Environmental Sustainability Board

CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD City Operations Center - Assembly Room | 305 Williams St, Hendersonville, NC 28792 Thursday, June 20, 2024 – 3:30 PM MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 3:31pm. A. Kelly Pahle, Chair APPROVAL OF AGENDA APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion to approve agenda made by Virginia, seconded by Ann. APPROVAL OF MINUTES APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve minutes from May 16th meeting by Jill, seconded by Mary Ellen. 2. Approval of May 16th meeting minutes PUBLIC COMMENT 3. Public Comment - 10 minutes Public Comment - 10 minutes Ken Fitch commented on concerns about the Gen H Comp plan. Virginia and Kelly responded. Ken Fitch Commented on concern for ESB review on City projects. ESB will involve Caitlyn when she returns from maternity leave. SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATES 4. Waste Reduction - Virginia Tegel, Member (10 minutes) Sustainability Demonstration Station update Waste Reduction - Virginia Tegel, Member (10 minutes) Sustainability Demonstration Station update ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – June 20, 2024 Page | 1  Phase one of the Sustainability Demonstration Station is nearing completion. Watering instructions at the SDS will be shared with members. NEW BUSINESS 5. ESB Approved Budget - Kasey Lyons, Sub Staff Liaison ESB Approved Budget - Kasey Lyons, Sub Staff Liaison Budget discussed, members are satisfied. 6. Wildlife Habitat Certification vs. Bee City - Kelly Pahle, Chair Wildlife Habitat Certification vs. Bee City - Kelly Pahle, Chair Requirements for Wildlife Certification are similar to Bee City Certification. Wildlife Certification would require more community involvement. Discussion of potential partnerships with other organizations. Suggested recommendation to City Council to rename the Bird Park after Crystal Cauley. This will be added as an agenda item to the July meeting. 7. Activities for ESB tent at Farmers Market - Virginia Tegel, Member Activities for ESB tent at Farmers Market - Virginia Tegel, Member Discussed previously during the subcommittee update. Virginia will discuss collaboration with Dakota. 8. Vote on new Chair and Vice Chair - Kelly Pahle, Chair Vote on new Chair and Vice Chair - Kelly Pahle, Chair Chair of board must be a City resident. Voting will take place during the July meeting. Vote to have Virginia lead July meeting. Motion made by Jill, seconded by Mary Ellen. 9. Styrofoam boxes at Pardee- Ann Twiggs, Board Member Styrofoam boxes at Pardee- Ann Twiggs, Board Member Ann suggested ESB or City can write a letter to Pardee to encourage them to reduce their styrofoam usage in their cafeteria. Kelly has some concerns on what we are able to do as a government funded organization, suggests a focus on general public outreach. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – June 20, 2024 Page | 2  Lindsay suggests a focus on public education in regards to plastic reduction. OLD BUSINESS 10. Native Plant Policy Letter - Kelly Pahle, Chair Native Plant Policy Letter - Kelly Pahle, Chair Existing list is sufficient. Hoping to create a native plant policy for The City of Hendersonville, goal of submitting to City Council. The Tree Board has signed on to the Policy, will likely be brought to Council in July. Kelly will draft a policy, and send it to the Tree Board and ESB to approve. A percentage of native trees should be included in this policy. 11. Monarch Migration Initiatives - Kelly Pahle, Chair Monarch Migration Initiatives - Kelly Pahle, Chair Kelly will send out updates to ESB members. 12. Communication/Collaboration with Tree Board - Virginia Tegel, Member Communication/Collaboration with Tree Board - Virginia Tegel, Member Virginia suggests increased collaboration with the Tree Board by having someone attend both board meetings. Tree board member in attendance believes other members would be interested in furthering collaboration between both boards. Other ideas are sharing agendas, or having occasional collective (both boards in attendance) meetings. 13. Plastic Reduction at Apple Festival - Kelly Pahle Plastic Reduction at Apple Festival - Kelly Pahle Gina volunteered to be a liaison to apple festival board about waste reduction at the festival. Mary Ellen made a motion, Ann Twiggs seconded. Motion was approved. CITY COUNCIL UPDATE 14. Lyndsey Simpson - Mayor Pro Temp. (5 minutes) Lyndsey Simpson - Mayor Pro Temp. (5 minutes) Suggestion to move bulk leaf collection to late May. ESB will select the best time for this event. Grady Nance suggested to consider the local climate, he will do some further research and report back. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – June 20, 2024 Page | 3  Lindsay provided update on Gen H plan and how it relates to ESB. Members are requested to provide Lindsay with any feedback on the Comp plan by next week. CITY COUNCIL UPDATE 15. Kelly Pahle, Chair Kelly Pahle, Chair Leaving board members received a native plant and a card for their time of service, Caitlyn picked out the plants. ADJOURNMENT ADJOURNMENT Virginia made a motion to adjourn, Jill seconded. Meeting adjourned at 4:39pm. 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 – June 20, 2024 Page | 4