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                              MINUTES

                    ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION

                                  October 20, 2021, 7:00 P.M.

1.      Call to Order, Roll Call, and Establishment of a Quorum.

Chairman Beebe called the meeting to order at 7:05 P.M. Roll call found Commissioners Dan Beebe,
Bethany Brown, and Kris Zimmermann present, Commissioners Bob Blaus, and Joe Cavataio were
absent.

Also present was West Chicago resident Liuan Huska; staff present included Assistant Director of Public
Works, Tim Wilcox.

2.     Approval of Minutes.

       A. Environmental Commission Minutes of September 15, 2021. Commissioner
        Zimmermann made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Brown to approve the
          meeting minutes of September 15, 2021.

Voting Yea: Commissioner Beebe, 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


Adopt a Highway

Commissioners Beebe, Brown, and Cavataio met on Saturday October 16 and completed cleanup of the
Environmental Commission’s North Avenue section of right-of-way; power walking, they completed
cleanup by 10:30 a.m. Better pickup sticks, and a bag opener device was discussed for improving cleanup
efforts.

Commissioner Beebe mentioned the possibility of organizing youth groups to do a whole town cleanup
similar to the leaf-raking program. Numerous groups are out there (churches, high school clubs, etc.), just
a question of how to get them together/recruit and commit for such an event.


Environmental Commission Meeting
October 20, 2021
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Ms. Huska said she would be interested in looking into organizing a group for adopt a highway.
Commissioner Brown will send her application information.

Pumpkin Recycling

The event will be held at the First United Methodist Church of West Chicago located at 643 E.
Washington Street on November 6, 2021, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The event is cosponsored by the West
Chicago Environmental Commission.

Holiday Light Recycling

Mr. Wilcox will contact Groot to arrange for recycling totes and Gaylord container for the event, which
will be held November 26, 2021 – January 21, 2022.

Priority List Items

Commissioners were asked to be prepared to discuss and prioritize current and past items at the
November 17, 2021 Environmental Commission meeting.


       B.     Discuss new additions to priority list

None.

6.     Other Business

Plastic bag ordinances designed to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags was a topic of discussion.
Commissioner Brown mentioned she saw signs announcing a five cent per bag fee for any bag provided
by stores while in Minneapolis. Commissioner Beebe said in Illinois only Chicago and Evanston have
similar ordinances. Hawaii is the first state to eliminate plastic shopping bags; retailers have to switch to
reusable bags or paper bags that are at least 40% recycled materials.

It was mentioned there is some reuse benefit to the free shopping bags as liners for small household
garbage containers. People also use them to clean up after their pets.

Commissioner Zimmermann created a Google Docs sheet as the start of an idea page for Environmental
Stewardship. She shared the link to the Commissioners. She welcomes input and edits.

Other topic discussed include, Groot Industries, Inc. composting bins, the City’s Comprehensive Plan, the
proposed Municipal Campus, and the brownfield where it would likely be located.


7.     Adjournment

At 8:10 P.M., Commissioner Zimmermann 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
October 20, 2021
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