Green Committee Minutes 2009 03-23-09 MINUTES APPM,YORKVILLE GREEN COMMITTEE 9 R
March 23, 2009
7:00 P.M.
Yorkville Public Library
First Floor Meeting Room
Mission Statement: To advise the City Council o`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 7:00 p.m.
Welcome Members and Guests: Members: Marta Keane, Anne Engelhardt, Mariann Manthei,
Richard Scheffrahn, Cheryl Lee, Al Green; City: Stephanie Boettcher, Guests: Danny DuCharme and
Larry Cooper; Jessica Dexter, representative from Environmental Law and Policy Center
Approval of Minutes: Scheffrahn motioned to approve the minutes for meeting of February 23, 2009.
Engelhardt seconded. Vote: all "yes".
Committee Reports:
1. Education Committee—volunteers for articles. Engelhardt and Lee have articles and will email
these to Keane. Lee reported that the K Co Record will be doing a"Home Improvements"
section;, and the Green Committee is invited to contribute articles. Lee will email information on
this to Keane to pass on to the committee.
2. Environmental Fair Committee—update. Lee reported that it was very successful; There were
approximately 600 attendees; 95 % of vendors responded that they are interested in returning
next year. Suggestions for next Fair include (1) improvement to PA system; (2) may be able to
add 8 — 10 vendors next year; (3) a date in late Feb or earlier in March; (4) reduce the number of
seminars but lengthen the time of each, possibly include discussion time; later sessions had
fewer attendees; (5) schedule for speakers to include an open time slot for just viewing exhibits;
(6) make kids' activities one of the highlighted events; (6) network with other groups in the
community to have monthly presentations, on environmental topics, in the library during the
year; (7) improve signage and circulation; (8) not enough room to walk around to get into the
exhibit area; consider walking straight in or limiting number of lanes for use on the track to give
one lane to fair-goers; (9)check into getting megaphone from YPD for announcements; (7) cost
was reasonable, but vendors responded that they would pay double; (8) perhaps do an ad that
features the vendors; (9) a lunch meeting at the Chamber on a relevant or timely
environmental topic.
Lee is working with Chamber's sub-committee for Environmental Issue, which is creating
criteria for awarding Green Business of the Year and is working closely with the City.
There was discussion of possible dates for date for the 2010 Fair. March 6 is the first choice,
Feb 27`h second choice. Lee will ask Sue Swithin for input.
3. Water Conservation Committee—Recommendations progress report (3`d Tues) The
recommendation went to the Mayor today. If this goes to Public Works Committee, Green and
Scheffrahn will be available to attend. Recommendations include taking out the sod
requirement and wording clarifications.
4. Plastic Bag Reduction - Manthei stated that she has been asked, "Where can I take plastic bags
for recycling?" She stated that Jewel in Yorkville is one place to take plastic bags. Lee
mentioned that people can take plastic bags to Food Pantry. Manthei motioned to recommend
that Mayor Burd and a Jewel manager have a photo taken next to the plastic bag recycling
container. Scheffrahn seconded. Vote- All "yes". Keane will write the recommendation.
Recommendation Progress Reports:
1. Tree Survey Recommendation. This recommendation will be tabled until April. GIS will be used
to map the trees. Interns working with the City will have this as one of their projects. Interns
will be hired subject to receiving a Full Circle Grant from Illinois.
2. Tree City Recommendation. Franchise Agreement Recommendation has been submitted to the
City; the budget for this will be on agenda at City Council tomorrow, March 24. Keane
suggested that Scheffrahn review the budget on-line. If the budget does not adequately meet the
recommendation from the Green Committee, he was asked to send information to Keane who
will then contact the Mayor.
3. Franchise Agreement. Lee is able to bring this idea to the Chamber; Scheffrahn commented that
the City may be more likely to support a Franchise Agreement if there is support of businesses.
He suggested that the Chamber, at the very least, should lay groundwork for the City; the
Chamber can educate and make suggestions.
4. Electronic Recycling Permanent Program progress report. The E-waste bin was delivered today.
The operation will be worked on this week by City staff. For promotion a press release will be in
the Record and information will be included in April water bill for all City residents. Televisions
have a fee required to be paid for at City Hall, M- Fr 7:30—3:30, before dropping it off for
recycling.
Engelhardt would like to see an additional two hours on one Saturday per month to
accommodate people who are working at the time the City facility is opened. Lee suggested that
the Green Committee staff one day per month; Boettcher said that the City would still need to be
paid to be on-site. Public Works crews might be working on Saturdays. Scheffrahn suggested
that the system be allowed to work for a month and that the Green Committee should address
this concern at the next meeting.
5. Budget Line Item for Environmental Education that allows fundraising. All agreed that is
needed. Scheffrahn asked for a financial report on the Environmental Fair.
Old Business:
I. Zoning Ordinance Committee Update. Green agreed to be appointed to Zoning Ordinance
Commission; it is a year commitment.
2. Kendall County Solid Waste Committee—Feedback. After discussion, the Green Committee
recommended that the Kendall County Solid Waste Committee adhere to the Illinois hierarchy
for solid waste management with landfills being the last-choice solution, and that they promote
better, alternative solutions for solid waste management. Should a transfer station be allowed in
Kendall County, the Green Committee recommends that it be designed to support recycling
purposes. Green made the motion; Lee seconded. Vote: "Yes" -- Green, Lee, Scheffrahn,
Engelhardt, Keane. "No"—Manthei. Motion passed.
3. Cutting CO2. Create an Educational Outreach Subcommittee. Lee wrote an article on "Carbon
footprint". Lee and Engelhardt will co-write a series of articles on carbon footprint.
4. Share & Care Recycling Event 2009. City's contract with Com2 allows for 2 additional and
separate collection days. Engelhardt and Keane will check on the size and layout of the recently
acquired City public works building.
Manthei reported that the Yorkville Public Library is planning to have book sale on
Hometown Days on a Sunday, with specific guidelines for donated books. Lee asked if the
Library will take old books to "giveaway." The Friends of the Library will have specific
information on this event.
Discussion led to possible dates of October 24 or October 17 for the next Share & Care
Recycling Event.
Keane mentioned the possibility of networking with other groups, such as SWCD (motor oil
recycling every spring) or a group to handle tires. There may be a charge for standard tires (cars
and pickup trucks); also a truck will be needed to haul these. The recycling committee will
investigate. As soon as possible, the venue and the date will need to be set; the "special events
form" will be completed and sent to the Mayor, who will then give the information to City
Council. Engelhardt and Keane agreed to chair this event again.
New Business:
1. Earth Hour is Saturday, March 28 at 8:30pm. Green Committee members are supportive.
2. Wind Turbine Ordinance. The summary is in the report section. Keane stated that the Green
Committee supports the concept of an ordinance for wind turbines to generate alternative energy.
The Public Works committee meeting which will be addressing this issue will be held as a public
meeting on April 7; the draft of the ordinance will be sent to Public Works Committee prior to
April 2-3`d; members of the Green Committee can make comments on this revision to the
committee members prior to the April 7°1 committee meeting. Keane motioned to request a copy
of the revised ordinance for Green Committee to review prior to the April 7`h public works
committee meeting. Engelhardt seconded. Vote: all "yes."
3. Keane reported on an Illinois bill that will allow quarries for landfills. After discussion, Keane
motioned that the Green Committee recommends that any quarry sited for a landfill meet all the
current requirements for landfills, and that this recommendation be forwarded to Kay Hatcher.
Lee seconded. Vote: all "yes."
4. Upcoming Events. Presentations on the Emerald Ash Borer 3/31 and Rain Garden 3/31.
Additional Business:
Third Annual Renewal Energy Fair on October 17, 2009, at Waubonsee Community College asked for
the Green Committee's participation (exhibit). Lee commented that participation at such events raises
exposure level. Fee for non-profits this year is $25.00. Engelhardt mentioned the need to have more
volunteers to cover the time of the exhibit. A new list of 47 people who signed up at the Environmental
Fair can be a way to get volunteers to assist the Yorkville Green Committee. This will remain a
discussion item.
Adjournment: 9:45 p.m.
2009 Meeting Schedule
June 22 September 28
April 27 July 27 October 26
May 18 (Monday) August 24 November 23