San Anselmo Quality of Life Commission
525 San Anselmo Ave. San Anselmo, CA 94960
Monday, March 16th, 2015 7pm
MEETING MINUTES
Members Present
Lea Dutton, Emily Quinton, Marita Mayer, Chantal Maher, Annabel Vernon, Sita Khufu,
(Barbara Thornton)
1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 7:07pm by Chair Dutton.
2. Approval of Minutes
Minutes from December, January and February meetings unanimously approved.
3. Open Time for Public Expression
I. Joining us by conference call is Alex from Marin Clean Energy, expressing how heartened
he is about the model for community action occurring in San Anselmo recently through the
‘Deep Green’ committee, led by Nancy Vernon. He’s feeling very optimistic about the
committee’s grassroots approach because he has indeed seen an increase in Deep Green
enrollments recently in San Anselmo. He intends to capitalize on this type of outreach in
other communities.
The city of El Cerrito is the newest community to join MCE. The general enrollment period
has already been completed, which gave customers the option of choosing between MCE’s
Light green or Deep Green option, or opt out to remain with PGE. In addition, El Cerrito’s
‘Environmental Forum Committee’ has already been successful in helping to enroll 180 new
Deep Green customers. MCE offers communities choices with the purchasing of electricity
as well as provides green jobs and green job training.
In the past, MCE’s renewable energy was mostly sourced from wind power, but now there
are renewable solar options as well. Local Sol is 100% local and 100% solar and although
there is a rate increase of about $30 more per month, it will steadily remain this same rate
for next twenty years.
Renewable energy certificates and ratepayer revenues support the development of new
renewable energy generation projects, of which there are about nine currently in the works.
One near the Sonoma County landfill uses a ‘methane gas capture technology,’ similar to
natural gas but without fracking. There is a solar shade structure project in the works at a
Novato carport and another solar project at the old Cooley Rock Quarry in Novato, plus an
additional five sites in the east bay around Richmond. Chevron even agreed to lease one of
their sites to MCE at a very reduced rate because the contaminated site had been capped.
Perfect, however for housing solar panels.
MCE has created a custom new informational card especially for town of San Anselmo,
which Nancy will share with whomever is interested. Emily would like a pdf of one to post on
Facebook page.
II. Up next we have Nancy Vernon here to give an update about the progress being made by
the Deep Green Committee currently made up of twelve members; business owners &
representatives, residents, and Drake High students:
Chloe Martin, Chelsea Supowit, Annabel Vernon, Karen Nelson, Barbara Thornton, Greg
Murphy, Marnie Delaney, Jamie Ginsburg, Marita Mayer, Chantal Maher and Anna & Doug
Holm.
At first committee meeting in February each chose sectors around town to reach out to
about deep green:
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Jamie and Greg agreed to take on some of the businesses downtown, including
Marinitas, Ensalatas, and Coffee roasters. They also hope to take it a step further by
getting them to also become ‘Deep Green Champions.’
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As an employee of Comforts, Chelsea intends to encourage them to go deep green.
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Marnie has agreed to work on marketing ideas as well as do what she can to get
Seminary enrolled. She plans to also post information in the storefront window of her
downtown business, Doodlebug.
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Since Drake High School opted out for PG&E, Chloe would like to get them to reconsider
MCE. Will also reach out to representatives of ‘Yes Foundation’ and PTA.
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Annabel, Anna and Chelsea will be reaching out to Drake Administration, and to Sea Disc
teachers and students, as well as put a message in school wide newsletter, ‘Pirate
News.’
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Karen and Chloe will solicit the neighborhood behind United Markets.
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Chantal will continue her outreach to current members of preschool where she works,
including their extensive alumni community, and will inquire with the schools on either
side of the school, to see if they’re enrolled yet or could be persuaded to be. In addition,
will try to approach members of Robson Community garden, will post something on
‘Nextdoor.com’ and will update window display at Bicycle Works as needed.
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Doug is set to communicate with the Library Commission and some of the other local
commissions.
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Barbara will be reaching out to the community in a variety of ways, including the
upcoming QOL Speaker series where she hopes to sign people up on the spot. Will also
reach out to members of First Presbyterian Church, Red Hill businesses, Town Council,
and people in her Scenic neighborhood.
A good email template is available from Nancy for anyone interested in using it to reach out to new
people about deep green. There are also some great talking points too, which can be helpful when
making calls about it. Let her know if interested and she’ll email you a copy.
The more Deep Green sign-up’s we get, the better chance we have to make San Anselmo the
deepest green town in Marin, and be considered for the title of Deep Green Champions by MCE on
that portion of their website. New enrollees should grant permission to MCE to use their story for
website by sending an email to Alex at: [email protected].
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Alex will share percentages of Deep Green enrollments from San Anselmo just before the May 26
meeting. Out of about 5000 San Anselmo rate payers, there are less than 200 currently enrolled in
Deep Green, which means we’ve really got our work cut out for us to help spread the word about
deep green benefits.
The West Marin Mother’s Club has been very effective with deep green enrollments so it may be in
our best interest to find out more about their methods.
Lastly, there is an EFM Saturday morning lecture coming up about renewable energy, featuring
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MCE’s Dawn Weiss at the Bay Model Visitor Center in Sausalito on March 28 9am-noon. Free to
EFM students ($25 at the door).
4. Progress of Commission’s Sub-Committee Projects (goo.gl/o8r2VB):
A.
‘Connecting the Green Dots’ Speaker Series:
I. Energy Efficiency:
Proposal of dates for upcoming Energy Efficiency event were discussed. Barbara and
Emily are working out the details but will be needing help with marketing and advertising
once date is selected. Event will include segments on Towns CAP, energy audits, rebates,
MCE, etc. The speakers set to speak include representatives from Marin Clean Energy as
well as Tamra Peters of Resilient Neighborhoods.
II. Solar Speaker Fairnd
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Upcoming dates proposed for Saturday morning solar fair are May 2 , 9 , 23 or 30 .
Event planning by Michael, Emily and Barbara is occurring alongside planning of energy
efficiency event. A possible tabler for vendor area worth considering is Graham, a resource
as an installer with a neutral tool to allow better deal.
B.
Recruit New Commissioners:
Need to reach out to potential new commissioners to fill both Lea and Sita’s vacancies. Heather
will reach out to local Environmental Forum members as Sita and Lea had done in the past, but
we should all be on the lookout for potential candidates. Nancy Vernon would be a great
possibility if we could persuade her. We will always need to have a minimum of four members
present for a quorum. By next month’s meeting, commission will consist of Emily, Heather,
Michael, Marita, Chantal, and Annabel (with Barbara and Sita as members of the public).
C.
Extending the youth commissioner:
Welcome Annabel, we’re happy to have you.
D.
Plastic Water Bottle Ban Update:
No new news at this time. This is a huge endeavor with many obstacles but we will support
however we can.
E.
Social Media:
Emily will try incorporating posts onto twitter too. Need Facebook users to visit page more. If
you have a Facebook account please visit our QOL page and hit ‘like’ if you haven’t already,
and please invite others to do the same.
F.
Bio-plastics and Straw project:
Emily has been posting great material about some of Heather’s projects on Facebook. As for
the straw project, several businesses are on board with switching from plastic to paper straws.
Let’s all create the demand for paper straws by asking for ‘paper’ when dining locally.
G.
CAP Update:
Reviewing carbon reduction goals in town’s Climate Action Plan is something we need to do so
we could report our accomplishments and next strategies to town staff and council.
One adjustment Christine O’Rourke has agreed to make with CAP is the updating of
information pertaining to MCE’s Light and Deep Green percentages. Currently it shows light
green as only being 25% renewable energy instead of 50% renewable and shows Deep Green
as being 50% when in actuality it is 100% renewable. These adjustments alone should bring
town closer to reaching CAP goals.
H.
QOL project supporting town’s Climate Action Plan
Lea and Barbara began working on CAP progress report project sheet to measure
commission’s accomplishments against some of CAP’s goals. Lea hopes someone on
commission will take over working with Barbara on this project.
I.
Green business of year award:
Plan award strategy. Begin researching local green businesses deserving of this new annual
green business award. Come up with a list of candidates as well as a list of criteria businesses
must meet to be considered. Possibly choose a business that is more difficult to green like a
restaurant (?). Possibly use as a way to help promote Deep Green. Set high standards
businesses must meet, including at the minimum being:
a) A Marin County certified green business.
b) Enrolled in Deep Green
c) A Deep Green champion, etc.
J.
QOL Green and Silver Awards
Heather will contact the already approved winners from Woody’s list and interview them to
prepare articles to submit to Ross Valley Reporter.
5. Voting in new Commission Chair:
Emily Quinton has graciously offered to serve as Interim Commission Chair. Chantal moves to
approve. Lea seconds. Motion unanimously approved.
6. Reporting/Comments on other Commission & Community activities:
It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to outgoing commission chair, Lea Dutton. She has been
an inspiring leader and passionate role model. Her kind heart, friendship and generosity will be
sorely missed. The Town of San Anselmo and the Quality of Life Commission will not be the same
without her, but we know that exciting adventures and opportunities await in her new community. It
has truly been an honor serving alongside a woman who cares as deeply about sustainability as
Lea. We will never forget her many accomplishments. Best of luck in your future endeavors Lea,
we’ll miss you.
Fortunately for us, Sita Khufu has agreed to stick around until the vacant seats are filled. Thank you
Sita.
7. Next meeting:
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Monday, April 20 7:00pm
8. Adjournment:
Meeting adjourned 8:40pm
Submitted by:
Chantal Maher
QOL Committee Secretary
Minutes Approved: April 20, 2015