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MINUTES
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
March 17, 2021, 7:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order, Roll Call, and Establishment of a Quorum.
Chairman Beebe called the meeting to order at 7:03 P.M. Roll call found Commissioners Dan Beebe
” present in person; Commissioners, Bob Blaus, Bethany Brown, and Kris Zimmermann were present via
Zoom internet connection. Commissioner Joe Cavataio was absent.
Staff present in person included Assistant Director of Public Works, Tim Wilcox.
Chairman Beebe read the following statement: “Mayor Pineda has determined that in-person meetings are
not practical and prudent”.
2. Approval of Minutes.
A. Environmental Commission Minutes of February 17, 2021. Commissioner Blaus made
a motion, seconded by Commissioner Brown to approve the meeting minutes of
February 17, 2021.
Voting Yea: Commissioner Beebe, Blaus, Brown and Zimmermann.
Voting Nay: zero.
3. Public Participation/Presentations.
None.
4. Items For Consent
None
5. Review and discuss Commission Priority List.
A. Review current priority list
Paper shredding Event
The event currently scheduled for June 5, 2021 was the first topic of discussion. Commissioners talked
last month about moving the location of the event to the METRA parking lot due to the record turnout of
people and the traffic backups it caused on Main Street and Neltnor Boulevard (Illinois Route 59) last
year. Chairman Beebe indicted the METRA lots were used for a COVID-19 mobile testing site in
November 2020 and Mr. Wilcox will look into getting a copy of the Police Department’s planned layout
for the parking lot during the event so it can be modified for the shredding event.
Environmental Commission Meeting
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Blooming Fest
This event has been canceled for 2021.
- Rain Barrel Pickup Event
The Commission chose not to hold a Rain Barrel Pickup Event this year in conjunction with the Paper
Shredding event. Instead, the City website directs those interested to the DuPage County sponsored event
where people have the option to have their order delivered or to pick it up themselves at the Conservation
Foundation location in Naperville.
Adopt A Highway
- A spring date for the roadside pickup event is scheduled for April 17, 2021.
Mayors’ Monarch Pledge
Commissioners discussed Mayors Monarch Pledge Day. At the March 15, 2021 City Council meeting the
Mayor read a proclamation proclaiming March 31, 2021 as Mayors’ Monarch Pledge Day. The
proclamation met one of the action items for the 2021 Mayors’ Monarch Pledge to raise awareness about
the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat.
B. Discuss new additions to priority list
None.
6. Other Business
Commissioner Beebe announced the Garden Club has added a sustainability component to their mission
and they have invited Kay McKeen from SCARCE to speak at next week’s Garden Club Zoom meeting.
- He invited Commissioners interested to let him know and he would send them an invitation to the
meeting.
Commissioner Beebe also mentioned the Garden Club is sponsoring a public art exhibit of bees this year.
He believes there will be 12 jumbo-sized bee cutouts decorated by Garden Club members, and displayed
with printed information at the Kruse House in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of bees as
pollinators.
Commissioner Brown indicated she has not yet talked to officials from Ball Horticultural Company to set
up a meeting with the Environmental Commission to discuss some of Ball’s sustainability goals that
include being more involved in the local community. She will try to do this prior to our next meeting.
Commissioner Zimmermann mentioned that new shielded streetlights located in a neighborhood in
Geneva. The lights shine down and allow residents to be able to see the night stars. She will try to get a
photo of one of the new streetlights.
Commissioner Blaus mentioned an article he read about those Communities that contracted with Prairie
State as their energy provider. Prairie State uses coal as a main energy source. The article indicated the
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March 17, 2021
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price for fossil fuel continues to rise while the cost of renewable energy like wind and solar continue to go
down. This resulted in those communities paying far higher energy rates. The Clean Energy Jobs Act
(CEJA) is proposing the State of Illinois, through its authority to regulate emissions from power plants,
work to close Prairie State’s coal burning plant and that the State transitions away from fossil fuel use by
2030.
7. Adjournment
- At 7:25 P.M. Commissioner Blaus made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Brown seconded the motion.
Motion was unanimously approved by voice vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Tim Wilcox, Assistant Director of Public Works
Environmental Commission Meeting
March 17, 2021
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