Environmental Commission

Regular Meeting

Glen Ellyn, IL · January 13, 2026

Minutes

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MINUTES January 13, 2026 Board or Environmental Date: January 13, 2026 Commission: Meeting: Regular Called to 7:00 p.m. Order: Quorum: Yes Adjourned: 9:01 p.m. MEMBER ATTENDANCE: Christy Truitt Chairperson Present Jeff D. Abeln Commissioner Absent Jacquelyn Casazza Commissioner Present John Day Commissioner Present – Late Arrival 7:06 Chris English Commissioner Present Mark Frigo Commissioner Present Barbara Kwiatkowsky Commissioner Present Monica Miller Commissioner Present Tara Sheeley Commissioner Present Also Present: J.D. Barrett Management Analyst – Administration Elisa Pollina Recording Secretary Sonia Desai Bhagwakar Village Trustee-Elect Chris Gutmann Park District Liaison Public I. CALL TO ORDER The January 13, 2026 meeting of the Environmental Commission was called to order by Chairperson Truitt at 7:00 PM at Glen Ellyn Civic Center. II. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – None II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM November 18, 2025 Commissioner Miller motioned to approve the November 18, 2025 meeting minutes as amended and Commissioner Kwiatkowsky seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. Environmental Commission 2 January 13, 2026 III. LIAISON REPORTS A. Trustee Liaison Report: Trustee Bhagwakar reported that the Village has approved a consultant to assist with updating the zoning codes. She also noted that the Village Board held a strategic planning session with a consultant earlier in the week to discuss goals over the 10-year, 5-year, and 3-year planning periods, and that this process is ongoing. Additionally, she shared that the Village hosted an e-bike workshop the previous evening, which generated significant discussion. Staff Liaison Barrett added that a traffic study RFP has been issued that will include an evaluation of bicycle safety. The study will help determine whether the Village should consider reducing the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph. B. Staff Liaison Report – Staff Liaison Barrett reported that work is currently underway on the Tree Preservation Ordinance. Once the ordinance is finalized, a workshop will be scheduled prior to its adoption. Chairperson Truitt added that the ordinance will be fully redrafted and significantly improved from the original version, and she expressed appreciation to Village staff for taking on the effort. Barrett continued by noting that the zoning code update project is scheduled to kick off later this month, and that the Village has retained a consultant to assist with the process. Any priorities identified by the Environmental Commission will be shared with the consultant. He also reported that staff is reviewing building permit fees, with particular consideration being given to analyzing demolition fees. Regarding EV charging data, Barrett stated that limited data was available. From January 12, 2025, through January 12, 2026, there were approximately 2,900 charging sessions across all five EV charging stations. He concluded by noting that the Monarch Butterfly Proclamation will be celebrated on January 26. C. Park District Liaison Report – Park District Liaison Gutmann provided several updates. He reported that the holiday lights recycling program will conclude on January 25 and that fewer lights were collected compared to previous years. He also noted that work on Project Churchill, which focuses on buckthorn removal, is underway but was temporarily paused due to extensive rainfall. In addition, he shared that the Park District has implemented a new volunteer management software system that will be used moving forward. D. Chair Report – Announcements: The Village’s 3rd Annual Sustainability Recognition Night will be held on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., and members were encouraged to attend. The event will open with recognition of the Village and Park District for earning the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge Monarch Champion designation for 2025, as well as residents who received Conservation @ Home certification through The Conservation Foundation. After the presentations, Commissioners and award recipients are invited to gather at Nobel House for appetizers. Environmental Commission 3 January 13, 2026 Tree Preservation Ordinance: Progress continues on the Tree Ordinance revisions. A revised draft is expected to be ready for Commission review as early as the February meeting. E-News Sustainability Tips: The suggestion is to create an annual, time-aligned list that can be refreshed each February through January. IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Strategic Planning Priorities Recycling Extravaganza – Commissioner Kwiatkowsky reviewed the confirmed vendors for the April recycling event with the Environmental Commission (EC). The Commission discussed whether to offer paper shredding at the event. Chairperson Truitt noted that shredding services involve additional costs, including approximately $400–$800 for a truck to collect and transport the material. Commissioner Kwiatkowsky stated that she supports offering shredding and emphasized that a decision must be made prior to the next EC meeting, as a permit is required at least 60 days in advance. She also noted that once the truck reaches capacity, shredding collection would be closed. Chairperson Truitt asked the EC for input on offering shredding. Commissioner Frigo inquired about the environmental impact of shredding services. Commissioner Kwiatkowsky responded that shredding primarily serves as a convenience for residents and may encourage participation in recycling other materials. Chairperson Truitt added that the DuPage County Environmental Committee offers a $600 grant for paper shredding, which could be used for reimbursement. She noted that the net cost to the EC could range from $100 to $800. Staff Liaison Barrett reported that the 2026 EC budget totals $1,500, of which $500 is earmarked for the Conservation Foundation. Chairperson Truitt added that additional funding could be requested from the Village if necessary. Commissioner Kwiatkowsky reiterated her support for offering shredding and suggested tracking participation, specifically noting the number of vehicles dropping off shredding only versus those recycling shredding and additional materials, to help inform decisions for the fall recycling event. Chairperson Truitt made a motion to approve up to $500 from the EC budget for paper shredding and up to $250 for ECO Ship. Commissioner Frigo seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Commissioner Kwiatkowsky then noted the need for volunteers at the event, particularly for ECO Ship. Commissioner Sheeley offered to investigate the cost of renting a van to support this effort. Regarding Styrofoam recycling, Dart confirmed availability for April 11, noting that while Styrofoam is recycled, not all material can be processed. Commissioners Kwiatkowsky and Frigo supported offering Styrofoam recycling, while Commissioner Casazza did not. Regarding paint recycling, Commissioner Kwiatkowsky reported that a new program allows designated paint centers to accept paint for recycling at no cost, making it unnecessary to pay for this service at the event. She stated that EarthPaint has Environmental Commission 4 January 13, 2026 agreed to accept paint free of charge at the event. The EC agreed to include EarthPaint at the April event and to communicate to residents about local paint recycling centers. The Environmental Commission discussed creating a QR code, to be included on a flyer or business card, that would link to information also maintained on the EC website for resident reference regarding recycling. Staff Liaison Barrett stated that he will coordinate with Grant Paplauskas to ensure the content is hosted and maintained on the website. Strategic Planning Priorities Category Document – Chairperson Truitt asked the Environmental Commission to review their proposed items once more to ensure they clearly reflect what the Commission is requesting the Village and staff to accomplish. She stated that the initiatives should be refined and prioritized, with each team ranking its items based on high impact potential. The Commission will then review the priorities collectively. Commissioners were asked to complete this review by February 13. VII New Business A. Sustainability Action Planning - Chairperson Truitt asked the Environmental Commission to review the relevant ordinance sections and the items on the list to determine whether any changes should be recommended for consideration to the consultant. Once individual reviews are complete, the Commission will collectively review the list and forward it to the consultant. Commissioners were asked to submit their feedback to Staff Liaison Barrett by January 30. The list will be reviewed at the February EC meeting. VII Next Meeting & Adjournment A. The Environmental Commission discussed adjusting its meeting schedule to better align with the Plan Commission’s meeting schedule in order to provide timely feedback on large-scale projects. Pending Village Management confirmation, Chairperson Truitt made a motion to move the EC meeting from the third Tuesday of each month to the second Tuesday of each month, beginning in April; Commissioner Casazza seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. B. Commissioner Day motioned and Commissioner Frigo seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 9:01 pm. The next EC meeting – February 24, 2026 Submitted by Elisa Pollina, Recording Secretary Reviewed by Staff Liaison, J.D. Barrett

Agenda

Packet

Agenda Village of Glen Ellyn Environmental Commission Meeting Tuesday, January 13, 2026 7:00 PM Glen Ellyn Civic Center, Room 306 Members of the public are welcome to speak to any item not specifically listed on tonight's Agenda. For those items which are on tonight's Agenda, the public will have the opportunity to comment at the time the item is discussed. Individuals wishing to address the Commission shall exercise proper decorum and respect for the proceedings and the business of the Environmental Commission, and shall refrain from abusive demeanor and language. Commissioners are not obligated to respond to questions. A. Call to Order B. Public Comment C. Approval of Minutes 1) Approval of Environmental Commission November 18, 2025 Minutes D. Reports 1) Park District Liaison Report 2) Trustee Liaison Report 3) Staff Liaison Report 4) Chair Report E. Old Business 1) Strategic Planning Priorities F. New Business 1) Sustainability Action Planning G. Adjourn Civility Pledge - In the interest of civility, I pledge to promote civility by listening, being respectful of others, acknowledging that we are striving to support and improve our community, and understanding that we each may have different ideas for achieving that objective. Page 1 of 7 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MINUTES November 18, 2025 Board or Environmental Date: November 18, 2025 Commission: Meeting: Regular Called to Order: 7:00 p.m. Quorum: Yes Adjourned: 9:42 p.m. Member Attendance: Present/Absent Christy Truitt Chair Present Jeff Abeln Commissioner Present Jacquelyn Casazza Commissioner Present John Day Commissioner Absent Chris English Commissioner Present Mark Frigo Commissioner Present Barbara Kwiatkowsky Commissioner Present Monica Miller Commissioner Present Also Present: J.D. Barrett Management Analyst Present Sonia Desai Bhagwakar Trustee Liaison Present Chirs Gutman Park Liaison Public Tara Sheeley I. Call to Order The November 18, 2025 regular meeting of the Environmental Commission was called to order by Chair Truitt at 7:00 PM at Glen Ellyn Civic Center. II. Public Participation- None III. Approval of Minutes- Correction’s needed are: Move comment of Bike Lane- page 3 move to J.D.; add clarification to Bike Lane comment. Move to Approve the Minutes from October 21, 2025 and September 16, 2025 Result: Motion to approve as amended Mover: Monica Casazza Seconder: Mark Frigo Ayes: Unanimous Voice Vote Page 2 of 7 IV. Reports 1. Chris Gutman- Park Liaison a. Pumpkin smash was a success, 8491 pounds of pumpkins b. Native seeding around Ackerman construction c. Invasive brush removal season- hitting Churchill Park, volunteers are welcomed d. St. Pats upcoming e. Holiday light recycling bins out on Monday, Nov. 24- Locations are Ackerman, Spring Ave, Main St. Frank Johnson Center f. Park District having tree inventory of every park to be able to track every tree Discussion regarding sudden Oak decline; it was related that there is focus on soil and soil quality that are factors that support strength of tree. Climate change can weaken and promote pests that damage the Oak trees. Climate change also causing an increase in Herbivores. 2. Trustee Liaison Report- Sonia Desai Bhagwakar a. Presented concern on having involvement with new developments to Village Board which is being supported/approved by Village Board i. Suggestion was made that J.D. can be added to Planning email distribution list to review new projects and then provide Environmental Commission feedback to Planning Commission before meeting b. Provided the 2-page action items to Village Board; The Community Development Director will see which will go into the Zoning Action Plan; from those remaining, it will be 2-3 action items per year for a total of 10-year timeline i. Any that is ordinance or zoning related should be extracted from sustainability plan 3. Staff Liaison Report- J.D. Barrett a. Recycling Extravaganza- April 11th, 2026 i. Discussion to reschedule as Wheaton is scheduled to host on same day; 11th of April will be requested first and alternative will be 25th of April b. Groot Spring Clean Up the week of April 13th, 2026 c. Tree Preservation Ordinance- Staff are in the process of reviewing and revising the existing ordinance. i. Chairperson Truitt added that she has speakers from Barlett Trees and Morton Arboretum that are willing to come in and speak with Board d. EC Dates for January 2026 will need to be moved to January 13th or 27th; Feb. will need to be moved to February 24th, 2026 Page 3 of 7 4. Chair Report- Christy a. Tree workshop at Arboretum b. Recycling update provided by Barbara- Thought is to do two big ones. It was still a positive success despite lower recycling collection i. Calls were received regarding Styrofoam recycling, should there be an article on educating community on why it is not offered or offer the Styrofoam recycling. ii. Research on Styrofoam recycling needs to be done V. Old Business Topics 1. Strategic Planning Priorities a. Zone Code update topics will be extracted to provide to Jennifer b. Tailor priorities to Glen Ellyn specific c. Objective for next 2-3 years is what Board would like to see d. Downers Grove plan was discussed which had a Consultant assist with creating; plan also included a Community Pledge covering various categories, such as recycling, and composting J.D. Barrett- Admin did appreciate/like the Downers Grove plan Christy- Waste Water Management/Water- objective is to reduce energy for waste management, resilience for storm water and flooding, maintaining clean water. Have a baseline to document, pipe leak is biggest responsibility at municipal level. Water reuse within municipality- how can Village reuse water. Plan to look at municipal buildings and streets to see if they are resilient to flooding. Make recommendations to residents to educate them on water consumption. What are guidelines regarding what Village will allow to be established with a Financial Incentive; is there a way to structure a program with a financial incentive. Examples about task forces that Skokie and Downers Grove have, can staff look at to see if we need a task force, is there a current issue? Hardscaping left on water section as it can cause more of an issue with water. Overall trying to reduce water consumption; Set guidelines or limit of what new developments could impact such as AI Data Centers and water consumption. Mark Frigo- Buildings/Energy- Three main categories: energy efficiency, fuel switching, energy use from renewable sources. Municipal operations, action 1 and 2 difference is doing a study on how to change things we already have in place to make it operate better, second is what projects we should take on to improve energy usage. Lights and Dark skies also included. Goals were retained as suggested by PaleBlueDot. Jeff Abln- For Efficiency category is to promote from what anyone can already do to increase efficiency. Fossil Switch could be a longer project. Commissioners are curious about how many rental properties, new properties and retrofit properties exist within a year. J.D. is to look into the yearly number. Page 4 of 7 Chris English-Waste/Transportation- Integrate nature in highway parkways goal edited, electric car change over (provide incentives to community/ changing municipal vehicle purchasing program, facilitate EV charging ) encourage more walking and bikeability, ensuring infrastructure exists to support both, public transit- focusing on having people take public transportation, intergovernmental/ between communities, changeover of gasoline that can’t be switched to electric to zero emission vehicles like lawnmowers, increase fuel efficiency. More impervious surfaces, solar canopies identify areas where these are more beneficial than others. Jacquelyn Casazza-Waste- Total waste gradually growing down, recycling and diversion is flat. Suggestions are more on programs and initiatives, no ordinances as those would be a bit challenging. Construction and Demolition waste- big opportunity as identified by PaleBlueDot. Increasing organics and compost percentages- perhaps a community drop off. Perhaps have larger events have composting, pilot hen keeping for 15 permits per year. Multifamily locations, do they have recycling space. Feed the Cart- recycling cart VI. New Business 1. East Branch DuPage River Trail for bikes, discussing probabilities for that route. 2. Is there a way to promote recycling without promoting a business? Would be nice to include listing of local recycling locations. Could we potentially include in newsletter? 3. Could include an Environment tip in newsletter each month- can that be included? J.D. to look into it. Moving forward to refinement, everyone will read and comment on each other’s assigned categories after refinement. Can be shared with Google Docs using Word. 2 Pages per section is what is being asked for. Refined version to group due by December 5th and email to all December 19th, on January 5th come in with finalized refinements. Ordinances can be sent to Chris to be added to excel sheet. Commissioner Kwiatkowsky made a motion to adjourn the meeting and it was seconded by Commissioner English. Adjourn 9:42pm Submitted by Adriana Ohl, Recording Secretary Reviewed by J.D. Barrett, Management Analyst Page 5 of 7 Glen Ellyn Environmental Meeting 1/13/2026 7:00 PM Commission Department: Administration 535 Duane Street Department Head: Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 Category: Discussion Item Prepared By: AGENDA ITEM (ID # 2026-25) DOC ID: 2026-25 Strategic Planning Priorities Statement of the Issue: Strategic Planning Priorities Analysis: - LAND Stewardship – Cultivate Green Infrastructure and Resilient Landscapes - Sustainable Landscapes - Mayor’s Monarch Pledge Update - Annual Sustainability Recognition - Residential Yard Certifications - Tree Planting and Preservation - Tree Preservation Ordinance Update - WASTE Stewardship – Reduce Landfill Waste - Recycling - Styrofoam Recycling - April Recycling Extravaganza - ENGAGE – Educate & Motivate - Communications - Weekly E-News Budget Impact: Contribution to Strategic Plan Action Requested: Attachments: Page 6 of 7 Glen Ellyn Environmental Meeting 1/13/2026 7:00 PM Commission Department: Administration 535 Duane Street Department Head: Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 Category: Discussion Item Prepared By: AGENDA ITEM (ID # 2026-26) DOC ID: 2026-26 Sustainability Action Planning Statement of the Issue: Analysis: Budget Impact: Contribution to Strategic Plan Action Requested: Attachments: Page 7 of 7