Citizens' Environmental Commission

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB Citizens’ Environmental Commission November 4, 2021 The Citizens’ Environmental Commission (CEC) held a regular business meeting on November 4, 2021 in the Second Floor Training Room at the DeKalb Police Department. Chair Clare Kron called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. A. Roll Call Roll call was recorded by Management Analyst Scott Zak, and the following members of the CEC were present: Chair Clare Kron, Vice Chair Steve Honeywell, Rachel Farrell, Julie Jesmer, Adrian Lopez, Kyle Moore, Council Liaison Barb Larson and Ex-officio Member Mat Emken. Not present were Ex-Officio Members Mike Holland and Sarah Fox. Also present was Management Analyst Scott Zak. B. Approval of Agenda Chair Kron asked that the agenda be approved with an amendment to add an item under New Business regarding the potential for a student intern to work on the Sustainability Plan. MOTION Mr. Honeywell moved to approve the amended agenda, seconded by Mr. Moore. VOTE The amended agenda was approved by unanimous voice vote. C. Public Comment No public comments were received. D. Approval of Minutes 1. Regular Monthly Meeting Minutes of October 7, 2021 MOTION Mr. Lopez motioned to approve the minutes, seconded by Mr. Moore. VOTE The minutes were approved by a unanimous voice vote pending minor changes. E. Commission Reports 1. DeKalb County Health Department With no appointment from the Health Department yet approved, no report was given. 2. DeKalb Park District Ex-Officio Member Mat Emken reported a buckthorn and woody invasive species pull will be held on Nov. 13 at Prairie Park. Additionally, two of three phases of the Nature Trail restoration between Sycamore Road and First Street have been completed and the bid opening for the final phase will happen on Nov. 8. 3. Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District With Ex-Officio Member Holland absent, no report was given. 4. Northern Illinois University With Ex-Officio Member Sarah Fox absent, no report was given. Chair Kron shared that Ms. Fox is still interested in serving and will return after her children are vaccinated against COVID-19. 5. City Staff Liaison Management Analyst Zak reported that Emily Sitkie, the Commission’s previous nominee to serve as the Health Department’s Ex-Officio Member, no longer works as the Solid Waste Associate, and that the new Solid Waste Associate, Dakota Burke, is interested in filling the seat. Ms. Burke will now be nominated to Mayor Cohen Barnes for appointment. Mr. Zak reported the news release for P.R.I.D.E. Award nominations was sent to the media and posted to social media and the City’s website. F. New Business 1. Welcome to new member, Julie Jesmer Chair Kron introduced Ms. Jesmer, who is the organizer of the Trash Squirrels trash collection group. It was reported that Ms. Jesmer has completed her Open Meetings Act training. 2. City council member, Barb Larson, to attend CEC meetings Chair Kron explained as the Council liaison, Second Ward Alderwoman Barb Larson, will share information from the Commission meetings with the City Council. Ms. Larson shared that her family farms near Maple Park. She said plastic bags are a concern of hers, and she sees the Commission as a great fit since the environment is important to her family’s livelihood. Chair Kron shared that she plans to pursue a plastic bag ban. 3. Solar farms ordinance possibility Chair Kron said Dan Kenney, a former Commission member, suggested pursuing an ordinance regulating solar farms. She said solar farms can be an extension of the prairie if native species are planted beneath the panels. Alderwoman Barb Larson said natural wildflowers can be difficult since it takes time and effort to contain thistle and that requiring wildflowers could increase chemical use to control invasives. Chair Kron said Mr. Newman may be able to provide input on wildflowers, and Mr. Emken said the Park District has had some issues. Chair Kron will also solicit input from Mr. Kenney. 4. CEC members to contact their alderpersons Chair Kron said Mr. Kenny encourages commissioners to contact their alderpersons. She said the Commissioners can invite Council members to a meeting and share their concerns. She said she believes the defeat of the Commission’s burning ban ordinance was because of a lack of educating the alderpersons. Alderwoman Larson said an alternative to outdoor burning could be more frequent pick-ups by the City’s leaf vacuums and a drop-off site. 5. Potential for student intern Sustainability Plan Chair Kron reported that NIU’s Sustainability Coordinator Courtney Gallaher suggested pursuing a grant to fund an intern to update the Sustainability Plan. The grant application is due Nov. 7. Mr. Zak said it would be unlikely that one working day would be enough time to determine if the City could take on another intern. Ms. Kron said the intern would be associated with NIU and not the City. She said she would try to provide more information by Friday. It was agreed the presentation to solicit input on the Sustainability Plan would be held off until early next year. G. Old Business 1. Letter to the City Council regarding construction input Chair Kron said the letter on LEED recommendations for building has been re-addressed to City Manager Bill Nicklas, instead of the City Council, since distribution can be done administratively. Mr. Honeywell reiterated that the recommendations are not requirements. 2. Trash pick-up on Oct. 23 Chair Kron reported the pick-up was attended by representatives of all four groups that had agreed to participate. Those were the Trash Squirrels, CEC, Pathway Committee of the Kishwaukee Kiwanis Club and the NIU Green Paws but she said Green Paws’ participation may have been limited since STEM Fest was happening on the same day. 3. Presentations for 2021/22 Ideas for presentations were discussed. Chair Kron said there are professors in climatology available for a joint presentation with STEM Café. Mr. Honeywell said the previously discussed bee presentation could be expanded to include insects to appeal to a larger audience. Alderwoman Larson added bees can be useful in farming, so there are multiple topics that could be included, and Ms. Kron said insect management could be another topic. Mr. Honeywell said the presentation should be early in the year so people have time to order their bees in time for next season. 4. Next article for Daily Chronicle Chair Kron said the December article will be used to bring the Sustainability Plan back to public consciousness ahead of the presentation on the plan and the plan update. She said the topic could also continue into the January article. The discussion turned to a budget for the Commission. Alderwoman Larson said a budget request should be specific with dollar amounts for each item. While there are no Commission budgets now, Alderwoman Larson could see if there is Council support for the Commission’s request. The request will be discussed further next month. 5. Recommendation for new CEC member Chair Kron said she would like to have an engineer on the Commission again. Alderwoman Larson suggested Fotis Pappas since he has shown interest in doing things in a new way, such as recycling the materials from the Municipal Building demolition. Ms. Jesmer suggested a student she knows who has shown interest creating energy from landfills. Suggestions will be directed to Chair Kron. 6. Report from Andy Raih Information from City Streets and Facilities Director Andy Raih on new LED lighting fixtures installed on City streetlamps has been distributed to Commissioners. Chair Kron said the lights are Dark Sky Association approved. 7. Grant possibilities No information was shared here since Mr. Newman, who has been researching grants, was not present. 8. Coffee with the CEC Mr. Honeywell will check if Cast Iron Coffee on Lucinda Avenue would be a good location to hold the event. 9. Updates on other issues Possible P.R.I.D.E. Award nominees were discussed. Ms. Jesmer will nominate Philip Hendrickson for his support of the Trash Squirrels, Mr. Honeywell will nominate the Trash Squirrels, Chair Kron will nominate Ron Cress and Mr. Lopez will consider nominating Dawn Equipment. Nominations will be considered next month. H. Announcements  1. New announcements Ms. Jesmer shared she is also a member of Sunrise DeKalb, which is working on a Green New Deal. 2. Next meeting: December 2, 4:00 p.m. I. Adjournment MOTION Mr. Honeywell motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Ms. Jesmer. VOTE The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote. The meeting was declared adjourned at 5:39 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Scott Zak, Management Analyst Approved by the Citizens’ Environmental Commission on December 2, 2021.