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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.05.2024 MinutesCITY OF OSHKOSH SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD Minutes February 5th 2024 SAB PRESENT: Lisa Marone, Jacob Klaameyer, Megan LaFond, Vic Oliver, Brad Spanbauer, LaKeisha Haase EXCUSED: Margy Davey ABSENT: STAFF AND OTHERS: Brandon Nielsen (Staff Liaison), Emma Dziengeleski (Planning Staff), Mark Rohloff (City Manager), Staff (Oshkosh Media) I. Call to Order Vice Chair Lisa Marone called the meeting to order at 6:00pm and a quorum was declared present. II. Public Comment Ms. Marone asked if there were public comments. No public comments occurred. III. Approval of Minutes, December 4th, 2023 Mr. Spanbauer motioned to approve the minutes. Ms. Haase seconded the motion. The board approved the December 4th minutes 6-0 (Spanbauer/Haase). IV. City of Oshkosh American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Application Solicitation Discussion City Manager Mark Rohloff gave a background of the direction Common Council gave him on allowing community groups to solicit grant proposals to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. He stated that the city had received about $20.5 million of that funding and council has allocated 25% of those funds for non-profit and non-infrastructure purposes that need to be committed no later than December 31, 2024. He explained that this is the second round for applications, and that they are due no later than March 1, 2024. He opened the floor for questions and also announced that there will be public information sessions next week. Ms. Haase shared that those dates are Thursday, February 15th at 6pm and Friday, February 16th at 10am and 2pm. Ms. Marone shared that she felt a Climate Resiliency Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, or updating the current Sustainability Plan would be a great use for ARPA funds. She then asked if this is something the board would fill out or if it would be city staff. City Manager Rohloff stated that if the board could create the vision for what they see this plan looking like, then staff would fill out the application. Mr. Nielsen asked if the short-term goals were within the long-term goals. City Manager Rohloff explained that short-term goals may or may not directly impact the long- term goals, but that they don’t have to. He also said that he sees that the Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) aligns well with the City’s Long-Term Goals as well as the City’s Strategic Goals. A plan update would be a realistic ask based off those goals and the other application criteria. Ms. Marone shared some examples of other cities around the country that have used ARPA funds to enhance their sustainability initiatives. City Manager Rohloff said that including examples in the application would be beneficial. Ms. Haase announced to make sure the application is not a duplicate of the city’s current obligations. Mr. Nielsen explained that the last round of the Sustainability Plan was done solely by the Sustainability Advisory Board, and that an update to the plan could be inter-departmental and overall be a better document. Ms. Haase agreed, but then explained that the way funds are divvied up, she fears that if it is not an outside organization requesting the funding and rather the SAB or city staff, it may appear to look like a city ask. Mr. Spanbauer asked for some clarification of duplication of all projects within the two pots of money available, and also asked if the infrastructure pot is all accounted for. City Manager Rohloff explained that it was not necessarily duplication of projects, but more so that Council may argue the funds need to come from somewhere else. He also shared that there is about $600,000 still available in the funds that were allocated for infrastructure purposes. Mr. Spanbauer asked if there was a way to see a list of all the projects that have been funded and at what measure. City Manager Rohloff said that there is a list and that he can share it with the board. Mr. Nielsen had a clarifying question about if from a Council standpoint, he asked if it looked better that Sustainability Advisory Board submit the application, and that they need assistance from an outside consultant to update this plan. Ms. Haase stated that if you could argue a group completes this plan is serving the City of Oshkosh and is not the City of Oshkosh, that may come across better. City Manager Rohloff explained that since the application states “non-profits or non- infrastructure” and not “non-city” he does not see any issue with staff or the SAB applying for ARPA funding. He explained that the direction the group is going with the plan update is an application he would be able to support as meets the criteria of the non-infrastructure application requirements as well as the goals of the city’s strategic plan. Mr. Nielsen asked the board to create what they see the vision statement/purpose being and get that to staff. Mr. Klaameyer asked if once applications come in, if the committee will be able to weigh and give feedback, or is that a Common Council role. City Manager Rohloff said that primarily staff will consider all the applications, and then take them to Common Council for input and the final say. Mr. Nielsen brought up that it sounded like funding was available in the infrastructure pot. So, with that being said, is this an opportunity where the group could ask for solar panels to be put on the new Parks Department building. Mr. Spanbauer shared that if duplicating is of concern, then anyone applying needs to know what has been applied for and what has been funded. He shared that if we are going to consider the long-term goals that have the most lasting impact for the city, that he would see an investment in renewable energy being a good route to go. City Manager Rohloff stated that he felt the proposal for solar panels may be a little ambitious to complete by the end of the year, so he may be hesitant to support that. But he mentioned once the city starts looking at Capital Improvement Projects (CIP), that that may be the time to mention solar panels and the board will have to work with the Parks Department on getting that accomplished. He shared that one of the applications that was awarded the first round was actually for trees, but more so related to Emerald Ash Borer. V. 2024 City Manager Goals – Staff Update Mr. Nielsen announced that City Manager Rohloff has SAB on his 2024 City Manager Goals. He then read that goal. City Manager Rohloff said that there were funds put in the 2023 budget and they have been repeated in the 2024 budget if there are any small projects that the board would like to do/needs done. Ms. Marone asked if there was an update on the internal Green Team, and where the progress was with getting that team going. Mr. Nielsen stated that HR put out an email looking for interested parties, but that staff has not heard back since that email went out. City Manager Rohloff stated that HR did not receive much interest. Mr. Nielsen said he would reach out to HR again to see if there are any updates. Ms. Marone stated that would be ideal, so the board knows if this is a goal that should be carried over to 2024, or if they should go in a different direction. City Manager Rohloff mentioned the success in the annual DEI trainings, and asked the board if they are aware of any employee Sustainability trainings, that may be worth talking about more and a better starting point. VI. Winter/Summer Farmers Market Schedule Mr. Nielsen explained that he talked to Ms. Davey before she left, and she informed him that there were no spots left for the Winter Farmers Market. He said he will keep it on the agenda so that the board can start thinking about what they want to do, when, what materials they need, etc. for the Summer Farmers Market. Mr. Spanbauer asked if the dates were set yet, and if they could just show up at any of the dates if they wanted, or is there just certain weekends where non-profits/community groups can go. Ms. Marone said she believed Ms. Davey had a contact and she will work with her on trying to get more information. Ms. Oliver asked if they would like to discuss some dates tonight since the majority of the board was present. She recommended that they go once a month maximum, since individuals who go every week tend to ignore the things, they see every week. Mr. Spanbauer suggested they do three times with one at the beginning of the season, one mid- season, and one towards the end. Mr. Nielsen said hypothetically June, August, and September. He recommended figuring out what they are going to do, so they can get the word out ahead of time. Mr. Spanbauer shared that he and Ms. Davey attended the Sustainability Communities Network meeting last week and shared some of what other communities are doing. He stated that not having the materials may not make residents want to pursue a rain barrel, but that they could inform them of the water credits and how to calculate those bills/having those applications with them. Ms. Oliver shared that when they have done Farmers Markets in the past. They have talked about rain barrels and chicken/duck/bee ordinances, which have been very impactful and they received a lot of positive feedback. Mr. Klaameyer explained that he could see if being beneficial doing a compost demonstration at one of the dates as food waste is another huge issue of concern. Ms. Oliver also mentioned recycling education could be a good topic to cover. VII. Agenda Items for Future Meeting Farmers Market, 2024 SAB Goals VIII. Next Meeting is xx, February xxth, 2024 IX. Adjourn The board voted 6-0 to adjourn (Spanbauer/Oliver) Recorded by: Emma Dziengeleski, Assistant Planner