM HERE THIS SUMMER, WE THOUGHT THAT COULD BE A PROJECT HE TAKES ON. WE DID THE CLIMATE RISK AND ABILITY ASSESSMENT A YEAR OR TWO AGO. THAT IS A BIG PROJECT.
HE'S GOING TO SET US UP TO WHATEVER POINT HE GETS TO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY CONTINUE THAT. AND HE IS TAKING A LOOK AT A FEW OF THE INITIATIVES, THE STRATEGIES FROM THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN THAT HE WAS INTERESTED IN AND THOUGHT HE COULD HELP MOVE FORWARD. AND ONE OF THOSE IS EB2, I BELIEVE. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO -- I'M GOING TO HAVE HIM TALK AT THE NEXT SUSTAINABILITY COMMUNITY MEETING. IT'S THE MARKETING AND DISCLOSURE PROGRAM.
HE DID SOME RESEARCH. KIND OF HAS HIS RECOMMENDATION FOR BEST STEP FORWARD FOR THAT, WHICH I THINK HE'S GOING TO RECOMMEND WE GO THROUGH THE CURRENT PROGRAM RIGHT NOW WITH THE EPA AND THE ENERGY STAR BENCHMARKING DISCLOSRE PROGRAM.
THEY HAVE -- I FORGET EXACTLY WHAT IT'S CALLED, BUT IT'S FREE. WE CAN SIGN UP, AND IF WE CAN START WITH EVEN JUST ONE BUILDING AT THE CITY -- MAYBE CITY HALL AND GET SOME OF THAT DATA WE CAN START THROUGH THAT PROGRAM, GET US READY TO START WORKINGEN ON THAT. AND EVEN IF WE DON'T ON THAT PROGRAM AND WE FIND SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE I KNOW I THINK I.T. HAS BEEN LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN MEASURE AND KEEP TRACK OF ENERGY USAGE ON A DASHBOARD. IF WE SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT PROGRAM AT LEAST WE'LL ALREADY HAVE RESEARCH AND GOTTEN SOMETHING IN THE SHORT-TERM.
SO HE'S BEEN WORKING ON THAT ONE AS WELL AS TRYING TO WORK WITH I THINK IT WAS G3 AND THE NATIVE AND DRY RESISTANT PLANTINGS. AT THE MOMENT HIS PLATE IS QUITE FULL, AND I'LL BE WORKING WITH HIM.
AND HE'LL BE HERE I THINK MIDDLE OF
I KNOW ONE BUILDING YOU SPOKE OF I THINK AT THE LAST MEETING WAS THE MONAN CENTER, SINCE THEY HAD HIGH EFFICIENCY UP GRADES DONE TO TOOK AT WHERE THEIR EFFICIENCIES ARE 2018, 2019, OR A YEAR BEFORE THE UP GRADES WE CAN DO. I CAN WORK WITH THE FELLA IN CARBON ACCOUNTING IF HE WANTS TO LEARN HOW TO DO THAT.
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME OTHER PLATFORMS THAT PROVIDE FOR CARBON COUNTING AND THEY'LL ALLOW FOR ONE FREE ACCOUNT WITH MULTIPLE LOCATIONS.
SO WE COULD DO THE CITY OF CARMEL AND JUST ENTER MULTIPLE LOCATIONS FOR EACH BUILDING.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE COULD JUST PICK LIKE THE MONAN CENTER AND ADD IN ALL THE EQUIPMENT FOR UTILITIES, THE HEAT PUMP FOR THE POOL, JUST ALL THAT.
WE COULD ACTUALLY DO A NICE SCOPE, ONE SCOPE 2 EMISSIONS ACCOUNTING FOR THAT. AND I COULD SHOW SAM HOW TO DO THAT SO HE'D BE A LITTLE EFFICIENT IN CARBON ACCOUNTING.
IT'D TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO GET DONE.
>> YEAH, I'M NOT SURE HE'D ARE HAVE THE TIME TO GET INTO THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL. HE'D HAVE TO WORK WITH PARK.
I DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO CONTROL THEIR DATA. THEY'RE A SEPARATE ENTITY. WE WORKED TO GET ENERGY BILLS FOR THIS BUILDING, SO THAT WAS KIND OF WHY WE FOCUSED ON THAT.
AND HE LOOKED ON ANOTHER SOFTWARE -- I COULD PULL IT UP.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE SAME ONE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AS WELL, BUT BECAUSE THE ENERGY STAR PORTFOLIO MANAGER I THINK WAS FREE WAS KIND OF WHY HE WAS RECOMMENDING THAT.
HE'S SEEN OTHER CASE STUDIES OF CITIES HAVE USED IT AND
[00:45:03]
THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. ONE OF THE SIT ES THAT HAVE DONE THAT WAS ABLE TO SAVE MONEY OVER TIME FROM PARTICIPATING IN THAT PROGRAM.THE OTHER SYSTEM THAT HE HAD LOOKED AT WAS -- ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT? ATRIUS, BUILDING INSIGHT.
I THINK THAT WAS ONE WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY, BUT THAT WOULD BE HIS SECOND RECOMMENDATION. I COULD HAVE HIM ONE LOOK INTO THE -- I KNOW YOU'RE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH IT --
>> CAN YOU JUST HAVE HIM REACH OUT TO
ME? >> WHAT IS THE SYSTEM AGAIN
CALLED? >> THERE'S LIKE PERSEPHONE IS ONE I USE, AND YOU CAN GET MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS WITH THAT AND YOU CAN HAVE MULTIPLE LOCATIONS WITHIN THAT ACCOUNT.
>> OKAY. AND YOU HAVE ACCESS TO PERSEPHONE PRO AND YOU CAN DO SCOPE ONE, SCOPE TWO, SCOPE THREE, MITIGATIONS ON HOW TO LOWER EMISSIONS AND IF YOU'RE DOING SOLAR IT'LL EVEN PARTNER YOU UP WITH MANUFACTURERS AND INSTALLERS AND GIVE YOU RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE AREA AND SO FORTH. I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING ON A.I.
WHERE IT'LL WRITE UP A REPORT FOR YOU AND EVERYTHING.
>> I WILL MENTION THAT TO HIM, AND ANK THAT THE NEXT SUSTAINABILITY MEETING THE GROUP HE'S GOING TO PRESENT ABOUT ENERGY PORTFOLIO AND THAT'S A PROJECT.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE COMMITTEE TAKING ON THAT STRATEGY TO SEE WHICH ONES THEY CAN HELP WITH SO THEY CAN ON THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS.
AND HE'S GOING TO PRESENT TO THEM, AND ESPECIALLY WHILE HE'S HERE IF HE COULD HELP US GET SET UP WITH THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD INITIATIVE FOR THE INTERNAL COMMITTEE TO WORK ON, TOO. BUT I'LL MENTION PERSEPHONE TO HIM AND LET HIM KNOW IF HE NEEDS TO REACHUTE FOR ANYTHING. THANK
YOU. >> ANY OTHER DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES, COMMENTS? OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ONTO ITEM 8 ON THE AGENDA, SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE UPDATES. DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATES? I KNOW WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THE COORDINATOR POSITION, SO THAT'LL BE NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR
AFTER. >> YES, I HAVE SOME UPDATES.
I WASN'T AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT ERIC SENSE ME SOME OF THE UPDATES FROM THAT MEETING. SO REGARDING EB1, THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO WORKING ON A FACILITY IN VEN TOURIAN LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT, STARTING TO IDENTIFY EQUIPMENT THAT MIGHT MIGHT NOT TO BEA ASSESSED FOR PROJECTS AND ENERGY PROGRAM. I.T. IS LOOKING INTO A MONITORING SYSTEM AS WELL THAT WOULD REPORT REALTIME POWER USAGE OF ALL THE FACILITIES SIMILAR TO WHAT MAYBE THE WATER DEPARTMENT HAS DONE WITH THE METERS.
THEY MIGHT BE LOOKING TO LAUNCH THAT IN 2026.
AND THEN REGARDING WW4, WE'VE TALKED INTERNALLY WITH THE STREET DEPARTMENT TO ALSO SEE IF THEY CAN REPORT ON SOME OF THEIR HEAVIEST WATER USE AREAS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT DO A LOT OF THE IRRIGATION, SO THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK INTO THAT FOR US AND REPORT BACK, AND WE CAN LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES FOR IRRIGATION REDUCTION OR WATER REDUCTION USE.
WITH G3 WE HAVE CONVERTED SOME AREAS -- AND WE PROBABLY HAVE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THESE IN THE PAST TO NO MOW AREAS.
ONE BIG ONE IS AT THE NORTH EAST CORNER OF SMOKY ROW AND KERRY. SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO MOW THAT AND KEEP THAT AS A PLANTING AREA. WE'VE ALSO TALKED WITH THE STREET DEPARTMENT TO LOOK AT ANY OTHER HEAVY MOW AREAS AND LOOKING AT IF THERE'S WAYS THEY CAN REDUCE SOME OF THAT BY TRANSITIONING SOME OF THAT LANDSCAPE TO SOMETHING THAT MAYBE DOESN'T NEED TO BE MOWED AS MUCH. LANE ALREADY MENTIONED THE UTILITIES VISIT. TARA GAVE US I THINK AN UPDATE ABOUT THAT AT THE LAST MEETING REGARDING THE DROUGHT RESISTANT TURF GRASS. AND T4, WE TALKED ABOUT THE CITY'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING AT FLEET MANAGEMENT, I THINK, AND PROCUREMENT POLICIES FOR THAT. BUT WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE HOW EVS FIT IN WITH THAT FLEET MANAGEMENT PROCUREMENT OR IF IT'LL BE WORKED INTO THE PLAN AT THIS TIME, BUT THEY ARE TAKING A LOOK AT I THINK FOR THE CITY A MORE CITYWIDE FLEET MANAGEMENT. AND THEN T2 IS ONE OF THE ONES WE MARKED COMPLETE RECENTLY.
THAT IS ABOUT TRANSIT, AND DOCS DID A TRANSIT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN RECENTLY WITH A CONSULTANT CALLED TRANSPRO.
SO THEY FINALIZED THAT AND THEIR BIGGEST TAKE AWAY FROM THAT PLAN
[00:50:04]
I THINK WAS PROVIDE A MICRO TRANSIT, KIND OF AN ON- DEMAND TRANSIT FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED IT. AND THAT WOULD BE IN THE SHORT-TERM. THEN MID- TERM RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD CONTINUE MICROTRANSIT AND A FIXED LIKE AA ROUTE AND LONG- TERM RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE POTENTIALLY INCLUDING EXTENSIONS TO REGIONAL ROUTES TO NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT OUR LAST MEETING.
AND WE ARE MEETING NEXT MONDAY, I BELIEVE, AS WELL.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.
>> A QUESTION. AND THIS IS A GREAT UPDATE, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THESE THROUGHOUT YEAR. PLUS THERE ARE VERY INITIATIVES THAT COME OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE, TOO. BUT LIKE THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS HAS DONE, THEY PUT OUT A THRIVE REPORT ON THEIR STATUS UPDATE ON GOALS EVERY YEAR. SHOULD WE CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I MEAN, WE CAN POSSIBLY DO THAT AS THIS COMMITTEE AND JUST PULL TOGETHER WHAT ALEXIA JUST PRESENTED ON EACH OF THE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES, WHICH IS REALLY ALL THE THRIVE REPORT DOES BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING FROM 2017 OR '18 OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY'RE DOING ALL THEIR METRICS AGAINST.
>> YEAH, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THEY DID IN JANUARY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION WITH A COMPLETE UPDATE FOR 2024. YEAH, I AGREE.
THAT WOULD BE VERY GOOD TO DO.
>> JUST ONE PROCESS HERE. ONE OF THE GOALS OF KIND OF THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR SO IN TRYING TO RESHAPE HOW WE'RE GOING ABOUT THIS WAS TO GIVE THE CITY SUSTAINABILITY INTERNAL COMMITTEE MORE ENGAGED. 28 OF THE CARDS OF THE 40 THAT WE HAVE ON HERE WERE UPDATED WITHIN THE LAST MONTH.
SO I THINK THE BEAUTY OF THAT IS YOU CAN PULL A LIST FROM THAT. IF WE CAN GET EVERYBODY IN THE PRACTICE OF I DID SOMETHINGSOMETHING IT'S RELATED TO THAT AND AN INTERNAL CONVERSATION AND KEEP THAT UPDATED, WE CAN START TO DO AN EXPORT OF THAT LIST AND KIND OF SHOW THE CHANGES OVER TIME, AND IT BECOMES A VERY USEABLE TOOL. THE BEAUTY OF IT THERE IT ALLOWS US TO TRACK AND GET THAT INFORMATION IN REALTIME IF WE CAN KEEP IT TOP OF MIND FOR STAFF AS WE'RE KEEPING THESE THINGS MOVING. SO LOVE THE IDEA OF, LIKE, TRULY UTILIZING THAT PLATFORM. IT'S A REALLY FUN -- LIKE IF YOU CAN GET INTO IT, IF WE CAN START TO GET THESE DOCUMENTS AND THINGS AS THEY'RE PULLED THROUGH LIKE THE TRANSPORTATION AGREEMENT, I KNOW THE DOCUMENTS ARE NOT UP YET. HAVING LINKS TO THOSE THINGS INTERNALLY IT STARTS TO PULL THINGS TOGETHER IN A VERY PROCEDURAL WAY, WHICH THEN ALLOWS US TO REPORT THEM AGAIN IN REALTIME FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT SOURCES UP IN WHATEVER WE WANT TO PULL TOGETHER. SO I WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD THAT I AM SUPER GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT THE STAFF IS DOING TO SEE 28 OF THOSE CARDS EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE BEEN UPDATED TO THERE'S NO IMPACT SO THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THEM AND MAKING US PART OF THEIR DAILY WORK FLOW I THINK IS PUTTING US
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. >> I AGREE.
AND I THINK IN DOING -- WE NEED TO CELEBRATE OUR WINS.
LIKE WHEN THE TRANSPORTATION STUDY IS COMPLETED TOTALLY AND THE REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE, AND WE'RE ABLE TO PUT IT UP THERE, WE SHOULD CELEBRATE THE FACT WE COMPLETED ONE OF OUR TASKS AND ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED WITH GETTING THAT DONE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A HUGE THING.
WE CAN PUT THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AND SAY THAT THIS WAS DONE, HERE'S THE LINK TO IT, UNION CELEBRATE THESE PEOPLE FOR TAKING THE TIME, THE EFFORT TO GET THIS DONE. AND SHOW THE RESULTS WHAT CAN BE CONCLUDED FROM THOSE RESULTS, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE CARMEL MAY DO? AND I THINK THAT WOULD GEA LONG WAY AND THEN MIGHT ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO, YOU KNOW, WORK TOWARDS A GOAL AND GET SOMETHING DONE, TO GET IT OUT THERE SO THE RESIDENTS OF CARMEL CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THE DOORS, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. WHAT ARE WE GETTING DONE BEHIND THE SCENES? SO I LIKE THAT.
>> AND, RYAN, I LIKE THE IDEA OF PIGGYBACKING OFF OF THE DASHBOARD BECAUSE A LOT OF EFFORT GOES INTO KEEPING THAT UP-TO-DATE. SO IF YOU CAN EXTRACT THAT AS AN THAT'S EFFICIENT FOR EVERYBODY'S TIME.
ALEXIA, YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT SW 3 OR 4.
IS THAT BECAUSE YOU GUYS DIDN'T COVER IT OR
BECAUSE -- >> I WAS NOT AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT I DON'T KNOW THOSE ARE TWO THAT WE TALKED ABOUT FOCUSING ON AS A SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.
>> OKAY. AND DID ERIC MENTION ANY ISSUES WITH ANY OF THESE STRATEGIES FROM THAT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE? LIKE WE CAN'T DO THIS OR WE NEED THESE RESOURCES TO DO THIS?
>> HE DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING IN HIS NOTES.
[00:55:04]
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT ONE OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS AS WELL IS JUST THE IDEA THIS IS SOMETHING THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE IS WILLING TO DO AND TAKE ON.AND THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS WITH, ONE, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME? AND HOW ACCOUNTABLE ARE THEY GO TO BE IF WE DON'T GET IN TROUBLE AND BUDGET AS WELL AND FUNDING FOR THOSE.
BUT I TRY TO TELL THEM IF THERE'S SOME NEEDS THEY HAVE, I CAN BRING THAT AND WE CAN BRING THAT TO THIS COMMITTEE AS WELL SO MAYBE WE CAN COMMUNICATE IT COUNCIL OR WHOEVER NEEDS TO HEAR IT NEXT.
SO I THINK THEY LIKE TO IDEA IN GENERAL AND ARE WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, TRY AND HELP. MAYBE NOT WITH EVERYTHING BUT A COUPLE HERE AND THERE.
AND THE TWO WE HAD TALKED ABOUT MAINLY WERE VB AND THE THREE AND AS YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE OTHERS WE'D ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON ANYWAY OR THE DEPARTMENTS HAD BEEN WORKING ON INTERNALLY ON THEIR
OWN. >> THE ONE THING I WAS GOING TO ADD IS WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO GET A POSITION, LIKE, IN JEFF WHORL'S? NEWSLETTER. WOULD HE BE INTERESTED IN THAT AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER AND MAYBE SHARING OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH
HIM. >> ANY OTHER COMMITTEE UPDATES? ANYTHING FOR THE OPEN
DISCUSSION? >> I WAS GOING TO SAY I KNOW WE HAVE G1, WHICH IS THE RAIN GARDEN LOCATION IDENTIFICATION.
AND I'M WONDERING IF WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO FIND LIKE A GRASS PATCH TO TEST FOR, LIKE, LESS IRRIGATION, IF WE COULD KNOCK OUT TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE AND IN THAT PROCESS TRYING TO FIND A PATCH OF GRASS THAT WE CAN CONVERT TO A RAIN GARDEN AS WELL. IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD DO NOW OR STILL NOT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION STAGE?
>> THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. I MEAN, IF THERE'S AN AREA OF CITY PROPERTY THAT IS A HASSLE TO UPKEEP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IF IT COULD BE CONVERTED TO A RAIN GARDEN, IT WOULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MAN HOURS THAT ARE NEEDED TO CARE FOR IT, YOU KNOW, ENERGY USE SPENT ON IT, MAINTENANCE ON THE EQUIPMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I KNOW THE POND RIGHT OUT HERE OR OVER HERE, ACTUALLY, IS -- TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE A GIANT LAZY RIVER AND A RESORT, BUT IT LOOKS REALLY NICE. AND IT'S A REGULAR UTILIZATION OF THAT PROPERTY. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY AESTHETIC LOOK TO THE CITY COMPLEX DOWN HERE AND EVERYTHING, THE GOVERNMENT CENTER. ANY -- THAT'S NOT A BAD IDEA, IF THERE'S AN AREA OF LAND THAT WE HAVE TO MOW A LOT, THAT'S KIND OF JUST SITTING THERE, IF WE COULD CONVERT THAT INTO A RAIN GARDEN OR SOMETHING, I THINK THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
>> HE'S NOT HERE TO DEFEND HIMSELF, BUT JOHN THOMAS, THAT'S HIS AREA, RIGHT? THAT'S HIS RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY IS THE STORM WATER, SO HE WILL BE A GREAT PERSON TO KIND OF HELP US THINK THAT THROUGH.
AND I'M SURE THERE ARE SPACES AS WE DO DEVELOPMENT.
AND HE'S PART OF THE ENGINEERING GROUP, TOO. AND THERE ARE TIMES AS PROJECTS COME ONBOARD THERE MAY BE A WAY THAT SOLVING THE PROBLEM IS NOT THROUGH GREAT PIPES BUT THROUGH GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, RIGHT? AND THOSE ARE -- THOSE ARE LOWER DOLLARS TO DO.
AND WHEN WE HAVE DEVELOPERS COMING IN, THOSE ARE OFTEN WAYS WE CAN GIVE CREDITS TO THEM AND THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO. SO I THIK HAVING JOHN ON THIS COMMITTEE WILL HELP MOVE SOME OF THOSE FORWARD.
>> ALSO, ANJELI, I THINK WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT EARLY ON, ERIC SEEMED TO BE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT RAIN GARDENS IN DIFFERENT AREAS, SO SOMETHING TO BRING UP WITH HIM AT SOME POINT.
>> ALSO, DOES THE CITY OF CARMEL -- I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY BUT DO THEY HAVE ANY BROWN FIELDS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? DOES ANYBODY KNOW? I MEAN, IF WE DO -- THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT IS THE EPA JUST INITIATED A GRANT FOR BROWN FIELD AND GROUND REVITALIZATION. THAT IF WE HAVE SOME AREAS THAT ARE BROWN FIELDS, YOU KNOW, CONVERTING IT INTO A RAIN GARDEN OR CLEANING IT UP AND BEING ABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT WOULD BE NICE AND BE A NICE SUSTAINABILITY MEASURE WE COULD DO. SO IDEA WHO WE'D ASK IF THERE WERE ANY BROWN FIELDS. I KNOW WITH THE INDUSTRIAL AREA AND ALL BEING REDONE, IS THERE ANYTHING THERE THAT'S
[01:00:02]
GOT SOME BROWN FIELDS IN IT THAT WE CAN FIX?>> I WOULD SUSPECT A LOT OF THE MIDTOWN USED TO BE A BROWN FIELD BECAUSE THOSE WERE ALL HEAVY- DUTY FACTORIES, HEAVY INDUSTRIES. BUT THE REST OF CARMEL WAS LARGELY FARM, RESIDENTIAL, AND WHATEVER. SO A LOT OF THE BROWN FIELDS IN CARMEL ARE PROBABLY ALREADY BEING REMEDIATED, BUT IT'S A GOOD
QUESTION. >> ESPECIALLY FOR SOME OF THOSE -- SOME OF THAT LAND THAT'S STILL BEING OCCUPIED AND BEING UTILIZED. I DON'T KNOW, KELVIN, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO EARMARK THAT MONEY AND GET IT DONE NOW FOR FUTURE USE? IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN DO, MAYBE THE LANDOWNER WOULD WANT TO DO? I'M NOT REAL FAMILIAR WITH
DWRANTS. >> WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK INTO
IT. >> YOU COULD SEND IT TO HENRY WITH THE RECURRENT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
HE MIGHT WANT TO GET INVOLVED, IF YOU COULD E- MAIL THAT NOTICE TO HIM.
>> OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE FOR OPEN DISCUSSION?
>> YEAH, I HAVE A SHAMELESS PLUG.
SO CARMEL GREEN INITIATIVE IS OFFERING BASIC SOLAR WATER 101 EDUCATION FOR HOME OWNERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO INVEST IN SOLAR ON AUGUST 21ST.
AND I WILL SEND AN E- MAIL BECAUSE I ALREADY SENT IT LIKE A MONTH AGO.
I'M GOING TO SEND IT AGAIN. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL SHARE IT WITH YOUR NETWORKS BECAUSE SOLAR IS A GREAT WAY TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS, AND IT HELPS PROTECT AGAINST RISING RATES, WHICH ARE JUST GETTING WORSE.
AND WITH THE INCOMING DATA CENTERS AND ALL THAT STUFF, A.I. DYING RATES ARE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE. YEAH, SO ANY HELP TO SPREAD THE WORD WOULD BE APPRECIATED, AND I --
>> BECAUSE NOW'S THE TIME TO GET SOLAR IF YOU WANT IT, RIGHT, BEFORE THE FEDERAL TAX CUTS GO AWAY.
>> I FORGOT TO MENTION. RIGHT NOW THERE'S A 30% TAX CREDIT, SO YOU PUT SOLAR ON YOUR HOME, ON YOUR BUSINESS, YOU CAN GET 30% TAX CREDIT OFF YOUR TAXES.
AND OUR GOVERNMENT IS PHASING THAT OUT.
SO YOU'VE GOT TO GET IT DONE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. SO, UNFORTUNATELY -- SO, YEAH.
>> I WOULD ALSO ADD IT'S PROBABLY A GREAT TIME TO ENCOURAGE HAMILTON COUNTY TO CHANGE ITS POLICY ON SOLAR. IF WRITE NOW IT'S WRITTEN SO THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT IN TO HAMILTON COUNTY PERIOD, AND IT ALSO THEN GOES FOR WIND ALSO. AND I'VE TALKED TO SUMAKI ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES. IT'S BEEN IN PLACE IN HAMILTON FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE SHOULD REALLY FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE IN HAMILTON COUNTY. IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE ALL THE SOLAR FIELDS AND WOOD POWERS ARE IN THE STATE, THERE'S A BLOCK IN THE MIDDLE, HAMILTON COUNTY, THAT HAS NOTHING.
>> YEAH, I'M NOT TALKING -- WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS UTILITY SCALE SOLAR. YOU KNOW, IT'S BIG SCALE SOLE, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ON YOUR HOME, YOUR BUSINESS, ROOFTOP SOLAR, THAT KIND OF STUFF.
YEAH, YEN THE DETAILS OF THAT ORDINANCE BUT I'M FAMILIAR WITH IT. SEVERAL COUNTIES HAVE
THAT. >> THERE'S GOING TO BE A BIG NEED FOR THAT TYPE OF ELECTRICITY SOON WITH THE 700- ACRE DATA CENTER GOING IN. THEY CAN'T PROVIDE THAT ENERGY, SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND HAMILTON COUNTYCOUNTY REALLY BENEFIT OFF THAT.
>> THE OTHER PART TO GO WITH THAT A LOT OF STUDIES HAVE SHOWN YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOSE FARMLAND.
IF YOU PLACE THE SOLAR PANELS UP HIGH ENOUGH, YOU CAN FARM UNDERNEATH. AND IN FACT YOU REDUCE THE WATER USAGE BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY ADD SHADE TO THE CROPS.
>> LESLIE, IN REGARD TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE SHAMELESS PLUG, ONCE SCHOOL GETS BACK ENI COULD DEFINITELY TALK TO THE OTHER PEOPLE AND SEE IF HE CAN GET THE GREEN AND ACTION CLUB TO SHOW UP. SO I'LL LET YOU KNOW ONCE WE GET BACK INTO SCHOOL ON AUGUST 6TH.
>> ANY OTHER OPEN DISCUSSION, NEW BUSINESS OR ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT, SO THE ITEM NUMBER 10 IS THE NEXT MEETING, AND IT'S PROPOSED TO BE ON SEPTEMBER 30TH. EVERYONE HERE IN ATTENDANCE OKAY WITH THAT
[01:05:04]
I THINK NORMALLY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF IT WAS THE FOURTH MONDAY -- SORRY, THANK YOU.
TUESDAY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE WEEK BEFORE.
SO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S OKAY WITH THAT SEPTEMBER
30TH. >> THAT'S A HOLIDAY THE WEEK BEFORE.
>> ON THE 30TH? >> I WON'T BE HERE ON THE 30TH
30TH? >> I DO WANT TO SAY YOU DID PROMISE TO GIVE US ON UPDATE ON HIS THING EARLIER ON THE RECORD FOR EVERYBODY TO HEAR. AND IF HE'S NOT HERE, HE CAN'T DO THAT. SO HE ALREADY IS NOT FULFILLING HIS PROMISE.
>> I'M IN BREACH OF CONTRACT ALREADY.
SUBSEQUENT OF NOTIFICATONS, THOUGH, UNFORTUNATELY I WILL BE GONE THAT WEEK.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO EITHER, IF I CAN GET SOME INFORMATION TO SHARE, I CAN GET IT TO ERIC OR SOMEONE TO SHARE IT ON BEBEHALF IN AN E-MAIL. TARA WOULD BE A GREAT PERSON TO COME SO I CAN TALK AND SEE IF SHE'LL BE AVAILABLE.
>> ALL RIGHT, AND THAT'S BASICALLY THE TIME ITEM ON THE LIST.
AND ITEM 11 IS THE ADJOURNMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SEE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.