Climate Smart Communities Task Force Draft Meeting Notes — January 22 & March 20, 2025

Climate Smart Communities Task Force Draft Meeting Notes: March 20, 2025 Present: Kym Bradley-Rickard, Betsy Brauer, Alex Geller, Cat Viega

Progress Reports

A. Composting.

1. Currently composting at RHHS, kitchen only. Not sure whether school action is applicable to Village CSC.

2. Composting shed has arrived. working to adjust it for better functionality.

3. Program hopes to commence in May. Free to Village residents. One-gallon buckets will be available. Maximum 25-50 households. Successful applicants will be provided an access code to open the shed.

4. Informational/educational materials will be provided. Might try to get countertop buckets to be stamped imprinted on the buckets, or a sticker depending on cost and value.

5. Art call for kids to participate in the design

• B. Safe Routes to School

  1. Preliminary map of needed walking/biking routes.  More research into feasibility needed before presentation to Village Board 
  
  2. An engineering study for the school speed limit zone has been completed – waiting on finalized reports.  For both Market Street and Linden Avenue.  A draft report from engineers has recommendations but nothing finalized.  Flashing signs.  Not yet certain what hours would be included. - School Zone can be used in the work on SRTS 
  
  3. Purchase of flashing speed limit signs for highway entrances to the Village approved. Waiting on approval from DOT of the actual signs. 
  
  4. Alex is planning the 2025 Tour d'Red Hook.  Needs Village Board approval for the CSC Task Force to sponsor it. It is currently proposed: 
  
     1. There will be short and long routes, bike rodeo, bike tune-up station, free helmets. 
  
     2. Opportunity to get public opinions about unsafe places for pedestrians and bicyclists.  Suggested to have a giant map of the village with post-it arrows for people to place. 
  

Ongoing and Future CSC Plans

• A. Comparing CSC certification with CEC (Clean Energy Communities)

  1. CSC requires submission to include all programs and achievements at once

  2. For CEC, programs and achievements can be submitted as completed.

B. Steve is looking into Town CSC certification are applicable for the Village's application, and is working with two others who are working on compiling necessary information for our GHG emissions.

• C. Continuing assistance from Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE)

  3. A new person, Scott, is available; not sure what services he will offer

4. Kym has circulated the CCE results from earlier Task Force work that identified actions that are completed, in progress, recommended or not recommended.

5. Kym requests all Task Force members to review this report and select actions that best meet one of two criteria: Will be compiled on shared CSC Google Drive

   1. of the greatest benefit to the community / meet community needs

   2. easily accomplished as a way to accrue points.

Other Actions

A. CSC page on the Village website needs regular updating. Photos for the webpage also can be used (with date taken) as part of CSC submission.

B.Task Force promotes to the Board adoption of a policy to make a good faith effort to utilize green suppliers.

C. Task Force promotes to the Board policy(ies) requiring developers of new housing projects to incorporate Complete Streets in their plan. This will need to delved into and see if other municipalities have this policy and what it may look like.

D. Need to review the proposed plan for Smart Energy Towns from 2009 to align projects.

Related Community Activities

1. RH Library is working with CCE and presenting two workshops

  1. April 10 – composting 

  2. April 30 – energy saving 

2. Town E-Waste Day – April 5 @ Recycling Center

3. Town tree planting is April 26

4. Village tree planting, date TBD

5. Quarterly Repair cafe at RHCC on April 26 (CSC can table)

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P U B L I C S P A C E S

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

I N I T I A T I V E

O U R M I S S I O N

To develop and facilitate the creation of public park, art, and community spaces throughout the village of Red Hook

Agenda

1. Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Acknowledge Steve's contributions as Village Board liaison.

• New trustees are sworn in on 3/28, may take a few weeks for a new liaison

  • to be assigned.

2. RHCC Seed Exchange

Discussion Points:

• Update on Winter Sowing Class (March 1, 11 AM–1 PM):

• Event was a success, quite a few people showed up and all enjoyed the planting.

Follow-Up Actions:

• Plan to do similar event for fall planting

• Winter Sowing event next year as well

3. High School Outreach

Discussion Points:

• Engaging National Honor Society students to fulfill volunteering

  • requirements.

• Coordinating with local high school contacts for outreach.

Follow-Up Actions:

• No update this week.

• Look to expand PSI volunteers and members to help with reach out items.

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

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4. PSI Budget Submission

Discussion Points:

• PSI has budget for this year

• Items to budget for:

  • a. Hello Blooms event (June): Raffle prize, pots, potting soil, labels.

  • b. Pumpkins in the Park (October): Supplies.

  • c. Extension hose for pollinator garden.

  • d. Tablecloths for events.

  • e. PSI T-shirts.

  • f. Pollinator Garden plants for Village garden

  • g. PSI name tags (check with Jen Cavanaugh for badge options).

Follow-Up Actions:

• Confirm amount of budget

• Susan to check on table banner and logo possibilities

• Follow up on PSI logo for T Shirts

5. Hello Blooms event

Discussion Points

• Date selection – Partner with Rotary club to have space at Appleblossom event, May 10th

• Plant give away, seed potting, painting station

Follow up Actions

• Reach out to Rotary for Appleblossom participation

• Define activities to be present at PSI space

• Volunteer communication

6. Miscellaneous Topics

Discussion Points:

• Review of survey results (180 submissions shared with the Village).

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Wednesday, January 22, 2025

• Exploring walking tour initiative showcasing Red Hook’s history (RHCC’s transformation over the years).

• Address potential conflicts between seed exchange and local businesses. Wanted to just be aware for future, no issues currently.

• Review mission statement(Stated at top of Agenda/Notes) Determine if it needs to be redefined

• Partner with Alex and Library on pollinator garden and pathway area

• Items for consideration from Brent

  1. https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2023/09/25/how-creativeplacemaking-enhances-sense-place

  2. https://www.ncfp.org/knowledge/effective-family-philanthropythe-mortimer-mimi-levitt-foundation/

Follow-Up Actions:

• Discuss survey feedback with Village officials.

• Develop a plan for promoting the walking tour.

• Reach out to Alex for garden planting and participation

• Reach out to Mayor to determine when Abraham’s task force will meet again and what the next steps are

  1. More foot traffic through park has been observed, could be a good identifier of how the park needs to be designed.