Posted by G. Stowe Talbot on Dec 03, 2019
Flag Salute & Invocation by Erika Buse
 
Announcements by President Brad
 
Jeff Hill health update
 
We are considering chartering one of the local scout troops - see Lance or Brad for details;
 
Next Tuesday 12/10 the speaker will be Rud Browne on “ID to Work” (program to get undocumented youth credentials for employment), then Tuesday 12/17 will be our Christmas program. Last two Tuesdays will be no meetings.
 
Bucks in the Bay
  • Brad said RMC is working on new City of Bham Public Works 5-story building;
  • Lance thankful for cooking dinner, son made the game-winning basketball shot!
  • John Templeton thankful for much, and an extra $20 kudos to Brent and Bill Gorman for all their work shepherding the BBRC Foundation!
  • Mark Turner said both kids and grandkids were over for the holidays;
  • John Purdie trip to parents’ house;
  • Tim Krell for Thanksgiving;
Sergeant at Arms by Tim Krell
Fines for misc. sins, and trivia on voice recognition technology.
Program
Lance introduced Jacquelyn Styrna, Director of Government Affairs for the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County (BIAWC - https://www.biawc.com).  Jacquelyn talked about the community’s concern over the City of Bellingham's Climate Action Task Force and its upcoming recommendations.
 
The City of Bellingham’s Climate Action Task Force (CATF - https://www.cob.org/gov/public/bc/climate) was launched last year with the purpose to develop recommendations to achieve accelerated 100% renewable energy targets, “taking into account financial, technological and societal challenges resulting from such a transition.”  This CATF task force will be presenting its recommendations to the City Council and Mayor next Monday, December 9th.  Public comment will be available later that evening at the City Council meeting or online.
 
Jacqueline says the BIAWC is very concerned that there has not been a broad enough range of input from different community stakeholders, nor has there been enough transparency in the process. There is concern that (depending on the recommendations adopted) there could be significant unintended consequences from the recommendations, such as the affordability of housing and the increase of housing expenses. There is also concern that the recommendations would not be realistic to achieve in the short time frame, and may even be technically illegal and unenforceable.  
 
For example, some of the recommendations may include the electrification of all commercial, residential, and renter occupied space and water heating systems by 2035, and the installation of solar PV to cover 50% of all new building footprint through rooftop or offsite solar. A secondary reduction pathway was proposed that would mandate greenhouse gas reductions of 100% by 2035.
 
In August, BIAWC and its membership wrote a letter to the Mayor expressing its concerns: https://www.biawc.com/wp-content/uploads/ClimateActionTaskForce_COB_August15_2019_Final.pdf  In the letter, BIAWC’s says: “It is essential that whatever is decided, it’s grounded in real economics, and real energy usage information so that true GHG reductions are achieved, and unintended consequences are avoided. It’s essential that decisions impacting the Bellingham community be made with the input of those who will be most impacted by these top-down mandates.”
 
BIAWC’s call to action:  Attend next Monday’s (12/9/19) City Council meeting, and/or comment online here at http://www.cob.org/gov/public/Pages/Public-Comment.aspx
 
A couple other (non climate-related) initiatives of the BIAWC: To develop a youth workforce development / apprenticeship program, and recommending fixes, or at least adjustments, to the Growth Management Act.
 
Raffle won by President Brad.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot