ESC 2022 10 19 MINUTES
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ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING 2
Wednesday, October 19 – 5:00 PM 3
Lake Forest City Hall, 220 E Deerpath. 4
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I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 7
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Chairman Melanie Rummel called the meeting to order at 5:31 P.M. Alderman Eileen 9
Weber was present. Alderman Jim Preschlack was absent. 10
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Staff in attendance included Jim Lockefeer, Assistant to the Director of Public Works 12
and Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst. One member of the public was also 13
present. 14
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An in-person tour at the History Center of Lake Forest Lake Bluff was conducted where 16
Agenda items I and II took place. All remaining agenda items took place at Lake 17
Forest City Hall, 220 E Deerpath. 18
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II. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS (:30 for Presentation) 21
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a. HISTORY CENTER OF LAKE FOREST / LAKE BLUFF GARDEN TOUR – Lisa 23
Frey, Director of Development 24
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Lisa Frey, Director of Development at the History Center of Lake Forest Lake Bluff 26
provided a presentation and interactive tour regarding The Garden Initiative, a 27
comprehensive plan to develop a learning garden on the current campus of 28
the History Center. 29
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Breaking ground in 2023, Director Frey specifically outlined the design and 31
construction aspects of the project, discussing several sustainable and 32
environmental best practices that have been imbedded in planning efforts. An 33
emphasis on how the project will restructure and benefit the natural 34
environment surrounding the Center was also a focal point of the presentation. 35
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The Lake Forest Forest-Lake Bluff contributions to sustainability, landscape 37
design, and preservation throughout the planning and design of the Garden 38
Initiative was applauded by the Committee and was shown as a true reflection 39
of the community’s commitment to environmental stewardship. 40
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III. ACTION ITEMS (:10 - :15 per item) 42
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a. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 MEETING MINUTES 44
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Chairman Rummel moved to approve the September 19, 2022, Environmental 46
Sustainability Committee meeting minutes. Alderman Weber seconded the 47
motion. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 48
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional questions or comments 50
from members of the public. 51
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Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 53
Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
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b. REVIEW AND RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO CITY COUNCIL NET CIVIC 56
GRANT CONTRIBUTION, NORTH SHORE ELECTIRCY AGGREGATION 57
CONSORTIUM (NSEAC) – Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst 58
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Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst, presented a Memorandum pertaining to 60
the Allocation of the Annual Net Civic Grant Contribution received by the City 61
of Lake Forest for the 2022 calendar year. Attached in the meeting packet, the 62
Memorandum recommended that based on conversations with North Shore 63
Electricity Aggregation Consortium (“NSEAC”) communities, the City’s credit 64
rating agency, and internal City staff, the City receive the $90,000 Civic 65
Contribution in full, with the assumption as mandatory to fund environmentally 66
sensitive or sustainability-related projects. 67
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After discussion and clarifying questions regarding the Consortium, contribution 69
limitations, and the City’s financial policies, the Committee made a consensus 70
to approve the recommendation. With several sustainability initiatives and 71
programs that are in progress and being developed, the Committee outlined 72
that the funding could be dedicated to these projects which would have a 73
noticeable, and direct benefit to the community. 74
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c. FOODCYCLER PILOT-COST SHARE PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION – 76
Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst 77
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Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst presented survey results and modeling 79
information regarding the FoodCycler product and pilot municipal program. An 80
internal Return-on-Investment (ROI) model was provided to the Committee to 81
demonstrate the different financial, social, and environmental outcomes of the 82
potential pilot composting municipal program. After detailed discussion and 83
clarifying questions, City staff recommended that due to the program not 84
being financially feasible or creating a large enough environmental impact for 85
Lake Forest, the Committee not move forward with the program offered. 86
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The Committee made a consensus to approve the recommendation, that said, 88
with survey results indicating a strong desire for composting and increased 89
access to composting in the community, future recommendations on optimal 90
and viable composting options were noted as still desired. The Committee 91
ended the discussion mentioning several alternative composting options to be 92
considered, with more detailed research and proposals to review in the coming 93
months to ultimately move forward with a composting initiative to increase 94
access to composting in the community. 95
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d. CAPTIAL PROJECTS REVIEW – Jim Lockefeer, Assistant to the Director of Public 97
Works 98
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Jim Lockefeer, Assistant to the Director of Public Works, provided a brief 100
background regarding the City’s capital project funding process, noting the 101
similarities from previous City Council capital budget workshops. He further 102
explained the process staff conducted to identify projects that could include 103
sustainable elements, and the change in cost that would be impacted. 104
Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
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The Review of the Sustainability Enhancements to CIP Projects for FY2024 106
included four projects as listed: 107
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1. ROCKEFELLER / MCCORMICK / LOCH STORM SEWER RAVINE 109
2. ELAWA PARKING LOT 110
3. SOUTH PARK IMPROVEMENTS DESIGN 111
4. COMMUNITY GARDEN 112
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The Committee asked clarifying questions regarding the enhancements in both 114
the Elawa Parking Lot and South Park Improvement Design projects. The 115
Community Garden project details and funding were also discussed including 116
the use of the Net Civic Grant Contribution, possibly being a catalyst for the 117
project to move forward. 118
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Following further discussion, Mr. Lockefeer provided potential next steps for the 120
Committee to move forward with a recommendation to City Council. 121
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any questions or comments from the 123
public. 124
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Several comments were provided from the public audience member in 126
attendance involving the community garden including questions surrounding a 127
deer fence for installation, general water costs, and water policies at other 128
community gardens nearby. 129
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Chairman Rummel asked the Committee if there were any addition questions. 131
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Seeing none, she asked for a motion. 133
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Alderman Weber made a motion to recommend sustainability enhancements 135
to CIP projects for FY2024, Chairman Rummel seconded the motion. The 136
following voted “Aye”: Chairman Rummel, and Alderman Weber. The following 137
voted “Nay”: None. 2-Ayes, 0 Nays, 1-Abstain, motion carried. 138
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IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS (:15 - :20 per item) 141
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No discussion items were listed on the agenda for the October 19 meeting. 143
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V. ADDITIONAL ITEMS (Packet Material Only) 145
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a. STATUS REPORT ON SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES & PRIORITIES 147
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Jim Lockefeer, Assistant to the Director of Public Works, provided an update on 149
the 2022-2023 Work Plan attached in the meeting packet. Included in the Work 150
Plan are initiatives currently being undertaken by the Committee and 151
upcoming projects slated for the next quarters. 152
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Chairman Rummel provided questions regarding the progress of research for 154
an Anti-Vehicle Idling initiative as well as the potential ban on single-use plastics 155
Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
in Municipal buildings. Discussion thereafter occurred on the current timelines 156
and upcoming tasks for each initiative in relation to the overall workplan 157
attached in the meeting packet. Chairman Rummel asked if there were any 158
additional questions or comments from members of the public. 159
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Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 161
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VI. PUBLIC COMMENT 163
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any public comments on any non-agenda 165
items. 166
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Seeing none, Chairman Rummel moved to the next agenda item. 168
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VII. NEXT MEETING DATE(S) – DECEMBER 8, 2022 170
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The Committee confirmed the next meeting date for December 8, 2022, at 5:30PM 172
located at Lake Forest City Hall. The regularly scheduled November meeting was 173
cancelled due to holiday, time, and scheduling restrictions. 174
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VIII. ADJOURNMENT 176
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Chairman Rummel moved to adjourn the meeting of the Environmental Sustainability 178
Committee at 7:12 P.M. seconded by Alderman Weber. The motion carried 179
unanimously by voice vote. 180
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Respectfully Submitted, 183
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Reagan Walsh 185
Management Analyst 186
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