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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutesMINUTES SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD October 4, 2010 Present: Steve Barney, Kimberly Biedermann, Michelle Bogden Muetzel, Bob Breest, Margy Davey, Justin Mitchell, Andrew Sabai, Excused: Jan Scalpone and Bob Poeschl Staff: Robin Leslie, Principal Planner, Shelly Reinke, Planning Assistant CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 4:00 by Chair Justin Mitchell. APPROVE MINUTES Steve Barney wanted his objections to the change of focus of the Energy Efficiency Subcommittee and to having meetings every other month noted in the September minutes. Motion by Margy Davey and second by Kim Biedermann to approve the minutes as amended from the last meeting. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT None. UPDATE ON TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN Jason Kakatsch, East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, provided an update on the new Oshkosh Transit System Transit Development Plan and stated the plan should be completed in March 2011. Chris Strong, Oshkosh Transportation Director, provided an update on the new hybrid city buses that were unveiled September 21 UPDATE ON HOLIDAY PARADE Margy Davey stated the Board may be able to use last year's banners but will need to confirm with City staff. UPDATE ON BIRD CITY USA Robin Leslie stated the Bird City resolution would be forwarded to the Common Council this month. Shelly Reinke mentioned the last item to complete was adding the required web links onto the City's website. Justin Mitchell stated that he would follow -up with this. ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND TERRACE TREES Justin Mitchell stated currently there is no requirement to put in terrace trees along with terrace reconstruction projects and that there would be many benefits of doing so. Kim Biedermann and Michelle Bogden Muetzel stated they would work on this item. 2010 SUBCOMMITTEE GOALS REVIEW Justin Mitchell stated the Board should review the goals and the Board could discuss at a later meeting. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS ENVIRONMENTAL Justin Mitchell reported the subcommittee met on September 27 to discuss Urban Chickens. At the meeting, Shelly Reinke presented the research she had completed. Issues that were discussed included noise, odor, predator -proof habitats, oversight and regulation, slaughter, roosters, lot size allowances, coop standards, setback standards, screening, permission from neighbors, registration, permit fees, humane treatment, etc. At the subcommittee meeting, the following Oshkosh residents spoke: Marcy Clark spoke in support of an ordinance to raise small amounts of chickens. She also stated Neenah recently passed an ordinance and that the Lakeside Veterinary Clinic was thinking about adding a fowl practice because there is currently no vet care for chickens available in Oshkosh. Marla Krieger spoke in support and thought it would be positive for the community. She also stated that children could learn from the experience. Dan Hoyt spoke in favor and spoke to the health benefits and cost savings to raising chickens. He also mentioned he would like to try to make available the "Mad City Chickens" DVD. The Board received two emails from residents (Renee Ristau and Brad Larson) who were against such an ordinance. Brad Larson stated he was concerned with unscrupulous chicken dealers and rooster issues. At the Board meeting, Dan Hoyt also stated he contacted all Oshkosh veterinarians and that no one currently serves chickens. He stated two or three may be interested in providing services if an ordinance is passed. Currently, Great Lakes Veterinary in Neenah serves chickens. Mr. Hoyt also stated he was looking into feed providers and that the "Day on the Farm" organization would be interested in any unwanted chickens (roosters, extra chicks from hatchery orders, non -egg producers, etc.). ENERGY EFFICIENCY Jon Urban distributed information on the City's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). Margy Davey stated they would be having an additional meeting October 18 at 4 pm. SUSTAINABILITY PLAN Robin Leslie stated the subcommittee has completed eight of the 10 sections of the plan and should be finished with the last two by the end of October. She also stated once the sections are completed, the next item to work on would be the prioritization of items and the implementation plan. NEXT MEETING Chair Mitchell reminded the Board the next regularly scheduled meeting was Monday, November 1 st at 4:00 pm. ADJOURN Motion by Margy Davey and second by Kim Biedermann to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 5:30 pm. Respectfully submitted, Robin Leslie Principal Planner