Environmental Sustainability Board

CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD Operations Center - Assembly Room | 305 Williams St. | Hendersonville NC 28792 Thursday, November 18, 2021 – 3:00 PM MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call - Mary Ellen Kustin, Chairperson Katie Breckhiemer was also present to fill in for Grey Jernigan. 2. CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA A. Consideration of Agenda - Mary Ellen Kustin, Chairperson AGENDA ITEMS 2. Adoption of ESB Minutes from Thursday, October 21st, 2021- Gracie Erwin, Staff Liaison Minutes were adopted. 3. Available Funds- Gracie Erwin, Staff Liaison Budget Update - This is the total after monarch migration has been paid and the clings for working to be plastic free have been paid. Total- $3,323.15 between two accounts. one account has $1,565.00 and the other has $1,758.15. SUB-COMMITTEE UPDATES 4. Bee City Update - Kim Bailey, Board Member 5 minutes Bee City USA - Hendersonville November 2021 Report to ESB & Tree Board News Butterfly Wings/Mountain Sunrise mural at Safelight completed in September ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – November 18, 2021 Page | 1  “The Beeline” sidewalk mural painted October-November (featuring pollinator-friendly native plants) Fall into Autumn book (featuring Bee Wise story and bee city + mural illustration) by local author and founder of Caretakers of Mother Earth, Elle Travis, is launching on November 25 Budget: $3323.15 (Gracie to report) remaining. $435 was spent for Symbolic Migration. A major portion of remaining funds to be used for projects listed below, but will reserve at least X for Plastics Reduction program, $200 for 2022 Bee City USA renewal fee due in February, and $150 for Appalachian Mural Trail renewal due in June Updates on Work in Progress (some to use ESB funds) Garden Interpretive Sign(s) and Permanent Plant Labels – primary sign in progress + possible secondary sign awaiting approval from City (costs to be paid from ESB funds to Spriggly’s Beescaping for custom design/graphics and EnviroSigns and TBD for creation Mural Sponsor Recognition Plaque - delayed to due to sponsorship, funding, and siting uncertainties, but now in progress (to be paid using bee mural fund at Hands On!), hoped to still be completed by year’s end Dumpster Area Improvements – pressure washing completed last month, painting and installation of planting bed/trellis (location approved by Public Works) remaining (volunteer-led project funded by anonymous donation and possibly ESB funds if needed) Pollinator Garden – stepping stones and plants to be added and/or replaced and certifications (ex. ecoEXPLORE hotspot, NC Butterfly Highway) to be completed (funded by grant and possibly ESB and/or Tree Board funds, if needed) Pollinator Exploration Kit – replace and add materials as may be needed (ESB funds), store at Bullington Gardens if no objections Storage of other Bee City USA Materials – All exhibit and other supplies to be returned to City City of HVL Quarterly Website Updates – in development (virtual monarch experience, bee wise story event?, bee line dedication ceremony, beekeeping school, early spring events, any others to add?) Pollinator Trail – will make updates, add beeline and butterfly wings mural, add new garden(s), and request City of HVL to update link to the trail. No response from City about continuing with creation of the map-based trail so is now not feasible to complete by end of the year Appalachian Mural Trail – submitted updates to current profile, inquired about adding additional murals… awaiting response, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – November 18, 2021 Page | 2  Hands On! Hive Webpage – updates to be made following finalization of sponsors, new permanent page to be created at https://handsonwnc.org/mural Final Mural Video - delayed to due to sponsorship uncertainties (paid by bee mural fund at Hands On!), completion date is TBD Social Media – will post updates on final projects through end of 2021 then transfer access to new HVL Bee City USA coordinator when/if needed in 2022 Email – will set autoreply to include new HVL Bee City USA contact info (TBD), if applicable, beginning in 2022 ESB position (open to a city or county resident) - available to be filled in January Updates on Pending Projects Continuation of Hendersonville’s Bee City USA program in 2022? The following actions are needed for 2022 Bee City USA Renewal/Recertification (to meet current certification requirements)… Designate a Bee City USA committee to advocate for pollinators and fulfill requirements for certification. Status: Awaiting decision by City of Hendersonville on whether this committee will continue to exist within ESB & Tree Board, be reassigned to local non-profit organization, or be eliminated. If the HVL affiliate of Bee City USA is to continue and build on the momentum built over the last 6 ½ years, work will ideally resume by January with Pollinator Month events due by March and ready for publication at the start of April. If the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge will kick off in April when monarchs return to NC, work on this also needs to begin ASAP. Create, adopt, and post an integrated pest management (IPM) plan designed to prevent pest problems, reduce pesticide use, and expand the use of non-chemical pest management methods. Status: Development of an IPM plan was assigned to Kevin Rhodes by Tom Wooten. No progress to report as of 11/12/21. Create, adopt, and post a native plant list and native plant supplier list. Status: Species list was updated and native plant supplier list was added in early 2021. Both were approved by the Tree Board on 3/16/21. The native plant supplier list has not yet been made available to the public (awaiting posting decision by City of Hendersonville). Submit 2021 report and 2022 renewal fee to Bee City USA (will be due late February 2022). Status: Awaiting decision by City of Hendersonville. Kim Bailey will supply details on 2021 outreach/education activities and pollinator habitat creation by report deadline, if needed/requested. 5. Plastic and Recycling Update - Gray Jernigan, Board Member 5 minutes Update provide by Katie- ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – November 18, 2021 Page | 3  Cling users/pledges should be recognized in some way when they receive their clings as this is a big deal for sustainability. More ideas to follow. 6. Sustainability Planning Update- Caroline Beamer, Boardmember Survey in the making to determine where business stand with sustainability efforts. Members of the Subcommittee: Chair of subcommittee- Caroline Beamer- Co-chair of ESB Lyndsey Simpson- Council woman Mary Ellen Kustin -Chairperson of ESB Lynne Williams- Member David Lee- Member Neil Brown- Member Will Garvey- Member Ann Twiggs- Board Member Kelly Pahle- Board Member Gray Jernigan- Board Member 7. City Council Update- Lyndsey Simpson, Councilwoman 5 minutes PUBLIC COMMENT 8. Public Comment - Allotted time 15 minutes none DISCUSSION ITEMS NEW BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – November 18, 2021 Page | 4  9. Q & A in regards to stormwater and floodwater management - Michael Huffman, City of Hendersonville, Stormwater Administrator ADJOURNMENT The City of Hendersonville is committed to providing accessible facilities, programs and services for all people in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Should you need assistance or an accommodation for this meeting please contact the City Clerk no later than 24 hours prior to the meeting at 697-3005. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – November 18, 2021 Page | 5