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SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD
APRIL 4, 2016
PRESENT: Margy Davey, Jan Scalpone, Kim Biedermann, Lurton Blassingame, Samara Hamzé
and Robert Turner
EXCUSED: Tom Pech, Nikki Stoll and Michelle Bogden Muetzel
STAFF: Elizabeth Williams, Associate Planner
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:02 pm and a quorum was declared present.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment was received.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES, FEBRUARY 1ST, 2016
Motion by Ms. Scalpone and second by Mr. Blassingame to approve minutes as written. Motion carried 6-0.
PRESENTATION – UPDATE ON SHOP LOCAL OSHKOSH
Ms. Davey welcomed Emmie Rugotska from Shop Local Oshkosh. Shop Local Oshkosh is a brand that
believes in connecting local Oshkosh businesses with the local community. Shop Local Oshkosh provides
affordable, customized marketing services to fit any local business’s budget. Shop Local Oshkosh utilizes
social media and other media outlets to ensure the local community is able to follow, engage and interact
with local businesses every day. Shop Local Oshkosh is working on rolling out their online market place and
a new online app which will be a passport to shopping local. These new tools will allow local consumers to
connect with local products.
Ms. Hamzé asked if Shop Local Oshkosh was part of a larger franchise. Ms. Rugotska said that she started
Shop Local Oshkosh in 2014 and it is not part of a larger franchise. Shop Local focuses on the communities
located along the Highway 41 corridor. Ms. Hamzé asked if there was a cap on the size of business that Shop
Local Oshkosh will partner with. Ms. Rugotska mentioned that each business is a little different but the main
thing the organization looks at is whether the ownership of the business is local and how involved the owner
is with the local community.
Ms. Scalpone asked if Shop Local Oshkosh is competing with television and radio marketing. Ms. Rugotska
stated that she did not feel they were in competition but rather a complement to existing media platforms.
Shop Local Oshkosh currently only utilizes online social media platforms but they have been working with
local media television and radio firms to expand their audience.
Ms. Hamzé asked if Shop Local Oshkosh will be incorporating a “green business” icon as part of the creation
of their passport project which they are currently working on. Ms. Rugotska said she had not considered that
and would look into it further.
Ms. Davey asked if Shop Local Oshkosh worked with Gallery Walk. Ms. Rugotska said she is working on
developing a relationship with the Downtown Business Improvement District. Ms. Davey asked if the
organization only works with retail businesses. Ms. Rugotska said that Shop Local Oshkosh supports more
than just retail.
2 | April 4, 2016 Sustainability Advisory Board Minutes
PRESENTATION(S) – UPDATE(S) ON UW-OSHKOSH STUDENT PROJECTS
Ms. Davey welcomed students from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Environmental Studies program
and invited them to provide an update on the projects they have been working on as part of their senior
seminar projects.
a. URBAN AGRICULTURE - BEE KEEPING OUTREACH & ORDINANCE
Heidi Hetzel and Kailey Wood presented on their urban bee keeping research and the draft ordinance
developed as part of their senior seminar project. They provided a brief overview of the research
which led them to develop a draft ordinance that would permit urban bee keeping in Oshkosh.
Members agreed to review the ordinance draft at their upcoming meeting to determine next steps.
Ms. Davey noted that there were no additional presentation this evening but members could attend the final
student presentations scheduled for May 3rd from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at City Hall in room 406.
DISCUSS DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION OF MONTHLY MEETING MATERIALS
Board members discussed digital distribution of monthly meeting materials. Ms. Williams will continue
providing digital meeting materials to all members. Ms. Scalpone and Mr. Blassingame will continue to
receive meeting materials in the mail.
COORDINATE SPRING RAIN BARREL WORKSHOP – SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2016
Ms. Williams notified board members that Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance agreed to host another build your
own rain barrel workshop in 2016. The workshop is proposed to be held at the Oshkosh Masonic Center on
Saturday, May 14th from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The Council will consider authorization of the workshop in
April. Members were encouraged to promote the workshop at upcoming Earth Day events sponsored by the
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
WISCONSIN 25X25 INITIATIVE – STAFF DIRECTION
Members reviewed online materials regarding the State of Wisconsin 25x25 Initiative. Members discussed
inviting representatives to give a presentation on the status of the initiative. Ms. Hamzé suggested that in
addition to inviting representatives from the State, an invitation should be extended to Midwest Renewable
Energy or Wisconsin Public Service. Ms. Williams asked if Ms. Hamzé could provide contact information
for the two agencies mentioned. Members agreed to add this item to a future meeting agenda for further
discussion.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETING
Ms. Davey requested agenda items for future meetings. Members mentioned the Urban Bee Keeping
Ordinance, review of the impervious surface brochure, and the 25x25 Initiative at a future meeting.
NEXT MEETING MONDAY, MAY 2ND.
Chair Davey reminded the Board of the next meeting.
ADJOURN
Motion by Ms. Hamzé and second by Ms. Biedermann to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Meeting
adjourned at 7:03 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Williams
Associate Planner