HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2017_10_11Sustainability Council
October 11, 2017
A meeting of the Sustainability Council was held on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. at
Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members present: Norma Nusz
Chandler, Nels Granholm, Stephanie Aure, Shelly Brandenburger, Ben Kleinjan, Bob McGrath, Betty
Beer, Paul Peterson, Caleb Vukovich and Jennifer McLaughlin. Mike Lockrem and Jane Hegland were
absent. Others present: Guest Lawrence Novotny, Shari Thornes and Laurie Carruthers.
Chair Nusz Chandler called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. A motion was made by McGrath, seconded
by McLaughlin, to approve the agenda. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Introduction of Caleb Vukovich.
A motion was made by Aure, seconded by Brandenburger, to approve the September 13, 2017 minutes.
All present voted yes; motion carried.
Growing Sustainable Communities Conference Report
Nusz Chandler reported on little avenues of sustainability that were presented at the conference and how
looking at change can provide guidance. Not understanding the resistance of change is a detriment to
sustainability. Dubuque utilized face-to-face contact with residents and small focus groups. It is important
to note the Mayor has been in office for decades and his number one priority at the beginning of his term
was sustainability. Examples included partnering with colleges and the USDN Game of Floods.
Thornes reported from her USDN Heartland Network meeting. Many cities are employing education on
sustainability and integrating employee orientation and budget funds. Fort Collins’ One Planet Program
provides outreach through ambassadors (city employees). This is run through an intergovernmental site,
which incorporates self-assessments, goal setting, reminders, sign ups for tours with ambassadors,
rewards (gift cards) and post engagement surveys. The One Planet Program runs smooth, it only consumes
5% of the sustainability coordinators time. Nashville is piloting the program. Dubuque had an excellent
example of a venue within a food dessert. A retired couple took over run-down greenhouses and created a
commercial kitchen. They utilized their neighbors’ backyards and bus stops for gardens and then use this
produce for their kitchen as well as free to the neighbors and passerbys. Changing behavior is key as well
as a climate resiliency strategy. One takeaway was that social equity is not flourishing in many
communities. How can this be implemented into policies and plans to close the gaps so everyone can
participate?
Kleinjan arrived at 4:13pm.
Updates / Reports: Committees
Earth Day 2018 (Subcommittee – McLaughlin, Beer, Brandenburger, Aure, Thornes, Giza).
The subcommittee needs to meet.
Urban Ag/Local Foods.
McGrath provided an update that the City Council advised to pursue the four recommendations the
subcommittee provided. The subcommittee is working on the recommendations:
1. It is recommended the City of Brookings work in concert with the South Dakota Department of
Environment and Natural Resources to develop regulations that will apply to composting food
scraps. Since the landfill is a permitted solid waste facility, any regulations developed would apply
to the City’s operation as well as any privately owned facility. If possible, it would be advantageous
to encourage the regulations be administered by the state as permit conditions versus
administrative rules. Permit conditions allow the state to handle each solid waste facility on a
case-by-case basis versus one-rule fits all. The state does have primacy for the administration of
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), but must stay within the confines of the
definitions of solid waste, which includes food waste as Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). Therefore,
helping the state with examples of how to reword certain definitions to allow less restrictive
composting regulations from Region 5, which includes Minnesota or Region 7, which includes
Iowa, would be a good strategy.
2. Once regulations are created, the City of Brookings should encourage private development of a
Source Separated Organic Material Site and collection service. The City could also consider
developing its own local regulations and providing the service itself. At that point, the key factors
cited above would require in-depth analysis.
3. Most cities initiate composting programs with a pilot program. Since large businesses and
institutions generate the highest volume of waste, the Committee recommends, after regulations
are in place, the City seek funding for a pilot program for the large consumer composting.
4. Since Brookings has a high awareness of environmental protection, Brookings should develop a
public education program to promote residential backyard composting and its benefits.
Vukovich left at 4:42 pm.
Green Drinks.
Thornes advised the speaker list for 2018 is filling up, but May, September and October still need
speakers. The Council suggested the follow ideas – Tiny House, home composting in May presented by
McGrath along with Brandenburger on food production, bike education, medical what is available, arts –
Lynn Verschoor or Brookings Arts Council, Dr. Holm – quality of life at the end and affordable housing.
Beer left at 4:56 pm.
Liaisons
Friends of the Big Sioux Board
Granholm attended the Water Summit in Watertown on September 20. A number of different agencies
are working on the water quality of Big Sioux River. Barry Berg presented on the Central Big Sioux Water
Project and how several partners are working together. Steve Dahlmeyer reported on his observations
and good practices on Big Sioux from Sioux Falls travelling north. Pete Bauman and Arla Hamann
presented on the role of native grasses and how not a lot of native grasses remain. Buffer strips are not
the perfect answer. How is Brookings monitoring?
Affordable Housing Task Force
Committee is presenting to the City Council on October 24.
Comprehensive Master Plan Advisory Committee
Kleinjan advised the committee is meeting next Monday.
Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 5:14 p.m.
Submitted by Laurie Carruthers