Citizens' Environmental Commission

City of DeKalb Citizen Environmental Commission Minutes of February 5, 2015 The meeting was called to order at 4:04pm. Members present: Bill Oleckno, Melissa Burlingame, Ken Koch, Mark Hein, Dan Kenney, Linda Yates and Sharon Skala. Staff: Jennifer Diedrich and John Laskowski. Ex Officio Members: None. Approval of Agenda: Ken Koch moved to approve the agenda and Sharon Skala seconded the motion. Agenda approved, as amended, by voice vote 7-0. Approval of Minutes: Dan Kenney moved to approve the December 4, 2014 minutes, seconded by Linda Yates. Minutes were approved, as amended, by voice vote 7-0. 1. Chair Oleckno called the meeting to order and asked if there were any public comment or news. Nancy Proesel was in attendance to participate in the meeting in anticipation of being appointed to the commission. 2. There is a new local waste company. Bill shared an article about electric vehicles. Melissa shared information about Ethical Electric, which provides 100% wind electricity. Dan asked if the aggregation contract was renewed for the city of DeKalb. Dan also reported that the regional food hub meeting was held and about 26 people were in attendance. 3. Under New Business, Bill Oleckno introduced John Laskowski, DeKalb City Engineer, to discuss the County Watershed Study. John said that he plans to implement many of the proposed action items for the City of DeKalb since the plan has substantial professional and academic research behind it. The plan is available on the DeKalb County website and the executive summary is a good place to start in order to understand the priorities outlined in the plan. 4. The P.R.I.D.E. Awards were not awarded in 2014. Bill Oleckno does not want the Commission to miss giving the awards in 2015, but he would like to start the discussion to solicit nominations at the August meeting. 5. Bill discussed the Citizen’s Environmental Commission Report of Activities 2013- 2014, which were shared at a prior meeting. Dan Kenney moved to approve the Citizen’s Environmental Commission Report of Activities 2013-2014. Ken Koch seconded the motion. Approved by voice vote 7-0. 6. Bill presented the proposed goals for 2015-2016. Dan Kenney moved to approve the goals, Sharon Skala seconded the motion. Approved by voice vote of 7-0.  Systematically implement the goals of the City of DeKalb Sustainability Plan and monitor progress toward their achievement. i. Dan recommended that each member select goals that they would like to see worked on in next year and bring them to the March meeting.  Develop an effective and reliable means for monitoring and evaluating the achievement of the goals of the City of DeKalb Sustainability Plan.  Increase environmental education programs on important issues for local  residents.  Improve coordination between the Citizen Environmental Commission and other groups or organizations within the City of DeKalb.  Develop Web Content relevant to the Commission’s mission so as to provide up-to-date information on environmental topics. 7. Under Old Business, Bill Oleckno asked the members to discuss the type of data to be collected in monitoring the plan. Dan Kenney recommended merging the Indicator of Completion and Source of Verification, and name it Indicator of Completion. As each goal is undertaken, a new sheet in the excel file will be added to track costs, return on investment, estimated yearly savings, etc. The Staff Liaison will be responsible for updating the excel file as goals are addressed. 8. Under Commission Reports, Jennifer Diedrich had no report. 9. Melissa Burlingame had no report for the cooperative effort with Environmental Studies. 10. Bill Oleckno asked if the DeKalb Park District and County Health Department would have any representatives at the meetings. Jennifer recommended that Cindy Capek be invited from the County Health Department. She also said that Lisa Small had been invited from the Park District. 11. Mark Hein shared an article about a community on the West Coast that is issuing fines for residences and businesses that do not compost properly. Jennifer will follow up on the composting pilot program that is part of the waste removal contract. 12. The Communiversity Gardens will have space to start seeds at the Biological Sciences greenhouse. The Committee for the Preservation of Wildlife wants to donate funds for seeds to the Communiversity Gardens. 13. The date for next meeting will be March 5, 2015 at 4:30pm. 14. Melissa Burlingame moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:12pm. Mark Hein seconded the motion. Respectfully submitted by Melissa Burlingame Secretary, Environmental Commission Minutes approved by the Commission at their regular meeting March 5, 2015.