1.      Call to Order and Roll Call.  The Task Force meeting convened at 5:08 p.m.  Present:  Chair Rosenmeier, Vice-Chair Meyerson, Members Gerber, Lowe (5:16) Mark, Simone.

 

Item 2 was heard in conjunction with Item 4.

 

2.      Introduction and Welcome of New Task Force Member.  (Discussion)  Member Lowe was welcomed to the Task Force.  Member Lowe introduced himself and discussed his previous experience working as an Emergency Management and Homeland Security Consultant for ICF International, doing advocacy and research work for the Transportation and Land Use Coalition, and most recently working on a ballot measure in Marin County to implement passenger rail from northern Sonoma to southern Marin that was approved.  Mr. Lowe described his interest in the energy field, transportation and land use, lowering the carbon footprint, and the difficulties that are being faced at the present time in these areas.

 

3.      Approval of the November 4, 2008 Peak Oil Preparedness Task Force Regular Meeting Draft Minutes. (Discussion and Action) Upon Motion by Member Gerber and second by Vice-Chair Meyerson, the November 4, 2008 Meeting Minutes were approved with a correction.  (Explanatory Document:  November 4, 2008 Approved Minutes) AYES: Chair Rosenmeier, Vice-Chair Meyerson, Members Gerber, Mark and Simone; Absent:  Member Lowe).

 

4.      Discussion on the Detailed Structure of the Final Report. (Discussion) (Explanatory Document: Report Outline). Task Force members participated in a conference call with Mr. John Kaufmann, author of the Portland Peak Oil report, for consultation on San Francisco’s report.  Chair Rosenmeier explained that Portland’s report had been structured differently and is more general than what is being considered by the Task Force for San Francisco’s report.      

 

Mr. Kaufmann provided comment on the City of Portland’s report structure and organization, public meetings that were held, feedback received since report publication, media coverage, and actions taken on recommendations.  Mr. Kaufmann stated that what he would have done differently is to bring in more city

and state agencies to provide input and to use political-influence to open doors with businesses to urge participation.  Additional topics discussed included effective methods to convey urgency, prioritization of recommendations, action taken or not taken on recommendations, and Portland City Council direction to agencies to incorporate peak oil into their plan.             

 

Chair Rosenmeier distributed recommendations from Mr. Cal Broomhead, Department of the Environment Energy Manager, on what he thinks the Peak Oil report should include as referenced in previous meeting minutes.  Vice-Chair Meyerson indicated that the Task Force report structure should follow an outline consistent with the Board of Supervisor’s enabling legislation. Task Force members discussed options for the report structure and content and provided recommendations on topics that should be addressed.  Member Gerber recommended focusing on recommendations that can be turned into legislation and on the definition of peak oil, which is scarcity, pricing and affordability, and intermittent delivery.  It was stated that the Board of Supervisors is the number one audience of the report, and that it should not cover subjects that the legislators don’t need to know. Vice-Chair Meyerson stated that the report should contain administrative as well as legislative actions. 

 

Members discussed whether the report should be structured as it is now by report topics, which sections specific information should be included, and what information is missing. Member Simone indicated that the Board of Supervisors legislation mandates that specific topics be addressed, but not that the sections have to be divided.  It was recommended that the eight topics specified in the legislation should not limit the Task Force from covering other topics. Member Mark provided recommendations on prioritizing and organizing sections. Member Lowe suggested considering organization after presentation and review of the final report content.

 

Members agreed that a topic-centered report should be presented and within the topics there would be an assessment of current status, assessment of vulnerabilities, goals, and recommendations for actions to achieve those goals.  Graphs and charts would also be included.  Member Simone stated that he may change his position on a topic-centered report in the future.  Member Mark recommended including an Index.  Member Lowe with the assistance of Chair Rosenmeier would be working on transportation, energy, and emergency services.  Vice-Chair Meyerson would coordinate with Member Lowe on emergency services. 

 

Public Comment:

 

Mr. Woody Hastings inquired whether there was one or a few Task Force members designated to be the drafters of the report as was done in the case of Portland’s report where Mr. Kaufmann was the author.  Mr. Hastings recommended that one person or a small working group be designated to sort through all the information and produce a cogent document with meaningful recommendations that are linked to the situation at hand.  Member Gerber reported that part of Mr. Kaufmann’s job description as a City of Portland staff member was to gather the information for the report and put it in one voice. It was explained that the San Francisco Peak Oil Task Force does not have this type of staff assignment.  Chair Rosenmeier suggested assembling a small committee to finalize the report. 

  

5.      Recruitment of a Graphic Designer for the Final Report. (Continued from the November 4, 2008 Meeting) (Discussion)  Speaker:  Chair Rosenmeier.  Continued to the November 18, 2008 Meeting.

 

6.      Presentation of the Architecture Section of the Report. (Continued from the November 4, 2008 Meeting) (Explanatory Document:  Architecture Section Draft) (Informational Presentation and Discussion)  Speaker: Member Gerber

 

Member Gerber discussed topics that include rain water, high-rises, commissioning, and best practices from other jurisdictions. Members provided their recommendations on these topics.  Continued to the November 18, 2008 meeting.

 

7.      Presidio School of Management Town Hall Meetings--Vote on whether to retain the presentations on the Peak Oil Preparedness Task Force web site. (Continued from the November 4, 2008 Meeting) (Discussion and Action).  Continued to the November 18, 2008 Meeting.

 

8.      New Business/Future Agenda Items. (Information and Discussion).  Continued items as noted in previous agenda items would be heard on November 18^th.  Food, Energy, Transportation, and Societal Functioning report sections would be scheduled for the December 2 meeting.

 

9.      Public Comments:  Members of the public may address the Task Force on matters that are within the Task Force’s jurisdiction and are not on today’s agenda. There was no public comment at this time.

 

10.  Adjournment.  The Peak Oil Preparedness Task Force meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

 

*Approved:  December 2, 2008 

 

** Copies of explanatory documents are available at (1) the Task Force office, 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, California between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., (2) upon request to the Task Force Secretary, at telephone number 415-355-3709 or via e-mail at [email protected], or (3) at the Peak Oil Preparedness Task Force meeting website as attachments with each agenda or meeting minutes.