Environmental Advisory Council

City of Easton Environmental Advisory Council Meeting Minutes Meeting of November 2, 2021 Attendees: Ian Kindle (IK), Chair; Deborah Boyer (DB); Rob Christopher (RC); Paul Deery (PD); Charles Elliott (CE) Members Absent: Holly Houser (HH); Janet Robertson (JR) Present Online if Identified: None Agenda/Meeting Items Discussion Action/Resolution/Action Items 1. EAC Organization and Priorities Minutes: October meeting minutes approved ACTION: a. October Meeting Minutes Approval New member updates: Waiting for City Council IK: Send approved meeting b. New member updates to approve nominees minutes to the City c. Trello group collaboration - updates? d. Any action priority updates? What do Trello: Some updates but not yet used for a IK: Contact Dave Hopkins to project, should post meeting minutes on Trello confirm who is the EAC Council we want to advance in November? liaison e. Council liaison updates Action priority items: May need to revisit f. Chot retirement and vacancy priorities selected this summer to instead focus on activities connected to Climate Action Plan implementation Council liaison: Waiting for confirmation on who is our liaison Vacancy: Thank you to CE for his many years of valuable service to the EAC. We will greatly miss his involvement! His position on EAC will be filled by someone on the Planning Commission  although the specific individual has not yet been selected. 2. Easton Climate Action Plan (CAP) Progress ACTION: Updates: The CAP was passed by the City Council a. Updates - CAP Adoption? Council at their last meeting All: Think about how the EAC can meeting updates contribute to the CAP steering Steering Committee: Need to check with the City committee b. Steering committee participation regarding the plans for implementing a steering committee and the role the EAC will play. IK: Email Dave Hopkins to inquire about the CAP steering committee 3. Native/Invasive Plant Ordinance Updates Review: CE forwarded a revised draft to the EAC ACTION: for review. The group had no requested changes CE: Confirm the correct fact a. Review of current draft ordinance other than confirming that the fact sheets sheets are included with the b. Next steps - forward to City for included with the ordinance are the correct ordinance documents. comment CE: Create an overview document outlining the process of creating Next steps: The EAC voted to forward the the ordinance and the key facts ordinance to the City for comment. CE will compile an overview document to include with the ordinance. 4. Revisit Solar Ordinance No additional steps needed at this time ACTION: a. Next steps None 5. Communications/Education LV City will include a regular feature highlighting ACTION: the work of EACs in Easton, Allentown, and a. LV City EACs newsletter column Bethlehem. JR will serve as the main contact for None the Easton EAC.  6. City Urban Forestry Update RC provided the following updates: ACTION: a. City Forester Updates ● There may be a need for two to three DB: Research tree ordinances in volunteers to assist with a tree planting. other communities and provide a ● Some of the trees planted along the Karl summary of potential changes to the Easton tree ordinance Stirner Arts Trail will be replanted due to the placement of a sculpture. The group discussed ways to communicate potential location conflicts prior to tree plantings ● RC continues to provide tours of the microforest as part of a Lafayette class ● RC is involved in ongoing conversations regarding hazardous trees on individual properties that neighbors believe may cause future issues on their properties. ● Group discussion of potential changes to City ordinances related to urban canopy protections and timbering. Other No additional business.