HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2013_07_11Sustainability Council
July 11, 2013
A meeting of the Sustainability Council was held at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2013 at
Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members present: Norma Nusz
Chandler, Brooke Sydow, Donna Hess, Bob McGrath, Jane Hegland, Ryan Carda, Ben Kleinjan
and Arika Sanders. Absent: Alvaro Garcia, Paul Peterson and Betty Beer. Others present
included: Trisha Jackson SDSU Assistant Professor of Geography, Meghan Thoreau, Holly Tilton
Byrne from Dakota Rural Action, Carl Kline, Phyllis Cole-Dai, Dustin Bartlett, Todd Langland,
Gary Anderson from the SDSU Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Committee, Shari
Thornes and Laurie Carruthers.
Nusz Chandler called the meeting to order at 8:33 a.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 Sanders, to approve the June 14, 2013 minutes. All present
voted yes; motion carried.
Meeting Schedule. Next meeting will be Friday, August 9, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
SDSU Coal Pile Presentation. Trisha Jackson, SDSU Assistant Professor of Geography,
presented on her class research project - SDSU’s Coal Storage Facility: Areal extent of soil
contamination and implications for the local water supply. The methods used to collect data
included soil and water sample collection & analysis for arsenic, lead, chromium, mercury, ph,
sulfur and organic material. All levels were elevated. However, the surprising test result was
the elevated biochemical oxygen demand (BOD - degree of organic pollution of water) in Six
Mile Creek due to the manure pile next to the coal pile. Most pristine rivers will have a 5-day
carbonaceous BOD below 1 mg/L. Moderately polluted rivers may have a BOD value in the
range of 2 to 8 mg/L. The test in Six Mile Creek showed a 5-day carbonaceous BOD of 11 mg/L.
In conclusion the coal pile is affecting the soil and water quality. The soil quality is not
problematic unless it is disturbed for construction or new land use. The water quality is
problematic due to the high sulfates in the surface runoff which can mobilize heavy metals in
coal and acidic soils in the groundwater. The manure pile is affecting the organic pollution of
Six Mile Creek. Ms. Jackson plans to report this information to the University officials and make
recommendations including moving the gravel pile in between the coal pile and the creek. She
wanted the Sustainability Council to be aware of her findings and is open for comments and
recommendations. Dan Hanson, City Planning & Zoning Director, advised concerns with storm
drainage if a gravel pile was placed at this location. He said the gravel could infiltrate and affect
the storm water detention of the aquifer.
Urban Chicken Coops. Meghan Thoreau presented on her request to modify the current
ordinance by reducing the setback limits for coops and allow residents to keep a limited
number of egg-laying hens as pets. The presentation outlined the benefits of chickens including
food source, sustainability, economic benefits and educational opportunities and addressed
concerns including odor, noise, public health, property values, food safety and animal welfare.
Dan Hanson, City Planning & Zoning Director, discussed the zoning regulations concerning
chickens. Currently, chickens are permitted in Zone R1-A and Agricultural Districts with a 125’
coop setback. The Planning Commission is tasked to do the right thing for the community and
will continue studying this issue and review the land use angle. Several communities allow
chickens; however, several do not. The Planning Commission welcomes any recommendations
from the Sustainability Council.
A motion was made by McGrath, seconded by Sanders to form a chicken coop sub-committee
to research this issue further. The sub-committee can utilize outside resources on their
research. All present voted yes; motion carried. McGrath and Sanders volunteered to be on
the sub-committee. Meghan Thoreau and Holly Byrne Tilton from Dakota Rural Action offered
to provide information.
Keystone XL Pipeline. Carl Kline, Phyllis Cole-Dai and Dustin Bartlett presented a proposed
resolution urging the Sustainability Council and the City of Brookings to cease any new
investments in fossil fuel companies or commingling assets which include holdings in fossil fuel
companies. They advised the Keystone XL Pipeline debate is political and is requesting the
Sustainability Council make a commitment regarding fossil fuels. Many cities and churches
have made this pledge to put more of their resources into renewable energy. Committing to
not using fossil fuels is a long term investment the City Council would need to consider. The
Sustainability Council took no action on this issue.
Plain Green Conference. Hegland provided an update on the conference. The keynote
speakers include Philippe Cousteau Jr, Candy Chang and Lisa Taylor. A motion was made by
Sanders, seconded by McGrath, to allocate the funds for the Plain Green Conference to help
sponsor Lisa Taylor. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Recycling Container Update. Todd Langland, Director of Solid Waste Management advised that
3,300 of the 4,700 residential households have received recycling containers and more
containers are arriving pursuant to resident requests. He is interested in providing the
Sustainability Council with the yearly numbers for recycling tonnage, but will not be able to
provide this information until next year.
Announcements Correspondence/Communications/Calendar
• 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.
Draft August Agenda: Storm sewer art project, electric car charging station sub-committee,
Brookings Benchmarks update, urban chicken coops subcommittee, Plain Green, public
education initiative, and year-to-date financials.
Meeting adjourned at 10:06 a.m.
Submitted by Laurie Carruthers