3/10/04
Members Present: Tracy Candelaria, Chris Cobb, Dickie Heckler, Laura Routh, Heather Muth, Steve Hughes
Absent: Shannon Criss, Lou Phillips, Celeste Fish
Staff: Mollie Mangerich
Heather Muth Called the Meeting to order at 4: 35
February Minutes Reviewed & Approved. It is noted that Tracy’s last name is spelled incorrectly.
SUB-COMMITTEE WORK UPDATE:
1. Energy Conservation: meeting to be convened by Steve Hughes. Hopefully, a report will be created by this subcommittee for submission to the Commission. Mollie Mangerich asks for an outline and meeting date as soon as practicable. This request from the City Commission is a great opportunity for the board to have a broader impact, both internally (in city government) and externally (in the community). OCTOBER is the target date for the report, which will assess opportunities for conservation, identify target audiences and outline priority ideas. Chris Cobb reports that his school has participated in conservation measures and has seen a 33% drop in utility bills.
Committee Members: Steve Hughes, Tracy Candelaria, Shannon Criss, Lew Phillips, Laura Routh, Chris Cobb
2. Eco Village: This committee should be wrapping up its work very soon—the research that has been done indicates that we simply do not have the localized data necessary to make valid comparisons and derive a foot print model relevant enough to make this a useful exercise. Good idea, but not enough to work with.
Committee Members: Shannon Cris, Celeste Fish
3. Office of Sustainability: This subcommittee met recently, and Dickie Heckler reported to the board that they discussed the options of a paid staff person vs. oversight function, perhaps provided by the RRBAC. Perhaps the oversight could carry similar authority to the planning commission. Mollie suggested that before talk of staff could be considered, the group would need to present content, i.e. purpose, functions, tasks and benefits and costs. An area that should be examined is the City’s environmental procurement policy and discuss the value/challenges in expanding the scope and implementation if and how that would/would not contribute towards sustainable operating practices within the City.
Committee Members: Heather Muth, Celeste Fish, Shannon Criss, Laura Routh
EVENTS:
· Heather Muth notes that Central Soy will be donating food for the event. Chris Cobb secured The Juice Stop to provide free samples at the event in the Park.
· Laura Routh volunteered to post the Earth Day events on Larryville.com
· Tracy C. and her husband will drive their new Prius in the Parade.
· Mollie reported that the Earth Ball would be set up in the park, and encouraged the educators on the board to talk up the Parade and Activities with their schools, colleagues and classrooms.
· Laura R. volunteers to find an EPA contact to perhaps set up a booth at the event.
· Mollie reports that we have requested to be placed on the City’s Transportation are on “The T” calendar for 2005, to provide free rides on the bus to the event. We were too late to get on the 2004 calendar.
ENERGY FAIR:
Mollie M. requests the Board to begin brainstorming and soliciting homes/ properties that can be spotlighted as part of the 2004 Sustainable Homes Tour.
Speaker Topic Ideas: (Laura R). suggested a focus be put on retrofitting older homes for energy efficiency features. She suggests contacting Gene Paggitt, a mason who installs efficient wood burning stoves and does fireplace and chimney repair.
(Chris C) suggested Mark Zwall be approached (Z’s Coffee) to provide a presentation due to his recent Pollution Prevention Award for his coffee shops.
WRR STAFF REPORT:
Clorpyralid information has been distributed to retailers, lawn care companies, city employees and brochures distributed at the Lawrence Lawn and Garden Show. The contaminated compost is being retested and monitored.
Yard waste Utility Bill Inserts have been developed and distributed in March & April. Advertising regarding preferred containers for yard waste will begin in the Lawrence Journal World. The new compost facility is permitted and being used. A 2003 yard waste management report is forthcoming.
HHW facility passed inspection by KDHE on 3/10/04.
Mollie M. handed out a variety of reports.
TOURS:
Landfill tour scheduled for April 12—10:30 a.m.
Directions (Drive yourself to facility): The landfill is 5 miles north of Lawrence on US Highway 24/59. At Hamm Landfill sign on 24/59, turn right on County Road which is 3rd street. Proceed up the hill past quarry entrance to Landfill entrance on left. We'll meet at the scalehouse just inside the entrance.
HHW & Compost facilities tour April 7th, 5 PM. Meet at SWAN facility.
Please contact Mollie M. to sign up for tours.
UPDATES/QUESTIONS:
Laura R. received approval from the Board to draft a letter requesting the Lawrence Post Office provide paper recycling (junk mail) to its customers. She has a PO box and is frustrated to see all the paper from PO boxes going in the trash. The Board agreed to review such letter and would encourage recycling in the two Lawrence PO facilities.
Meeting adjourned: 5:50 PM