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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.18.15 Minutes  Agenda    Tuesday,  August  18,  2015    6  PM   Robert  Gilliam  Municipal  Complex,  City  Hall   Second  Floor  South  Conference  Room   150  Dexter  Ct.,  Elgin,  IL  60120     A. Call  to  order  (chairperson)     B. Roll  Call  (staff  liaison)   Chairman  Knoerr  &  Commissioners  Aageson,  Frazier,  Hernandez,  Jacobs,  Masterson  and  Segel  present.       C. Approval  of  previous  meeting’s  minutes   Commissioner  Frazier  made  a  motion  and  July  meeting  minutes  were  approved.       D. Communications   1. Welcome  new  commissioners  &  recognize  new  chairperson   Liaison  introduced  the  newly  appointed  Commissioner  Aageson  and  recognized  the  Chairperson   Knoerr  to  her  newly  appointed  position.  Liaison  explained  that  Commissioner  Keare  was  also   appointed,  but  was  unable  to  attend  due  to  conflicts  with  the  August  meeting  date  that  was   rescheduled  by  liaison.  We  would  recognize  and  welcome  her  at  the  September  meeting.       E. Discussion  Items   1. Neighborhood  Improvement  Grant   Carl  Missele  will  present  an  application  for  the  Neighborhood  Improvement  Grant  to  fund  two   free  little  libraries  in  the  North  Country  Knolls  Neighborhood.   Carl  Missele,  Secretary  of  the  North  Country  Knolls  Property  Owners  Association  presented  the   plans  to  build  two  little  libraries  in  the  neighborhood.  Neighbors  normally  not  involved  in   neighborhood  activities  presented  the  idea  to  the  association.  Little  free  libraries  are  weatherproof   boxes  used  to  store  books  that  can  be  removed  and  replaced  by  neighborhood  residents.  The   neighborhood  is  rather  large,  with  borders  of  Larkin  Avenue,  Randall  Road,  Highland  Avenue  and   McLean  Boulevard.  For  this  reason,  they  would  like  two  libraries.  One  library  would  be  off  of  a   walking  path  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  other  at  1835  Lin  Lor  Lane,  on  the  corner  of  Lin  Lor  and   Lyle.  While  you  can  buy  purchase  a  basic  pre-­‐constructed  Little  Free  Library  model  for  under  $200,   they  can  build  two  for  roughly  $300,  or  $150  each.  One  neighborhood  resident,  Doug  Schroyer,  has   agreed  to  build  them  and  donate  some  of  his  services  and  materials.  The  grant  amount  requested   is  $150.  Added  to  the  proposal  was  a  $35  fee  for  registration  with  the  Free  Little  Library  website,   which  will  be  paid  for  by  the  neighborhood  group. When  Carl  left  the  meeting,  the  commission   scored  the  grant  application  as  follows 2. Baxter  &  Woodman  Stormwater  Management  Presentation  &  Discussion     Baxter  &  Woodman  consultant,  Joel  Krausse,  will  join  us  to  discuss  ways  his  company  can  help   the  commission  continue  to  implement  the  Sustainability  Action  Plan.   Joel  explained  that  they  are  contracted  through  the  city  of  Elgin  to  help  with  stormwater   management  and  we  can  utilize  their  services  for  projects.  Their  current  contract  ends  in   October/November,  and  they  are  looking  for  ideas  to  present  to  city  council.  The  six  components   of  the  City’s  stormwater  management  program  include  Public  Education  and  Outreach,  Public   Involvement  and  Participation,  Illicit  Discharge  Detection  and  Elimination,  Construction  Site   Stormwater  Runoff  Control,  Post-­‐Construction  Stormwater  Management,  and  Municipal  Pollution   Prevention.  They’ve  already  helped  previously  with  developing  educational  water  bill  inserts,   flyers,  articles  for  City  newsletters,  coordinating  stream  cleanups  and  more.  He  mentioned  several   objectives  in  the  Sustainability  Master  Plan  that  could  be  addressed.  Perhaps  it  would  be  worth   creating  content  for  the  city’s  website  and  Neighbor  Newsletter,  as  well  as  organize  elementary   school  stream  cleanups.  Baxter  &  Woodman  could  educate  and  provide  programs  at  the  library   and  look  into  storm  drain  stenciling.  They  are  also  able  to  assist  developing  supplemental  language   for  ordinances  and  subdivision  standards  in  Elgin.  The  commission  wishes  to  follow  up  with  Joel   Krause  by  September  with  ways  to  collaborate  on  projects  relative  to  the  commission’s   Sustainability  Action  Plan  in  the  areas  of  community  outreach,  education  and  economic   development.   3. Plastic  Bag  Ordinance   Explore  creating  an  ordinance  prohibiting  plastic  bags  in  Elgin  as  Chicago  has  done   Neighborhood  Improvement  Grant  Scoring  Sheet   Project:  Little  Free  Libraries  for  the  North  Country  Knolls  Neighborhood   Date:  8/18/15   1.Municipal  Compatibility   a.Project  integrates  with  the  City’s  Sustainable  Master  Plan  and  is  consistent  with  City  policy   and  ordinances  (0  to  10  points)  7   b.Project  or  activities  require  minimal  maintenance  and  staff  time  (0  to  10  points)    10   2.Community  Benefit   a.Project  proposes  a  creative  approach  to  a  neighborhood  need  or  enhancement  that  helps   meet  the  SMP  goals  (0  to  15  points)    12   b.Project  activities  address  a  highly  recognized  need  within  the  neighborhood  (0  to  15   points)  12   3.Participation   a.Project  includes  opportunities  to  involve  neighbors  in  shaping  and  carrying  out  the  project   (0  to  10  points)  10   b.The  project  promotes  opportunities  to  form  partnerships  with  other  groups  or   organizations  to  complete  joint  projects  or  activities  (0  to  10  points)  8   4.Project  Feasibility   a.The  proposal  demonstrates  excellence  in  design,  planning,  and  execution  of  the  proposed   project  or  activity  (0  to  10  points)  10   b.Budget  reliably  represents  the  projects  expenses  and  revenue  (0  to  10  points)  10   c.The  proposed  project  meets  all  grant  guidelines  and  provides  detailed  matching   contribution  by  identifying  specific  dollar  matching  amounts  and  specific  volunteer   scheduling  as  opposed  to  generalized  representations  of  matching  dollar  amounts  or   volunteer  support  (0  to  10  points)  10   Total:  89/100   Comments:  The  commission  requested  that  the  liaison  report  back  the  remaining  funds  for  Neighborhood   Improvement  Grants.     Commissioner  Jacobs  stated  that  he  brought  this  item  to  the  agenda  as  a  Plastic  Bag  ban  ordinance   was  recently  adopted  in  the  City  of  Chicago.  The  commission  discussed  how  targeting  big  box   retailers  is  seemingly  a  tax  on  larger  businesses,  which  doesn’t  really  address  the  concern.  With   Elgin  being  a  “mom  and  pop  store”  community,  versus  a  big  box  commerce  area,  working  with  the   smaller  area  businesses  to  change  out  plastic  for  recyclable  or  reusable  bags  may  be  the  better   way  to  encourage  environmentally-­‐friendly  commercial  behavior.  Commissioner  Aageson   suggested  educating  businesses  about  the  benefits  and  supplying  them  with  bags  that  recognize   the  commission  to  bring  regional  awareness.  The  commission  discussed  that  there  are  many   arguments  for  and  against  such  an  ordinance,  and  that  it  requires  further  research  and  exploration.   Commissioner  Jacobs  said  he  would  check  with  the  local  Meijer  and  Menards  managers  to  find   their  input  from  corporate  offices  regarding  how  the  ordinance  has  effected  their  business  and   customers.       F. Old  Business   1. Mighty  Acorns  contract  renewal   Consider  funding  a  sixth  classroom  for  the  Mighty  Acorns  programs  in  the  2015-­‐2016  school  year   The  Mighty  Acorns  reviewed  budget  related  to  the  addition  of  a  sixth  classroom  for  the  2015-­‐2016   school  year,  to  the  already  agreed  upon  five-­‐classroom  model.  Liaison  explained  that  the  sixth   classroom  would  cost  nearly  double  the  price  per  classroom  of  a  single  room  of  the  agreed  upon   five,  as  an  extra  instructor  would  be  needed  from  the  Conservation  Foundation  due  to  time   restraints  of  the  City’s  part-­‐time  naturalist.  Liaison  explained  that  Parks  and  Recreation  would  be   willing  to  fund  the  additional  classroom  if  the  commission  could  not  commit  the  funds,  as  they   support  the  expanded  program.  The  commission  agreed  to  split  the  cost  of  the  sixth  classroom   with  the  City  of  Elgin’s  Parks  and  Recreation  department.    The  total  cost  for  six  classrooms  is  $4663   less  $3350,  the  price  of  the  five  classrooms  agreed  upon  in  July,  is  $1313.    That  means  the  sixth   classroom  alone  costs  $1313,  split  in  half  is  $656.50.  The  Parks  and  Recreation  department  will   fund  $656.50  and  the  Sustainability  Commission  will  fund  $4006.50  to  pay  for  six  Mighty  Acorns   2015-­‐2016  school  year  classrooms,  budgeted  at  $4663.   2. Freedom  Field  trip    Decide  on  date  &  outreach  efforts   Commissioner  Masterson  suggested  the  trip  be  extended  an  extra  hour  to  allow  for  additional  tour   time.  This  would  make  the  entire  trip  about  3  ½  hours.  He  asked  the  liaison  follow  up  with  whether   this  would  affect  the  ability  or  price  of  renting  a  bus  for  the  field  trip.  The  bus  would  pick  up  and   drop  off  from  the  Centre.  Those  without  bus  seats  would  be  encouraged  to  carpool.  The   commission  discussed  the  two  date  options,  October  3  and  September  26.  The  commission  agreed   upon  Saturday,  September  26.  To  open  up  the  option  to  more  community  members  and  students,  it   may  be  wise  to  schedule  two  field  trips  each  year,  one  in  the  spring  and  one  in  the  fall.  Freedom   Field  can  accommodate  around  100  people  on  tours.  Gary  provided  a  list  of  known  interested   parties  to  distribute  trip  information  to,  and  the  commission  agreed  to  promote  the  event  via  social   media,  word  of  mouth,  and  email  as  well.       3. Sustainability  Honor  Roll   Cast  votes  for  October  Sustainability  Honor  Roll  Award   Commissioners  voted  on  their  most  preferred  to  least  preferred  awardee  for  the  October  2015   Sustainability  Honor  Roll.  Liaison  explained  that  those  commissioners  absent  or  new  could  still  vote   and  email  votes  to  her  prior  to  the  next  meeting.  Five  available  votes,  of  eight  total,  were  counted,   and  MultiFilm  leading  with  points.  Once  the  other  three  votes  are  sent  to  the  liaison,  she  will  email   results,  notify  the  Mayor,  and  order  the  award  from  Anderson’s.     G. Commissioner  comments/announcements   1. Commission  survey  status  update  from  Liaison   The  liaison  updated  commission  that  the  commission  survey  is  still  being  written.       H. Adjourn      The  City  of  Elgin  is  subject  to  the  requirements  of  the  Americans  with  Disabilities  Act  (ADA)  of  1990.  Individuals  with  disabilities  who  plan  to  attend   this  meeting  and  who  require  certain  accommodations  in  order  to  allow  them  to  observe  and/or  participate  in  this  meeting,  or  who  have  questions   regarding  the  accessibility  of  the  meeting  or  the  facilities,  are  requested  to  contact  ADA  coordinator,  at  (847)  931-­‐6076,  or  TTY/TDD  (847)  931-­‐5616   promptly  to  allow  the  City  of  Elgin  to  make  reasonable  accommodations  for  those  persons.