===== PDF PAGE 2 ===== [Extraction: OCR (rendered-page OCR)] Draft MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION May 19, 2021, 7:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order, Roll Call, and Establishment of a Quorum. Chairman Beebe called the meeting to order at 7:04 P.M. Roll call found Commissioners Dan Beebe, Bob Blaus, Bethany Brown, Kris Zimmermann, and Joe Cavitaio present via Zoom internet connection. 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. Commissioner Beebe tabled the Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes of March 17, 2021 until the next Environmental Commission Meeting. 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 main topic of discussion. The Union Pacific Railroad granted approval to hold the event at the METRA station parking lot. The move was due to the record turnout of people and the traffic backups it caused on Main Street and Neltnor Boulevard (Illinois Route 59) last year. Mr. Wilcox explained the traffic plan and layout and provided scheduled times Street Division personnel, Police, and the shredding trucks would be on site. Mr. Wilcox and the Commissioners discussed the details of the event. Commissioner Cavitaio indicated he would not be able to attend the event. Adopt A Highway The spring roadside pickup event was held April 17, 2021. Environmental Commission Meeting May 19, 2021 Page | of 2 ===== PDF PAGE 3 ===== [Extraction: OCR (rendered-page OCR)] B. Discuss new additions to priority list None. 6. Other Business Commissioner Cavataio discussed a request from Rosemary Mackey, Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the City. Rosemary asked the Environmental Commission members if they would be willing to provide her with articles, which could also be seasonal, related to the environment that she could use in official City news releases and newsletters. Commissioner Cavitaio is interested in providing articles to her and has his own ideas for topics but would like consensus from all Commission members for the articles submitted. He also asked the members to provide him with ideas and subjects for articles they might like to see. There was also discussion about the Tree Planting Initiative. The Morton Arboretum contacted Mr. Wilcox directly and provided him with information about the initiative. The City planted a Redbud Tree next to the Community Center near the bike path as part of the initiative. Members also discussed the benefits of diversifying tree planting, native tree planting, and the possibility of getting more involved with tree planting in West Chicago. The Tree City USA program was also discussed. The weed ordinance for West Chicago was also discussed, and the implications it may have on pollinators. 7. Adjournment At 7:42 P.M. Commissioner Zimmermann made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Cavitaio seconded the motion. Motion was unanimously approved by voice vote. Respectfully submitted, Tim Wilcox, Assistant Director of Public Works Environmental Commission Meeting May 19, 2021 Page 2 of 2 ===== PDF PAGE 4 ===== [Extraction: OCR (rendered-page OCR)] Draft 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 indicated 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 March 17, 2021 Page | of 3 ===== PDF PAGE 5 ===== [Extraction: OCR (rendered-page OCR)] 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 Environmental Commission Meeting March 17, 2021 Page 2 of 3 ===== PDF PAGE 6 ===== [Extraction: OCR (rendered-page OCR)] 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 Page 3 of 3