Council Environmental Quality Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Environmental Quality Committee met on February 15, 2011, at 1:00 p.m., with Blues presiding. The committee heard five informational presentations during the meeting, covering the Environmental Quality Transition Report, Environmental Policy Report, Environmental Commission Background, Proprietary Funds Financials, and Items Referred to Committee. The committee took one motion and vote during the session and heard four public comments. All agenda items were presented for informational purposes.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on February 15, 2011:

• Blues
• Stinnett
• Gorton
• Farmer
• Martin
• Henson
• Lane

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Motion to Adjourn

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Blues and seconded by Henson 1:33:06. The motion passed by voice vote.

The following members voted in favor of adjournment: - Blues - Stinnett - Gorton - Farmer - Martin - Henson - Lane

No members voted against the motion. There were zero abstentions.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial allocations for energy and facility improvement projects:

Energy Conservation Projects

The government approved $2.7 million in grant funding from the Department of Energy stimulus money to support energy conservation projects. These funds will support initiatives designed to improve energy efficiency across designated facilities and programs.

Building Retrofit Program

An appropriation of $1.1 million was allocated for a government building retrofit program using grant monies. The funding will support improvements at the Black and Williams Community Center and Dunbar Center, with these facilities identified as recipients of the retrofit program resources.

Public Comment

Four speakers addressed the council with comments on environmental and administrative matters.

Emma Tibbs 9:22 presented the Environmental Quality Transition Team's report. She highlighted immediate "day one" issues including an inefficient hiring process, lack of communication with the mayor's office, and the need to reinstate director meetings. Tibbs emphasized the importance of government oversight in development plan reviews and praised existing technology initiatives such as GPS routing and EnergyCap.

Paul Swoveland 1:03:55 reported on the Environmental Commission's activities and expressed concern over low membership. He noted that many applications had been ignored in the past. Swoveland requested reinforcement of the commission's charter and better administrative support to increase public engagement and volunteer participation.

Helen Weisinger 1:22:04 shared her efforts to preserve and restore Preston Cave Spring, emphasizing its historical significance. She requested periodic cleanups and public recognition of the site, and asked for its inclusion in broader park maintenance and environmental care initiatives.

Council Member Kaye 1:29:50 suggested that the administration review backlogged applications for the Environmental Commission. Kaye recommended transitioning to an online application system to improve accessibility and responsiveness to applicants.

Appointments

Paul Swoveland was appointed to the Environmental Commission.

Contested Items

Environmental Commission Membership and Application Backlog

The committee engaged in a heated discussion regarding the Environmental Commission's persistent membership challenges and delays in processing applications. The core issue centered on the Commission's low membership levels and the backlog of unprocessed applications, which members characterized as a result of administrative neglect.

Committee members expressed significant concern about the situation, emphasizing that the slow application processing and difficulty in recruiting new members were undermining the Commission's effectiveness. The discussion reflected frustration with the lack of responsiveness in handling applications and the failure to actively pursue recruitment efforts.

Members called for immediate action to address both the recruitment challenges and the application processing backlog. The emphasis on urgency suggested that the committee viewed the current state of the Environmental Commission as requiring prompt intervention and systemic improvements to restore functionality and public engagement.

Environmental Quality Transition Report

Emma Tibbs, chair of the Environmental Quality Transition Team, presented a report outlining initial recommendations for the Environmental Quality division 9:22.

Key Recommendations

The report included several "day one" recommendations focused on operational improvements:

• Streamlining the hiring process
• Improving communication with the mayor's office
• Reinstating director meetings
• Strengthening development plan review procedures

Technology and Transparency Opportunities

The presentation also highlighted opportunities for technology integration to enhance public transparency within the division's operations.

Outcome

This agenda item was presented as informational, with no formal action or debate recorded.

Environmental Policy Report

Susan Bush, Director of Environmental Policy, presented an overview of the division's work across four primary areas: public education, compliance assistance, enforcement, and environmental initiatives.

The presentation highlighted several key programs:

• Neighborhood Sustainability Grant — supporting community-based environmental projects
• ECHO Art Grants — funding arts initiatives with environmental components
• Government Building Retrofit Program — improving energy efficiency in public facilities

Bush emphasized the use of energy management software, specifically EnergyCap, as a tool for reducing utility costs across government operations.

The presentation was informational in nature, with no formal debate or concerns documented. The outcome was to provide the meeting attendees with an update on the Environmental Policy division's current activities and priorities.

Environmental Commission Background

Paul Swoveland, chair of the Environmental Commission, presented an overview of the commission's history, current operational challenges, and strategic goals 1:03:55.

Key Points Presented

Swoveland outlined the commission's existing structure and highlighted several areas requiring attention and improvement. He emphasized three primary needs for the commission's future effectiveness:

• Increased membership to expand the commission's capacity and reach
• Enhanced administrative support to improve operational efficiency
• Stronger integration with the Urban County Council through the Environmental Quality Committee

Focus Areas

The presentation addressed the commission's current challenges and articulated goals for strengthening its role within the local government structure. Swoveland stressed the importance of establishing better connections between the Environmental Commission and the broader county council framework.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with Swoveland providing the council with background information on the Environmental Commission's status and needs. No formal action or decision was required from this presentation.

Proprietary Funds Financials

The committee discussed indirect cost percentages applied to various enterprise funds during this agenda item. 21:17

Presentation Overview

Emma Tibbs presented information on indirect cost allocations across multiple proprietary funds. The discussion centered on the cost percentages being charged to different enterprise operations.

Key Figures Discussed

The committee reviewed indirect cost percentages from two categories of enterprise funds:

• Urban Services District and Sanitary Sewer Fund: 25% indirect cost allocation
• Water Quality Management and Landfill Funds: 16.65% indirect cost allocation

Concerns Raised

The discussion highlighted concerns regarding fund usage and transparency related to these indirect cost allocations. Committee members focused on understanding how these percentages were applied and their impact on the respective enterprise funds.

Outcome

This agenda item was presented for informational purposes, with no formal action taken. The discussion provided the committee with an overview of the current indirect cost structure for proprietary funds.

Items Referred to Committee

The committee was formally charged with reviewing matters related to the Department of Environmental Quality and its divisions, in accordance with Council Rules & Procedures, Section 2.102(1). 8:08

Blues presented information on the committee's responsibilities, which include oversight of partner agencies and coordination with the Environmental Commission. This agenda item was presented as informational in nature, establishing the scope of the committee's authority and jurisdiction over environmental quality matters.