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Green Committee Minutes 2009 04-27-09 APPROVED 8/24/09 MINUTES YORKVILLE GREEN COMMITTEE April 27, 2009 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: Keane called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Welcome Members and Guests: : MembersAl Green, Anne Engelhardt, Marta Keane, Cheryl Lee, Mariann Manthei, Richard Scheffrahn; City: Stephanie Boettcher, Guests: Alderman Bob Allen, Kathy Reeder, Susan Carlson, Bobby Carlson, Larry Cooper. Approval of Minutes: Boettcher stated that the minutes should have the following corrections. Under the section “Recommendation Progress Reports.” #1. Add “Interns will be hired subject to receiving a Full Circle grant from Illinois. #2. Delete the period between “the” and “Mayor”. Under the section “New Business” #3 delete the first six words. Engelhardt motioned to approve the minutes for meeting of March 23, 2009, with the corrections as stated by Boettcher. Scheffrahn seconded. Vote: all “yes”. New Business: 1.Downtown Yorkville Merchants Association (DYMA) seeking volunteers for a River Clean up on May 2. Engelhardt will contact Jeanne Morell, of the DYMA and suggest the availability of bug spray for the volunteers, and request a follow-up report from them regarding the cleanup. 2.Recycling in Parks, Athletic Fields, etc. Boettcher asked Bart Olson about this agenda item; No recycling containers or service has been Engelhardt motioned to recommend the City of Yorkville pursue done to staff knowledge. recycling containers at the City’s parks and athletic fields along with the proper disposal of the recycling items. The recommendation will include a suggestion that the City review the contract with Veolia, and ask if Veolia can place dumpsters at high volume parks. Scheffrahn seconded. All yes. Engelhardt and Keane will write the recommendation. 3.Third Annual Renewal Energy Fair on October 17, 2009, at Waubonsee Community College requesting the Green Committee’s participation/exhibit with offer to waive $25 fee. Scheffrahn motioned to table this agenda item. The commitment of the Green Committee is partially related to when the fall Care and Share day will be held. Lee seconded. Vote: All “yes.” Committee Reports : (written reports sent out by Sunday) 1.Education Committee – volunteers for articles? (Marta & Anne) a.Cutting CO2 series of articles progress report 2.Water Conservation Committee – Recommendations progress report (Al & Phil) Comment added to the written report: Scheffrahn stated that the Building Dept is currently reviewing the 2009 building code. 3.Plastic Bag Reduction (Mariann) Comments added to the written report: Ace gave out 100 re-usable bags last Sunday. Manthei has a DVD recording of Oprah’s Earth Day show. The DVD is available to be loaned to anyone on the Green Committee interested. Keane added that the Recycling Bank will soon be coming Manthei motioned to recommend the City to pursue a hot link to Oprah’s Earth to Illinois. Day show on the City’s web site. Lee amended the motion to include adding a hot link to www.freecycle.com. Lee seconded. Engelhardt and Keane will write the recommendation to go to the Mayor. 4.Environmental Fair Committee – any additional update (Cheryl & Phil). 5.Share & Care Recycling Event Committee – update for 2009 (Anne & Marta) Engelhardt asked the Green Committee members for input regarding the possible sites. Lee stated that we can and should partner with other organizations; Scheffrahn will ask Marlin Hartman if the county will be hosting any this year. Engelhardt commented that no City-owned building will accommodate the size and scope of this event. Boettcher stated the Public Works Director said that tarps or tents will be the way to go at the new public works building. Suggestions for possible sites include visitation of all possible City locations and large parking lots, Kendall County Department of Solid Waste, and checking with Oswego’s ECO group, Goodwill parking lot, and the Kendall County Fair Grounds. It might be possible if the City partnered with the County to get a discount on the Fair Grounds. Engelhardt will also check the City’s event calendar and School Dist 115 calendar. The committee will keep Mayor Burd informed of any progress in the investigation. Keane talked about changing the mindset of society to change environmental behavior to become more conservative and less wasteful. Jewel in Downers Grove had a reminder prompt at their Keane motioned to recommend that front door to remind people to bring in re-usable bags. the Green Committee request a letter making several different suggestions as to how to increase the use of re-usable shopping bags; the letter will be sent to retailers. Manthei seconded. Vote: All “yes.” Keane will write the recommendation. Scheffrahn recommended that Green Committee write a letter to the editor from the Green Committee congratulating Aldi’s on their aggressive approach to encouraging the use of re- usable shopping bags and recognizing Target and Ace for handing out re-usable bags. Mayor needs to approve the letter, and Glory Spies will review it. Engelhardt seconded. Vote: All “yes.” Keane will write the letter. Recommendation Progress Reports : (written reports sent out by Sunday) Scheffrahn made motion to accept reports 1 and 3. Keane seconded. Vote: All “yes” 1.Tree Survey Recommendation – (Mayor Burd & Cheryl) 2.Tree City Recommendation (Richard) Boettcher reported that a grant from CMAP was received and work will begin on the project this summer. All the work will be done by City staff with GPS systems and with the help of interns (college students). The standard for the tree city designation is $2.00 per person. Based on the recent census, the population of Yorkville is16,813, which means the city will be required to spend $33,626. The City met the funding requirement last year; it is necessary to see if the city will meet the requirement for 2009. The recommendation to apply for the Tree City designation needs to go to a City committee. 3.Franchise Agreement Recommendation 4.Electronic Recycling Perm Program progress (Stephanie) -- Manthei requested that the Green Committee have a progress report in May. 5.Budget Line Item for Environmental Education that allows Fundraising (Richard) Boettcher explained that the procedure will involve approval from Mayor and approval by City Council for all fundraising efforts and for all expenditures of the money raised. Boettcher requested that the Green Committee at the May meeting have a discussion with the Mayor as to handle fundraising efforts. Lee asked for a list of guidelines for raising funds and for spending the funds raised before discussion with the mayor. Boettcher suggested waiting until after talking with the Mayor before drafting a list of guidelines. Old Business: 1.Zoning Ordinance Committee Update (Al) 2.Kendall County Solid Waste Committee (Marta) 3. Wind Turbine Ordinance Progress Scheffrahn summarized the discussion at the Public Works Committee. A small system produces .4 kilowatts at its maximum. The roof top systems are available for purchase at Menards. The ordinance, which is highly restrictive for roof top systems, is being handled similarly to the regulations for satellite dishes. One roof-top will be allowed by the ordinance with a regular permit. Additional rooftop turbines will be required with a special permit. Large systems are intended to be used for generating power to be sold back to the electric utility grid. All the ordinances will be reviewed in more depth; developing the codes for the purpose of control . Lee motioned that the Green Committee write a letter to the City council stating that the Green Committee supports the concept of an ordinance for wind turbines to generate alternative energy. Keane seconded. Vote: All “yes.” Keane will write the letter. Additional Business: th May 4 is the next Economic Development committee. Lee requested Green Committee add “events” to the Yorkville Green Events Calendar. These should be sent to Glory Spies. Next meeting of the Yorkville Green Committee is Monday, May 18. Public input meeting will be on May 14, 4- 7 p.m.; presentation at 5:30, at Parks and Recreation Administration building (Old post office), 201 W. Hydraulic Street. The purpose of the informational meeting is to address to a comprehensive plan for bike paths and for a downtown streetscape plan. Adjournment: Keane adjourned the meeting at 9:28 p.m. 2009 Meeting Schedule June 22 September 28 April 27 July 27 October 26 May 18 (Monday) August 24 November 23