Environmental, Forestry, & Sustainability Commission

Village of Winnetka Environmental and Forestry Commission Meeting June 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM Winnetka Village Hall Council Chambers - 510 Green Bay Road AGENDA 1. Introduction & Chair's Remarks 2. Public Comments 3. Review and Approval of Minutes a. May 14, 2025 EFC Meeting Minutes 4. Old Business Updates 5. New Business a. Mid-Year Review and Goals b. Council Liaison Update and Farmers' Market Ideas 6. Communications a. Plan for New Comms 7. Committee/Staff Reports 8. Open Forum 9. Adjournment NOTICE All agenda materials are available at villageofwinnetka.org (Government > Council Information > Agenda Packets & Minutes); the Reference Desk at the Winnetka Library; or in the Manager’s Office at Village Hall (2nd floor). The Village of Winnetka, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requests that all persons with disabilities who require certain accommodations to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting or have questions about the accessibility of the meeting or facilities, contact the Village ADA Coordinator, at 510 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, Illinois 60093, 847-716-3543; T.D.D. 847-501-6041. Page 1 of 4  WINNETKA ENVIRONMENTAL AND FORESTRY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MAY 14, 2025 A record of a legally convened meeting of the Environmental and Forestry Commission of the Village of Winnetka, which was held in the Council Chambers at Village Hall, 510 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, Illinois, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. Call to Order: Chair Hanley called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Voting Members present: Chair Patrick Hanley and Commissioners Liz Kunkle, David Varca, Peter Eck, Tim Ring. A quorum of presently appointed members was present. Voting members absent: Gregory Frezados, Brandon Andrew. Village Council Representative present: Kim Handler and President Bob Dearborn. Student Representative absent: Scarlett Harper. Staff Liaison present: Elyse Steiner, Sustainability Coordinator. 1) Introduction & Chair’s Remarks: Chair Hanley announced he was stepping down from the Commission to run for IL State Senate. Commissioner Peter Eck has replaced him as Chair. 2) Public Comment: Ted Wynechenko and Patrick Hanley addressed the Commissioners. 3) Review and Approval of Minutes a) Approval of the March Regular Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Commissioner Ring, seconded by Commissioner Kunkle to approve the minutes as presented. AYES: KUNKLE , RING, VARCA, ECK. NAYS: NONE ABSENT: FREZADOS ANDREW 4) Old Business: None. 4) New Business a) Village Forestry update Village Forester, Andrew Lueck, gave a presentation on the scope and scale of responsibilities, challenges, and successes within the Village. There was some discussion of how we serve residents and can engage with them more going forward. Page 2 of 4  b) Friends of the Green Bay Trail update Bryan Lammers represented the Friends of the Green Bay Trail and gave a presentation about the plans for the Trail in Winnetka, where they have removed invasive Buckthorn and will be planting beneficial native plants. The Village has worked with the FGBT to haul debris, order the plants, and will contribute to an educational sign at Ash Street. It may be possible to have the Ash Street plot designated a Hometown National Park, which recognizes hyper-local efforts to rebuild native habitat. c) Changes to EFC leadership and priorities Staffing changes were introduced earlier in the meeting during Chair’s Remarks. President Dearborn communicated his intention for the commission to act and deliver results. Trustee Handler wants to have a regular presence at the Farmers’ Market this year engaging with residents to promote initiatives and get feedback. She will follow up on scheduling and topics. She also voiced her support for finding solutions to the Village’s environmental challenges. d) Climate Action Plan Elyse solicited proposals from four consultants to support the Village’s Climate Action Plan. The Plan’s scope includes conducting a baseline GHG inventory, identifying actions to reduce emissions, and setting a long-term emission reduction target consistent with the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. 5) Communications: Commissioners discussed the need for a better file sharing system to save, review, and edit EFC work products. Elyse agreed to look into technical solutions to solve this problem. Elyse shared that communications should focus on services or programs available to residents rather than suggest behavioral changes. The EFC wants to conduct a review any past communications documents or timelines. 6) Commission/Staff Reports: With the elections finished and seats filled, Trustee Dearborn said the Caucus may be looking to conduct another Village survey. Commissioner Ring shared his research into road salt practices. Partnerships such as Salt Smart and NOAA’s Sea Grant program can support winter road salt practices to reduce waste and avoid excess salt washing into freshwater resources. Page 3 of 4  For the June meeting, the EFC recommended a mid-year “status check” to review the first half of the year and plan for the second half. 7) Open Forum: None. 8) Adjournment: There being no further business, Chair Eck asked for a motion to adjourn which was moved by Commissioner Varca and seconded by Commissioner Kunkle. The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote; the meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m. Page 4 of 4