Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission

Memorandum TO: Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commissioners FROM: _______________________________________________________________________ Andrew D. DeCanniere, Commissioner, Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission DATE: March 30, 2022 SUBJECT: March 22, 2022 Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission (SEAC) Meeting Minutes Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers at Skokie Village Hall Present: Chairman Jennifer Grossman, Commissioners Christopher Buccola, Andrew DeCanniere, Michael Gershbein, Lisa Gotkin, Olivia Mahoney, Jim McNelis, Rick Moskovitz, Emily Okallau, Robert Render, Charles Saxe, Trustee Liaison Khem Khoeun, Trustee Liaison Ralph Klein, Director of Public Works / Staff Liaison Max Slankard, Assistant to the Public Works Director / Staff Liaison Elizabeth Zimmerman Also Present: Matt Brandmeyer, Community Development Director Hanna Udischas, Member of the Public/Attendee Absent: Commissioner Alma Likic I. Approval of February meeting minutes Minutes from the February 23, 2022 meeting of the Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission were unanimously approved. II. Old Business a. Endorsement of the Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region Staff Liaison Zimmerman stated that the Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region was endorsed by the Village Board during their March 7th meeting. Edith Makra, from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, and who was instrumental in the Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region, spoke during the meeting. The Village of Skokie is on-board with the plan, and is happy to be included among the municipalities that have signed on. b. Approval of the Waste Sub-committee Final Report The Waste Sub-committee Final Report was unanimously endorsed/approved by the Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission. Page 1 of 3  c. Sustainability Plan RFP Update Staff Liaison Zimmerman stated that the window of time in which vendors were able to submit their RFPs for the next version of the Skokie Environmental Sustainability Plan closed at 3:00 PM today. Four submittals were received, though they have not yet been reviewed. It is estimated that review of the RFPs received will take two to three weeks. d. Spring Greening — Sunday, April 3, 2022 Staff Liaison Zimmerman reiterated how, if anyone should want to volunteer, they can sign up to volunteer at Skokie’s Spring Greening online. (Volunteers are still needed.) Among the items that will be accepted at this year’s Spring Greening are oil-based and latex paints, batteries, car tires, and holiday lights. A full list of items that will be accepted for recycling at the event can be found online. Recycling stations will be just north of last year’s location (near the green office building on Lawler Avenue). III. New Business a. Solid Waste Internship Staff Liaison Zimmerman stated that, working within their normal budget, they were able to create a waste intern position. The intern will go around the community, stopping by as many households as they can, providing feedback, leaving door hangers that will include QR codes that will link residents to more information (e.g. waste / recycling guidelines, etc). The individual in this position will also be available to do additional research on the waste stream, pick up some litter. Position is just for the summer. b. Earth Day — Friday, April 22, 2022 Staff Liaison Zimmerman stated that they’re looking to Commissioners for input as to what information they would like the Village to push out for Earth Day. Discussion ensued. It was suggested that contacts that have been developed with schools in the community could also be used. c. 30th Annual Chicago River Day — Saturday, May 14, 2022 Staff Liaison Zimmerman mentioned that Chicago River Day will be coming up on May 14th. There is a great website that gives you locations along the Chicago River where one can go to assist with picking up litter / cleaning up. They are asking for volunteers to sign up (online at www.ChicagoRiver.org) in advance. Could be a great opportunity to get the Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission's name out there as well. If any Commissioners do elect to sign up to volunteer, they should let her know, as they can track/advertise. Discussion ensued. Page 2 of 3  d. Guest Speaker: Matt Brandmeyer, Community Development Director: Land Use Development Discussion Chairman Grossman introduced Matt Brandmeyer, the Village of Skokie’s Community Development Director, who was in attendance to discuss Land Use and Development and the Skokie Environmental Sustainability Plan. He said that efforts will culminate in a Sustainability chapter being added to the Village of Skokie’s Comprehensive Plan. This is the first step. The addition of such a chapter is long overdue, as the current Skokie Environmental Sustainability Plan was adopted back in 2016, but we hopefully have an opportunity to catch up. As the new Environmental Sustainability Plan is completed, it will be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan. (Another amendment will be made to the Comprehensive Plan.) Main goal is to amend the Comprehensive Plan to incorporate the Environmental Sustainability Plan’s objectives. Discussion ensued. IV. Public Comments No public comments were received. V. Next Meeting Based upon the expected availability of Commission members, the next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. VI. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM. Page 3 of 3