Charleston Green Team

GREEN TEAM MEETING – MAY 2025 Called to Order 12:01pm – Quorum established Attendance: Quenton King, Robin Sylvester, Linda Frame Via Microsoft Teams: Rowan Zoeller, Sam Nygaard, Emmett Pepper, Shawn Phiillips 1. Welcome 2. Adopt the minutes from 3/19/25 meeting – Motion to adopt by Linda, Robin 2nd, so moved. New Business: 1. Charleston Clean Up Days share-out – Quenton, Patti, and Linda participated on Bridge Rd. & Oakwood Rd….lots of plastic, fast food, alcohol miniatures. If West Side Together needs GT for future clean-ups, let Quenton know. 2. ICLEI and Elected Officials to Protect America conference share-out. Applied for $250,000 grant a while back. They invited people from the City, so Emmett & Quenton attended in Washington DC. Emmett spoke & represented Charleston, WV. May do further trainings with ICLEI. They offer consultation services regarding sustainability. 3. Shanklin EV Charging 2024 report – Update from Dir. Allen. 2 EV stations at Shaklin garage. There was confusion as to how to charge; went with charging for parking. There was an uptick 2,000 Kw hours for 2024. $867.85 in parking revenue. $100 in citations. Net City revenue $530.35 LOSS after the cost of the electricity. Options to address these losses are 1. charge more for the actual people using them, 2. Solar panels on the top of the building to even to just run conduit to the chargers. Robin mentioned that the city of So. Charleston is being set up by Solar Holler. Quenton mentioned producing a video about the charging stations. 4. Strategic plan mid-year progress update – Goal #1 Map and formalize the Green Team’s procedures and actions: - 1) working with chair to make 2nd quarter report by possibly June 16; 2) in person mtg with Council Chair Burton & Mayor Goodwin; 3) work with Andrew Earley to set up document storage & sharing by July 2025. Goal #2 Increase and Retain Green Team participation: - 1) finalize ordinance reviewer membership, GT to vote who that would by end of June; 2) recruit 2 new advisory members by Aug & now needing a new Board member. Quenton mentioned the Mayor has given him a name to research. Goal #3 Engaging the Community – work with Director Webster on the new transfer station, layout calendar information, work on more outreach materials like the “green” bags, create a calendar on tabling dates, developing an app for GT, having a town hall mtg with Council Chair Burton & Director Webster, creating an award from the City to someone for sustainability for instance, produce a video about EV chargers. Goal #4 Increase energy efficiency and climate resilience - federal funding has changed, but some grants & rebates may come back into existence. Engage the Community to promote adoption of  these resources. Promoting solar on city buildings is also in a holding pattern now for federal funding. Goal #5 Improve transportation connections and land use – no report Goal #6 Reduce Waste – Increasing the importance of recycling at city events; discussing the upcoming Live on the Levee pours & seeing what the Four Points Sheraton is going to do about opening cans, pouring into plastic, then throwing both away. Committee Reports: 1. What To Do With Stuff – drive people to the website 2. Communications – see above goal #s 1, 2, & 3. Committee meets once a month. 3. PODA – Elk City PODA opened with Charleston NanoBrewery & The Wine Down as serving participants. There are single-use compostable/biodegradable AND reusable aluminum cups available. Updates 1. City Council Environment & Recycling Committee - Brent Burton absent 2. Charleston Dept. of Public Works – Director Webster was present to discuss the new Transfer Station opening June 30th. Landfill will close. Station will continue to take the recycling we currently take. Not making the drop-off trip to Beckley anymore, the recycling will go to Pittsburgh(?) and the waste/trash will go to the landfill in Hurricane. Kanwaha Co. Solid Waste Authority can’t handle the City’s volume. 3. ICLEI Municipal Investment Fund Application - Waiting to see who prevails on the Grant 4. East-West Connector - Ryan absent ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. Next meeting June 18, 2025 (3rd Wednesday) Motion to adjourn by Quenton, 2nd by Linda, so moved. Meeting adjourned 1:11pm