Sustainable BC Committee

City of Battle Creek Environmental Policy Study Committee 10 N. Division St. Conference Room 302A Battle Creek, MI Tuesday, June 15, 2010 4:00 p.m. Members Present: Kathy Antaya, Tiffany Eichorst, Commissioner Ryan Hersha, Ken Kohs, Christine Kosmowski, Commissioner Bill Morris and Vice Mayor Christopher Simmons. Absent: Susan Anderson, Randall Champlin, Mary Lindow, Michael Myszka, Taichi Ochi. Others: Dee Laser Call to Order: Vice Mayor Simmons called the meeting to order at 4:13 P.M. Public Comment: None. Approval of Minutes: Vice Mayor Simmons asked if there were any corrections to the minutes of April 28, 2010. There being none, a motion was made by Comm. Hersha, supported by Kathy Antaya to approve the minutes of the April 28, 2010, Environmental Committee meeting. All yes. Motion carried. Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: Vice Mayor Simmons asked for any corrections or deletions to the agenda. Commissioner Hersha mentioned the possibility of engaging input from city departments in terms of implementing the committees’ environmental goals, but felt the discussion should wait until more members are present. Vice Mayor Simmons stated that he will communicate with the Manager’s Office and get some ideas how the departments and the committee could work together without creating a larger work load for city staff. He suggested it be added to the next meeting agenda as well. Commissioner Morris agreed. Ms. Antaya stated she did not want it put off to the next meeting. The committee needs to get some an idea of what is going on currently and then explore ways to implement the philosophy of the committee and where some changes could be made. 1 Ms. Kosmowski asked for clarification as to whether it was being suggested that this topic should be added to the meeting agenda and also suggested that the downtown streetscape to be added to the agenda. Vice Mayor Simmons noted the two additions and asked for any further additions. Ms. Kosmowski also suggested that the committee become familiar with ordinances that are in place that could potentially impact its decisions in future planning. New Business: 1. Nominations for Vice Chair Vice Mayor Simmons asked for nominations for Committee Vice Chair. Commissioner Hersha nominated Kathy Antaya for Vice Chair of the Environmental Study Committee. Hearing no further nominations, Vice Mayor Simmons announced that Kathy Antaya was appointed as Vice Chair. 2. Environmental Survey/Ordinance Research Commissioner Morris suggested a environmental survey be sent out to city employees. Vice Mayor Simmons suggested that in addition to input, the committee should find out what departments are currently doing. Ms. Antaya asked if the committee thought it would be a good idea if she contacted senior staff members first to see what procedures and processes were in place per department. Then conduct a survey of employees to compile suggestions. Neither survey should be lengthy or time consuming. Mr. Kohs stated that in an attempt to avoid being redundant perhaps the committee should explore the environmental policies in place in other municipalities. Ms. Eichorst stated that the Battle Creek Community Foundation has a group that is in the process of creating an internal environmental policy for their office and offered to share what they have come up with. Ms. Antaya asked if the best place to start would be to review our own ordinances to review as a committee prior to beginning research and surveys. Committee members agreed that it would be the place to start and discussed how they would begin to look for all the ordinances that have to do with the environment in some way. 2 Vice Mayor Simmons stated he would talk to the City Manager’s Office about the best way to handle communication to the various departments prior to a survey. 3. Downtown Streetscape Committee members discussed the aspects of the plan that they were aware of; however, there was little information at this time. Commissioner Hersha suggested bringing in Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) to meet with the committee to go over the downtown transformation plans. Ms. Antaya stated it has been mentioned to her that the plan will be to use as many recycled materials where they can. However, there are concerns regarding the disposal of waste produced from the project such as the concrete or the lights that are being changed out. Ms. Kosmowski stated it could be used as an opportunity to promote the committee. Vice Mayor Simmons expressed concerns of dictating too much to this project if other projects conducted by the City aren’t held to the same standards. He stated he will invite BCU to the next meeting to present an overview of the project. Commissioner Morris stated that when the bid goes out the City should have some salvage rights for some items such as the lights and it should be written in the specification of the request for bid. Ms. Eichorst agreed with Commissioner Morris and after further committee discussion regarding salvaging items from the project, she recommended that the committees’ role should be of an advisory nature to the City Commission. Vice Mayor Simmons stated he would contact the necessary people to set up a meeting for a presentation on the project and to determine where they are in the process. After determining the timeline, he will examine whether it is feasible for the committee to make recommendations to the City Commission that would have an impact on this project. Old Business: 1. Groundwater Ordinance Ms. Kosmowski stated that at this time she had no additional information regarding the grant. There have been internal discussions and the Planning Department supports the ordinance. Mr. Kohs stated that the committee was presented information on the ground water ordinance but never took formal action to support it. He would like to have it considered for a future meeting. In addition to the committees’ support, city staff has given information to BCU as the Battle 3 Creek Tax Increment Finance Authority (BCTIFA) controls a significant portion of land that would affect the Columbia well field area. He is waiting for feedback from BCU and will then share it with the committee so that BCU’s input is considered when the committee makes its recommendation toward this ordinance. Vice Mayor Simmons asked for a copy of the draft of the ordinance prior to the committee making any recommendations on it. Ms. Kosmowski stated that the Planning Department would like to see clarification on non- conforming uses that should be revised within the next month. There will be a meeting with Pennfield Township sometime in July. Public Comment: None. Member Comments/Announcements: None. Next meeting: Meeting every other month seems to work. The committee can always call a special meeting if something pressing comes up. There is a City Commission meeting scheduled for August 10, because of the August 3, election. August 24, 2010 was set for the next date. A July meeting may be scheduled depending on the timeline for Downtown Transformation project. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p.m. DMH 4