HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2014_06_05Sustainability Council
June 5, 2014
A meeting of the Sustainability Council was held at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 9, 2014 at
Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members present: Norma Nusz
Chandler, Ben Kleinjan, Bob McGrath, Jane Hegland, Trisha Jackson, Paul Peterson, Betty Beer,
Mike Lockrem and Holly Tilton Byrne. Absent: Ryan Carda and Alvaro Garcia. Others present
included: Shelly Brandenburger from the SDSU Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability
Committee, Shari Thornes and Laurie Carruthers.
Chair Nusz Chandler called the meeting to order at 8:33 a.m. A motion was made by Kleinjan,
seconded by Jackson to approve the agenda. All present voted yes; motion carried. A motion
was made by McGrath, seconded by Beer, to approve May 9, 2014 minutes. All present voted
yes; motion carried.
Schedule next meeting. July 11, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.
Indicator Project Presentation Plan for July 15 Council Study Session.
The Sustainability Council discussed the presentation for the July 15 Council Study Session. In
the message to the Council the following needs to be done: identify process, baseline scan of
Brookings’ sustainability, certain data is always changing, some indicators did not have a
measurement system in place, explain sustainability and its interlinking with many factors. If
Brookings increases its sustainability, there could be budget savings. Highlight some strengths
including: Interest Rate on Municipal Bonds, Renewable Energy Use and Historic Preservation.
Highlight some weaknesses: Poverty, Radon, Mixed Land Use. If you wanted to start with the
low hanging fruit, concentrate on Mixed Land Use. Strengthening this indicator would
inadvertently affect other sustainability indicators. Many hours of work were undertaken to
complete this project. All of this was done by a volunteer committee. This work could lay the
groundwork for a sustainability coordinator.
The Sustainability Council agreed to have the score card color coded and add the indicator’s
page number to the score card. Nusz Chandler and Kleinjan will present the indicator project to
the City Council with a 30 minute presentation and 30 minutes for question/answer. Other
members of the Sustainability Council are asked to attend the meeting. Nusz Chandler will
prepare an executive summary. Kleinjan will prepare a PowerPoint presentation and submit it
to the City Clerk’s office before July 8, 2014. Jackson will prepare and submit a letter to the
Brookings Register Editor prior to the City Council meeting. Copies of the complete indicator
project will be made available at the Brookings Public Library, SDSU Briggs Library and the City
Administration at the Brookings City & County Government Center.
2014 Community Common Read Project with the Human Rights Committee. Tilton Byrne
reported from the Community Common Read subcommittee meeting. Ideas include a panel
discussion after school starts; tours of local farms, the Farmer’s Market and school gardens; and
developing a new community garden closer to the bulk of the residents.
Public Education Campaign Poster Reveal/Advertising Plan. Lockrem presented a
marketing/promotional plan for the Public Education Campaign including posters, Brookings
Municipal Utilities mailing stuffers, Brookings Theatre ads, Brookings Register ads, Facebook
and Reach Local. Thornes and Lockrem will work together to finalize the plan.
Growing Sustainable Communities Dubuque Conference. Hegland, Beer and Jackson are all
interested in attending the Dubuque Conference. Carruthers reminded everyone that mileage
is half of the cost of this conference. If we have more than one member attending, they will
need to carpool.
Announcements/Correspondence/Communications/Calendar
• June 21 & 22, 2014 – Bike & Kite Festival at Fishback Soccer Complex
• July 15, 2014 – Brookings Benchmarks Indicator Project Presentation to the City Council
• August 13, 2014 – Bike Friendly Community Visit
• September 12, 2014 – Plain Green Conference
• October 7 & 8, 2014 – Growing Sustainable Communities Dubuque Conference – Hegland,
Beer & Jackson
• October 27, 2014 – Presentation by Will Allen author of “The Good Food Revolution”
• November 2-3, 2014 – South Dakota Local Foods Conference, Fort Pierre
• Membership: Members’ terms were staggered with one, two and three terms when the
Council was created on September 15, 2011. Terms for Hegland and McGrath expire on
12/31/14. All are eligible for a full three year term.
• Future topics: Bike racks for BATA buses, bike patrol, East Brookings industry traffic
concerns, Plain Green 2015 Indicator Project, legislative issues.
Draft July Agenda: Finalize Indicator Project presentation, @@@.
Adjourn. A motion was made by Hegland, seconded by Jackson, to adjourn. All present voted
yes; motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 10:14 a.m.
Submitted by Laurie Carruthers