Citizens' Environmental Commission

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB CITIZENS’ ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION SPECIAL WORKSHOP SESSION October 19, 2017 The Citizens’ Environmental Commission held a Special Workshop Session on October 19, 2017, in the Executive Conference Room at the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois, 60115. Chairman Kenney called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. A. ROLL CALL The following members of the Citizens' Environmental Commission were present (indicated by x): __ Mark Hein X Dan Kenney (Chair) X Ken Koch X Clare Kron __ Michael Lundgren X Bill Oleckno X Sharon Skala X Ann Shult The following ex-officio members were present (indicated by x): __ Melissa Burlingame, Northern Illinois University X Amy Doll, DeKalb Park District __Michelle Gibson, DeKalb County Health Department X Mike Holland, Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District B. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – ADDITIONS / DELETIONS MOTION - To approve the agenda. Add Announcement to agenda Mr. Koch moved to approve the motion, seconded by Ms. Skala. Agenda was approved unanimously by voice vote. Announcement – Ms. Kron met with Michelle Gibson about solid waste. The land fill would be expanded. Ms. Gibson’s position is at risk in 2018. Maybe the commission would have some influence in keeping her position. The DeKalb County Planning & Zoning meeting is on Oct. 25th at 6:30pm in the east conference room at the county building. Attend this meeting if you are interested in supporting Ms. Gibson. Contact your county board representative. Let them know you are concerned about this cut. After they vote on it, it will go to the finance committee on November 1st. After that it will go to the full county board. Go on the county website if you need to know who the reps are, contact them. Would anyone like to draft a letter with the committee’s concerns? Ms. Shult will try doing this and send to Mr. Holdeman, he will then get feedback from the committee. A draft should go out by this weekend. Citizen Environmental Commission October 19, 2017 Page 2 of 3 Clare recommended a book “Bringing Nature Home”. Mr. Oleckno said there is an article in the newspaper about the ordinance, it didn’t sound good for this committee. C. PUBLIC COMMENT A representative was at the meeting from Resource Bank in Sycamore/DeKalb – He read the article and thought it was positive. The bank would like to put a butterfly garden in behind the bank on Bethany Rd. It includes milkweed but they cannot do it because of the ordinance, they are considered noxious weeds, he would like to get that changed. Chair Kenney asked if the bank is going to hire a professional to assist with the garden. The bank representative answered in the affirmative. Mr. Cress – He started by saying he hoped everyone read his comments. Mr. Holdeman e-mailed it to everyone. Small yards can have an impact to. If we don’t reduce the use of chemicals in our yards we will see the reduction in insects. Karen Matz – DeKalb resident – she e-mailed suggestions on the weed ordinance to Mr. Holdeman. There are two issues weeds & maintenance. Talked about her issues. D. DISCUSS SECOND DRAFT OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES TO THE CITY OF DEKALB MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 12:22 “WEEDS” Chair Kenney asked for recommendations for changes. There was a lot to read. Focus on what would be ideal. The main thing is all residents are being treated equally. Not be singled out. Second it should be easily understood and enforceable. Ms. Kron said we should be defining what plants evolved here originally. “Any plant that originally evolved in the region now mapped as the State of Illinois.” Chair Kenney suggested not to focus on the plant but the noxious weeds, more easily managed. Encourage native plants. Mr. Oleckno reported on Green Bay’s ordinance. Gave out a handout. Ms. Shult reported on Cincinnati’s ordinance, said a lot of us don’t want the cultivated plants. Ms. Skala said a lot of the ordinances have height restrictions. Green Bay does not. Mr. Koch said height could be impeding upon the city or driving. Ms. Shult asked about limits on fencing. Mr. Koch said the intent should be the same, everything handled the same. Mr. Holdeman said it’s a planned managed landscape. Mr. Holdman said some ordinances talked about mowing and burning (the upkeep). We don’t want to support going wild, needs to be managed. Manage so they aren’t getting into other people’s property. Mr. Holland said can we just make sure it’s managed, not talk about cutting anything down. Maintain a border, important compromise. Green bay also talks about keeping up setbacks and exceptions. Mr. Koch would rather not see the setbacks. Mr. Holdeman read more on setbacks from an article he found. Safety should be maintained with setbacks. Mr. Oleckno said Green Bay makes residents register their property at Public Works. Mr. Holdeman said to Mr. Cress’s point he recalls cities that became more lenient as the community got more comfortable with the idea, we need to have balance and make those who are not invested in natives appease in order to get the ordinance encouraging to get natives in place. Natives should have been covered with ornamentals. Will we be more restrictive than what is in 2 Citizen Environmental Commission October 19, 2017 Page 3 of 3 place right now? We want the staff that enforces the ordinance to support it. Talked about the differences between the Cincinnati and Green Bay ordinances. Mr. Cress said to reference the list. Need to help the code enforcement people. Chair Kenney said for everyone to look at Green Bay make changes they would like to see then submit it. Here is the URL for Green Bay: http://wildonesgreenbay.blogspot.com/p/green-bay-city- ordinance.html Whatever the commission comes up with we need to run past the police department. Give environmental point of view. Give Chairman Kenney feedback of what you don’t like and he will reword it in our own language. Mr. Holdman will e-mail the URL’s for Green Bay & Cincinnati to everyone. Would like feedback to Chair Kenney by October 30th. Would like to have something in place by spring. E. Next Meeting: November 2, 2017 F. Adjournment Ms. Shult moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Koch. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Chair Kenney declared the meeting adjourned at 5:21 p.m. Respectfully Submitted: Linda Odom, Recording Secretary Approved Dec 2, 2017 3