Citizens' Environmental Commission

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB CITIZENS’ ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION October 4, 2018 The Citizens’ Environmental Commission held a regular business meeting on October 4, 2018, in the Executive Conference Room at the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois, 60115. Chair Kenney called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. A. ROLL CALL The following members of the Citizens' Environmental Commission were present (indicated by x): X Dan Kenney (Chair) X Ken Koch X Mary McGinn X Clare Kron (Vice-Chair) X Bill Oleckno Sharon Skala X Ann Shult The following ex-officio members were present (indicated by x): X Amy Doll, DeKalb Park District X Mike Holland, Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District Melissa Burlingame, Northern Illinois University X Lacey Carlson, DeKalb County Health Department B. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Kenney asked for a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of two items under old business; 4. Policy on Solar Farms and Gardens in DeKalb, and 5. Discussion of CEC Logo. MOTION - Ms. Shult moved to approve the agenda. Ms. Kron seconded the motion. Agenda was approved unanimously by voice vote. C. PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. Tom Riley, 107 Barb Blvd. addressed the Commission. Mr. Riley stated he is an advocate for wildlife. He wants to stop residents from electrocuting squirrels and trapping squirrels out of season. He asked for the Commission’s assistance in stopping these activities. Mr. Riley feeds the squirrels. He placed a 6-foot fence around his yard after his neighbors electrocuted the squirrels that he feeds. Mr. Oleckno asked Mr. Riley how he became aware of his neighbors doing this. Mr. Riley responded that the neighbors told him that the squirrels dig in their yard and that he should stop feeding them because it creates a nuisance. Chair Kenney asked about State law that might regulate squirrels and other daylight wildlife. Mr. Riley indicated that the State requires a license to trap squirrels and that the State had rescinded his neighbors’ license. Mr. Riley also indicated that the State Biologist can declare wildlife a nuisance, if appropriate. Ms. Carlson said she would review the jurisdiction of County Animal Control in this situation. Mr. George Gaulrapp, ComEd External Affairs Coordinator was in attendance for a portion of the meeting. Ms. Dale Osterle was also in attendance. Citizen Environmental Commission October 4, 2018 Page 2 of 4 D. APPROVAL of MINUTES MOTION – To approve minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting held on September 6, 2018. Ms. Ms. Kron moved to approve the minutes of September 6, 2018 with one minor correction. Ms. Shult seconded the motion. Minutes with changes were approved unanimously by voice vote. E. COMMISSION REPORTS 1. DeKalb County Health Department: Lacey Carlson Ms. Carlson reported that the Recycling Committee will meet next month. The e-waste recycling event on Saturday, September 22 was very successful. There will be another Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day next year. Also, Holiday Lights collection will be held again this year. Ms. Carlson reported that Dart Container Corporation in North Aurora does take foam #6. See the following webpage for more information http://northaurora.org/pdf/waste- management/Dart%20Foam%20Recycling.pdf Mr. Holdeman will get this information on the City website. Ms. Carlson mentioned that the County is revisiting their leaf burning ordinance. It was noted that the DeKalb City Ordinance does allow leaf burning. Mr. Koch will follow up on this issue. Mr. Holdeman noted that the recent press release that indicated there is a fee for e-waste collection by the City’s waste hauler, LRS, was in error. There is no charge. 2. DeKalb Park District: Amy Doll The Nature Trail Restoration project is continuing. Clean the Kish event on September 30 was a success. There was a good turnout even though it rained. There were fewer tires retrieved this year than in past years. That may indicate progress in stopping that behavior. The Park District is considering a timber assessment in Hopkins Park and a tree inventory for all its properties. 3. Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District: Michael Holland Mr. Holland followed up with information regarding the KWRD’s consideration of solar energy generation on some of its wastewater pump stations. He indicated their analysis showed a 42 year return on investment (ROI) period and that was not acceptable. The life of the solar panels is 20 to 25 years, so the ROI would have to at least match that length of time. 4. Northern Illinois University: Melissa Burlingame (via e-mail) No Report. 5. City of Dekalb: Tim Holdeman The City is receiving fewer complaints regarding the new Refuse, Recycling and Yard Waste vendor, Lakeshore Recycling Systems. Service seems to be improving as their drivers become familiar with the City and our residents needs. The 2018 Street Maintenance Program is progressing nicely. The work on Ridge and Taylor is complete. Crack-filling will begin in a couple of weeks. MetroNet, a high-speed (fiber) internet provider, is currently installing fiber in the northwest portions of the City. They will eventually be able to serve the entire City. 2 Citizen Environmental Commission October 4, 2018 Page 3 of 4 F. NEW BUSINESS 1. Bluestem Energy Solutions Presentation Mr. Jamie Goldenburg, Energy Consultant, from Bluestem Energy Solutions made a presentation. Mr. Holdeman explained that Mr. Goldenburg had contacted Mayor Smith and that Mayor Smith had asked that Mr. Goldenburg make his presentation to the Commission, so the Commission could advise the Mayor on the merits of the Bluestem proposal. The company is offering the City of DeKalb a free Energy Master Plan. This is an opportunity to decrease the City’s energy costs and possibly increase revenue. He explained that Bluestem would conduct a study and prepare a report for the City that identified potential projects the City could undertake. The study and report are no charge, however, the projects identified through the study may have some upfront costs. The study would take about 6 to 12 months and the City would be restricted from using other energy consultants for similar services during this time period. Mr. Koch said there are several other options if the city wants to pursue such an agreement. He mentioned ComEd and University of Illinois as two organizations that also do free assessments. After some discussion, the Commission agreed that it would like to hear from other similar type of companies before making a recommendation to the City. 2. Annie Glidden North Revitalization Plan Mr. Holdeman referred the Commission to the recent e-mail that include the Draft plan. City staff were unable to make this meeting, Director Charlton has agreed to review the Plan with the Commission during the meeting on November 1. 3. 2018 PRIDE Awards Process Mr. Holdeman will send the press release to Chair Kenney and, once approved, will send out a press release, send the announcement to Commission members, and get it on social media. G. OLD BUSINESS 1. Food Security Chicken Ordinance Update Ms. Jo Ellen Charlton, City of DeKalb Community Development Director made a presentation to the Commission. She indicated that backyard chickens had been brought forward to City Council in 2011/2012. The process for bringing this issue forward includes a recommendation from the Commission, consideration by the Planning and Zoning Commission, and then to City Council for final approval. She explained that the process would involve a text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). This will require considerable work by staff. Ms. Charlton explained that if City Council has not changed its position that bringing it forward again could result in a lot of time and effort going to waste. So, her suggestion is to bring the item forward to a Committee of the Whole Meeting of City Council for discussion. After some discussion, the Commission agreed that brining this issue forward to a Committee of the whole in January or February of 2019 was appropriate. 2. LED Lights Public Forum Discussion. Ms. Kron is continuing to work on contacting speakers for the Public Forum. Several members made comments about the Forum. It was generally agreed that ComEd should be invited to the Forum. Ms. Kron mentioned she had requested ComEd to adjust the LED streetlight near her home. ComEd did dome out and adjust the angle, however, she was told that shielding was not available. 3 Citizen Environmental Commission October 4, 2018 Page 4 of 4 She considers the difference between what she was told by George Gaulrapp, External Affair Coordinator, and what actually occurred when she called ComEd and asked for the streetlight to be adjusted to be a breach of confidence. She would like for the City to publicize the process for residents to complain about LED streetlights. Mr. Holdeman agreed to get the word out through a press release and the City website. The Forum will likely take place in December 2018. 3. Other Sustainability Plan Updates Ms. Kron and Mr. Koch reported that they had met with the City’s IT Director, Marc Thorson and Public Works Director, Tim Holdeman to discuss electric car charging stations. The idea being floated is to place six charging stations at three locations in the downtown area (most likely City parking lots) and to try to get a grant for such a project. Ms. Kron reported that she had contacted the DeKalb County Community Foundation about the possibility of a grant to support the project. The grants are very competitive and are due by January 1. 4. Policy on Solar Farms and Gardens in DeKalb The policy was discussed and one small correction was made. MOTION – To approve the Policy as corrected. Ms. Shult moved to Policy with one minor correction. Ms. Kron seconded the motion. Policy with changes was approved unanimously by voice vote. 5. Discussion of CEC Logo. Ms. Shult will provide more information next month. H. ANNOUNCEMENTS Next Regular Meeting: Thursday, November 1, 2018, 4:00 pm I. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Shult moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Kock seconded. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Chair Kenney declared the meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. Respectfully Submitted: Tim Holdeman, Staff Liaison 4