Environmental Sustainability Board

CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD City Hall - Council Chambers | 160 Sixth Avenue E. | Hendersonville, NC 28792 Thursday, December 19, 2024 – 3:30 PM MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 3:35p.m. Present: Jill Carter, Gina Baxter, Virginia Tegel, Omar Zafra, Tanya Guzman,, Grady Nance, and Jane Edgars Absent: Frank Stewart 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Virginia Tegel added public comment. Jill Carter approved first followed by Grady Nance 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Omar Zafra approved first followed by Grady Nance 4. OLD BUSINESS a. Designate ESB member to coordinate stream restoration cost-share approved in this year's board budget - Virginia Tegel, Chair, 10 minutes i. Jane Edgar and Jill Carter volunteered to partner on cost-share project and will use funds by May 2025 b. Green Business Partnership Update - Jane Edgar, 10 minutes i. Next step: Jane Edgar and Tanya Guzman are drafting letter ii. Caitlyn Gendusa mentioned it would be a good idea for Jane Edgar and Tanya Guzman to reach out to City of Hendersonville Downtown Manager, Jamie Carpenter at jcarpenter@hvlnc.gov in regards to downtown business outreach. iii. Jill Carter is reaching out to Chamber of Commerce for a connection. iv. Caitlyn Gendusa brought up that criteria for interested businesses should be put together to avoid being in conflict with the City’s requirement of not promoting certain businesses over others. c. Hendo Earth Fest Update - Omar Zafra, Member, 10 minutes i. Omar Zafra has started a Google form for exhibitors and brought up questions on sponsors (financial sponsors not allowed) and how police officers are able to be present with the City’s requirement of not paying off-duty officers. These questions will be brought up in a future meeting with Terrye Jacobs, Downtown Events Coordinator. ii. Virginia Tegel mentioned we can use tourism development restrooms and volunteer vests borrowed from City Downtown Division. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – December 19, 2024 Page | 1  iii. Caitlyn Gendusa is making updates to event website. d. Waste reduction update - Virginia Tegel, Chair, 5 minutes i. Compost bin program – Virginia Tegel brought up idea to have a New Years compost resolution initiative. Virginia also updated the GoogleDoc spreadsheet for purchase requests. Also suggested was having a January working day instead of a regular board meeting. Virginia would also like a compost bin present by February 2nd at the S.D.S which will be paid for out of board budget. ii. International Compost Awareness Week e. Student member - Virginia Tegel, Chair, 5 minutes i. Virginia Tegel and Omar Zafra are meeting with Interact Club ii. Plan: April – student member appointed and applications due in March iii. Caitlyn Gendusa posting application and will email board members flyer. The board also asked if the question can be removed of how someone identifies which Caitlyn Gendusa is checking on. 5. CITY LIAISON UPDATE a. Brooklyn Community Garden grand opening - Thursday March 20th, tentatively at 4:30pm b. There are currently two board openings for 2 City residents c. Virginia Tegel asked if ESB can participate in stormwater workshop. Caitlyn is finding this out. 6. CITY COUNCIL LIAISON UPDATE a. Councilmember Gina Baxter mentioned that floodplain maps are being updated and brought up considerations of the pros and cons as this relates to homeowners. b. Councilmember Lyndsey Simpson is emailing about the Balfour house. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Consideration of new meeting time - Caitlyn Gendusa, staff liaison, 5 minutes i. Jill Carter motioned first followed by Omar Zafra to move board meetings to second Monday of each month at 4:30p.m. b. Vote on bird sanctuary sign honoring Crystal Cauley - Virginia Tegel, Chair, 5 minutes i. Councilmember Gina Baxter is sending board verbiage for Crystal Cauley sign. The board is not responsible for paying for sign. c. Vote on next year's budget request and confirm board member priorities/projects - Caitlyn Gendusa, Staff liaison and Virginia Tegel, Chair, 20 minutes ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – December 19, 2024 Page | 2  Categories Allocated Hendo EarthFest $ 8,000.00 Waste Reduction Subcommittee $ 2,000.00 Monarch Pledge/land management related activities $ 750.00 Sustainability Hero Award $ 200.00 Bee City Annual fee $ 200.00 Monarch migration classroom sponsorship for City schools $ 300.00 Business Green Partnership Program $ 4,000.00 Renewable energy education project $ 1,000.00 Education outreach $ 1,000.00 $ 17,450.00 Board members approved budget unanimously. 2024 retreat follow up items: Topic: Suggested ESB lead: Next Steps: by: Renewable energy Omar Zafra Omar Zafra Omar Zafra has identified addition to S.D.S. Sugar Hollow Solar as partner who may donate solar panel they cannot sell. Veg Fest Omar Zafra Moved to next year for future consideration Steep slope standards Grady Nance Jill Carter Jill Carter working with Emily on next steps Developing Virginia Moved to next year for future relationships with Tegel consideration schools 8. ADJOURNMENT a. Jill motioned to adjourn first followed by Omar Zafra 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 – December 19, 2024 Page | 3