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, January 14, 2026 at 5:30 PM MINUTES The Environmental Control Advisory Board of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, will meet in Regular Session in the Utilities Conference Room at the Development Center, on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 5:30 PM and notice of the agenda of the meeting was 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 PRESENT Board member Deborah Cretsinger Board member Inger Giuffrida Chairman Lainey Phillips Board member Debbie Smith Board Member Eileen Grzybowski Board Member Todd Howery ABSENT Board member Bob Nairn Vice Chair Nathalie Rocher Board member Sara Bondy INTRODUCE NEW MEMBERS, GUESTS & STAFF Jerry Gates, Environmental Services Assistant Manager Michele Loudenback, Environmental & Sustainability Manager Megan Phelan, Park Planner II Stephanie Leland, Oklahoma Monarchs Society ANNOUNCEMENTS Hazmat ribbon cutting was January 13th at 4 pm. Update on the recycle bins: 5 bins will be placed at Legacy Park and 5 at Rotary Park. Oklahoma Native Plant Network, Okies for Monarchs as well as Wildcare are sponsoring an event in OKC, Friday, March 6th and in Tulsa on the 7th. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING - Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Page |1 MINUTES 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE DECEMBER 17, 2025 MEETING Motion to approve made by Board member Cretsinger, Seconded by Board Member Grzybowski. Voting Yea: Board member Cretsinger, Board member Giuffrida, Chairman Phillips, Board member Smith, Board Member Grzybowski, Board Member Howery DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. DISCUSSION ABOUT THE POLLINATOR PATHWAY GRANT FROM OMS Norman is developing new infrastructure, green/natural resources such as the location at Lahoma Grove which is a flood plain that was installed using native plants. As that infrastructure is implemented, the city will bring those developments to ECAB, once presented to ECAB, it will then go to Parks Board. This will help ECAB to collaborate more with Parks. City of Norman was chosen for the Pathways for Pollinators and People Grants and will be doing some installation of habitats, education and outreach, and will be doing a Rick Sinnett mural at City Hall. Stephanie Leland gave a brief update about the plight of the Monarch and where they are located currently; Mexico. Oklahoma is important to Monarchs because they lay their eggs here. Since the 90's, 80 to 90 percent of the Monarch population has declined. The organization received grant funding to do municipal habitat installation and the first two municipalities chosen were Edmond and Norman. These two cities are already working on habitat creation and OMS wants to highlight their successes. They will do outreach, education, and help with promotion as well. Megan Phelan showed the group where the mural and gardens will be placed. The goal is to expand in the future. Installations will take place in the Spring-April 11th is the hopeful date. Mural will take place in March and the anticipated completion date is by the end of October. If there are any extra funds, more area will be converted. ACTION ITEMS 3. DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF GREEN NORMAN ECO CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES Action item will be tabled for further discussion at the next meeting. There are two activities during the Ecobration that need volunteers from the group. The first activity is March 24th is the H2Oklahoma water education program through the Conservation Commission for 4th graders at Ruby Grant Park. The second event is EarthDay which will be April 26th at Reaves Park. ECAB usually hosts a booth at the Earth Day festival. Loudenback will send out a signup genius link for H2Oklahoma volunteers. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING - Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Page |2  4. DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF WATERS WORTH IT POSTER CONTEST FINALIZATION The group discussed various award ideas and decided to keep last year's prizes and add a People's Choice award. This new award will be determined by Uncanny Art House visitors during Art Walk in April 2026. The prizes for this category will be gift cards to Uncanny Art House. Phillips will reach out to them for costs. Motion made to keep the prizes the same as last year, add the peoples choice award and give latitude to adjust the others for a dual gift certificate/classes option by Board member Giuffrida, Seconded by Board member Cretsinger. Voting Yea: Board member Cretsinger, Board member Giuffrida, Chairman Phillips, Board member Smith, Board Member Grzybowski, Board Member Howery MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS Cretsinger attended the city council candidate meeting and asked them if they were all aware of the Mayors Climate Agreement and they were not aware. There needs to be more publicity for the Mayors Climate Agreement. WIAA (Women in Action for All) was suggested as the best group to present it to. Smith brought Daniel Mains book, "Nourishing Growth & Suffocating Life" (all about Norman) and offered for the group to look at it. Loudenback also has a copy she is willing to lend out. Mains is one of the nominees for the 2025 James O'Harp award. Keep Oklahoma Beautiful is doing their affiliate forum here in Norman in April. International Dark Sky Week is April 13-20 QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC None ADJOURNMENT TIME: 6:29 PM ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING - Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Page |3