Green Committee Packet 2008 11-24-08 t� Cl�y
_ o United City of Yorkville
800 Game Farm Road
EST. +aa6 Yorkville, Illinois 60560
Telephone: 630-553-4350
Fax: 630-553-7575
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AGENDA
YORKVILLE GREEN COMMITTEE
November 24, 2008
7:00 P.M.
Yorkville Public Library
First Floor Meeting Room
Mission Statement. To advise the City Council of the United City of Yorkville, Illinois on ways to enhance the
community environment and ways to equip and encourage citizens and businesses to participate in sustainable
ecological practices.
Call to Order:
Welcome Members and Guests:
Approval of Minutes: October 27, 2008
Committee Reports:
t. Education Committee
Old Business:
1. Plastic Bag Use Reduction Update
2. Special Events:
a. Rpt on the success of the first Yorkville Share & Care Recycling Day (Marta & Anne)
b. Spring Environment Fair((Lee & Stuepfert Co-Chairs)—narrow date and location info (need
calendar of City events for March 1 thru April 30) need ideas for speakers, topics, exhibits
3. Cutting CO2 - Committee(report individual progress)
4. Water Conservation
a. Creation of a Committee to review current ordinances and recommend any changes that would
result in a reduction in water usage
5. Tree Survey Recommendation (Cheryl)
6. Building Code Change—ASHRE to include LEED standards (Al) —table until January
7. Commercial Recycling (Business, Multi-family, School District):
a. City Council's Response to Green Committee's Call for more commercial recycling (Alderman
Allen)
8. Report on Nov 8 Hoffinan Estates/Schaumburg Environmental Fair (Stephanie & ?)
9. Zoning Ordinance Committee Update (Phil)
10. Kendall County Solid Waste Committee—create list of items the committee wants the plan to address
for Travis Miller
11. Electronic Recycling Perm Program progress (Marta, Stephanie, Alderman Allen)
New Business:
1. Kendall County Planning Consortium Goes Green held Nov 201h (Richard Scheffrahn)
2. Meeting Dates for 2009—consideration of Tuesday evening
3. Tree City(Richard Scheffrahn)
4. Budget for 2009-10 Fiscal Year
Additional Business:
No Remaining Meetings in 2008
Adjournment: Happy Holidays!
Yorkville Green Committee
October 27, 2008
Marta Keane—Member, Temporary Chairperson
Al Green - Member
Mariann Manthei - Member
Anne Engelhardt—Member, Temporary Secretary
Richard Scheffrahn - Member
Cheryl Lee—Member
Chuck Roberts - Member
Stephanie Boettcher—City of Yorkville
Bob Allen - Alderman, Ward l
Krista Sampson, Citizen
Absent: Graff, Stuepfert, and Schoeny.
Call to Order:
Meeting was called to order by Marta Keane at 7:02.
Welcome Members and Guests:
Approval of Minutes:
Richard Scheffrahn motioned to accept to minutes. Mariann Manthei seconded. All aye. Minutes were
approved.
Committee Reports:
1. Education Committee. No report as Keane and Anne Engelhardt have spent the past month working
on the recycling event.
Old Business:
1.Plastic Bags - Educational Efforts, Holiday Handout update.
Stephanie Boettcher reported that new re-usable bags with the city logo will cost $1.00 each. No funding
is available at this time. Keane asked if the City would consider approaching businesses for donations
of bags. Boettcher stated that the Green Committee can become responsible for this.
Al Green suggested that the bags be given out at the spring forum to the people in attendance.
Anne asked if the bags with the logo be part of a budget line item representing the Green Committee.
Keane asked if the Green Committee can write a recommendation for a line item in the next budget. She
noted that Glory Spies, Community Relations Officer, is covering some of the expenses, such as the
banner, printed material, and advertisements costs, for the Green Committee. Boettcher suggested to
get the recommendation turned in by February for the April budget.
Scheffrahn asked that we add this to our agenda in January to go over the Green Committee's estimated
expenses to be written as a recommendation for a line item in the 2009-2010 United City of Yorkville`s
budget.
2. Waubonsee Community College Energy Fair on Oct 18.
Cheryl Lee and Keane reported. Lee, Keane and Keane's husband, manned the booth for the Green
Committee from 9 a.m. —6 p.m. There were about 20 booths; some set up between 9 and noon.
Lee was approached twice that day by people asking about the leaf design on the banner. She asked the
committee to take a look at the banner.
Several people in attendance stopped and made suggestions for future projects or programs and some
inquired about the Green Committee. One suggestion was to have a "community garden" with sectioned
plots for growing vegetables. Scheffrahn mentioned that this seems to work out well in more urban areas.
Another suggestion to Lee was to have more "farmers' produce" rather than so many crafts at the
farmers' market in Yorkville on Saturday mornings. Boettcher explained that the Parks and Recreation
Department oversees this public service event; anyone who wants to bring their wares are welcome;
there are no restrictions, so there is no way to predict the volunteer vendors.
Lee also reported that Craig S. Zabel, from Sierra Club requested to come and do a 25- minute
presentation on "Smart Growth" for the Yorkville Green Committee. After some discussion, it was
decided that he should address the Committee in the new year.
Engelhardt recommended that in the future that several people commit to helping at events that require a
day of volunteerism. Lee agreed.
3. Oct 2 Green Town Conference in Aurora.
Boettcher reported that Mayor Burd attended and found it very interesting.
4. Special Events:
a, Report on Yorkville Share & Care Recycling Day to be held Nov 1.
Keane and Engelhardt reported. Several businesses, including the banks have been approached to give
financial assistance; none have replied. Publicity has been heavy, including 4,000 (approximate) fliers
handed out to nine schools, including the two private schools, and merchants at the Chamber's Trick or
Treat event on Sat. Oct 25'". There were 1,200 inserts made for bank transactions at seven banks.
Additional fliers were made to be handed out at community meetings, including Junior Women's Club,
Boy Scout Troop 40, Yorkville Girl Scouts, and churches. The Lion's Club sign on Route 47 downtown
has the info currently posted. A 30-minute radio program on WSPY is running and articles and ads in
the Kendall County Record are running.
Workers at the event will be from Boy Scout Troop 40, Yorkville Junior Women's Club, Yorkville
Congregational Green Group, along with Keane, and Engelhardt.
Engelhardt asked if anyone had cardboard boxes. Roberts offered to bring 10 large boxes. Engelhardt
also asked anyone who has a place to hand out fliers this week, to take some the remaining fliers.
Keane reported that Rosatti's will be donating 4 pizzas to the workers. She asked if someone from our
group could pick up the pizza. Manthei volunteered to do this.
Keane asked the Green committee members to give as much time as they could to help on Saturday.
The main jobs are to help unload cars, direct traffic, and to sort the items on to the designated tables.
The City will be asked to provide safety vests and cones. Engelhardt will talk to Officer Groesch to
borrow orange cones and traffic safety vests.
Roberts, Green, and Manthei will be there to help. Lee and Scheffrahn have previous obligations.
Lee reported that some members of Junior Women's Club will help as needed. They will also be
responsible for the cell phones.
b. Spring Environmental Seminar to include Water Conservation
It was suggested that this agenda item be addressed at the November meeting.
Lee explained that the Environmental Fair will cover many aspects of the environment, including a
component on water conservation. The fair will be promoted for both residents and businesses and will
include speakers and exhibits. A venue larger than the library will be needed. She envisions that it will
be held on a Saturday over several hours, as an open house, so that attendees can select the time they
want to attend. They can walk in and stay as long as they wish based on the choices in the schedule of
events for the day.
Re-usable bags, donated by local merchants, might be given out at this event; these will be helpful to
attendees to use for handouts.
Keane suggested the possibility of introducing the Cool Challenge to the public at this event.
Scheffrahn asked for the City to provide a calendar of events in the months of March- April so that the
date can be determined at the next meeting. In discussion it was suggested that the event be held in
March or early April before people begin spending more time outdoors.
5. Cutting CO2 - Committee (reports from members)
Some of the progress reported included changing current incandescent bulbs to CFLs and/or LEDs and
using timers for lights on outside lights.
Roberts suggested that Green Committee offer a contest for"Greenest Holiday Outdoor Decoration",
with an acknowledgement to winner, such as a framed certificate. Discussion supported the idea.
Keane will write the proposal to be sent to mayor. She will also draft the criteria to be used for judging
and send these to the Green Committee to review or suggest changes. If the proposal is approved, Keane
will ask Glory Spies to publicize the contest in the local newspaper and in the City's web site with the
contest announcement and application form for the "Greenest Holiday Outdoor Decoration." Roberts,
Lee, and Engelhardt agreed to judge the entries.
Low Carbon Diet books were handed out to committee ($10.40 each) and payments made to Engelhardt,
who ordered the books.
6. Water conservation
a. Progress on Recommendation to City Council.
Boettcher reported that there are no changes in ordinances or rates. Keane asked what will be the next
step if the Green Committee wants to make a change in the ordinance. Boettcher recommended that the
current ordinances (relating to the issue)be studied and the Green Committee write a specific new or
amended ordinance, which would then be sent as a proposal to the Mayor, who will determine if it will
advance to Public Works Committee or to the City Council. There was no further action determined by
the Committee.
b. Creation of a Committee
Keane wants to see a sub-committee to follow up on the recommendations to the ordinances to the City.
Boettcher summarized the action to date on this item: It has gone through the process and has gone to
the Public Works Committee twice; they have elected not to move forward with any particular ordinance.
It has been addressed by four alderman; the recommendations are to be handled at the staff level in the
city. She stated that if the Committee wants something additional to happen with the ordinance, it will
need to be addressed in detail by the Green Committee.
A Committee to address this was not formed at this time.
7. Tree Survey Recommendation
The tree survey is on hold; no action on the tree inventory. So that this idea does not become forgotten,
Lee volunteered to contact Alderman Plocher to check on the status in working with the high school
botany class for the inventory.
Roberts asked for explanation of this agenda item. Lee explained that the Green Committee
recommended that the High School (field botany class) to do the needed tree survey. Inventory(species,
age, location, etc.) is to be done on all existing trees in Yorkville, to be used in planning for future. This
information will give the City information on the value of the trees and how to plan for future planting.
Yorkville could be recognized as a"Tree City, which means that specific ordinances will be passed. A
certain number of trees have to be planted each year. Ordinances with various criteria can be put in place
to indicated different levels of compliance with the Tree City goals,
Lee commented that many positives can be realized: the survey can be done without charge to the City
and it gives students an opportunity to be engaged in a real-world job. A tree inventory will be good
task to accomplish; involve multiple facets of the community; can reduce Cot; and the public could
rally behind this one.
8. Building Code Change—ASHRE to LEED standards.
Green reported on anticipated building code change: ASHRE will include LEED standards for non-
residential buildings. Green also explained that ASHRE Standard 189 is waiting for final approval.
Green will give an update in January. Scheffrahn commented that the LEED standard is being changed
to reduce the carbon footprint by 10%.
9. List of Multi-Family buildings not included in City Contract [recycling]
10. List of Commercial Buildings [in City]
[Note: Agenda items 9 and 10 were discussed together.]
The Committee wants to know if multi-family dwellings have a contract for recycling.
Scheffrahn stated that recycling should be made available to residents in multi-family areas. He stated
that Kane County requires recycling in multi-family residences. The Green Committee can ask the City
to require the owners of multi-family residents to offer recycling.
Citizen Krista Sampson stated that she observed that the Yorkville Public School District recycling
containers are in classrooms,but are not in the cafeterias. Scheffrahn said that one the issues might be
the management of food contamination on the recyclable products.
Keane stated that the Plainfield School District in Will and Kendall County ceased collection with
Abititbi and currently has a contract with Waste Management to provide all the paper recycling Abitibi
provided,plus cardboard and chipboard and all drink containers (except milk cartons/juice bags).
Sampson suggested that milk cartons should be recycled and kids can be taught how to handle this.
Lee asked if the Green Committee should write a proposal that indicates desire to open conversations
with the schools. Scheffrahn stated that the City would not likely open the multi-year contract with
Veolia at this time.
Lee suggested using the Environmental Fair to put out information to the public on what is being done
and what should be done in terms of recycling in schools,
Keane explained that legally an 18-month time frame is needed to work with the waste companies in
order to change their contracts for franchise agreements.
Committee members expressed desire to acquire more facts on residential, multifamily, commercial
recycling contracts.
Boettcher stated that she can get the basic numbers of commercial buildings and multi-family
residencies in the city.
Keane suggested that the Green Committee write a survey to find out the facts on the recycling in
residential, multi-family, and commercial contracts. The Committee could write the questions and then
have City staff make the calls to get the information needed. She offered to write this as a proposal.
Lee said that the Committee is open to what the city Staff will suggest in terms of acquiring this
information.
Lee offered another approach to acquiring the information about recycling. She suggested that the
Committee put out a voluntary survey to residents in multi-family dwellings via the City's newsletter
and web site; this will avoid asking City staff to do this work,but may get the information desired.
Engelhardt added that the survey questions also be placed in the local newspaper. Lee offered to write
the survey proposal, as well as an article on plastic bags. Keane will follow up with the Mayor on this
item.
Scheffrahn motioned that Alderman Allen suggest to City Council to encourage the increase of
recycling at multi- family residencies, commercial buildings, and the school district (as a separate entity
due to the fact that the school district has its own recycling contract). Roberts seconded. All "yes".
Motion passed unanimously. This is a general information item to City Council.
Lee will write articles on the multi-family recycling efforts if this is approved by Mayor.
Alderman Allen recommended that the Green Committee become familiar with the various City
ordinances and codes. If the Committee wants something done, it needs to be very specific, as in a
proposal for an amended or new proposal. He recommended to address one thing, as opposed to several,
and address it in a specific way.
Engelhardt supported the idea that the Committee concentrate on one area- multi-family buildings--to
get the facts on how many units and where, and do the voluntary survey before approaching the city
with a recommendation or request.
Keane explained the different ways that commercial could be addressed, such as driving by building to
see if they had separate dumpsters for recycling or not.
Keane suggested following up with Travis Miller regarding commercial recycling and multi-family
recycling recommendations for the Kendall County Solid Waste Flan
11. Reminder: Nov 8 Hoffman Estate Schaumburg Environmental Fair.
Boettcher will be going to this Environmental Fair, Sat. Nov. S, 9 am—3 pm in Schaumburg, at Parier
Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court. She will present on the Yorkville Rain Garden. She
encouraged Committee members to attend and to see what they are doing since it will be similar to the
Green Committee's Environmental Fair in the spring. Boettcher will email the flier for this fair.
12. Zoning Ordinance Committee Update.
No report -the committee had not met yet. Scheffrahn is serving on this committee.
New Business:
1. Yorkville Green Committee Environmental Fair:
Lee and Stuepfert will co-chair this event. Lee suggested that the entire Green Committee should be
involved in the planning of the Community Forum.
Lee explained that last year's topic of water conservation will be a component of the "educational" part
of the Fair., along with several other topics.
Lee said the Committee make the public more aware and encourage the citizens to make their requests
known to the city.
Lee said to talk about what we have accomplished, using a bullet-pointed list of what we have
accomplished to date. We need to show our successes.
Boettcher recommended as part of the Environmental Fair the Green Committee make a presentation
about what the committee is about and to state that the public is invited to help support our directions for
the water conservation initiatives. To show the public what the Committee has accomplished and what
the committee hopes to achieve.
2. Lee reminded the Green Committee that they supported the plan to invite a gentleman from Sierra
Club who will have a 25-minute power point presentation, along with time for questions and answers.
Engelhardt suggested that this presentation be done at the February regular meeting. Boettcher
suggested that we ask Glory to put out an advertisement to invite the public to attend this meeting.
Keane motioned and Scheffron seconded. Motion passed.
3. November meeting will include (a) planning for the Environmental Fair; Green Group members are
requested to bring suggestions for speakers, topics, exhibits, etc. (b) and creating a list of items related
to recycling for Travis Miller to take to the Kendall County Solid Waste Committee in January.
Keane adjourned the meeting at 9:20 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Anne Engelhardt, Temporary Secretary