Environmental Improvement Commission

MINUTES Wheaton Environmental Improvement Commission Tuesday, February 24, 2015 Roll Call: Chairman Ted Witte called the meeting to order at 7:35. Present were Cathy Coleman, Nancy Flynn, Phil Landrum, Kay McKeen, Sterling Price, Piya Salgia, Hanna Self, Tracy Vought, and Bob Young. Absent were Nancy Allured, Tony Pope, and Joseph Wilmarth Tyna. Also in attendance were Carl Peterson and Richard Olson from Gary R. Weber Associates, Inc. Minutes: Phil moved that we accept the minutes of the January meeting. Bob seconded. The minutes were approved. Public Comment: Carl Peterson spoke about the Spring Brook Watershed Stakeholder Group, shared information about how this affects downtown Wheaton, and invited members to attend the next meeting at DuPage County on March 10. For more information, Carl can be reached at cpeterson@grwainc.com . Budget Report: Bob reported that there are no new expenses since last month. Other Reports: 1. Bike Committee Report: no report 2. Recycling Report: Bob reported that he, Tony, Kevin Maloney, and Trevor from SCARCE worked the collection on February 14. 207 fluorescent tubes, 10-12 gallons of cooking oil, and some holiday lights were collected. At least four people brought electronics and were disappointed that they were not being collected. 3. Water Bill Insert: The information on April events is collected and has been submitted to Susan Bishel. Upcoming Projects: 1. Electronic Recycling: Bob will man the cooking oil and fluorescent tube recycling on March 10. 2. Adopt a Highway: Sterling brought the contract he has for groups to sign and asked that we look it over and recommend changes. Tracy said this has been updated, but Sterling did not receive the updated version from the previous Adopt a Highway chairperson, who is no longer on the commission. The first EIC clean up will be on May 2. Unfinished Business: 1. Green Action Plan: Nancy Flynn and Piya have been trying to collect the information requested on the electric car charging station. 2. Library Improvements: Hanna is working on the list of materials. Bob moved that we donate $200 for environmental materials for the library. Kay seconded. The motion carried. 3. Helen Bartlett Memorial: Bob talked to Kevin Maloney, and Kevin suggested a tree in the triangle park at the foot of the Manchester bridge at Front Street and Western Avenue. 4. Recycling Extravaganza (April 11, 2015): Bob moved that we pay up to $1050 for paper shredding trucks if alternate funding cannot be secured. Cathy seconded. The motion carried. 5. Arbor Day (April 24, 2015): This is set for Longfellow School, where principal Dianne Thornburg is retiring. She has been an environmental advocate during her time in Wheaton schools. 6. Prairie Path Clean Up (April 25, 2015): Tracy reported that there is new leadership of the Illinois Prairie Path Group. The Wheaton event is scheduled and ready to go. 7. Native Plant Sale (April 25, 2015): Hanna reported that the group is organized, the plants are ordered, and rain barrels and compost need to be ordered ahead of the sale. 8. Monthly Electronics Recycling: Kay reported that New Life will be contracting with DuPage County. The monthly events in Wheaton will begin with the Recycling Extravaganza and then continue on the second Saturday of each month. Components collected in Wheaton will have the memory removed and shredded. There is a limit of two TVs and two monitors per car. Scrap metal and all types of batteries will be accepted. New Business: 1. Street Lamp Banners: Nancy Allured is researching purchasing bike banners.  2. Garbage Contract: Kay reported that there is a year and a half remaining on the city's contract with Advance Disposal, and negotiations will begin in September. Adjournment: Bob moved that the meeting be adjourned. Tracy seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10. The next regular EIC meeting is scheduled for March 24, 2015, at 7:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Cathy Coleman