Environmental Sustainability Board

CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD City Hall - Council Chambers | 160 Sixth Avenue E. | Hendersonville, NC 28792 Thursday, July 18, 2024 – 3:30 PM MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER A. Call To Order Virginia Tegel, Interim Chair Present- Omar Zafra, Grady Nance, Virginia Tegel, Jane Edgar, June Shelp, Gina Baxter Francis Stewart (online via Zoom) Lyndsey Simpson (Councilwoman) Gracie Erwin (temp staff liaison) Grady was time keeper for the meeting to keep to help ensure timely discussions and all topics were covered at the meeting. From the public- Glen Lang, tree board member, Ken Fitch (online). 2. EnterTextHere PUBLIC COMMENT Ken Fitch commented on concern regarding wildlife certs, and maintenance, however pleased to see the topic and the areas of focus the board has. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Moved Item F. to be Item B. Moved City Council Updates to #6 as Lindsey was on a time crunch due to Rhythm and Brews. Virginia Motions, Grady makes first motion, Gina seconds. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – July 18, 2024 Page | 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Virginia Makes motion to approve minutes. Grady makes first motion, and Jane second motion. 1. June 20, 2024 SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATES 2. Waste Management (10 mins) Sustainability Demonstration Station Update- Virginia Tegel, Interim Chair Ribbon Cutting is Saturday July 20th 2024 at 10 am. Volunteers are still needed to assist with set up. Gina Volunteered to help. Bill Twiggs is helping to install the remainder of the rain catcher. NEW BUSINESS 3. Member Introductions (10 mins) Please state name, city resident or ETJ, and sustainability interests/background 4. Voting (5 mins) Vote on new Chair and Vice Chair- Virginia Tegel, Interim Chair One nomination was made for Virgina to be the board Chair. All voted unanimously for Virginia. Frank was nominated for Vice Chair, Jill seconded this motion and all voted unanimously. 5. Meeting Time Adjustment Consider Adjusting ESB meeting to 3pm on Fridays - Tanya Guzman, board member Discussed pros and cons of moving the meeting time. I emailed Caitlyn to also get her thoughts. The board will make a decision at the next meeting. 6. Sustainability Strategic Plan (10 mins) Discuss individual focus areas-Virginia Tegel, Interim Chair https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/sustainability ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – July 18, 2024 Page | 2  https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/sustainability-strategic-plan Frank likes that the plan will help hold the board and city in general accountable for the work they are trying to accomplish. Grady stated that many things will impact the plan as it rolls out and is put into action. Omar observed that the board is weak in the areas of Waste Management, and Water due to the boards strengths in the the other areas. These areas needs to not fall to the wayside due to this. 7. Hendo Earth Fest 2025 (10 mins) Chair appointment, planning discussion - Frank Stewart, Member Frank volunteered to be committee chair for Earthfest 2025. June volunteered to be CoChair. 8. Sullivan Park Birding Trail (3 mins) Name Sullivan Park Birding Trail in Honor of Crystal Cauley - Gina Baxter, Member City council was asked about honoring Crystal Cauley in this manner and they were very receptive. ESB plans to ask her immediate family for their blessing first. Sign to be constructed once ESB receives family approval. OLD BUSINESS 9. ESB Approved Budget, Kasey Lyons, Sub Staff Liaison Suggestion to change the budget line to waste management. 10. Wildlife Habitat Certification vs. Bee City, Jill Carter, Member This is a community wide initiative and will be a multi year project to achieve all the required points. Board discussed record keeping issues, and reaching out to other cities that have already started or completed this process such as Charlotte, Durham, and others. Update next month to see how it fits into sustainability plan. 11. Native Plant Policy Letter, Jill Carter, Member Not ready yet, but coming very soon. It will be guidance for the city to implement. 12. Monarch Migration Initiatives, Jill Carter, Member (3 min) Aug. 17th monarch decorating at farmers market. 13. Plastic Reduction at Apple Festival, Gina Baxter, Member (3 mins) ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – July 18, 2024 Page | 3  On agenda for October. Gracie to work with Gina regarding plastic bottled water. 14. Communication with Tree Board, Virginia Tegel, Interim Chair discussion of a joint meeting. Add tree board updates as a regular agenda item. OTHER BUSINESS 15. City Council Update, Lyndsey Simpson, Mayor Pro Tem (5 minutes) Comp plan approval is coming soon. Would like to have that before sharing with CC. Presented/voted on at the August meeting. Goal is to act on plans, and not let fall to the wayside. 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 – July 18, 2024 Page | 4