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MINUTES
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
February 16, 2022, 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, Joe
Cavataio, Anna Leuer, Ethan Young, and Kris Zimmermann present via Zoom internet connection.
Commissioners Bethany Brown and Bob Blaus were absent.
Staff present included Assistant Director of Public Works, Tim Wilcox via Zoom internet connection.
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 January 19, 2022. Commissioner Zimmermann
made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Cavataio to approve the meeting minutes of
January 19, 2022.
Voting Yea: Commissioner Beebe, Cavataio, Leuer, Young, 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
Blooming Fest
The event is on the schedule for May 21, 2022. Chairman Beebe asked the group for their thoughts on
having a booth at the event this year and said he will discuss again at the next meeting. He asked Mr.
Wilcox to contact Groot about providing handouts. Previously they provided magnetic chip clips and
reusable shopping bags.
Environmental Commission Meeting
February 16, 2022
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Adopt A Highway
Currently there are only two Groups active within this program, the Environmental Commission and Ball
Horticultural Company. Increasing involvement from other groups was discussed.
B. Discuss new additions to priority list
None.
6. Other Business
Chairman Beebe introduced Commissioner Ethan Young as the newest member to the Environmental
Commission. Commissioner Young thanked the Commissioners as well as the citizens of West Chicago
for allowing him to be part of the Environmental Commission. Commissioner Young provided a brief
summary of his background and interests. Chairman Beebe and the other Commissioners introduced
themselves and provided summaries of their backgrounds and interests.
Chairman Beebe provided a brief history of the Environmental Commission, and his involvement as
President of the Garden Club. The Environmental Commission is an advisory commission to City Council
and the other Committees, though in recent years there have been no requests made for review or for
advisement. Members continue to meet discussing and sharing environmental topics important to each of
them. The group is also involved with Adopt a Highway, collecting litter from their section of North
Avenue at least twice a year, the Annual Paper Shredding Event (usually on the first Saturday in June),
Rain Barrel Sale and Resident Pickup Event. The Commission co-sponsors pumpkin composting (with
the United Methodist Church), organizes annual holiday light recycling, and participates in Blooming
Fest in West Chicago.
Chairman Beebe indicated he has been in email contact with Daniel Peck, the new Marketing &
Communications Coordinator for West Chicago, and said Dan is interested in continuing to seek input
from the Environmental Commission for future articles, which Ms. Mackey had started to do last year
before retiring. Commissioner Zimmerman created a Google Doc called Environmental Stewardship Page
Ideas, for members to access and share ideas for articles. She said she sent the Google Doc link to
Commissions Leuer and Young.
Commissioner Leuer explained her involvement with the Mighty Acorns program provided to her
students by the Conservation Foundation. She would like to promote the current project they are working
on and possibly submit drawings and responses made by the children to the City for consideration to
place in a newsletter, or on the website. Chairman Beebe advised she could contact Dan Peck directly to
ask if was something the City would be interested in putting in an article.
Commissioner Leuer also asked about plans for the City Water Tower and if there was a process to
submit graphic design ideas to consider when its’ repainted. The other Commissioners had no knowledge
of such. Chairman Beebe explained the tremendous cost involved to paint a water tower.
The proposed Pulte subdivision to be located south of Smith Road and West of Klein Road was
discussed. Commissioner Cavataio was at the meeting regarding the proposed subdivision hosted by Pulte
and expressed his views on the subject. The discussion lead to the possible impact of storm water runoff
from the subdivision and how it could affect the Forest Preserve property east of Klein Road.
Environmental Commission Meeting
February 16, 2022
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is Adjournment
At 7:45 P.M., Commissioner Zimmermann made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Leuer seconded the
motion. Motion was unanimously approved by voice vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Tim Wilcox, Assistant Director of Public Works
Environmental Commission Meeting
February 16, 2022
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MINUTES
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
March 16, 2022, 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, Bob
Blaus, Bethany Brown, and Ethan Young present. Commissioners Joe Cavataio, Anna Leuer, and Kris
Zimmermann were absent.
Staff present included Assistant Director of Public Works, Tim Wilcox.
2. Approval of Minutes.
A. Environmental Commission Minutes of January 19, 2022
Meeting minutes of January 19, 2022 were tabled.
3. Public Participation/Presentations.
None
4, Items For Consent
None
S3 Review and discuss Commission Priority List.
A. Review current priority list
Blooming Fest
The event is on the schedule for May 21, 2022. Chairman Beebe reminded Mr. Wilcox to contact Groot
about providing items the Commissioners can give away to attendees at the event. Previously they
provided magnetic chip clips and reusable shopping bags. The time of the event is 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Volunteers should plan to arrive at 8:00 A.M. to help setup.
Adopt A Highway
The date and time for the Environmental Commission’s spring collection event was set for April 23,
2022, 8:00 A.M. - noon. Currently there are only two Groups active within this program, the
Environmental Commission and Ball Horticultural Company.
Commissioner Brown mentioned that Ball Horticultural Company would likely hold their spring
collection event on April 22, 2022.
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March 16, 2022
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Annual Paper Shredding Event
The event will be held on June 4, 2022 from 9:00 A.M. to noon. Chairman Beebe asked Mr. Wilcox to
contact officer Nielson to see if she and her Explorer group are available to assist with traffic control at
the event. There was additional discussion about the events held in previous years. Last year was the first
year holding it at the Metra Station parking lot. There was also discussion about having other collection
groups at the event and the need for those groups to provide certificates of insurance.
Rain Barrel Pickup Event
The link for rain barrel orders and pickup event has been added to the West Chicago webpage. There was
discussion about hosting a water conservation presentation provided by a member of the Conservation
Foundation. Commissioner Brown said Ball Horticultural Company could possibly host the event. Mr.
Wilcox was asked to inquire if the presentation could be made via Zoom as an option.
B. Discuss new additions to priority list
None.
6. Other Business
There was general discussion about the Environmental Commission’s involvement with getting some
changes/additions to the last residential waste and recycling contract between West Chicago and Groot.
The current contract expires in December 31, 2024.
There was also general discussion about LEED, brown fields, and the expected new development(s) in
West Chicago where the City currently owns property in and around the business district.
Chairman Beebe mentioned he would be sending a link to the members. The link is for an independent
service that collects compostable food items. He said the list of items they collect also extends to food
related paper products.
tk Adjournment
At 7:37 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 16, 2022
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