Green Committee Minutes 2009 05-18-09
APPROVED 8/24/09
MINUTES/RECORD OF MEETING
YORKVILLE GREEN COMMITTEE
May 18, 2009
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 called the meeting to order
Welcome Members and Guests: Members:
Marta Keane, Anne Engelhardt, Al Green, Richard
Scheffrahn; City Staff: Stephanie Boettcher.
There was not a quorum. Those present conducted a discussion meeting, but did not take any action.
Discussing of April Minutes:
Corrections:
1. Remove the email addresses from guests’ names.
2. New business #2. Delete: “Boettcher will forward this agenda item to Bart Olson.” Add:
“Boettcher asked Bart Olson about this agenda item.”
3. Committee Reports #5. On the statement by Boettcher (fourth sentence), add to end of
sentence “at the new public works building.”
4. Recommendation Progress Reports #2. Correct spelling to “CMAP.”
5. Recommendation Progress Reports #2. In the second sentence, delete “grant” and replace
with “tree city designation.”
6. Move last sentence to after first sentence.
New Business:
1.Create a business, community organization and non-profit environmental recognition program
This idea came from Glory Spies.
Green Committee will create a list of criteria for the recognition, which Green Committee can
use for recognitions and can be handed out at City events. Engelhardt liked this idea and
suggested that the Green Committee vote to give it support and to create a cub-committee to
draft criteria for the different categories to receive recognition.
Keane read a report from Cheryl Lee that summarized the Yorkville Chamber of Commerce’s
Green Committee’s goals for recognition for Green Businesses and an award for Best Green
Business each year. Keane suggested that the sub-committee read the criteria developed by the
Chamber’s committee and use this as a starting point in developing the criteria for the Green
Committee.
Keane suggested that the awards from the Green Committee be given out twice a year – Earth
Day in April and America Recycles Day in November. She said that nominations may be
submitted from any group or individual to recognize the best of each of the categories.
2.Brief discussion on short and long-term goals
Short Term Goals
1. Scheffrahn: More people – more hands and heads to share responsibilities.
2. Engelhardt: Expand the voting membership to ten, using the list of guests at recent meetings
and the list of people who signed up at the Environmental Fair.
3. Boettcher: Green Committee should talk to the people on the list to find out what
environmental topics they are interested and to what extent they are willing to become involved.
This task will be another level of communication.
4. Keane: Definitely contact these people by email or phone; Keane volunteered to start the
process this month with a questionnaire to be emailed to that group.
Long Term Goals
1. Scheffrahn: Green Committee should follow up on some things that have been started. Thin
out the agenda as things get completed.
2. Scheffrahn: Continue to support the larger events, such as the Care & Share Day and the
Environmental Fair.
3. Keane: Preference to leave all the “old business items” on the agenda as a way to remind the
Green Committee that these are still in progress. Green stated that this is a good idea, and that
these will not always require a lot of discussion, but will need to have follow-up until completed.
4. Keane: Wants to have the reports, as well as any new business, by 6 p.m. on the Thursday
before the regular monthly meetings. These reports may be in draft form if necessary in order to
meet the earlier deadline.
5. Boettcher: Green Committee could have an exhibit at Home Town Days in the fall; members
could staff the booth for part of one day. Collect certain items, such as eye glasses, batteries, cell
phones, etc. Engelhardt added that this will be an opportunity to advertise the Care and Share
Event.
In a communiqué to Keane, Lee reported that the Chamber of Commerce Green Committee has
volunteered to help staff the booth at the Waubonsee College Environmental Fair in the fall.
6. Keane: Address the Cool City Challenge, especially with the City and City Council. Give
them a list of suggestions, based on the book. Boettcher suggested that the /Green Committee go
to the City Council’s Committee meetings; get on their agenda to have a forum for discussion to
follow up on the recommendations. The City should set the example by starting the process for
the community. Engelhardt volunteered to address this goal by drafting an action plan to be
included in the agenda for the next meeting.
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)
3.Plastic Bag Reduction (Marianne)
4.Environmental Fair Committee – any additional update (Cheryl & Phil)
5.Share & Care Recycling Event Committee – proposed for Oct 24, 2009 (Anne & Marta)
Engelhardt said that the action plan is outlined, but a meeting with the Mayor is needed before
proceeding. Keane and Engelhardt will try to set up a meeting with Mayor Burd. Keane will
make the contact.
Recommendation Progress Reports :
(written reports sent out by Sunday)
1.Tree Survey Recommendation – (Mayor Burd & Cheryl)
2.Tree City Recommendation (Richard)
3.Franchise Agreement Recommendation (Marta)
4.Electronic Recycling Perm Program progress (Stephanie)
Keane recommended that the one Saturday per month the E-waste drop-off site be opened to the
public for a couple of hours. She also suggested that various community volunteer groups, such
as Kiwanis, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and school environmental groups, should be asked to help
one time per year.
Engelhardt supported this idea and asked that this be written as a recommendation to be voted on
next meeting. Keane will write the recommendation to be ready for next month.
5.Budget Line Item for Environmental Education that allows Fundraising (Richard)
6.Recycling in Parks, Athletic Fields, etc (Marta)
Old Business:
1.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.
2.Zoning Ordinance Committee Update (Al)
3.Kendall County Solid Waste Committee (Stephanie via Travis)
4.Wind Turbine Ordinance Progress (Al & Stephanie)
5.Downtown Yorkville Merchants Association River Clean up on May 2 - report (Cheryl)
Additional Business:
Adjournment:
Keane adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m
2009 Meeting Schedule
March 23 May Changed June 22 September 28
April 27 May 18 (due to holiday) July 27 October 26
April 27 August 24 November 23