Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Climate Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
CPAC outlines renewable goals, outreach milestones and bylaws referral request
Summary
Cameron Kahran, introduced as CPAC chair, reviewed the committee’s 20‑year history, goals under the Ready resolution, public engagement work (Earth Fair, newsletter growth) and asked the council to consider CPAC bylaws for formal approval.
Cameron Kahran, introduced in the meeting as the committee chair, gave an annual update on the City of Columbia’s Citizens’ advisory committee (CPAC), reiterating the group’s mission to reduce emissions and expand public involvement in climate action. “We are now 20 years old. We were initially formed in 2006,” Kahran said, and outlined two broad goals that guide the committee’s work.
Kahran said one goal is tied to the Ready resolution adopted by the city, which he described as aiming to increase renewable power for city operations and to set benchmarks for progress. The committee is supporting building energy audits for city facilities to create a baseline and to identify retrofit needs. Kahran said the committee is targeting 50 megawatts of city‑produced energy by 2030 as an interim benchmark and that audits should reach 50% of city buildings by the end of 2028.
The second major priority is public engagement. Kahran highlighted CPAC’s outreach at the City’s Earth Fair and Market on Main, noting the committee collected about 200 climate action pledges and that the committee newsletter, Speaking Sustainability, grew roughly 13% over 12 months to about 900 monthly readers. He also said CPAC completed a second round of Bloomberg program funding totaling about $150,000 and that the committee plans more volunteer and community programming tied to its B‑city recognition.
Kahran described CPAC’s internal organization — nine appointees and several subcommittees — and asked the group to forward pending bylaw language to City Council for formal approval. “We are asking for y' all to consider those at a city council meeting for approval,” he said. He added that the Smart Growth and Urban Farming subcommittees will continue work on walkability, pollinator gardens and urban agriculture as engagement tools.
The committee also scheduled upcoming events and meetings (an October roundtable and regular first‑Friday meetings and hybrid working sessions) and encouraged public participation. The meeting closed with committee members asking staff to prepare referrals and updates for council consideration.
