Green Team

Morgantown Green Team Minutes of the October 4, 2019 Monthly Meeting Attending: Jim Kotcon (Chair), Pam Cubberly (Vice Chair), Joe Kanosky (NETL), Jenny Selin (City Council), Jing Zhang (MMPTO), Mark Brazaitis, and Sarah Cayton (FODC). Guests included Andrea Soccorsi, Jordyn Malry, Brock Darnell, Ryan Wilders, and Brandon Taylor (WVU Eberly College) and Kestrel Innes-Wimsatt. I. Special Report Single-Use Plastics Downtown. Students and faculty from Eberly College’s People vs. the Planet course reported on an initial survey of downtown business owners (mostly on High St.) on single-use plastics. The 20 businesses surveyed so far indicated they were strongly interested (84%) in reducing use of single-use items; 65% did not follow any green standards; 76% were willing to switch from plastics; 84% would like a standard to meet. Team members discussed how to award or recognize businesses working toward sustainability (such as Council voting to approve recognition of certain businesses proposed by the Green Team) with the idea of getting the business community to think about and act on such green actions. Future students in this class could continue or expand the effort. To track such efforts annually, IServe interns could review green measures by either quiet observation or speaking to managers of downtown businesses once a year. One question was whether students could help businesses source green alternatives. Jim Kotcon suggested that the students report at the November monthly meeting with more compre- hensive data, examples of similar programs in other cities, and a timeline for establishing standards for “green certification” in 2020. Recognition might come in the form of a sticker or plaque for the business to display saying, for example, “Green-Friendly Business Recognized by the City of Mor- gantown.” Also raised was the question of how to define the downtown area. Action: Eberly students will put the data and examples into printed form for team members to review. II. Updates Long-Term Planning. Pam asked official members about several issues in the team’s strategic plan, which needed updating before the team reviewed its goals for 2020. The team agreed to add text on short-term leaves of absence; to reconsider text indicating that officers must be drawn from current members; and that Pam should insert a section on team accomplishments on recycling over the years. Pam will bring copies of the additional proposed changes to the November meeting for team review and to begin thinking about goal adjustments for 2020. Jim said he had arranged his annual meeting with Paul Brake for that week and asked for agenda items. Items suggested were progress on a Mon Power tariff for LED streetlights and report on 2018 and 2019 budget expenditures for implementing energy-saving measures in City buildings. The team soon needs to prepare its annual report, which should include team review and approval of its accomplishments in 2019 and goals for 2020, to the City Manager for delivery in mid-December.  Once approved, Jim will arrange to present this annual report to the City Council at its Committee as a Whole (COW) meeting in late January. Recycling. Pam reported that Robyn Hess, City Grants Writer, expected to hear about REAP Recy- cling grant awards any day. She cautioned the team that the review committee was likely to approve a partial award, picking and choosing parts of the proposal to implement. The City’s public education grant, if awarded, would be one of the first of its kind funded by REAP, so could serve as a model statewide. Action: Pam agreed to contact John McGoran at Republic Services to update the monthly tonnages of recycling collected in the city since last March. Pam proposed that the $400 remaining in the team’s 2019 budget should go to purchase of display equipment (shelter, table, brochure/flyer stand, etc.). Jim proposed and Joe seconded the measure, which members approved unanimously. Pam also reported on the work of two Reed College of Media classes, one in writing and the other of- fering several public relations products, including a short video for use in the RecycleRight Campaign if funded. No products have yet been presented to the team except for some concepts presented in an early October “Pitch” meeting, which showed potential. Green Space. Mark reported on the status of City decision making on a pipeline through White Park. The Council had approved a route combining the original routes 3 and 8. Negotiations among MUB, City, BOPARC, and legal counsel will now consider how to carry out mitigation and other issues left to resolve. Jenny said the team could help with advice and references on such matters as ecological restoration, etc. Action: Jenny will send the team any document that results so the team may comment. Energy. Jim noted that the request from Vandalia Energy Services received last month would be con- sidered at an Energy Committee meeting to be set in October. III. New Business Lynn Castro, who works for the Solid Waste Authority, was approved for membership as a private citizen. Action: Jim will ask Paul Brake to review the addition of Lynn Castro and Sarah Cayton as official voting members. Jim introduced Kestrel Innes-Wimsatt who is interested in getting to know team members and their work with the hope of contributing to the team in the future. IV. Announcements. Sarah Cayton informed members that she had given her notice to Friends of Deck- ers Creek and will soon take new employment at WVU in the Water Research Institute. She planned to remain on the team and may have more time to become active in it as a result. V. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm. The next meeting will take place on November 4, 5:30pm to 7:00pm, at the Morgantown Public Library, 373 Spruce Street.