ESC 2022 07 12 MINUTESENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING 1
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 – 4:00 P.M. 2
IN-PERSON MEETING 3
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I. ROLL CALL/CALL TO ORDER 6
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Chairman Melanie Rummel called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M. Aldermen 8
Eileen Weber was present. Alderman Jim Preschlack was absent. 9
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Staff in attendance included Mike Strong, Assistant City Manager and Reagan 11
Walsh, Management Analyst. Two public attendees were also present. 12
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A moment of silence was held for the victims of Highland Park. 14
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II. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 17
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a. UPDATE ON THE RETHINK RECYCLE CAMPAIGN 19
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Assistant City Manager Mike Strong provided an update on the City’s 21
Rethink Recycle campaign. The review provided an overview of the 22
program in 2022, including interns hired, partners and funding, and events 23
and outreach held throughout the year. A detailed overview of the data 24
collected from the curbside audits was discussed. Mr. Strong and the 25
Committee members agreed that the program has seen to have great 26
success on its core mission. 27
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Further outlining the success of the program, Mr. Strong announced the 29
City of Lake Forest has been recognized by the International City 30
Managers Association (ICMA) for its Rethink Recycle Campaign. The 31
Committee was informed that an award will be presented to the City at 32
the 2022 ICMA Annual Conference in Columbus, OH, this September, and 33
formally presented to City Council in December of 2022. 34
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional comments or 36
questions from the Committee. The Committee discussed potential new 37
opportunities for tracking and merging address data. Chairman Webber 38
asked specific contamination and recycling questions answered through 39
a Rethink Recycle Campaign intern present. Chairman Rummel also 40
recommended that the City’s Recycling Center be added as a drop-off 41
location that are listed on the “Oops” cards presented to citizens with 42
contaminated carts. 43
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional questions or 45
comments from members of the public. 46
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Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 48
Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
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III. ACTION ITEMS 50
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a. APPROVAL OF APRIL 20, 2022, MEETING MINUTES 52
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Chairman Rummel moved to approve the June 15, 2022, Environmental 54
Sustainability Committee meeting minutes. Alderman Weber seconded 55
the motion. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 56
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b. DIRECTION OF NEW SOLAR GENERATION FACILITIES PROJECT 58
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Assistant City Manager Mike Strong reviewed a presentation regarding 60
the new Solar Generation (PV) Facilities project. Mr. Strong outlined the in-61
depth research and action steps that have been taken, including the 62
project scope narrowing to the Public Safety Building, the collection of 63
updated pricing proposal rates from vendors, and a list of the finalized 64
franchise account options that have been reviewed with ComEd. 65
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After reviewing the most recent pricing proposals and financial 67
comparisons between vendors, Mr. Strong presented a review of the four 68
franchise account options available to the City. Insights were centered 69
around the different ways each listed option financially impacts both the 70
City and its residents. 71
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A lengthy discussion was held thereafter reviewing each of the possible 73
viable project options. Additionally, the Committee suggested potential 74
future solar options, including the possibility of adding solar generating 75
panels on streetlights on Deerpath, as well as potential opportunities with 76
the lighting for Sports fields, future parking garages, and major assets in 77
the City including educational institutions and the hospital. 78
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After consideration, Chairman Rummel motioned to not move forward 80
with the Solar Energy Project, but for the City to continue to look at new 81
opportunities for solar generation and work with the qualified consultants 82
to find potentially new viable options outside of the options presented. 83
Alderman Weber seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously 84
by voice vote. 85
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional questions or 87
comments from members of the public. 88
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Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 90
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IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS 92
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a. DISCUSSION ON FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY INITITAVIES & PRIORITIES – Mike 94
Strong, Assistant City Manager 95
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Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Assistant City Manager, Mike Strong, reviewed an update on the current 97
projects that are underway including an update on the community 98
gardening and increased accessibility to composting program projects. 99
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Each Committee member provided their thoughts on the initiatives 101
presented. In particular, the Committee had discussed the dwindling 102
supply of space available for community gardening at the current 103
facilities and the potential need for a survey to be distributed throughout 104
the community to garner more insight on where and how much demand 105
is present for new space. 106
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Composting discussions involved a potential pilot project for citizens to be 108
able to have an in-home composting unit that could increase the amount 109
of waste diverted from landfills. The cost share program would allow 110
families to apply for a composting unit, where they would then track their 111
composting results, and the city would ultimately analyze the return on 112
investment with diverted tons of garbage. The Committee reached 113
consensus to move forward with the needed actions to start the pilot 114
project. 115
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any public comments on any non-117
agenda items. 118
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Seeing none, Chairman Rummel moved to the next agenda item. 120
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V. 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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Assistant City Manager, Mike Strong stated that the next meeting would be 132
scheduled for the week of August 17, 2022. 133
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ADJOURNMENT 135
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Before adjournment, Chairman Rummel expressed the deep gratitude the 137
Environmental Sustainability Committee and the City of Lake Forest has for 138
Assistant City Manager Mike Strong after his announced departure from the City 139
next month. 140
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Alderman Weber moved to adjourn the meeting of the Environmental 142
Sustainability Committee at 5:10 P.M. seconded by Weber. The motion carried 143
unanimously by voice vote. 144
Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
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Respectfully Submitted, 148
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Reagan Walsh 150
Management Analyst 151
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