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City resilience office outlines BEPS appeal, streetlight study, ferry changes and watershed grants
Summary
Deputy city manager for resilience and sustainability Jackie Gile updated the committee on a terminated federal BEPS grant (appeal under way), an LED streetlight buyback study showing long-term savings, amendment of a ferry grant to hybrid to preserve $3 million, and $2.25 million in Severn Watershed funding.
Jackie Gile, the deputy city manager for resilience and sustainability, presented a broad set of updates on Jan. 8 covering staffing, grant status, fleet electrification, and community programs.
Gile said the Department of Energy project to incorporate resilience into building energy performance standards (BEPS) was terminated by the federal administration after technical work had already begun; the Resilience Authority has submitted an informal appeal and the city is pursuing reimbursement of incurred consultant invoices to the extent possible.
On LED streetlights, Gile said an analysis by Tango Lighting showed that if the city acquired ownership of its streetlights and replaced them with LEDs, the city could save ‘‘in the millions’’ over a long period (the study is completed and will be shared with council when permitted). She described options for historic district luminaires versus modern cobra-head designs and technical possibilities such as dimming and color change if the city takes ownership.
Gile discussed transit and electrification efforts: an RFP for an electric trolley feasibility study is ready for release with seed funding from the city and county and Denker Foundation support; and a previously paused FTA ferry grant was amended to a hybrid-ferry design to preserve approximately $3 million in federal funds while still allowing mostly electric operation on short routes. She said the Severn Whole Watershed Partnership, a five-year DNR-awarded program, awarded roughly $2.25 million for restoration and education projects in the watershed this year.
Gile also reviewed the city’s electric leaf blower rebate program administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust: after administrative fees the program has about $85,500 remaining for rebates; the trust has processed 163 rebates to date and mailed roughly 5,900 information mailers. She said enforcement capacity has been increased through cross-departmental inspectors and that the city is exploring a dedicated enforcement position (job description submitted to HR).
Gile said the greenhouse gas inventory is complete and that the climate action plan draft will be posted for public comment within weeks with a planned Earth Month rollout. She described next steps for fleet electrification planning, EV chargers at municipal facilities and an intention to pursue an in-depth fleet-assessment study when funding allows.
No formal votes were taken on these items; staff will return with follow-up materials and, where appropriate, share completed consultant reports with council.
