ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE 2020/09/17 MinutesENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING 1
Thursday, September 17, 2020 – 6:30 P.M. 2
REMOTE ACCESS MEETING 3
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ROLL CALL/CALL TO ORDER 5
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Chairman Melanie Rummel called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. Aldermen 7
Jed Morris and Jim Preschlack were present. 8
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Staff in attendance included Mike Strong, Assistant City Manager; Michael 10
Thomas, Director of Public Works; Cameron Burrell, Business Analyst; Elizabeth 11
Holleb, Finance Director; Cathy Czerniak, Director of Community Development 12
and Layla Werner, Administrative Intern. 13
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Also in attendance was Mike Stopka, Consultant and Crystal Egelkamp, 15
Consultant. 16
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There were approximately 10 members of the public that attended the meeting 18
remotely. 19
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Chairman Rummel made the following statement as required by the Open 21
Meetings Act. In accordance with state statute, Chairman Rummel has made a 22
determination that it was not practical or prudent to schedule an in-person 23
Committee meeting because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why this 24
August 19, 2020 Environmental Sustainability Committee meeting is being held 25
remotely. 26
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ACTION ITEMS 28
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I. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF AUGUST 19, 2020 MEETING MINUTES 30
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Alderman Morris moved to approve the August 18, 2020 Environmental 32
Sustainability Committee meeting minutes subject to the corrections 33
shared with Layla Werner. Alderman Preschlack seconded the motion. 34
The following voted “Aye”: Chairman Rummel, Alderman Morris and 35
Preschlack. The following voted “Nay”: None. 3-Ayes, 0 Nays, motion 36
carried. 37
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DISCUSSION ITEMS 39
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I. COMMITTEE STRATEGY, FOCUS AREAS, INITIATIVES AND PRIORITIES – 41
MIKE STOPKA 42
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Chairman Rummel Thanked Mike Stopka, Mike Strong and other City 44
staff members that have worked to develop the Committee strategies. 45
She introduced Mike Stopka to discuss the potential recommendations 46
brought forward by the committee to City Council. Mike Strong gave a 47
Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
September 17, 2020
brief over view of the steps staff has been taking to advance the 48
Committees goals. 49
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Mike Stopka gave a presentation explaining the sustainability 51
framework the Committee can use to advance sustainability goals 52
City wide. He briefly summarized the project scope beginning with the 53
first phase, the assessment, the second phase, the strategy framework 54
and finally, the prioritized project list. 55
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He provided a brief background on the first and second phases before 57
discussing the third phase more in depth. In phase three, he explained 58
the ultimate question is how we take the previous work done, and how 59
potential projects can be filtered through prioritization process. He also 60
discuss how MIST uses the assessment to identify priority areas. Mr. 61
Stopka provided to the committee three recommended project areas 62
to focus on long term. 63
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any questions or discussion on 65
this agenda item. 66
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The Committee had discussion on the priorities presented by MIST 68
Environment. The Committee had additional discussion on moving 69
forward with additional projects over the next two years. 70
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional comments from 72
the Committee, seeing none she asked if there were any questions or 73
comments from the public. 74
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Rommy Lopat offered her comments to the Committee about priority 76
areas as determined by the Committee 77
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Marion Cartwright offered her comments to the Committee about the 79
direction of the prioritization of projects. 80
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional comments from 82
the committee. 83
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The Committee had lengthy discussion on the potential opportunity 85
areas presented. 86
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Mike Stopka continued with his presentation, displaying to the 88
committee a process that could be used to organize the priority 89
projects. Mr. Stopka went into further depth on a potential “idea log” 90
to track and house potential projects the City could undertake. He 91
explained that by triaging projects, the Committee will have to 92
opportunity to identify if the project aligns with Committee values as 93
well as City values. 94
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Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
September 17, 2020
The Committee had lengthy discussion about what projects would be 96
determined to need capital funds versus operating funds and the 97
categorization process of projects. 98
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Mike Stopka continued to explain the prosed scoring format, based on 100
the questions included in the survey in phase two. He briefly 101
summarized the score sheet that was developed, similarly to the 102
capital planning worksheet used by City staff. Mike Stopka walked the 103
committee through a brief demonstration of the score sheet. 104
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Mike Strong discussed the top six projects that were prioritized by staff 106
after undergoing the scoring process. He explained how the 107
categories were identified stating that some currently overlapped with 108
the CIP, concluding that an environmental component could be an 109
addition to the projects proposed. 110
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Director of Public Works, Mike Thomas discussed the capital planning 112
process and how the Public Works department will work with the 113
Committee to present multiple options that may include a 114
sustainability component, when the department can. 115
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any questions or comments 117
from the Committee 118
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The Committee had lengthy discussion on capital funding when 120
prioritizing potential projects, including a sustainability component. 121
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Mike Stopka continued to discuss the final step of the prioritization 123
process describing the different lanes, if appropriate, where are 124
project can be placed. Additionally, Mike Strong stated staff would 125
work to identify recommended outcomes to update the budgeting 126
process to include funding for sustainability projects, if needed. He 127
continued to explain that this could include, but was not limited to, an 128
ordinance, policy, or an opportunity for an education campaign. 129
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Mike Stopka concluded the presentation by describing the work that 131
has already been done in regard to sustainability, and the role that 132
MIST played, helping the Committee document the work it has 133
accomplished. 134
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The Committee thanked Mike Stopka and the work MIST has done to 136
create an inclusive and transparent process. 137
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II. UPDATE AND INPUT ON PROJECTS AND CAPITAL PLANNING PROCESS – 139
MIKE STRONG 140
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Assistant City Manager, Mike Strong gave a brief overview of changes 142
City staff has discussed to implement sustainability projects in the 143
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September 17, 2020
budgeting process. He further explained how a mechanism had not 144
yet been institutionalized in the capital and operating processes in 145
relation to sustainability. Moving forward with the planning process, 146
City staff has had internal discussions to move forward with initiatives, 147
while still meeting funding goals that fall within the budgeted targets. 148
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Finance Director, Elizabeth Holleb gave a more detailed explanation 150
about the capital planning process, and including a different bucket 151
to categorize budgeted funds for environmental sustainability. 152
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any questions or comments 154
from the committee. 155
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The Committee had lengthy discussion on the updated capital 157
planning and funding process. Additionally, there was discussion on 158
processes and strategy to include the entire City Council. 159
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional comments from 161
the Committee, seeing none she asked if there were any questions or 162
comments from the public. 163
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Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 165
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OTHER BUSINESS 167
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I. STATUS OF MUNICIPAL-SPONSORED COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM – 169
MIKE STRONG 170
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Assistant City Manager, Mike Strong gave a very brief update on the 172
Community Solar Program. He stated that the City published an article in 173
the dialogue referencing the program which sparked interest from 174
residents to participate in the program. He explained that as soon as the 175
registration process is open, staff will alert residents via the e-news and 176
other appropriate outlets. 177
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Chairman Rummel asked the Committee about the timing of addressing 179
the three guiding principles as discussed in previous meetings, and 180
asked about adding an additional principle. 181
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There was concurrence among the Committee to maintain the three 183
principle, but to reach out to residents for further guidance and ideas. 184
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PUBLIC COMMENT 186
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any public comments on any non-188
agenda items. 189
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September 17, 2020
Joy Guscott-Mueller offered her comments to the committee in regard to the 191
climate and resilience project and the score it received during MIST 192
environments review. 193
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any comments or questions from the 195
Committee, seeing none Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional 196
public comments on any non-agenda items. 197
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Seeing none, Chairman Rummel moved to the next agenda item. 199
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NEXT MEETING DATE(S) – OCTOBER 201
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There was concurrence among the Committee members to meet the third or 203
fourth week of October. Assistant City Manager, Mike Strong stated that he 204
would send out a poll to gauge the availability of the Committee members prior 205
to setting the next meeting date. 206
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ADJOURNMENT 208
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Alderman Morris moved to adjourn the meeting of the Environmental 210
Sustainability Committee at 8:57 P.M. seconded by Alderman Preschlack. The 211
motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 212
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Respectfully Submitted, 214
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Layla Werner 216
Administrative Intern 217
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Reviewed by, 220
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Mike Strong 222
Assistant City Manager 223