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Green Committee Minutes 2011 04-25-11 APPROVED 5/23/11 Meeting Minutes YORKVILLE GREEN COMMITTEE April 25, 2011 7:00 P.M. - Yorkville Library 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: Keane called the meeting to order at 7: 09. Welcome Members and Guests: Marta Keane, Chairperson; Anne Engelhardt, Secretary; Richard Scheffrahn; Al Green; Seaver Tarulis; Paul Zabel, liaison for City of Yorkville. Cheryl Lee arrived Guests at 7:20 p.m. : Dana Lacey, YHS Student; Jeremy and Lorelli Deml, residents; Troy List, resident; Norm Johnson, Member of Chamber of Commerce Green Committee; Amy Cesich, member of City of Yorkville Parks Board. Approval of Minutes: February Minutes & March Minutes – moved to later in meeting. At 8:10, Scheffrahn motioned to approve the minutes. Tarulis seconded. Vote: approved by majority; Green abstained. New Business: 1.Illinois Electronic Legislation – support request. Keane reported on the progress. They are looking at a longer list of electronics to be banned from Illinois landfills. The bill has expanded the list of items that must become the responsibility of the manufacturers to recycle. Keane made a motion to request the City of Yorkville write a letter of support this bill which will result in free electronic recycling if passed. Scheffrahn seconded the motion. Zabel requested Keane to draft a letter and Email it to him. Vote: All yes. 2.Bicycle Path Funding Efforts – support request. Amy Cesich gave a report for Diane Tealing, Alderwoman for Ward 4., who was unable to attend. Teeling started the idea to privatizing the funding to the proposed bicycle trail. Rather than have the City handle the funds, a not-for-profit will be formed to handle all the donations. Keane questioned who is voting on the formation of the not-for-profit? Cesich answered that it will be either EDC or Public Works. Lynn Dubicek, Director of EDC (Economic Development Commission) and Teeling will meet to suggest members of the committee, which will then take steps for forming a not-for-profit and Board of Directors. Keane: As individual citizen, I completely support this idea. The bicycle trail will enhance community as a whole, with safety of children and adults who need to travel by bicycle, and it may enhance tourism along the Fox Rive. Keane commented she does not live in the City. Scheffrahn: A number of people live outside of the city limits, but they still make significant contributions to the community at large. A few feet outside of the City there are bike trails to the Fox Valley area, to Chicago, to Indiana and many other locations. Jeremy Deml: I support the bicycle trail project and emphasize the safety for bicyclists. Amy Lesich: Kendall County voted down putting in a bicycle path out in the county roads. There is legitimate concern about the safety for the bicyclists and pedestrians. She would like to have any interested members of the Green Committee get involved with the Bicycle Path Committee. The vote was very close both times it was on as a referendum. Scheffrahn: Does the Yorkville Chamber of Commerce have any interest in supporting the bicycle trail? Lee: I cannot speak for the Chamber of Commerce as a whole, which is a very large organization. However, some businesses will benefit by having trails. A majority of the Chamber’s Green Committee are supportive. Engelhardt: After the success of the first phase, more people will likely be supportive for future phases. Lesich: The key is to be positive about the issue. Engelhardt: How has the maintenance of the path been addressed? Scheffrahn: Get some cost estimates from the City (Parks Department). Green: City will have to sign the letter to IDOT and sign-off on the contract for construction and maintenance. Engelhardt: People who support the concept of “less government/ less tax should really like this approach and many may want to get behind it. For those who complain about the inequity between those who pay for it and those who use it, the donors know that they are giving a gift to the community. Keane: What is the time line for the funding? Lesich: City must make a decision “yes or no” by September 2011. The group will likely try to raise the entire $130,000 before September. Troy List: Trailsare a potential mode of transportation; they provide safety; bicycle trails makes the community more attractive; the high cost of gas today should make the trails attractive. People need to know all the possible mechanisms to fund the maintenance. List: Will city of Yorkville “own” the path? Scheffrahn: Yes. There are state standards which IDOT oversees. In the end, the state turns it over to the city for maintenance. Lee: May 16 – 20, 2-11 is “National Bike to Work Week”. Use the next month [May] to get some information in the paper and other publicity; and get a “Fund-raising event planned. Lee invited the Committee to have an exhibit at the Green Holiday Under the Stars on July th 8. Engelhardt: As a Green Committee, I think we would prefer to wait until we are presented with a more concrete proposal in writing. The new bicycle path committee may bring us details at our May meeting, at which time we can dialogue and vote to determine support by the Green Committee. Green: Individually we can give our spoken support. Lesich: This will be a great asset to the community – the businesses, the sale and resale of properties. Lee: How many total feet of trail? Lesich: 15,000 feet. Engelhardt: I suggest that at one point in the collection --- maybe when the total dollars are raised for phase one, there be a contribution board/ wall with names of donors and then placed in the City Park, downtown, or a place along the trail. 3.Rain barrel project. Lee described “Rain barrels on Parade”. She stated that the Chamber of Commerce Green Committee would like to take over this project from the City’s Green Committee. They are interested in having this project take place this spring. Keane commented that the Green Committee’s sub-committee decided to hold off on project this for this spring for several reasons. Lee mentioned the barrels [found by Jackie Dearborn] are inexpensive and available. The Chamber is interested in taking on the project now - this spring - and targeting Hometown Days for the Auction of the painted rain barrels. The Chamber’s Green Committee might tie it into the fund-raising for the Bike Trail. There is considerable interest from some of the businesses that have heard about the idea. Norm Johnson asked about a realistic time for the Green Committee’s information to City. They [Chamber Green Committee] need to know as soon as possible, so they will be able to drive the Rain Barrel Fund-raising Project. The Green Committee members agreed to hand over this project to the Chamber’s Committee and they will assist if and when possible. 2010-2011 Green Teen Award 4. Lee motioned that the selected Green Teen be honored at the City Council meeting on th Tuesday, May 10 and then honored by his/her peers at the YHS Honors Night, on Tuesday May 24th Engelhardt seconded. Vote: All yes. Committee Reports: th 1.Environmental Fair Committee - March 5 Final Summary Lee requested to table this item until May, at which time Dearborn and Lee will have a summary. Zabel asked some questions about the contract with the Kendall County Fair Grounds. Engelhardt recommended that the entire contract be handed over to Marlin Hartman, Director of Department of Environmental Waste. Hartman has dealt with the th contract the past two years. Engelhardt pointed out that Oct 15 is the date of the YHS homecoming. There was discussion about possibly changing the time of the Care & Share Recycling event that day, possibly starting late. TA time frame of 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. was suggested and will be determined in the future. 2.Rain Barrel project. Lee explained the initial planning by the Chambers Green Committee. Engelhardt provided information from the research she obtained for the retrofitting. She will meet with Lee and Johnson to go over these details. Some discussion ensued regarding the funding and publicity for the project. Scheffrahn motioned that the profit from the Go Green Fair be transferred to the Chamber of Commerce Green Committee to be applied to the initial purchase of the rain barrels and to be reimbursed to the City later into the project. Tarulis seconded. Vote: All yes. 3.Green Music Under the Stars - July (Rain Barrels are now being handled by the Chamber.) th 4.Share & Care Recycling Event – Oct 16 Planning Update 5.School Outreach - Update 6.Plastic Bag Reduction – Illinois Legislation Update 7.Water Conservation Committee – Recommendations progress report a.Stormwater Management Program Plan 8.Chamber Green Committee - Update Recommendation Progress Reports: 1.Tree Survey Recommendation - progress report 2.Tree City Recommendation - progress report 3.Electronic Recycling Perm Program progress – monthly totals, tour on June 27 4.Recycling in Parks, Athletic Fields, etc – grant update 5.Budget Line Items – Deposits, Expenses Old Business: 1.Solar Power Plant presentation Keane reported that the letter prepared and supported by the Green Committee was sent to the Mayor. Engelhardt suggested that mayor-elect Golinski to come to meeting in the future so that we can review what the Green Committee has accomplished to date and to share our positions on some current issues. Scheffrahn motioned that The Green Committee ask Golinski to attend the May 23, 2011, Green committee meeting and to share with us his thoughts about what he would like to see the Green Committee work on the next year. Green seconded the motion. Vote: All “yes.” 2.Clean Air Counts – Gold Level 3.Yorkville School Green Efforts Update 4.Building Code Update Committee a.Update on ASHRAE Std 189.1 -Paul reported that updates will be going to the May EDC meeting for recommendation. 5.Zoning Ordinance Committee Update - Green reported that they are working on Chapter 10 of 20. 6.Wind Turbine Ordinance Progress 7.Cool City Challenge Action Plan 8.Community Garden Project Additional Business: 1.Report from Jackie Dearborn, Green Committee Staff Liaison / Paul Zabel th 2.May 16-20 is Bike to Work Week and Friday, May 20 is Bike to Work Day Adjournment: Keane adjourned the meeting at 9:11. 2011 Meeting Schedule May 23 July 25 Sept 26 Nov 28 Jan 23 June 27 Aug 22 Oct 24 No Dec Meeting Feb 27