Committee Agenda for Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee 08/26/2024

CITY OF WORCESTER

Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee Meeting

Monday, August 26, 2024

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:00 P.M.

Adjourned: 7:10 P.M.

Mayor Joseph M. Petty	www.worcesterma.gov	Clerk of the City Council Nikolin Vangjeli
Committee Members
Chairperson Khrystian E King
Vice Chairperson George J Russell
Councilor Morris A Bergman

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

	Present Were:	Chairperson Councilor Khrystian E King Vice Chairperson Councilor George J Russell Councilor Morris A Bergman, who participated remotely

	Also:	Chief Sustainability Officer John Odell Green Worcester Advisory Committee Chairperson Mary Knittle Executive Director and CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau Paul Matthews Senior Research Associate of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau Joshua Boucher Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle, clerk

Virtual Attendee Call-In Information



1a.	Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated. If you join a Zoom meeting by dialing in with a phone number, you can raise your hand by dialing *9. Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/94166600916 Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099 Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee Zoom Access Code: 941 6660 0916	Attachments

Approval of the Minutes



2a.	Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment hereby approves the minutes of the Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee meeting of December 14, 2023.	View Agenda

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

Miscellaneous Item



3a.	Communication of Paul Matthews, Executive Director and CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, transmitting, "Environmental (In)Justice: An evaluation of climate impacts on Worcester neighborhoods." # 14c CC December 5, 2023	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the Executive Director and CEO of the WRRB and the Senior Researcher of the WRRB, who provided a presentation concerning the item. Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the fluctuation of average minimum and maximum temperatures in the city, the shift concerning Environmental Justice populations and population growth and impact of reflective surfaces on temperatures in an area with the Executive Director and CEO of the WRRB and the Senior Researcher of the WRRB. Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed studies in other cities and concerns relative to tree coverage in the city with the Executive Director and CEO of the WRRB and the Senior Researcher of the WRRB. Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the latest work completed by the Green Worcester Advisory Committee. Chairperson Councilor King then discussed the recommendation concerning not pursuing cool material strategy with the Executive Director and CEO of the WRRB and the Senior Researcher of the WRRB. Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following two (2) Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager identify spaces with cooling strategies, as well as locations where cooling strategies can be applied. Further, request City Manager include in said report mapping the location of tree canopies in the city; and 2) Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning amount of trees expected to be planted during Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be held. Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Bergman absent)

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the latest work completed by the Green Worcester Advisory Committee.
	Request City Manager identify spaces with cooling strategies, as well as locations where cooling strategies can be applied. Further, request City Manager include in said report mapping the location of tree canopies in the city.
	Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning amount of trees expected to be planted during Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).

Communications of the City Manager



4a.	Transmitting informational communication relative to a status update for the Green Worcester ElectriCITY aggregation program. # 11.32A CM March 12, 2024	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the Chief Sustainability Officer, who provided an overview of the item. Chairperson Councilor King then discussed the savings through for ratepayers with the Chief Sustainability Officer. Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed market price and net price comparison to other energy vendors with the Chief Sustainability Officer. Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed providing a quarterly report concerning the program and maintaining transparency with the Chief Sustainability Officer. Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Green Worcester Advisory Committee Chairperson, who discussed the benefits of the aggregation program. Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following two Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager update city’s website with information from the state concerning energy vendors. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with feedback concerning the benefits and challenges relative to listing the information on the city’s website; and 2) Request City Manager request Chief Sustainability Officer provide City Council with a quarterly report concerning the Green Worcester ElectriCITY aggregation program. Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be held. Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager update city’s website with information from the state concerning energy vendors. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with feedback concerning the benefits and challenges relative to listing the information on the city’s website.
	Request City Manager request Chief Sustainability Officer provide City Council with a quarterly report concerning the Green Worcester ElectriCITY aggregation program.


4b.	Transmitting informational communications relative to a 5-year grant from the USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Program. # 9.33A CM June 13, 2023	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the Chief Sustainability Officer, who provided an overview of the item. Chairperson Councilor King then discussed whether the department is in pursuit of other grants for tree planting with the Chief Sustainability Officer. Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request Standing Committee on Education hold a discussion exploring the expansion of the Urban Forest Academy Program, high school environmental science programs and other educational opportunities concerning trees within Worcester Public Schools. Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed. Recommend File on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Bergman absent)

	Chairman's Orders
	Request Standing Committee on Education hold a discussion exploring the expansion of the Urban Forest Academy Program, high school environmental science programs and other educational opportunities concerning trees within Worcester Public Schools.