Green Committee Minutes 2009 01-26-09 APPROVED
YORKVILLE GREEN COMMITTEE 0?-A-C)9
January 26, 2009
7:00 P.M.
Yorkville Public 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:
Marta Keane, chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:01p.m..
Welcome Members and Guests:
Members: Marta Keane, Anne Engelhardt, Mariann Manthei, Cheryl Lee, Richard Scheffrahn, Phil
Stuepfert
Mayor Valerie Burd
Yorkville City Council: Rose Spears, Robert Allen, Gary Golinski
City Staff: Stephanie Boettcher, Travis Miller, Dave Mogle, Bart Olson, Glory Spies
Residents: George Gilson, Judy Gilmour, Fred DuSell, Glen Poole Sr., Jan Poole, Deanna Bazan.
Order of business changed per request of Alderman Allen.
Old Business: #5. Commercial Recycling (Business, Multi-Family, School District). Allen reported
that he spoke to Mayor Burd and Bart Olson, Assistant City Administrator. Allen suggested the Green
Committee go in one of three possible directions to increase Commercial Recycling: (1) Make a
recommendations to the Mayor that could be placed on the Public Works Committee to pursue a
franchise agreement; (2) Make a recommendation to the Mayor that could be placed on the Public
Works Committee to require businesses to recycle at least one item; (3) Make a recommendation to the
Mayor that Commercial Businesses be encouraged to recycle through an educational effort.
Bart Olson explained the requirements for non-residential (commercial) waste agreement in the
form of a franchise. New regulations in the process include (1) notifying all waste haulers in the area, (2)
holding a public hearing, and (3) posting a public notice for the hearing. RFP process includes bidding
and a wait time of 15 months before the final selection can be made.
The community Olson is familiar with is Oak Brook Terrace, which has a franchise agreement
for non-residential waste collection. If the Green Committee is interested in this method for
commercial, the Green Committee must make a formal recommendation to the Mayor, who will give
this to City Staff for information gathering, or to the Council for further research and discussion (Public
Works Committee).
After some discussion by the Green Committee, Engelhardt motioned that the Green Committee
write a formal recommendation (a) to encourage commercial/ business waste recycling by requesting
their volunteer efforts, and (b) to request the City Council to research a franchise agreement for
commercial/business waste recycling. Lee seconded the motion. Vote: all yes. Engelhardt and Keane
will write the recommendation.
Approval of Minutes: Three corrections to the November 24, 2008 include the spelling of
"ASHRAE", under item 2b. Danielle Ebersole works for the Kendall County Forest Preserve; and on
the approval of minutes, last line, Allen is not a "liaison"; Scheffrahn motioned to accept the minutes of
the meeting of November 24, 2008 with the corrections. Stuepfert seconded. Vote: all yes.
Committee Reports:
1. Education Committee—volunteers for articles? (Marta&Anne)
The sign-up sheet for articles seems to be missing. Boettcher will check her file. If the sign-up sheet
is not located, Keane will use email to request each committee member to sign up for a topic and the
month to write it. (See minutes Nov. 24, 2008, for procedures agreed upon by the Green Committee.)
2. Environmental Fair Committee—date, location, etc. (Cheryl & Phil)
• Cheryl handed out the tentative schedule of speakers for the Environmental Fair, March 21,
2009. There are two rooms planned for speakers to be used simultaneously. It was
suggested to have 30 chairs in each location.
• For the Rain Garden segment, it was suggested to contact Megan Andrews, from the Kendall
County Soil and Water Conservation District
• Track three, activities for children, is tentatively planned to be held in the small gym.
• A logo contest for students in Yorkville schools will begin with handouts to the schools. An
award will be presented at the Fair by Mayor Burd, the next environmental fair may include a
science fair, with exhibits by students.
• Deanna Bazan, with the Kendall County Outdoor Education (KOEF) -- has been asked to fill
track three with leaders to hold activities for children. Any suggestions from the Green
Committee can be directed to either Lee or Stuepfert.
• Lee, with the help of City Staff, is working on the application form for exhibitors. The
application will be sent out to exhibitors and to the Chamber after it is completed.
• Lee needs some details, such as number of tables and chairs are available, the size and floor
space available in the Center, and availability of electricity. Dave Mogle stated that the
Center and City have the needed tables and chairs. Lee will make a computer-generated
space plan for the exhibitors.
• Sci Tech, from Aurora has expressed interest in participating.
• Lee will check on audio visual equipment. The City has projectors.
• Village Grind will provide beverage service. They would like to have access to the hallway
near their business.
• A pizza vendor is not yet confirmed.
• A non-profit group that wants to bring in snacks as a fundraiser may do this in the lobby.
Groups must contact the committee.
• A walk-through of the Center, including Sue Swithin, Stephanie Boettcher, and Cheryl Lee.
The date will be set when all are available, probably next week.
• Lee will give the completed agenda and schedule to Glory Spies to be used for publicity.
• A publicity meeting will be Tues. Jan 27, 5:30, in Conference Room in City Hall. Boettcher,
Spies, Lee, Stuepfert, Keane, Engelhardt will attend.
• Lee will send publicity information to the Chamber of Commerce.
• Goal is to have a zero balance. Any profits will be given to cover publicity costs and other
related expenditures.
• The application form includes the fees for booths, including options, such as electricity and
table skirts. Non-profit organizations will not be charged for a booth.
• (See attachments about the Environmental Fair.)
3. Water Conservation Committee (Al and Richard)
Scheffrahn asked to table this until February meeting.
Old Business:
1. Budget for 2009-10 Fiscal Year; list of all expenses from 2008, project 2009 costs (Glory, Anne)
Glory will email the expenses that this Committee incurred in 2008.
Lee asked if the Green Committee is allowed to fund raise. Lee knows of corporations
that may be willing to make donations. Burd stated that any money raised by donations
or earned by fundraising events must be channeled to the City and must be included in
the City's next budget as a line item for the Green Committee. The City can handle these
donations, similar to a banking situation.
Engelhardt asked about including anticipated costs for rental of space for recycling days,
once or twice a year. Bard suggested that the new building at the Public Works Dept or at
Tower Lane be considered first as a location for this event.
At the February meeting, the Green Committee will address the issue of anticipated
yearly expenses, possible donations, and the need to have a line item in the next City
budget.
2. Tree Survey Recommendation (Mayor Burd & Cheryl)
Tabled until April.
Brief discussion indicated that this project be addressed so that it coordinates with the start of the
2009-2010 school year.
3. Tree City Recommendation (Richard)
Olson is in phase one of policy analysis, figuring costs, and then will be presented to the Mayor.
Scheffrahn said that the projected costs should include the new census totals. Cost is figured on
per capita. The February agenda will include an update on this item.
4. Building Code Change—ASHRAE to include LEED standards (Al)
Table until February for an more in-depth discussion.
5. Commercial Recycling (Business, Multi-family, School District):
a. City Council's Response to Green Committee's Call for more commercial recycling
(Alderman Allen) -See above.
b. Zoning Ordinance Committee Update (Richard)—
Tabled until February.
6. Electronic Recycling Perm Program progress (Stephanie & Bart)
Olson reported that it was on the Public Works Committee last agenda, there was agreement, and
the recommendation now will go to City Council at their Feb 24 meeting. Olson explained that a
few months ago the City staff was working on a grant application for a shed to be used for
electronic drop-off. . Half way through this application process, they received a proposal from
Com 2. This company presented a proposal for all types of electronic waste. Citizens will be
able to drive up to the Yorkville Public Works facility, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30
p.m. and drop off electronics in a bin. When the bin is filled, it will be picked up by company.
Television and monitors will have a fee. Televisions and monitors will have a small fee to be
paid at City Hall before dropping off, people with computer hard drives will be required to sign a
waiver to release the computer with its data for recycling. There will also be instructions for
how to remove personal data, following guidelines. The cost for this service will be near zero.
There will be no cost for the location. There will be minimal operational costs, dropped off items.
Engelhardt requested that the City seriously consider offering extended hours for the public, such
as one evening per month or one Saturday morning per month, due to the fact that the majority of
the public is working during the time of the drop-off hours. Olson agreed to bring back this
concern.
Lee asked that cell phones be collected in a separate box to be handled by the Yorkville Junior
Women's club. Olson will look into this.
Keane gave information about Best Buy, which will be taking back all electronic items free of
charge beginning February 15, 2009. Best Buy will have a $10.00 charge for monitors, but will
give out a $10.00 in-store coupon in exchange for the payment. Keane also stated that by 2012
there will be more legislation in place for take-back by retailers on electronic items.
The electronics recycling proposal will be on the agenda of the Feb 24 City Council meeting.
Green Committee was encouraged to support this at the council meeting.
7. Kendall County Solid Waste Committee—Provide committee positions to Travis Miller.
Richard Scheffrahn also serves on this committee. Miller reported that there have been three
meetings to date. Miller gave a handout on the status of issues. County has so far addressed
the solid waste issues, specifically recycling. Modification came out of the committee
discussion. A new item, construction waste, was addressed. Scheffrahn explained that the text
of the document was updated. Recycling has been pushed to have a greater emphasis.
Currently, Kendall County recycles 30% of the total waste collected.
Lee asked what the Green Committee can do to help educate the public as to the importance of
recycling. Miller stated that the committee should continue what it is already doing.
In discussion at the Kendall County Solid Waste Committee meetings, it was suggested that
commercial users concentrate on recycling one item, particularly the one largest item of their
waste, such as cardboard or glass. Kendall County requires licensing of the haulers. He said that
it is difficult to get real difficult to get real numbers from the haulers. Scheffrahn explained that
trash collection is different in the rural, less dense area in the county.
Engelhardt asked what percentage number represents. Miller explained that the percentage shows
the weight of the recycling. Engelhardt asked if the meetings are open to the public for
observation. Miller answered "yes". The next meeting is February 24 at the Kendall County
Health Department. Miller will provide the meeting dates and topics to the Green Committee.
The meetings of this group will continue until August 2009. Public hearings will follow.
Keane asked Miller if he wanted to have opinions from the Green Committee on the various
issues on the agenda. Burd said that she would like the Green Committee to give opinions on the
issues coming up.
The issue of composting (and the word-editing for recycling) will be the topic for the February
meeting. It was necessary to address the topic of composting tonight to have time to get this in
recommendation form to the mayor.
Lee would like to see "teaming up" with other municipalities on recycling efforts. Burd will be
looking into the Metro West coalition for examples of kinds of recycling efforts.
Anne offered an opinion. Ideally, if there is 100% citizen compliance with handling their own
waste, there would be no need of a compost site. Realistically, there will always be citizens and
situations where people cannot deal with their own home and yard waste. Therefore, government
agencies will need to provide a service for composting. The sites need to be safe and clean to
protect the public and have stringent oversight.
Lee inquired if municipalities were to have a composting facility, could the city re-sell compost
to citizens and make the operation financially self-supporting. Scheffrahn stated that this is very
expensive for a municipality to run its own recycling facility, but some communities hire a
company, from which to sell and to buy composted material for land application.
Burd suggested that another possible way to handle compost is to work with local farmers to
provide the landscape waste for land application.
The Green Committee members discussed composting issues. They expressed the need for
public education, including how individuals can do some of their own yard and home
composting. One suggestion was to have a county compost demonstration site. The City of
Yorkville chips its own brush and re-uses it as valuable compost material. A citizen commented
that Rockford collects and disperse composted material, but a private business is employed to
actually handle the waste.
The IPEA recently allowed a local compost facility to increase its land application from 20 T per
acre to 80 T per acre without notice to contingent property owners and without input from the
public by public hearing. An amendment was created with the assistance of Rep. Lindner to
require input through a public hearing process of all adjacent land owners to any land application
site that the EPA is considering allowing to increase its tons per acre Mayor Burd reviewed the
amendment that is being supported by the City Council and other municipalities. Newly elected
Rep Hatcher is following up on this proposed legislation.
Engelhardt motioned that the Green Committee (1): support the city's amendment to the Illinois
Pollution Control Act; the amendment states that before Illinois grant any increase in compost of
tons per acre, adjacent land owners be notified for their input and that public hearings on this
proposed change be held. and (2) encourage public education, including demonstrations,
regarding home and yard composting by residents, and (3) support vigilant regulation and
oversight of all composting facilities.
Lee seconded. Vote: all yes.
Keane and Engelhardt will write the formal recommendation and send to it to Mayor Bard, who
will pass it along to Miller to bring to the Kendall County Solid Waste Committee prior to their
Feb 24 meeting.
The Green Committee will address the upcoming topics of the Kendall County Solid Waste
Committee one month prior to their meeting .
The following is a list of the upcoming topics.
a. Landfill Position; Transfer Station Position
b. Household Hazardous Waste Position
c. Recycling Positions (residential, commercial, drop-offs, electronics, etc.)
d. Buy Recycled Policy/ Land Application Position/Compost Site Position/C&D
e. Combustion for energy recovery- April
8. Plastic Bag Use Reduction Update Allen stated that he gave a summary report to City Council
expressing that the Green Committee encourages citizens and businesses to reduce the number of
plastic bags by using re-usable shopping bags.
Mayor Burd suggested that the Green Committee work with the Chamber of Commerce on ways
to give recognition or awards businesses that demonstrate environmentally positive practices.
One idea is to award business with a "green emblem", awarded to any business meeting a set of
criteria for being "green." The green emblem can be displayed at the business. Lee suggested
that Chamber could have a Green Business of the Year award, and that business be recognized at
the yearly banquet.
Lee and Stuepfert would like to have a Green Committee sub-committee to develop a list of
criteria for the businesses and bring the list back to the Green Committee for input and approval,
then present it to the Chamber.
Lee reported on the progress of purchasing and printing logos on reusable shopping bags for the
Environmental Fair. She researched different bags and printing fees. She stated that imprint fee
with multiple logos will be expensive.
Engelhardt suggested that each business simply donate their own bags for donation to the
attendees at the Fair. This will simplify the process by not purchasing bags and by not getting
logos printed. It will also keep down the costs. The main objective—to encourage the use of re-
usable shopping bags—will be achieved.
Manthei volunteered to help get local companies to donate bags. Lee will now ask for donations
of bags by the various exhibitors.
Boettcher clarified with Mayor Burd if the Green Committee needs to be authorized by the city
to ask for donations of bags for the Fair. Bard explained that the Green Committee can ask for
donations, but not money.
Since there are still leftover CFLs from last year, the CFLs will be given out to attendees at the
Environmental Fair.
Scheffrahn volunteered to contact a leader of the local Girl scouts to request their help and
involvement in the Environmental Fair.
Lee stated that the Fair committee needs outdoor displays such as energy -saving vehicles, such
as an electric car or hybrids. She asked that any input be directed to her or to Phil.
9. Cutting CO2 - Committee (report individual progress) - tabled until February meeting
New Business:
1. May 2009 meeting date needs to be changed. May 25 is Memorial Day. The Green Committee
will need to move to a different day. Wed. May 27 was suggested. Boettcher will check on the
city calendar and report back next month.
2. Feb 23 — Meeting will be held in the City Council chamber room. (Yorkville public library is
booked for another meeting on this date.)
3. Staff Liaison Update — Boettcher emphasized that all communication with the City needs to be
channeled to and through her office. All business needs to go directly to her or copied (email) so
that she is fully informed of all steps in planning and decision-making. She will coordinate all
business with the staff. Anything that involves publicity must also be copied (email) to Glory
Spies. Boettcher is the liaison to the City, the "go-to" person on all business.
Additional Business:
Engelhardt handed out information about a community movie night, Feb 21, 7:00 p.m. at the
Yorkville Public Library. The movie, Garbage: The Revolution Begins at Home, will be shown free to
residents. The event is sponsored by the Green Group of the Yorkville Congregational United Church
of Christ. The Green Committee members are invited.
Adjournment:
Scheffrahn motioned for the meeting to be adjourned. Manthei seconded. Vote: All yes.
2009 Meeting Schedule
February 23 May 27 ??? June 22 September 28
March 23 July 27 October 26
April 27 August 24 November 23