City of Lawrence                                         

Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB)

October 10, 2007 (5:30 PM) Meeting Minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

John Craft, Dickie Heckler, Sarah Hill-Nelson , Matt Lehrman, Daniel Poull, Cindy Strecker

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Chris Cobb, George Eoannou, Laura Routh, Marie Stockett

STAFF PRESENT:

Tammy Bennett, Kathy Richardson

 

CITY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:

Mayor Sue Hack

PUBLIC PRESENT:

 

 

 

 

Introductory Comments by Daniel Poull, SAB Chair

 

See introductory comments for Mayor Sue Hack (attached letter).

 

Discussion of Current Environmental Issues Facing the City

 

Carbon Footprint Issue: Mayor Sue Hack thinks the carbon footprint issue is new to so many people. An education program would be very useful. This could be done through the City Commissioners meeting - proclamations and presentations from the Board.

 

Curbside Recycling Question: There was a discussion on the current state of recycling in Lawrence. Tammy Bennett stated that there will be a survey in 2008 asking residents if they would like city provided curbside recycling for $5, for $8, for $10, etc. This will give the City Commission a tool to make a decision on pursuing city provided curbside recycling or not. Mayor Sue Hack noted that the current City Commissioners are environmentally concerned and have a strong sense of responsibility toward the environment.

 

Environmental Impact of Unlimited Growth: Mayor Sue Hack noted that no new development can happen without some strong environmental considerations particularly with stormwater runoff. Also discussed was that if and when the Library will be built the City will consider it be a LEED certified building. There was also discussion on the city’s development code. A part of the development code concerning “sensitive areas” has unintended consequences. The City is initiating a text amendment. The intent is that as we grow we need to be aware of the sensitive areas. Daniel Poull mentioned that Lawrence needs to start growing taller not fatter.

 

Green Lawrence Campaign: Sarah Hill-Nelson described SAB’s proposed campaign, a message from the City about being sustainable. Sarah mentioned developing a unified logo. Next step is for SAB to meet with Lisa Patterson, City’s Communication Manager to discuss the campaign. SAB could then give a presentation at a City Commission meeting about the proposed campaign (maybe in conjunction with the Recycling Survey).

 

Student Move Outs: Suggestions were made to have a discussion with student groups and/or the Center of Sustainability about having a program for move out/in time.

 

Recycling Containers in Downtown Lawrence: Mayor Sue Hack suggested talking with Jane Pennington the new director of Downtown Lawrence.

 

Cool Cities Update: Tammy Bennett stated that the City has joined ICLEI and is still waiting for the program’s password. Tammy and Dena Mezger both co-chair the city’s Energy Management Team. They believe now is the time to start forming a Steering Committee with a good community wide representation - pulling together leaders from businesses, neighborhoods, the university, the Chamber of Commerce, etc.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Daniel Poull announced that George Eoannou has officially resigned from the Board due to lots of travel for work.

Action: Kathy Richardson will notify Bobbie Walthall in City Manager’s Office about George Eoannou’s resignation.

 

Approval of meeting Minutes

 

Motion and second to approve the September 12, 2007 meeting minutes (Heckler/

Lehrman). 

Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.

 

Home Energy Conservation Fair (HECF) and Sustainable Homes Tour Update

 

The Home Energy Conservation Fair and Sustainable Home Tour are this Saturday, October 13th. Kathy Richardson thanked Daniel, Dickie, Sarah and Laura for all their help in organizing this year’s event. Homes for the tour, food vendors, exhibitors, sponsors and speakers are all confirmed. Posters have been distributed as well as leaflets, print and online advertising is currently running, and press release went out last week.

 

Discussion on Recycling

 

Daniel Poull tabled this topic for next meeting. Invite Mark Hecker and Ernie Shaw to a future SAB meeting.

Action: Daniel Poull will talk to Jane Pennington about recycling in Downtown Lawrence.

    

Waste Reduction and Recycling (WRR) Report – Staff

 

A printed copy of the monthly updates was provided to SAB.

 

Agenda items:

 

 

Meeting adjourned 7:00 p.m.

 

Attachments:

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT: Letter for Mayor Sue Hack with Introductory Comments

 

Dear Mayor Hack,

 

   Here are some opening comments that I will be making at the SAB meeting on October 10th. I wanted to give you some time to look them over.

    -Daniel

 

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS

 

Thank you, Mayor Hack, for attending our meeting. Before we get started, I would like to express my appreciation for your service to the City of Lawrence. I know it is a difficult job for small pay. It takes dedicated citizens like you to make this city continue to function.

 

We at the Sustainability Advisory Board are attempting to make Lawrence a greater, greener, and more prosperous city. We are most concerned with making policy changes that reflect concern for the health of our environment locally and globally. We want to participate in changing the current trends toward environmental degradation and energy waste by helping the Commission take steps to “clean up our own backyard”, so to speak.

 

In January of this year, members of the SAB spent two days at a planning retreat to decide how we could be most effective and which of our goals were the most pressing. Realizing that we could dilute our energies by addressing many, (and most of them deserving), concerns facing the City, we decided to focus our attention on two main issues for the present two year period. These issues are, in broad terms, Energy Conservation and Recycling.

 

We commend the City Commission for the recent passage of the International Energy Code.

 

Under the heading of Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency, we would like to see progress made in the City’s participation in the Cool Cities Campaign by: 1. Coming up with the baseline carbon footprint for the City and, 2. Coming up with strategies to reduce that footprint. The SAB would like the City to adopt policies requiring greater energy efficiency for all new City buildings. One program that we find especially promising is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Not only do we think that City buildings should be built with energy efficiency in mind, they should be built to last long into our City’s future and be representative of our forward thinking community. Also, all of our current City buildings need to be regularly assessed and upgraded for greater energy efficiency. In the same vein of making our City a better place to live, we would like to see the City government emphasize greater efficiency in all buildings. There should be incentives for builders to create houses of real value that do not waste energy, and development that takes into account the burdens which may be borne by the rest of the community such as increased traffic, longer commutes, storm water impacts, and non-point source pollution.

 

The second main goal of the SAB is to see City sponsored curbside collection of recyclable materials for all of its citizens. Although Lawrence has seen positive steps toward improvements in recycling, we feel it is the responsibility of the City, as sole provider of waste disposal, to also provide more opportunities for recycling. We are pleased to see that there is a proposed survey regarding recycling to be conducted in the coming year, and we hope that the City Commission will be prepared to act upon the findings of this survey. From our anecdotal evidence, we think that most of the City’s residents do wish to have curbside pick up of their recyclables. The SAB is also working toward having recycling bins installed downtown in order to: 1. Give more people the opportunity to recycle, 2. Give the citizens of Lawrence a tangible sign that recycling is, indeed, important to our community and, 3. Show visitors to our city that Lawrence is a town concerned with the future and responsible with its resources.

 

There are many other programs that we are concerned with at the SAB and we have thrown our weight toward them. A couple of campaigns that we have been proud to be a part of are the adoption of the IEC, mixed paper recycling throughout the City, adoption of the Pesticide Free Parks program, and changes to native landscaping at the Prairie Park Nature Center. We appreciate your past support in furthering these programs.

 

In recapping, we would like to see real progress made in Lawrence toward greater energy efficiency in both the public and private sectors, with educational programs toward these ends, and more aggressive programs for recycling.

 

Respectfully,

Daniel Poull, Chair, and the SAB Board

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT: Waste Reduction and Recycling Division Report

 

 

Waste Reduction and Recycling Division Update

 

This past month the Waste Reduction and Recycling Division has been busy organizing the 7th Annual Lawrence Home Energy Conservation Fair and Sustainable Homes Tour. The Fair will be held this coming Saturday, October 13th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at Free State High School, located at 4700 Overland Drive. Homes Tour buses will leave from the Free State High School promptly at 10 am and 2 pm.

Fair and Tour information has been posted on our website http://www.lawrencerecycles.org/energyconservation.shtml

 

 A Media Event to highlight the upcoming Lawrence Home Energy Conservation Fair and Sustainable Homes Tour took place on Friday, October 5th. The Media was invited to attend a preview tour of one of the five homes featured on the Sustainable Homes Tour. Journalist Simran Sethi, the host of Sundance Channel’s The Green and Lacy Haynes Professional Chair at the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication, attended the preview tour as well and gave advice to Lawrence residents on how to conserve energy. Steve Lane, local architect specializing in energy efficient, environmentally sustainable design and Chair of Lawrence Habitat for Humanity Construction Committee, led the tour.

 

Compost Program

Staff is currently screening a few compost ready piles for the Fall Compost Giveaway which will be held on Thursday, October 25th and Friday, October 26th from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 27th from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the City’s Wood Recovery and Composting Facility, located at 1420 E. 11th St. (east of 11th and Haskell, over the railroad tracks). There is no charge for the compost and citizens may either load their own material or have it loaded by tractor into pickups and small trailers. This compost is not intended for commercial applications (profit or resale), but rather for the citizens of Lawrence. Dump truck quantities are not allowed. The Giveaway may close early on Saturday if the compost supply is depleted.   

 

Jan.

Feb.

March

April

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Total Tons collected curbside

21.45

NA

1114.98

1413.36

2545.08

617.60

823.88

 

566.96

378.43

Commercial YW received

2.00

1.80

29.00

132.10

50.61

36.5

 

11.3

19.6

 

Data

Pending

Other YW received

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

Total tons this month

23.45

1.80

1143.98

1545.46

2595.69

654.10

835.18

586.56

Data

Pending

Average Preferred Container Compliance

100%

NA

98%

99%

99%

99%

99%

99%

99%

Yard Trimmings collection: Year to date

 

Fibers Report

 

Old Corrugated Containers (OCC)

Cardboard                                 Tons                 Revenue

Current YTD                             787.08              $92,309.12

Prior YTD                                  694.81              $57,034.80

Avg. Price/ton thru sept.  2007: $ 117.28      Avg. Price/ton thru Sept. 2006:   $82.09

 

Old Newspapers (ONP)

Newspaper                                Tons                 Revenue

Current YTD                             667.55              $64,817.83       

Prior YTD                                  638.97              $49,249.23

Avg. Price/ton thru Sept. 2007: $97.10     Avg. Price/ton thru Sept. 2006:   $77.08

 

 

Office  Waste Paper (SOP)

Sorted Office Paper                    Tons                 Revenue

Current YTD                              17.31                $2,875.51

Prior YTD                                  10.08                $ 609.84

Avg. Price/ton thru Sept. 2007: $166.12   Avg. Price/ton thru Sept.  2006:   $60.50

 

Old Magazines (OMG)

Magazines                                Tons                 Revenue

Current YTD                              .63                    $40.63

Prior YTD                                  0                      $0

Avg. Price/ton thru Sept. 2007: $65   Avg. Price/ton thru Sept. 2006:   $ n/a

 

 

Mixed Waste Paper (MIX)

                                                Tons                 Revenue

Current YTD                              19.95                $1664.75

Prior YTD                                  N/A                   $          N/A

Avg. Price/ton thru Sept 2007: $83.45    Avg. Price/ton thru Sept. 2006:   $ N/A

 

 

TOTAL       ytd                   tons                       Revenue

                        1492.51             $161,707.83

Prior YTD          1343.86             $106,893.87

 

 

 

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program Report

 

 

 

Outreach and Education

 

September 29: The Waste Reduction and Recycling Division (WRRD) had an informational booth at the Rotary Arboretum Day on Saturday, September 29th. The Rotary Arboretum is at 5100 West 27th Street. This event was organized by the Lawrence Parks & Recreation Department.

 

Cassandra Ford, WRR Specialist. September 29th, 2007