Green Committee Minutes 2009 10-26-09
APPROVED 11/23/09
MEETING NOTES
YORKVILLE GREEN COMMITTEE
October 26, 2009
7:00 P.M. -
Yorkville City Hall
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 7:05
Welcome Members and Guests:
Members: Marta Keane, Anne Engelhardt, Mariann Manthai, and
Richard Scheffrahn; City of Yorkville: Jackie Dearborn; Invited guests: Donna Vojensky from Com2;
Residents/ guests: Al Goss, Bob Belick, Becky Reichenbach.
Approval of Minutes:
There was not a quorum of members so the September minutes were not approved.
The meeting was conducted as information sharing and discussion. No formal action was taken at the
meeting.
New Business:
1.Presentation on Electronics Recycling by Com2
Danna Vojensky, Director of Recycling and Marketing, for Com 2, explained some of the processes of the
business. Com 2 processes monitors and TVs meeting the ISO 9001 (International Standards of Operation)
certifications, OSHA, BAN (ban.org), and ISO 14001 Environmental Standards. They do not ship any
components overseas.
Keane asked that a complete and up-dated list of items being accepted in Yorkville be given to the
City of Yorkville, and a copy to Jackie Dearborn, who will see that it is publicized to residents (in local
paper, in utility bills, and the website.) Donna agreed to do this.
Vojensky explained that Com 2 has been in operation for seven years. Each year they add more
items to the list of what they take for recycling.
Engelhardt asked for a list of where the various components go after they leave Com 2. Vojensky
agreed to supply this information.
Keane stated that in Illinois a new law, becoming effective January 1,2010, mandates that fees for
residential TVs and monitors cannot be charged to the donor. Keane asked how Com 2 is going to handle
it. Com 2 will eliminate the fee to Yorkville citizens. Engelhardt asked if this step will be eliminated at
the City office. Vojensky said yes and will notify the City of the change.
Regarding the Care & Share Recycling Day, Keane recommended that the workers at the event call
the Com 2 office to send another truck as soon as the first is almost filled. Then send another truck so that
it will be there as soon as needed, rather than wait for the first truck to go back, unload, and then return to
Yorkville. Com 2 finished nearly an hour after the event was finished. Donna reported that Com 2
collected 13,325 pounds from Saturday’s event.
Engelhardt asked for ways to increase our publicity for the permanent drop-off site, suggesting
street signage. Vojensky said that their signs have been stolen, and, therefore, they don’t have any extra
signs. Engelhardt recommended that a sign be placed at Tower Lane. Dearborn will check into the
various signs and costs. She will then contact Com2 and make a request that they cover the cost for the
sign. Engelhardt also recommended that the information about the electronic drop off site be put into the
utility bills. Keane also requested that Com 2 provide a couple of laminated lists for the outside of the
facility and for the secretary at Public Works. Vojenski agreed to do this.
Reports:
1.Share & Care Recycling Event Committee – Summary of Oct 24, 2009 event
Keane and Engelhardt, co-chairpersons reported. Veolia will send revenue from the scrap metal to the
City for the Green Committee. The Goodwill truck was about half full and the representative present on
Saturday stated that the quality of material was not as good as last year’s. Sharing with the community
did impact Goodwill’s total. The Goodwill Corporation was originally concerned about the “sharing” part
– that citizens might take too many high-quality items for things like garage sales, etc. On the day of the
event, Goodwill did not want to take all the leftovers (ex. binders and some of the toys); Keane addressed
this with the Goodwill people on Saturday, and they took the items. Engelhardt reported that about 210
vehicles went through in spite of the rainy and cold weather; there were 38 volunteer workers, including
six from the City of Yorkville Green Committee. Manthai asked about the response of those who took
things. Those working on Saturday heard several positive comments from the people who participated in
the “sharing.”
Engelhardt asked for comments on promotion; all the various publicity was observed.
The Share & Care Committee will review the date for the event, particularly avoiding homecoming
and Halloween activities in the future. Engelhardt took photos that will be sent to Glory Spies to be used
for future publicity. The Voice from Aurora took pictures, and Eric Miller took photos from the Record.
Guest Bob Belick asked how the Green Committee engages the younger generation /school-aged kids.
Engelhardt answered that that Yorkville public schools have pockets of environmental interest, with
environmental groups in the intermediate, middle, and high school. Teachers in various classes focus on
environmental activities in the schools. Belink commented that NREL out of Colorado sponsored by the
Dept of Energy has a traveling a mini-bus with all the latest technologies www.nrel.gov (or org) It targets
upper middle school, high school, and college-aged kids. Engelhardt stated that as a citizen, she plans to
meet the new superintendent, after he/she is hired, to push for green efforts and environmental education
curriculum articulated k-12 in the schools.
Belink commented on Zanterra, a green company that manages the national and state parks and tours for
the government and practices sustainable practices throughout. Colorado is far ahead of the country in
their green practices.
2.Environmental Fair Committee – Status Report
3.Water Conservation Committee – Recommendations Progress Report
4.Plastic Bag Reduction
5.Chamber Green Committee
Note: The other committee reports will be addressed at the November meeting.
Recommendation Progress Reports:
1.Tree Survey Recommendation
2.Tree City Recommendation
3.Electronic Recycling Perm Program Progress
4.Franchise Agreement Recommendation
5.Recycling in Parks, Athletic Fields, etc
[Note: Report on this agenda item is below with Jackie Dearborn’s report.]
6.Budget Line Item for Environmental Education that allows Fundraising
Old Business:
1.Clean Air Counts
2.Third Annual Renewal Energy Fair on October 17, 2009, at Waubonsee Community College
Engelhardt reported that the Yorkville Green Committee did not have a booth as was planned at the
last meeting. She showed up to work at 3 p.m, but there was no exhibit. It appeared to be a breakdown
in communication about who was to set it up and staff it. Engelhardt recommended informally that the
City of Yorkville Green committee not obligate the group to participate in environmental fairs outside
of the scope of the Green Committee’s events because of the limited number of committee members
who are able to volunteer time, and the Green Committee should maintain the focus on the major
events and activities of the Green Committee.
3.Zoning Ordinance Committee Update
4.Kendall County Solid Waste Committee
5.Wind Turbine Ordinance Progress
6.Cool City Challenge Action Plan
7.Rain Garden – Second City Rain Garden Progress
Additional Business:
–
1.Report from Jackie Dearborn, Green Committee Staff Liaison
a.Jackie reported that she has met with Sue Swithin to confirm the date of March 6, 2010 at
the Rec Center.
b.The Grant for recycling bins at the parks is due by Nov. 13. She needs to have samples of
promotional materials for the application. She is looking for a sample of handout for all
athletic teams and schedules that use the parks. Other recommendations from the Green
Committee members are to use the Parks and Rec magazine, copies of relevant pages from
the City’s web sire, and various ads in the Record. Marta will write send her a sample ad
and send via email. Dearborn explained some of the details of what she is asking for in the
grant.
2.Engelhardt commented on Rosati’s, which donated four pizzas to the Share & Care Recycling day.
Rosati’s is an independent business that hired a local hauler in an effort to go green with recycling.
Engelhardt volunteered to contact the Record to see if they will be willing to feature the green
efforts of this business and others. She suggested other environmental articles about YPD’s
medication drop off, the Com 2 permanent drop off site, and CFL proper disposal.
3.Marta talked about buses that were purchased by Kendall County for public mass transportation.
Keane suggested (1) the group in charge of the Bus program be invited to speak to the Green
Committee to explain the program to the public, (2) invite the public, and (3) follow up article in
local papers. Engelhardt will try to contact Jeff Wilkins from Kendall County as well as a
represent from the company to get information on possible speakers and will contact Keane and
Dearborn with this information.
4.Guests Goss and Belick requested that at some time in the future they would like to speak on a
topic related to green construction.
5.Scheffrahn brought up the wind turbine ordinance. The City passed the ordinance, which requires
permits. Scheffrahn commented that Honeywell recently came up with “Honeywell Wind Turbine
System”, which looks like and moves like a wheel, has a six foot diameter, is very energy efficient,
and can operate in 2mph wind.. It can provide 18% of power for a typical house. It produces 2.2
kWht; 2700 kWh per year. The tax credit available is 30% of the total value of the project until
2016, and this credit is separate from other energy upgrades. The product (WT6500 model) is
sold through Ace and costs $4500, plus the cost of electrician and mounting ($7000 total estimate).
Currently these are being installed on Meijers’ grocery stores (www.swiftwindturbine.com )
Adjournment:
Keane adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
2009 Remaining Meetings
November 23