Environmental Sustainability Board

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD Wednesday, May 7, 2025 Conference Room 201 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 13 Agenda Environmental Sustainability Board May 7, 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 on the approval of the minutes of the Regular Session of the Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) of the City of Bellaire, Texas, held on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - Submitted by Rajiv Pandya, Secretary. 2025_04_09 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 - Mark Velasquez, 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. Review of ESB Calendar. 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 Resource Conservation. i. Subcommittee presents updates on their top three initiatives; and ii. Board feedback. c. Energy, Infrastructure, and Sustainability. City of Bellaire Texas Page 2 of 13 Agenda Environmental Sustainability Board May 7, 2025 i. Subcommittee presents updates on their top three initiatives; and ii. Board feedback. 2025_05_07 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, June 4, 2025. City of Bellaire Texas Page 3 of 13  Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) Board Meeting Wednesday, April 9, 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 202). Giles Dunn, ESB Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM on Wednesday April 9, 2025. There was a quorum of members present. Voting ESB Members Present: Arlene Dooley, Joyce Gigout, Giles Dunn, Micki Mastin, Phil Robertson, Pernia Latif Absent: Patricia King-Ritter, Elena Dilorio, Rajiv Pandya Non-Voting ESB Members Present: Mark Velsquez (CoB Director of Public Works, filling in for Gilbert’s prior role), John Trevino (CoB Assistant Director of Public Works) Absent: Jackie Georgiou (CoB Council Liaison) Votes Taken During Meeting Minutes of March 2025 Meeting – approved 6-0 B. Approval of Minutes Minutes for March 2025 (included in agenda packet) approved with minor typographical corrections C. Introduction of Visitors Allison Kozdron (West University Board member for Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction. D. Visitor Comments None E. Council Liaison Update None F. City Services Update Mark: Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) – April 9, 2025 Minutes Page 1 of 3 Page 4 of 13  o 626.95 tons of solid waste, 53.06tons of limbs and 99.72 tons of recycling with a near 100% acceptance rate o 13% recycling rate overall o The city received their second 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 Strategic plan 2025-2027, provided ESB comments to CoB - Also included a $5,000 allowance for ESB led project expenses o Earth Day - Logistics in place - Youth Advisory Board will be assisting with the water cycle - To set up QR code and questionnaire o Learning Academy - Rajiv to update on live streaming - Pernia to put together Instagram/Tiktok type videos which are short and can be added to the ESB landing page. Giles to reach out to the Youth Advisory Board for potential input 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 Pernia: o Water sense has been approved, City of Bellaire is now a partner Arlene: o Working on Dark Skies Award o Also proclamation from the Mayor o Emphasized there is little direction on what Bellaire residents can do with their household hazardous waste, no more vouchers. o Will require residents to make an appointment and all residents require guidance / education Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) – April 9, 2025 Minutes Page 2 of 3 Page 5 of 13  b. Trash, Recycling, and Resource Conservation (Elena, Micki, Phil) i. Subcommittee presents updates on their top three initiatives; and ii. Board Feedback Micki: o Food waste diversion program update - 140 visits over the program period so far - May recommend an 8 week program again in November / December 2025. Leo at Zero Waste Houston is amendable to that c. Energy Infrastructure and Sustainability (Giles, Patricia, Rajiv) i. Subcommittee presents updates on their top three initiatives; and ii. Board Feedback Giles: o Giles to speak with the City about utilizing an EPA program called “benchmarking”, which is a tool recommended by HARC o Allows the city to understand its energy needs to find ways to improve efficiencies and reduce costs o No update on demand response o No update on walkability o Phil suggested a potential survey to identify problem areas for walkability upgrades H. New Business a. Any ESB Member who wishes to bring New Business to the attention of the ESB shall do so now. Mikki asked about Green Waste being directed to something other than landfill. I. Adjournment 1. Next meeting to be held on Wednesday May 7, 2025 2. Giles made a motion to adjourn 3. Meeting adjourned at 7:23pm Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) – April 9, 2025 Minutes Page 3 of 3 Page 6 of 13  Environmental Sustainability Board Meeting Materials City of Bellaire May 7, 2025 Page 7 of 13  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 13  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 13  Recent ESB AchievementsJan 2023 Jan 2023 Dec 2024 Oct 2024 Mar/Apr ‘25 April 2025 Solar Panel Bellaire AquaHawk ESB Learning Food Diversion Water Sense Installation Collects App Program Water Water City Bellaire City Hall Trash calendar monitoring conservation City Bellaire Sept 2024 Nov/Dec ‘24 Oct 2024 May 2025 Oct 2024 Apr 2025 Air Bee n Bee Pumpkin Bellaire ESB Learning NDC Pumpkin Earth Day Composting Recycling Day Patch Girl Scouts / Waste Mulberry Park City Bellaire City Bellaire Management City Bellaire Evelyn’s Park April 2025 Dark Skies Proclomation Page 10 of 13 City of Bellaire  Earth Day 2025 – Evelyn's Park Page 11 of 13  Dark Skies Proclamation Page 12 of 13  ESB Top Initiatives by Subcommittee Page 13 of 13