HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2012_02_27Sustainability Council
February 27, 2012
A meeting of the Sustainability Council was held at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 27, 2012 at
Brookings City Hall with the following members present: Arika Sanders, Jane Hegland, Norma Nusz
Chandler, Donna Hess, Brooke Sydow, Bob McGrath and Laura Hennen. Absent: Ryan Carda and Justin
Fjeldos. Kathy Mathiason, SDSU Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability Committee; Heidi
Gullickson, Chamber of Commerce; Shari Thornes and Laurie Carruthers were also present.
Sanders called the meeting to order at 5:06 p.m.
A motion was made by McGrath, seconded by Sydow, to approve the agenda. All present voted yes;
motion carried. A motion was made by Sydow, seconded by Nusz Chandler, to approve the January 23,
2012 minutes as amended. All present voted yes; motion carried.
The March meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 26, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.
New Business
Sustainability Guide update.
Sanders presented a draft guide which mirrors the design of the flyer. Members were very pleased with
the design. Member assignments were reviewed and noted some still need to be submitted. The more
information members can provide, the better. Hennen added that the sub-committees should correlate
to the Sustainability Guide.
It was noted that some of the information in the Recycling Matrix differs from what the stores have or
participate in. To clarify this issue, it was decided to have written documentation noting what items
each store recycles with a manager signing off on it. The recycling & waste management sub-committee
will meet prior to the next meeting and decipher the documentation and how to distribute to the
businesses.
Once a draft is ready, we will share with the SDSU Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability
Committee and ask for their input. Kathy Mathiason from the SDSU Environmental Stewardship &
Sustainability Committee added that they are preparing a similar guide for the SDSU students. Sanders
mentioned the assembling of the Guide would be a good student project. Hegland will contact the
department head to check. Sanders will contact a graphic design student.
The deadline for the final Sustainability Guide to be complete is April 22 (Earth Day). We will have it
printed thru one of the local businesses in town. It was brought up that the SDSU print lab also prints
for the public. Carruthers will look into this option.
Website Content Review and Action.
Sanders is working on storyboards for the website and will have more at the next meeting. Carruthers
had a report on the number of hits on the Sustainability Council page.
Fuel Your Fleet with Biogas Webinar Review by Attendees.
Sanders reviewed the Webinar she attended on February 16, 2012 regarding the use of wastewater or
landfill methane to make biofuels. The webinar described the process of how it works using old food
sources, and the company offered to provide a free review of your resources. McGrath mentioned that
the old landfill location is past the state of methane production. The new landfill may just be starting to
produce methane. Animal feeding operations were also mentioned as a biofuels resource. This is an
expensive and time consuming option. Nusz Chandler added that biofuels are as fuel sources for short
trips, but once the trips get longer, it gets more complicated. It was decided by the Sustainability
Council that biofuels would be considered in our long term plans.
Old Business/Updates/Reports
Acknowledgement of Subcommittee Chairs & Updates.
• Recycling & waste management committee – Hennen-Chair, Fjeldos, McGrath, Sydow
• Sustainable building practices committee – Fjeldos-Chair, Hegland, Carda
• Energy & atmosphere – Nusz Chandler-Chair, Hess, Carda
The subcommittee chairs had not met with their respective committees. Between now and the next
meeting, the subcommittee chairs will meet with their members and report back at the meeting on
March 26, 2012.
Grant opportunities – Review and Update of Webinar.
Sanders reported on the January 24, 2012 conference call regarding the Local Sustainability Matching
Fund which provides grants from $25,000 to $75,000 with a 1:1 local match. The selection committee
will be looking for new lines of communication, longevity of the project, large scale behavior changes,
marketing campaigns and the project will need to be adopted by the City Council. Awards for spring
2012 will be announced on May 5, 2012. Applications for the fall will be due on August 1, 2012. The
Sustainability Council will work on an application for the fall term. Sanders will get clarification on the
‘local, place-based foundation’ requirement and report back to the Council.
April 22, 2012 Earth Day.
Sydow has met with Doug Raynie from the SDSU Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability Committee
to plan the Earth Day activities. The event will be at the McCrory Gardens Visitor Center from 1:00 p.m.
– 4:00 p.m. on April 22, 2012. Activities include: One Shirt Campaign, photo contest with the Journalism
or Visual Arts Departments, locally sourced food thru Aramark, potential Common Read partnership
with No Impact Man, SDSU students Acts of Green, exhibitor displays (ideas include: Environmental
Stewardship & Sustainability Committee, Recycling Committee, Sierra Club, Roots & Shoots, Plain Green,
Oak Lake Field Station, Aramark, Construction Management, Dakota Rural Action, Farmer’s Market,
Extension), movie from Carter Johnson, community garden/urban gardening/extension workshops,
speaker, fashion show, band playing, SDSU ice cream served. Members agreed a co-sponsorship of
Earth Day would benefit both SDSU and the Sustainability Council.
Hegland mentioned booking a speaker sooner rather than later. Scott Nagy was a suggestion for his
barefoot campaign and Human Rights Award. The SDSU Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability
Committee’s next meeting is Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.
Mayor’s Ride – May 12, 2012 – How can we promote? Who can ride with the Mayor?
Carruthers reported the date has not been finalized, but it will be during Bike to Work Week or Tourism
Week. Sherry Rasmussen from Sioux River Bicycle & Fitness is coordinating the effort. They are
requesting a representative from the Sustainability Council be on the Mayor’s Ride committee which
meets on Wednesday, February 29 at 9:30 a.m. at Sioux River Bicycle & Fitness. Sanders volunteered to
be the representative.
Highlights from SDSU Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability Committee’s meeting on February 21
from attendees.
Carruthers advised the major portion of the meeting was to discuss the events surrounding Earth Day
which were previously discussed. The SDSU Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability Committee is
also coordinating many sustainability efforts for students.
Flyer Feedback– Register Article, Home Show Attendee, etc.
Members had received many great comments about the flyer. Carruthers will work on distributing the
flyer to facilities around town.
Motion was made by Hegland, seconded by Hennen to adjourn at 6:45 PM. All voted yes, motion
carried.
Submitted by Laurie Carruthers