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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes CITY OF OSHKOSH SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD Minutes December 3,2018 PRESENT: Margy Davey, Michelle Bogden Muetzel, Pat Dwyer Hallquist,Vic Oliver,Jake Krause, Robert Turner,Jason Kalmbach, Adam Maslowski, Lurton Blassingame EXCUSED: None ABSENT: None STAFF AND OTHERS: Steven Wiley, Tom Ekvall (Oshkosh Herald), Scott Williams (Oshkosh Media), Mark Rohloff, Darryn Burich, Laura Jungwirth, Steve Cummings, Lori Palmeri, Steve Herman, Tom Fojtik,John Kiefer, Lynnsey Erikson,Julia Noordyk,Jim Feldman, and UWO Environmental Studies Seniors I. Call to Order Chair Margy Davey called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm and a quorum was declared present. II. Public Comment Chair Davey asked if there were public comments. There was one comment from Alicia Alsberg who was unable to make the meeting. Signs were created for idle free zones at schools as part of the vehicle idling education campaign. The signs were well received by many parents. III. Approval of Minutes, November 5th,2018 Chair Davey asked if any board members had any revisions to the minutes. No members had revisions so the board approved the minutes 9-0. (Blassingame/Turner) IV. UW-Oshkosh Environmental Studies Projects - Fall 2018 - Final Presentations to SAB, City Council,Plan Commission and City Staff(Discussion to follow) Professor Jim Feldman introduced his class and thanked the City and SAB for working again with them. The students then began their presentations. The groups focused on the Green Infrastructure Audit and the goal of the Audit was storm water management. They defined green infrastructure as that which mimicked the natural water cycle. Each group interviewed stakeholders and audited different City ordinances and policies. The permeable materials and surfacing group gave their presentation and provided an outline, background information on permeable materials and barriers to implementation. The group explained that some of the barriers included maintenance (costs, snow and ice). The group explained that they graded pertinent City ordinances. The average grade was a C and the language was not really inclusive of green infrastructure. The group benchmarked against cities such as Madison and Franklin. They stated that over the long run, permeable pavement was cheaper than traditional materials. The landscaping group then presented and provided a background on landscaping considerations. The group explained that the shape, composition and slope were three points of successful landscaping. In the areas of the audit pertaining to Landscaping Design and Features, the City did well. The group then explained native vegetation and how the regulations could incorporate it into parking lot design and landscaping. They mentioned snow storage and the City's current requirements to depict snow storage on site plans and ways to improve regulations and enforcement regarding snow storage. They used Ferndale, Michigan and Cross Plains, Wisconsin as their benchmarking communities. The group explained the concept of Planned Natural Landscapes (PNLs) and how they spoke with a Ferndale Council member and planner on the success of PNLs there. They then explained costs and barriers. According to their research, the City could cut costs significantly by converting 10% of the park area to native vegetation. Bioswales had a higher upfront cost and more maintenance but need less piping than traditional parking lot islands. The group explained issues and recommended that Oshkosh adopt PNL standards. The group recommended allowing more landscaping points for rain gardens and bioswales, specifically prohibiting snow storage in these areas and more enforcement for snow storage. The architectural design standards group then presented and provided a background on the standards. They explained that a lack of language permitting various green infrastructure features in setback areas. The group stated that many of the pertinent ordinances received an F grade when they evaluated the codes. Barriers included the existing ordinances,lack of knowledge and the costs. The group emphasized the multifunctional nature of many green infrastructures and that these features often had many benefits. The group showed Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as successful examples. They suggested rewriting the design standards to better allow for elements such as planter boxes, rain barrels, cisterns, etc. The community outreach group then presented and explained that for most of the Audit criteria they addressed, the City scored above a C grade. The group gave the City an F grade for an audit question asking whether a procedure was in place to facilitate the disconnection of foundation drains. Costs to the City for improving in this area of the audit involved the costs of training staff on green infrastructure. Barriers were the lack of staff education and low funding. The group examined Milwaukee, Wisconsin and San Marcos, Texas as their examples of successful case studies. They interviewed Assistant Planner Steven Wiley, City Forester Bill Sturm along with UWO Professor Misty McPhee and SAB member Michelle Bogden Muetzel. The group then provided some suggestions and wrapped up the presentation by emphasizing the significance of the Audit and allowing sustainable infrastructure. Discussion and questions then occurred. Council and SAB members posed several questions to the students and engaged in dialogue with them. Councilor Palmeri asked how the class defined green infrastructure and the students explained that they used the definition from the Audit tool. Mayor Cummings asked if other communities had made use of their terraces for plantings other than grass. The students explained that they had spoken with Dan Tross of Ranger Services and he had stated that some communities had installed small shrubs and flowers. Chair Davey asked if the students had found any information pertaining to the impact of snowplowing and salt on terraces. Students replied that they had not found information suggesting that snowplowing and salt would have detrimental impacts on all plantings. Mayor Cummings asked the students if the loss of massive amounts of trees due to storms contributed to flooding problems in the City. Students replied that they had not had any research that suggested an increase in flooding due to tree losses. Councilor Herman asked if the groups had conducted any soil testing or found specific contaminants. Groups had not gone into this level of depth but did state that if salt was reduced, this would have a positive impact. Councilor Palmeri asked if the class had looked at subdivisions and percentage of impervious surfaces there. Professor Feldman explained that an entire Audit section addresses subdivisions and that the groups had not examined that section but that this could be an area explored in a future seminar. Discussion then concluded and Chair Davey thanked Professor Feldman and the students. Council members, Plan Commission members and most City staff left at this point. V. Environmental Leadership Award -Update Mr. Wiley stated that he had received a nomination from City Forester Bill Sturm for Paul Fowler. The nomination was not presented to the SAB because nominations were still open and the review committee of SAB and Rotary members was not yet established. Mr. Wiley explained that he was working with Emily Springstroh in Oshkosh Media to help market the awards. He informed the board that he could follow up with Ms. Springstroh and that he would also work with Jason Kunkle in IT to try to post the information online. Chair Davey asked if Mr. Wiley had a set timeline and he stated that he did not yet but that he would continue to work with other City staff to post the materials. VI. 2019 Oshkosh Farmers Market Handout-Discussion Mr. Wiley distributed the draft of the handout Ms. Oliver had worked on leading up to the meeting. Ms. Oliver explained that she envisioned using a small handout that would take up a third or a half of a sheet of paper. She asked the board for suggestions. Mr. Blassingame brought up the example of the Committee on Aging and some of their print materials. He proposed including on the handout answers to the following questions regarding the SAB: • When do they meet? • Where do they meet? • Who is all involved? Chair Davey asked the SAB to review Ms. Oliver's handout and follow up with Mr. Wiley regarding any suggestions. Mr. Wiley could then follow up with Ms. Oliver on formatting. Ms. Dwyer-Hallquist asked about creating a link to a Facebook page or the SAB site. Ms. Oliver stated that she could do so. Ms. Bogden Muetzel proposed rephrasing the second point on the original handout. Mr. Maslowski proposed combining the first and third point on the handout. Ms. Oliver and Mr. Wiley agreed to follow up on the handout. VII. Agenda Items for Future Meeting Chair Davey explained that the North Westhaven bike lanes would likely be on the agenda in January. Mr. Wiley mentioned that staff would ask the board to consider the information on the bike lanes and make a recommendation to the Plan Commission and Common Council on the bike lanes. Chair Davey also suggested that the board look at all the revised Plan chapters as a whole in January and place the annual goal setting and action plan on the agenda for February. Mr. Wiley explained that the revised bee and chicken ordinance drafts would come back along with a revised beekeeping brochure on an upcoming agenda. VIII. Next Meeting, Monday,January 7,2019-City Hall Room 404 Chair Davey reminded the board that the next meeting would occur back in the normal meeting room in City Hall with the conclusion of elevator upgrades. IX. Adjourn The board voted 9-0 to adjourn at 7:11 pm (Blassingame/Turner). Recorded by: Steven Wiley,Assistant Planner