January 14, 2009 SAB Meeting Minutes

City of Lawrence
Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB)
January 14, 2009 (5:30 PM) Meeting Minutes

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 December 10, 2008 minutes (Heckler/ Lehrman). Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.

SAB Election of Nominated Candidate for President, Vice President, and Secretary

Elections for SAB nominated candidates took place.

Motion to elect Laura Routh for secretary (Poull). Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.
Motion to elect Sarah Hill-Nelson for vice-president (Poull). Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.
Motion to elect Daniel Poull for president (Poull). Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.

Presentation by Marilyn Hull, Douglas County Community Foundation

Sarah Hill-Nelson introduced Marilyn Hull, program officer of the Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF). Marilyn Hull presented information regarding a wellness initiative under way in the Lawrence community. It is specifically targeting nutrition and physical activity. DCCF received a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation for this wellness initiative. Marilyn provided a hand out, Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative Fact Sheet (see attached). The wellness initiative ties in with sustainability as it relates to local foods systems as well as transportation (i.e. riding bikes or walking).

Marilyn Hull discussed her group's initial conversations regarding the possibility of hosting a town hall meeting for health issues. Dan Simons from the World Company who is on the DCCF steering committee brought up the idea of having a town hall meeting much like the Sustainability Town Hall held in Lawrence a couple years ago. The steering committee is working on drafting a community plan and will ask for community feedback.

SAB asked how they could help with this initiative. Marilyn commented that both groups can help each other. She mentioned that it would be important to find out how these health issues can be tied with the green movement.

Sarah Hill-Nelson explained her idea of having a one week Sustainability event in Lawrence (one day focused on local foods, another day focused on water, another on transportation, etc.) She wondered if the DCCF grant could be used for an event like that. It would be a way to join several sustainability issues into one event.

Marilyn Hull informed the board that DCCF would consider an event as a tool to increase visibility. For example, an event could be setting a Guinness record for the largest community work out (i.e. Red Dog host a work out in Lawrence). This would get the media's attention and would be an opportunity to roll out some of the activities that DCCF is planning. Marilyn also informed SAB that 2/3 of their Kansas Health Foundation grant is going back out to organizations as "mini" grants to address aspects of nutrition and physical activity.

Laura Routh mentioned two behavior changes that are both to get healthy and reduce the impact on the environment: using reusable water bottles and biking to work. Simran Sethi commented that she looks forward to working with DCCF because sustainability also has a "people" component; sustainability is not just a "green" component.

Marilyn Hull mentioned that DCCF will most probably put out an RFP to invite all organizations interested in applying for these "mini" grants. It will be a 3 year project. Total grant money is approximately $300,000 of which 2/3 will be available for community grants and 1/3 will be to cover DCCF staff salaries and expenses. Grants awarded will be on average $10,000 to $15,000. SAB asked what the qualifications for an organization applying are. DCCF normally only awards grants to 501 c3 organizations but this wellness grant may have more flexibility. Could a group like SAB qualify for this grant? Marilyn gave no definitive answer but did say it could probably work if the group has an organization that it is a part of (i.e. City Government for SAB) to be is the fiscal agent for the funds but then the decision making could be a larger coalition group like SAB.

Marilyn Hull will keep Sarah Hill-Nelson updated on the DCCF grants and projects.

Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair (LECF)

Sarah Hill-Nelson summarized last SAB meeting's LECF conversation. She mentioned SAB had concerns about the LECF viability and SAB suggested uniting the Earth Day and LECF events.

SAB asked Kathy Richardson to discuss the staff position on the LECF. Kathy reported that she talked to WRR staff as well as Bob Yoos, Tammy Bennett and Lisa Patterson throughout the last month to get their perspectives on the LECF. One thing that was agreed by all staff is that if any major changes need to be made to LECF these changes would be best suited for 2010 and not 2009 so that there is adequate time for planning. Combining the Earth Day and LECF events would be difficult for 2009 since Earth Day is right around the corner in April. Kathy mentioned that staff also agreed that the LECF activities need to be back to a one day event and not spread out throughout the week like in 2008. In addition, staff agreed that a venue change for LECF would be good and suggested the Lawrence Community Building.

Kathy also reported that she spoke to Steve Hughes, a participant of LECF since its inception. He thought attendance for the 2008 LECF was good and he was content with event. Steve Hughes mentioned that the LECF survey results also showed many positive responses.

Aron Cromwell, a 2008 LECF exhibitor, informed SAB that he thought the attendance at LECF was not good. He said he spoke with vendors who are questioning their participation in 2009. Aron Cromwell added that he would participate in LECF again this year because he has always participated in this City event but suggested that there be a venue change. He would like to see LECF moved back to the DG CO Fairgrounds but understands that the Fairgrounds facilities are normally reserved for years.

Daniel Poull stated that if SAB wants to ramp up the energy of LECF, then SAB will need to ramp up their participation too.

There was discussion on broadening the LECF to a Sustainability Fair to increase attendance.

Michael Almon, another 2008 LECF exhibitor, agreed with Aron Cromwell's comments and said location is his big concern. He had hopes that when LECF was moved to Free State High School from the DG CO Fairgrounds that it would be reaching a demographic that had not been reached before but it does not seem like it has worked out. Michael Almon thinks a more central location for LECF would be good. He also mentioned that he thinks there are significant differences between the Earth Day and LECF events. He said Earth Day has an emphasis on community groups, school groups, and not-for-profit groups. The Earth Day is a celebration and people come down to have a fun day. LECF is a formal fair were professional vendors are trying to sell their services or products.

There was discussion on the possibility of collaborating with the Lawrence Home Builders Association to create an energy conservation vendor area in their annual Home Show. Simran Sethi stated that SAB will need to confirm who it is they want their target audience to be. If SAB were to decide to collapse the LECF with the Home Show, then the target audience would be home owners and not on the college community, renters, etc.

Laura Routh suggested researching Energy Fairs in other communities. The following SAB members volunteered to be on the LECF subcommittee: Dickie Heckler, Brian Sifton, Laura Routh and Daniel Poull. The LECF subcommittee will establish a meeting schedule and meet at Dickie Heckler's house. The LECF subcommittee will then bring back a proposal to SAB.

Earth Day Celebration

Kathy Richardson reported that the 2009 Earth Day Celebration will be held on Saturday, April 18th at South Park.

The following SAB members volunteered to help with Earth Day: Dickie Heckler, Brian Sifton, Chris Cobb, Paul Dietz (and kids), Sarah Hill-Nelson, and Daniel Poull.

Horizon 2020 Environmental Chapter

Laura Routh passed around the outline of the Horizon 2020 Environmental Chapter and informed SAB that she had contacted Amy Brown, the City's Long-Range Planner. Laura provided the following information: SAB is a stakeholder of the Horizon 2020 Environmental Chapter. SAB members can sign up on the City website to receive email updates regarding Horizon 2020. Currently the City is hosting educational meetings for stakeholders to provide suggestions on specific community goals and policies for Horizon 2020. The Horizon 2020 draft will be completed by April or May and will be reviewed over the summer.

ACTION: Daniel Poull (and/or Brian Sifton) will email Amy Brown to get on the invitation list to the Energy Conservation/Waste Reduction/Sustainability meeting.
ACTION: Laura Routh will email SAB her notes from her conversation with Amy Brown.

Burroughs Creek Trail Update

Dickie Heckler talked to David Cronin, City's Project Engineer. The City is in the process of requesting bids for the Burroughs Creek Trial project. The project will start in July and be completed by the Fall.

Climate Protection Task Force (CPTF) Update

Simran Sethi thanked Sarah Hill-Nelson and Brian Sifton for being instrumental in helping put the pieces (i.e. workgroup recommendations) together for the CPTF's report. Simran reported that CPTF members will meet in February to review the draft report and the final report will be presented to the City Commission in March or April.

Peak Oil Task Force Update

Paul Dietz reported that the first Peak Oil Task Force meeting is set for January 20th at 4:30 pm at the City Commission room. The meeting is open to the public.

Waste Reduction & Recycling Report

Kathy Richardson reported that the recycling markets are at a steady low since the sharp decline last December (cardboard $15-20/ton, newspaper $25/ton, mixed paper $0-5/ton and office paper $90/ton). The City has been shipping materials through the usual brokers and is not having to store recyclables on site. SAB asked if the recycling markets have had a structural impact on the WRR budget and if it is imperiling retention of staff or programs. Tammy Bennett explained that the City has always budgeted the recycling revenue very conservatively because of the volatility of the market.

Kathy reported program/facility changes for 2009:
- The City is installing a new security gate system at the Compost Facility. The gate will require a programmed fob for entry. This year lawnscape companies will need to register with WRR and pay a $25 usage fee per fob.
- The City's finished compost will be sold this year instead of given away. The cost is similar to the mulch sale at $10 per truck/bucket load.

Guest comments and miscellaneous

Daniel Poull announced that Toni Wheeler, the City's Legal Director, will be presenting at the next SAB meeting to discuss open meetings.

Meeting adjourned 7:10 pm.

Next meeting: February 11, 2009 at 5:30 pm.

Attachments:

• DCCF Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative Fact Sheet (PDF, 92K)


• WRR Report (PDF, 45K)