===== PDF PAGE 1 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] WHERE HISTORY & PROGRESS MEET Approved (4-15-2026) MEETING MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION March 19, 2026, 6:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order Establish a Quorum a. Dave Shah, Staff Liaison, called the meeting to order at 6:03 P.M. b. Members in attendance included Chair Nazree Williams, Commissioner Bob Blaus, Commissioner Victoria Burris, Commissioner David Carlson, Commissioner Matt McClure, and Commissioner Allen Rodriguez. Commissioner Tyler Kesler arrived after roll call at 6:08. c. Aldermanic liaison present included Alderman Christopher Swiatek. d. Staff liaison present included Assistant Director of Public Works, Dave Shah. e. Also in attendance was Alderman Carlos Aviña Soto. 2. Approval of Minutes a. Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes of February 26, 2026 i. Rodriguez made a motion, seconded by Blaus, to approve the Meeting Minutes. 1. Voting Yea: Williams, Blaus, Burris, Carlson, McClure, and Rodriguez 2. Voting Nay: None. 3. Public Participation/Presentations a. Alderman Aviña Soto shared that Mayor Bovey asked him to attend the meeting to advise him on the status of the Commission’s list of the top five environmental impacts in West Chicago. Rodriguez advised that the Commission would present these five as part of their Annual Report to the City Council on April 20, 2026. 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: Williams noted there was no Subcommittee Update as they had not met since the last meeting. 2. Top Five Environmental Impacts in West Chicago Discussion: Williams opened the floor to discuss and clarify what the Mayor was looking for from the Commission. Carlson shared that he watched the City Council meeting where the Mayor discussed it and noted he was looking for “the five most impactful things”. Some discussions suggested adopting the City-Controlled Priorities & GRC2- Aligned Action Matrix as the Sustainability Plan. Commissioners 475 Main Street T 630.293.2200 Daniel Bovey MAYOR West Chicago, Illinois F 630.293.3028 60185 westchicago.org Viviana Ramirez CITY ADMINISTRATOR ===== PDF PAGE 2 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] agreed to read and review the Greenest Region Compact (GRC2) and come ready to discuss it at the April 15, 2026, meeting. ii. Annual Report 1. April 15, 2026 – Present Draft Report at the Commission Meeting 2. April 20, 2026 – Present Annual Report to City Council Discussion: The Commissioners agreed that a PowerPoint with photos highlighting their impacts on the City would be desirable to present to City Council on April 20, 2026. Presentation will be relabeled as Annual Highlights rather than Annual Report and presented to the Commission on April 15, 2026, for feedback prior to presenting to City Council. Williams requested guidance on how other Commissions have presented their Annual Reports so the Environmental Commission can follow suit. Shah agreed to confer with Commission liaisons about this. b. New Additions or Upcoming Events i. Earth Flag Training & Presentation by SCARCE – April 15, 2026, 10:00 A.M. 1. Location: Water Treatment Plant Discussion: Shah noted the training would occur on this date, followed by lunch and the Adopt-A-Highway Clean Up Event. ii. Earth Day & Arbor Day Proclamations – April 20, 2026, City Council Meeting Discussion: Shah noted these Proclamations would be presented at City Council along with the Commission’s Annual Highlights. iii. Spring Adopt-A-Highway Clean Up Event (Hawthorne Lane) – April 15, 2026, 11:30 A.M. 1. Meet Up Location: 1400 W. Hawthorne Lane Discussion: None. iv. Blooming Fest Event – May 16, 2026, 9:00 AM – 3:00 P.M. 1. Location: Downtown West Chicago 2. Bareroot packaging – May 15, 2026, 4:00 P.M., Water Treatment Plant Discussion: Shah reminded Commissioners that bareroot packaging would take place the day before Blooming Fest and on the day of the Environmental Commission meeting, May 15, 2026. v. Recycling Extravaganza & Rain Barrel Pick Up – June 6, 2026, 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. 1. Location: West Chicago Metra Station Parking Lot 2. Draft Event Flyer Discussion: Blaus shared an opportunity to include bicycle recycling at the Event; there was a consensus to add working bicycles to the list of acceptable items at the event. Shah will share the revised event flyer with Commissioners for final approval and begin distribution thereafter. 6. Other Business a. Shah shared that Jacobs, the firm that manages and operates the West Chicago/Winfield Wastewater Treatment Plant, offered to provide FOG (fats, oils, and greases) educational materials, pan scrapers, grease lids, and magnets to be distributed at Blooming Fest. Commissioners agreed to include this giveaway at Blooming Fest and requested 500 sets to distribute. b. Blaus wanted to formally recognize and thank Rodriguez for all his City-branded contributions and merchandise for the Commissioners. c. Carlson noted that the City has $1.85 million budgeted for Phase 0 of the Community Park, and he would like to attend the anticipated public meeting, which Alderman Aviña Soto believes will tentatively be held in late May. ===== PDF PAGE 3 ===== [Extraction: embedded PDF text] d. Carlson also shared that Rodriguez was recently appointed to the West Chicago Police Pension Fund Board and offered his congratulations. e. Kesler shared that Batavia Alderman Abby Beck reached out to him regarding an event that the Conservation Foundation hosts to allow neighboring Commissions to share activities, challenges, and accomplishments, which he attended on March 3, 2026. A key takeaway he noted was identifying and celebrating grassroots activities that people in the community may already be doing, such as residential pollinator gardens, that can receive recognition for their work (e.g. a yard sign celebrating their efforts). Given limited budgets for many Commissions, Kesler noticed a movement towards creativity and thinking outside the box. 7. Upcoming Commission Meetings a. April 15, 2026, 10:00 AM, Water Treatment Plant b. May 15, 2026, 4:00 PM, Water Treatment Plant 8. Adjournment a. At 7:39 P.M., Blaus made a motion to adjourn, and Rodriguez seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved by voice vote. Respectfully, Ashley Heidorn Public Works Administrative Assistant