Citizens' Environmental Commission

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB CITIZEN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION November 5, 2015 The Citizen Environmental Commission held a meeting on November 5, 2015 at the DeKalb Municipal Building, Haish Conference Room, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois, 60115. Chair Oleckno called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m. A. ROLL CALL Jennifer Diedrich called the roll and the following members of the Citizen Environmental Commission were present: Bill Oleckno, Dan Kenney, Sharon Skala, Ken Koch, and Clare Kron. Members Absent: Linda Yates and Mark Hein Also present were: Jennifer Diedrich, City of DeKalb, Lauren Stott, City of DeKalb, Melissa Burlingame, NIU, Mike Holland, DeKalb Sanitary District and Michelle Gibson, DeKalb County Health Department. B. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – ADDITIONS / DELETIONS MOTION Dan Kenney moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Ken Koch. Ms. Kron asked to add the item “Letter to the Mayor” to the agenda. Chair Oleckno advised that it was already on the agenda. VOTE Motion approved by voice vote 5-0-2. C. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION Mr. Koch moved to approve the October 1, 2015 minutes, seconded by Ms. Kron. Chair Oleckno suggested several changes to the minutes which Ms. Diedrich made. VOTE Motion approved by voice vote 5-0-2. E. OLD BUSINESS Citizen Environmental Commission November 5, 2015 Page 2 of 6 1. UPDATE: CEC Webpage and Intern Status - Guest Lauren Stott Ms. Stott reviewed the status of the Commission’s intern, noting that the intern program was currently transitioning to HR and hoped to kick off after the 1st of the year (2016). Ms. Stott continued by reviewing the items that the commission was requesting be posted on their webpage. Chair Oleckno asked to add descriptions of the commission members backgrounds to the site. Ms. Stott requested that info could be sent to her in Word form, and asked if the members contact info should be added as well. Chair Oleckno wanted to think about that and get back to her. Ms. Stott advised that she would move forward with what she had to date. Discussion about contact info continued by all present. Ms. Diedrich asked that members who want to be contacted directly should let her know, otherwise they would have city contact info. Mr. Kenney asked if a green/recycling info/link could be added to the website’s front page. Ms. Stott asked if it should link to the commission’s page. Discussion continued. Mr. Kenney asked that the sustainability plan be added to the commission’s page as well. Chair Oleckno asked that the PRIDE award info be added to the website. History, current winners and detail about the Grosklags award. Ms. Diedrich will put list together and send to Ms. Stott. 2. APPROVAL OF P.R.I.D.E. AWARD NOMINATIONS Chair Oleckno suggested that the group review the pride award nominations. He continued by listing the nominations. Ms. Gibson asked if there was a limit to the number of winners. Chair Oleckno advised there was not. MOTION Mr. Kenney moved to approve the Sanitary District pride award nomination, seconded by Mr. Koch. Dan Kenney nominated the district. Mike Holland noted he was thankful for the recognition VOTE Motion carried 5-0-2 by voice vote. Chair Oleckno declared the motion passed. Chair Oleckno asked for a motion to approve the Dekalb Community Gardens nomination. MOTION Ms. Skala moved to approve the Community Gardens pride award nomination, seconded by Mr. Koch. Ms. Skala advised that she had nominated the Community Gardens VOTE Motion carried 4-0-2-1 by voice vote. Mr. Kenney abstained. Chair Oleckno declared the motion passed.  Citizen Environmental Commission November 5, 2015 Page 3 of 6 MOTION Mr. Kenney moved to approve Melissa Burlingame’s pride award nomination, seconded by Mr. Koch. Ms. Gibson advised that she nominated Ms. Burlingame. Ms. Burlingame was thankful for the recognition. Chair Oleckno suggested this nomination be considered as a Grosklags award, and in the future, all individual awards be considered as such. VOTE Motion carried 5-0-2 by voice vote. Chair Oleckno declared the motion passed. MOTION Mr. Koch moved to approve the Goodwill nomination, seconded by Ms. Kron. Ms. Burlingame advised that she nominated Goodwill. She continued by reporting on her recent tour of the goodwill facility in Rockford and reviewed their different types of recycling efforts. Discussion continued between all present. VOTE Motion carried 5-0-2 by voice vote. Chair Oleckno declared the motion passed. 3. SUSTAINABILITY PLAN PROGRESS REPORTS Ms. Kron advised that she was interested in establishing the Share a Bag program in DeKalb. She shared info she learned about the Evanston, IL model, noting the City provided bins with reusable bags which are monitored by sustainability fellows. These fellows check bags for cleanliness and remove bags that are no longer useable. Ms. Kron asked if there were funds available for a program such as this and wondered how the program would work in DeKalb. Discussion about the program continued by all present. Ms. Skala suggested the Commission look at a program operating in Canada which uses compostable bags. Discussion continued between all present. Ms. Kron asked if the Commission was interested in trying to implement this program. Chair Oleckno advised that if this program was implemented, it should be done on a pilot basis, with a designated sponsor (i.e. the Health Department) which could track use and compile stats. Discussion continued between all present. Ms. Gibson asked where in DeKalb the bags should be placed. Suggestions included Connexcion Communidad, Health Department, Senior Center. Chair Oleckno suggested a few members get together to see what kind of project they could put together and report back to the group. Ms. Gibson and Ms. Kron agreed to work on it and come back to the group at the next meeting. Dan Kenney distributed a status report on the food security and healthy living areas of the Citizen Environmental Commission November 5, 2015 Page 4 of 6 sustainability plan and discussed its contents. Specifically covered goals 6 and 8. Mr. Kenney shared a proposal to host DeKalb County’s First Green Living Festival, which would be focused on educating the general public on green living and different aspects of the sustainability plan through music, local food presentations, speakers and workshops. Ms. Gibson advised that the Health Department and U of I extension offices may be interested in participating as well and noted that the dates coincide with the compost pilot program kickoff. Discussion continued between all present. 4. APPROVAL OF GREEN LEAF INITIATIVE DISCUSSION WITH DEKALB RESTAURANT GROUP Mr. Kenney advised that the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce was hosting restaurant group meeting November 17. He was interested in presenting the Sustainability Plan’s Green Leaf Initiative. Ms. Kron and Ms. Gibson agreed is was a great idea. Ms. Gibson advised that she would love to join him in giving presentation. MOTION Mr. Koch moved to send a representative to share the sustainability plan’s Green Leaf Initiative to the chamber restaurant group meeting on November 17; seconded by Ms. Kron. Motion carried 5-0- 2 by voice vote. Chair Oleckno declared the motion passed. F. New Business 1. Commission Reports a. City Liaison: Ms. Diedrich reported on the status of the Public Works Director position and the recent ABC grant submission. b. Cooperative Effort: Melissa Burlingame provided a brief update on things going on at NIU, noting that the Student Association had approved a Director of Environmental Affairs position and will be holding student interviews next week. Beginning in 2016, students will no longer be provided a dollar allotment for printing services. Working with staff to require less printing and students on using electronics versus printing. Green Team is determining their mission as a task force and the potential of drafting a sustainability plan for campus. c. DeKalb Co. Health Department: Michelle Gibson reported on the holiday lights collection program and noted that it was active in 10 locations throughout the county. She continued by discussing America Recycles Day initiatives taking place on November 15 including the virtual hashtag campaign with Dekalb High School students #amrecycles_dhs. Ms. Gibson advised that the students will take pics and communicate how they recycle. Ms. Gibson reported that the Health Department was moving forward on the curbside compost pilot program and is working with Waste Management, John Laskowski and Mark Espy on a presentation to city council. She continued to discuss the specifics program noting that it would cover approximately 300 homes and there would be an extra charge for service. Ms. Gibson concluded by sharing that Fairdale’s septic project has begun to be implemented and the DHS Green Group was hosting a park cleanup day November 19th.  Citizen Environmental Commission November 5, 2015 Page 5 of 6 d. DeKalb Park District: Jason Mangum – None. a. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF COMMUNICATION REGARDING PROPOSED EX-OFFICIO APPOINTMENTS - STATUS AND ACTION PLAN Chair Oleckno advised that the Commission had requested the addition of two ex-officio appointments by the Mayor but to date they have not moved forward. At the October 1, 2015 meeting, the Commission discussed sending a letter to the Mayor to recommend moving them forward. Chair Oleckno distributed a draft letter for review, noting that he hoped to have everyone present sign. Discussion continued between all present. The group made various modifications to Chair Oleckno’s letter. Ms. Kron suggested the letter be left at the Front Desk of City Hall so members could stop in and sign at their convenience. The group agreed. MOTION Ms. Kron moved to approve sending the modified letter distributed by Chair Oleckno to the Mayor recommending the ex-officio appointments for the Sanitary District and NIU be moved forward; seconded by Mr. Kenney. Motion carried by voice vote 5-0-2. Chair Oleckno declared the motion passed. 2. COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP a. APPROVAL OF MODIFICATIONS TO THE COMMISSION RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS Chair Oleckno advised at the October 1, 2015 meeting, Ms. Proesel asked if she could be a member of the committee since she doesn’t live within the City limits of Dekalb, noting that she was in the township. Discussion continued between all present about the possibility of amending the Municipal Code Chapter 50 to allow non-residents of DeKalb to serve on the Commission. MOTION Mr. Koch moved to modify the DeKalb Municipal Code Chapter 50, Citizen Environmental Commission, Section 50.02 Membership to add language to allow membership to include not more than two (2) persons who are not residents of the City, provided that these persons are business owners or employed on a full-time basis at locations inside the DeKalb corporate limits. Motion carried by voice vote 5-0-2. Chair Oleckno declared the motion passed. b. COMMISSIONER EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS Chair Oleckno asked several questions on the implications of FOIA in relation to commission membership. Ms. Diedrich advised that she would check with the City Attorney and report back. c. MEMBERSHIP LIST AND PROFILES Chair Oleckno distributed membership profiles for review, noting that members could email changes to him or make changes now. Citizen Environmental Commission November 5, 2015 Page 6 of 6 3. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Kenney announced a Panera fundraiser for the DeKalb Community Gardens was taking place this evening and distributed coupons. Also advised on a forum taking place tonight at the County to discuss the negative impacts on social services. G. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Kenney moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Koch. Motion carried by voice vote 5-0-2. Chair Oleckno declared the motion passed. Respectfully Submitted: Jennifer Diedrich, Economic Development Coordinator Minutes approved at the December 3, 2015 Regular Meeting.