Sustainable BC Committee

City of Battle Creek Sustainable BC Committee 150 N. Kendall St. Room 214 Battle Creek, MI Wednesday, July 5, 2017 4:00 p.m. Members Present: Comm. Flores, Comm. Faris, Tiffany Welsh, Susan Anderson, Michael Myszka, Kathy Antaya, and Erin Augustine. Members Absent: Comm. Helmboldt, Kurt Tribbett, Sarah Kelly, Lindsey Johnson and Olivia Jayakar. Others: Alicia Sackett, Deputy City Clerk; Michelle Coats, Clerk’s Office; Jacob Schacht, Asst. to the City Manager; Eric Feldt, Planning Guests: There were none. Call to Order: Comm. Flores called the meeting to order at 4:04 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 May 10, 2017. All yes, none opposed. Minutes approved. Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: There were none. Member Updates/Reports: City Energy Efficiency Activities: There were none. Environmental Program Update: Tiffany Welsh shared updates:  Tire collection for the City and surrounding areas on Saturday.  August 12th is the Kanoe the Kazoo.  County tire collection July 22nd.  August 26th Styrofoam and electronics collection at DPW.  River Clean-Up the first Saturday in October.  The City received the Michigan Green Communities Challenge “Silver” award.  Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will come in September to talk to the Committee about Climate change. City Commission Update: Comm. Faris stated we are working with Consumers Energy regarding a homeless encampment on their property along the river, connecting those folks to services and relocate them. Jacob Schacht met with the “Before the Flood” group who held an event at KCC with about 85 attendees; a few were interested in the work being done by this Committee. Planning Update: Eric Feldt stated the Master Plan will be going through a more public process after summer is over. Mr. Feldt further stated any edits or suggestions should be brought to Christine Zuzga or himself. Ms. Welsh noted the Sustainability Plan is not ready to become part of the Master Plan, this could be added as an addendum later. Old Business: Sustainability Update: Tiffany Welsh shared an update on the grant through OHM for the STAR program, noting we have not heard back from the Joyce Foundation and assume it has been declined. Ms. Welsh further stated OHM has submitted to the SURDNA Foundation, with the Battle Creek Community as the lead applicant. 1  The Committee discussed the direction of the Sustainability Plan. Ms. Welsh stated a subcommittee of this group could meet more than once a month to move this forward. Michael Myszka stated the STAR program would provide all of the information needed to create the core elements. Ms. Welsh noted we could use the Green Communities information to create a template. Mr. Feldt stated we could look at other communities for their sustainability plans. Comm. Flores shared the Committee wanting the STAR for the structure not the star rating. Ms. Welsh noted the STAR program is much more comprehensive than the Green Communities. Comm. Flores asked if the internal stuff could be moved along faster. Comm. Faris noted the internal is more concrete, the community is more Master Plan stuff. Mr. Feldt stated recycling in parks is affecting the external community members as well. Mr. Myszka stated if we could not use the STAR program, we should use the Green Communities Challenge and build our framework off from that. Ms. Welsh noted we should also continue to pursue grants with OHM. The Committee discussed the Green Drinks group and possibly bringing it back. Kathy Antaya noted the need to promote what we are already doing and change the culture. Mr. Schacht asked for direction on the internal plan and if we continuing to search out more grants or saying goodbye to OHM. Ms. Welsh shared the writing of a Sustainability Plan in part of the City Managers goals. Com. Flores asked what is realistic and within our power to influence around sustainable systems. Erin Augustine stated it all comes back to purchasing when you negotiate with companies putting it into the purchasing plan would be a great start. The Committee agrees that Purchasing should be addressed first. Comm. Flores suggested bringing in representatives from City departments to gather input and information. Ms. Augustine suggested planning a get together between now and August for 3 hours to work session. Ms. Antaya offered Leila as a meeting place. Ms. Welsh will bring the information on the Green Communities Challenge. The Committee decided to meet August 2nd meeting to review information 9am-12pm at Leila 103 Limit St. Membership: Comm. Flores introduced Erin Augustine as a new member to the Committee. Member Comment/Announcements: Ms. Welsh gave an update on the green roof at the Police Station stating it can be moved but we have no home for it yet. Ms. Welsh noted engineering is currently evaluating the cost involved in moving it. 2 Susan Anderson questioned being able to put solar power panels in other areas besides the roof at the new Police Station. Ms. Welsh noted this is unlikely due to budget restraints. Public Comment: There were none. Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Sustainable BC Committee will be on August 2, 2017 9am-12pm at Leila 103 Limit St. Adjournment: Comm. Flores adjourned the meeting at 5:45 pm. 3