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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCMinutes_2023_06_14City of Brookings Sustainability Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 14, 2023 4:00 PM City/County Government Center; Room 300 Sustainability Council Members: Bruce Pengra, Cynthia Kunkel, Louis Hesler, Alber Patin, Samuel Krueger, Anthony Shanks, Robin Buterbaugh, Better Beer, Emily Abele, Kiley Rath, Kyle Jamison, and SDSU Student Representative Gabrielle Bolwerk, City Staff: Jacob Meshke Deputy City Manager, Samantha Beckman Assistant to the City Manager 1. Call to Order E. Abele 2. Approval of the Agenda Motion to Approve: R. Buterbaugh Second: B. Pengra Aye: All Opposed: None 3. Approval of Minutes Motion to Approve: G. Bolwerk Second: A. Patin Aye: All Opposed: None 4. Open Forum At this time, any member of the public may request time on the agenda for an item not listed. Items are not typically scheduled for the end of the meeting; however, very brief announcements of invitations will be allowed at this time. 5. Home Sustainability: Electrify Everything Presentation - Emily Abele ● Electric vehicles are often safer and have lower cost of ownership/lower maintenance than an internal combustion engine ● Heat Pumps can replace A/C and a furnace; 3-5x more efficient that most current heating systems; water heater-supplemental A/C during summer and can use excess solar/cheaper/cleaner energy as a “battery” ● Electric ranges/stovetops: more energy efficient (induction is best), less heat in kitchens, safer and less pollution ● Rooftop solar: lower energy costs, energy independent, protection from power outages (with battery backup), 30% tax credit; not much maintenance needed 6. City Update - Jacob Meshke ● Sam Beckman - new Assistant to the City Manager ● Brookings ranked 2nd safest city in South Dakota ● Juneteenth celebration at Pioneer Park 11-4 ● Proposal to increase Sustainability Council budget from $4000 to $5000. ● Mayor’s Sustainability Nominations Due July 5th ● A. Patin: Solid Waste Master Plan: long term viability of collection trucks, landfill operations, infrastructure components, etc. Average waste diversion rate is 30% while the national average is 50%. 7. Discussion and Possible Action of Residential Stormwater Best Practices Program - J. Meshke ● Des Moines IA, Lincoln NE, and other bigger communities have a Stormwater Management Best Practices Program (stormwater capture/decrease stormwater runoff) ● Bring recommendation to future council meeting to pilot something like this in Brookings ● E. Abele: Motion to pursue formulation recommendation for a Stormwater Best Practices Program ○ Second: A. Patin ○ Aye: All Opposed: None 8. No Mow May Feedback ● R. Buterbaugh: go further; encourage native planting, continue to expand initiative (urban pollinator initiative) ● A. Patin: overall good feedback, businesses asking to be a part of it–better communication directed toward them reiterating that they can in fact participate ● R. Buterbaugh: Turf management perspective concerned about lawns dying ● T. Shanks: collaborate with Pheasants Forever ● Offset Design Cost by getting sponsored by businesses interested in participating, but focus energy on expanding initiatives 9. Garden Discovery Event Feedback ● T. Shanks: No bags to keep freebies, idea for next year? (include in budget) 10. Strategic Plan/Budget Review ● Budget of $3800 left to spend for Sustainability Council Budget ($2500 saved by not attending Sustainability Conference) ● E. Abele: No Mow May signs? Totes for the Garden Discovery Festival? Urban Prairie Kits? Partner with Parks and Rec department in creation of local food forest: P+R purchase trees, Sustainability Council purchase shrubbery and signage (tree guards, watering bags, etc.) ● Food Forest Grant Applications (up to $5000 [Dept. of Ag??] ● Have budget proposals (Climate Action Plan) to liaison by April/May ○ Motion, if still possible yet this year, to request the CIty to approve $15,000 from the City for baseline Climate Action Plan documents: B. Pengra Second: T.Shanks Aye: All Opposed: None ● R. Buterbaugh will talk to the Parks Dept. for trees for the Food Forest. (Worded Correctly???) 11. Updates/Reports from Subcommittees a. Marketing and Communication i. No Updates b. Climate Action Plan i. Talking with Pale Blue Dot (Twin Cities) -start with (3) baseline documents: greenhouse gas inventory, vulnerability report, [and another] (cost: $15,000) c. Waste i. A. Patin: Solid Waste Master Plan-little community engagement this time d. Energy i. No Updates e. Local Foods i. See above 15. Updates from Liaisons None 16. Call for Future Agenda Items - Nominations for sustainability awards - Budget discussion 17. Adjourn Motion to Adjourn Moved: L. Hesler Second: A. Patin Aye: All Opposed: None Respectfully submitted by Kiley Rath