Sustainable BC Committee

City of Battle Creek Environmental Policy Study Committee 10 N. Division Street Conference Room 302A Wednesday, April 6, 2011 4:00 PM Members Present: Vice Mayor Chris Simmons, Kathy Antaya, Sue Anderson, Comm. Bill Morris, Christine Kosmowski, Michael Myszka Members Absent: Randall Champlin, Tiffany Eichorst, Ken Kohs, Comm. Walters Others: Deidre Laser Call to Order: Vice Mayor Simmons called the meeting to order at 4:02 PM. He announced that Taichi Ochi is currently out of the country and no longer a member of the committee. Public Comment: None Approval of Minutes: Vice Mayor Simmons asked if there were any additions or corrections to the meeting minutes of December 1, 2010. Mike Myszka noted that he was present at the last meeting and the minutes should be amended to reflect that. Also, Vice Mayor Simmons announced that Taichi Ochi is no longer a member of the committee and his name should not appear in the minutes as a member. A motion was made by Mike Myszka, supported by Vice Mayor Simmons, to approve the minutes of the December 1, 2010, meeting as amended. All yes. Motion carried. Additions or Deletions to Agenda: None. New Business: 1. Goals Committee/Sub-committee Recommendations Kathy Antaya presented a list of recommendations formulated by Mike Myszka, Sue Anderson, and herself suggesting the creation of three standing sub-committees: 1) Energy Use, 2) Codes and Policies, and 3) Community Sustainability. The Energy Use Sub-committee could focus on city activities and the commitment of a 7% CO2 emission reduction by 2012, a 15% green energy sources by 2015. Mike Myszka suggested developing a plan to move towards those goals. Mike Myszka suggested the Codes and Policies Sub-committee could look at introducing policies and codes to promote future technologies and limit prohibitions. Vice Mayor Simmons was glad to see the committee making progress in supporting adopted policies. Mike Myszka recommended the Community Sustainability Sub-committee looking into the regional Sustainability Covenant and matching it to existing city policies. One recommendation was to establish a process for outreach and reporting. Mr. Myszka noted there are a lot of good things happening in the City 1 and he felt citizens should be informed by producing an annual report or possibly a “green guide.” He stated there are many programs being run by the city and there is a lack of cohesiveness or linkage. It would be nice to find a way to provide better communication and not necessarily creating projects for staff. Chris Kosmowski added that regulations often drive the partnerships, and she would like to see better coordination with the different groups. Mike Myszka suggested the Codes and Policies Sub-committee look at things that promote environmental stewardship and limit economic sustainability. Kathy Antaya noted that she is working with her Sprout group in linking information regarding some of the city programs so there is no duplication of effort. Sue Anderson encouraged more publicity regarding the good things that the City is doing, and perhaps, citizens would want to get involved. Mike Myszka stated the recommendations address commonly believed needs and provide direction for the sub-committees. He suggested having a member from the committee on each sub-committee. Vice Mayor Simmons favored opening the membership up to members in the community who are outside of the Environmental Policy Committee. A motion was made by Mike Myszka, supported by Sue Anderson, to create three subcommittees per the recommendations listed on the handout. Vice Mayor Simmons asked if there was any discussion on the motion. Comm. Morris said it is important to place people on the sub-committees from all walks of life. Mike Myszka stated he did not want to limit membership on the sub-committees. Kathy Antaya indicated that Jennifer Sellers would like to serve on the Environmental Policy Committee and has a degree in environmental policy. Vice Mayor Simmons advised there is a formal process now for city appointments and asked that Ms. Sellers complete and submit an application. Vice Mayor Simmons suggested the Environmental Policy Committee meeting every other month starting in June 2011 and having the subcommittees meet every other month starting in July. He would also like to see the sub-committees chaired by members of the Environmental Policy Committee. Mike Myszka asked the members to submit their suggestions and to show interest on what sub-committee they would like to serve on. VOTE ON MOTION: All yes. Motion carried. 2  2. Policy Review Vice Mayor Simmons offered to contact Ken Kohs and the Police Department regarding the scrap metal issue in the city. If people are taking recycling out of waste and it has commodity value, he questioned if it affects the contract with Waste Management. Mike Myszka said it might be an ownership issue. Does it belong to Waste Management because the scrap is in the recycling bin, or does it still belong to the property owner before Waste Management picks it up? Vice Mayor Simmons noted that Mercy Pavilion is in sad shape from people pilfering metal and equipment from inside the vacant structure. Chris Kosmowski said they are planning on putting the city seal on manhole covers to deter people from illegally taking and selling them. 3. Storm Water Protection Education Sue Anderson commented that Chris Kosmowski has done considerable training with city employees and is a good example of what should be publicized. Chris Kosmowski stated through the storm water permit, the city is required to train key employees about storm water, illicit discharge, detection and elimination as well pollution prevention and good housekeeping. She noted that the city is also required to train employees within the first year of hire. It provides an opportunity to talk about the well head protection plan using the ground water model. Chris Kosmowski anticipated placing her PowerPoint presentation on the city’s website so that other employees and the general public can obtain information. Comm. Morris asked if the Columbia Avenue Business Improvement District could be included in receiving the information as there have been some storm water problems on Columbia. Kathy Antaya asked who has been trained. Chris Kosmowski answered the Police Department, the Fire Department, Water, Sewer, Transit, Code Compliance, Inspection, Engineering, DPW, GIS, and the Airport. Chris Kosmowski noted that information is included in bid documents regarding storm water to ensure contracted employees are trained. Old Business: 1. Environmental Survey Chris Kosmowski reported that the city was going to conduct an environmental survey; however, it did not receive a grant. The state grant will be announced in May under the wellhead protection program. Sue Anderson advised that Ken Kohs offered to email a survey to city departments regarding environmentalism. Chris Kosmowski reported that Ken Kohs only received a few responses from the survey. 3 Vice Mayor Simmons stated that he would contact Ken Kohs to see if he has a survey update. 2. Oil Spill Update Chris Kosmowski reported she is representing the city on the MAC committee and suggested a representative from EPA making a report at the next meeting. A ban was placed on the use of the river. Remote sensing will start to determine if there is oil on the overbank areas or if oil is submerged. Five teams will go along the river to make physical inspections of oil on overbank areas. When the water temperature warms up to 45 degrees, a crew of three will go out to ascertain if submerged oil has been mobilized. Both the EPA and DEQ will be present. A boom is at the Mill Pond to keep oil from coming upstream. Ms. Kosmowski noted a Kalamazoo River Relief Fund has been established to pursue projects that would benefit the watershed. 3. Downtown Recycling Chris Kosmowski stated the last downtown recycling meeting was cancelled. Sue Anderson added that there is interest in downtown recycling; however, it would take some effort for one company to handle it all. Chris Kosmowski stated that a large number of businesses are using Waste Management and a few of the businesses are already recycling. Clerk Laser noted that she recycled one and half tons of ballots from the 2008 election cycle this past winter to conserve money from her budget on shredding. 4. Styrofoam Recycling Vice Mayor Simmons stated that there is no option in our community to recycle Styrofoam; however, he noted that some of the packing peanuts are biodegradable. If you place water on them, they dissolve. Kathy Antaya mentioned that many of the colleges and universities have significant recycling programs and she suggested delivering Styrofoam to one of them. Mike Myszka indicated Michigan Growers, formerly located in Galesburg, would grind it up and use it in potting soil. 5. Recycling Awareness Vice Mayor Simmons would like to initiate an informational program with Waste Management on Access Vision regarding recycling. He indicated that he would like to work on the program as a project through the Community Sustainability Sub-committee. Member Comments/ Announcements: Chris Kosmowski announced beginning September 24, 2011, – October 3, 2011, Battle Creek will be hosting a Hexalatoral Environmental Conference in coordination with the other sister cities. 4 Vice Mayor Simmons suggested the Environmental Policy Committee making an appearance at a reception during that week. Chris Kosmowski announced there will be a Children’s Water Festival on May 13, 2011, at Kellogg Community College, from 9 AM until 12 PM. Comm. Morris asked if anything was planned for the Cereal Festival. Chris Kosmowski noted that there will probably be rubber ducks in a pool and another activity. Next Meeting: The Committee agreed to meet every other month on the first Wednesday of the month for the rest of the year with the exception of November and December. Clerk Laser stated she would send out the meeting notice to members and post it at City Hall and on the website. The next meeting will be June 1, 2011, at 4:00 PM, in Room 302A at City Hall. Adjournment: A motion was made by Mike Myszka, supported by Chris Kosmowski, to adjourn the meeting at 5:22 PM. All yes. Motion carried. DAL 5