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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes MINUTES SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD November 7, 2011 Present: Steve Barney, Michelle Bogden Muetzel, Bob Breest, Margy Davey, Justin Mitchell, Bob Poeschl, Jan Scalpone Excused: Kim Biedermann, Allan Siman Staff: Robin Leslie, Principal Planner and Elizabeth Schultz, Planning Services Intern CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Chair Justin Mitchell. PUBLIC COMMENT None APPROVE MINUTES Motion by Jan Scalpone and second by Bob Breest to approve the minutes from the last meeting. Motion carried 4-0 (Davey, Poeschl, Scalpone abstain). INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY PLANNNG COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS Robin Leslie stated that the planning committee would like a volunteer from the Board to serve on their committee. She also informed the Board that staff is not able to support this Board with meeting time but can provide City liaison support providing help with permits, reservations, information, etc. Margy Davey stated she would attend the next meeting to determine if it is something she could commit to. WATER QUALITY PROTECTION BROCHURE Justin Mitchell stated he would like to have the Environment Subcommittee work on a water quality brochure. He stated there are existing brochures available but would like a customized brochure that includes what Oshkosh is already doing. Bob Poeschl suggested we find examples to use in case we do not finish the customized brochure in time for the spring utility bills. Jan Scalpone volunteered to help Justin Mitchell with the brochure. SUSTAINABILITY PLAN Robin Leslie gave an update on the Plan’s progress. She stated an open house has been scheduled for st December 1 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Oshkosh Seniors Center and she needed additional volunteers for the Energy, Managed Waste, and Land Use and Economic Development chapters. Thus far, Jan Scalpone has volunteered for the Environmental Conservation chapter, Mike Lizotte for the Atmosphere chapter, Chris Strong for the Transportation chapter, Shirley Mattox for the Government chapter, Kim Biedermann for the Local Food chapter and Margy Davey for the Safe & Healthy Community chapter. Michelle Bogden Muetzel volunteered for the Managed Waste chapter and Bob Poeschl volunteered for the Land Use & Development chapter. Ms. Leslie stated Mike Lizotte would give a short presentation at the beginning of the open house and then direct participants to the 10 tables set up for each individual chapter. Volunteers would then lead a discussion for 15 to 20 minutes on the topics covered in the chapter and solicit feedback and comments from participants. After the time is up, participants would then rotate to another table. Comment sheets will be available for participants and will be collected at the end of the open house. In addition to the open house, the public may comment on the Draft Sustainability Plan on the City of Oshkosh website. GHG INVENTORY/RESOLUTION Elizabeth Schultz, Planning Services Intern, gave an update on the GHG inventory project stating she is currently working on the narrative and gathering data. Steve Barney stated the numbers coming from WPS have been inconsistent on three separate occasions and cannot get an explanation why. Ms. Schultz stated she would set up a meeting with our WPS representative, Scott Hanson, to discuss the issues. She also stated the problems are occurring because ICLEI does not have a protocol for this assessment like they did for the municipal assessment. In addition, it was determined that documentation should be provided for how we are collecting the data so that next time the same protocols are used. Robin Leslie stated once a baseline is determined, GHG reduction targets may be established and the pending GHG Resolution can then be forwarded to the City Manager again for action. BUY LOCAL INITIATIVE There was nothing to report on this topic except that Margy Davey has some materials to share for this initiative. TERRACE TREES Bob Poeschl spoke with the City Manager about the terrace tree policy being unbalanced in the sense that in some areas that were reconstructed without trees prior to the current one for one tree replacement policy and that eventually the Taking Root campaign will end. He suggested the City have a policy to not only replace trees during street reconstruction but to plant trees where there were no trees. He also said he will get an update from the City Forester about the end date for the Taking Root program. Justin Mitchell stated there should be a default policy to do this during street reconstruction and if a tree is not planted, document why it was not planted. Jan Scalpone stated she would like to know the requirements/standards for planting trees in terraces. Michelle Bogden Muetzel said the standards were researched when they wrote the proposed terrace tree resolution that was forwarded to the City Manager in March. Bob Breest suggested a larger caliper tree for historic areas with cooperation from property owners for cost- sharing. PAH BAN ORDINANCE Bob Poeschl mentioned he has been working on this ordinance and has discussed it with the City Manager and that it has been passed onto to City departments for comment. He said the City Manager is on board and suggested a campaign to ease into a ban working with retailers. He said he did find out the City does not use coal tar sealants in their projects. He suggested they create a campaign with Media Services that will work with businesses that currently sell them. 2 | November 7, 2011 Sustainability Advisory Board Minutes Bob Poeschl and Margy Davey said they will continue to work on this. NEXT MEETING MONDAY, DECEMBER 5TH th Chair Mitchell reminded the Board the next meeting is Monday, December 5 at 4:00 pm and at the next meeting, new officers will be elected for the following year. ADJOURN Motion by Margy Davey and second by Bob Breest to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0. Meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm. Respectfully submitted, Robin Leslie Principal Planner 3 | November 7, 2011 Sustainability Advisory Board Minutes