City of
Sustainability
Advisory Board (SAB)
March 12, 2008 (5:30 PM) Meeting Minutes
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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STAFF PRESENT: |
Tammy Bennett, Cassandra Ford,
Michelle Gundy, Tom Hogan, Tammy Parris, Kathy Richardson |
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CITY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: |
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PUBLIC PRESENT: |
Michael Almon, Ernest Cowden, Doug Dubois, Bay Liss
Harsh, Tim Hjersted, Carey Maynard-Moody, Steve Moring, Amy Schutz, Ian Spomer |
ANNOUCEMENTS and INTRODUCTIONS
The Waste Reduction and Recycling Division staff was
present during the first part of the board meeting and each took a couple minutes
to explain what they do on the job. All staff can be reached at 832-3030.
Kathy Richardson, WRR Operations Supervisor (krichardson@ci.lawrence.ks.us)
Kathy coordinates and oversees the activities and
operations of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Programs for the City of
Michelle supervises the City’s recycling routes: cardboard
and office paper at business locations and community newspaper, cardboard and
mixed paper multi-lift bins throughout town. Michelle is responsible for the
shipments and sale of the city’s recyclables.
WRR Specialists perform a variety of technical, educational
and administrative tasks related to the program areas within the Waste
Reduction and Recycling Division. Although cross trained, they each provide
technical lead in the program area of expertise.
Tom Hogan, WRR Specialist (thogan@ci.lawrence.ks.us)
Focus: Household Hazardous Waste Program and Small Quantity
Generator Program
Tammy Parris, WRR Specialist (tparris@ci.lawrence.ks.us)
Focus: Household Hazardous Waste Program and Small Quantity
Generator Program
Cassandra Ford, WRR Specialist (cford@ci.lawrence.ks.us)
Focus: Composting and Outreach/Education
Approval
of meeting Minutes
Motion and second to approve the January 9,
2008 minutes and the February 13, 2008 meeting notes (Routh/Heckler). Vote: Motion was
passed unanimously.
Presentation from Peak Oil Action
Committee
Steve Morning distributed handouts (attached) and gave a
PowerPoint presentation titled “Responding to the Crisis of Energy Depletion”. The Peak Oil Action Committee would like SAB
to recommend to the City Commission to form a Peak Oil Task Force. There was
discussion on how best to approach this and whether this is the right time to
push for the formation of this Task Force (since SAB recently asked the City
Commission to form the Climate Protection Plan Task Force). Also discussed was
the potential for the Peak Oil Task Force to be incorporated into the Climate
Protection Plan Task Force as a subgroup.
SAB members agreed that it would be best to ask the City
Commissioners for a study session. SAB and the Peak Oil Action Committee would
attend this study session.
Motion and second that SAB will propose
to the City Commissioners to schedule a study session to discuss the Peak Oil
issues with the Peak Oil Action Committee present (Heckler/Sifton). Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.
The Peak Oil Action Committee asked if SAB members could be
involved in editing their PowerPoint Presentation and handouts before
presenting these to the City Commissioners.
Action: Laura Routh volunteered to send
comments/feedback to the Peak Oil Action Committee on their proposal.
Formal Approval of the City
Recycling Survey
Motion and second to approve the City’s
Recycling Survey (Sifton/Cobb). Vote: Motion was
passed unanimously.
Craft letter stating SAB’s position
on city-wide curbside recycling
There was discussion regarding the Lawrence Journal World’s
article and editorial regarding the City’s Recycling Survey and the cost of one
model for city-wide curbside recycling. No SAB member was quoted in the
article.
Tammy Bennett, Assistant Public Works Director, clarified
that Mark Fagan’s article in the Lawrence Journal World was not staff initiated,
nor staff driven. She also mentioned that she gave Mark the phone number for
Daniel Poull, SAB chair, and encouraged him to call Daniel.
There was more discussion regarding how SAB should proceed
on getting their message across to the public. Dickie Heckler proposed that SAB
draft Press Releases or “talking points”. Daniel Poull suggested submitting a
letter as a guest editorial to the Lawrence Journal World regarding the Board’s
position on city-wide curbside recycling.
SAB once again questioned why pay-as-you-throw is not part
of the Recycling Survey. Laura Routh mentioned that she would like to see the
City contract a professional group to help with some of the long range planning
for solid waste. Tammy Bennett stated that there is a Solid Waste Management
Plan Committee that meets every year to revise the Douglas and Jefferson
Counties Solid Waste Management Plan. Laura would like to see the current Solid
Waste Management Plan compared to other communities.
Motion and second to empower Daniel Poull
to draft a letter for inclusion in the Lawrence Journal World guest editorial column
which SAB will be able to revise and approve via e-mail (Routh/Lehrman). Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.
Earth Day Planning
Kathy Richardson announced that Earth Day planning is going
well. Kathy has been sending Earth Day updates to SAB via e-mail. This year the
Earth Day Parade is hosted by KU Environs while the City’s Waste Reduction and
Dickie Heckler suggested inviting Casbah to be a food
vendor at the Celebration. There was discussion regarding not having bottled
water at the Earth Day Celebration. SAB suggested that the City provide water
coolers and encourage participants to bring their own reusable water bottles. In
addition, it was recommended that the City provide paper cones versus plastic
cups for those who forget to bring their reusable water bottles.
Google Group
E-mail for SAB
Simran Sethi encourages SAB to create a
Google Group so that past discussions and e-mails can be stored. There was
general agreement on this issue.
Waste Reduction and Recycling (WRR)
Report
Kathy Richardson e-mailed the WRR report to SAB (attached).
Laura Routh asked if staff has ever considered having open
hours at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility instead of by appointment. She
wonders if this would increase participation. Kathy Richardson reported that
the City has discussed appointments versus open hours. Currently the
appointment system is what works best for the safety of the employees/participants
and it is a plus for program efficiency. The City also had an increase in
participation when we transitioned to the appointment scheduling.
Miscellaneous and Guest Comments
Simran Sethi asked that the SAB meeting be as paper-free as
possible. Also she mentioned that SAB should discuss the system by which SAB
would like to be contacted by media (Who is the contact? Who is the alternate
that could speak on behalf of the board?) during the next board meeting.
Meeting
adjourned 8:00 p.m.
Next
meeting: April 9, 2008
Attachments:
- Waste Reduction and Recycling
Division report
- T2030 draft January - February
2008 by Michael Almon for Sustainability Action Network
- Peak Oil Resolution in the
House of Representative, October 24, 2005
- Peak Oil – the convergence of
three trends
- Oil Depletion Protocol by Dr.
Colin Campbell
- Peak Oil Primer Energy
Bulletin, January 1, 2004
Attachment: Waste Reduction and Recycling Division
Update
Fibers Report
Old Corrugated Containers (OCC)
Cardboard Tons Revenue
Current YTD 190.46 $23,977.82
Prior YTD 137.79 $12,068.85
Avg. Price/ton thru Feb. 2008: $125.90 Avg. Price/ton thru Feb. 2007: $
87.59
Old Newspapers (ONP)
Newspaper Tons Revenue
Current YTD 133.06 $16,185.00
Prior YTD 166.84 $15,344.20
Avg. Price/ton thru Feb. 2008: $121.63 Avg. Price/ton thru Feb. 2007: $91.97
(one load
is estimated weight, still waiting for final wt. from Purina)
Office Waste Paper (SOP)
Sorted Office Paper Tons Revenue
Current YTD No shipments $
Prior YTD No shipments $
Avg. Price/ton thru Feb. 2008: $ Avg.
Price/ton thru Feb. 2007: $
(currently waiting for full load – nearly 20
tons in storage)
Old Magazines (OMG)
Current YTD No shipments $
Prior YTD 0.63 $40.63
Avg. Price/ton thru Feb 2008: $ Avg.
Price/ton thru Jan. 2007: $65
Mixed Waste Paper
(MIX)
Tons Revenue
Current YTD 13.84 $ 1,313.97
Prior YTD N/A $ N/A
Avg. Price/ton thru Feb. 2008: $94.92 Avg. Price/ton thru Feb. 2007: $
(held for most for better price in March,
approx. 16 tons in storage to ship soon)
TOTAL ytd tons Revenue
337.36 $41,476.80
Prior YTD 305.26 $27,453.68
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program Report
Compost
Program
Yard Waste Collection began for 2008 on March 3rd. There has been a good set-out for the first 2
weeks, although it remains mostly leaves from the previous fall.
The Spring Compost Giveaway is scheduled for March 20, 21,
and 22.
Yard Trimmings collection: Year to
date
|
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2007 TOTAL |
Jan 2008 |
February |
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Total Tons
collected curbside |
14,455.85 |
NA |
NA |
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Commercial YW received |
449.21 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
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Other YW received
(Christmas Trees) |
29.38 |
20.46 (1716 trees) |
NA |
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Total tons this
month |
14,934.44 |
21.26 |
0.7 |
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Average Preferred
Container Compliance |
99% |
NA |
NA |
- ATTACHMENT: Suggested
Draft Resolution to establish a
Peak Oil Task Force to assess
WHEREAS,
global reserves of oil and natural gas are finite and sufficient substitutes
are unlikely to be available in the immediate future; and
WHEREAS,
the availability of affordable petroleum is critical to the functioning of our
transportation system, the production of our food and of petrochemical-based
consumer goods, the paving of roads, the lubrication of all machinery, and
myriad other parts of the economy; and
WHEREAS, U.S. oil and natural gas production have peaked and are now in decline, ensuring our nation’s continued and growing dependence on oil and natural gas imported from politically unstable regions; and
WHEREAS,
a growing body of energy industry experts believe that the world has already
arrived at, or will soon arrive at, the peak of global oil production, which
will be followed by an inevitable decline in available supply thereafter; and
WHEREAS,
global demand for oil and natural gas continue to increase; and
WHEREAS,
following the global oil production peak, the interaction of decreasing supply
and increased demand will cause the price of oil and natural gas to become more volatile; and
WHEREAS,
The Department of Energy-sponsored study [i] on mitigation of Peak Oil
demonstrated that a twenty-year lead time is required for effective mitigation;
and
WHEREAS,
the City of Lawrence and its citizens and businesses are extremely dependent on
oil and natural gas for their economic welfare and their most critical
activities, including electricity, transportation and food supply; and
WHEREAS, a
large majority of money spent on fossil fuels leaves Kansas and provides no
local economic benefit, while many of the solutions to lessening dependence on
fossil fuels result in local jobs and substantial economic benefits; and
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
the City of Lawrence has adopted the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement,
the success of which depends upon reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases created by human use of oil and natural gas; and
WHEREAS,
the City of Lawrence has a national reputation for planning and actions aimed
at maintaining the City’s social values, equity, and quality of life and can
take a leadership role in what may become one of the greatest political,
economic and societal issues of the next half-century,
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, a Peak Oil Task Force will be established to assess Lawrence’s exposure
to diminishing supplies of oil and natural gas and make recommendations to
address vulnerabilities. The Task Force
will consist of up to 12 members representing a broad range of community and
business interests. It will coordinate with
the Office of Planning, the Sustainability Advisory Board, and other applicable
departments.
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED, the Task Force’s charge is:
a.
To
acquire and study current and credible data and information on the issues of
peak oil and natural gas production and the related economic and other societal
consequences;
b.
To
seek community and business input on the impacts and proposed solutions;
c.
To
develop recommendations to City Council in this calendar year on strategies the
City and its departments can take to mitigate the impacts of declining energy
supplies in areas including, but not limited to: transportation, business and
home energy use, water, food security, health care, communications, land use
planning, and wastewater treatment.
d.
To
propose methods of educating the public about this issue in order to create
positive behavior change among businesses and residents that reduce dependence
on fossil fuels.
e. If indicated by the information studies,
and deemed appropriate by the Task Force, to develop an emergency plan to
provide for the basic life sustaining needs of the citizens of Lawrence in the
event of a sudden and dramatic increase in the price of oil or a sudden
reduction of supply, with particular emphasis on economically disadvantaged
segments of the population most at risk in such situations;
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that since the implications of declining energy resources
are also a regional concern, the Task Force will consider the input of regional
and state planners on this issue and cooperate with any similar task forces
created at the county, regional and state levels. In addition the Task Force
will cooperate with other groups charged with developing policy on related
issues.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that city departments will cooperate with the Task Force
as it seeks information needed to complete its charge.
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[i]
Robert L. Hirsch, R. Bezdek, R. Wendling, Peaking Of World Oil Production:
Impacts, Mitigation, & Risk Management, February 2005,
online
at www.mnforsustain.org/oil_peaking_of_world_oil_production_study_hirsch.htm
ADOPTED
by the Governing Body of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, this ______ day of ___, 2007.
____________________________________
Sue Hack, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
APPROVED
AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
Prepared by:
Tim
Hjersted
785-218-4154
timhjersted@gmail.com
- ATTACHMENT: T2030 draft January - February 2008 by
Michael Almon for Sustainability Action Network
- ATTACHMENT: Peak Oil Primer Energy Bulletin, January
1, 2004
- ATTACHMENT:
- ATTACHMENT: Peak Oil Resolution in the House of
Representative, October 24, 2005
- ATTACHMENT: Peak Oil – the convergence of three
trends
- ATTACHMENT: Oil Depletion Protocol by Dr. Colin
Campbell
