Environmental Sustainability Board

CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD City Operations Center Second Floor Conference Room | 305 Williams St. | Hendersonville, NC 28792 Tuesday, March 11, 2025 – 4:30 PM MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 4:37 by Chair, Virginia Tegel Jill Carter, Emily Davidson, and Gina Baxter joined remotely Kyla, Alicia Stump, Omar Zafra, Virginia Tegel, Fionna, and Caitlyn Gendusa joined in person. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Omar Zafra approved first followed by Alicia Stump 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Omar Zafra approved February 2025 meeting minutes first followed by Virginia Tegel. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT Glenn Lange was present along with a representative from Trinity Presbyterian Church. 5. NEW BUSINESS 1. Welcome new members - Virginia Tegel, Chair (5 minutes) a. Alicia Stump mentioned she is speaking at Green Drinks at Trailside this week on Thursday. Alicia owns a local farm, Stump Farm and is an advocate for regenerative agriculture. b. Kyla is a Junior high school student interested in aviation and sustainability and is eager to have a career in sustainability. c. Fionna is interested in waste reduction among other sustainability topics and looks forward to seeing how we can adopt new ways in Hendersonville to live more sustainably. 2. Vote for new Vice-chair - Virginia Tegel, Chair a. Omar Zafra was nominated for Vice Chair and accepted the role which concludes in June 2025 before being up for vote again. 3. Tree Board collaboration - Caitlyn Gendusa, Staff Liaison and Glenn Lange, Tree Board Member (5 minutes) a. Glenn Lange and Jill Carter are on board with collaborating on the annual Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – March 11, 2025 Page | 1  b. Virginia requested Tree Board presence August 9th at the Sustainability Demonstration Station at the farmers market if they wanted to spread awareness on the Tree Board’s priorities. c. Alicia Stump is in favor of presenting to Rotary Club d. ESB presenting to Trinity Presbyterian Church – Omar Zafra and Virginia Tegel leading. e. Glenn Lange is going to email Caitlyn Gendusa a list of collaboration suggestions. Below are a few of the suggestions: i. Farm City Day – first Saturday in October. Alicia Stump volunteered to be liaison. ii. Bradford Pear Bounty program iii. Tree Board and E.S.B. collaborate to present to City Council on joint efforts relating to policy 4. ESB outreach plans for 2025 - Virginia Tegel, Chair (7 minutes) Rhythm and Brews booth confirmation – ESB would like to have a booth at May event Discussion on ESB attending civic group meetings to inform on ESB - Lions Club, Kiwanis, Young Professionals HEF booth plans - displays and member schedule Presentation Trinity Presbyterian Church April 2, 5:30pm 5. Workday at Sustainability Demonstration Station - Virginia Tegel, Chair (5 minutes) a. Unanimous approval by ESB to have April 8th, 2025 meeting at the Sustainability Demonstration Station for a workday and to discuss new member’s proposed projects/involvement. 7. Sullivan Park Community Tree Planting Day - Caitlyn Gendusa, Staff Liaison (5 minutes) Proposed to be on 4/25 in the afternoon and would consist of planting 40 trees in collaboration with the Tree Board and Stormwater Department OLD BUSINESS 8. Mayor's Monarch Pledge update - Jill Carter, Member (5 minutes) b. ESB voted to approve proposed action items – Omar Zafra voted first followed by Alicia Stump. c. Omar Zafra suggested Jill Carter reach out to William Douglas for contacts with various HOA groups for the first pledge item of working with HOA’s to plan native/pollinator plants. d. ESB supporting Bradford Pear Bounty program. 9. Stream restoration fund update - Virginia Tegel, Chair (5 minutes) 6. Caitlyn Gendusa is sending outline to City Attorney to review and will work on press release. 7. Target to use funds by late May and close out project. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – March 11, 2025 Page | 2  8. Jill Carter is working with Virginia Tegel on polishing up outline. 10. Green Partnership update - Caitlyn Gendusa (on behalf of Jane Edgar), Staff Liaison (5 minutes) 1. All ESB members in favor of allocating $337.53 to fund marketing materials for program. Funds will come out of waste reduction program and the bike rack reimbursement. SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER UPDATE 11. ESB Sponsored Shred Event - May 16th, 2025 - Caitlyn Gendusa, Sustainability Manager Environmental benefits: https://youtu.be/jND-SsJjAUY 2. The ESB is pretty booked up with other events so Caitlyn Gendusa will take lead and let ESB know if she needs any additional help. 12. Discuss potential amendment to Sustainability Strategic Plan - Caitlyn Gendusa, Sustainability Manager (5 minutes) 3. ESB members all in favor of update to S.S.P. to remove action of reducing herbicide and pesticide use and instead focus on investing in City parks relating to sustainability improvements. This update is to better reflect City priorities since the City already uses minimal pesticide and herbicide use only when needed for things like street trees and invasive species. 13. Food Connections Hendersonville launch - Caitlyn Gendusa, Staff liaison (7 minutes) 4. Caitlyn Gendusa is double checking that this group will be a part of Hendo Earth Fest. UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL TOPICS PERTINENT TO ESB 14. Upcoming City Council Topics Pertinent to ESB - Virginia Tegel, Chair (5 minutes) CITY COUNCIL LIAISON UPDATE 15. City Council Liaison Update - Gina Baxter, Councilmember (5 minutes) 5. Brooklyn Community Garden grand opening March 20th 6. Mayor Volk reached out on Mayor’s Monarch Pledge and didn’t know that ESB already participates. Caitlyn Gendusa emailed Councilmember Baxter a copy of the board’s annual report to share which includes update on Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. 7. Henderson County is partnering with the City for a community trash pick-up day which will be a trial run and could lead to more efforts. CLOSED SESSION 16. Sustainability Hero Award discussion - 15 minutes Closed session began at 5:50pm. ADJOURNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – March 11, 2025 Page | 3  1. Meeting adjourned at 6:05pm. 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 – March 11, 2025 Page | 4 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – March 11, 2025 Page | 5