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ESC_2025_02_11 PACKET ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING February 11, 2025 – 7:30 A.M. Lake Forest City Hall, 220 E Deerpath AGENDA I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL II. ACTION ITEMS a. APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 7, 2024 MEETING MINUTES III. DISCUSSION ITEMS a. PRIORITIES – STATUS UPDATES i. SWALCO INITIATIVES ii. WASTENOT COMPOST / CHAMBER OF COMMERCE b. RESEARCH UPDATE - GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS IV. PUBLIC COMMENT V. NEXT MEETING DATE(S) VI. ADJOURNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING Thursday, November 7, 2024 – 3:00 P.M. Lake Forest City Hall – 220 E Deerpath DRAFT I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chairman Novit called the meeting to order at 3:00 P.M. Aldermen Alice LeVert and Pete Clemens were present. Staff in attendance included George Issakoo, Assistant City Manager and Keri Kaup, Assistant to the City Manager. II. PUBLIC COMMENT One comment was made by a member of the public regarding gas powered leaf blower use, specifically related to both noise levels and emissions levels. The resident inquired as to why Lake Forest has not implemented regulations. Assistant City Manager Issakoo gave a history of the consideration the City has given leaf blower regulations, to include costs and enforcement capabilities. Chairman Novit recommended staff relook at the issue to determine what other communities have done and report back to the Committee. III. ACTION ITEMS a. APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 13, 2024, MEETING MINUTES Alderman LeVert moved to approve the August 13, 2024, meeting minutes. Alderman Clemens seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS a. SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING FOR CIP Chairman Novit provided an overview of how sustainability funding contributes to Capital Improvement Projects. Assistant City Manager Issakoo notified the committee that the upcoming FY26 budget will not include any projects that require sustainability funding. The project that does include sustainability elements is coming from the Cemetery Fund and the hybrid vehicle previously identified by Public Works will not be purchased due to supply chain issues. The Committee had further discussion regarding how to make recommendations for future sustainability funding for projects. b. COMPOST PROGRAM UPDATE Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes Thursday, November 7, 2024 Page 2 of 3 Assistant to the City Manager Kaup reviewed the WasteNot Compost program status. WasteNot has 199 residential customers from Lake Forest as well as 6 commercial customers. WasteNot has been happy with the City’s participation. Assistant to the City Manager Kaup discussed plans for continued education and information pushes to residents through eNews and Dialogue articles, as well as seeking a partnership with the Chamber to provide more information to restaurants and businesses in the City. City staff would like to combine efforts to encourage composting and reduce reliance on single-use plastics both within City facilities and also businesses within the City. Staff will continue to pursue opportunities to partner with the Chamber of Commerce to increase education and participation. c. SWALCO UPDATE Assistant to the City Manager Kaup provided an update on initiatives the City is participating in with SWALCO to include clothing and textile recycling and shoe recycling. According to SWALCO, in 2023, Lake Forest was the seventh highest collection site for textiles and clothing, and the twelfth highest collection site for shoes. Representatives from SWALCO inquired about whether the City would be interested in adding collection bins to additional locations within the City to increase 24/7 drop off points. The Committee was in favor of locating additional appropriate drop off points. Staff will research optimal locations to add collection bins. The Committee discussed opportunities to host events in partnership with SWALCO. Assistant to the City Manager Kaup reviewed the types of events available through SWALCO, such as shred events, hazardous waste collection, and compost events. The Committee asked for staff to reconnect with SWALCO to provide a list of all possible events and for a representative from SWALCO to present to the Committee at the next meeting to discuss what events would make the most sense for the City. d. SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES PRIORITIZATION Assistant City Manager Issakoo reminded the Committee of the results of the sustainability survey the Council participated in last year and noted that this was an opportunity to reset priorities. Assistant to the City Manager Kaup provided the Committee with a spreadsheet identifying the sustainability focus areas and the potential projects that could be explored within each of those focus areas. Alderman LeVert stated she would like to focus on a partnership with SWALCO as they provide a large variety of sustainability opportunities. Chairman Novit stated she would like to focus on partnering with the Chamber of Commerce and WasteNot to make the reduction of single-use Environmental Sustainability Committee Minutes Thursday, November 7, 2024 Page 3 of 3 plastics a priority. Alderman LeVert said she would like to see a focus on educational campaigns with young children at schools. Alderman Clemens stated he would like to have more information about the gas-powered leaf blower regulations. The Committee agreed they would like staff to do additional research into what other communities are doing as far as regulations or ordinances and bring the information to the next meeting for a discussion item. V. NEXT MEETING DATE(S) The Committee confirmed the next meeting will occur during February 2025 at Lake Forest City Hall. Assistant to the City Manager Kaup will send out potential meeting dates. VI. ADJOURNMENT Alderman LeVert moved to adjourn the meeting of the Environmental Sustainability Committee at 4:34 P.M. seconded by Alderman Clemens. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Respectfully Submitted, Keri Kaup Assistant to the City Manager