HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2016_01_21Sustainability Council
January 21, 2016
A meeting of the Sustainability Council was held on Thursday, January 21, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at
Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members present: Holly Tilton
Byrne, Nels Granholm, Jane Hegland, Ben Kleinjan, Paul Peterson, Alvaro Garcia, Norma Nusz
Chandler, Stephanie Aure and Mike Lockrem. Absent: Bob McGrath. Others present included:
Shari Thornes and Bonnie Foster.
Chair Tilton Byrne called the meeting to order at 3:06 p.m. A motion was made by Granholm,
seconded by Peterson, to approve the agenda. All present voted yes; motion carried.
A motion was made by Granholm, seconded by Hegland, to approve the 1/5/2016 Meeting
Minutes. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Schedule Next Meeting. Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.
Nominating Committee Report and Election of Officers
Mike not here to report. Postpone.
2015 Annual Report
Motion was made by Kleinjan, seconded by Granholm to approve the 2015 Annual Report,
contingent upon setting the 2016 goals. Motion was made by Kleinjan, seconded by Granholm
to table until after discussion on goals. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Prelim discussion and action regarding “Green Building Practices Policy”
Council needs to provide direction at the City Council’s Feb. 23 Meeting. It was suggested the
council develop a comprehensive statement now with a more detailed Green Buildings Proposal
later.
Nusz Chandler arrived 3:18 p.m.
Mike arrived 3:28 p.m.
A motion was made by Kleinjan, seconded by Granholm, that all new construction within the City
shall meet or exceed high performance green building standards as defined under SDCL 5-14-32
(Section 1, a-c) for all new construction using city funds. An amendment was made by Kleinjan,
whereas we are looking at implementing a sustainability building policy, and whereas there are
eminent new construction that require a policy immediately, and whereas there is not sufficient
time to develop a full policy, and whereas the Sustainability Council has evaluated the State’s
Policy, Be It Resolved that the City adopt a full policy at a later date. Motion carried by
unanimous vote.
A Subcommittee needs to be formed. Kleinjan and Nusz Chandler agreed to serve. Have a Policy
finalized in March and forwarded to the City Council in April.
Nominating Committee Report and Election of Officers
Motion by Lockrem, seconded by Hegland to retain current chair/vice-chair: Tilton Byrne as
Chair and Kleinjan as Vice-Chair. Friendly amendment to change the officer terms to 2-year
terms, and practice the succession of vice-chair moves into the chair position at end of term. All
present voted yes; motion carried.
Tilton Byrne would like to add a discussion on the by-laws discussion to the next quarterly
meeting.
Updates / Reports
Green Drinks – Thursday, January 28th, at Wooden Legs beginning at 5:30 p.m. Nusz Chandler is
the presenter. Lockrem had 25 posters printed for distribution. This will be a monthly event,
with the exception of November and December of each year. Format is a 10 minute
presentation with Q&A following.
Possible Future Topics:
Feb 25 – What is Sustainability and the Definition of Sustainability. Garcia to present.
March – affordable housing / local foods / chickens pilot program
May – biking (May is Bike Month)
Brookings Register column
Granholm has volunteered to write a monthly column in the Brookings Register. This is open to
all council members. Schedule for column submission will be: Deadline for draft is the 2nd
Thursday, to publish on the 3rd Thursday, with “Green Drinks” to be held the 4th Thursday at
Wooden Legs.
Listed at the bottom of the column should be “Written by (author), member of Brookings
Sustainability Council since (date appointed). Other members include: XXXXX.”
City staff will set up a Google docs account will be set up for all members to be able to see the
schedule and edit proposed columns. The editorial committee is: Lockrem, Hegland, and Nusz
Chandler.
Combined fundraising event
This combined event would be incredibly labor-intensive. Declined for 2016; but possibly look at
in the future. Need to look at how the work and profit is split between the groups, and what the
council gets in return.
Posters
“Green Drinks” posters are available in print and electronically.
Need content ideas for poster images on these pieces: drinking water, energy, and storm water.
Urban Ag directive from City Council
Subcommittee needs to reconvene and look at policies, programming, etc. Subcommittee
members: Nusz Chandler, Tilton Byrne, McGrath, Peterson and Aure.
Housing and Poverty Report
The Housing and Poverty Report will be on the March 15 City Council Study Session. Members
able to be present: Tilton Byrne and Lockrem.
This report will be sent out to the City Council in January, with a cover letter from the Chair.
Would like the report to be available for the Affordable Housing Task Force whose first meeting
will be in February.
Motion was made by Hegland, seconded by Nusz Chandler, to approve the Housing and Poverty
Report, with the updated sources. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Chicken Pilot Program
This is scheduled for second reading at the January 26th City Council Meeting. Encouraged
council members to attend. Other staff to be present: Code Enforcement, Police Dept., and
Animal Control.
Goal is to have the website page up by February 18th with educational materials and links to
other resources. Information is available from Dakota Rural Action and the Backyard Chicken
Group for posting.
Discussion was had on the educational components planned and if they can locate some local
businesses for support and/or donations. Businesses mentioned were: Runnings, Homestead Do
It Center, and Lowe’s.
Affordable Housing Task Force
First meeting to be held in February. Lockrem is the Sustainability Council representative.
Bike Committee
Next meeting is Thursday, January 28, 2016. The City Council will be adopting the Ordinance for
establishing the Bike committee at their January 26th meeting.
Draft RFP for the Bike Master Plan. The public education committee will be meeting on Monday
on planning an event in May for Bike Month.
Student Member
No applications received. Position is open until filled.
Legislative Updates
No updates at this time.
Comp Master Plan Adv. Committee
The City Council recently passed the Charter for the Comprehensive Master Plan Advisory
Committee. A Press Release for membership will be forthcoming with deadline of February 12th.
Appointments will be made at a March City Council meeting. One member will be a
Sustainability Council representative; Kleinjan and Nusz Chandler are interested in serving.
Committee will meet monthly.
Goal Review & Setting
Three of the 6 items the council approved at their Goal Setting Retreat last week were
sustainable initiatives.
Motion was made by Garcia, seconded by Nusz Chandler to approve the 2016 goals: 1)
Education: Green drinks, Monthly Column, Posters, Speaking engagements; 2) Urban Ag:
Conduct thorough review of zoning policies and ordinances pertaining to ag practices to identify
barriers / challenges to implementation and recommend ordinance changes, if needed. Draft
action plan on urban ag initiatives; 3) Storm Water: Develop and implement public education
campaign. Draft action plan on storm water initiatives (green roofs, permeable pavement, low-
mow, rain collection/barrel systems, etc.). Budget for permeable pavement demonstration
project at a city facility or street; 4) Implement “Changing Culture” campaign: Work with each
department in identifying their sustainability goals for the year and list their achievements for
previous year, Increase communication with Brookings Municipal Utilities, Pursue onsite
sustainability training for city leaders and staff, Encourage staff to attend sustainability
conferences and other training opportunities, Conduct sustainability “orientations” with new
department heads and city officials; 5) Intern program; 6) Green building design & practices:
Draft policy statement, Develop comprehensive plan, Recommend sustainable building practices
pilot projects; 7) Inclusion of sustainability practices and principles into new Master Comp Plan:
Master Plan Steering Committee, Inclusive process and assistance from senior planner from
Kansas City), Support Smart Growth (urban planning and transportation that promotes walkable
and bikeable communities): 8) Pursue endorsement of Wisconsin “codifying sustainability”
program; 9) Actively seek grant sources for sustainability initiatives; 10) Evaluate “Star” rating
system; 11) Recycling containers in all city facilities; 12) Support Bike Committee leisure and
transportation biking initiatives, 13) Recommend pilot. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Tabled Annual Report
A motion was made by Garcia, seconded by Hegland, to approve the Annual Report. All present
voted yes; motion carried.
Adjourn
A motion was made by Garcia, seconded by Nusz Chandler, to adjourn the meeting at 5:17 p.m.
Submitted by Bonnie Foster