Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission

UNAPPROVED DRAFT - INTENDED FOR COMMISSION REVIEW / APPROVAL Memorandum TO: Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commissioners FROM: _______________________________________________________________________ Andrew D. DeCanniere, Commissioner, Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission DATE: February 11, 2025 SUBJECT: January 28, 2025 Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission (SEAC) Meeting Minutes Meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM in Conference Room D/E at Skokie Village Hall Present: Chairperson Jennifer Grossman, Vice Chair Jim McNelis, Commissioners Christopher Buccola, Andrew DeCanniere, Michael Gershbein, Lisa Gotkin, Alma Likic, Rick Moskovitz, Emily Okallau, Robert Render, Charles Saxe, Assistant to the Public Works Director / Staff Liaison Elizabeth Zimmerman Absent: Commissioner Olivia Mahoney I. Approval of Minutes A motion was made by Commissioner Okallau to approve the minutes from the December 17, 2024 meeting of the Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission, seconded by Vice Chair McNelis. The minutes were approved as presented. II. Old Business a. Request for Proposals (RFP) for new drop-off and curbside compost services Staff Liaison Zimmerman reiterated that the Village had received three proposals, and informed Commissioners that Waste Not and Collective Resource have been selected to provide service. Both Waste Not and Collective Resource will be options for current and future Subscription Curbside Compost Program customers. Chairperson Grossman asked how this will change compost drop-off. Staff Liaison Zimmerman said that the only change might be that some sites will have a 64 gallon toter, where they did not before. Page 1 of 3  UNAPPROVED DRAFT - INTENDED FOR COMMISSION REVIEW / APPROVAL It was also reiterated that compost goes to same facilities, regardless of which provider is selected by an individual. Chairperson Grossman inquired whether those residents who currently subscribe to have their compost picked up curbside will be notified of the available options. Staff Liaison Zimmerman confirmed that both options will be presented, and residents will be able to choose between them. III. New Business a. Comments for 2024 Environmental Sustainability Plan Q4 Updates Commissioners were presented with the Q4 Environmental Sustainability Plan updates. General discussion pertaining to those updates ensued. b. Community Survey Results: Environmental Sustainability Plan-related items The results of the 2024 Community Survey were discussed. Results indicate community support of investment in items like public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations (80%), a gas-powered leaf blower ban (68%), a plastic bag ban (61%), and adding additional compost drop-off locations (87%), among others. Commissioner Gotkin noted that lots of people seem to want something to be done regarding stormwater management. Staff Liaison Zimmerman said that after a flood in 2020, the Village hired a consultant. They added lots of data, did a study, and identified areas of need, and they are currently working through the process. Commissioner Gotkin said that floor-to-area ratio should be considered (e.g. how much one is permitted to build on a given property). The Village may want to consider changing the ratio if the current ratio is no longer appropriate, given the changing climate. There could be some solutions that may be free to the Village. c. 12th free food scrap drop-off site in Q4 Staff Liaison Zimmerman noted that the Village has now opened its 12th free food scrap drop-off site in the community. It was also noted that there were 271 tons of food scraps composted in 2024, 72.5 more tons than in 2023. Page 2 of 3  UNAPPROVED DRAFT - INTENDED FOR COMMISSION REVIEW / APPROVAL d. At-Home Hazardous Waste Cost-share program Staff Liaison Zimmerman noted that there is a new program that is now available for those in the community who wish to dispose of household hazardous waste (HHW). The program is being offered by the Village of Skokie, the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) and Clean Harbors. Additional information is available at www.skokie.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1049. e. 2025 Residential Sustainability Award Vice Chair McNelis noted the deadline has been extended to July to allow for spring/ summer projects to be completed. Criteria will be the same as for the 2024 Residential Sustainability Awards. They are currently working on a marketing plan. Commissioner DeCanniere suggested that the Village ought to consider promoting the 2025 Residential Sustainability Awards in the Skokie Review and/or Skokie Patch, in addition to Village publications (e.g. NewSkokie and weekly e-newsletter The Scoop). IV. Other Business Chairperson Grossman inquired as to whether there are any updates where Hefty ReNew is concerned. Staff Liaison Zimmerman said that one of the next steps is getting the orange Hefty ReNew bags into stores within the community, so that they are available for purchase by residents. Discussion ensued. V. Public Comment No public comments were received. VI. Next Meeting Commissioners discussed the scheduling of the next meeting. Given the potential for some schedule conflicts, Staff Liaison Zimmerman said she will send a poll to Commissioners, who will then vote on the alternate date for the next meeting. Update: On January 30, 2025, Staff Liaison Zimmerman confirmed that she had received enough responses to the poll to determine that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. VII. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:51 PM with a motion from Commissioner Gershbein, seconded by Commissioner Gotkin. Page 3 of 3