ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE 2021/05/20 MinutesENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING 1
Thursday, May 20, 2021 – 7:00 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
Jim Preschlack and Eileen Weber were present. 8
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Staff in attendance included Mike Strong, Assistant City Manager; Cathy 10
Czerniak, Director of Community Development; and Layla Werner, Management 11
Analyst 12
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There were approximately 3 members of the public that attended the meeting 14
remotely. 15
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Chairman Rummel made the following statement as required by the Open 17
Meetings Act. In accordance with state statute, Chairman Rummel has made a 18
determination that it was not practical or prudent to schedule an in-person 19
Committee meeting because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why this May 20
20, 2021 Environmental Sustainability Committee meeting is being held remotely. 21
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Chairman Rummel welcomed Alderman Weber, who is a new additional to the 23
Environmental Sustainability Committee. 24
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INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 26
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I. NORTH BRANCH WATERSHED WORKGROUP ANNUAL MEETING RECAP 28
– Presented by Layla Werner, Management Analyst 29
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Layla Werner, Management Analyst, gave a brief presentation 31
summarizing the North Branch Watershed Workgroup annual 32
meeting, where the group presented the 2018-2019 water quality 33
assessment report. She discussed the multiple areas of impact that 34
the watersheds are facing, and identified sampling locations 35
specific to Lake Forest. Ms. Werner further explained the elevated 36
rate of heavy metals and sediment PAH levels and how other 37
sampling sites are impacted. 38
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The Committee asked clarifying questions regarding the source of 40
the heavy metals, and the impact to Lake Forest watersheds. 41
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional comments 43
from the Committee. 44
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Seeing none, Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional 46
questions or comments from the public. 47
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Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 49
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ACTION ITEMS 51
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I. APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 17, 2021 MEETING MINUTES 53
Alderman Preschlack moved to approve the February 17, 2021 54
Environmental Sustainability Committee meeting minutes. 55
Alderman Weber seconded the motion. The following voted “Aye”: 56
Chairman Rummel, Aldermen Preschlack and Weber. The following 57
voted “Nay”: None. 3-Ayes, 0 Nays, motion carried. 58
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II. COMMITTEE WORK PLANNING DISCUSSION – Introduced by Mike 60
Strong, Assistant City Manager 61
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Assistant City Manager, Mike Strong, presented an update to the 63
Committee work planning discussion, and gave brief background 64
including the work the Committee did with the consultant MIST 65
Environment. He further explained and laid out a sustainability 66
planning process. This included assessing the issues, strategizing, 67
planning, evaluating priorities, and promoting and marketing 68
progress. Mr. Strong displayed work that has been completed to 69
date by the Committee in conjunction with MIST Environment. 70
Completing the planning process, and working towards 71
prioritization, a survey was developed to help outline next steps by 72
grasping further feedback from the City Council. 73
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The Committee had lengthy discussion regarding the survey 75
created to be presented to the City Council. 76
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There was additional discussion regarding the prioritization of 78
initiatives. 79
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Mr. Strong further explained how these processes would further be 81
tied in to the budget, or future marketing strategies. 82
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Following further discussion, Mr. Strong provided a brief timeline 84
and next steps regarding the survey process. 85
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Chairman Rummel asked the Committee if there was any further 87
feedback regarding specific areas of the survey. 88
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any questions or comments 90
from the public. 91
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Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 93
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ADDITIONAL ITEMS 96
Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
Thursday, May 20, 2021
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I. UPDATE ON COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION PROGRAM – 99
Presented by Mike Strong, Assistant City Manager 100
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Assistant City Manager, Mike Strong updated the Committee 102
regarding community choice aggregation. He explained the 103
recent update to the plan of governance in February, which allows 104
the City to procure solar energy credits for municipal accounts. He 105
further explained the RFP process to engage in a contract, offering 106
an energy rate at or better than ComEd, potentially resulting in a 107
net savings. 108
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional questions or 110
comments from the Committee. 111
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any questions or comments 113
from the public. 114
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Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 116
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I. FUTURE COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE DISCUSSION 118
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The Committee discussed potential future meeting dates, and 120
setting a regular meeting time and date. 121
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PUBLIC COMMENT 123
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any public comments on any non-125
agenda items. 126
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Seeing none, Chairman Rummel moved to the next agenda item. 128
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NEXT MEETING DATE(S) 130
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ADJOURNMENT 133
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Alderman Weber moved to adjourn the meeting of the Environmental 135
Sustainability Committee at 8:13 P.M. seconded by Preschlack. The motion 136
carried unanimously by voice vote. 137
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Respectfully Submitted, 139
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Layla Werner 141
Management Analyst 142
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Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Reviewed by, 145
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Mike Strong 147
Assistant City Manager 148