HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2013_03_14Sustainability Council
March 14, 2013
A meeting of the Sustainability Council was held at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2013 at
Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members present: Norma Nusz
Chandler, Brooke Sydow, Donna Hess, Arika Sanders, Bob McGrath, Jane Hegland, Paul
Peterson, Ryan Carda and Betty Beer. Others present included: Chelsea Barkus from Habitat
ReStore, Linda Wilson from Dakota Rural Action, Nicole Boone from the SDSU Ecology Club,
Joanne Skyberg and Gary Anderson from the SDSU Environmental Stewardship and
Sustainability Committee, Todd Langland Director of Solid Waste Management and Laurie
Carruthers.
Nusz Chandler called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. A motion was made by Beer, seconded
by McGrath to approve the amended agenda which moved items up on the agenda. All present
voted yes; motion carried. A motion was made by Hess, seconded by Sydow, to approve the
February 14, 2013 minutes. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Meeting Schedule. Next meeting will be Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
Landfill Recycling Containers. Todd Langland Director of Solid Waste Management reported
the section of town south of 8th Street is complete and everyone has their recycling containers.
They are in the process of completing the remainder of Brookings and have 700 left to
distribute. The Landfill receives shipments every week and distributes as the containers are
received.
Earth Day Updates. Sanders and Hess will split the day for volunteering at the Brookings
Sustainability Council table at the ReStore event on Saturday, April 20, 2013. Sydow is working
the details regarding the tables with SDSU Facilities and Services. Beer advised that 2 electric
cars (Mitsubishi i and Nissan Leaf) would be available to test drive. She is checking with
Einspahr about hybrid cars. Sanders advised Quiet Cat would not be an exhibitor. Carda would
check with Cubby’s and Beer would check with the Pheasant about displaying table tents.
Chelsea Barkus mentioned a wind generator exhibitor at the Saturday event. She would provide
further details.
Public Education Initiative. The Sustainability Council discussed the categories for the public
education campaign. A motion was made by Beer, seconded by Hegland, to approve categories
1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 10 with discretionary authority from the Chair and Vice-Chair. All present
voted yes; motion carried.
1) Single Stream Recycling
a. Mayor Reed jumping out or being dumped into a recycling container
b. Recycling bins lined up along a street
2) Plastic
a. HyVee Manager Curt Osmanski carrying groceries in reusable bag
3) Smart Energy
a. Corporate – Reece Kurtenbach with a display board or an AMBER alert on the
interstate
b. Electric cars – photo of ‘Green Leaf’ reserved parking spot at McCrory Gardens
4) Natural Resources
a. Water
i. An eye looking thru a glass of water with the background as a highway
sign about aquifer protection (located on Highway 14 bypass or South
Main Avenue curve)
ii. Lawn watering
iii. Fertilizer
b. Healthy air
i. Tree planting
ii. No smog – clear blue sky at sunrise or sunset
5) Nature
a. Park & Recreation Director Pete Colson at the Nature Park site showing the reuse
of the old landfill
6) Reuse of Buildings
a. Habitat ReStore
b. Dave & Tasha Jones house, family photo
7) Local Foods
a. Jack the mascot eating a carrot at the Farmer’s Market
b. Community Gardens
c. Boys & Girls Club Garden
8) Community Design
a. Mayor’s Ride group photo
b. Map of Brookings showcasing sustainable aspects (community gardens, trails,
parks, bioswales
c. Bowes Construction – recycled asphalt
d. Construction site recycling bins
9) Carbon Footprint
a. Bicycling to work - Daktronics employee or Mike McCann
b. Kids planting trees
10) Social
a. Family core values – picnic at a park, discussion on a porch, planting at the
community gardens
b. Mayor’s Ride photo
c. First Bank & Trust’s ‘Plant a tree if you switch to online banking’ campaign
Electric Car Charging Stations. Continued discussion of electric car charging stations will be at
the April meeting when Brooking Municipal Utilities Director Steve Meyer can attend the
meeting.
Brookings Sustainability Indicators. McGrath updated the Council on the meeting with
Brookings Municipal Utilities and where Brookings power originates.
Plain Green Update. Hegland advised they are finalizing the speakers and needed further
clarification on the Sustainability Council sponsorship. She mentioned the possibility of a
speaker from Dubuque, Iowa and they follow the Lifestyle Track at the conference. A motion
was made by Sanders, seconded by Carda, to approve the sponsorship of a Dubuque speaker
for the Plain Green Conference. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Council Membership Update. Nusz Chandler advised that she would be meeting with the
Mayor to review applications for the 2 expanded positions on the Sustainability Council.
Membership Discussion. Tabled until April meeting.
Announcements Correspondence/Communications/Calendar
• April 20 & 21, 2013 – Green Fest weekend to celebrate Earth Day
• May 7 – Big Sioux Water Festival
• September 13, 2013 – Plain Green in Sioux Falls
• Membership: Members’ terms were staggered with one, two and three terms when the
Council was created on September 15, 2011. Terms for Beer, Hess and Sanders expire on
12/31/13. All are eligible for a full three year term.
• Financial Report: Council’s remaining balance is $5,000.00. City fiscal year ends on
12/31/13.
Draft April Agenda: Brookings Sustainability Indicator Project, Earth Day, Plain Green, public
education campaign, electric car charging stations, membership discussion and year-to-date
financials.
Meeting adjourned at 10:03 a.m.
Submitted by Laurie Carruthers