Sustainability Committee

Sustainability Committee Minutes Thursday, March 14, 2024 8:00 A.M. VIA ZOOM PURSUANT TO CHAPTERS 113 AND 115 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES (AS AMENDED IN ORDINANCE 22-28), AND RESOLUTION 22-29, ENACTED ON MARCH 22, 2022 Members Present: Kim Bixenstine, Council Member, Committee Chair Nancy Moore, Council Member Tres Roeder, Council Member Shanna Keown, Citizen Member Julia Larouche, Citizen Member Heather Weingart, Shaker Heights City Schools Board Member (ex-officio) Others Present: David Weiss, Mayor Jeri E. Chaikin, Chief Administrative Officer Chris Haywatd, Principal, Fernway School Megan Konopinski, Third Grade Teacher, Fernway School Joshua Romig, Shaker Heights Public Library Community Engagement Librarian Michael Peters, Sustainability Coordinator The meeting was called to order by Committee Chair Kim Bixenstine at 8:02 A.M. * * * * Approval of the February 8, 2024 Meeting Minutes The draft meeting minutes were presented for approval with the motion moved by Nancy Moore and seconded by Shanna Keown. The acceptance of the minutes was unanimously passed. * * * * Shaker Heights City Schools Sustainability Update The Committee was joined by Principal Chris Hayward and Third Grade Teacher Megan Konopinski from Fernway School for an update on sustainability practices in the Schools. Kim Bixenstine introduced the presenters and noted how the Committee is interested in seeing how the City and Schools can collaborate on Sustainability. The presentation, which can be found in the agenda online, focused on efforts at Fernway School. These efforts began in 2021 with a presentation to students as part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program from Sustainability Coordinator Michael Peters. He discussed with the students efforts around sustainability in the City including how impactful composting can be. A student suggested the school compost at lunch and this initiative was quickly supported by the students, Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), and administration who contracted with Rust Belt Riders to bring the program to the School. The students partnered with the custodians to collect and transfer the food waste to the Rust Belt Riders bins outside the school. This effort aligned with the teaching philosophy of taking action and making real change. A student video was shared where the students spoke about the benefits of composting. Student led action that has sprung out of IB actions included an infographic on sustainability and another on recycling that are shared with parents. In first grade water usage is explored, and second and fourth grades discuss conservation efforts and how they can actually take action. Current funding for composting comes from the PTO, which was very excited to support the effort. The amount of families who now compost at home has increased due to the increased awareness through school. The administration continues to work with students and lunch aides on ensuring there is no contamination and creating student ownership is an important aspect. In 2023, 5,110 pounds of food scraps were diverted. Principal Hayward is excited at the prospect of Fernway becoming the second neighborhood composting drop off location (after the Lomond School pilot). The Schools are a natural place to have a neighborhood drop off site. The Fernway learning garden is being planned and the school hopes to balance the amount of food scraps it collects with soil that is returned to be used in the garden. Additional sustainability practices at Fernway School include LED lights (due to the post-fire renovation) both inside and outside, daylighting that allows the lights to dim for more natural light in the classrooms, regulated thermostats in each classroom, recycling of various materials, and the introduction of wood play elements in the playground. Other aspects include water bottle refilling stations, sensors on sinks and toilets, green cleaning materials, and a dispenser for regulated cleaning materials. Other schools also have various aspects of sustainability efforts, and other districts visit Fernway School to learn about their practices, including their success with composting. “This is truly what IB is about – taking action.” Heather Weingart thanked Mr. Haywatd and Ms. Konopinski for their presentation and efforts and the inspiration it provides. Kim Bixenstine noted that the Stormwater & Green Space subcommittee is interested in collaboration and how one of its members (Christine Medvedev) is also on the Facilities Advisory Committee. As additional schools are renovated targets for sustainability are encouraged, and Mr. Hayward noted that LEED status was reviewed for the renovation and solar has been discussed. The School Board, faculty and parents are supportive, and learning from other districts is helpful. Heather Weingart noted that the state funding requires LEED Silver and that is already being discussed, and the Ludlow School renovation will serve as a model for the other buildings. More will be known once the architect and engineer are selected. Nancy Moore added that she is encouraged by these efforts and future vision, and how the renovation allowed for many of these advancements. She also encouraged the Schools to share more widely these efforts to minimize the knowledge gap about this with the overall community. * * * * Sustainability Committee March 14, 2024 Page 2 of 4 Subcommittee Updates Stormwater & Greenspace (Kim Bixenstine) • Grow Not Mow event on April 13th to plant 200 trees and shrubs from 1:00 to 3:00pm at site 1 (Courtland and South Park Boulevards). This is to grow out woodland along the Doan Brook, everyone invited and no experience necessary. Register at doanbrookwatershed.org. • Arbor Day planting event on April 26th, a requirement of Tree City USA which the city has been awarded for the last 38 years, will plant two native trees in Southerly Park across from Woodbury School. Tree Advisory Board and Sustainability Committee members will be in attendance. • Discussed plan to plant an invasive bush around the temporary modular classrooms which has been rectified and is a lesson learned. There are also additional opportunities to educate students and young people about the importance of planting natives. • Lomond has funding through May for the 12-month composting pilot with additional discussions to come. Over 100 families are participating in the program with over 13,000 pounds collected to date. Plan being formulated on future of program and potential expansion. • Lawn care rebate program on May 4th at The Service Center for 40 rebates on swapping gasoline for electric mowers. From 9:00am to 3:00pm. • April 27th weed wrangle teen event to remove invasive plants in conjunction with the Nature Center. • John Barber has March 23rd presentation at Cleveland Heights Library on birding. Shaker Youth LEEDs / High School Advisory Group (Shanna Keown) • A new platform for the EcoChallenge is being used this year that should make participation easier. The EcoChallenge will run from Friday April 5th to Monday April 28th. Discussing with The Nature Center on cross promotion. The City’s Communication & Marketing is also supporting. Hathaway Brown is working to engage their middle school students and this can be done at the other schools, including elementary with parent support. • April 13th and April 26th events to be shared with the students and added to EcoChallenge. Energy Subcommittee (Michael Peters) • Next meeting is March 25th at 5:00pm – virtual on Zoom. * * * * Chair’s Remarks/Old Business/New Business • One additional event for Earth Day is a booth at The Shaker Lakes Nature Center event on April 20th from 11:00am to 2:00pm and anyone who can help as a volunteer would be appreciated. Thoughts on materials helpful too. • An air quality monitoring program will be presented at the next meeting. This is one of the Committee’s 2024 goals. The proposal will discuss how, with the budget allocated, three monitors could be placed in various locations around the City. This could help us identify various disparities within the community and connect to work in the Lee Road Action Plan. Sustainability Committee March 14, 2024 Page 3 of 4  • A number of residents have asked about LED streetlights; the Sustainability Coordinator prepared an explanation of expenses associated with this and how better incentives are needed form the utility. Potentially a collaborative effort among cities could help advocate for these incentives. • Nancy Moore re-iterated that we all know what we need to do to combat climate change but we continue to use a cost effectiveness lens and while this is understandable due to budgets, she hopes that we can look at what is cost effective but also frequently ask how we can engage in initiatives that advance sustainability in the community and rationalize the expense. Kim Bixenstine noted this is also an aspect of discussions on solar and we need to consider what is right and best for our community beyond simply cost. * * * * There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:03 A.M. The next meeting is scheduled for April 11, 2024 at 8:00am. __________________________________________ Michael Peters Sustainability Coordinator Sustainability Committee March 14, 2024 Page 4 of 4