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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMTG MINUTES 2017-07-19 nd MINUTES OF THE 2 REGULAR MEETING OF GREENLEAF COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABILITY On Wednesday, July 19, 2017, the above inaugural meeting for the Greenleaf Commission on Sustainability of the City of Livonia was held in the West Conference Room the Livonia Department of Public Works,12973 Farmington Road, Building 12, Livonia. Chairperson James Baringhaus opened the meeting at 7:15 p.m. Members present: James Baringhaus Heather Douglas John Elkins John Grzebik Paul Sgriccia Michael Shesterkin Members absent: Elizabeth Calhoun Also present: Brian Wilson, Assistant Director of DPW Jacob Rushlow, Superintendent of DPW Lori Miller, Secretary II at DPW 1. Michigan Sustainability Conference – September 14, 2017 Chairperson Baringhaus announced the Michigan Sustainability Conference is scheduled for September 14, 2017, at the Crowne Plaza in Detroit. Chairperson Baringhaus indicated the Commission could send two or three members and asked for those interested Commission members to let him know so that registration for the event could be handled. Chairperson Baringhaus indicated he would email the event information to all Commission members for review to see if who may be interested. 2. Nextdoor for Public Agencies. Chairperson Baringhaus presented the Commission with a Power Point presentation about the Social application for neighborhoods called Nextdoor. Chairperson Baringhaus indicated the application can be used to open two-way communication between the City and residents and the application would be free, private and neighborhood friendly. Chairperson Baringhaus indicated the Greenleaf Commission partnered with the City’s Information Technology Department in 2015 to remap 72 Livonia neighborhoods which lead to the expanded participation of more than 7,000 residents now using Nextdoor in the Livonia community. Chairperson Baringhaus stated the application could be used for various reasons on multi-levels throughout the City including community engagement, crime prevention, emergency Greenleaf Commission on Sustainability nd 2 Regular Meeting of July 19, 2017 Page 2 preparedness, and sharing and organizing neighborhood events. Chairperson Baringhaus stated Nextdoor is currently being used by more than 1,500 public agencies and provides a free means of communicating directly with residents. Brian Wilson, Assistant Director of DPW, suggested the Commission take the proposed concept to the City’s Marketing Committee, which he indicated may be the best place to present the Nextdoor application to get it up and running for the City of Livonia. Chairperson Baringhaus indicated he would follow-up with Barb Gamber of the City’s Marketing Committee to see if the Commission can work with the Committee to get the process started. Jacob Rushlow, Superintendent of DPW, suggested the Greenleaf Commission utilize the expertise available in the Mayor’s Office to assist with Social Media applications in the future. 3. Recycling Subcommittee. Commissioner Shesterkin expressed he would like to see a Recycling Subcommittee started by the Greenleaf Commission to focus on this subject and would welcome the opportunity to work with the Department of Public Works to build communication between the Department and the Commission. He expressed the expense of attempting to do a “Zero Waste” event this summer with the Parks and Recreation Department was prohibitive and there was not sufficient time to do any fund raising to offset the costs of the event and was not sure that would be allowed by the Commission. Commissioner Shesterkin expressed he would like to see the goals and objective increase the City’s recycling rates and meet with the DPW Director to get historical background to see how to meet the goals and objectives of the Commission. Commissioner Sgriccia added he recently read an article about Canton and their recycling rates using carts and welcomed the opportunity to discuss same further with Department heads. Following a discussion by the Commission regarding the distinction between “clean” recycling and contamination that occurs within the recycling process, Chairperson Baringhaus added the key will be to strategize efforts and perhaps start with an event such as “Music Under The Starts” and put out recycle bins at all concert events. Chairperson Baringhaus suggested a sticker could be created to put on recycle bins that shows what can and cannot go in the recycle bins. Commissioner Shesterkin indicated building awareness as a community would be paramount for the success of recycling. He added the purpose of the Commission and subcommittee would be to show the community the value in recycling and that consistency would be necessary. He stated if residents take home the information and practices, it would increase the entire value of recycling throughout the community. Commissioner Sgriccia explained the difficulties involved with equipment issues for recycling non-appropriate materials and how cross-contamination is a factor in the educational process of residents. Commissioner Shesterkin indicated he would schedule a meeting to discuss the goals of the Recycling Subcommittee in further detail with the Director and Assistant Director of DPW. 4. Budget for 2018 Fiscal Year. Chairperson Baringhaus indicated he had provided materials to the Commissioners for review of the proposed 2018 budget for the Commission. Brian Wilson, Assistant Director of Greenleaf Commission on Sustainability nd 2 Regular Meeting of July 19, 2017 Page 3 DPW, indicated the deadline to formulate budgets at the Departmental level within the City is typically May and June for the upcoming fiscal year. Chairperson Baringhaus provided a spreadsheet for members to keep track of any expenses incurred and indicated all receipts must be signed in order for the City’s Finance Department to process reimbursements. Commissioner Grzebik inquired what are the processes and/or limitations for funds to be donated to the Greenleaf Commission. Brian Wilson, Assistant Director of DPW, indicated certain things may have to go before Council for approval but indicated he would follow up and get clarification on the matter. Commissioner Douglas inquired what needed to be done to obtain grant funding and how would the Commission go about trying to solicit grant money. Chairperson Baringhaus indicated sponsorship for events is really all the Commission would need to obtain and that should be clarified up front at the onset of an event. 5. 2018 City of Livonia Greenleaf Award. Chairperson Baringhaus discussed the “City of Livonia Greenleaf Award”, which for the past three years has been given to businesses within the community which adhere to the triple bottom line practices. In the past, organizations such as Madonna University have been given the award for the energy saving practices such as their development of solar power panels on their property. Chairperson Baringhaus indicated in September the Commission usually opens nominations for the Award using Social media. Commissioner Shesterkin stated the award should receive some type of write up in media outlets to talk it up and to open the nomination process. Commissioner Douglas expressed she thought the Observer & Eccentric would be a good outlet and perhaps could do a write up of past winners leading up to the September candidate nominations. She would speak with her contact at the Observer and try to get some exposure through them. Chairperson Baringhaus indicated the event and award will be presented in February, 2018. 6. Green City Hall Initiative. Chairperson Baringhaus stated the subcommittee for the Green City Hall Initiative met with the Mayor and is looking for opportunities to demonstrate City Hall’s commitment to environmental stewardship in our community. Chairperson Baringhaus presented the Commission with a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Green City Hall Initiative Proposal” which outlined the plan to formulate a City Hall Green Committee and its’ responsibilities, initiatives and communication objectives to become a model for all other City facilities. Chairperson Baringhaus summarized the Strategic Plan for the initiative should be:  Community Engagement;  Certificates and Awards;  Energy Conservation;  Water Quality and Conservation;  Air Quality;  Waste Management and Reduction; Greenleaf Commission on Sustainability nd 2 Regular Meeting of July 19, 2017 Page 4  City Employee Sustainability Education;  Establish City Hall Green Committee; and  Environmental Procurement Policy. Brian Wilson, Assistant Director of DPW, explained many City policies are already in place. For example, the Parks Section has implemented the use of recycled materials at many City parks, energy management policies are in place and the heating and cooling in City Buildings has been updated for maximum efficiency and conservation. In addition, Brian Wilson explained that the City has addressed energy inefficiencies by switching many fluorescent light bulbs within City buildings to LED lighting. Brian Wilson, Assistant Director of DPW, explained there has been no tracking in quantitative measures of how these changes have saved energy throughout the City buildings or the overall savings in general for all of the policies implemented to date. 7. New Business. Commissioner Grzebik suggested the Commission formulate an “Environmental Friendly Committee”, to help brainstorm which events to participate in and how to get demonstrations done to help educate residents. Commissioner Grzebik suggested such a subcommittee could begin with a demonstration of rain gardens, to help engage the community and educate residents how to be environmentally friendly. Commissioner Grzebik indicated the subcommittee could try to engage the assistance of other entities such as DTE, Michigan DEQ and the DNR to assist the subcommittee. Commissioner Grzebik stated the events organized should be educational for all ages, to help get information out to the public to assist in the overall goals and objectives of the Greenleaf Commission. Chairperson Baringhaus asked for those interested in such a Committee to show their interest. The following members volunteered to participate in the Environmental Friendly Committee: Chairperson Baringhaus, Commissioner Shesterkin, and Commissioner Douglas. Commissioner Grzebik stated the subcommittee could report back at future Commission meetings. Commissioner Sgriccia indicated the Commission needs to clarify the definition of recycle versus a “Zero Waste Event”. Commissioner Sgriccia stated he had met with a representative from the DEQ who expressed interest in meeting to do a presentation to the Commission and perhaps to the public in general at an open meeting at City Hall. Following discussion by members, Chairperson Baringhaus inquired if members would like to invite the DEQ representative to do a presentation to the Commission first. Commissioner Douglas suggested the presentation could be marketed to residents to solicit community involvement and participation at the Commission meetings Brian Wilson, Assistant Director, suggested the DEQ representative could do a presentation to City employees, which could be overseen and directed by the Civil Service Department. Chairperson Baringhaus asked Commissioner Sgriccia to reach out to the contact person at DEQ and invite the individual to do a presentation at the Commission’s meeting in September, starting at 7:00 p.m. Greenleaf Commission on Sustainability nd 2 Regular Meeting of July 19, 2017 Page 5 8. Approval of Minutes. On a motion by Grzebik, seconded by Elkins, the Minutes of the May 17, 2017 Inaugural meeting were approved unanimously. On a motion by Sgriccia, seconded by Shesterkin, and unanimously adopted, the meeting of July 19, 2017, was adjourned at 8:46 p.m. Next Meeting – September 20, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. West Conference Room, DPW Administration Office JAMES BARINGHAUS, CHAIRPERSON GREENLEAF COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABILITY