Environmental Sustainability Board

CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD City Operations Center – 2nd Floor Meeting Room | 305 Williams St, Hendersonville, NC 28792 Tuesday, May 13, 2025 – 4:30 PM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 4:35 p.m. Kyla Christensen, Alicia Stump, Emily Davidson, Fiona McColley, Virginia Tegel, and Omar Zafra present Jane Edgar and Judy Moolten absent APPROVAL OF AGENDA Virginia Tegel added Rhythm and Brews updates. Alicia Stump motioned to approve first followed by Kyla Christensen APPROVAL OF MINUTES Alicia Stump motioned to approve the April 2025 Meeting Minutes first followed by Jill Carter PUBLIC COMMENT (15 minutes) Koneta "Kat" Pattillo, a City of Hendersonville resident attended meeting to observe and is considering applying to be a board member. OLD BUSINESS 2. Review of remaining budget, Caitlyn Gendusa, Staff Liaison (5 minutes) Board members approved the following purchases with remaining funds: Educational signs for Sustainability Demonstration Station  Lumber/supplies for Omar Zafra to built structure for solar system  $500 for Emily Davidson to purchase educational materials and giveaways  Up to $500 for sustainability related books for further education o *Board members please email Caitlyn Gendusa book requests by May 28th, 2025  $100-$500 to Bike Walk HVL as a donation towards educational programing  Up to $500 for energy efficiency kits for new City awarded grant  $500 for additional ESB tent  $100 to WNC Repair Café  Educational signs: $940 - 4 educational signs + install at S.D.S. o Notes from members: make signs have rounded corners and not to low to hit kids that visit the site. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – May 13, 2025 Page | 1  3. Green Partnership update - Jane Edgar, Member (5 minutes) Virginia Tegel spoke on the meeting her, Jane Edgar, and Fiona McColley had. There are updates needed on the promotional materials and they may ask Caitlyn Gendusa to create a Cognito form for businesses and organizations to submit for interest. 4. Hendo Earth Fest update - Virginia Tegel, Chair, Omar Zafra, Vice-Chair, and Betsey Zafra, Chair of Hendo Earth Fest (10 minutes) 6 E.S.B. members volunteered. There were 38 general volunteers. Virginia Tegel mentioned the desire for needing event guidelines which Emily Davidson is going to draft and have board members review prior to the June 2025 meeting. 5. Sustainability Demonstration Station update - Virginia Tegel, Chair and Omar Zafra, Vice- Chair A solar unit was purchased for adding a solar energy education component to the Sustainability Demonstration Station. Omar Zafra is heading up this effort and is working on specifications of the desired structure that would include the solar panels. Virginia Tegel requested that the unit be included at the site by the June 31st farmers market day. Farmer's Market volunteers: - June 14th – Jill Carter having setup for Pollinator Month. Omar Zafra helping with setup - July 12th – Emily Davidson tentative yes and Jill Carter tentative yes - Kate Pattelio signed up to volunteer for the month of June to manage compost units and Alicia Stump is managing the compost units for the rest of May. - Omar Zafra is working on the hydrotain project - Rhythm and Brews – ESB is signed up for the August 21st event. o Caitlyn Gendusa is also getting back with Virginia Tegel on what compost company is used for the event. NEW BUSINESS 6. Discuss board priorities, projects, and future goals - Virginia Tegel, Chair and all board members (20 minutes) - ESB Sustainability Strategic Plan tracker* Board members please email Virginia Tegel if you would like to sign up for one of the Sustainability Strategic Plan focus areas: energy, transportation, land management, waste management, and water. - Omar Zafra brought up idea of having a Hendo Veg Fest as part of the Farmers Market in fall. Alicia Stump and Kylie Christensen volunteered to help organize event. - Virginia Tegel would like to start a “sustainability library” for improved board member further education. *Board members please email Caitlyn Gendusa book requests by May 28th, 2025 o Emily Davidson brought up the Environmental Educators of NC email list as a great resource for conferences and workshops for further education. - Several members brought up the idea of doing a Green Drinks presentation in partnership with Conserving Carolina or other sponsored talks and speakers. - Alicia Stump brought up Farm City Day to mark on everyone’s calendar on October 4th ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARD – May 13, 2025 Page | 2  - Jill Carter brought up considering how we can support Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. - Caitlyn Gendusa is emailing board members the public input survey for Patton Pool and Tom’s Park CITY COUNCIL UPDATE (5 minutes) - No new updates from Councilmember Gina Baxter SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER UPDATE (5 minutes) New grant awarded from N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality for energy efficiency upgrades to City Operations Building Update on new volunteer form UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL TOPICS PERTINENT TO ESB Kyla Christensen, Student Member (5 minutes) ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 6:21pm 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 – May 13, 2025 Page | 3