Environmental Commission

MINUTES CITY OF WOODSTOCK ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING October 3, 2024 The Meeting of the City of Woodstock Environmental Commission was called to order by Vice Chair Steve Wenzel at 5:31 p.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2024. 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL COMMISSION MEMBERS ATTENDING: Ed Ellinghausen, Laurie Kacmar, Margaret Schneemann and Vice Chair Steve Wenzel. COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Chair Erica Poremba. STAFF ATTENDING: Public Works Director Brent Aymond and Deputy Clerk Bernie Walker. OTHERS PRESENT: None. 3. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Vice Chair Wenzel asked about the “DRAFT” watermark and it was explained that it signifies that the Commission hasn’t accepted the minutes yet and once accepted, the watermark will be removed. Motion by L. Kacmar, second by M. Schneemann to accept the minutes from the August 22, 2024 special meeting. Ayes: E. Ellinghausen, L. Kacmar, M. Schneemann and Vice Chair Wenzel. Nays: None. Absentees: Chair Poremba. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. 4. FLOOR DISCUSSION Anyone wishing to address the Commission on an item not already on the agenda may do so at this time. a. Public Comments: None. b. Commission Comments: None. 5. ITEMS OF BUSINESS a. Environmental Plan Update The Environmental Commission reviewed a few sections of the 2010 Environmental Plan and discussion ensued about adding and/or updating sections including climate, mitigation, local food policy/ordinance, farmland, community kitchens, catastrophe plan and names of natural areas (Alberts Meadow is now Donato). The Commission will review the rest of the Environmental Plan and share their recommendations at the next meeting. M. Schneemann will see if she can get a draft of CMAP’s plan to share with the Commission. She also recommended looking at the Greenest Region Compact (GRC) from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, which Woodstock adopted on October 20, 2020,  Page |2 10/3/2024 to see if there is anything they should add from it. Discussion ensued about GRC guidelines, check lists, and finding the GRC point of contact to see if they are tracking actions. The Commission may also utilize a status tracking sheet that C. Betz sent out in 2021. B. Walker will look for Council minutes/staff report and share with the Commission. B. Aymond will forward documents from M. Schneemann and L. Kacmar to the Commission for their review and possible inclusion in the updated Environmental Plan and he will also send a link to the updated Comp Plan. b. 2025 Environmental Commission Meeting Dates B. Aymond asked the Environmental Commission if they would like to continue meeting on the 1st Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. and the Commission agreed. The July meeting falls on July 3rd so they will revisit as they get closer to confirm there aren’t any conflicts. 6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - UPDATED a. Paper Straws / Eliminating Plastic Straws b. Kacmar’s Public Outreach Event Idea 7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS – MISCELLANEOUS a. Food Composting Program b. Rain Gardens c. Stormwater Runoff & Retention Management d. E. Ellinghausen’s Brine Study e. Class 3 Groundwater Recharge Area 8. UPDATES & OPPORTUNITIES a. Residential Composting B. Aymond asked the Commission if they would be in favor of exploring residential composting to which they are. 9. ADJOURN: Adjourn to regular meeting on Thursday, November 7, 2024 Motion by L. Kacmar, second by E. Ellinghausen, to adjourn this regular meeting of the Environmental Commission. Ayes: E. Ellinghausen, L. Kacmar, M. Schneemann and Vice Chair Wenzel. Nays: None. Absentees: Chair Poremba. Abstentions: None. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:34 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bernie Walker Deputy Clerk