Citizens' Environmental Commission

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB Citizens’ Environmental Commission February 2, 2023 The Citizens’ Environmental Commission (CEC) held a regular business meeting on February 2 2023, in the Second Floor Training Room at the DeKalb Police Department. Chair Steve Honeywell called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m. A. Roll Call Roll call was recorded by Management Analyst Scott Zak, and the following members of the CEC were present: Chair Steve Honeywell, Rachel Farrell, Clare Kron, Kyle Moore and Council Liaison Barb Larson. Not present were Commissioners Sven Hanson, Julie Jesmer and Nick Newman and Ex-Officio Members Matt Emken, Sarah Fox and Mike Holland. Also present was Management Analyst Scott Zak. B. Approval of Agenda MOTION Ms. Kron motioned to approve the agenda, seconded by Ms. Farrell. VOTE The agenda was approved by unanimous voice vote. C. Approval of Minutes 1. Regular Monthly Meeting Minutes of January 5, 2023 Chair Honeywell noted a minor error to correct. MOTION Ms. Kron motioned to approve the minutes, seconded by Mr. Moore. VOTE The minutes were approved by unanimous voice vote. D. Public Comment No public comments were received. E. Commission Reports 1. DeKalb County Health Department The Commission welcomed James Carlin, the new Solid Waste Associate at the DeKalb County Health Department. He will be submitted for appointment as the Commission’s Ex-Officio Member from the Health Department. Mr. Carlin shared e-waste collections have been scheduled for June 24 and September 30 and a hazardous waste collection is set for Sept. 9. All will be at the DeKalb Airport. 2. DeKalb Park District With Ex-Officio Member Emken absent, no report was given. 3. Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District With Ex-Officio Member Holland absent, no report was given. 4. Northern Illinois University With Ex-Officio Member Fox absent, no report was given. 5. City Staff Liaison Mr. Zak shared recent changes regarding Boards, Committees and Commissions approved by the City Council on Jan. 9. Under these changes, public comments will be limited to three minutes during the public comment agenda item, Open Meetings Act training needs to be completed by Commissioners within 90 days upon appointment or reappointment and the Mayor may remove a Commission member with a three-fourths majority vote of the City Council. F. New Business 1. PRIDE Awards The Commission recognized the recipient of the 2022 PRIDE Award, the Driven Heart and the owners of the business, Marcus Montgomery and Devin Costa Rica. Chair Honeywell read the nomination, which cited the business’s installation of more than 40 bluebird habitats last Spring, rehab of 23 habitats, work with local organizations on trash collection and providing bicycles to DeKalb residents. Chair Honeywell presented the owners with an award certificate. 2. CEC presentation for February – trees and tree planting Chair Honeywell said information on the Feb. 23 presentation on backyard trees has been submitted to the community calendars of the local radio stations and a news release was sent to the Daily Chronicle. 3. Supplemental meeting regarding Sustainability Plan The Commission discussed setting a special meeting to work on the update to the Sustainability Plan with March 9, 16 and 23 suggested as possible dates. Ms. Kron said Commissioners should come to the meeting with their ideas for new sections on climate change and climate justice. The Commission agreed with a suggestion to clear out the agenda for its March meeting to work on the update and see if a special meeting is still needed after that. G. Old Business 1. Next articles for Daily Chronicle a. Insulation/window replacement for March b. Future – “forever” chemicals Mr. Newman will write the March article, while April’s article will be on monarchs followed by forever chemicals. 2. NIU Climate action plan updates There was no update to provide. 3. STEM Café presentation from Jan. 18 Ms. Kron shared the presentation was on the surveillance of wastewater from Covid and other viruses. She said this surveillance can lead to early detection of disease in the community. 4. Future presentations – monarchs, fusion, home energy The Commission agreed to offer monarch education at a local school instead of doing a public presentation on the topic and to look for a date later in the year to do another presentation with STEM Café. Ms. Kron shared she recently read the book “Truth to Power,” the sequel to “An Inconvenient Truth.” She said the book offers hope by providing an action plan for climate change and she would be happy to do a presentation based on the book in the fall. Chair Honeywell said a presentation on home efficiency would be best in late summer. Alderwomen Larson suggested bringing in contractors to speak or attend an expo. The Commission like this idea and it will be revisited at a later meeting. 5. Seed library updates Chair Honeywell said he will contact the library about their seed library if Mr. Newman had not already. He said there are concerns the seeds available in the seed library before the pandemic are no longer good. Ms. Farrell said some varieties will still be usable. 6. Watershed grant updates No information was presented here. 7. Updates on other issues Following up on a discussion from last month, Alderwoman Larson shared that legacy trees offered through obituaries are planted in a state park. H. Announcements 1. New announcements Ms. Kron shared that under recently approved legislation, single-use plastics will no longer be used at state parks.  2. Next regular meeting: March 2 at 4:30 p.m. I. Adjournment MOTION Ms. Kron motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Moore. VOTE The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote. The meeting was declared adjourned at 5:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Scott Zak, Management Analyst Approved by the Citizens’ Environmental Commission on March 2, 2023.