AGENDA #4h

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Annual Report from the Chapel Hill Million Solar Roofs Committee

 

DATE:             November 22, 2004

 

 The attached Resolution would approve requests in the Chapel Hill Solar Roofs Committee’s Annual Report (please see Attachment 1).

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Committee was established in November 2000, when the Council appointed a 20-member Million Solar Roofs Initiative Steering Committee. The Committee’s original charge included development of an Action Plan, implementation of the recommendations, and submittal of reports to the Council for one year.

 

Each year since 2001, the Council has authorized continuation of the Committee for one year. The Council’s last authorization was in October 2003, which included staff support for Committee meetings held once every two months. Last month the Committee held its final meeting within the one-year authorization period.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The Town has provided staff support for Committee meetings and implementation of Committee projects. Staff support has included submittal of grant applications, meeting setup and attendance, and help with implementation of grant-funded activities. The Committee currently has seven members, including Council liaison Mark Kleinschmidt.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

The attached Resolution would extend the Committee’s authorization, including staff assistance, for one year, through October 2005.

 

In addition, the resolution would authorize the Committee to use $600 of unspent funds to pay for materials publicizing the Committee’s workshops and other outreach efforts.  The funds previously were budgeted for welding work associated with the planned installation of solar panels at the Chapel Hill Community Center. The installation has been delayed so the panels can be included in the planned renovations of the facility.

 

ATTACHMENT

 

  1. Annual Report by the Solar Roofs Committee (p. 3). Part I, Part II

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MILLION SOLAR ROOFS COMMITTEE TO CONTINUE WORK WITH STAFF SUPPORT FOR ONE YEAR (2004-11-22/R-8)

 

WHEREAS, the Town Council in November 2000, appointed the Million Solar Roofs Steering Committee to develop an Action Plan to achieve the Council’s goal of 500 new solar energy systems installed by 2010 in the Chapel Hill area; and

 

WHEREAS, the Committee in June 2001, presented the Council the Chapel Hill Million Solar Roofs Action Plan recommending actions intended to make progress on the 500-system goal; and

 

WHEREAS, continuation of the Committee would allow the Committee to extend its work implementing the recommendations in the Action Plan and pursue grant-funded activities;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes staff support for the Chapel Hill Million Solar Roofs Committee for one year.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes the use of $600 previously budgeted for the solar panel installation at the Chapel Hill Community Center for solar outreach efforts.

 

This the 22nd day of November, 2004.