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Green Committee Minutes 2009 06-15-09 APPROVED 8/24/09 Minutes YORKVILLE GREEN COMMITTEE June 15, 2009 (early date due to member schedule conflicts) 7:00 P.M. 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: Marta Keane called the meeting to order Marta Keane called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Present: Marta Keane, Anne Engelhardt, Al Green, Mariann Manthei, Committee members; Marlin Hartman, Kendall County Dept of Solid Waste Management; Stephanie Boettcher and Glory Spies, Staff from City of Yorkville; Tom Kowolski, Yorkville Resident. There was not a quorum of members. The meeting was a discussion format; no formal action was taken. Tom Kowolski, resident of Yorkville, gave a presentation on Wind Power-- Alternative Energy in our United States. He talked about and had many visuals of both residential systems and larger systems used on farms. A few highlighted points are listed here.  Illinois is behind in this business.  Mendota has a 171 foot blade, which services energy to16,000 homes  One or two would be able to service City of Yorkville  Farmers usually receive $1200 - $1500 per month from having one on their farm  Wind power is a converted form of solar energy  One slide had a diagram and explanation of how a wind turbine works.  Wind power systems are guaranteed for 5 – 20 years  Size may not be the issue; more concern over appearance  The electric company put up the turbine for Mendota and Paw Paw, Illinois; 13,000 homes are covered there  Sandwich is considering using a wind turbine  It takes about 18 months to get a wind turbine installed for a municipality  One megawatt can come from one machine  An average household uses about 10,000 kilowatts.  All models for sale are larger than 8 feet tall. Yorkville has an ordinance that limits the size to under 8 feet, The Public Works committee is researching the various wind turbines. www.TK01.US/wid is Tom’s website. The ordinance is going to City Council for a second reading on June 23. Individuals can send in comments to City Council. 2. Report from Glory Spies, City of Yorkville Community Relations Shop Yorkville campaign is looking to use green bags as part of the marketing effort. A logo contest is going to be held to develop a Shop Yorkville logo. Next newsletter deadline is June 22; it will be distributed July 27. Glory requested some information on the Share & Care Recycling event as well as other information from the Green Committee. One suggestion was an article explaining Wind Energy. 3. Clean Air Counts Keane explained the “Clean Air Counts” program for cities. Some of the initiatives are to change behaviors on “Ozone Action Days”, including reducing the use of chemical cleaners, reducing driving and lawn mowing. There are very few “Ozone Action Days”; these are determined by a number of consecutive high temperature days. The “Clean Air Counts” program is very low-cost. It promotes some of the things that the City already does and asks the City to continue to work on clean air initiatives. Boettcher will look at the Platinum level and check off the punch list of actions the City already does. She will report to Green Committee next month. 4. Create a business, community organization and non-profit environmental recognition program Committee Reports: 1.Share & Care Recycling Event Committee – proposed for Oct. 24, 2009. Keane gave an overview of vision for the recycling day; emphasizing the “sharing” part of the event. Marlin Hartman, from the Kendall County Department of Solid Waste Management, was present and answered questions. Boettcher stated that she talked with Steve Curriati with Kendal County Health Dept. Mayor Burd would like the joining of Citizens Groups on the various Environmental events connected with the City of Yorkville. Keane also talked about the need to generate funding for the recycling event. County has some resources and Hartman has control over the budget for his department. Engelhardt will be meeting with Hartman to coordinate plans for the Recycling Day in order to create a partnership between the Green Committee / City of Yorkville and Kendall County for this event. Keane asked Boettcher to check whether or not Com2 be willing to accept televisions with out a charge at the recycling event Oct . 24. Keane requested volunteers for environmental articles Glory Spies will add an email address as a contact for citizens if they have questions or comments or wish to have the Green Committee to address at a meeting. 2.Water Conservation Committee – Recommendations progress report Green asked some questions for clarification. Boettcher stated that the City Code book is correct. Green asked that City replace the currently posted water conservation ordinance with the corrected version for downloads. Boettcher is working with the Director of Parks on the sod ordinancePark Development Standards with a goal to lower the amount of sod for new homesparks. st Green will go to Public Works Committee on June 21 and will explain the position of the Green Committee on the landscape ordinance. Boettcher explained the Storm Water Storage Basin requirement in the Landscaping Landscape ordinance. Green stated that it is unclear as to whether the recommendation was incorporated into the ordinance. Green asked that the ordinance be written with cross references for clarification. Boettcher stated that the City Staff is supportive of natural basins. Green asked to what extent was the Green Committee’s recommendation incorporated into the re-written ordinances? Boettcher read the ordinance for the Park Development Standards Section 5 referencing the water ordinance standards. Keane requested that a City Staff member come to our next meeting to explain the ordinance in relation to the recommendation of the Green Committee. 3.Plastic Bag Reduction Report Those present signed letters to Ace and to Target and to the Record and Beacon recognizing their environmental efforts in handing out re-usable bags this spring. Mariann brought up the article regarding the extremely limited study (25 specimens) that showed that reusable bags may have some bacteria. Engelhardt stated that the news media had a direct commentary that rebutted the findings and specifically indicated that people should use common sense as to what they put in the bags and to wash them if they are dirty.. 4.Environmental Fair Committee Report – any additional updates Recommendation Progress Report 1.Tree Survey Recommendation 2.Tree City Recommendation. Boettcher said this is being worked on; she will keep the Green Committee informed. 3.Franchise Agreement Recommendation. Boettcher This will be going to the Public Works committee members should attend to explain the position and rationale by the Green Committee. 4.Electronic Recycling Permanent Program progress. Boettcher will get a report from Com2 on the amount of E waste that has been generated since it was started inf Yorkville. 5.Recycling in Parks, Athletic Fields, etc. Boettcher will give information to the Parks Department for applying for a matching grant from DECO to continue to work on the process of getting recycling containers for Yorkville Parks. Old Business: 1.Third Annual Renewable Energy Fair on October 17, 2009, at Waubonsie Community College. With the Care & Share Recycling Day planned for Oct. 24, it will be possible to participate in this event. 2.Zoning Ordinance Committee Update 3.Kendall County Solid Waste Committee 4.Wind Turbine Ordinance Progress Additional Business 1.Staff Liaison Report from Stephanie Boettcher, Green Committee Staff Liaison, reported that Mayor Burd requests that the Green Committee be a voice at Yorkville City Committees as well as at City Council. Example: On Van Emmon, there is to be a home development. Single family housing has been improved; they want to increase the density, no more open space will be used; in exchange for the density they are willing to make homes more energy efficient. To hear more about this plan, the Green Committee is encouraged to attend the th hearing, on July 8. The ultimate goal for the use of the house will be for a nature preserve and educational center for the City. Nature trails and hiking trails interconnecting. 2.Keane has sent an Email letter to 20 people who gave their email addresses to find out if they are interested in assisting with events or attending or our meetings. Keane received no responses. 3.Cool City Challenge Action Plan. Anne suggested that this report be addressed when there is a quorum. Adjournment: Keane adjourned the meeting at 10:19.