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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2013_09_06Sustainability Council September 6, 2013 A meeting of the Sustainability Council was held at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, September 6, 2013 at Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members present: Norma Nusz Chandler, Brooke Sydow, Donna Hess, Bob McGrath, Ben Kleinjan, Arika Sanders, Jane Hegland, Ryan Carda, Paul Peterson and Betty Beer. Absent: Alvaro Garcia. Others present included: Meghan Thoreau, Holly Tilton Byrne from Dakota Rural Action and Laurie Carruthers. Nusz Chandler called the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m. A motion was made by Sanders, seconded by McGrath to approve the agenda. All present voted yes; motion carried. A motion was made by Sanders, seconded by Peterson, to approve the August 9, 2013 minutes. All present voted yes; motion carried. Meeting Schedule. Next meeting will be Friday, October 4, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. Urban Chicken Coops. The Sustainability Council had the following discussion regarding the revised recommendation changing “40 feet from adjacent residents” to “25 feet from adjacent dwellings” and adding the sustainability background. Beer advised that she would vote for the recommendation as long as a provision be added regarding all contiguous neighbors agree with the exception of one. Sanders commented that dogs are more evasive and deteriorate property values more than chickens. Carda stated that if he was buying a home and found out there was a chicken coop next door, he would offer less or completely reconsider. Beer said that time will tell if this turns into an acceptable activity. She would like to see Dakota Rural Action confirm and promote the CDC warning about children under 5 years of age should not handle chickens and then the parents can handle appropriately. Sydow advised that she recently purchased an acreage with chickens. Chickens have been around for a long time. McGrath questioned if the Planning Commission would be reconsidering the matter. He met with the City Manager and thinks they may be rehearing this issue. A motion was made by Beer, seconded by Carda to amend the recommendation by requiring the consent of all but one contiguous neighbors. Beer and Carda voted yes; the remaining members voted no. Motion failed. Kleinjan advised that if you required your neighbors to consent, this causes conflict making it a political issue because of the common boundary. Zoning laws are passed to reduced friction. He is not optimistic the City Council will take action, but it will provide good comments moving forward with a discussion. Hegland asked if neighbors initially oppose, could they change their minds? Nusz Chandler questioned if we require neighbor’s consent what about cats and dogs? Where do we draw the line? Kleinjan provided an overview of the land use laws: zoning laws prevent the fight before the fight, nuisance laws fix the problem. He asked the Sustainability Council, what prophylactic measures should we instill? As long as citizens follow the rules we set up, it would not be a nuisance. Kleinjan also stated that if this issue is preserved for the future, it is appropriate for the Sustainability Council to support as it works towards sustainable lifestyles. It may not be the right time, but it is a sustainable cause. McGrath agreed with Kleinjan’s remarks and commented that this issue will not likely pass now, but will likely come up again. Many of the indicator cities are passing laws in support of urban chickens. Sioux Falls and several other small communities have already done so. Rapid City and Volga are discussing this issue. The Sustainability Council should support it. Beer removed her motion from the table and asked that a dissenting opinion be added to the recommendation that some members felt the consent of neighbors was important. Carda agreed. A motion was made by Sydow, seconded by Sanders to amend the recommendation by adding the following language, “Some members of the Sustainability Council recommend notice or consent of contiguous neighbors is important.” All present voted yes, with McGrath abstaining; motion carried. A motion was made by Hegland, seconded by Peterson to submit the revised and amended recommendation to the City Council. All present voted yes, with McGrath abstaining; motion carried. Bike Rental Discussion. Beer made some connections with B-cycle and handed out promotional cards from Madison, WI. She advised that the entity would need to raise the money for the bikes ($3,500 each) and would then own the bikes. B-cycle is the management company. We would need a proposal drawn up for the next meeting and vote on it. Kleinjan advised that this would be a capital expenditure. As a public entity, we would not own the bikes nor take the risk. We would provide the coordination. It was noted that on previous SDSU student projects, over $100,000 had been raised. This year is their project is recycling. A bike rental subcommittee was formed with Garcia, Carda and Sanders. Plain Green Conference. Hegland advised that Plain Green 2013 is ahead in registration numbers from last year. She also asked the committee if they would be interested in supporting a Plain Green Speaker Series for 2014. The speaker would be from Dubuque Sustainability on March 21, 2014. The support include providing a location and any beverages or snacks. The Plain Green Speaker Series for 2014 would be promoted at the 2013 Plain Green Conference. A motion was made by McGrath, seconded by Sanders to sponsor the Plain Green Speaker Series on March 21, 2014. All present voted yes; motion carried. Indicator Project. Nusz Chandler provided an update on the Indicator Project. 29 indicators are complete, 16 are in progress and 13 need to be populated. 3 indicators were a challenge to obtain the data and were removed from the list. Nusz Chandler advised that a graduate student is assisting in pulling the documents together. Beer volunteered to write any content needed. Public Education Campaign. Carruthers advised that Eric Landwehr is finishing the remaining photos. She also reminded members to turn in their facts. Announcements Correspondence/Communications/Calendar • September 13, 2013 – Plain Green in Sioux Falls • September 26, 2013 – Volunteer Appreciation Reception, McCrory Gardens Visitor Center, 5-7pm • 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 October Agenda: Bob Yapp restoration window workshops, Earth Day 2014, Wastewater Treatment Plant construction update, electric car charging station sub-committee, Indicator Project update, Plain Green report, public education initiative, and year-to-date financials. Meeting adjourned at 9:50 a.m. Submitted by Laurie Carruthers