Sustainability Task Force

MINUTES SUSTAINABILITY TASK FORCE DATE: Thursday, September 19, 2024 LOCATION: Large Conference Room Verona City Center 111 Lincoln St. Verona, WI 53593 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m. on September 19, 2024. 2. Roll Call – present were: Mayor Luke Diaz, Alderperson Beth Tucker Long, Kirstin Reeser, Jeff Johnson, Leyla Sanyer, and Joe Zillmer. Also present was City Administrator Jamie Aulik. Geoff Guist was excused. 3. The task force discussed the following projects: a. Solar panels: The task force discussed the unexpended $5,000 solar panel allocation in the 2024 budget. Ideas included a solar study or an inverter purchase. The need to consult with the Public Works Department on the age of roofs on buildings was discussed, and no decision was made. There was also discussion on purchasing community solar panels through Alliant Energy, and if we opt to install solar panels on public buildings, the prioritization criteria should be the newer the roof the better, the higher utility usage the better, and south facing buildings. Also, the City should request an energy history or analysis of use on utilities from Alliant Energy. b. Low Mow: The task force discussed where to do low mow (areas mowed once or twice a year). The Task Force asked there to be research conducted for what areas are considered to be low mow, a map or list of present mowing locations, and a map of the Verona parks system. c. Native prairie restoration: The task force asked what land the city owns and also thought the above mentioned list of mowing areas would be helpful. d. Multi-use paths: Areas where additional multiuse paths was discussed. It was mentioned the City is a participant in a potential Safe Routes To Schools grant program which would come up with a plan to identify routes to get children safely to school. Ideas also included a north- south trail on the west side of Main St. and a parallel path on the north side of Verona. 4. Project Suggestions: a. Mr. Johnson provided a handout with a number of ideas for consideration by the task force, and gave an overview of them.  b. Other ideas included helping with a sustainability part of the website, a 5 year goal and 2035 goal, citywide composting program, terracycling, better recycling at City Hall (more recycling bins), a program for local businesses to use recycling more, a dark sky initiative, recycling at city parks, a request to revisit the original resolution creating the task force and aligning goals and projects with it, decrease use of pesticides on city property, encourage ways to use more public transportation, organize litter cleanups especially in stormwater ponds and compostable recycling bins. 5. Future Meeting Dates: The Sustainability Task Force set future meeting dates as the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. 6. Adjournment: Motion by Tucker Long, seconded by Zillmer to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m. By: Jamie J. Aulik, City Administrator