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SAB Minutes: Dec 10, 2008

 

City of Lawrence          
Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB)
December 10, 2008 (5:30 PM) Meeting Minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Chris Cobb, Paul Dietz, Dickie Heckler, Sarah Hill-Nelson, Matt Lehrman, Daniel Poull, Laura Routh, Simran Sethi, Cindy Strecker

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Brian Sifton

STAFF PRESENT:

Tammy Bennett, Kathy Richardson

GUESTS PRESENT:

 

PUBLIC PRESENT:

Matthew Gassen (Topeka SAB)

Call Meeting to Order (Daniel Poull, Chairperson)

Take Roll Call to Determine Quorum of Members

Approval of meeting Minutes

Motion and second to approve the November 8, 2008 minutes (Heckler/Hill-Nelson). Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.

Review Goals set out at the Planning Session Meeting on September 10th

Any pressing issue? Laura Routh announced that there is an online survey for the Lawrence Transit System requesting feedback/suggestions for the bus system. ACTION: Laura will forward the link to SAB.

Introductions: guest Matt Gassen, a member of the newly formed Sustainability Advisory Board in Topeka.

Kathy Richardson passed around a draft poster of the goals SAB agreed upon at the Planning Session Meeting on September 10th. ACTION: Kathy will enlarge the poster and bring it to future board meetings.

Report on state of 50 by 15

Although this agenda item requests a report from staff on the state of 50 by 15, Tammy Bennett clarified that the direction assigned to staff was to report back to the City Commission regarding updating recycling information as outlined below.

REPORT TO THE CITY COMMISSION: Solid Waste Management Report, 2009

1. Review of new or expanded programs since 2004

2. Update report "Evaluation of Waste Diversion Strategies for Lawrence" from 2004 and update cost estimates for city-operated curbside collection of recyclables with a city-owned MRF

3. Other options for curbside collection of recyclables
-  City-operated collection with recyclables transported to a nearby MRF
-  Contracted curbside collection of recyclables to a private provider

4. Variable rate pricing for trash (PAYT)
- Summary of services currently offered on PAYT basis
- Review of services provided not PAYT

5. Issues and Concerns
-  Recycling markets
-  Customer satisfaction with various scenarios

6. Reliability of analysis - Do we need a third party analysis, i.e. professional solid waste consultant to focus on feasibility of curbside and PAYT?
-  Cost
-  Benefits
-  Implementation

7. Planned or additional steps
-  Source reduction
-  Recycling

PROCESS:
- Staff report to city manager, draft, by late January
- Review and discuss with various bodies (SAB & CC) per city manager direction
- Budget issues need to be determined by mid April (e.g., 3rd party analysis). CC makes budget decisions in July.

Recycling Markets and Impacts to the City's Recycling Program

Kathy Richardson alerted SAB of the current Municipal Paper Recycling Markets and possible impacts on the Waste Reduction and Recycling (WRR) Division's collection and processing of corrugated cardboard, mixed paper, newspaper and office paper. The paper markets have taken a sharp downturn, corresponding to other commodities and the current global economic downturn. SAB received a copy of the staff memo to City Manager (see attached) and Kathy informed SAB that this information would be in next week's City Manager's Report to the City Commission.

Staff has indicated that some of the possible impacts to the city's recycling program are:
- stalling new recycling projects,
- paying to recycle some waste streams (i.e. mixed paper),
- stopping collection of some waste streams (i.e. mixed paper).

SAB would like to be kept apprised of any recycling happenings so they can be prepared to answer citizens' questions if the community bins are removed or any changes take place.

If any changes to the City's recycling program do occur, WRR staff will work with Lisa Patterson, Communication Manager, to develop a plan to communicate these changes to the community using a variety of tools: Press Release, Emails, Newsletter, etc.

Update on Climate Protection Task Force

Simran Sethi reported that the next meeting is on Monday, December 15th at 4:00 pm. Top recommendations from each workgroup are due by the end of the year. The Policy, Outreach and Education workgroup will put all the pieces of the report together and present the draft at the CPTF meeting in January.

Laura Routh asked if the CPTF Waste Management workgroup recommendations address the methane at the landfill. Tammy Bennett informed SAB that the workgroup recommendations do not address the methane at the landfill for a variety of reasons - one being that the landfill gets waste from many communities not just Lawrence. Lawrence strongly encourages Hamm's landfill to install a methane collection system but what Lawrence has the most control over is how much waste we take to the landfill thus the Waste Management workgroup is focusing on reducing the amount of waste sent to the landfill.

 

Update on Peak Oil Task Force

Paul Dietz reported that the Peak Oil Task Force has not met yet. Paul was asked to serve on the Peak Oil Task Force to represent SAB. First meeting is targeted for January 2009.

Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair and Earth Day Celebration

There was discussion on changing the date/location of the Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair next year, securing a big name speaker, broadening the Energy Fair to a Sustainability Fair and/or combining the Energy Fair with the Earth Day Celebration in April. Ideas on new locations for Energy Fair: downtown (outside), Community Building, Lawrence Arts Center and City Garage, Lawrence High School, and big name speaker at KU Lied Center.

SAB members agreed that something needs to change in order to revitalize the Energy Fair and increase participation. Most SAB members agreed that the City's WRR Division should combine their two events Earth Day and Energy Fair. ACTION: SAB asked that Kathy Richardson discuss these ideas for the Energy Fair with staff.

Daniel asked if SAB is committed to having a SAB informational table at these outreach events. All SAB members agreed. Laura Routh suggested having a SAB brochure for the table. Simran Sethi wonders if there should also be SAB representation at every CC meeting as well.

Sarah Hill-Nelson informed SAB that the Douglas County Community Foundation is planning to have a spring Townhall event on health issues. There may be a chance to link this event with a sustainability event. ACTION: Sarah will contact Marilyn Hull from the DG CO Community Foundation and see if she could come speak at the next SAB meeting in January.

There was discussion on forming standing subcommittees for the two events: Earth Day and Energy Fair. SAB did not agree on whether to form a subcommittee or not. Kathy Richardson explained that at times it is more productive for staff to communicate with SAB members via email versus having subcommittee meetings outside of work hours.

Does SAB want to encourage staff to have two separate events or one event?

SAB decided to table this discussion and continue the discussion at the next board meeting.

Nomination of SAB officers for 2009

Motion and second to nominate Daniel Poull for SAB chair (Heckler/Hill-Nelson). Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.

Motion and second to nominate Sarah Hill-Nelson for SAB vice-chair (Routh/Sethi). Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.

Motion and second to nominate Laura Routh for SAB secretary (Sethi/Strecker). Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.

SAB officers (chair, vice-chair and secretary) will be voted on at the January meeting.

Burroughs Creek Trail

Dickie Heckler reported that there is a committee wanting to move on the Burroughs Creek Trail project now that the sales tax is approved. Tammy Bennett mentioned the design work will be done in-house. The lead city engineer is David Cronin. ACTION: Dickie will get more information on the progress of this project and bring it back to the next meeting.

There was discussion on how the tax money approved is being spent. Tammy informed SAB that Chuck Soules, Public Works Director, could come to a SAB meeting and discuss the projects and how the tax money is being spent. Right now the only project moving forward is Burroughs Creek Trail because it is tied to a federal grant.

Dickie also discussed sidewalks and maintenance responsibilities. He handed out a 2006 LJWorld survey. Sidewalk maintenance has been a City Commission issue for the last 5 years. Who should be responsible for sidewalk maintenance and at what level?

Waste Reduction & Recycling Report

Kathy Richardson emailed SAB a copy of the WRR Report (see attached) and a copy of the Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair Exhibitor Survey Results (see attached).

Guest Comments and Miscellaneous

Laura Routh announced that the Bureau of Waste Management is looking at revising the Construction & Demolition landfill regulations to address hydrogen sulfide issues.

Meeting adjourned 7:40 p.m.

Next meeting: January 14, 2008 at 5:30 pm

Attachments: