ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE 2021/08/18 PacketENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, August 18 – 7:00 P.M.
Municipal Services Building, 800 N. Field Drive
AGENDA
I.CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
_____ Ald. Melanie Rummel, Chairman
_____ Ald. Jim Preschlack
_____ Ald. Eileen Looby Weber
II.INFORMATIONAL ITEMS (:05 - :10 per item)
a.STATUS REPORT ON FY2022 BUDGET INITIATIVES – Jim Lockefeer,
Assistant to the Public Works Director
b.UPDATE ON MUNICIPAL AGGREGATION PROGRAM MAILINGS – Mike
Strong, Assistant City Manager
c.RECAP OF NORTH BRANCH CHICAGO RIVER WATERSHED WORKGROUP
MEETING – Layla Werner, Management Analyst
III.ACTION ITEMS (05: - :10 per item)
a.APPROVAL OF JUNE 16, 2021 MEETING MINUTES
IV.DISCUSSION ITEMS (:10 - :15 per item)
a.INTRODUCTION AND DISCUSSION ON SUSTAINABILITY
COMMUNICATIONS PLAN – Layla Werner, Management Analyst
b.UPDATES ON SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES & PRIORITIES – Mike Strong,
Assistant City Manager
V.PUBLIC COMMENT
VI.NEXT MEETING DATE(S)
VII.ADJOURNMENT
ACTION ITEM:
APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 16,
2021 COMMITTEE MEETING
MINUTES
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING 1
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 – 7:00 P.M. 2
City Hall, 220 E. Deerpath 3
4
ROLL CALL/CALL TO ORDER 5
6
Chairman Melanie Rummel called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Aldermen 7
Jim Preschlack and Eileen Weber were present. 8
9
Staff in attendance included Mike Strong, Assistant City Manager and Dan 10
Martin, Superintendent of Public Works 11
12
Also in attendance was Mike Stopka, Consultant with MIST Environmental 13
14
There were no members of the public that attended the meeting. 15
16
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 17
18
I. UPDATE ON RETHINK RECYCLING MARKETING CAMPAIGN – Dan 19
Martin, Superintendent of Public Works 20
21
Superintendent of Public Works, Dan Martin provided a brief 22
update regarding the Rethink Recycling Campaign. Mr. Martin 23
began his report by providing background of the recycling 24
contamination audits in addition to marketing efforts conducted 25
via social media. While there has been a decrease in the 26
contamination rate, he explained they were unable to get the 27
most recent audit, due to a fire at Resource Management. Mr. 28
Martin continued to explain the current environment, utilizing social 29
media, the dialogue, the “oops tag” program, and drop in 30
education programs for the summer camps. 31
32
Chairman Rummel asked if there were any questions or comments 33
from the Committee. 34
35
The Committee had discussion regarding sanitation and Bart the 36
Cart making an appearance at the Lake Forest Day parade. 37
38
ACTION ITEMS 39
40
I. APPROVAL OF MAY 20, 2021 MEETING MINUTES 41
Alderman Preschlack moved to approve the May 20, 2021 42
Environmental Sustainability Committee meeting minutes. 43
Alderman Weber seconded the motion. Motion carried 44
unanimously by voice vote. 45
46
Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
II. REVIEW AND RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO CITY COUNCIL A 47
POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH MC-SQUARED ENERGY 48
SERVICES – Mike Strong, Assistant City Manager 49
50
Assistant City Manager, Mike Strong, presented an update to the 51
Committee, providing the final draft of the agreement with MC-52
Squared Energy Services. He further explained how the agreement 53
authorizes the City to re-establish an aggregation program. Mr. 54
Strong gave an in depth explanation of the advantages and 55
potential revenue for a sustainability fund after establishing this 56
program. 57
58
Chairman Rummel asked if there were any questions or comments 59
from the Committee. 60
61
Seeing none, she asked for a motion of approval. 62
63
Alderman Weber moved to recommend approval to City Council 64
a Power Supply Agreement With Mc-Squared Energy Services, 65
seconded by Alderman Preschlack. Carried unanimously by voice 66
vote. 67
68
ADDITIONAL ITEMS 69
70
I. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF CITY COUNCIL SUSTAINABILITY 71
SURVEY RESULTS – Mike Strong, Assistant City Manager 72
73
Assistant City Manager, Mike Strong provided background 74
regarding MIST Environment and the partnership with the City of 75
Highland Park, to solicit professional services for sustainability 76
projects and initiatives. In addition, he provided background 77
regarding the aggregated data from the survey. Mr. Strong 78
introduced Consultant, Mike Stopka, to provide additional 79
information and analysis regarding the survey completed by the 80
City Council. Mr. Stopka explained to the Committee the process 81
of how the survey was conducted, and how specific items were 82
prioritized. He described in depth each of the items on the survey, 83
and how each category was ranked by the City Council. Mr. 84
Stopka further provided recommendations for potential action, in 85
conjunction with the survey results. 86
87
The Committee had lengthy discussion regarding the survey results, 88
and top initiatives. Each member provided thoughts and feedback 89
to move forward with specific initiatives. 90
91
The Committee came to a consensus on prioritizing four projects 92
including a communications and marketing campaign on various 93
sustainability initiatives, exploring rooftop solar on municipal 94
Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
facilities, addressing ravine maintenance and management for 95
private home owners, and investigating greenhouse gas emissions 96
for the City. 97
98
Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional questions or 99
comments from the Committee on the initiatives. 100
101
Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 102
103
II. UPDATE ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROJECTS – Mike 104
Strong, Assistant City Manager 105
106
Assistant City Manager, Mike Strong, provided an update on 107
capital improvement projects including, the Ringwood Ravine 108
project, Old Elm Parking project, South Park parking lot project, 109
Seminary Ravine Study, Waveland Park parking lot, and the Natural 110
Area Management project. Mr. Strong further provided when the 111
project was approved by the City Council, and the percentage 112
completed. 113
114
PUBLIC COMMENT 115
116
Chairman Rummel asked if there were any public comments on any non-117
agenda items. 118
119
Seeing none, Chairman Rummel moved to the next agenda item. 120
121
NEXT MEETING DATE(S) 122
123
124
ADJOURNMENT 125
126
Alderman Preschlack moved to adjourn the meeting of the Environmental 127
Sustainability Committee at 8:32 P.M. seconded by Weber. The motion carried 128
unanimously by voice vote. 129
130
Respectfully Submitted, 131
132
Layla Werner 133
Management Analyst 134
135
136
Reviewed by, 137
138
Mike Strong 139
Assistant City Manager 140
DISCUSSION ITEM:
INTRODUCTION AND
DISCUSSION ON SUSTAINABILITY
COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
Environmental Sustainability
Communications Plan
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE 8 -18-2021
Background
Communications Plan -Objectives
Educate Lake Forest residents
and businesses on sustainability
“best practices”
Encourage adopting sustainable
alternatives and solutions
Showcase the City’s
sustainability initiatives
and programs
General Approach
•Develop campaign branding and key messages
•Set campaign metrics to monitor and track engagement and reach
•Develop communication tools to showcase environmental initiatives the City is working toward
•Identify communication platforms to increase awareness, reach and engagement
•Collaborate with community-based organizations to leverage their support
•Reach out to local program participants to highlight their participation (i.e. resident spotlights)
Key Messages –Potential Topics
Recycling
Waste Reduction
Ravines
Native Planting/Vegetation
Water Conservation
Green Infrastructure
City Projects
General Sustainability Tips
Potential Tools and Tactics
Tool Frequency
Digital Social Media Sundays (1 time per week)
Weekly eNews Fridays (2-3 per month)
Website 1-2 times per month
Lake Forest Now App 1-2 times per month
Lake Forest Love 1 time per month
Print Dialogue 4 times per year
Flyers 4 times per year
Brochures As needed
Community Workshops 2-3 times per year
Community Events As needed
Metrics for Success
EXAMPLE: The primary metric will be total participation in municipal solar, and local energy
efficiency programs offered by utilities.
Secondary metrics to evaluate success could include the following:
•Online social media engagement/reach/website traffic
•Facebook Instagram reach on posts related to sustainability
•Number of permits issued for renewable energy projects
•Hours used at EV Charging Stations
•Attendance at community workshop events
Previous #SustainabilitySunday Posts
Discussion
DISCUSSION ITEM:
UPDATES ON SUSTAINABILITY
INITIATIVES & PRIORITIES
UPDATES ON SUSTAINABILITY
INITIATIVES & PRIORITIES
Environmental Sustainability Committee
August 18, 2021
CURRENT PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED
AND TIMELINE
Project/Initiative July August September October November
Communications/Marketing Plan
Rooftop Solar Investigation
Ravine Management Program
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Analysis
Initiation
Planning
Target Recommendation
SOLAR FACILITIES ON MUNICIPAL
BUILDINGS
•Current Status: Planning Phase
•Project Scope: Explore the potential of installing solar panels on
municipal facilities. Locations being investigated: Townline Park,
Municipal Services, West Train Station, Fire Station 2, Public Safety
Building
•Project Timeline: Target Q4 2021 for Recommendation
•Latest Update:
•City Staff sent facility information to Consultants in Mid July to
investigate system configuration, size, and budgetary estimates
•Next Steps:
•Meeting scheduled with Consultants to review proposals on 8/16/2021
•City Staff setting up tours at College of Lake County to view
installations
•Investigating additional Consulting Agencies to assist with procurement
Image of a preliminary concept for
solar installation at Townline Park
Pavilion.
PRELIMINARY CONCEPT –TOWNLINE
PARK
•System Overview
•84 Solar Panels
•Capacity of 31.1 kW (solar modules)
•Production of approximately 35,730 kWh/year
•Energy would offset 102% of current on-site
consumption
•Investment Overview
•Turnkey installation cost of $90,754
•Net Investment After Incentives = $53,710
•Sustainability Overview
•Produce a volume of 994,187 kWh over
30 years
152 passenger
vehicles driven for
one year
240 tons of waste
recycled instead of
landfilled
79,280 gallons of
gasoline consumed
11,650 tree
seedlings grown
for 10 years
MEASURE AND MONITOR LAKE FOREST’S
GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS
•Current Status: Initiation Phase
•Project Scope: Conduct an inventory analysis for community
and municipal operation emissions and develop
recommendations for emission reduction targets
•Project Timeline: Target beginning of Q4 2021 for
Recommendation
•August –early September –RFP Development and Review
•Mid September –Mid October –RFP Solicitation
•November –RFP Review and Budget Recommendation
•Latest Update:
•City Staff drafting RFP for GHG Emissions
Source: EPA
DEVELOPMENT OF RAVINE
INSPECTION/MONITORING PROGRAM
•Current Status: Initiation Phase
•Project Scope: Explore opportunities to promote consultation
services and communications regarding best practices in ravine
maintenance. Potential scope includes:
•Update of Ravine Maintenance brochure and informational
resources
•Coordination of community forum/workshop
•Ongoing Partnership with Lake Forest Open Lands Association
(LFOLA)
•Project Timeline: Target end of Q4 2021 for Recommendation
•Latest Update:
•City Staff completed research on various ravine-related resources
•Coordinating a meeting with internal City staff and LFOLA
personnel
QUESTIONS?