Citizens' Environmental Commission

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB CITIZENS’ ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION July 6, 2017 The Citizens’ Environmental Commission held a regular business meeting on July 6, 2017, in the Haish Conference Room at the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, Illinois, 60115. At 5:00 p.m. the meeting was moved to City Council Chambers and a public hearing was conducted to consider recommendations for possible amendments to Chapter 12, Nuisances, as it relates to current rules for residential weed control (paragraph 22 of Chapter 12 of the City of DeKalb Municipal Code). Chairman Oleckno called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. A. ROLL CALL The following members of the Citizens' Environmental Commission were present (indicated by x): X Mark Hein X Dan Kenney (Chair) X Ken Koch X Clare Kron X Michael Lundgren X Bill Oleckno X Sharon Skala X Ann Shult The following ex-officio members were present (indicated by x): __ Melissa Burlingame, Northern Illinois University X Matt Emken, DeKalb Park District X Michelle Gibson, DeKalb County Health Department X Mike Holland, Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District B. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – ADDITIONS / DELETIONS MOTION - To approve the agenda. Mr. Oleckno moved to approve the motion, seconded by Ms. Shult. Agenda was approved unanimously by voice vote. C. APPROVAL of MINUTES from June 1, 2017 MOTION Ms. Skala moved to approve, seconded by Ms. Shult. Minor edits were discussed. Amended minutes were approved unanimously by voice vote. Citizen Environmental Commission July 6, 2017 Page 2 of 4 D. NEW BUSINESS: changing of the Guard – Introduction of the New Chair New Chair Kenney thanked Outgoing Chair Oleckno for his service to the Commission and for his willingness to continue to serve as a Commission member. E. COMMISSION REPORTS 1. DeKalb County Health Department: Michelle Gibson The Shoe share program is continuing through July 27. Drop off locations include: • DeKalb County Health Department 2550 N. Annie Glidden Road • Haish Gym 303 South 9th Street • Kish YMCA 2500 N. Bethany Road • Sandwich Public Library 925 South Main Street • Genoa Fitness Center 333 East First Street Planning for Cornfest is underway. There is a need for volunteers to help the composting effort on August 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Electronics recycling continues to present a challenge specifically with regard to the availability of vendors and the range and type of items accepted by the vendors. Recycling for DeKalb residents is the 1st Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Public Parking Lot at Grove and S. Fourth Streets. 2. DeKalb Park District: Matt Emken, Superintendent of Parks & Development The Nature Trail Restoration Project public input process is underway. There have been two public meetings and there is a Public Input Survey on the Park District’s web page. The public meetings were well attended. The Lions Park ribbon cutting will be July 22 at 9 a.m. 3. Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District: Michael Holland No Report. 4. NIU: Melissa Burlingame The Green Team has been working to update the Sustainability website (http://www.niu.edu/sustainability/index.shtml) and create a streamlined process for accomplishing environmental initiatives. Currently, they are increasing awareness of environmental accomplishments on campus through press articles. They are also in the beginning stages of developing a searchable database of environmental initiatives that have been carried out at NIU, which will help provide background for future initiatives and for the writing of a sustainability plan for NIU. They have been keeping their files on Google Drive and this link is viewable in case any members want to browse (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B- VFqGEKc5grMl9nSjg4RU50U00?usp=sharing). 5. City Staff Liaison: Tim Holdeman The resurfacing of IL 23 is on hold until the State budget gets passed. City street maintenance projects are underway. 2 Citizen Environmental Commission July 6, 2017 Page 3 of 4 Water main construction will begin in August. Construction on the Kishwaukee-Kiwanis Multi-Use Path should begin in August. 6. Communications Subcommittee: Clare Kron The search for new locations for placing Share-A-Bag bins continues. Several recommendations for new locations were given by members. Placing additional information about the way the program works was discussed as well as recommendations for another press release. F. GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Kenney introduced Mr. Vaughn Kuerschner from Waste Management, Inc. Mr. Kuerschner will be making a presentation at the August meeting. Mr. Oleckno expressed disappointment that the Daily Chronicle did not write a piece about the Commission after their reporter attended the June meeting and spent time getting to know and understand the Commission’s purpose. Mr. Lundgren mentioned he will give an update on the status of the retention ponds during the August meeting. Mayor Smith thanked the Commission for their work on environmental issues affecting the City and the community as a whole. He encouraged the Commission to continue its work, noting that it is making a difference in our community. G. PRESENTATION ON THE ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATION OF NATIVE PLANTS – ANN SHULT Ms. Shult presentation is attached. H. PUBLIC HEARING ON WEED CONTROL The electronic file of the proceedings is available by contacting DeKalb Public Works Director Tim Holdeman at Tim.Holdeman@cityofdekalb.com I. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Kron moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Lundgren. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Chair Kenney declared the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. NEXT MEETING: AUGUST 10, 2017 AT 4:00 P.M. Respectfully Submitted: Tim Holdeman, Public Works Director 3 Citizen Environmental Commission July 6, 2017 Page 4 of 4 Minutes Approved August 10, 2017 4