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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustComMinutes_2020_07_08Brookings Sustainability Council Minutes July 8, 2020 Present: Jennifer McLaughlin (Chair), Shelly Brandenburger (Vice-Chair), Robert McGrath, Stephanie Aure, Robin Buterbaugh, Mike Lockrem, Paul Peterson, Norma Nusz Chandler, Anna Barr. City Staff: Paul Briseno Absent: Betty Beer, Jane Hegland, City Staff Jacob Meshke Members of the Community Present: None 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of the Agenda • Motioned by McGrath and seconded by Aure. Passed unanimously. 3. Approval of the Minutes • McGrath mentioned minutes need correction of competent to component. McGrath moved to approve minutes with changes, Aure 2nd, passed unanimously. 4. City Update • Briseno reported that the City doesn’t feel the SD Electric Charging Station grant will work due it cumbersome features. However, Jake is working on a fast charging station. Also, the City has received some public concerns about the charging station already installed – concerns are about cost, especially in light of the timing with COVID. The City Council is supportive of the station. Discussion that the charging station was $3,000, we had a grant and we had an installation contract we would have needed to meet despite COVID. The charging station improves QOL, moves Brookings towards sustainability and puts us on the map. Discussion that we need some social media and a press release about the current station. • Briseno reported that all departments are trimming budgets in light of the economic conditions. We are down 8% in Sales Tax and rely on Sales Tax for 45% of the general fund. June was down 16%. However, the City hopes to see some rebound in July and has a plan for remaining staffed / stable. 5. Library Book Club • The BSC session was cancelled due to low enrollment. Discussion that we can reconsider in Spring 2021 and that Bill McKibben comes as predicted. The Library spent $69.74 on the books. Discussion to reimburse the Library for the costs of the books. Butterbaugh motion, Nusz Chandler seconded, passed unanimously. 6. Budget • Discussion about the BSC budget. Our budget in the past was $5000 but has been reduced to $4000. This is not carried over. • Discussed the purchase of a BSC Banner and/or Tablecloth as we’d have room in the budget this year without travel to conferences (current Banner has a spelling error and a tablecloth would be functional at events). Aure is working on quotes. Tabled. • Discussed looking into virtual sustainability trainings since we can’t travel. • Discussed looking into what we can do to help the City – maybe purchasing some reusable masks to reduce the waste stream impact of one-time-use-masks. 7. Council membership • Recently we have had 12 members. With Nels stepping away from the Council, a discussion was held on whether to proceed with filling his position. Our guidelines say we need 9 members. Pros and cons of larger vs smaller membership numbers discussed. Brandenburger moved to fill the open position, Butterbaugh seconded, passed with 5 Yeahs, 3 Nays. 8. Meeting format • Discussion was had about virtual vs in person meetings. Briseno offered that if we chose to meet in person, we will need to mask and socially distance in the room and need to be smaller than a group of 10. We will likely continue to proceed with virtual meetings. 9. Social Justice and Sustainability • Discussion was held about the role of BSC in Sustainability. Briseno shared that the Human Rights Commission is doing Listening Sessions with community groups, hopefully leading to policy and practice changes. One idea he shared is that some municipalities are moving to reduce single family housing zones to reduce segregation. • Discussion about the intersections of food and social justice and what we as a City could do such as making more community gardens available and in food desert areas around the town. o Discussion on whether we could partner with SDSU GIS to do a look at Brookings’ empty lots. • Discussion on making our events fully inclusive (the events themselves, how they are promoted, etc) • Discussion on how BSC could give input to the City on projects before implementation such as considerations of location of a project or whether any environmental or social justice concerns exist. 10. Updates/Reports from Subcommittees • Marketing and Communication o Common Read cancelled o Working on social media posts o Discussion that we could do some of our social media messaging as PSA’s with radio also • Waste o No update • Energy o No update • Local Foods o No update 9. Updates from Liaisons • Bicycle (Lockrem) o No update. 10. Misc. • Briseno reported that the compost program with the new carts is going well – 106 tons last year and 193 tons this year. Todd is working on a request to do kitchen compost • Briseno reported that recycling was slightly down and total garbage slightly up this year • Briseno reported that we had the highest tonnage ever for the Spring Clean-up event • Briseno suggested Meshke could report more details on this data at a future meeting. 11. Adjourn • Motion by Peterson and seconded by McGrath. Passed unanimously.