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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes CITY OF OSHKOSH SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD Minutes August 5,2019 PRESENT: Margy Davey, Pat Dwyer Hallquist, Lurton Blassingame, Robert Turner, Adam Maslowski, Eric DeGroot,Jake Krause EXCUSED: Vic Oliver, Michelle Bogden Muetzel ABSENT: None STAFF AND OTHERS: Steven Wiley, Bill Sturm (Landscape Operations Manager/City Forester), Niki Euhardy(Winnebago County Health Dept.), Scott Williams (Oshkosh Media) I. Call to Order Chair Margy Davey called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm and a quorum was declared present. II. Public Comment No public comments occurred. III. Approval of Minutes,July 1st and July 81h,2019 Chair Davey asked if any board members had any revisions to the minutes. She stated that Mr. Krause and Ms. Bogden Muetzel were excused from the last meeting and asked Mr. Wiley to make this revision to the July minutes. Mr. Blassingame complemented staff on the minutes. No board members had any other revisions so the board approved the July 1st minutes with the proposed revisions 7-0 (Blassingame/Turner). No board members had any revisions for the July 81h minutes so the board approved the July 81h minutes 7-0 (Maslowski/Blassingame). IV. Oshkosh Sustainability Plan Update-Discussion/Action Mr. Wiley provided an update and explained that he had incorporated the input received from the board at the July meeting and added images from Sue Panek into the plan. He stated that the plan was further along than before and asked for input from the board before taking the updated draft to his supervisor for review. Board members asked for Mr. Wiley to add additional information to captions and revise the naming for a few items in the plan. Mr. Wiley stated that he would incorporate this input and that the next steps were to have his supervisors review the plan and provide input and eventually place it on a City Council agenda for review. The board voted 7-0 to approve the updated Sustainability Plan draft with the requested modifications (Blassingame/Turner). V. City Use of Weedkillers-Discussion/Action The board decided to switch this and Item IV out of respect for Mr. Sturm's time. Chair Davey explained that Landscape Operations Manager/City Forester Bill Sturm was present and introduced him to the board. She asked Mr. Sturm if he understood the board's concerns and he replied that he did. Mr. Sturm provided a brief overview of Glyphosate, an ingredient in Roundup weedkiller. He stated that glyphosate had been in use since 1974 and was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He explained that recently a number of television messages stated that glyphosate could cause Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and that despite this, the EPA was currently standing by their research on the product. Mr. Sturm explained that Monsanto, the manufacturer of Roundup, would stand by their product. Mr. Sturm explained that the Parks Department has used the product in landscape settings and that they would generally spot-treat areas such as landscape beds. His division's use of the product was rather discreet. Glyphosate was the most cost-effective means of knocking out perennial weeds. Mr. Sturm stated that alternative organic examples such as vinegar and salt will burn off top growth but not kill perennial weeds. Mr. Sturm's staff was licensed by the Department of Agriculture and he was comfortable about the level of exposure to the product that they had. He stated that his division did not address any lawns with Roundup and that they restricted its use to landscape beds, roundabouts and traffic islands. He explained to the board that if better options for addressing weeds existed he would gladly look into them. He stated that he understood the concerns of the board and that most of his weeding consisted of physically pulling large weeds. Mr. Krause asked if city employees that applied Roundup used protective gear. Mr. Sturm replied that they did per license requirements. Mr. Krause asked if there had been any health issue with City employees. Mr. Sturm stated that specifically with pesticides no health issues had come up. Ms. Dwyer Hallquist asked if there were abuses of the Roundup product by private properties. Mr. Sturm stated that this was likely but that he could not speak to these cases. He explained that the Parks Department used a 2% solution diluted to manufacturer's specifications. Ms. Dwyer Hallquist asked if there was any use of the product in water. Mr. Sturm stated that the product was not used in water especially since the weeds at Millers Bay were under control. Ms. Dwyer Hallquist asked if there was any concern with people using the product in their yards. Mr. Sturm replied that this was a question for the DNR. He stated that glyphosate does not travel down through the soil or stay in the food chain like some other chemicals. In agriculture, glyphosate was used to dry down the plants and get better seeding. Mr. Sturm stated that many products such as cereal contain some glyphosate in their ingredient lists. Chair Davey asked what type of oversight private contractors had. Mr. Sturm stated that all private contractors were licensed and had to maintain application records by law. Mr. Maslowski asked if there was a certain distance from water that the applicators had to remain. Mr. Sturm replied that they just could not apply to the water surface by law. Chair Davey asked if the area between the Riverwalk and water was treated. Mr. Sturm replied that it was not. Chair Davey asked if it made a difference whether Roundup was applied before or after rain. Mr. Sturm replied that this occurred at the discretion of the applicator. He stated that applicators would want to give it time to dry. Chair Davey stated that as a taxpayer she was appreciative of Parks using a cost-effective solution but as an SAB member and citizen she was concerned. Mr. Sturm stated that both cost and effectiveness weighed in. Chair Davey asked if Main Street was treated before the parade. Mr. Sturm stated that he did not believe so and that a private contractor handled Main Street. He explained that the Business Improvement District had a contractor who was separate from the City. Mr. DeGroot asked if Mr. Sturm was checking that the job was complete as opposed to how it was done also. Mr. Sturm stated that by law, the applicators had to deliver their post application proceedings 6- 12 hours after application. He stated that he understood the board's concerns and would be willing to consider input and alternatives from the board. Chair Davey stated that no action from the board was necessary at this point. Discussion concluded and the board thanked Mr. Sturm before he left. VI. Waterfront Revitalization Bill-Update Mr. Wiley explained that after the board took action on the proposed waterfront bill,he had sent the draft letter from the SAB to Planning Services Manager Lyons, Community Development Director Davis and City Manager Rohloff. He explained that the City Manager could then decide whether to place it on a Council agenda for the Council to consider supporting the bill. Chair Davey asked that staff follow up with the City Manager if there were no updates within a month. VII. Lakeshore Master Planning Process -Update Chair Davey asked Mr. Wiley for an update on the Lakeshore Master Planning. Mr. Wiley explained that a joint meeting of the Advisory Parks Board, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Sustainability Advisory Board had occurred on Monday,July 81h and all three boards were able to provide input. He explained that the next meeting was scheduled for August 121h and that the three conceptual designs would be presented at that point. Chair Davey asked Mr. Wiley to send a notice of observation for this meeting and encouraged the SAB members to attend. VIII. City Shapers Presentation and Workshop-Update Chair Davey updated the board on the City Shapers events that occurred in July. She and Mr. Wiley had attended two of the days and presented on the Lakeshore Park and master planning to students in 41h through 8ffi grade. The teams of students worked together to come up with proposed site plans and uses for the Lakeshore Park. Staff kept student ideas to pass along to the Parks Department. IX. Rain Barrel Workshop-Update Ms. Oliver was not able to attend the meeting but Mr. Wiley provided Ms. Oliver's update. Ms. Oliver had stated that they made 5 rain barrels at the workshop and that if anyone would still like one they had several left. They could email Ms. Oliver at vicoliver08@aim.com. Mr. Turner proposed doing a workshop on advertising and encouraging better attendance at the rain barrel workshop. He suggested the potential of maybe doing 2 workshops per year and having a larger poster at the Farmers Market on the rain barrel workshops. X. Environmental Leadership Award -Update Mr. Wiley stated that he was still working with the Southwest Rotary on setting up a meeting of a selection committee to nominate potential awardees and provide direction for the upcoming year. Chair Davey explained that she had reached out to the Rotary and that they were planning to meet later in the week. Mr. Wiley stated that he was still working on the logistics of creating plaques to display for each award. XII. Menominee Shoreland Restoration-Update Ms. Bogden Muetzel was not able to attend and therefore,no update occurred on this item. XIII. 2019 Oshkosh Farmers Market-Update Chair Davey stated that the SAB would be back at the Farmers Market on Saturday, August 17ffi. She mentioned that she had worked with staff to have staff purchase a pop-up canopy for the market. She stated that the last date for the summer was set for September 141h. Ms. Dwyer Hallquist stated that she could help on August 17ffi and asked if she should show up at 7:30 am. Mr. Turner replied affirmatively and stated that he would bring the materials. XIV. Social Media-Discussion/Action Mr. Wiley explained that Ms. Oliver had sent him the materials for Facebook for July and that he had posted them. XV. Agenda Items for Future Meeting Chair Davey stated that the board would continue with updates on future agendas and that these would include the discussion on the City use of weedkillers and the Advisory Parks Board meeting of September 9th. She asked Mr. Wiley to send a notice of observation for this meeting. Mr. DeGroot stated that he had an idea to propose that the City Council purchase electric vehicles to replace aging vehicles in the City fleets. He stated that he would like to do an audit of the City vehicles first and examine vehicles that were towards the end of their lifespans. He would likely start with Transportation to see which vehicles they had. Mr. Krause stated that there would not be budget enhancements for electric vehicles this year,but that it was a potential project for the board to look at. Mr. Wiley provided an update and explained that he had spoken with Mandi Hatch from Sustain Fond du Lac and that she had spoken with him and cited the SAB as an example of a model that her group would like to follow. Mr. Wiley stated that Ms. Hatch was interested in potential collaboration between the two groups. Ms. Dwyer Hallquist asked if the October meeting could include a discussion on potential solar panels for the Senior Center. Mr. Wiley replied affirmatively. XIV. Next Meeting,Monday, October 71h,2019-City Hall Room 404 Chair Davey reminded the board of the next meeting. The board voted 7-0 to adjourn at 7:14 pm (Turner/Blassingame). Recorded by: Steven Wiley,Assistant Planner