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Energy & Environment Advisory Board
Monday, May 5, 2008- 4:00 p.m.
City Hall, Room 406
The Monday, May 5, 2008, Energy & Environment Advisory Board was called to order
by Chair Dani Stolley. Chair Stolley called the meeting to order and asked for roll call.
Members present included: Jan Scalpone, 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.
Old Business, First Item: Approve April 7, 2008, minutes. Mr. Barney indicated two
items that needed to be corrected in the minutes. It was motioned by Mr. Hardy,
seconded by Mr. Poeschl, that the minutes be approved as corrected. Motion carried 7-1.
Second Item: Staff Reports. Mr. LaFontatine noted he and Mr. Urben participated in a
webinar on April 22 co-sponsored by the ICMA and the EPA discussing various Energy
Star programs and projects on sustainability and reducing energy consumption. Mr.
LaFontaine also noted that he would respond back to Chair Stolley's inquiry about the
water tower project. He also noted he has been in contact with Amy from ICLEI in hopes
of having her present a summary of the ICLEI program and principles at a future board
meeting. He noted she may be able to present in July and would continue working on a
date. Mr. Lafontaine also noted that he and Chair Stolley have not been able to follow up
with UW-Oshkosh to begin discussions on possible internship programs for helping with
the ICLEI program. He noted they hoped to have more information by the June meeting.
Mr. Hardy noted he was in support of having Amy from ICLEI provide a summary of
their program to the board perhaps for the municipal committee (either in teleconference
or in a full meeting) and thought such a presentation may also be helpful for the council.
Third Item: Website Development. After some discussion it was agreed that for the June
meeting Mr. Mitchell would provide some templates for the board to review.
Fourth Item: Subcommittee Reports- Natural Step Process. Ms. King noted the Natural
Step Subcommittee had their initial meeting for a study circle group on Apri128, 2008 at
the ARC building. She noted they had good representation and thanked board members
and student representatives from UW-Oshkosh. She reiterated the Natural Step Process
is a combination of community and municipal sustainability practices. Ms. King noted
the next meeting would be held on May 19. It was also noted that the Natural Step author
would be speaking at the Appleton Public Library on June 18. Mrs. Davey inquired as to
why city staff was not participating in the study circles. Mr. LaFontaine supported
community participation in the Natural Step study circles first, prior to staff input. Mrs.
Scalpone noted this practice of first having community involvement followed by staff
input was supported by other Natural Step study circles. Mr. LaFontaine noted staff was
looking forward to hearing about the planning recommendations from the Natural Step
subcommittee in the future. He also noted that as this board moves into the future the
subcommittee reports will include reports from the three subcommittees of Natural Step,
Education and Municipal. He also noted that as has been indicated in materials from both
ICLEI and the recent Energy Star Webinar, it is estimated that less than 5% of green
house emissions are traced to municipalities, and the real focus of education and public
information needs to be given to residents, businesses and industries. In this same light
Mr. LaFontaine noted the Municipal committee will focus on internal municipal efforts to
reduce the City's carbon footprint whereas the Education and Natural Step committees
can work to educate and inform the rest of the community on sustainability efforts,
projects and initiatives focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Mrs.
Scalpone noted there is a Natural Step book that focuses exclusively on helping
municipalities, working on four of the major principles. Mr. LaFontaine noted he would
obtain a copy of this book.
Moving into New Business, Mr. LaFontaine reminded the board of open meetings
policies in that the public needs to be given advance notice of what items will be
discussed at upcoming meetings. He noted that their policy was that members should
email him with any items they would like placed on the agenda for future meeting
discussion. He would then work with Chair Stolley in creating the agenda.
Under New Business Chair Stolley then asked for New Business items for the June
agenda. After some discussion it was motioned by Mr. Poeschl, seconded by Ms. King
that the Energy & Environment Advisory Board set a special meeting on Monday, May
19 at 6 p.m. for Chair Stolley to announce the education and municipal subcommittees,
and for the subcommittees to then set meeting times and discuss agenda items. Motion
carried unanimously. Still under New Business Mrs. Davey suggested all board email
correspondence be saved in a rich-text format. Mr. Lafontaine noted he would explore
the issue.
Mr. Poeschl then received permission from Chair Stolley to revisit an Old Business
itemMr. Sohr's presentation at the April meeting on the environmental impact of the
floating dock project on by the Leach Amphitheatre. Mr. Lafontaine noted he had
emailed the board a memo from Mr. Jackson Kinney, Director of Community
Development, in response to Mr. Sohr's concerns. He also presented Mr. Poeschl with
another copy of Mr. Kinney's memo.
Chair Stolley then confirmed the next regular meeting date would be June 2, 2008.
Discussion then followed that the June meeting agenda should include discussion of the
July and September meeting dates being that they fall on July 4th and Labor Day
weekends. It was then motioned by Chair Stolley, seconded by Ms. King, that the board
adjourns at 5:11 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