HomeMy WebLinkAboutE_E_Minutes_4-7-08MINUTES
Energy & Environment Advisory Board
Monday, April 7, 2008- 4:00 p.m.
City Hall, Room 406
The Monday, April 7, 2008, Energy & Environment Advisory Board was called to order
by Chair Dani Stolley. Members present included: Jan Scalpone, Edward Wilusz, Steve
Barney, Ronald Hardy, Robert Poeschl, Jessica King, Margy Davey and Justin Mitchell.
Also present were Purchasing Agent Don LaFontaine and Media Services Director Jon
Urben.
Call to Order, First Item: Todd Sohr, 530 Grand Street, noted some environmental
concerns regarding the Riverside Park dock project. Mr. LaFontaine noted he would
forward Mr. Sawyer's packet of information to Jackson Kinney, Director of Community
Development.
Old Business, First Item: Approve March 10, 2008, minutes. It was motioned by King,
seconded by Poeschl, that the minutes be approved as presented. Motion carried
unanimously.
Second Item: Natural Step Process study circles update. Ms. King noted a schedule
survey was sent out and with responses received four possible dates were presented
including Apri128, May 19 & 29 and June 23 all at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Poeschl offered to host
the meetings at the ARC office.
Third Item: Fred Schnook's Comments (former Ashland, WI Mayor). Chair Stolley
noted she had conversation with Mr. Schnook and he noted they successfully used the
Natural Step process.
Fourth Item: Website. Mr. Mitchell noted he had a conversation with Tony Neumann,
City IT Director on creating a page on the city website for information about the Energy
& Environment Advisory Board. Mr. Mitchell sent out an overview to the Board to
review. Mr. Mitchell asked the Board to consider sending him input for the website on
issues such as visual structure, color scheme and content. It was noted the website could
begin even in a basic form. More updates would follow in coming meetings.
Fifth Item: Interns. Chair Stolley noted she had conversations with various UW-
Oshkosh departments on the possibility of providing student interns to the City to assist
in the ICLEI information gathering process. She noted the UW-Oshkosh Environmental
Studies department probably had between 50-60 students willing to participate.
Sixth Item: Clarification on attendance Policy & Procedures. It was noted that if board
members anticipate they will not be able to attend a meeting they should contact Jan in
the Personnel office at 236-5110. It was also noted that in situations where a board
member fails to attend several meetings, the Chair would ask NIr. Lafontaine to contact
that member to inquire on their future interest in serving on the board.
Moving into New Business, Chair Stolley suggested the Board consider forming
subcommittees to coordinate information gathering of various topics. NIr. LaFontaine
noted the city is still waiting confirmation of their ICLEI membership. He then
summarized a teleconference meeting between staff and ICLEI representative a few
weeks prior. He noted that the rep indicated it was common to have two tracks of focus
under the ICLEI model, with the city staff focusing on sustainability efforts in municipal
operations/facilities and advisory boards focusing on community efforts, outreach and
education. It was suggested that then with monthly meetings both tracks could share
information on their progress and updates. In this light NIr. LaFontaine suggested the
committee mirror this model as they move forward.
Some discussion then followed on NIr. LaFontaine's suggestions, including an interest in
having a possible workshop on the ICLEI process. After more discussion it was
motioned by King, seconded by Hardy that two subcommittees be formed to further
explore these issuesa municipal subcommittee composed of city staff, the council rep,
board chair and vice-chair, and an education and outreach subcommittee composed of
other members. Discussion then followed as to who should chair or serve on the
education subcommittee. It was then determined that the board chair could appoint
members to serve on subcommittees. NIr. Barney requested to serve on the municipal
subcommittee. Chair Stolley suggested that members should contact her if they have any
interest in serving on the education subcommittee. Based on that interest she would
appoint members to the subcommittee. Motion passed unanimously.
Chair Stolley asked for any other New Business. Ms. King noted she is drafting an
ordinance change to the city's street construction process to require trees in city terraces
for street projects.
It was noted the next meeting date would be Monday, May 5, 2008.
It was motioned by Mrs. Davey, seconded by Ms. King, that the meeting be adjourned at
5:35 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
~'avi. C~. ur~iev~
Secretary,
Oshkosh Energy & Environmental Advisory Board
cc Don LaFontaine, Purchasing Agent
John Fitzpatrick, Acting City Manager