Sustainability Advisory Commission Meeting

CITY OF URBANA, ILLINOIS SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMISSION Executive Meeting Room, Urbana City Building Tuesday, November 4, 2014 Commissioners Present: Chairperson Marya Ryan, Vice Chair Stephen Wald, Bart Bartels, Morgan Johnston, Todd Rusk, Rachel Vellenga Commissioners Absent: Andrew Stumpf Staff Present: Scott Tess, Kate Brickman, Kevin Garcia 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. Marya Ryan took a moment to welcome Morgan Johnston to SAC. Changes to the Agenda The scheduled presentation by Laurel Nobilette was cancelled until further notice. Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting Motion was made by Ms. Vellenga, second by Mr. Rusk, to approve the minutes from the September 2, 2014 meeting. The following additions and/or changes were submitted: • In Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting - to change Ms. Bartels to Mr. Bartels; and • New Business - to change Ms. Wald to Mr. Wald. Motion carried. Public Input Cope Cumpston of Urbana spoke about “Pester Power”, a play created and performed by Urbana School District students showing the importance of reducing our carbon footprint. She encouraged the Commission to promote the group’s efforts. Mr. Rusk requested that a performance of Pester Power be placed on the agenda for the December SAC meeting. Communications Staff Report Scott Tess gave the monthly Staff Report that included updates on various Goals and Actions from the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the Sustainable Water Management Plan and an update on Progress for both. Tess included a tentative schedule for the CAP Phase 2 Draft public comment period as well as the tentative schedule for approval. The Report stated December 2 as the next meeting date. Continuing Business Climate Action Plan (CAP) Scott Tess reviewed various edits that have been suggested and made since the last meeting. He reviewed comments from Tree Commission, Plan Commission, and Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission, as well as online survey responses from the public. Several additional changes were made by the SAC in response to input from the public and other commissions. After discussion, motion was made by Ms. Vellenga, second by Mr. Bartles, to approve, with changes, the CAP Phase 2 Draft and forward to Urbana City Council Committee of the Whole for review. Motion carried. New Business Amendment to SAC Bylaws Scott Tess provided a handout and relayed that he was contacted by the City Attorney after September approval of the SAC bylaws. It was suggested to change sections 5.2 and 5.3 and strike the requirement for speakers to provide their address. The following language was also proposed to end each section: The chair may request speakers to provide their city of residence at sign in/when being recognized, but speakers are not obligated to provide their cities of residence in order to speak during public comment. Motion was made by Ms. Johnston, second by Mr. Wald, to approve the amendments to the SAC bylaws as reflected in the handout. Motion carried. Discussion of Long Range Transportation Plan Marya Ryan asked if there was further dialogue on the subject of the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) that may not have been covered in the joint Plan, SAC, and Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission meeting held at the end of October. After Commission discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Rusk, seconded by Ms. Johnston, to offer a statement from SAC to the Urbana City Council regarding its concerns regarding the LRTP. Motion carried. The motion reads as follows: From the draft Long Range Transportation Plan SAC appreciates the focus on infill development, transit, complete streets, and mode shift while expressing concern about the potential for sprawling development often associated with enhanced arterial roads on the outskirts of town, sometimes referred to as a ring road. SAC urges the City to use its planning authority to limit sprawling development, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Announcements Marya Ryan announced Green Drinks on Tuesday, November 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pizza M, 208 W. Main Street in Urbana. There will be an educational and networking event discussing the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:14 p.m. This meeting was recorded.