ESC_2023_04_19 PACKETENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, April 19 – 5:30 PM
Lake Forest City Hall, 220 E Deerpath.
AGENDA
I.CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
II.INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
a.UPDATE ON EARTH MONTH ACTIVITIES – Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst
III.ACTION ITEMS
a.APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 15, 2023, MEETING MINUTES
IV.DISCUSSION ITEMS
a.LAKE FOREST COLLEGE SUSTAINABILITY INTERN OPPORTUNITY – George Issakoo,
Assistant City Manager
b.LAKE FOREST COMMUNITY GARDEN – Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst
V.ACTION ITEMS
a.RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT FOR FOOD SCRAP
COMPOSTING SERVICES – Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst
VI.ADDITIONAL ITEMS (Packet Material Only)
a.STATUS REPORT ON SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES & PRIORITIES
VII.PUBLIC COMMENT
VIII.NEXT MEETING DATE(S) – MAY 17, 2023
IX.ADJOURNMENT
“No Idling” Sign
Artwork Winners
4.19.23
Everett School
Deerpath Middle
School
St. Mary’s
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ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING 3
Wednesday, February 15 – 5:30 PM 4
Lake Forest City Hall, 220 E Deerpath. 5
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AGENDA 7
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I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 10
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Chairman Melanie Rummel called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. Alderman Jim Preschlack 12
and Eileen Weber were present. 13
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Staff in attendance included George Issakoo, Assistant City Manager and Reagan Walsh, 15
Management Analyst. Two members of the public were present. 16
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II. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS (:30 for Presentation) 19
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a. LEAF BLOWER WORKER GROUP UPDATE – George Issakoo, Assistant City Manager 21
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George Issakoo, Assistant City Manager introduced and summarized the “Regional Leaf 23
Blower Working Group Final Report” attached in the meeting packet. The “Working 24
Group” was formed in late 2021 to evaluate the need and impact of leaf-blower 25
regulations to be considered by each participating municipality. The Final Report 26
outlines the impacts of gas-powered leaf blowers, alternative technologies and how 27
communities could mitigate the impacts of this equipment. 28
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Mr. Issakoo recognized that the report does not indicate whether a community should 30
prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. Instead, the report identifies best 31
practices to consider should it be determined that gas-powered leaf blower regulations 32
are appropriate in the community. Being the first time the Committee had seen this 33
information, the discussion remained high level and focused on big picture questions 34
instead of possible actions the City could take. 35
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Alderman Preschlack asked several questions including what the typical volume of leaf 37
blower related noise complaints are received by the Police Department, what time of 38
year these complaints are received, and what distribution of the current landscaping 39
companies in Lake Forest use gas versus electric leaf blowers. A general goal to 40
“understand the problem” before “looking for a solution” was stated and agreed upon 41
by the Committee. 42
43
Alderman Weber gave comments on how the trend of landscaping equipment is 44
moving to electric, although electric leaf blowers are still widely inferior in terms of 45
efficiency. Alderman Weber also made comments on the difficulty of regulation and 46
found that a new ordinance may be unnecessary given this fact. She ended her 47
statement in support of the Committees recent approach to education instead of 48
regulation on several issues addressed (i.e., vehicle idling, recycling, etc.). 49
50
Finally, Chairman Rummel followed up on the discussion by stating her major takeaways 51
from the report included a nominal noise difference in terms of using gas vs. electric 52
leaf blowers, enforcement concerns, and that electric leaf blowers were found to be 53
less practical and efficient. She asked the Committee if they felt staff should look further 54
into the topic or if the City should provide more education on our current policies. It was 55
determined that staff would collect high level complaints and noise data to bring back 56
to the Committee to then determine what appropriate action is needed on the topic. 57
58
Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional questions or comments from 59
members of the public. 60
61
Several comments were made by members of the public that gave insight into what 62
their experience was regarding noise and disturbances involving landscaping 63
companies, which varied widely. A possible educational opportunity to “leave the 64
leaves” was presented by a member of the public that could help limit the use 65
landscaping equipment and benefit the environment. Another theme of pedestrian 66
and vehicle safety was discussed as landscaping vehicles often park on the side of the 67
road, including on two lane streets posing safety hazards. 68
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b. POWERING SAFE COMMUNITIES GRANT OPPORTUNITY – Reagan Walsh, Management 71
Analyst 72
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Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst, provided a brief update on a potential grant 74
opportunity the Committee could consider pursuing. The 2023 Powering Safe 75
Communities Grants Program, offered through Commonwealth Edison Company 76
(ComEd) to municipalities in Northern Illinois, aims to support projects designed to 77
increase public safety, reduce carbon emissions and improve community 78
resiliency. Lake Forest applied and won the grant in the 2022 cycle, using the money 79
towards construction of electric vehicle station. 80
81
The Committee discussed possible opportunities that the grant could be used for in the 82
FY24 year, recognizing that new charging stations could be installed in areas on the 83
West side of town and in places that residents frequent for “long periods of time.” The 84
Committee made a consensus that more research was needed on the potential 85
opportunities the City could use the grant for and if the current charging stations in 86
town were being utilized to their fullest extent. 87
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional questions or comments from 89
members of the public. 90
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Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 92
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III. DISCUSSION ITEMS (:15 - :20 per item) 95
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a. UPDATE ON LAKE FOREST COMMUNITY GARDEN – Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst 97
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Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst presented an update and review of the Lake 99
Forest Community Garden, in particular reviewing site location analysis that staff have 100
undertaken. After surveying the public, assessing potential sites through the Public 101
Works, Parks and Recreation, and Community Development departments, and 102
discussing viable sites through the Committee, staff recommended Townline Park as an 103
optimal site for the Community Garden. Factors including the current built infrastructure, 104
accessibility, sunshine, asset utilization, connection to trails/other amenities, protection 105
for noise and pollution, and open acreage were considered in the location selection. 106
107
After a lengthy discussion from the Committee regarding other sites considered, 108
flooding, program activity, and neighbor concerns, the Committee made a consensus 109
that Townline Park is the recommended location for the community garden and that 110
further design and site efforts could be started. 111
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IV. ACTION ITEMS (:15 - :20 per item) 114
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a. APPROVAL OF THE DECECMBER 8, 2022 MEETING MINUTES 116
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Chairman Rummel moved to approve the December 8, 2022, Environmental 118
Sustainability Committee meeting minutes. Alderman Weber seconded the motion. The 119
motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 120
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional questions or comments from 122
members of the public. 123
124
Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 125
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b. RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE LAKE FOREST AS AN IDLE FREE COMMUNITY – Reagan 128
Walsh, Management Analyst 129
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To finalize the vehicle idling initiative undertaken by the Committee, show commitment 131
from the City to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and bring educational 132
awareness about vehicle idling in Lake Forest, the Committee voted to adopt a formal 133
resolution to be recommended to City Council to make Lake Forest and idle free 134
community. Chairman Rummel moved to approve “AN RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING 135
ALL WHO LIVE IN AND VISIT THE CITY LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN 136
IDLE-FREE COMMINUTY.” Alderman Weber seconded the motion. The motion carried 137
unanimously by voice vote. 138
139
After approval the Committee briefly discussed the impact of the resolution and the 140
next steps in terms of education and promotion regarding the campaign. Reagan 141
Walsh, Management Analyst, updated the Committee on the concurrent No Vehicle 142
Idling Sign Art Contest that local schools were undertaking to help produce new “No 143
Vehicle Idling” signs around town. The Committee agreed that announcing winners of 144
the art contest via social media would be an opportunity to pair with the Idle Free 145
Community resolution, as well as on other City communication platforms. City staff 146
noted that winners would be brought to the Committee next meeting and sign 147
locations could be discussed. 148
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any additional questions or comments from 150
members of the public. 151
152
One member of public spoke to the “Idle Free Community” resolution and asked 153
clarifying questions on how this resolution would impact City staff, including those who 154
drive service trucks around town. George Issakoo, Assistant City Manager explained 155
that City staff are required by City policy to not idle their vehicles, but education 156
around the topic could be improved. The new resolution was explained to be an 157
excellent educational tool for not only residents, but staff to remind them of our policies 158
and the impact on idling. 159
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Seeing no more comments thereafter, Chairman Rummel moved to the next agenda 162
item. 163
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V. ADDITIONAL ITEMS (Packet Material Only) 166
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a. STATUS REPORT ON SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES & PRIORITIES 168
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Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst, provided an update on the 2023-2024 Work Plan 170
attached in the meeting packet. Included in the Work Plan are initiatives currently 171
being undertaken by the Committee and upcoming projects slated for the next 172
quarters. 173
174
Discussion thereafter occurred on the current timelines and upcoming tasks for each 175
initiative in relation to the overall workplan attached in the meeting packet. Chairman 176
Rummel asked if there were any additional questions or comments from members of 177
the public. 178
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Seeing none, she moved to the next agenda item. 180
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VI. PUBLIC COMMENT 183
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Chairman Rummel asked if there were any public comments on any non-agenda items. 185
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Seeing none, Chairman Rummel moved to the next agenda item. 187
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VII. NEXT MEETING DATE(S) – MARCH 12, 2023 190
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The Committee confirmed the next meeting date for April 19, 2023, at 5:30PM located at 192
Lake Forest City Hall. 193
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VIII. ADJOURNMENT 196
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Chairman Rummel moved to adjourn the meeting of the Environmental Sustainability 198
Committee at 7:05 P.M. seconded by Alderman Preschlack. The motion carried 199
unanimously by voice vote. 200
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Respectfully Submitted, 203
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Reagan Walsh 205
Management Analyst 206
MEMORANDUM
THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
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TO: Chairman Melanie Rummel & Members of the Environmental Sustainability
Committee
CC: Jason C. Wicha, City Manager, George Issakoo, Assistant City Manager, Dan Martin,
Superintendent of Public Works, and Brian Pogachnik, Sanitation Supervisor
FROM: Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst
DATE: April, 19, 2023
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Award a Franchise Agreement for Composting Services
Purpose & Recommendation
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide a recommendation to award a franchise
agreement contract with WasteNot Composting LLC for Food Scrap Composting Services.
Background
Through a Strategic Planning Assessment conducted in 2020, the Environmental Sustainability
Committee identified providing greater access to composting as a key initiative in reducing the
City’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions. After a comprehensive assessment concluded that
compost pickup would not be viable as an added City sanitation service, the Committee
advised that using a vetted third-party vendor to service residents and businesses would be an
attainable and financially feasible option for achieving this long-range goal.
This Spring, City staff developed a Request for Proposal (RFP) for professional services for
curbside food scrap composting to participating properties within the municipal boundaries of
the City of Lake Forest. The proposal heavily weighed firms pricing, experience, and quality of
services including customer service into its evaluation. Per the proposal, the awarded third-
party vendor would handle all operations regarding the program, including registration,
billing, reporting, and customer service. Several technical and performance requirements
involving safety, noise, and damages regarding the pickup service were also listed as required
and upheld comparable high standards that our current sanitation department abides by.
Food Scrap Composting Service Overview
Food scrap composting services in general mirror a traditional sanitation service, where a
provided container (i.e. 5-gallon bucket), is dropped off at the customers home or business and
is then emptied on a weekly or scheduled date. That said, a “container swap” strategy, which
includes replacing a used container with a new, clean sanitized container each pickup is a
critical difference in the service. For Lake Forest, services were focused primarily on single-
family residential, but multi-family residential, and commercial and event services were also
listed as preferable additions.
Evaluation
The City received two bids from vendors including:
1. Collective Resource Inc. (CRI) 2. WasteNot Composting LLC (WNC)
Page 2
After bid evaluation and finalist interviews, several key factors listed below were found to be
clear differentiators between both vendors that offered seemingly similar upfront services.
Pricing
WNC offers cheaper monthly rates for residents on both weekly and biweekly pickups,
presumably the service offering with the highest participation. WNC also offers weekly service
pickups at the commencement of the program while CRI would require a threshold of at least
100 households before this service level is available. While commercial rates are competitive,
both firms offer innovative “communal” programming for multi-family units to help reduce
costs. WNC also offers a 64-gallon tote for commercial units, a unique feature. Additional and
customizable service offerings are also available, but for simplicity, the most popular service
offerings are shown in the matrix below and were evaluated during scoring.
Container Size & Residency Type CRI (Monthly) WNC (Monthly)
Residential
5-gallon Weekly $27.00 $22.00
5-gallon Bi-Weekly (every other week) $20.50 $14.00
32-gallon Bi-Weekly $47.67 $60.00
Multi-Family/Commercial
32-gallon Weekly $95.33* $95.00*
32-gallon Bi-Weekly (every other week) $47.67* $60.00*
64-gallon Weekly N/A $195.00
*Offer Discounted price for shared bins in multi-family residences
Experience
Both vendors offer over 10+ years of experience collecting from thousands of customers and
organizations each week. CRI offered the largest advantage in terms of experience as they
currently franchise with four nearby communities and service roughly 20 households and 1
commercial vendor in Lake Forest. That said, WNC is the largest compost collection service in
Chicago servicing residents in over 12 suburban communities. A breakdown of experience is
shown in the matrix below.
Experience Collective Resource Inc. WasteNot LLC
Residential Serve over 2,000+ residential
customers
Serve over 7,000+ residential customers
Commercial Broad commercial experience
offering 32-gallon totes
Extensive service for 200+ commercial entities
including brands like Chipotle, Sweetgreen,
Starbucks, etc. and offer 32- or 64-gallon totes
School
District
Partner with dozens of schools
offering 32-gallon totes. Set up
“waste station” in lunchrooms
at common area
Partner with dozens of schools offering 32-or 64-
gallon totes. Developed “Compost Champion”
program for several schools that involves students in
the collection and oversight of the program to
maximize education and involvement
Franchise /
Municipality
Franchise with four
municipalities including
Do not franchise with any community currently but
service residents in 12+ Chicagoland cities and
Page 3
Evanston, Morton Grove, Park
Ridge, and Skokie
partner with the Andersonville neighborhood for
composting needs
Events Serve several events in
handling compost waste and
provide educational flyers
Premier leader in event compost service, including
handling over 19,000+ visitors at 8 farmers markets in
Chicago. Provide signage and educational materials.
Customer Service
With the awarded vendor representing Lake Forest as a service provider, customer service was
heavily considered in evaluations. While both vendors offer high levels of customer service,
WNC has “above and beyond” offerings including an interactive online customer portal that
allows customers to edit scheduling, delivering, and billing changes, as well as report service
issues. WNC is able to report a less than 2% margin of error regarding pickups through picture
tracking and front dash/cab cams on all fleet delivery vehicles. Both vendors offer text and
email reminders the day before their pickup, although WNC allows for easy customizable
pickup option locations, scheduling, and program opt out/in terms through the customer portal.
Reporting / Data Metrics
Both vendors offered reporting capabilities in terms of waste collected and greenhouse gas
emissions reduced. That said, WNC offers a dedicated analytics team supplying customers with
real time data regarding waste reduction and is also able to offer customized internal metrics
for the City including crosstab participation rates, financial saving reports, etc.
Emissions
With reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a core goal for composting, WNC offers a complete
electric fleet for pickups contributing zero emissions to the program. WNC is the nation’s only
zero-emission compost collection service. Both vendors use cargo vans for pickup.
Communications/Marketing
Undoubtedly a key component of the residential and commercial service success will be the
communication and marketing of the program. Both vendors committed to partnering with the
City to help promote the program, although WNC supplied multiple marketing and
communication materials along with a list of educational sessions they offer. One consistent
message between both vendors was the key on education surrounding composting, supplying
information not only on how the service works and how to compost correctly, but the
importance it provides to sustainability, and the impact it can make for the environment.
Budget/Fiscal Impact
The budget impact for awarding services for food scrap composting services is minimal as all
program operations will be run through the private vendor. Staff time dedicated to marketing
and communication efforts in helping promote the program would represent the largest cost to
the City. That said, if the City were to supply compost containers at City owned facilities for
employee use (City Hall, Municipal Services, Deerpath Golf Course, etc.), the City would have
to pay annual fees for this service similar to any resident. A larger discussion involving the
City’s contribution and participation in the program would follow after the award of contract.
Food Scrap Composting Services
ESC Meeting -April 19, 2023
Program
Alignment
Greenhouse Gas Emission
Reduction Initiative
Waste Management Focus
Area
Sustainability Assessment
RFP Process
Collective
Resource
Inc.
WasteNot
Compost
LLC
Pricing Experience
Quality of
Services
Customer
Service
Services
Overview
Residential
Commercial
Multi-Unit
Event
Vendor Service Comparison
Experience CRI WNC
Residential Serve over 2,000+ residential
customers
Serve over 7,000+ residential customers
Commercial Broad commercial experience
offering 32-gallon totes
Extensive service for 200+ commercial entities including
brands like Chipotle, Sweetgreen, Starbucks, etc. and offer
32-or 64-gallon totes
School District Partner with dozens of schools
offering 32-gallon totes. Set up
“waste station” in lunchrooms at
common area
Partner with dozens of schools offering 32-or 64-gallon
totes. Developed “Compost Champion” program for several
schools that involves students in the collection and oversight
of the program to maximize education and involvement
Municipality Franchise with four municipalities
including Evanston, Morton Grove,
Park Ridge, and Skokie
Do not franchise with any community currently but service
residents in 12+ Chicagoland cities and partner with the
Andersonville neighborhood for
composting needs
Events Serve several events in handling
compost waste and provide
educational flyers
Premier leader in event compost service, including handling
over 19,000+ visitors at 8 farmers markets in Chicago.
Provide signage and educational materials
Container Size & Residency Type CRI (Monthly)WNC (Monthly)
Residential
5-gallon Weekly $27.00 $22.00
5-gallon Bi-Weekly (every other week)$20.50 $14.00
32-gallon Bi-Weekly $47.67 $60.00
Multi-Family/Commercial
32-gallon Weekly $95.33*$95.00*
32-gallon Bi-Weekly (every other week)$47.67*$60.00*
64-gallon Weekly N/A $195.00
*Offer Discounted price for shared bins in multi-family
residences
Pricing Matrix
Evaluation Factors
Pricing Experience Customer
Service
Reporting & Data
Metrics Emissions Communications
& Marketing
Action
Requested
Motion to provide a
recommendation to award a
franchise agreement contract
with WasteNot Composting LLC
for Food Scrap Composting
Services.
Environmental Sustainability Committee
Current/Future Sustainability Initiatives & Priorities
Updated April 2023
Project/Initiative
2023
Jan-Mar
Q1
Apr-Jun
Q2
Jul-Sep
Q3
Oct-Dec
Q4
Strategic Planning Realignment
Current Projects/Status:
1. Provide greater access to composting programs or services for residents and
businesses
o Status: Appliance program not recommended for City, several additional
opportunities and viable composting alternative programs researched. Third
party service RFP Posted and Bids graded.
o On Deck: Provide final recommendation of program with appropriate vendor
o Target Timeline:
Approve vendor in April meeting
Approve franchise agreement through City Council, launch program in
May/June
2. Develop Community Gardening Program
o Status: Funding secured, designs received, and community survey results have
been compiled. Location selected for preliminary designs
o On Deck:
Discuss plans in greater detail with Elawa, work on partnerships /
presentations (Civic Beauty Committee)
Receive preliminary designs
o Target Timeline:
Recommendation of final designs of project in Q2
3. Landscape Equipment/Leaf Blower Recommendation
o Status: Working on receiving feedback from licensed landscapers on possible
changes and how changes may impact operations. Police records pulling data on
citations and complaints.
o On Deck:
Discuss recommendations based on data provided and direction
Committee would like to take
o Target Timeline:
Recommendation of final action in Q2
4. 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.)
Educational opportunities regarding reducing single-use plastics
Inventory of current ordering and replacement of plastics with
biodegradable options
May need to discuss with the City Council further – how far do they want
to go with banning/incentivizing these products
o Target Timeline: Second quarter of 2023 for research/further policy decisions
5. 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 in Q3
Potential recommendations to ESC in Q4
6. Strategy Realignment / Greenhouse Gas Inventory
o Status: ESC Meeting in June reviewed Initial GHG report and discussed emission
reduction targets (Based on ICLEI recommendations)
o On Deck:
Develop finalized list of future actions for ESC based on ICLEI
recommendations after strategy realignment survey in Spring
o Target Timeline:
Target Q4 ESC meeting for strategy realignment and combine with
Greenhouse Gas Inventory report recommendations.
Future Projects/Initiatives (As directed by Committee in April 2022)
1. Investigation of Solar Facilities on City Facilities
o Status: Motioned in July ESC Meeting to NOT move forward with solar facility
projects presented
o On Deck:
Investigate new opportunities for solar generation and work with the
qualified consultants to find potentially new viable options outside of the
options presented
• In particular exploring rooftop and ground mount solar options
for facilities that are not under a rider-FCA arrangement.
o Target Timeline:
Follow back with consultants, review past information, and come forward
with new plan and timeline for solar facilities in third quarter of 2023.
• Coal tar sealants – The completion of the North Branch Chicago River Watershed
Workgroup (NBWW) 2020-2021 Biological & Water Quality Assessment Report was
delayed (normally would be approved in December) due to some staffing delays
from the contractor. MBI, the contractor, is hoping to provide a presentation at the
NBWW General Membership meeting on February 8, 2023 or if the August 9, 2023
meeting.
• Conversion of Mowed Areas to Natural Areas – No update/report
Completed:
1. Develop plan to discourage vehicle idling on City Properties
o Scope: Explore opportunities to reduce car idling on city properties
Soft approach, signage in key areas
City “Idle-Free” Resolution
Present options and recommendation to further anti-vehicle idling in
Community
o Actions: Approved Idle-Free Resolution at City Council, School Art Work Contest
completed for temporary signage.
o Target Timeline:
Completed!