05112009 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Collette Jamison, Assistant City Manager, introduced a brief presentation on a broad conceptual • program for beautification. The plan has three components, including beautification, code enforcement, and development standards. Rodney Cobb, Director of Community Services, is responsible for beautification, which includes trash and littler abatement; downtown; graffiti removal; neighborhood cleanups; and attaining Tree City USA designation. Ken Bell, Director of Emergency Services, is responsible for the code enforcement portion of the plan. This includes overgrown lots, junk vehicles, dilapidated buildings, and bulky waste. Chuck Swallow, Director of Development Services, has the responsibility for development standards including signage, zoning overlay districts along major gateways, corridors and downtown; an IH-35 landscape master plan and standards along rights-of-way; and underground utilities. 27. Discussion on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) and SECO programs, and provide direction to staff. Lee Wallace, 118 South Mitchell, spoke on the solar integration into the system. He reported that this fall there should be a large influx of new solar systems coming in due to number of rebates that are available this year. The cost will drop from $25,000 to $5,000 per system. He asked if the city is prepared to handle these solar systems, and will the billing structure be • available to residents. Some of the money should be set aside to be sure the City is prepared by this fall, and provide solar rebates or incentives. Richard Salmon, Grants Administrator, provided a brief overview on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. The purpose of the EECBG is to reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce total energy use and improve energy efficiency in buildings. $498,000 has been allocated to San Marcos. The grant is modeled after the HUD program. The funds will be used for cost-effective programs with continuous benefits to the City. Draft grant recommendations include: 1) City Energy Star Replacements/Rebates ($125,000); 2) Retrofit of City Buildings ($250,000); 3) DOE Administration ($49,810); and 4) Sustainability Officer/Grant Admin ($73,290). Kelly Franke, with Combined Community Action, reported that the Weatherization Assistance Program spent $800,000 to provide services to nine counties. Their primary focus is low income with a narrower focus on the elderly, disabled, and families with children. The program provides weatherization of homes; they clean, tune and repair heating and cooling systems; they repair or replace water heaters; etc. This program provides an average energy savings of $413 per year, and reduces household annual gas heating consumption by 32%. Jan Klein, Conservation Coordinator, discussed City energy programs. There is a community- wide rebate program and all residents are eligible. Elements of the program include energy audits and appliance rebates. There is a proposed program for appliance replacements with CCA for income eligible participants. • RM051109 Minutes Page 6