Environmental Sustainability Board

CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD City Operations Center-Assembly Room | 305 Williams St. Hendersonville, NC 28792 Thursday, August 15, 2024 – 3:30 PM MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER Call to order by Virginia, at 3:32 pm on August 15 Grady is Time warden All members are present 2. PUBLIC COMMENT No one online APPROVAL OF AGENDA APPROVAL OF MINUTES Gina motion and Jane 2nd to approving the minutes. NEW BUSINESS Brief introduction of new board member Tanya 2. Name Sullivan Park Birding Trail in Honor of Crystal Cauley - John Connet, City Manager (5 min) John C. Proposes to partner with Wild Birds Unlimited, and the Art Council of Hendersonville to provide and paint bluebird houses in memory of Crystal Cauley, with a proposed budget of $1,000 (city to help share cost). Timeline- Spring 2025. To be on the september city council meeting for official approval. The ESB endorses this project. 3. Water and Sewer Department Updates - Adam Steurer, P.E., Utilities Director (30 min) Presentation: Discussed brief history of HWS Utility today- 80K population served for water,20K for sewer, enterprise fund (no tax monies), $24.3mil annual operating budget, French Broad River Intake/pumping station - new for Fall 24 Water Treatment Expansion from 12mgd to 15mgd (addition of sand media filter) est cost is $2.1 mil. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – August 15, 2024 Page | 1  Water Pumping Efficiency Projects- WTP high service pump upgrade and resulted in 12% reduction in energy use at WTP Pumping schedule improvements- fill water tanks during off peak energy use times. (IE time of use is important for cost efficiency). Multiarea streambank restoration WWTP Ultraviolet Disinfection Improvements WWTP Biosolids Thermal Dryer- produces high quality biosolid, reduction in solids management costs. Will be able to use the product in land use applications. Project includes solar photovoltaic system to help off set energy use. Goal is early 2026. 4. City Council Update - Lyndsey Simpson, Mayor Pro Tem (5 min) Strategic plan turned out well- going to second city council meeting in August. Will go to vote in sept or oct. coming to fruition soon! Board appreciation collaboration meeting upcoming. Tree board update - want the city to get an urban forester, and urban forestry plan. Want a goal to increase tree canopy cover by 4%. Oct 13th stream bank restoration walk. ESB and Tree board- collaboration on native plants policy- suggestion of 95% native, there is an approved plants species list. Joint meeting 1 x per year with tree board- group is on board. 5. Main St Bike Lanes - June Shelp, Board Member (5 min) June- new bike lane is great and well painted. permanent dividers are coming, temp barricades are frustrating as a cyclist to work through. Better ones are coming after the apple festival. need clarification on if the bike lane will be closed during events. 6. Hydretain test bed - Omar Zafra, Board Chair (5 min) compost blend bed that helps retain moisture. Suggestion to have part of the garden bed use hydretain and the other half compost to see demonstration. Addition of two new raised beds? 7. Green Business Partnership - Jane Edgar and Omar Zafra, Board Members (10 min) https://www.scgov.net/government/sustainability/green-business-partnership ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – August 15, 2024 Page | 2  Sarasota county has a green business partnership. Proposing a general idea of a green business partnership for our city. As of right now not for verification/inspection but as an idea to grow on its own. Potential for forming a subcommittee. Kasey is emailing a video link to board members to watch on their own time before the next meeting. Lydnsey left for R&B at 445pm 8. Committee Structure - Virginia Tegel, Board Chair (10 min) Virginia discussed the rules and structure of committees- publicly posted, and minutes must be taken and submitted. Jane makes a motion for the green business partnership. Omar 2nds the motion. Unanimous vote for the committee. Virginia appoints Jane and Omar to the committee, and they accepted. Unanimous vote. SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATES 9. Waste Management- Virginia Tegel, Board Chair (5 min) Sustainability demonstration station and repair cafe. Already have volunteers organized for 8/17. Virginia to communicate with Amy that we will host during the farmers market in October. OLD BUSINESS 10. Hendo Earth Fest 2050 - June Shelp (5 min) Vote to continue Hendo earthfest- Virginia appoints Frank Stewart and Jane to be on the committee. Unanimous decision. Applications and contracts have been submitted. 11. Wildlife Habitat Certification vs. Bee City - Jill Carter, Board Member (5 min) 12. Tree Board Update- Lyndsey Simpson, Councilwoman (5 min) Provided by Lyndsey- see City Council Update OTHER BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – August 15, 2024 Page | 3 ADJOURNMENT Meeting Adjourned at 8/15. 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 – August 15, 2024 Page | 4