Sustainable BC Committee

City of Battle Creek Sustainable BC Committee 150 N. Kendall St . Room 214 Battle Creek, MI Wednesday, May 10, 2017 4:00 p.m. Members Present : Commissioners Flores, Faris, and Helmboldt, Tiffany Welsh, Kurt Tribbett, Susan Anderson, Michael Myszka, Sarah Kelly and Kathy Antaya. Members Absent : Lindsey Johnson and Olivia Jayakar. Others : Alicia Sackett, Deputy City Clerk; Jacob Schacht, Asst. to the City Manager; Eric Feldt, Planning; Christine Zuzga, Planning. Guests: Don Bradstreet, resident and Melinda Antell, Waste Management. Call to Order : Comm. Flores called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm, noting a quorum was present. Approval of Minutes : A motion was made by Comm. Faris, supported by Michael Myszka to approve the minutes from April 12, 2017. All yes, none opposed. Minutes approved. Additions or Deletions to the Agenda : There were none. Member Updates/Reports: City Energy Efficiency Activities : Kurt Tribbett stated the WWTP secondary improvement project goes to commission next Tuesday; this will save an estimated $400,000.00 per year. Mr. Tribbett shared a graph showing the reduction in energy use since adjusting some valves over the last year. Environmental Prog ram Update : Tiffany Welsh shared updates:  Children’s Water Fest is Friday May 12 with approximately 1,000 students attending.  The new Waste Management site has launch, we are looking to send a press release next week to notify resident.  There will be two tire collections for City residents only, with a 10-tire limit per truckload in June.  The County will also be having two collection events in June.  An Electronics Collection will be held in August at DPW.  Kanoe the Kazoo has kicked off with events throughout the Watershed beginning in May through September. The City will be hosting an event in August along with the Marshall Area Conservation Committee.  The Community Green Challenge paperwork has been submitted, Ms. Welsh believes we will receive a Silver ranking, noting additional markers would need to be achieved to earn the Gold standard.  A Household Hazardous Waste collection will be taking place in Marshall on Saturday 10am – 12pm, hosted by the County. City Commission Update: Comm. Faris stated the Urban Farm Animal Ordinance did not pass introduction and is currently tabled. Comm. Flores shared the Police facility will be ground breaking in June 1st at 10am. Old Business: Sustainability Update: Tiffany Welsh stated OHM has not yet heard from the Joyce Foundation on the grant application. OHM is looking at other agencies and foundations possibly pursuing multiple applications for grants at the same time. Ms. Welsh noted one of the foundations being 1  looked at is the Surdna Foundation with them we have to have a non-profit who would be the primary applicant and fiscal agent on the grant application, for this Ms. Welsh has reached out to the Battle Creek Community Foundation and they are willing to partner with us. Membership : Comm. Flores stated the application for Lindsay Johnson has been approved and she will be joining us at our next meeting. We also received an application from Erin Augustine. Comm. Flores reviewed her application with the Committee. A motion was made by Mr. Myszka, supported by Kathy Antaya to accept membership application from Erin Augustine. All yes, none opposed. New Business: Christine Zuzga, Planning Supervisor, gave a presentation on the Master Plan. Ms. Zuzga noted that you must have a Master Plan if you have a zoning ordinance; state law requires this. This document is used heavily by the Planning Department, however it should be used all departments of the City its residents and business owners, providing a vision of what a community wants to see in the next 20 years. Ms. Zuzga explained the last plan from 1997 has great goals and objectives; however, it lacks strategies for moving forward and implementing plans. The new draft plan gives us direction on moving forward. Ms. Zuzga further stated we have been working on this for over a year ago having a great deal of community outreach including surveys and multiple workshops to get individuals engaged in the process. Ms. Zuzga shared information on the upcoming parking and landscaping ordinance revision noting the addition of maximum parking requirements. This will not affect existing businesses, they will be considered non-conforming. There will also be a recommendation of green belts. Mr. Myszka asked if the Master Plan has a particular focus. Ms. Zuzga stated the Master Plan touches on many areas of importance and priority. Ms. Zuzga further stated with the number of vacant parcels in the City, we chose to make green infrastructure a priority in the Master Plan. Kathy Antaya asked when the new Master Plan must be completed. Ms. Zuzga stated we hope to have the new Master Plan completed by fall, noting it is a twenty-year plan and must reviewed and updated (if necessary) every five years; the last review to the 1997 plan was in 2015. Ms. Zuzga reviewed the purposed Master Plan document with the Committee. Mr. Myszka noted it is important to have metrics to measure progress. Ms. Zuzga acknowledged measurements should be something included in the Sustainability Plan. Ms. Zuzga stated the new Master Plan will help guide departments and the Commission with future decisions. Comm. Helmboldt asked if to what extent we have properties that may require downspout disconnections. Mr. Tribbett stated most are in the downtown area and we are working to move away from that type of connection. Ms. Antaya asked if there is a law disallowing rain barrels. Ms. Welsh responded she has not come across anything that would disallow rain barrels, noting the City sponsors the Rain Barrel sale. Comm. Faris asked if the Master Plan address hot zones in the urban areas of town. 2 Ms. Zuzga stated there is no specific mention of hot zones in the Master Plan, however many of the different tactical item help target some of those arears. Ms. Antaya questioned if the new police station will have a green roof. Ms. Zuzga stated the new police station will not have a green roof. Ms. Welsh noted we are looking to reuse the existing green roof in some way. Mr. Myszka asked if the woodchip burner will still be used. Ms. Zuzga stated yes, piping will go under Patterson and continue to be used by city hall and the new police station. Comm. Faris noted the importance of having Jessica communicate information out to the public as the new police station goes up. Comm. Flores asked how the Sustainability Plan and the Master Plan might work together. Ms. Zuzga stated the Master Plan should provide some help and guidance with the Sustainability Plan. Ms. Welsh noted the Star Rating system should help with creating the Sustainability Plan as well. Member Comment/Announcements : Sarah Kelly shared the following upcoming events:  Household hazardous waste collection will be taking place on Saturday in Marshall.  Household hazardous waste collection June 24th at the Toller Building in Battle Creek.  Scrap tire collection in Tekonsha on June 17th.  Scrap tire collection in Athens on June 24th. Mr. Tribbett shared Heritage Tower has started asbestos abatement with grant funds. Ms. Antaya stated 365 Urban Farm at Leila Arboretum received Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program verification. Ms. Antaya asked if anyone had any additional information regarding the tree farm that was mowed down. Ms. Zuzga stated Fresh Coast Capital will replant the lower part this spring. Comm. Faris asked if we had any further information regarding mattress disposal plastic covers. Ms. Welsh shared we did get a $500 grant to start the program however it has not been determined how they will be distributed. Ms. Zuzga noted Home Depot and U-Haul have wraps available and plastic bags can be used. Comm. Helmbolt reminded the Committee MDOT is currently giving a presentation, at DPW, regarding the work on M66 from Fremont to Emmett. Public Comment : There were none. Next Meeting : The next meeting of the Sustainable BC Committee will be on June 7, 2017 at 4:00 pm at the Department of Public Works in Room 204. Adjournment: Comm. Flores adjourned the meeting at 5:02 pm. 3