White Salmon CityLab board member Kate Bennett leads the team who created the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan, which will play a role in the upcoming Climate Action Plan.
White Salmon CityLab board member Kate Bennett leads the team who created the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan, which will play a role in the upcoming Climate Action Plan.
WHITE SALMON — It was a busy night for the White Salmon city council on May 15. Mayor Marla Keethler was not in attendance, so Mayor Pro Tempore Jason Hartmann stepped in to lead the meeting. The board acknowledged Jewish American Heritage Month with a short video and comment from Council Member Jim Ransier. He said that it was difficult to find a guest speaker on the subject and that some White Salmon constituents noted concerns about their safety.
The CityLab board drafted a presentation for the council in regard to the city’s goals on carbon emissions. Project lead Kate Bennett introduced the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan for White Salmon. Ransier was involved in the production of the plan. He noted that the Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) is “step zero” on their way to creating a Climate Action Plan. In 2021, the city passed a Climate Crisis Resolution which creating sustainability goals that included reducing greenhouse emissions by at least 45% by 2030 and 100% by 2050. The CityLab board was created to assist these initiatives.
Bennett made it clear that the projects initial task was to identify the highest priority areas to help the city meet their goals.
“This ERP is intended to be integrated into a broader sustainability planning framework and sort of function as the first step,” Bennett said.
Bennett and her team compiled a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory to get an understanding and manage its carbon footprint. The study found that the city’s drinking water system contributes nearly 75% of all the emissions in White Salmon. The water system also represents more than 80% of the electricity used. Bennett stated the number might seem disproportionately high, but that does not mean the water and electricity system is “defunct.” The report made note that nearly one third (32.6%) of the water used could be attributed to leakage. The GHG does not account for wastewater management.
The report included five strategic focus areas: Facilities and buildings, energy independence and resilience, transportation, water and governance. Within each focus area are priority action items for the city to use as guidelines when hoping to meet climate action goals. To view the comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan draft, visit the May 15 city council meeting agenda.
The Transmission Main Replacement Phase I has hit a snag in the engineering and construction phase according the to Public Works Department. The contractor for this project, Anderson Perry (AP), said that approximately 53% of the project is completed, but the contractors have utilized 79% of the calendar days and 83% of the budgeted construction engineering contract amount managing the project, and 76% of the budgeted Resident Project Representative contract amount providing inspection of the work completed. AP recommended an amendment to the contract not to exceed $146,000. Of that proposed amount $68,000 is for additional construction engineering services and $78,000 is for additional Resident Project Representative services. The original agreement amount was $353,000.
Clerk Treasurer Stephanie Porter gave an update on Six Year Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) for 2025 to 2030. The list of 10 projects must be updated annually and sent to the Department of Transportation by July 1. The City Operations Committee reviewed, recommended edits and approved the plan at their May 2 meeting. After the public hearing period closed, the council approved the amendments to Resolution No. 2023-05-592, unanimously. The STIP was not the only improvement plan to be given the green light.
The White Salmon Capital Facilities Improvement Plan removed projects that were completed in 2023 and included the project plans that have received funding in 2024.
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