HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2016_05_18Sustainability Council
May 18, 2016
A meeting of the Sustainability Council was held on Wednesday, March 18, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. at
Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members present: Holly Tilton
Byrne, Nels Granholm, Jane Hegland, Bob McGrath, Betty Beer, Stephanie Aure and Riley Larson.
Absent: Ben Kleinjan, Norma Nusz Chandler, Alvaro Garcia, Paul Peterson and Mike Lockrem.
Others present included: Shari Thornes and Laurie Carruthers.
Chair Tilton Byrne called the meeting to order at 3:10 p.m. A motion was made by McGrath,
seconded by Granholm, to approve the agenda. All present voted yes; motion carried.
A motion was made by McGrath, seconded by Larson, to approve the March 16, 2016 meeting
minutes. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Schedule Next Meeting. Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.
Discussion Regarding Draft Bylaws. McGrath presented the draft bylaws. He had some concerns
with the terms. A motion was made by McGrath, seconded by Aure, to table action until the
next meeting when the Vice-Chair Kleinjan and Lockrem, who brought up the issue, could be
present. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Subcommittees.
Urban Agriculture – The subcommittee has reviewed the ordinances and flagged sections that
need to be revised.
Green Drinks – Granholm is scheduled to provide a talk about ecology and the economy at the
June session. Patty Bacon is tentatively scheduled for the July session about affordable housing
with a possible connection with a critical mass ride focusing on a mobile home park tour. Future
topics include: Solomon Islands under water, Bicycle Advisory Committee update in the fall,
McCrory Gardens, Pop-up Park, Campus/Community tie, BATA, Food Pantry, Feeding Brookings,
liveability connection with sustainability, Bountiful Baskets, Logan Zeisler tree project, Monarch
Pledge, community gardens raised bed project and accessibility. Future promotions will include
Facebook page, One Million Cups companion presentation/announcement and announcement
at Science at the Pub.
Reports.
Wrap-up on ReStore Earth Day May 14, 2016 – Attendees advised that it was a tight space for
booths, attendance declined and asked if it was advertised. In 2017, Earth Day will be a
Saturday. Suggestions for Larson Nature Center event with scavenger hunt, water testing, bird
count/watch, and park clean-up. Discussion will be added to the June agenda.
Budget – The 2017 budget meetings are scheduled in June and expenditures need to be
identified. Attendee for the Dubuque conference is included.
Riley Larson left and lost quorum.
National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge – Carruthers advised the Mayor has
agreed to the following actions: communications & convening case studies; launch a public
communication effort to encourage citizens to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their
neighborhoods; communicate with community garden groups and urge them to plant native
milkweeds and nectar-producing plants; convene city park and public works department staff
and identify opportunities for revised mowing programs and milkweed/native nectar plant
planting programs; convene a meeting with gardening leaders in the community to discuss
partnerships to support monarch butterfly conservation; and earn recognition for being a
wildlife-friendly city by expanding your action plan to include other wildlife and habitat
conservation efforts through a program like the NWF community wildlife habitat program. The
Mayor will present a proclamation at the June City Council Meeting. Suggestions to support the
Mayors action is a Farmer’s Market booth and encouraging plantings.
Internship – Hegland advised the College of Education and Human Sciences at South Dakota
State University has funded an intern for the second year and Giza Mukhidinova has been
selected with a June 29 start date. Research topics may include stormwater public education,
research for Master Comprehensive Plan Committee and funding opportunities, orientation
materials and the priority list.
Announcements/Correspondence/Communications/Calendar. Granholm suggested a member of
the Sustainability Council have a presence on the Water Summit Committee. This will be
discussed in further detail at the June meeting. Thornes is checking if Jennifer McLaughlin can
present at the June meeting. Other June topics include bylaws, Green Drinks, Earth Day 2017 and
the Big Sioux Water Summit.
Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 4:56 pm.
Submitted by Laurie Carruthers