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Climate Action & Sustainability Commission Agenda
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 5:30PM | City Hall Room 113
215 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148
Roll Call (1 min)
- Councilor Carey McDonald - Present
- Staff Liaison Rebekah McPheeters - Present
- Diego Maldonado* (Secretary) - Present
- Noha Haraz* - Absent
- Bob FitzPatrick* - Present
- Rachel Surrette* - Absent
- Lipin Ji* - Present
- Amanda Treat* (Vice Chair) - Present
- Auka (Christina) Mui* - Absent
- Ron Cochran* - Present
- Ricky Ma* (Chair) - Present
- Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) Consultant Julia Nassar - Absent
- CELT Fellow – William Sheppeck - Present
- Tree Warden – Chris Rosa - Present
*Voting Members of the Commission
Minutes to be Approved (4 min)
Commission to approve minutes from March 11, 2026 meeting. Amanda motioned. Bob seconded, and all voting members present were in favor.
Stormwater and Flood Management Discussion (10 min)
- Councillor Stephen Winslow to join meeting to discuss.
- Councilor Winslow started with an introduction to himself and his background.
Founded Bike to the Sea.
- ARPA funds in 2021
$50 million was given to the city.
Used to help with water and sewer infrastructure.
Allowed city to spend money on storm drains.
- City trying to fix floodgates coming from other communities to mitigate stormwater flooding.
Councilor Winslow working with stakeholders.
- Jim Tarr - Transportation Planner
- Yem Lip - City Engineer
- This work is to help residents avoid the aftermath of poor infrastructure damaging their homes.
Old pipes can be disruptive when they are not maintained or replaced
- Bob asked if our storm and sewer system is separate.
Councilor Winslow confirmed that they are separate.
- There is a 150 year old sewer line under Eastern Ave.
- Carey mentioned the possibility of obtaining grant money for permeable pavement.
Project Updates & Announcements (20 min)
- Override impacts (Bekah)
- The city will be losing positions due to cuts as a result of the override vote not passing in the special election.
- Rain barrel updates (Amanda)
- We are signing people up the GMF or having them sign up online at the website
Capping at 150 barrels
Barrels will be subsidized
- De-paving project update (Bekah)
- Possibility of grant: One big paving project that the city takes on and another where a workshop is hosted for residents to learn how to do their own permeable pavement on their property.
- Ron will get Chris Rosa into contact with Mike Neville who is the Director of Water Utilities.
- Amelia Earhart Dam project update. (Councillor McDonald)
- Mass Ready Act is out of Ways and Means Committee
- Clean Energy Coach research updates including Heat Pump Accelerator Grant (Will, Amanda)
- Julia has flagged that there is a heat pump accelerate grant
Not open for proposals at this moment
- Will and Julia are starting interviews with coaches
- Will has drafted up a memo which includes different grants
MassCEC and Power Grant
New England Heat Pump Accelerator
- Wicked Cool Mystic project updates (Bekah)
- Tabled
- Household Hazardous Waste Day update (Bekah)
- DPW is doing HHWD
Same day as Green Malden Fair
Green Malden Fair (GMF) (15 min)
- Push fliers out to our networks
- Will created a flier to advertise becoming an energy coach.
- Physical fliers were distributed to present CASC members.
Versions in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese
- Discuss CASC table, including:
- Materials
2 tables, 2 tents – who is bringing?
- Tables
- Bob and Rachel will bring one table each
- Tents
- Bob and Rachel will bring one tent each
1 table for UMA – who is bringing?
Reporting materials
- Make some changes to CASC progress report.
- 3.5 miles bike path
- 12 meetings
Not sure if people would be interested in seeing this.
- Add
527 trees planted in 2025
623 being planted in 2024
8000sqft in 2025 of impervious surface removal
Sign up sheet for newsletter and/or coaching program interest
Tablecloths
- Amanda to bring a green tablecloth
Sign: Ask us about….
Other promo materials (below)
- UMA filming & Zine
- Other CASC tasks
Black Earth Compost & CHARM promo
Malden Community Electricity promo (Malden 100)
Rain barrel promo
Clean Energy Coaches
Kids bingo
- Grace in Bekah's office will be creating this
- Printing by Wed of next week to MAPC (for large posters)
Working Group Strategizing: Critical Path Groups (20 min)
- CASC working groups to discuss critical path items and next steps in front of the larger group:
- Data Collection & Annual Report (10 min) – Lipin lead.
- Communications & Climate Education (10 min) – Amanda lead.
Newsletter
- Push one more out before GMF though we are still looking for input
- Mention that CASC will be at the GMF
Podcast
- Amanda, Ricky, Bekah, and Julia will be joining
Porchfest/Materials for tabling at future events
- May 30th
Future Invites to CASC Meetings (5 min)
- Consider: MyRWA/CLEANAIR, Green & Open Somerville, Boston Food Forest
- Tabled
Next Steps (5 min)
Discuss agenda for next meeting.
- Consider EV charging.
- Full annual report / year-wrap / next year planning.
Confirm date/time for next meeting.
- The next meeting is scheduled for May 13th, 2026 from 5:30-7:00PM.
Share out any upcoming relevant events.
- Youth Climate Summit being hosted by Karen Buck on April 18th.
Adjournment – 7:00PM
- Diego motioned to adjourn, Bob seconded. As all voting members present voted in favor, the meeting adjourned at 7:07PM.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Maria Luise, ADA Compliance Coordinator at mluise@cityofmalden.org or 781-397-7000 Ext. 2005
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