===== PDF PAGE 2 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] Draft MEETING MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION September 18, 2025, 5:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order Establish a Quorum a. Dave Shah, Staff Liaison, called the meeting to order at 5:12 P.M. b. Members in attendance included Chair Nazree Williams, Commissioner Bob Blaus, Commissioner Victoria Burris, and Commissioner Tyler Kesler. Co-Chair Tom Cherrington and Commissioner Allen Rodriguez were absent. c. Aldermanic liaison present included Alderman Christopher Swiatek. d. Staff liaison present included Assistant Director of Public Works, Dave Shah. 2. Approval of Minutes a. Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes of August 21, 2025 i. Williams made a motion, seconded by Burris, to approve the Meeting Minutes. 1. Voting Yea: Williams, Blaus, Burris, Kesler 2. Voting Nay: None 3. Public Participation/Presentations a. None 4. Items for Consent a. None 5. Review and Discuss the Commission Priority List a. Current List i. Sustainability Plan – Subcommittee Update 1. Single-Use Bag Fee Discussion: Burris shared some estimates of the number of stores in West Chicago that would be affected, plastic and paper bag costs, and potential revenue that could be gained by instituting a single-use bag fee. Some discussion followed regarding City staff’s email to the Commission concerning the implementation of a single-use bag fee, while the State may also implement one statewide eventually. Staff also noted that bandwidth to work on such a project would be extremely limited, and the City is additionally facing many budget cuts due to a $1.4 million budget deficit. Some suggestions for use of potential revenue from a single-use bag fee included investing in wind power, water/pond cleanups, energy audits, or supplementing public works programs such as tree planting. ii. Annual Report 1. November 20, 2025 – Present Draft Report at the Commission Meeting 2. December 15, 2025 – Present Annual Report to City Council Discussion: None. b. New Additions or Upcoming Events Page 1 of 2 ===== PDF PAGE 3 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] i. Fall Adopt-A-Highway Event – September 18, 2025, 5:00 PM 1. Location: Water Treatment Plant, 1400 W. Hawthorne Lane Discussion: None. ii. Pumpkin Composting Event – November 8, 2025, 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. 1. Location: New Hope United Methodist Church, 643 E Washington St, West Chicago, IL 60185 Discussion: Shah noted a typo on the original agenda, and the correct date of the event is November 8, 2025. It was also suggested that yard signage be made to advertise the Event in front of the church. Blaus also suggested distributing the business card-sized advertisements to kids along with their candy during trick-or-treating and providing local businesses with copies to give out as well. iii. Holiday Lights Recycling Event – November 28, 2025, to January 16, 2026 1. Locations: WC City Hall, WC Water Treatment Plant, WC Public Library District, New Hope United Methodist Church of WC, Murphy Ace Hardware, The ARC Center, Jewel Osco Discussion: None. 6. Other Business a. FY 2026 Budget Request Discussion: Shah noted the Commission’s budget request has been submitted. b. Cooking Oil Recycling Coordination with SCARCE Discussion: Shah suggested using flyers and social media to advertise the proposed cooking oil recycling locations when the time comes. Internal discussions with staff are ongoing to discuss the feasibility of the two proposed collection sites. c. Proposal for a Single-Use Plastics Education Campaign Discussion: Kesler believes that education and outreach regarding single-use plastics should be strategically aligned with single-use bag fee implementation. Discussion followed regarding the consultant proposal for education and outreach concerning single-use plastics. Shah noted that City staff believe much of what the proposal entails could be done in-house to save money. Kesler expressed strong support for the proposal. Williams did not find the proposal to necessarily support the Commission’s mission and doubted that staff would approve the proposal if they believed it could be done in-house. Some discussion followed. i. Kesler made a motion, seconded by Burris, to bring the proposal to City staff for approval. 1. Voting Yea: Burris, Kesler 2. Voting Nay: Williams, Blaus 7. Adjournment a. At 6:18 P.M., Blaus made a motion to adjourn, and Williams seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved by voice vote. Respectfully, Ashley Heidorn Public Works Administrative Assistant Page 2 of 2 ===== PDF PAGE 4 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] Pumpkin Composting DON'T TRASH YOUR PUMPKINS! COMPOST THEM! COMPOSTING RETURNS NUTRIENTS AND WATER BACK TO THE SOIL. PUMPKINS ARE NUTRIENT-RICH AND 90% WATER! THEY ARE GREAT FOR OUR SOIL, BUT BAD FOR OUR LANDFILLS. *REMOVE CANDLES AND DROP OFF YOUR PUMPKINS! DECORATIONS. NOVEMBER 8, 2025 NEW HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 643 EAST WASHINGTON STREET, WEST CHICAGO 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. CO-HOSTED BY THE WEST CHICAGO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ===== PDF PAGE 5 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] Compostaje de calabaza NO TIRES TUS CALABAZAS ¡COMPOSTARLAS! EL COMPOSTAJE DEVUELVE NUTRIENTES Y AGUA A LA TIERRA. ¡LAS CALABAZAS SON RICAS EN NUTRIENTES Y SON 90% AGUA! SON EXCELENTES PARA NUESTRO SUELO, PERO MALAS PARA LOS VERTEDEROS. *QUITA VELAS Y ¡DEJA TUS CALABAZAS! DECORACIONES 8 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2025 NEW HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 643 EAST WASHINGTON STREET, WEST CHICAGO 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. CO-PATROCINADA POR LA COMISION AMBIENTAL DE WEST CHICAGO ===== PDF PAGE 6 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] ♻ RECYCLE YOUR USED COOKING OIL! 🛢🛢 Protect Pipes. Save the Environment. Fuel the Future. 껠껡 DO YOU FRY, COOK, OR GRILL? Don't pour that oil down the drain! Used cooking oil can clog pipes, pollute waterways, and attract pests. But when recycled, it can be turned into biofuel, soaps, and more! 舊舉 WHY RECYCLE COOKING OIL? 脥� Prevent clogged pipes & sewer backups 脥� Keep our water clean 脥� Help create eco-friendly fuel 脥� Reduce landfill waste 脥� WHAT YOU CAN BRING: Used vegetable oil | Canola oil | Peanut oil | Corn oil | Olive oil **No bacon grease or animal fats, please.** 굗굙굘 DROP-OFF LOCATION 1: 굗굙굘 DROP-OFF LOCATION 2: West Chicago/Winfield Regional Well House 7/12 Wastewater Treatment Plant 627 W Hawthorne Ln 725 Dayton Avenue West Chicago, IL 60185 West Chicago, IL 60185 꽎꽏꽐꽇꽑 Hours: 24/7 Drop Off 꽎꽏꽐꽇꽑 Hours: 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM (PILOT SITE) 괜괝괞괟괠괡괢괧괣괤괥괦 Open: Monday-Friday \Closed.on.Major.Holidays ���� HOW TO PREPARE YOUR OIL FOR RECYCLING: 1. Let oil cool completely. 2. Pour into a clean, shatterproof, sealable container (e.g., milk jug) 3. Label the container. 4. Drop it off at our drop-off site! Questions? 궭궮 630-293-2255 (City of West Chicago) or 630-545-9710 (SCARCE) 舏 https://westchicago.org/ or https://www.scarce.org/ ===== PDF PAGE 7 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] ♻ ¡RECICLA TU ACEITE DE COCINA USADO! 🛢🛢 Protege las tuberías. Cuida el medio ambiente. Impulsa el futuro. 껠껡 ¿FRÍES, COCINAS O ASAS? ¡No tires ese aceite por el desagüe! El aceite de cocina usado puede obstruir las tuberías, contaminar el agua y atraer plagas. ¡Pero cuando se recicla, puede convertirse en biocombustible, jabones y mucho más! 舊舉 ¿POR QUÉ RECICLAR EL ACEITE DE COCINA? 脥� Evita obstrucciones y desbordes en el sistema de alcantarillado 脥� Mantén el agua limpia 脥� Ayuda a crear combustible ecológico 脥� Reduce los residuos en los vertederos 脥� QUÉ PUEDES TRAER: Aceite vegetal usado | Aceite de canola | Aceite de maní | Aceite de maíz | Aceite de oliva **Por favor, no traigas grasa de tocino ni grasas animales.** 굗굙굘 PUNTO DE ENTREGA 1: 굗굙굘 PUNTO DE ENTREGA 2: Planta Regional de Tratamiento Well House 7/12 de Aguas Residuales 627 W Hawthorne Ln 725 Dayton Avenue West Chicago, IL 60185 West Chicago, IL 60185 꽏꽐꽇꽑꽎 Hours: Entrega disponible 꽏꽐꽇꽑꽎 Horario: 7:00 a. m. – 3:30 p. m. las 24 horas, los 7 días de 괝괞괟괠괡괢괧괣괤괥괦괜 Días: Lunes a viernes la semana ....................\Cerrado.en.días.festivos. (SITIO PILOTO) .......................importantes ���� CÓMO PREPARAR TU ACEITE PARA RECICLAR: 1. Deja que el aceite se enfríe completamente. 2. Viértelo en un recipiente limpio, irrompible y con tapa (por ejemplo, una botella de leche). 3. Etiqueta el recipiente. 4. Déjalo en uno de nuestros puntos de entrega. ¿Preguntas? 궭궮 630-293-2255 (Ciudad de West Chicago) o 630-545-9710 (SCARCE) 舏 https://westchicago.org | https://www.scarce.org ===== PDF PAGE 8 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] COOKING OIL RECYCLING NO Household Chemicals, Animal Fat, Motor Oil, or Water Clear Shatterproof Containers Only Questions? Call 630-293-2255 ===== PDF PAGE 9 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] COCINANDO ACEITE RECICLAJE SIN productos químicos domésticos, grasa animal, aceite de motor ni agua. Solo contenedores transparentes e inastillables ¿Preguntas? Llame al 630-293-2255