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| | 1. | | Introduction of members.
Minutes note: Meeting convened: 2:03 P.M.
Members present via telephone: Rafael Smith, Julie Kerksick, Ald. Nick Kovac, Janet Meissner Pritchard, Sup. Supreme Moore Omokunde, Ted Kraig, Pamela Ritger, Erick Shambarger, Barbara Richards, George Martin and Pam Fendt
Members excused: August Ball and Ayanne Lee
Also participating: Linda Frank, Bruce Wiggins and Gordie Bennett
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| | 2. | | Review and approval of the minutes of the March 5th meeting.
Minutes note: Ms. Kerksick moved to approve the minutes. There were no objections. | | | |
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| | 3. | | Review and approval of the preliminary report of the body, including any public comments at this time.
Minutes note: Ald. Kovac thanked Mr. Knapp for his work on the draft and members for all their work.
Ms. Fendt was concerned that on page 34 there is a paragraph on basic aggregate data (in the jobs and equity section) that focuses too much on research and not on moving forward. She feels that it isn't action-oriented enough. Ms. Kerksick agrees, but has a strong desire to focus on what has worked and has not worked. Mr. Kraig likes the bullet points as they show we have a baseline, particularly the second bullet point. Ms. Fendt accepts what others believe as "aggregate" versus creating more research.
Mr. Kraig said the task force recommendations go beyond the Paris Climate Accords and he wants the language to be accurate and recommended some slight language. Ms. Frank said there were a number of sections Mr. Gordie Bennett had drafted and she wondered if those were included. Mr. Bennett said his suggestions were incorporated. Ms. Richards would like to list specific accords, but Mr. Kraig supported more general language, i.e. "Do our share that scientists say is necessary for Milwaukee to meet our obligations to do our share" (or similar language). The standards will be struck in that section and the Paris Climate Accord isn't a sufficient goal.
On page 26, the quote needs to be not an exact quote on the bottom of page 26 and just note it is from Mark Levine. Ms. Kerksick also wanted a table of recommendations and then list the page numbers that detail each recommendation - Mr. Kraig supported something like that for the conclusion, but it makes more sense to be in an Executive Summary. Mr. Martin recommended giving each work group one paragraph, as most people will read that rather than the longer report. Ms. Ritger said the recommendations are primarily suggestions on what action to take. Ms. Kersick was fine with leaving as it is for now and that item will be on the to-do list.
Mr. Kraig said benchmarks or targets should be added to track progress; currently there is no benchmark of where we currently are at. Members supported that change. Mr. Shambarger said there are many reports that never even get read and he is concerned he will be the one doing these reports.
Mr. Kraig was confused by the Education and Outreach section as it cites modules he hasn't read and the descriptions are unclear and the proposed actions should be listed rather than referring to modules. It may be unclear what the modules are, but Ms. Richards said they all address getting out to the community and meeting with the community, which isn't going to take place now. Ald. Kovac thinks people will realize it isn't going to happen as quickly as planned. Sup. Moore Omokunde said the concepts speak to climate justice, community work groups, etc. without specfically referencing the modules themselves. Mr. Kraig supported that; he didn't want to remove any substance, but adding narrative to explain the modules and a citation to the modules. On page 61, Mr. Kraig also felt he was reading headers and not really understanding what was being proposed and would like more narration and text added so it flows more. Mr. Knapp can change the language in combination with Sup. Moore Omokunde; Ms. Richards will take the first stab at re-working that specific text and will forward to Mr. Knapp. Sup. Moore Omokunde said the NAACP Tool Kit encourages public meetings as well as collaborative decisions. Mr. Wiggins suggested adding text to the transmittal letter that the timeline was created prior to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Ald. Kovac thought adding that text to the Outreach section as that is the section most affected by COVID-19. Sup. Moore Omokunde said that a caveat could be added that any work is subject to public health concerns.
Mr. Wiggins asked if any other groups added items for the appendices. Currently Mr. Knapp has four appendices. Mr. Knapp will added any appendices that members want and Ald. Kovac expected that some will be added. Mr. Wiggins suggested adding a heat-map appendix. Mr. Kraig would also make the NAACP text on pages 63 and 64 more narrative. Mr. Martin suggested having the question of a consultant left open as to whether the work will be done in-house or out-of house.
Ms. Ritger suggested changing the language to Climate and Equity Action Plan (adding Equity). Mr. Knapp will make that change.
Mr. Shambarger is concerned that the promise that the green jobs will be enough to make a big-enough dent to really address economic equity; creating 8,000 jobs when there are 800,000 jobs in the metro area, so it's only 1% of total jobs. He feels that all job sectors need to be addressed, not just green jobs. Ms. Fendt that, for true equity, other sectors besides green jobs will need to ensure that they are also equitable in hiring and promotion practices. Ms. Meissner Pritchard said the same effort and transformation needs to be brought to other sectors, with the green jobs sector serving as an example as to how it can be done. Mr. Shambarger said that the other sectors need to be affected as the green jobs sector isn't big enough to make enough of a difference. Mr. Kraig agreed that we don't want to over-promise and no-one is certain exactly how many jobs will be created. Ms. Fendt recommended adding text encouraging other sectors to follow the example of green-sector jobs. Members supported adding text that the other sectors needed to follow suit of the green-jobs sector; a sentence to that effect will be added to the last paragraph.
Members agreed in principal to the draft report.
Ald. Kovac read the timeline, which was created by Ms. Richards. Sup. Moore Omokunde asked if any state people needed to be added in the conclusion; that will be added (text about the Lt. Governor's task force). Ms. Fendt like the first two paragraphs, but wasn't as supportive of the third paragraph. Ms. Frank had some concerns about the first paragraph. She didn't think that items in the first paragraph weren't even referenced in the report. Ms. Meissner Pritchard agreed with Ms. Frank and recommended deleting the sentence relating to fossil fuels and converting to clean electric. Members supported removing that sentence as well as adding text relating to the state task force. The references to "May" in the third paragraph will also be deleted. The conclusion will be at the end of the report. Members supported the conclusion, as amended.
Mr. Kraig would support a draft timeline, as suggested by Ms. Meissner Pritchard. It was fairly brief and gave rough timeframes rather than specific months laid out. Mr. Martin said the last paragraph that Ms. Richards created as part of the timeline could be used and state, "We'll be reaching out, we'll be listening, etc." and detailing steps without a commitment of time. Ms. Meissner Pritchard recommended providing information on how the public can reach us, either the file number or contact info. for Ms. Elmer, change the title from "preliminary" to "initial" and the next agenda should include all the items we've been flagging to circle back to. Information to contact someone will be included in the transmittal letter. Sup. Moore Omokunde preferred "preliminary" as it does infer that there will be a final report. Ms. Meissner Pritchard withdrew her suggestion to change it to "initial". Ms. Richards read her suggested draft for the conclusion paragraph and would like the city and county web sites to include contact information for the Task Force and how to reach those who don't have electronic access. Mr. Shambarger suggested putting something on the Climate Action Plan page on the city web site. Ms. Kerksick liked the revised third paragraph created and read by Ms. Richards, but would like to add text about "pursuing short-term recommendations as we are able to do so". Mr. Martin would like to see flyers at every library as an outreach method.
Ms. Richards moved for conditional approval of the report. There were no objections.
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| | 4. | | Set next meeting date and time, if needed.
Minutes note: Ald. Kovac said the original plan was to have the Steering and Rules Committee approve the preliminary report, as well to the county board. Mr. Martin is looking at April 9th as the next meeting date, so that is penciled in.
Ms. Frank said expanding the task force membership should be on that agenda, a layout of the timeline, the Promise amendment update from the Budget Office, creation of a Climate Action Team and a committee of stakeholders, and each group to identify needs for a consultants. Ms. Richards wants to add discussing a Vulnerability Assessment Work Group. Ms. Ritgers suggested members jot down who additional members should be. Ms. Frank also wanted the Task Force to discuss the Wisconsin Clean Energy Toolkit contained in the file. | | | |
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| 0 | | Communication | Communication relating to the preliminary report and activities of the City-County Task Force on Climate and Economic Equity. | | | |
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