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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2022_01_12City of Brookings Sustainability Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, January 12, 2022 4:00 PM Virtual Sustainability Council Members:Darcy Green,Ben Vukovich,Louis Hesler, Albert Patin, Norma Nusz Chandler, Robin Buterbaugh, Betty Beer, Emily Abele,Anna Barr, Cynthia Kunkel, Lawrence Novotny and SDSU Student Representative Samuel Krueger. City Staff: Jacob Meshke, Assistant City Manager, Paul Briseno. 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of the Agenda Motion by A. Patin to amend the agenda by adding green building standards discussion. Moved for approval: A. Patin Second: C. Kunkel Aye: All Opposed: None 3. Approval of the Minutes Moved: A. Patin Second: C. Kunkel Aye: All Opposed: None 4. Open Forum Jacob Meshke - Green Building Standards -Addressed the desire/need for the sustainability council to promote LEED building standards brought up in the previous December meeting. -The high performance green building standards within the state have changed recently and the recommendation is for the sustainability council to support a similar stance. -Standards moved from “meeting or exceeding” the standards to “building in good faith” to meet as many standards as possible, in order to make it efficient and as sustainable as possible given the budget. recommended verbiage by J. Meshke to present to city council: New construction shall be designed to meet the intent of high performance green building standards. Motion for approval: Moved: L. Hesler Second: R. Buterbaugh Aye: All Opposed: None E. Abele: Welcome to Cynthia Kunkel, newest member of the sustainability council - Introductions. 5. Guest Speaker - Albert Patin, Fabric Recycling Update What is the problem and what can we do? Items discussed: -environmental impacts of garment disposal -roadblocks to recycling garments -fashion on climate collaboration (Resource) -The fashion/garment Industry is responsible for 4% of carbon emissions. -greenhouse gasses released by the industry are 1.2 Million metric tons per year -Microfiber release from petroleum based products and polyester waste making its way into the oceans. -EPA study on garment waste in landfills majority of solid waste is from garments -Fast fashion industry - 60% more purchases of clothing than 2000 -The recycling rate for textiles was 14.7 in 2018 -Due to the fiber materials and multiple blendings recycling into new garments is hard. -citizens can work to extend longevity of clothing -wash with cold water -reuse and repurpose -20% of clothing produced in the US is never warn -Buy second hand (often high quality clothing) -Care for your clothing (wash correctly) -Closed with additional resources to look into related to the fashion/garment waste issue. Questions: L. Hesler: What do we do with info? B. Beer: Potential to use funds to put an article in the paper. check into whether Goodwill is accepting clothing during this time. Drug Court - pay it forward activities - is a program where individuals are looking into starting up a free store for clothing. this project is still in the works and would it be feasible for the Sustainability Council support this effort? B. Beer is willing to be a liaison. R. Buterbaugh: Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter also accepts clothing. L. Novotny. Share the Warmth, accepts winter coats, hats and gloves, maybe they could be encouraged to accept/distribute more? B. Beer: Focus on the idea of not buying so much polyester products. R. Buterbaugh: Create an ad or article highlighting some of these facts and encourage more responsible buying. B. Beer: This is a good theme for the year. J. Meshke: Give this info to the city council, before taking further action. B. Beer: Can we collaborate with SDSU on this issue? ask Jennifer McLaughlin. 6. City Update J. Meshke: Main update: two applications for grants have been put in for eclectic chargers. Will keep in touch on state allocation of funding for these. (looks hopeful) 7. 2022 Budge $4000 total, $2000 for Building Sustainability Communities conference (2 people) $2000 for other initiatives. R. Buterbaugh: Funding for sign at the rain garden - Local cost range is from $300-$500 for appropriate weather resistant sign. Parks department will build a base for the sign - no price was mentioned. L. Hesler: How much money do we have for ads and how much do they usually cost? J. Meshke: Not much money will be available for ads this year if the two individuals are sent to the conference. L. Hesler volunteered to contact the Brookings Register to find out the cost of ads. J.Meshke: Include signs in this years budget - recommend making motions for approving up to $500 for R. Buterbaugh rain garden sign, also set aside funds for conference. Motion by B. Beer to approve setting aside up to $500 for sign Moved: B. Beer Second: A. Patin Aye: All Opposed: None Hold off on setting aside money for the Building Sustainability Communities conference due to covid-19 uncertainty. . Strategic Plan Update 9. Subcommittee Structure and Membership B.Beer: Proposed new sub-committee dealing with garment. R. Buterbaugh: designate this to the waste sub-committee. R. Buterbaugh: Will stay with Energy and Local Foods B. Beer: Waste E. Abele: Energy C. Kunkel: Local Foods S. Krueger: Marketing and Communication (open to more) L.Hesler: Marketing and Communication, and Energy (open to more) A. Patin: Waste Marketing and Communication: S. Krueger, L.Hesler Waste: A. Patin, B. Beer Energy: R. Buterbaugh, E. Abele, L.Hesler Local Foods:C. Kunkel, R. Buterbaugh Motion to approve Moved: B. Beer Second: L. Hesler Aye: All Opposed: None 10. Vacancies E. Abele: Currently three vacancies S. Krueger: Interested in applying for one of the open positions. 11. Updates/Reports from Subcommittees a.Marketing and Communication No updates b.Waste -LH: -Possible 2022 ad topics -Arbor Day, Pollinators (spring) -Summertime Energy-Savings Tips (summer) -Water conservation tips (early summer) -America Recycles Day -Holiday Sustainability Tips -Overshoot Day (was 7/29 in 2021) -Fabric recycling -BSC Achievements, Goals c.Energy -green initiative d.Local Foods no updates 12. Updates from Liasons a.Bicycle Committee: No updates. b.Human Rights Commission: No updates. c.CLEAR: No updates. 13. Call for Future Agenda Items J. Meshke: Bringing back Strategic Plan 14. Adjourn Respectfully submitted, Samuel Krueger