Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.04.25 MinutesCITY OF OSHKOSH SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD Minutes September 4th, 2025 SAB PRESENT: Margy Davey, Vic Oliver, Jacob Klaameyer, Lisa Moore, Alyssa Reinke, Brad Spanbauer, Jaden Zurn, Amy Schuler, Paul Treder EXCUSED: ABSENT: STAFF AND OTHERS: Emma Dziengeleski (Planning Staff), Brandon Nielsen (Planning Staff), Ted Redmond (paleBLUEdot), Staff (Oshkosh Media) I. Call to Order Chair Margy Davey called the meeting to order at 6:00pm and a quorum was declared present. II. Public Comment Ms. Davey asked if there were public comments. No public comments occurred. III. Approval of Minutes, August 4th, 2025 Mr. Spanbauer motioned to approve the minutes. Ms. Reinke seconded the motion. The board approved the August 4th minutes 9-0 (Spanbauer/Reinke). IV. Comprehensive Energy Plan Presentation from paleBLUEdot – Ted Redmond Ms. Davey introduced Ted Redmond from paleBLUEdot and he began his presentation. Mr. Redmond started his presentation with a brief background on his experience. He then gave a brief synopsis on the process of creating the plan, data collection, energy benchmarking, site reviews, solar feasibility assessments, and the strategic goals and actions. Mr. Klaameyer thanked Mr. Redmond for the presentation and asked if the solar evaluations could be represented in a return of investment (ROI) basis for each singular building. He also asked if there is a baseline source of data in the plan. Mr. Redmond responded saying that he does not believe that is represented directly in the plan, but he can update the data to show that information. Mr. Klaameyer stated that he feels that will help display the current energy use of the buildings rather than how they perform against the baseline. He also asked how this plan relates to new buildings or any capacity planning. Mr. Nielsen said he believes that is represented within the strategy that discusses the building square footage of being net zero or net zero ready. Mr. Redmond stated that the study is based on the building portfolio as it existed when data collection started. He said that all the strategic goals allow for expansion or change. Mr. Treder asked if there was any consideration with emerging technologies such as wind turbines, nuclear, and geothermal. Mr. Redmond said that is included in the plan to an extent. He said other technologies were not part of this project scope and would call for a different kind of study. Mr. Spanbauer thanked Mr. Redmond for the plan and presentation. He asked about the remaining timeline and when the next phases can be expected. Mr. Nielsen responded that if SAB has any additional comments, get those to staff by Monday, September 22nd. From there, staff will pass along comments to paleBLUEdot to give them time to update the final draft plan. Staff will be looking for SAB to recommend approval of the final plan to Common Council at the October meeting. Mr. Spanbauer said he liked the idea of creating a fund for continual investment into energy efficiency projects. He then asked what Mr. Redmond’s thoughts were about having language about additionality in this plan or future policy. Mr. Redmond said that they could add something to the plan; however, he said at that kind of specificity he feels that might be best in a city policy statement. Mr. Spanbauer asked to what degree would paleBLUEdot encourage the city to implement the plan to utilize or promote the Inflation Reduction Act tax credits with the recent policy changes that are being discussed. Mr. Redmond stated that they included language stating that they are going away but did not expand much more than that as things are changing at a rapid pace right now. He said they kept running into conflicting sources on what exactly was going to happen. He encouraged that if there is any chance for free money to definitely use it, but be aware of all the potential caveats. Mr. Zurn asked if there are expected measurable benefits for resiliency at the city level. Mr. Redmond responded that from the energy plan scope, resiliency can be a difficult thing to measure; however, he sees resiliency in all the recommended goals. V. Sustainable Activities and Events Mr. Treder shared that Music on Main is continuing every Wednesday night until the end of September. He said this occurs 5:30-7:00pm in Opera House Square. Mr. Klaameyer shared that on October 3rd at 6:30pm the Oshkosh Recreation Department is partnering with Urban Ecology Oshkosh on a bat event at Sheldon Nature Area. VI. Sustainability Plan Update Subcommittee Discussion/Action i. Sustainability Plan Update Ms. Dziengeleski provided an update after some recent conversations with the consultant, GRAEF. She shared that the next step is to create a subcommittee to work on and review the Land Use and Economic Development Chapter. She followed up saying that the committee will be limited to three core members and that they will need to vote on the creation of the subcommittee and who will be on that committee tonight. Mr. Spanbauer motioned to create the sustainability plan subcommittee. Mr. Treder seconded the motion. The board approved the creation of the sustainability plan subcommittee (9-0). Ms. Davey appointed herself, Ms. Marone, and Ms. Reinke to the sustainability plan subcommittee. VII. Agenda Items for Future Meeting Summer Farmers Market, Resiliency, and Rain Barrel Credits VIII. Next Meeting is Monday October 6th, 2025 IX. Adjourn The board voted 9-0 to adjourn (Spanbauer/Moore) Recorded by: Emma Dziengeleski, Associate Planner