Environmental Advisory Board

Name: Environmental Advisory Board — Royal Oak, MI
Start: 2026-03-25T19:00:00
End: 2026-03-25T21:00:00
Location: Royal Oak, MI

Regular Meeting

Royal Oak, MI · March 25, 2026

Agenda Minutes

Minutes

Minutes Royal Oak Environmental Advisory Board March 25, 2026, 7:00 p.m. City Hall, Room 122 203 S. Troy Street Royal Oak, Michigan 48067 Present: Amanda Herzog Tessa Benziger Brock Bosack Siddharth Karunakaran Frank Komola Nicholas Marcelletti Paul Vial Absent: Zoe Chase Julie Lyons Bricker Jill Robinson Ed Slesak _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm. 2. Approval of Agenda  Add Bylaws and ordinance as 6.f. Moved by: Siddharth Karunakaran Seconded by: Nicholas Marcelletti Motion to approve the agenda with addition of 6.f. Motion Adopted 3. Approval of Minutes Moved by: Paul Vial Seconded by: Tessa Benziger Motion to approve the February minutes. Motion Adopted 1 4. Public Comment  Nancy Poprafsky o Developers keeps clearing mature 100-year-old trees. The tree fund is only supporting young trees that cannot replace the value of mature trees. City needs better ordinance, enforcement, and inventory of mature trees. o City should encourage planting of deer resistance plants.  Woody Gontina o No comments. 5. Receive and File 5.a City Commissioner Report  SEMCOG awarded the City 3.3 million dollars for traffic moderation to help with flow, traffic patterns, less idling, etc. at 14 mile and Coolidge in 2027-2028. o Meets S-CAP goals. o Discussion about pedestrian button and being sure pedestrian safety is ensured. Traffic modernization in area will align with the development. 5.b Sustainability Manager / Staff Report 5.c Materials Management Report 6. New Business 6.a Cont. Proposed goals for the current fiscal year - Frank Komola (20 min)  Increase communication o Use of social media to get the word out – Share, Like, comment. o Keep utilizing free channels – insight, senior center, water bills.  Collection events. o Electronic and hazardous waste collection event o Tire collection event o Paper shredder o Contact SOCRRA as partner for mobile days  Educational Outreach – set up events at the library (4) 2 o Topics: use the S-CAP - waste, GHG, stormwater, etc. o How can we use these to hit other goals like RENO.  GHG emissions assessment / inventory (Paul offering support)  Review of the S-CAP (by end of the year) 6.b Budget discussion for the next fiscal year - Frank Koloma (20 min)  $1,500 earth day  Speaker fees or gifts  Paying for service to boost messaging  Clothing 6.b.1 Conferences and trainings  City management working on policy for conference and training fees to ensure appropriate use. Visit again in July when new budget period begins. 6.c Community Benefits List - Paul Vial (15 min)  Discussion to not limit the list to just unit development, but also to variances and how these relate to the zoning ordinance updates.  Reconnecting with the other groups: DDA, Chamber of commerce, human right, schools, aging in place, arts.  Board will make sure all 6 S-CAP areas are represented.  Plan to vote next month. 6.d Farmers Market Waste Fee - Devan Dodge-Frye (10 mins)  Discussion to make sure that this is for all waste not opt in and out of compost- raise the full waste fee as a flat rate.  Recommended Report to EAB or sustainability manger how many events at the end of the year.  Discussed incentive to reduce / prevent waste.  Tessa will put together materials that Farmers Market can give to potential renters. 6.e Bylaws and Ordinance  Discussion on December meeting  will table full discussion until next meeting. 7. Old Business 3 7.a St. Patrick's Day Parade - Frank Komola (3 min)  Thank you to Brock, Zoey, and Siddharth for attending  Thank you to DPW for the recycling Bins and My Green Michigan for Compost bin! 7.b Update on paperless billing of water/sewer bills - Frank Koloma (5 min)  Only 15% of residents pay paperless and would like to increase this number. o Discussion on what do E notices look like and if important communication are done via this method as well. o Would like instructions inside water bill on how to go paperless. o Would this impact communications? 7.c Oakland County Earth Date Updates - Frank Koloma (5 min)  50 vendors registered.  Sponsorship dollars have exceeded need.  Parking is not free at municipal lot during event.  Email Brock to volunteer for tabling.  Board has offered their support in obtaining speakers. 8. Subcommittee/Program Updates 8.a Social Media 9. General Announcements  LEED® Home - Plaque Presentation Ceremony– April 20, 2026  MI Healthy Climate – April 21, 2026  Arbor Day – April 23, 2026  Park Clean Up – April 25, 2026  Call for agenda items and attachments due one week prior to meetings.  Open meetings act handbook updated by the State of Michigan and will send out. 10. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm. 4 Moved by: Brock Bosack Seconded by: Paul Vial Motion to adjourn. Motion Adopted 5

Agenda

Agenda Royal Oak Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 7:00 p.m. City Hall, Room 122 203 S. Troy Street Royal Oak, Michigan 48067 Anyone planning to attend the meeting who has need of special assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is asked to contact the city clerk’s office at 248-246-3050 at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting. Pages 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Agenda 3. Approval of Minutes 3 4. Public Comment 5. Receive and File a. City Commissioner Report b. Sustainability Manager / Staff Report c. Materials Management Report 8 6. New Business a. Cont. Proposed goals for the current fiscal year - Frank Komola (20 minutes) b. Budget discussion for the next fiscal year - Frank Koloma (20 minutes) a. Conferences and trainings c. Community Benefits List - Paul Vial (15 mininutes) d. Farmers Market Waste Fee 12 Review for comments at the meeting 7. Old Business a. St. Patrick's Day Parade - Frank Komola (3 min) b. Update on paperless billing of water/sewer bills - Frank Koloma (5 minutes) c. Oakland County Earth Date Updates - Frank Koloma (5 min) 8. Subcommittee/Program Updates a. Social Media 9. General Announcements 10. Adjournment Page 2 of 12 Minutes Royal Oak Environmental Advisory Board February 25, 2026, 7:00 p.m. City Hall, Room 122 203 S. Troy Street Royal Oak, Michigan 48067 Present: Amanda Herzog Tessa Benziger Brock Bosack Zoe Chase Siddharth Karunakaran Frank Komola Julie Lyons Bricker Nicholas Marcelletti Jill Robinson Ed Slesak Paul Vial _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm. 2. Approval of Agenda Moved by: Paul Vial Seconded by: Julie Lyons Bricker Approval of agenda. Motion Adopted 3. Approval of November Minutes 4. Approval of January Minutes Clarification that it is deconstruction not reconstruction and Architectural Savage Warehouse of Detroit was the name. Moved by: Tessa Benziger Seconded by: Jill Robinson Motion to approve the November and January minutes. 1 Page 3 of 12 Motion Adopted 5. Public Comment  Janis Wagmen- Had double and triple A batteries to recycle, called fire department and they said they didn’t have recycling for them. Library has a drop off by seed library. o Since the meeting, this issue has been resolved. All fire stations have a drop off for batteries. 6. Receive and File 6.a City Commissioner Report  City schools committee. EAB should encourage storm water ordinance to be followed with any new projects.  South Oakland County Mayor's Association dinner in Royal Oak at Oakland community College. Shared sustainability history and Oakland County Material Management Planning (MMP) coordinators as guest. Communicated "why" the ordinances and policies that need to happen, communicating to the public.  MMP planning meeting this week and topic was organics. Michigan goal of 45% recycling rate by 2030 and beyond 50% goal of food waste by 2030. Policy and advocacy that will be needed.  Pitched session ideas to Michigan Municipal League for their fall convention about sustainability and climate action plan.  House bills 5529-5532 restricting local authorizes on duplex- we want to keep local control of zoning. Representatives Price and Macdonell came.  Waste milage passed. Question to commissioner about SOCRRA contract negations date. Answer: 2027 for both hauler and SOCRRA contract. Discussion about having Household hazardous waste and electronic waste event. 6.b Sustainability Manager / Staff Report 6.c Materials Management Report 7. New Business 7.a Review and Revise By-Laws - Frank Komola 2 Page 4 of 12 Discussion tabled until next meeting. 7.b 2026 Objectives and Goals - Devan Dodge-Frye & Frank Komola  Materials management o Education – utilize the library. o Advocacy o Drop off events  Greenhouse gas emission assessment – done with the clear path ICLIE  Energy Efficiency o Residential impact o CEM grant coming out o Working to reduce energy burden for fixed income residents o 250% poverty line DTE program o Pull resources for a phone line o OOCA – Oakland Livingston human services – weatherization o Neighborhood and of housing development NHD – lean against the property o Education - at the library o Research about what other communities are doing 7.c 2026 Budget  Approx $5,000  Earth day $1,500 o Motion to approve the amount. $1,500.  Devan to ask about current fiscal year and sending on conferences. o Devan to find out what we have left in 2025 budget- carol  Come back to next meeting with spend ideas. o Inserts in water bill o Ads in papers o Apparel 3 Page 5 of 12 Motion to approve paying $1,500 for the rental of the farmers market for Oakland County Earth Day. Motion Adopted 7.d Grant opportunity from Michigan Recycling Coalition - Frank Komola  Discussed MRC $7,500 grant education.  City will be applying for it. Believed the board cannot apply themsleves. 7.e Oakland County Earth Day Event - Frank Komola  Ask for board members to be present.  Share sponsor and vendor form.  Would like to create a handout for attendees from EAB  Next month to discuss what we want at the table  Event information including vendoer registion and volunteer forms can be found at: https://www.turnoaklandcountygreen.com/ 7.f St. Patrick's Day Parade - Frank Komola  Brock to sign the board up ot patriciate. o Banner and recycling barrels, bike, law mower or snow blower, senior center volunteered to let us use their bus. 7.g Water & Sewer Online Payment Process - Frank Komola  Frank has found out that there are two different processes to pay online vs commit to paperless billing.  Will discuss further with Devan to find solutions to encourage residents to go paperless. 7.h February SOCRRA Meeting Update - Frank Komola  Frank attended the February SOCRRA meeting. Was surprised by larger scale issues that need to be addressed with hauler and will plan to table ask to pick up folder carboard until contract negations are closer. 8. Unfinished Business 8.a Community Benefits  Draft by Paul. 11 items proposed. Board discussed: o Compost in landscaping 4 Page 6 of 12 o Recycling at developments o Ground floor retail o Pedestrian sidewalls o Quantitative items  Direct staff to take this list and have staff make the list.  Send items to Paul and Frank to add to the list.  Follow up with other groups that we have reached out with. Pual and brock to follow up.  Will be on March agenda. 8.b Farmers Market Compost Fee Will be tabled until March meeting. Please review March agenda attachment to prepare for discussion. 9. Subcommittee/Program Updates 9.a Social Media  Brock: Sharing earth day promotions and made an event  Will share waste wizard info o Examples of coffee cups and stuff  Devan to share flyer about composting 10. General Announcements  Next meeting March 25, 2026.  Paul: School bond did not have any mention of energy efficiency and how much they intent to save. Paul to follow up. 11. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:04 pm. Moved by: Zoe Chase Seconded by: Brock Bosack Motion to adjourn. Motion Adopted 5 Page 7 of 12 SOCRRA TONNAGE ANALYSIS February, 2026 MSW Compost Recyclables Total Municipality 2024 2025 2026 2024 2025 2026 2024 2025 2026 2024 2025 2026 City Of Berkley 472.0 364.3 416.4 - - 16.0 104.1 104.1 93.1 576.1 468.3 525.4 City Of Birmingham 688.8 592.5 614.7 - - - 155.1 134.3 134.3 844.0 726.8 749.0 City Of Clawson 327.6 278.0 389.3 - - - 68.5 53.3 64.1 396.1 331.3 453.4 City Of Ferndale 723.5 626.0 667.7 - - - 133.8 98.7 119.1 857.3 724.7 786.7 City Of Hazel Park 556.0 378.1 546.2 - - - 58.6 71.2 43.8 614.6 449.3 590.0 City Of Huntington Woods 125.0 155.2 144.7 - - - 46.8 37.0 44.2 171.7 192.1 188.9 City Of Lathrup Village 115.9 89.5 92.2 - - - 22.6 18.9 17.9 138.5 108.4 110.1 City Of Oak Park 756.3 819.6 485.4 - - - 92.0 81.7 79.5 848.3 901.2 564.9 City Of Pleasant Ridge 60.2 64.8 62.4 - - - 19.2 20.5 17.2 79.4 85.3 79.6 City Of Royal Oak 1,691.4 1,555.5 1,668.5 8.3 2.1 - 359.8 353.4 320.0 2,059.5 1,911.0 1,988.5 City Of Troy 1,967.2 1,713.9 1,809.0 8.3 - 25.0 412.5 353.0 359.4 2,387.9 2,067.0 2,193.4 Village of Beverly Hills 248.2 241.9 249.8 - - - 70.6 73.9 69.7 318.8 315.8 319.5 SOCRRA 410.2 360.0 326.1 - - - 23.3 37.3 40.2 433.5 397.4 366.4 SOCRRA TOTAL 8,142.3 7,239.3 7,472.4 16.7 2.1 41.0 1,566.7 1,437.1 1,402.4 9,725.6 8,678.4 8,915.7 Other Customers 2,913.5 2,149.1 3,231.0 - - - 403.8 238.6 259.4 3,317.3 2,387.7 3,490.4 TOTAL RECEIVED 11,055.7 9,388.4 10,703.3 16.7 2.1 41.0 1,970.5 1,675.6 1,661.8 13,042.9 11,066.1 12,406.2 ** SOCRRA MSW is Material Recovery Facility (MRF) Reject material Page 8 of6-C-2 12 SOCRRA TONNAGE PERCENTAGES February, 2026 Percentage of City's Total Waste Stream MSW Compost Recyclables Municipality 2024 2025 2026 2024 2025 2026 2024 2025 2026 City Of Berkley 82% 78% 79% 0% 0% 3% 18% 22% 18% City Of Birmingham 82% 82% 82% 0% 0% 0% 18% 18% 18% City Of Clawson 83% 84% 86% 0% 0% 0% 17% 16% 14% City Of Ferndale 84% 86% 85% 0% 0% 0% 16% 14% 15% City Of Hazel Park 90% 84% 93% 0% 0% 0% 10% 16% 7% City Of Huntington Woods 73% 81% 77% 0% 0% 0% 27% 19% 23% City Of Lathrup Village 84% 83% 84% 0% 0% 0% 16% 17% 16% City Of Oak Park 89% 91% 86% 0% 0% 0% 11% 9% 14% City Of Pleasant Ridge 76% 76% 78% 0% 0% 0% 24% 24% 22% City Of Royal Oak 82% 81% 84% 0% 0% 0% 17% 18% 16% City Of Troy 82% 83% 82% 0% 0% 1% 17% 17% 16% Village of Beverly Hills 78% 77% 78% 0% 0% 0% 22% 23% 22% SOCRRA TOTAL 84% 83% 84% 0% 0% 0% 16% 17% 16% SOCRRA TONNAGE PERCENTAGES RECYCLING / MSW Percentage Breakdown of MSW and Recycling MSW Recyclables Municipality 2024 2025 2026 2024 2025 2026 City Of Berkley 82% 78% 82% 18% 22% 18% City Of Birmingham 82% 82% 82% 18% 18% 18% City Of Clawson 83% 84% 86% 17% 16% 14% City Of Ferndale 84% 86% 85% 16% 14% 15% City Of Hazel Park 90% 84% 93% 10% 16% 7% City Of Huntington Woods 73% 81% 77% 27% 19% 23% City Of Lathrup Village 84% 83% 84% 16% 17% 16% City Of Oak Park 89% 91% 86% 11% 9% 14% City Of Pleasant Ridge 76% 76% 78% 24% 24% 22% City Of Royal Oak 82% 81% 84% 18% 19% 16% City Of Troy 83% 83% 83% 17% 17% 17% Village of Beverly Hills 78% 77% 78% 22% 23% 22% SOCRRA TOTAL 84% 83% 84% 16% 17% 16% 6-C-2 Page 9 of 12 City of Royal Oak Trash Tonnage Recycling Tonnage Month FY2024 FY2025 FY2026 Month FY2024 FY2025 FY2026 July 1,885.5 2,202.0 2,211.1 July 397.8 417.1 370.3 August 2,017.5 1,938.3 1,839.1 August 461.2 439.2 336.8 September 1,798.1 1,752.2 1,992.2 September 403.3 374.4 323.4 October 1,834.4 1,938.6 2,025.9 October 421.0 442.2 387.7 November 1,905.4 1,757.2 1,830.6 November 423.4 401.2 352.7 December 1,803.2 1,801.4 2,086.1 December 419.8 462.2 421.4 January 1,802.3 1,861.8 1,867.5 January 453.9 413.3 382.2 February 1,691.4 1,555.5 1,668.5 February 359.8 353.4 320.0 March 1,655.4 2,085.2 - March 358.0 340.8 - April 2,096.9 2,043.5 - April 404.1 380.6 - May 1,993.4 2,102.3 - May 459.4 379.9 - June 1,875.2 2,069.4 - June 428.2 370.4 - Trash Tonnage by Fiscal Year and Month 2,500.0 2,000.0 1,500.0 1,000.0 500.0 - FY2024 FY2025 FY2026 Recycling Tonnage by Fiscal Year and Month 500.0 450.0 400.0 350.0 300.0 250.0 200.0 150.0 100.0 50.0 - FY2024 FY2025 FY2026 Page 10 of 12 6-C-3 Page 11 of 12 Waste fee schedule for rental events: After meeting with the Environmental Advisory Board on June 18, they suggested a three-tier waste management fee structure for market rental events which include the following:  Basic waste  Recyclable waste  Compostable waste Basic trash disposal and recycling has always been factored into the building rental fee as the farmers market has a regularly scheduled pick up by Priority Waste every Tuesday and Friday year-round. There is no additional waste fee for regular rental events. Starting in Spring of 2024 the newly hired sustainability manager started a composting pilot program at the farmer’s market. This program has grown very quickly and is extremely successful. At the conclusion of market rental events market staff witnessed extremely large portions of food being discarded into the basic trash and started setting aside one compost bin for private market events with 200 or less attendees. This is approximately 80% of all market rentals. The other 20% is comprised of market rentals with 200-500 attendees, and lastly events with 500+ attendees. The fee from co-sustainability to the CRO for one extra bin with dumping fee is $150 per event, and $175 for two bins plus dumping fee. The farmers market would like to propose an additional composting service fee for market rental clients at the following rate:  Events with 200 or less attendees: $225 (inc. min. of one bin plus dumping fee)  Events with 200-500 attendees: $275 (inc. two bins plus dumping fee)  Events with over 500 attendees: $325 (inc. min. of two bins plus dumping fee)  This would also include a food waste diversion report Page 12 of 12

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