ESC_2022_07_12 PACKET
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, July 12 – 4:00 PM
City Hall, 220 E. Deerpath
AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER AND OLL CALL
II. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS (:05 – :15 per item)
a. UPDATE ON RETHINK RECYCLING CAMPAIGN – Mike Strong, Assistant City Manager
III. ACTION ITEMS (:10 - :15 per item)
a. APPROVAL OF JUNE 15, 2022 MEETING MINUTES
b. DIRECTION ON NEW SOLAR GENERATION FACILITIES PROJECT – Mike Strong, Assistant
City Manager
IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS (:15 - :20 per item)
V. ADDITIONAL ITEMS (Packet Material Only)
a. STATUS REPORT ON SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES & PRIORITIES
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT
VII. NEXT MEETING DATE(S) – AUGUST 17, 2022
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Summer Internship
Program 2022
•The City hired two new interns again this year
to help with the Rethink Recycling Campaign –
Samantha and Alma!
•Just like last year, the interns were funded
by a grant given to the City by the Garden
Club & from a private donation
•Interns spend their time doing curbside cart
checks,community outreach pop-ups to
educate the community, and education
through social media.
Curbside Audit Summary
•So far, Interns have collected data from over 1400 curbside residential carts. (June-Present)
•Data describes contaminants and contamination percent per cart.
•Average contamination rate this year is approximately 8.16%
Contamination Data Found on One day (07/05/2022).
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING 1
Wednesday, June 15, 2022 – 4:00 P.M. 2
REMOTE ACCESS MEETING 3
4
5
I. ROLL CALL/CALL TO ORDER 6
7
Chairman Melanie Rummel called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M. Aldermen 8
Jim Preschlack and Eileen Weber were present. 9
10
Staff in attendance included Mike Strong, Assistant City Manager; Cathy 11
Czerniak, Director of Community Development; Chuck Myers, Superintendent of 12
Parks & Forestry; Dan Martin, Superintendent of Public Works; and Tom Herrod, 13
Senior Program Officer with ICLEI. 14
15
Chairman Rummel made the following statement as required by the Open 16
Meetings Act. In accordance with state statute, Chairman Rummel has made a 17
determination that it was not practical or prudent to schedule an in-person 18
Committee meeting because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why the April 19
20, 2022 Environmental Sustainability Committee meeting is being held remotely. 20
21
22
II. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 23
24
a. UPDATE ON LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE BUCKTHORN 25
CAMPAIGN 26
27
Catherine Czerniak, Director of Community Development, providd an 28
update on the Lake County Forest Preserve’s buckthorn campaign. She 29
provided information on the status of the project and partnership with the 30
Forest Preserve, and work that was being completes around the 31
community. Ms. Czerniak outlined various feedback the City had received 32
regarding the work and restoration efforts, and stated the City was 33
working closely with the Forest Preserve to prepare them for a more formal 34
presentation on the work in the fall. 35
36
Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional comments or 37
questions from the Committee. The Committee discussed feedback they 38
received from residents and asked about specific projects that were 39
underway in the Academy Woods area. 40
41
Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional questions or 42
comments from members of the public. 43
44
Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 45
46
III. ACTION ITEMS 47
48
Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
a. APPROVAL OF APRIL 20, 2022, MEETING MINUTES 49
50
Alderman Weber moved to approve the April 20, 2022, Environmental 51
Sustainability Committee meeting minutes. Alderman Preschlack 52
seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. 53
54
IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS 55
56
a. REVIEW OF CITY-WIDE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORY 57
58
Assistant City Manager Mike Strong reviewed a presentation outlining the 59
results of the city-wide emissions inventory that had been completed. He 60
provided an overview of emissions definitions, major emissions categories, 61
and next steps the Committee may consider with regard to the inventory. 62
He stated that work was going to continue on developing forecasts for 63
emissions which would be made at a later date. 64
65
Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional comments or 66
questions from the Committee. The Committee had a lengthy discussion 67
about using the data to drive future initiatives, how to prioritize high 68
impact areas the City has control over, and how the City could help raise 69
awareness for emissions areas to change behavior. The Committee 70
suggested that content be developed in future communications 71
planning, and engage local education institutions, to start building 72
awareness for greenhouse gas emissions within the community. 73
74
Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional questions or 75
comments from the Committee. 76
77
Seeing none, Chairman Rummel asked if there were any questions or 78
comments from members of the public. 79
80
Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 81
82
b. UPDATE ON ROOFTOP SOLAR PROJECT 83
84
Assistant City Manager Mike Strong provided a brief update on the 85
rooftop solar project at the Public Safety Building. He stated that he and 86
the City’s energy consultant were in the process of meeting with ComEd 87
officials to learn more about how the franchise accounts might 88
accommodate solar generating facilities so that the City could realize 89
energy savings. 90
91
V. ADDITIONAL ITEMS 92
93
Assistant City Manager, Mike Strong, reviewed an update on the current 94
projects that are underway including an update on the greenhouse gas 95
emissions inventory and stormwater management projects. The 96
Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Committee held a discussion regarding projects that were planned and 97
underway. 98
99
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT 100
101
Chairman Rummel asked if there were any public comments on any non-102
agenda items. 103
104
Seeing none, Chairman Rummel moved to the next agenda item. 105
106
NEXT MEETING DATE(S) 107
108
Assistant City Manager, Mike Strong stated that the next meeting would be 109
scheduled for the week of July 11, 2022. 110
111
ADJOURNMENT 112
113
Alderman Weber moved to adjourn the meeting of the Environmental 114
Sustainability Committee at 5:20 P.M. seconded by Preschlack. The motion 115
carried unanimously by voice vote. 116
117
Respectfully Submitted, 118
119
120
Mike Strong 121
Assistant City Manager 122
New Solar Generation (PV) Facilities Project
Environmental Sustainability Committee
July 12, 2022
1
Work completed since April
•Project scope narrowed to Public Safety Building
•Updated proposals received from vendors
•Reduced scope to southern rooftops only
•Reviewed franchise account options with
ComEd
•Franchise Account Status
•Infrastructure Maintenance Fee Conversion
Updated Pricing Proposals (PPA Rates)
•100 kW system
•Size of system is approximately 100kw (135,000 –160,000
kWh/year)
•Offset potential 17-20%of
annual consumption
•Vendor Proposals ($/kWh)
•GRNE: $0.0418
•Verde Energy: $0.0630
3
Financial Value of Proposals –Year 1
Public Safety Building Status Quo GRNE Verde Energy
Total Energy (kWh) Needed 775,860 775,860 775,860
Annual Solar Production (kWh)-136,900 161,000
Net ComEd Supply (kWh)775,860 635,100 611,000
ComEd Energy Costs ($/kWh)$61,110 $50,327 $48,429
Solar Energy Costs ($/kWh)-$5,722 $10,143
Total Costs $61,110 $56,049 $58,572
Impact of PPA (Solar Project)($5,060)($2,538)
4
Review of Project Options
1A: Rider FCA
(Status Quo –Pay for
solar)
1B: Rider FCA + Rider POG
(Transfer solar savings to
Residents)
2: Convert to
Infrastructure
Maintenance Fee (IMF)
3: Do Nothing
(Explore alternative solar
options)
-City would not be billed
for electricity
-City would pay Vendor
PPA Rate for solar
generated
-Annual Cost to City of
approximately
$5,000/year
-City would not be billed
for electricity
-City would pay Vendor
PPA Rate for solar
generated
-Annual Cost to City of
approximately
$5,000/year
-Deduct solar generated
from City’s Franchise
portfolio
-Transfer savings costs to
Residents
-Convert all accounts to
IMF (~27 accounts)
-Residents pay franchise
fee and IMF Fee for 12-
month period
-Revenue collected by
ComEd and remitted to
City
-City billed for all
electricity usage
-City retain savings from
on site solar at PSB
(~$5,000 year 1)
-Short term savings
potential; long term risk
-Reject Proposals
-Seek proposals for non-
franchise account
buildings
-Consider ground-mount
options only (avoid roof
replacement challenges)
Committee Actions
1. Rooftop Solar at Public Safety Building
•Reject Bids and Reconsider Project
•Accept GRNE proposal (Low bid) and direct Staff to proceed with
PPA Contract Review with City Attorney
2. Public Safety Building ComEd Account
•Maintain Rider FCA Status or
•Convert to Infrastructure Maintenance Fee
Environmental Sustainability Committee
Current/Future Sustainability initiatives & Priorities
Updated July 2022
Project/Initiative
2022 2023
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2
Current Projects/Status:
1. Investigation of Solar Facilities on City Facilities
o Status: Solicitation/Vendor Selection Phase (Final Recommendation Pending)
o On Deck: Prepare Vendor recommendation to ESC, and City Council
Week of 6/13/2022: Meeting with ComEd to discuss Franchise Account
structure and conversion to Infrastructure Maintenance Fee
Late June: City Attorney Review of Power Purchase Agreement with
Finalist Vendor
o Target ESC Meeting for Recommendation and Final Action: 7/12/2022
o City Council Meeting: TBD
2. Develop Community Gardening Program
o Status: Research and planning underway
Site Visits to Fremont Township and Libertyville Gardens completed on
7/5-7/6/2022
Currently working to connect with local garden clubs and other local
agencies to discuss partnership opportunities
o On Deck: Establish an internal work committee to discuss options
o Target Timeline: Target initial meeting and discussion in early September, with
recommendation to ESC in late fall
3. Provide greater access to composting programs or services for residents and
businesses
o Status: Research and planning underway
o On Deck:
Exploring alternative options to Earth Machines
Demo in process for pre-treatment appliance (FoodCycler product)
o Target Timeline: Research services/options in May-August 2022, with
recommendation to ESC in Summer/Fall
Solicitation to follow in fall for spring 2023 launch (Pending Funding)
Future Projects/Initiatives (As directed by Committee in April 2022)
4. Promote the use of permeable pavers, rain gardens or other “green infrastructure”
implements throughout the community
o Proposed Scope: Marketing/communications on City projects utilizing
infrastructure
o Develop “green infrastructure” permit or reduced permit fees
o Explore cost-share opportunities or grant program for residents to offset
infrastructure investment through (e.g. Overhead sewer cost-share program)
o Target Timeline: Research opportunities between July-September
o Potential recommendations to ESC in October; followed by Finance Committee
(Capital workshop) in November
5. Develop strategies to further reduce the City’s use and collection of single-use plastics
o Proposed Scope: Explore opportunities to reduce the City’s use of single-use
plastics (e.g. City facilities, meetings/events, etc.)
Can we eliminate use of single-use plastics at our community events?
Can we promote/incentivize special event permit holds to not sell bottled
water? What alternatives might exist?
May need to discuss with the City Council further – how far do they want
to go with banning/incentivizing these products
o Target Timeline: First quarter of 2023 for research/further policy decisions
Additional initiatives that have been discussed:
• Discouraging vehicle idling on City Properties – Discussions have commenced with
schools and Lake Forest Open Lands; campaign planning underway. Anticipated for
discussion late summer
• Coal tar sealants – Awaiting monitoring report from NBWW; anticipated in fall 2022
• Conversion of Mowed Areas to Natural Areas – No update/report
• Landscape Equipment recommendations (Leaf Blowers) – No update/report