WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.480 All right, good afternoon. This is the December 12, 2025 meeting of the Sustainability Framework 00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:20.800 Advisory Committee in the City Council Work Chamber. Our first agenda item is considering 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:30.480 the approval of October 24, 2025 minutes. Is there any discussion about the minutes? Seeing none, 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:42.640 may I have a motion to accept? So moved. Thank you. Second? Seconded. All in favor of adopting? 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:53.800 All opposed? Minutes are adopted. Thank you. Our next item is to receive a report, hold a discussion, 00:00:53.800 --> 00:01:01.240 and give staff direction on a recommendation to City Council for adoption of the final draft 00:01:01.240 --> 00:01:27.160 of the Simply Sustainable Framework. And Julissa Amador will present. Happy Friday. So good 00:01:27.160 --> 00:01:32.200 afternoon everyone. My name is Julissa Amador. I'm the Senior Program Coordinator over at Environmental 00:01:32.200 --> 00:01:37.080 Services and Sustainability. Today we're going to be going over the Simply Sustainable Framework 00:01:37.080 --> 00:01:43.400 final draft. We've run this two years before, so this just includes a little bit of the revision 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:51.640 that we've done. So our focus will be talking a little bit about the draft, receiving additional 00:01:51.640 --> 00:02:00.440 feedback needed and then next steps. So background, you guys should now be a little bit more familiar 00:02:00.440 --> 00:02:06.840 with how we adopted the Simply Sustainable Plan in 2012. So we look at revising the Simply 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:11.960 Sustainable Framework every four to five years to make sure that it's still in line with community 00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:24.600 needs and city needs as well. So the most recent sustainability framework was adopted in 2020. 00:02:24.600 --> 00:02:29.720 With that also came a lot of different plans that were adopted throughout the city. So you 00:02:29.720 --> 00:02:33.880 guys are familiar with some of these plans, the River Forest Master Plan, the 2040 Mobility Plan, 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:41.880 person trails, etc. We also have the Climate Action Plan that was adopted in 2024. So that is just to 00:02:41.880 --> 00:02:46.840 let you guys know that we're keeping these plans in mind that they have their own metrics as well, 00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:52.600 so we're not wanting to repeat any metrics in our Simply Sustainable Framework or we want to make 00:02:52.600 --> 00:03:02.520 sure that those are, that we're also taking those into account. So one of the big pieces of feedback 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:07.400 that we received from this group was the inclusion of a vision and guiding principles which was 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:15.160 included in the draft of the document. We also did receive comment based on, I believe it was Dr. 00:03:15.160 --> 00:03:22.200 Meyer, on including information about green infrastructure. So we did reach out to Planning 00:03:22.200 --> 00:03:26.600 and they did talk to us about how they're currently amending the Debt and Development Code 00:03:26.600 --> 00:03:32.440 and so they're going to be looking at the opportunity to, in the future, once that's all brought to 00:03:32.440 --> 00:03:40.200 everybody, they would look at how they can incentivize or encourage non-residential 00:03:40.200 --> 00:03:44.840 multi-family development to be able to include green infrastructure. 00:03:44.840 --> 00:03:47.960 So they'll be looking at doing that and they're currently working on that right now. 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:57.400 With that we wanted to touch base with y'all and see if you guys 00:03:57.400 --> 00:04:04.200 wanted to request any additional changes to the document or if you'd like to give a recommendation 00:04:04.200 --> 00:04:16.520 on moving forward with some council. I like the changes. I think it 00:04:17.400 --> 00:04:24.040 that leads great, especially really like the careful wording of the goals. 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:31.960 It is precise and right on target. So from my point of view I recommend moving forward with this. 00:04:31.960 --> 00:04:39.720 I have just one comment. On page 10 I'm not sure if I raised this issue before 00:04:40.440 --> 00:04:49.160 under materials management where you say expand food waste and organic 00:04:49.160 --> 00:04:56.280 collection programs to schools and universities. Can we add restaurants on town as well? 00:04:56.280 --> 00:05:03.640 Yeah, currently the valet program that manages the downtown area, that was part of, that was the pilot 00:05:03.640 --> 00:05:12.440 that I solidly started with NCT Cog, but we can look at including that as well. I think the thought 00:05:12.440 --> 00:05:16.600 there was we were extending beyond the restaurants that we have now to reach out to the schools 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:21.960 because they have their cafeterias on campus and that hasn't been an area that we've been a part 00:05:21.960 --> 00:05:26.600 of just yet. We are working with UNT and then in the future we'd like to work with you know 00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:33.960 TWU, wherever there's an opportunity. And we have worked with some private schools 00:05:33.960 --> 00:05:39.640 and we talked to Denton ISD about getting into work with some of their cafeterias. It's just a 00:05:39.640 --> 00:05:51.240 bigger operation. I have a couple of things. The vision statement and the guiding principles 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:56.440 were taken right from the 2020 plan, correct? We did grab the ones from there. We were 00:05:56.600 --> 00:06:06.600 able to advise them to be updated for this. Okay, good. I would also like to see the glossary 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:16.280 continue. The 2020 had a very informative glossary and I think when we have terms in this 00:06:16.280 --> 00:06:22.760 like, as simple as it sounds, we can't assume that everybody knows what we're talking about. 00:06:24.280 --> 00:06:30.040 A definition of fossil fuels, a definition of environmental footprint, 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:39.560 a definition of carbon footprint, a definition of net zero carbon, a definition of greenhouse gases, 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:48.920 a definition of resilient infrastructure, of green building, of what a power purchase agreement 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:58.680 is and what a sustainability, a sustainable community is. Those are all words that are used 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:05.720 in the new plan. So I think it would really be terrific if we could add a glossary like that 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:11.480 to help in terms of just so people know what we're talking about. 00:07:14.520 --> 00:07:21.480 Let's see. I also thought in this new plan, your definition of sustainability is taken from 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:30.920 the lead folks. It's pretty cut and dry, I think you'll agree. I would like it if we went back to 00:07:30.920 --> 00:07:38.280 the 2020 definition, which means "meeting today's needs without compromising the ability of future 00:07:38.280 --> 00:07:44.440 generations to meet those same needs." I think that hits home a little better than the leads one does. 00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:47.800 So I'd like you to consider that please. 00:07:47.800 --> 00:08:03.160 Now, and there are two mentions of climate change in the 2020 plan and I couldn't find any references 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:11.320 at all to climate change in the in the revision. And I think that's something, that's why we're 00:08:11.320 --> 00:08:18.920 doing the plan, right? And I think it would be great to, when there's a statement that says 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:26.520 from the, pardon me, the new draft, quote, "Texas ranks highest among states most impacted by 00:08:26.520 --> 00:08:40.280 natural disasters." And why? That's the question. If I were reading this, I'd say why. And just a 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:47.480 mention of climate change, because that's what this is all about. There was another thing. 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:50.760 Yeah, here we go. 00:08:50.760 --> 00:09:05.000 Yeah, this page here, chapter two of the 2020 plan, Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management. 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:12.120 We've got a little box right up here. It simply says, "Climate change is the rise in global 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:17.560 temperatures resulting in part from increased levels of greenhouse gases. Recognizing the 00:09:17.560 --> 00:09:22.520 importance of this issue, Devin initially will leave that out because Devin is no longer in the 00:09:22.520 --> 00:09:30.760 conference of mayors for climate protection." At least that's what they told me. They didn't 00:09:30.760 --> 00:09:36.760 renew their membership. But if we could get a little box like this or anything, just a definition 00:09:36.760 --> 00:09:44.360 so that people know, pardon me, what this is about. Does anybody have any discussion about that? 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:49.480 It seems like we asked that last time, so I don't know again. 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:56.440 We referenced the climate action plan, so that's the larger climate document. This is the 00:09:56.440 --> 00:10:05.320 sustainability framework. The 2020 called for some type of climate planning document, 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:08.680 which is that. That's what we developed, and we have that as a standalone item now. 00:10:08.680 --> 00:10:13.880 I think we reference back to that in the next framework. 00:10:13.880 --> 00:10:20.600 You don't need to reiterate the climate action plan. We can reference the climate action plan, 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:29.080 much like the 2040 plan mobility plan in the sustainability framework. In the adapted version, 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:34.680 in this version? It's been referenced in this version. Yes, it's referenced in this one. What, 00:10:34.680 --> 00:10:40.840 the climate action plan? Yes. But climate change has? The climate action plan references. But 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:48.360 you're assuming that people are going to connect that. I'm thinking about just the educational 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:58.280 aspect, so that. Well then, my question is. No, that's not my question. I just don't see why 00:10:58.280 --> 00:11:04.600 climate change cannot be mentioned in this document, because you're assuming that people 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:12.760 have read the climate action plan. I don't assume anything, just because. And I feel that it's our 00:11:12.760 --> 00:11:20.840 duty to be as transparent and as informative as possible with these documents. So that's all I 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:30.440 have to say. This is interesting. It gets to be kind of a philosophical discussion. 00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:40.200 The reason I like it now is because it talks about all of the goals that we would like to accomplish, 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:48.360 and in a way, sort of unspoken, climate is a benefit on the side. So if you support 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:52.120 transportation strategies that reduce air pollution, that helps with climate change. 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:57.560 If you support green building, that helps with climate change. If you maintain a diversified 00:11:57.560 --> 00:12:01.080 portfolio with energy efficiency and conservation, that helps with climate change. 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:09.240 All of that stuff people like, Texans like, they don't like climate change. So if you read 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:14.760 this as a political document, I think it's smart. These are the things we all care about as a 00:12:14.760 --> 00:12:21.640 community, that we know are like common interest goods. Everybody wants to save money on energy. 00:12:21.640 --> 00:12:26.760 Everybody would like to have more efficient buildings and cleaner air. So let's put that up. 00:12:26.760 --> 00:12:32.120 I think you're making a wide assumption. People don't want clean air. Well, 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:36.040 they want it more than climate change action, if you just look at the politics. 00:12:36.040 --> 00:12:41.080 I still don't see why that's no reason just for having a definition of climate change in this 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:47.960 document. Well, but like we said, there's a whole climate action plan. And you had put a list of all 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:58.520 the plans that are open. So should we go and talk about all of this? Well, I don't know. 00:12:58.520 --> 00:13:03.400 I personally don't see any argument with it, especially since it's 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:11.160 already been mentioned in the previous 2020 plan. It is, I will say, I can see on page five 00:13:11.160 --> 00:13:19.640 of the draft document, it talks about the draft document, the current one. It says the definition 00:13:19.640 --> 00:13:24.040 is to ensure its infrastructure and operations are prepared for stress stressors of changing climate. 00:13:24.040 --> 00:13:28.520 And then the next paragraph talks about resilience to stressors like climate change and population 00:13:28.520 --> 00:13:35.400 growth. And that's part of the lead definition of cities and communities. If we're going to 00:13:35.400 --> 00:13:41.800 add the glossary, I don't know, we can definitely add a definition of climate change in the glossary. 00:13:41.800 --> 00:13:53.320 I think I'd be fine with that. I support that too. Climate change is real. It doesn't matter 00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:59.480 if we think it's likely or not. No, I know. But I was reading it, I think, the same way that Adam 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:05.160 was. I mean, I like that the goals are very specific, and they're all, and they're measurable, 00:14:05.160 --> 00:14:08.360 and they're all good things to do, regardless of why we do them. 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:16.840 I've written two books on climate change. I know it's real. I know. So no, well, I need to pay 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:22.440 attention to the rhetoric of our outward facing documents. These are common interest goals that 00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:27.880 I think are not controversial, and I'll get the job done. And I think this is a good document, 00:14:27.880 --> 00:14:33.720 but just a little bit of adding on the climate change definition would help. 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:41.960 Would everyone support that? That's fine. Any other discussion? 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:49.400 Are we cool with the glossary? Are we going to have it? Great. Fantastic. 00:14:51.800 --> 00:14:56.760 So, do you need direction? Yes, sir. Any other comments? 00:14:56.760 --> 00:15:19.880 So, I would say adopt it with the changes that we just talked about. 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:28.520 But nothing, so with the additional glossary and additional definition of climate change, 00:15:28.520 --> 00:15:32.520 do we have a? 00:15:32.520 --> 00:15:37.480 Is that your motion? That's my motion, yeah. 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:46.440 Thank you. All in favor? All opposed? Thank you. 00:15:51.800 --> 00:16:16.280 Oh, yeah, that's right. Sorry. Next item, item C, is receive a report, hold a discussion, 00:16:16.280 --> 00:16:19.960 and give staff direction on the Sustainability Framework Advisory Committee. 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:22.920 2016 meeting schedule. 00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:29.880 All right. I'm going to jump on through this one. Catherine Barnett, Sustainability Manager. 00:16:29.880 --> 00:16:36.120 Just want to have a little discussion about meeting schedule, talk a little bit about 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:42.440 our historical meetings over the last few years, frequency, talk about making some changes to the 00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:51.640 day of the week for the meeting and times and locations. So, in 2023, we held eight meetings. 00:16:51.640 --> 00:16:59.240 We did six in '24 and seven this year. Those meetings averaged less than an hour and a half. 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:06.840 We had some canceled for no forum, some scheduling changes, 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:12.760 scheduling conflicts that had come up along the way. Just looking at the number of meetings and 00:17:12.760 --> 00:17:19.880 the duration of the meetings, we want to talk about moving to an every other month schedule. 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:27.480 Talk about moving up to an every other month schedule and try to have a little bit more of 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:33.480 a packed meeting every other month. Try to get in here and cover some solid items. 00:17:34.600 --> 00:17:41.160 So, coming in for a 30-minute meeting. I don't know if everyone's aware the city 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:44.760 is going to be closed to the public on Friday after it ends moving forward. 00:17:44.760 --> 00:17:51.800 Start that first January 2nd. So, we would need to change our meeting date and time with that new 00:17:51.800 --> 00:17:59.480 scheduling change and looking at this room, which we have to hold our meetings since they're 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:04.680 televised. They need to be either in this room or at development services and this is the preferred 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:10.760 one for the way our meetings are produced. So, Wednesdays and Thursdays are actually better 00:18:10.760 --> 00:18:15.960 for this room, but if we need to look at other days of the week, we can do that. I mean, just be 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:31.480 on time. So, I'd like to get some feedback about moving to every other month, days of the week, 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:37.800 meeting times, all of those things. I don't have a preference between Wednesday and Thursday, 00:18:37.800 --> 00:18:43.720 but I would say my opinion is that it's probably better to keep it on a monthly schedule if you go 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:49.160 to every other month and you miss one due to lack of forum or whatever, then you're going to miss 00:18:49.160 --> 00:19:02.680 a big block of time. I agree with that. I think monthly meetings are better. For me, Wednesday 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:15.880 morning is better. Monday, if you don't have a Wednesday. And then I think it's good to, 00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:22.760 like you did before, you can ask us what meetings we can have. For example, I travel in summer, 00:19:22.760 --> 00:19:28.760 so I may miss one or two meetings in summer. Maybe we plan a longer break in the summer 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:40.600 instead of just one meeting. Yes, that's advisable too. Anybody else? I'm flexible. 00:19:40.600 --> 00:19:49.880 I'd like to continue the monthly meetings and I'm good most any day, 00:19:52.280 --> 00:20:00.520 except, will the meetings be in the afternoon or do you know? I heard one preference for Wednesday 00:20:00.520 --> 00:20:08.840 morning. Maybe Wednesday up to three o'clock. Usually we have faculty meetings at four on 00:20:08.840 --> 00:20:22.440 Wednesday, not every Wednesday. The only morning I can't do is Thursday morning and Friday morning. 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:39.480 Were you able to capture all that in case my notes aren't right there? Okay. So what we'll do is 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:45.240 we'll reach out about travel and then we'll come back and we'll probably do like we did this year 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:50.360 and not do the one around Thanksgiving. So what's the difference? Do you want to disperse next year? 00:20:50.360 --> 00:20:57.960 And then we'll look at a longer break during the summer maybe. I have one question for us. 00:20:57.960 --> 00:21:05.720 So some of our meetings was cancelled because we could not have a quorum because of all those. 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:11.480 But I really think there are two vacancies in this committee. 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:23.160 Do you know that these vacancies will be filled soon or? 00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:31.960 Okay. Does it just depend on someone being nominated? Someone applying, someone being 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:37.880 nominated. Yeah, so those are the councillors at large that need to nominate. 00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:47.800 There are two people who have applied. Yeah, I know it. Yeah, but and they 00:21:47.800 --> 00:21:52.280 jump through all the hoops and I don't know what the what the hang up is. 00:21:55.880 --> 00:22:00.680 And I haven't received an update from the city secretary's office about any applications. 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:10.840 Okay. And we will come back with a draft schedule. Thank you. 00:22:10.840 --> 00:22:17.800 I will say to you while we're on the meeting, meeting invites and notices are going to start 00:22:17.800 --> 00:22:24.120 coming out again this month coming from that sustainability framework advisory committee email 00:22:24.120 --> 00:22:27.800 into your city inboxes. So it may not show up as coming from America 00:22:27.800 --> 00:22:33.640 anymore, but it's a new email channel that we're using to capture all the communication. 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:49.960 All right, thank you. Our next and last agenda item, staff reports. 00:22:55.000 --> 00:23:05.080 And we have the follow-up memo for some of the matrix items, just some status updates on those and the matrix. 00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:30.040 I this is really good. This explains a lot and my was on the long term items. 00:23:30.040 --> 00:23:43.160 You said it's written here, for example, the DME updates that staff will update 00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:51.480 us, this committee, when timelines are available. So I just want to reiterate that it'd be great if 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:59.720 we got once they are available progress reports, just to just to know that the wheels are turning. 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:11.320 Yeah, this was this is very, very helpful. Good, good. And I'm just trying to close out some of 00:24:11.320 --> 00:24:17.320 the things on the matrix, but we'll make sure that we have something to know to just keep an eye on 00:24:17.320 --> 00:24:23.080 things and keep you posted on it. We'll continue to do that through staff members. I have a few 00:24:23.080 --> 00:24:30.360 questions regarding this report, which is indeed very good. I especially like the one from our 00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:37.560 court. Lots of information. Yes. So on the green space enhancements, 00:24:38.840 --> 00:24:50.840 so it is mentioned only the media. Is there any any future work to enhance other green spaces? 00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:58.280 I think our parks department is always looking for opportunities 00:24:58.280 --> 00:25:04.920 to do that. We agreed to partner on the medians with them this year with some funding to help. 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:13.480 I hope that that kind of launches into some some bigger projects, but we communicate with them 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:21.320 pretty well, work well together. So time and resources. So regarding the incentives in the 00:25:21.320 --> 00:25:31.000 second paragraph, there is a statement saying that increasing energy efficiency of existing 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:42.040 residential structures by 25% will reduce 3.6 of the total emissions, but increasing solar 00:25:42.040 --> 00:25:56.280 to 192 megawatts will reduce only 0.4% of total emissions. So I would like in the future 00:25:57.000 --> 00:26:05.640 reports to know how the math was done. That's based on the modeling that 00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:13.320 SSG did for the climate action plan. Well to me I understand that 00:26:13.320 --> 00:26:21.240 you know increasing energy efficiency is very important, but at least to me it does not make 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:30.680 sense that if we turn more solar power on we do not increase, you know, I mean we do not 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:40.360 decrease the emissions more than 0.4%. So it's just me maybe. I just would like to see some 00:26:43.320 --> 00:26:51.480 For the Denton Municipal Electric updates, I understand that the pollution cost of acquiring 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:59.000 dispatchable generation is unknown, but it depends on what facility 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:09.400 would be identified, but I would like also to know how this is calculated. Is it social cost of carbon 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:14.760 or other model? 00:27:14.760 --> 00:27:23.720 So how it would be calculated? Yes, 00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:30.040 in general that's calculated by social cost of carbon. 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:44.520 So I understand that the work of the Wildlife Corridor survey team, that work 00:27:44.520 --> 00:27:53.320 is just a tool, it's not a regulatory tool, but just to make sure so only environmental 00:27:53.320 --> 00:28:01.720 sensitive areas are included in the plans in any development review as regulatory. Is it true? 00:28:02.760 --> 00:28:12.360 Bases are regulatory, isn't it? Okay. I couldn't speak to what else is in the code. All right, 00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:22.600 I'll check. Thank you. Anyone else? Anybody else? It may go along a little bit with what Dr. Meyer 00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:27.320 was talking about, but one of the methods of dispatchable generation that people have been 00:28:27.320 --> 00:28:33.640 talking a lot about lately is small-scale nuclear. Has this committee ever been, 00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:41.960 received a presentation on that? No. Might be something good to put on the radar. Okay. 00:28:50.920 --> 00:29:02.040 I just, in researching the earlier plan that we discussed, I went to the Council's committee on 00:29:02.040 --> 00:29:13.000 the environment to see what they said when this was presented to them in October, and unfortunately 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:23.160 that meeting is not videotaped. Okay. And the notes were, they didn't say really anything about 00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:29.720 what happened when just that they discussed the plan and asked questions, but there was no details 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:35.960 at all. So perhaps in the future, just as a matter of communication between these two entities, that 00:29:36.840 --> 00:29:45.560 the minutes can be a little more precise as to what actually was discussed. I appreciate that. 00:29:45.560 --> 00:30:01.240 Anybody with anything else regarding the matrix? Okay. With that, 00:30:04.280 --> 00:30:18.040 is there a motion to adjourn? Second? I second. So we are now adjourned. Thank you.