Sustainability Advisory Commission Meeting

CITY OF URBANA, ILLINOIS SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMISSION Special Meeting Executive Conference Room Thursday, August 22, 2013 Commissioners Present: Chairperson Marya Ryan, Vice Chair Stephen Wald, John Marlin, Amelia Neptune, Todd Rusk, Rachel Vellenga, Ryan Wolber Staff Present: Scott Tess, Kate Brickman Call to Order, Roll Call, and Declaration of Quorum The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. Kate Brickman called the roll and a quorum was present. Ms. Ryan welcomed new commission member Ryan Wolber. Changes to the Agenda Scott Tess announced that Kim Knowles from the Prairie Rivers Network was unable to attend and give a presentation on the proposed Urbana-Champaign Sanitary District (UCSD) effluent sale. Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting With the addition of adding the word ‘draft’ to the position statement crafted to the Mayor and Urbana City Council regarding the UCSD effluent sale, the motion was made by Mr. Marlin, second by Mr. Wald, to approve the minutes from the July 2, 2013 meeting. Motion carried. Public Input Carol McKusick, 1907 N. Cunningham, addressed the commission regarding its bylaws. Communications Staff Report Scott Tess gave the monthly Staff Report that included updates on various Goals and Actions from the Climate Action Plan and the Sustainable Water Management Plan, and an update on municipal electric aggregation. He noted that the September SAC meeting is scheduled for September 3, 2013 in the executive conference room. Presentation by Brad Bennett, City of Urbana Senior Civil Engineer on the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II Permit Program Application Brad Bennett, Senior Civil Engineer with the City of Urbana, provided an overview of the notice of intent that the City of Urbana is submitting to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency that covers all stormwater discharge from sewers under the City’s jurisdiction. The notice of intent serves as the application for the NPDES Phase II Permit. Bennett also announced that the MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems) Technical Committee is hosting a free Green Infrastructure Conference on September 17 at the iHotel Conference Center in Champaign from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and encouraged commissioners to attend. Continuing Business Discussion of Urbana-Champaign Sanitary District (UCSD) Effluent Sale Mr. Wald reported that he followed up with scientists and also discussed monitoring concerns with Rick Manner, Executive Director of the UCSD, after the last meeting. Mr. Marlin suggested that there has not been a lot of science behind the effluent sale in regards to maintaining the integrity of streams affected and that monitoring was essential. Upon further commission discussion, all agreed that Wald continue with his efforts in drafting a position statement to forward from SAC to Mayor Prussing and the Urbana City Council. Wald noted the potential for the appearance of a conflict of interest between his advocating for research on the impact of the effluent sale and his employment with the Prairie Research Institute. Discussion of Direction from City Council on SAC Role Ms. Ryan and Mr. Rusk relayed information regarding their presentation on “An Enduring Role for the Urbana Sustainability Advisory Commission” at the July 8, 2013 Committee of the Whole meeting. Council comment was that all of the potential directions suggested by the SAC should be pursued: serve as a forum for sustainability issues with a focus on action, serve as a forum for sustainability issues with a focus on public discussion, and identify synergies with other groups with a focus on building collaborative relationships with and among them. Commission members then discussed gathering a list of potential topics and speakers for the upcoming months to continue learning and engaging the public in relevant sustainability issues. Rusk asked that commissioners forward information to him. New Business There was no new business to address. Announcements Amelia Neptune made the following announcements: • Sustainability Meet and Greet Coffees hosted by the Center for a Sustainable Environment every day next week (August 26 through August 30) from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Union on the U of I campus; and • Walking and Biking Survey hosted on the Champaign Urbana Urbanized Area Transportation Study (CUUATS) website. Scott Tess made the following announcements: • East Central Illinois Regional Water Stakeholders’ Conference being held on September 13 at 8 a.m. at the Macon County Extension Office in Decatur; and  • UCSD Open House on September 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Northwest Treatment Plant, 1100 E. University Avenue, Urbana. Rachel Vellenga made the following announcements: • Lecture on Fracking on August 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Champaign Public Library, Robeson Room C; • Sierra Club Prairie Group Picnic on August 31 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Crystal Lake Park North Pavilion, Urbana; and • Champaign County's Water: Where it Comes From, Where It Goes To, and How We Can Protect It Along the Way on September 26 at 7 p.m. at the Champaign Public Library. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. This meeting was recorded.