Environmental Sustainability Board

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD Wednesday, April 9, 2025 Conference Room 202 Regular Session 6:30 PM SECOND FLOOR OF CITY HALL 7008 SOUTH RICE AVENUE BELLAIRE, TX 77401 Agenda Chair Giles Dunn Vice Chair Secretary Board Member Patricia Ritter Rajiv Pandya Elena Diiorio Board Member Board Member Board Member Arlene Dooley Joyce Gigout Pernia Latif Board Member Board Member Michelle Mastin Phil Robertson City of Bellaire Texas Page 1 of 14 Agenda Environmental Sustainability Board April 9, 2025 REGULAR SESSION - 6:30 P.M. A. Call to Order and Announcement of a Quorum - Giles Dunn, Chair. B. Approval of Minutes: Consideration of and possible action regarding the approval of the minutes of the Regular Session of the Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) held on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 - Submitted by Rajiv Pandya, Secretary. 2025_03_05 ESB Meeting Minutes - for review C. Introduction of Visitors - Giles Dunn, Chair. D. Citizen Comments. Note: Citizen Comments are limited to up to three (3) minutes per person. E. Council Liaison Comments - Jackie Georgiou, Council Member. F. Public Works Update - Gilbert Salas, Assistant Director of Public Works, or his Designee. G. Board Business: Discussion and possible action on the following topic(s): 1. Administrative/General Items of Business. a. Review of ESB Calendar; b. ESB Learning Update; and c. 2024-2027 Strategic Plan Feedback. 2. Review and Comment from the ESB Subcommittees. a. The Natural World: i. Subcommittee presents updates on their top three initiatives; and ii. Board feedback. b. Trash, Recycling, and Resources Conservation: i. Subcommittee presents updates on their top three initiatives; and City of Bellaire Texas Page 2 of 14 Agenda Environmental Sustainability Board April 9, 2025 ii. Board feedback. c. Energy Infrastructure and Sustainability: i. Subcommittee presents updates on their top three initiatives; and ii. Board feedback. 2025_04_09 ESB Supporting Materials H. New Business: Any ESB Member who wishes to bring New Business to the attention of the ESB shall do so now. Note: Consideration of New Business shall be for the limited purpose of determining whether the matter is appropriate for inclusion on a future Agenda of the ESB or for referral to staff for investigation. I. Adjournment. Next Meeting: Regular Session, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. City of Bellaire Texas Page 3 of 14  Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) Board Meeting Wednesday, March 5, 2025 Meeting Minutes A. Call to Order and Announcement of a Quorum The regular Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) was held via an in-person meeting with all participants at the City Hall (conference room 201). Giles Dunn, ESB Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:32 PM on Wednesday March 5, 2025. There was a quorum of members present. Voting ESB Members Present: Arlene Dooley, Joyce Gigout, Giles Dunn, Micki Mastin, Rajiv Pandya, Patricia King-Ritter, Phil Robertson, Elena Dilorio, Pernia Latif Absent: None Non-Voting ESB Members Present: Gilbert Salas (CoB Public Works Liaison) Absent: Jackie Georgiou (CoB Council Liaison) Votes Taken During Meeting Minutes of February 2025 Meeting – approved 8-0 B. Approval of Minutes Minutes for February 2025 (included in agenda packet) approved C. Introduction of Visitors None D. Visitor Comments None E. Council Liaison Update None F. City Services Update Gilbert: Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) – March 5, 2025 Minutes Page 1 of 3 Page 4 of 14  o Water Sense Partnership Agreement is with attorney o CoB Public Works vendor Waste Management: § Trash statistics will be provided to Phil § ESB Learning Academy Session date not fixed, Rajiv to investigate § Still working on setting a date for an ESB Site Visit of WM recycling / sorting facility o Food Diversion Program support provided with logistics support, traffic cones, etc … o Naming ceremony planned for the new Public Works Trash Collection Truck G. Board Business Discussion and possible action on the following topic(s): 1. Administrative / General Items of Business. a. Review of ESB Calendar (provided in agenda packet) Giles: o Food Diversion Program first weekend event completed, more details provided below o Up to 11 ESB achievements / rosettes so far o Per agenda packet, reviewed a vision of Bellaire in the future from an Environmental Sustainability perspective, using AI simulated pictures, showing water / flooding, renewable energy, lot of green spaces, vertical building, etc … o Wants to address lack of budget available to ESB, and the fact that members many times pay for items out of pocket b. ESB Learning Update Giles: o Rajiv checked with CoB IT Director and Livestream and Recording (similar to City Council meetings) is possible o Timing of next session to be determined c. 2024 – 2027 CoB Strategic Plan Feedback 2. Review and Comment from the ESB Subcommittees. See subcommittee information in agenda packet a. The Natural World (Arlene, Joyce, Pernia) i. Subcommittee presents updates on their top three initiatives; and ii. Board Feedback Arlene: o International Dark Sky week is April 21 to April 28 o CoB to apply for Dark Sky “Be A Star Award” by changing lights and trying to reduce light pollution Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) – March 5, 2025 Minutes Page 2 of 3 Page 5 of 14  o Joyce indicated the Monarch Butterfly grant request was turned down by the Native Plant Society of Texas. She work Bellaire Garden Club on this and the pollinator habitat at the Nature Discovery Center o Pernia plans to create short Tik Tok style videos about Environmental Sustainability to be posted on the CoB FB page, working with Bella Kalra b. Trash, Recycling, and Resource Conservation (Elena, Micki, Phil) i. Subcommittee presents updates on their top three initiatives; and ii. Board Feedback Elena: o Food Diversion Program first day was last Sunday o 25 people came through, Leo from Zero Waste Houston says the numbers will increase o Working to increase advertising: - Banner in esplanade in Paseo Park (not displayed recently) - Flyers created and look great - Bella Kalra putting them up in schools o Water Sense: engaging city for review o Aqua hawk: working to increase usage, find out who does not have it through data collection and engage those residents c. Energy Infrastructure and Sustainability (Giles, Patricia, Rajiv) i. Subcommittee presents updates on their top three initiatives; and ii. Board Feedback Patricia: o Showed map created by Houston Parks and Rec board for new proposed trail from Bellaire (south end of Newcastle) to Braes Bayou o Figuring out how to make the connection happen, through the old HPD Police Station property o Rajiv indicated Energy Project sub-team met last week, plan for meetings with Shell MP2 and CenterPoint later in March H. New Business a. Any ESB Member who wishes to bring New Business to the attention of the ESB shall do so now. None I. Adjournment 1. Next meeting to be held on Wednesday April 2, 2025 2. Giles made a motion to adjourn 3. Meeting adjourned at 7:37pm Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) – March 5, 2025 Minutes Page 3 of 3 Page 6 of 14  Environmental Sustainability Board Meeting Materials City of Bellaire April 9, 2025 Page 7 of 14  City of Bellaire Resources Bellaire Collects OneBellaire Mobile App Stay informed and engaged in Bellaire Bellaire Collects allows you to find from anywhere! information quickly and conveniently for our recycling and trash collection Download the OneBellaire mobile app for programs. anytime, anywhere access to community news, information, and resources. By entering your address, Bellaire Collects Use it to: will let you know when your next collection • Find events & meeting information date is on the calendar. • Access the latest news & information from the City of Bellaire Using the Waste Wizard, you can also learn • Look up trash & recycling information how to dispose of certain items properly. • Pay bills online and much more! Download it now on any Android or Apple Download it now on any Android or Apple smartphone or tablet from Google Play or smartphone or tablet from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Search for Bellaire the Apple App Store. Search for Collects. OneBellaire Page 8 of 14  City of Bellaire Resources (Cont’d) Water Monitoring Resources Register and access from this link: https://belltx.aquahawk.us  The Bellaire resident utility portal powered by AquaHawk is a free service for City of Bellaire customers that allows the customer to monitor their own water usage, set and receive alerts, and gives them the tools to control monthly water bills.  Customers interested in using the portal must register to create a new account. Page 9 of 14  Food Waste Program! Reduce Your Footprint FREE 8-Week Program for Tackling Food Waste Give your waste another life. Residents can turn food scraps and organic materials into compost. The program offers a convenient way to reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable future. Residents can drop off food scraps and other organic materials every Sunday at the temporary drop-off/educational area. Date: March 2- April 20 SUNDAYS ONLY Location: Condit Elementary Parking Lot (S. Rice) Time: Noon- 3:00 PM Benefits: Reduce Landfill Waste Reduce Greenhouse Emission (Methane) Improve Soil Quality You can use any container for this 8-week program, but it is recommended that you use one with an airtight lid. Containers are also available for purchase during the drop-off. Page 10 of 14  Delivering for Bellaire Residents Vehicle Entry and Initial Education ESB and Zero Waste Houston Team Page 11 of 14  Recent ESB Achievements Dec 2024 Jan 2023 Jan 2023 Oct 2024 Mar/Apr ‘25 Solar Panel Bellaire AquaHawk ESB Learning Food Diversion Installation Collects App Program Water Water City Hall Trash calendar monitoring conservation City Bellaire Sept 2024 Nov/Dec ‘24 Oct 2024 Apr 2024 Oct 2024 Apr 2024 Air Bee n Bee Pumpkin Bellaire NDC Spring NDC Pumpkin Earth Day Composting Recycling Day Fling Patch Girl Scouts / Mulberry Park City Bellaire City Bellaire City Bellaire City Bellaire Evelyn’s Park Page 12 of 14  Draft ESB Calendar 1H 2025 Page 13 of 14  ESB Top Initiatives by Subcommittee Page 14 of 14