Citizens' Environmental Commission

City of DeKalb Citizen Environmental Commission Minutes of May 7, 2015 The meeting was called to order at 4:38 p.m. Members Present: Bill Oleckno, Ken Koch, Dan Kenney, Linda Yates, Sharon Skala Ex Officio: Greg Maurice, Michelle Gibson, DeKalb County Health Department (DCHD); Jason Mangum, Executive Director, DeKalb Park District. Guest Speaker: Mike Holland, Assistant Manager, Engineering, DeKalb Sanitary District Approval of Agenda: Ken Koch moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Dan Kenney. Agenda approved as amended by voice vote 5‐0. *Approval of Minutes: Dan Kenney moved to approve the minutes. Linda Yates seconded. Minutes were approved, with minor corrections, by voice vote 5‐0. 1. Chair Oleckno called the meeting to order and asked if there were any public comment. There was none. Chair Oleckno then introduced Guest Speaker, Mike Holland. 2. Mike Holland reported on the Sanitary District’s “blue collar environmentalist” activities. Charged with protecting our drinking water and the water shed, the District looks to the Sustainability Plan to provide clean drinking water by the most energy efficient and least environmentally disruptive means possible. Recent plant improvements include energy efficient lighting provided by a grant and the use of alternative energy in the form of big gases produced during the purification process and processed for use. The District is currently looking at other forms of waste to be processed and used to power the plant. Mike discussed protecting elements of the natural environment through the use of bio‐swales, rain gardens, rain barrels and the use of non‐potable water. The plant needs improvements to meet upcoming new requirements and the use of non‐potable drinking water can help meet those requirements. 3. * Approval of Minutes – see above. 4. Under News and Announcements, Chair Oleckno announced that Dan Kenney was a 2015 recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award. Dan was recognized for his work with the DeKalb County Community Gardens. Congratulations Dan! 5. Jennifer Diedrich reported that the City of DeKalb has been awarded $50,000 through America’s Best competition to create a plan that will be used to further economic development coupled with sustainability. The next step is the semifinals in which up 15 cities will be chosen with awards of up to 3 million dollars. 6. Melissa Burlingame was not available to report on the update of the cooperative efforts with NIU’s environmental studies program. 7. Greg Maurice reported on the Tornado in Fairdale and DCHD’s role in the clean‐up, providing recycling education, inspection, and water protection. Many water lines need to be capped and the well, septic and waste water systems fixed. Michelle Gibson, Solid Waste Specialist, will be spearheading the Shoe Share, which is currently on‐going. Michelle reported that the program has a real need of shoe laces and that DCHD has bins at every NIU dorm, and school, as well as at Sycamore City Hall. The Shoe Share will end June 30th with the Laundry Lounge cleaning the shoes and Kiwanis Club distributing them to all pantries. 1 8. A. Somebody (please identify yourself!) reported that the Sustainability Plan has prompted the City to update its policy regarding the printing (Garamond print) and storage (electronically) of all printed materials. Dan Kenney reported on progress for Goal # 8 ‐ food hubs. There was a community meeting of food hub partners on April 29, 2015 and there is forward movement. NIU Center for Government Studies (CGS) secured a $10,000 grant which will be used for a more comprehensive feasibility study for the Food Hub. Brian Richard, Assistant Director, Community, Economic and Workforce Development, CGS will be presenting the food hub course in the Fall 2015 semester. The course will be a 3 credit hour class that is open to all majors and is available for undergraduate (Junior and Senior) or graduate credit. Linda Yates reported that she attended a meeting with Pat Inman, Senior Research Associate for Center for Government Studies, Renee Kopulos, Brian Richard and Patty Ruback (via teleconference) regarding a Broadband Innovation Grant in which funds would support the virtual food hub. Pat Inman is spearheading the writing of this grant which is for $30,000 and renewable for a 3 year period. Linda Yates reported that five letters of support were needed for the grant, one of which was requested from Dan Kenney on behalf of the DeKalb County Community Gardens. Mark Pietrowski, DeKalb County Board member, is assisting in the letter of support on behalf of other DeKalb County Board members. B. Chair Oleckno addressed comments on the “Environmental Interns Position” announcement, which he drafted for Commission review. All agreed the internships are a great opportunity for a student with a background in environmental studies. Jennifer Diedrich reported that the DeKalb City Manager wants to make the internships more formalized and under the aegis of the City. Oleckno also announced that the Solar Energy Ordinance was approved by the City Council on April 14, 2015, and that $2500 will be allocated for implementing various parts of the Sustainability Plan. C. Regarding the Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Awards and the NEHA’s Excellence in Sustainability Award, it was decided that the Commission will be in a better position to apply for these next year. Chair Oleckno will share the relevant URLs for the websites describing these awards in a separate communication following the meeting. D. Dan Kenney suggested that the commission invite a representative from the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce to discuss common interests regarding the Sustainability Plan. 9. Sharon Skala reported on the progress toward a commission web page. In separate meetings Melissa Burlingame applied her considerable expertise toward providing a structure for the web page and Linda Yates aided immensely in brainstorming the content and typing up the structure. Despite the progress made there is considerable work to in done in the following areas: Providing a mission statement, commission history, designing a commission logo and adding links to the Sustainability Plan as well as commission sponsored ordinances and any other organizations/sites commission members might consider of interest. 10. The next commission meeting will be on June 4, 2015 at City Hall, in the Haish Room, second floor at 4:30 p.m. 11. Ken Koch moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:00 p.m. and Dan Kenney seconded. Adjournment was approved by voice vote 5‐0. Respectfully submitted by Sharon Skala Acting Secretary, Citizen’s Environmental Commission 2