Title
Notice/Advertisement Title: Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee Hearing
Contact Name: Chelsea Golterman
Contact Telephone Number: 614-735-0965
Contact Email Address: CLGolterman@columbus.gov
Body
Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee Hearing
Date: October 2, 2024
Time: 3:30 PM
Location: Columbus City Hall, Council Chambers, 90 W. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215
Subject: Climate Action Plan update, proposed code change to create the Lead Elimination Assistance Program (LEAP), and proposed code changes for Title 13
Councilmembers Present: Councilmember Christopher L. Wyche, Councilmember Emmanuel V. Remy
Summary of Minutes:
CALL TO ORDER
Call to Order: 3:34
Present: Councilmember Christopher L. Wyche, Councilmember Emmanuel V. Remy, Chelsea Golterman, Emiliana Morales, Cole Calloway, Sam Duling, Natalie Miller, Sustainable Columbus Deputy Director Alana Shockey, Department of Public Utilities Division of Water Regulatory Compliance Manager Emilie Eskridge, Department of Public Service Division of Refuse Administrator of Refuse Collection Tim Swauger, Department of Public Service Public Relations Specialist Charles Newman, Department of Public Service Division of Refuse Operations Coordinator Disu Oshodi, Glen Tuomaala, Nolan Ruschilling, Allegra Wiesler
INTRODUCTION
Opening Remarks:
[Chair Wyche] Act with Us Youth Art Contest deadline has been extended to Oct 18, Students can submit at <Columbus.gov/ActWithUs>. Tonight we will be hearing updates on Climate Action Plan from Sustainable Columbus, Lead Elimination Assistance Program and Changes to Title 13.
[Vice-Chair Remy] Thank you chair and the opportunity to report out to the community on these exciting initiatives.
[Chair Wyche] Thank you to staff and public for attending
PRESENTATION - Climate Action Plan Update
[Deputy Director Shockey] Thank you! Providing an update today on the Climate Action Plan. The city of Columbus does a Greenhouse Gas Inventory annually, the 2023 Greenhouse Gas Inventory reporting underway, and 2022 Report is available now. Over the last decade, there has a 13% pop growth and a 6.5% reduction in emissions. Big reductions come from the building sector. Transportation emissions are increasing that exceeds the population rates, this is why initiatives like LinkUs is so important. First Climate Action Plan Progress Report came out in 2024, it is hyper focused on the 2025 target goals. Many of the 2025 goals are planning goals and steps. The progress report and the Climate Action Plan can be found online at <https://www.Columbus.gov/Services/Public-Utilities/About-Public-Utilities/Office-of-Sustainability/Columbus-Climate-Action-Plan>.
[Chair Wyche] One of our goals are to adopt net zero building standards, where are we at?
[Deputy Director Shockey] We are working to build on the foundation to increase green energy through federal grants, including the home efficiency rebate programs. Clean Energy Columbus is the clean energy aggregation program and we are looking to grow that program. Central Green Fund providing multi family and businesses incentives to adopt solar.
[Chair Wyche] What is the update on Net-metering implementation and progress toward virtual net metering?
[Deputy Director Shockey] Net-metering enabled solar and other green energy. Including a program with Solar United Neighbors. Division of Power also is making a plan for virtual net metering and solar array.
[Chair Wyche] Why does it take so long? Do we have time?
[Deputy Director Shockey] We are working towards each goal. The plan for solar array will be developed by the end of this year and the federal grant must be spent by 2030.
[Chair Wyche] To have good policy implemented, being intentional on each step is important.
[Chair Wyche] Can you provide more insight on procurement for utilities?
Deputy Director Shockey] Department of Finance and Management oversees the power procurement and Sustainable Columbus works with the department and collaborates with. There is also a sustainability policy for procurement of utilities.
[Chair Wyche] Is there a mandate coming for recycling?
Deputy Director Shockey] DPS is working on the infrastructure for recycling and educating/encouraging residents to recycle. We have weekly recycling. We have opened 2 reuse and waste convenience centers in the City.
[Chair Wyche] Climate Action Plan requires collaboration between departments to meet the various goals.
PRESENTATION - Proposed Code Change to Create the Leadline Elimination Assistance Program
[Ms. Eskridge] Department of Public Utilities is putting together this program to help eliminate lead service lines and galvanized services lines by 2040. This will help remove the rates even quicker and this helps residents who are concerned about their service lines with out having to wait. There is no income limit, no upfront cost and allows for the homeowner selects the contractor. LEAP Process: 1. Contact Department of Public Utilities, 2. Customer selects contactor, 3.Contrator enters 3 way agreement with homeowner and Department of Public Utilities, 4. Department of Public Utilities then pays once done through a 99 year 0% mortgage by Department of Public Utilities and is due when the home is sold or the mortgage is paid off. Plan for the pilot includes $1 M funding 2025 for LEAP, replacement costs capped to an average, 100 to 150 customers for 2025. We anticipate increased interest over the first few years, but decline once Department of Public Utilities gets to the end of the city wide replacement in 2040.
[Chair Wyche] Thank you! We hope more residents will be interested. How will you promote?
[Ms. Eskridge] We have an outreach team that is working with the lead line replacement programs over all and the elimination program will be included.
[Chair Wyche] How will the cap be determined?
[Ms. Eskridge] This pilot program will allow for Department of Public Utilities to determine what is the average cost then the cap will be decided
[Chair Wyche] What happens it my house is more than the cap?
[Ms. Eskridge] We will pay to the cap and the homeowner pays the rest
[Chair Wyche] What happens at the 99 years?
[Ms. Eskridge] The money will be due if the home has not been sold in the 99 years
[Chair Wyche] Mortgage insurance?
[Ms. Eskridge] No.
PRESENTATION - Proposed Code Change to Title 13 - Refuse
[Administrator Swauger] Thank you! Title 13 was last revised in 2018. We now see more revisions need to happen again. Collection services have changed including the 300 gallon conversion which will be done in Nov 2024, defined owner/tenant responsibilities, and compactor ratios. Enforcement side will be aligned and more consistent with the ORC, including defined criminal penalties and the threshold. And creates Refuse Appeal Board, 3 member board and will hear appeals.
[Chair Wyche] Can you explain the reasoning behind the 300 gallons?
[Administrator Swauger] Pilot program in 2017/18 and it reduced the litter and illegal dumping (contractors and construction materials) which over loaded the 300 gallons. Even though they are convenient for residents, they are a magnet of illegal dumping.
[Chair Wyche] Has it decreased the illegal dumping?
[Administrator Swauger] It takes a few weeks for residents to see the changes, but the open dumping has been significantly decreased. We are still seeing the closed dumping and we have been working on adding additional cameras
[Chair Wyche] During the conversion, it seems like businesses are surprised when they were removed, can you expand?
[Administrator Swauger] When we took the 300 and provided 90 gallon to residents, we found a lot of businesses and multi families that were inappropriately using the 300 gallons. We have now been educating the community that the 300 gallons and now 90 gallons are for residential use only.
[Vice-Chair Remy] Can you explain more about Bulk Pick Up?
[Administrator Swauger] Bulk Scheduling in the city of Columbus is tracked through out the city and ebbs and flows through out the year. Example, if there is a flood, there is more Bulk Pick Ups in that area because of damages furniture. Our goal is 2-4 weeks for pick up. Over labor day, requests increased due to summer clean ups and the Department Public Service is working through it. We just did a study and in the month of September, ⅓ of items where not there for pick up. If you no longer need the pick up, please cancel so we can add another pick up on the route. We also encourage residents to go reuse convenience center first because there is a chance to differ the items from the landfill. If the item is picked up by Bulk Pick Up, it is going to the landfill. Residents should first schedule Bulk Pick Up, and once they have their pick up date, residents can put their items out no more than 72 hours. Do not put out your items before you schedule it.
[Vice-Chair Remy] Talk a bit more about the convenience centers?
[Administrator Swauger] There are two locations: Alum Creek Convenience Center at 2100 Alum Creek Dr., and Georgesville Rd Convenience Center at 1550 Georgesville Rd. More information can be found at <https://www.columbus.gov/Services/Trash-Recycling-Bulk-Collection>
[Vice-Chair Remy] Paint?
[Administrator Swauger] Dry paint yes, but wet paint falls under hazardous waste and we have specific dates scheduled for that and information can be found at <https://www.columbus.gov/Services/Trash-Recycling-Bulk-Collection/Household-Trash-Collection/Hazardous-Waste>
[Vice-Chair Remy] How the Convenience Centers going?
[Administrator Swauger] Alum Creek has a line of cars. Diverting hundreds of tons every year. Just opened Georgesville on Sat, September 29. We are working with are partners to open a northern center with neighbor suburban municipalities and SWACO.
[Chair Wyche] Encourage folks to use the convenience centers. Has the department thought about mandating recycling spaces at all properties?
[Administrator Swauger] We are piloting a 1:1 exchange on multi family to replace recycling bins with dumpsters. We are working on expanding recycling offerings through out the city. Our new recycling center is needing more materials. This is a regional issue, and we are working together on how to get the recycling to the recycling facilities. There are ample regional and state customers for our recycling.
[Chair Wyche] The younger generation is demanding recycling and i am glad we are seeing this. We are interested in increasing the circular economy and recycling.
[Administrator Swauger] We have increased food waste and compost. We have 5 locations through out the city and at the 2 convenience centers. We are building 4 more drop off locations. When we talk recycling and trash, we must mention food waste as well.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
[Chair Wyche] Now to public testimony. Mr. Tuomaala you are next.
[Mr. Tuomaala] Climate Action plan is exciting! Green Building Code is needed. I have been working with a professor from OSU on the Green Building Code. City of Denver is has a great Green Building Code. Now is the time because we are building now and once these buildings are up - its more difficult to make those buildings green after. This is good for business and time is not on our side. Having a green building code is vital and being quick is important
[Chair Wyche] I appreciate you advocating for the Green Building Code and specifically Denver as a model. Kicking it Deputy Director Shockey for additional insights
[Deputy Director Shockey] Denver is a great model city. We need to work on the mechanisms right now to fund the policies we know we need to do now. We also need to look at where does the local government sits in creating these mechanisms and policies. What are the most appropriate incentives. Also Minneapolis, St. Paul and DC are great model cities as well.
[Mr. Tuomaala] Developers will get their money back its an investment. What is the timeline for the green building code?
[Deputy Director Shockey] It is a step by step process. We passed benchmarking in 2020, and our office is focused on existing buildings. I know Chair Wyche is pushing us to focus on new buildings.
[Mr. Tuomaala] What is the barriers?
[Deputy Director Shockey] Understanding what local gov can act and what can we incentive v. require?
[Chair Wyche] My office is very focused on this. We are looking at incentives vs. requirements and balancing.
[Mr. Tuomaala] I understand but time is not on our side. Why cant we just implement Denver?
[Deputy Director Shockey] There is likely a difference in the state government and what it allows local governments to do.
[Mr. Tuomaala] Thank you!
[Chair Wyche] Thank you for your advocacy
CLOSING REMARKS
[Chair Wyche] Thank you for everyone who came.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned: 4:37