President and Board of Trustees

123 Madison Street Village of Oak Park Oak Park, Illinois 60302 www.oak-park.us Meeting Minutes President and Board of Trustees Monday, March 9, 2015 7:00 PM Village Hall I. Call to Order Village President Abu-Taleb called the meeting to order at 7:05 P.M. II. Roll Call Present: 5- Village Trustee Barber, Village Trustee Ott, Village Trustee Salzman, Village Trustee Tucker, and Village President Abu-Taleb Absent: 2- Village Trustee Brewer, and Village Trustee Lueck III. Agenda Approval It was moved by Village Trustee Tucker, seconded by Village Trustee Ott, that the agenda be approved. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. IV. Non-Agenda Public Comment Barbara Mullarkey. Ms. Mullarkey expressed concern regarding the possibility of black tanker cars derailing in Oak Park and asked the Board to find out how many go through the Village each day carrying crude oil or global ethanol. V. Regular Agenda A. MOT 15-047 Motion Directing Staff to Prepare the Necessary Actions for the establishment of an Intergovernmental Environmental Community Organization (i-ECO). Village Manager Pavlicek stated that the Board will be discussing an outline of the general concept that was put forward in December of 2014 and first envisioned during the Board's goal setting retreat that was done when Village Trustee Ott joined the Board. What staff has put forward for the Board's consideration is a template Intergovernmental Agreement that could be presented to other units of local Government for the purposes of creating a not-for-profit organization that the local units of Government could interface with, via contract for services. Kenneth O'Hare. Mr. O'Hare commented that this is a very important topic and that actions taken now can avert some of the most serious events and prepare for those which cannot be averted. He also stated that this organization required adequate funding to be successful. Jim Babcock, representing Green Community Connections. Mr. Babcock stated that his organization fosters conversations in the community about sustainability issues and helps to identify steps to arrive at solutions to the Village of Oak Park Page 1 Printed on 4/21/2015 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 9, 2015 issues. He urged the Board to make education a top priority and not to prolong getting the process started. Richard Alton, representing Interfaith Green Network. Mr. Alton has had conversations with Trustees and members of Village staff regarding this initiative. He noted that it is important to keep the community involved. Doug Burke. Mr. Burke discussed climate change. He asked if Oak Park could look into the possibility of wind turbines in homes, collective solar power and property assessed clean energy. Sally Stovall. Ms. Stovall asked that the Village be "proactive, potent and participatory" in regards to the proposed Intergovernmental Environmental Community Organization. Edward Scheck. Mr. Scheck noted that these issues are more serious than most people realized and offered assistance in any way he can. Village Trustee Ott, who is leading this initiative, gave an overview. Structurally,the organization will be a nonprofit with dedicated staff hired to develop and promote environmentally sustainable practices and policies within and amongst participating jurisdictions. As envisioned, its Board will be comprised of community members who have shown a strong commitment to and expertise in environmental sustainability initiatives at a local and regional level. She noted that a dedicated staff and funding that is split between all participating Governmental bodies will allow for a greater number of initiatives to be pursued, as opposed to the past structure of just a Village employed Sustainability Manager. Following discussion, Village President Abu-Taleb took additional comments from audience members. Julie Samuels. Ms. Samuels asked what control the Village Board will have over an independent, non-profit organization in terms of the Oak Park Comprehensive Plan or directing them in any way. Village Trustee Ott stated that the Village will be involved in the funding as well as having Board representation within the organization. It was moved by Village Trustee Ott, seconded by Village Trustee Tucker, that this Motion be approved. The motion was approved. AYES: 5- Village Trustee Barber, Village Trustee Ott, Village Trustee Salzman, Village Trustee Tucker, and Village President Abu-Taleb NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 2- Village Trustee Brewer, and Village Trustee Lueck B. ID 15-090 Pecan Street Smart City USA Project Plan Presentation Village Manager Pavlicek stated that the Village has been working on a project with the Korean Smart Grid Institute regarding residential and commercial Village of Oak Park Page 2 Printed on 4/21/2015 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 9, 2015 installation of solar panels with battery backup. She spoke about the energy savings generated from the Avenue Garage solar panel initiative and noted that the success of that project is why the Village is committed to pursuing the Smart City USA project. In September, 2014, the Board authorized contracting with Pecan Street, Inc. to develop a plan to support a successful launch of the Smart City USA project. She introduced Grant Fisher, Director of Analytics for Pecan Street, Inc. Mr. Fisher spoke about his firm. He stated that Smart City USA is a creation of a nationally known research test bed. This test bed will look at solar power, battery storage, perform behavioral studies and set up a framework for implementing all of the smart energy research projects done in testing on the grid side, as well as from the grid side to the residential side and inside the house. There will be 200 participants chosen in the Village; 160 will be part of the home energy consumption trial and 40 will be part of the residence solar panel trial. Of those 40, ten will also have battery systems. Using the grant funds currently available, a program will be set up to qualify residents for 40 percent to 100 percent of the costs paid, depending upon median family income. Mr. Fisher discussed funding for the project. The first year, budgeted at $637,000, has been funded through available grants. This is when when the test bed is set up and created, personnel funded and equipment funded. Contractual data management services are done through a combination of Pecan Street Data Services, which will be part of the cost share, as well as the University of Chicago's data services. He spoke about the grants available for year one, to obtain 100 percent funding. The cost share amounts for year one are going to be an equipment cost share. The portion of the costs that test participants pay is part of the cost share going towards the program, as well as the contractual cost share of data services provided by Pecan and the University of Chicago. Personnel costs are the only part of the program that the Village will be responsible for in years two and three, as well as a behavior and operating trial study at the end. There were additional comments from audience members and Mr. Fisher answered questions from the Board. VI. Adjourn It was moved by Village Trustee Ott, seconded by Village Trustee Tucker, to adjourn. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. Meeting adjourned at 8:29 P.M., Monday March 9, 2015. Respectfully submitted, MaryAnn Schoenneman Deputy Village Clerk Village of Oak Park Page 3 Printed on 4/21/2015