Environmental Control Advisory Board Meeting

CITY OF NORMAN, OK ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING Development Center, Conference Room, 225 N. Webster Avenue, Norman, OK 73069 Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 5:30 PM MINUTES The Environmental Control Advisory Committee of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in Regular Session in Conference Room B at the Development Center, on the 20th day of November, 2024, at 5:30 p.m., and notice of the agenda of the meeting were posted at the Norman Municipal Building at 201 West Gray, Development Center at 225 N. Webster and on the City website at least 24 hours prior to the beginning of the meeting. ROLL CALL 1. PRESENT Board member Deborah Cretsinger Board member Lainey Phillips Board member Bob Nairn Board member Nathalie Rocher Board member Sara Bondy Board member Debbie Smith Board member Todd Howery ABSENT Board member Inger Giuffrida Board member Eileen Grzybowski INTRODUCE NEW MEMBERS, GUESTS & STAFF New Member Todd Howery Staff Rachel Camp, Water Treatment Plant Manager Jerry Gates, Environmental Services Assistant Manager Michele Loudenback, Environmental & Sustainability Manager Specialist ANNOUNCEMENTS December 14th - Vermi-composting workshop at the Development Center ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING - Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Page |1 MINUTES 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE OCTOBER 16, 2024 MEETING Motion made by Board member Cretsinger, Seconded by Board member Bondy. Voting Yea: Board member Phillips, Board member Rocher, Board member Smith Voting Abstaining: Board Member Howery DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. DISCUSSION OF THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETINGS FOR MCPA Rocher suggested that they approach the departments head with what their goals are for the future and what is on their agenda and asked the board what their thoughts were on that approach.It was suggested to send an email from the board. Philips will create a template to email to the department heads. After further discussion it was decided that this would be placed on next months agenda as an action item for voting. 4. DISCUSSION OF THE FRESHWATER CHALLENGE Camp was able to get all the permissions and got the City of Norman on the list as well as set up as signatories. Freshwater Challenge will reach out to the group in regards to how they can get involved. 5. DISCUSSION OF BIG EVENT April 4th & 5th - rain barrel distribution April 5th - Big Event - garden work and cleanup activities around the household hazardous waste facility * would the board like to sign up to help out? - group will revisit this when it is closer to the date. April 27th - Earth Day Festival 6. DISCUSSION OF COMPOSTING & RECYCLING EDUCATION & AUDITS Loudenback said that if they want to do a super recycler audit program, Brandon said that he can get neighborhood specific targets for a pilot program. If the board is interested in doing the pilot program, Loudenback would like to create a small subcommittee to form and run the program and figure out when they would like to implement it. The one year anniversary for in-house recycling will be in July so they may want to look at doing it in the Fall. Loudenback recommended that they start reaching out to businesses to see if they would consider sponsoring the pilot program. Can also discuss with them about taking on recycling as well. Loudenback was thinking that they could have a 3 tiered labeling prize system such as: Green, you're a super recycler and can enter the drawing to win a prize. Yellow, you're close and suggest some minor adjustments. Red, oops and here is how we can make it better. Probably don't want to use those colors. The program would consist of a group of volunteers walking through a neighborhood and auditing the recycling bins on the day that they are to be picked up ahead of time. Take that opportunity to educate the ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING - Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Page |2  public and also reward the super recyclers. The program will be promoted prior to implementation letting the public know when it will take place as well as some education in regards to it so they are prepared before hand. This will also give them the opportunity to put their stickers that they created with a barcode that residents can scan and it will educate them about recycling. ACTION ITEMS 7. NOMINATE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR 2025 Motion made to elect Lainey Philips for Chair by Board member Smith, Seconded by Board member Cretsinger. Voting Yea: Board member Phillips, Board member Nairn, Board member Rocher, Board member Bondy, Board Member Howery Motion made to elect Nathalie Rocher for Vice Chair by Board member Bondy, Seconded by Board member Smith. Voting Yea: Board member Cretsinger, Board member Phillips, Board member Nairn, Board member Rocher, Board Member Howery 8. DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF PROPOSED MEETING DATES & TIMES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025 Motion to approve the calendar after changing the March meeting to the 12th made by Board member Cretsinger, Seconded by Board member Bondy. Voting Yea: Board member Phillips, Board member Nairn, Board member Rocher, Board member Smith, Board Member Howery 9. DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF UPDATED JAMES O. HARP NOMINATION FORM UPDATE & PROCESS Motion to approve the 2024 form update made by Board member Cretsinger, Seconded by Board member Phillips. Voting Yea: Board member Nairn, Board member Rocher, Board member Bondy, Board member Smith, Board Member Howery 10. DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF WATERS WORTH IT POSTER CONTEST HANDOUT & PROCESS Earth Day has been changed to April 27th, 2025. Submissions will be posted 2 weeks prior to the event so submissions are due no later than March 10th, 2025. After discussion regarding the awards, they will change the teachers portion to the teacher with the highest percentage of class participation will win the teachers prize. Motion to approve the poster contest handout and process after the above modifications are completed made by Board member Smith, Seconded by Board member Cretsinger. Voting Yea: Board member Phillips, Board member Nairn, Board member Rocher, Board member Bondy, Board Member Howery The group would like to look into doing a people choice recognition for this years contest. Phillips mentioned asking if one of the art gallery's on Main Street would let ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING - Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Page |3  them post the submissions for a second Friday art walk to take place April the 11th. This will be added to next months agenda as an action item. MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS Cretsinger just wanted to say that the Ruby Grant Park was the cleanest park she has seen and was wondering if that was because it isn't used as much. Loudenback said that it is further out and less trafficked by vehicles. She also stated that Saxon Park is another of the cleaner parks in Norman. Bondy said that she had noticed that they have decreased the amount of mowing along the sidewalk. Loudenback confirmed that they have partnered with Sierra Club to do a Prairie restoration project which has reduced the mowing. Rocher asked if it were possible to not mow them. Loudenback informed her that it was not possible due to capacity and need it for flood control. Rocher asked if that was scientifically proven and was informed that it would in fact decrease capacity if they let it grow. Nairn stated that he finds it hard to believe that they don't manage the wet detention ponds. Loudenback informed them that there are things in the works that may become requirements in the future in regards to such goals especially in the more sensitive areas. Loudenback gave Bondy kudos for the 2 part foraging class that she took on. QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC None ADJOURNMENT 11. TIME: 6:21 PM Lainey S. Phillips, Chair ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING - Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Page |4