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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.12.16 Minutes  Minutes    Tuesday,  July  12,  2016    6:15  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)   Chairperson  Knoerr  and  Commissioners  Frazier,  Hajek,  Hernandez,  Keare,  Masterson  and  Segel   present.     C. Approval  of  previous  meeting’s  minutes   June  minutes  were  approved.     D. Discussion  Items   No  new  discussion  items.     E. Old  Business   1. Partners  for  Places  grant  proposal   Continued  discussion  on  project  idea,  requirements,  and  timeline.     The  commission  will  combine  this  discussion  item  with  the  Old  Business  Item  2:  Community   Gardens.   2. Community  Gardens   Continued  discussion  on  ideas  &  logistics  into  expanding  options  in  Elgin.   Community  members  present  to  join  conversation  include  Bob  and  Anne  Bedard  of  the   Elgin  Community  Garden  Network  (ECGN)  Board,  Pat  Hirsh  of  Advocate  Sherman  Hospital   and  the  Master  Gardeners  Kane  County  Extension  Office,  John  Bordsen  Chair  of  ECGN   Board.  In  addition,  resident  and  U-­‐46  teacher,  Paige  Fitton  was  in  attendance.  Mr.  Bedard   inquired  if  Elgin  was  a  registered  Sustainability  Community  with  USDN.  He  stated  there  are   142  in  the  U.S.  and  it  seems  to  be  a  favorable  standing  for  grant  recipients.  He  also   mentioned  the  Partners  for  Places  grant  website  suggests  it  be  presented  that  our  gardens   target  diversity  and  help  with  economic  hardship.  Community  gardens  could  also  address   childhood  obesity.  Water  source,  soil  remediation,  and  management  are  the  main  issues  to   look  at  with  each  plot  of  land  considered.  Mr.  Bedard  and  his  colleagues  have  identified  4-­‐5   sites  that  target  the  parameters  of  this  grant.  The  programs  Advocate  Sherman  has   available  could  help  make  this  project  very  successful.  Collaboration  amongst  different   entities  in  the  community  is  key.  The  group  has  identified  already  that  the  project  would   involve  neighborhoods,  the  city,  hospital(s),  the  extension  office,  and  community  networks.   There’s  a  one-­‐year  grant  of  which  provides  $35,000-­‐70,000  of  funding,  or  a  two-­‐year  grant   of  $50,000-­‐100,000,  where  the  timeframe  refers  to  when  all  funds  must  be  spent.  Mr.   Bordsen  said  that  ECGN  has  received  many  inquiries  from  people  and  groups  in  the   community  so  there  is  definitely  interest.  In  addition,  education  is  a  large  part  of  the   ECGN’s  mission.  Commissioner  Segel  suggested  we  develop  a  working  group  to  develop  the   plan  and  proposal.    The  sites  ECGN  has  in  mind  include  (1)  the  vacant  lot  near  Food  for   Greater  Elgin,  (2)  AID  Elgin  land,  (3)  Kiwanis  Club  of  Elgin,  and  the  Eastside  Recreation   Center  (ERC).  Another  site  option  is  Printpack  Illinois  Inc.,  located  near  McLean  Blvd.  and   Big  Timber  Rd.  In  recent  years,  ECGN  purchased  power  tools  for  Abbott  school  students  to   build  garden  boxes.  It’s  possible  that  they  would  be  interested  in  doing  this  again  since  they   no  longer  have  shop  class.  This  collaboration  could  be  incorporated  into  the  grant,  teaching   students  skills,  which  they  may  not  otherwise  receive,  as  the  class  was  removed  with   budget  cuts  in  recent  years.  The  group  noted  that  Presence  St.  Joseph  Hospital  is  starting   gardens  this  year,  with  41  beds.  Adovcate  Sherman  has  ongoing  classes  that  are  free,  and   the  community  can  attend  them  to  learn  about  gardening.  The  extension  office  is  very  open   to  growing  new  projects,  especially  when  it  comes  to  neighborhoods  in  need.     The  major  costs  for  such  a  project  will  come  from  the  building  supplies  for  the  boxes,  any   remediation  to  the  ground,  and  administrative  costs  (website,  design  work,  signs,   education).  The  group  noted  a  few  other  considerations.  It  may  be  worthwhile  to  have  a   couple  rain  barrels  at  the  ERC.  At  the  Sherman  gardens,  some  garden  boxes  are  made  of   wood,  and  others  are  from  composite.  These  two  options  should  be  considered.  The  group   must  also  consider  other  enhancements  and  features  like  benches,  picnic  tables,  butterfly   gardens,  native  plants,  storage  (shed  or  box),  fence,  compost  bins,  signage,  and   interpretive  signs.  A  plan  must  be  developed  to  move  forward  with  this  project  idea.  One   nice  part  of  the  sites  selected  is  that  they  cover  all  areas  of  Elgin.     Liaison  will  look  into  the  USDN  certification.  The  entire  group  will  go  through  grant   information  in  detail  and  visit  sites  recommended.  At  the  August  2016  commission   meeting,  the  group  can  begin  building  out  the  costs.  In  addition,  the  group  will  look  at  the   criteria  matrix  and  map  out  how  to  meet  each  requirement  at  the  September  meeting.   Liaison  will  email  meeting  minutes  to  ECGN  members  in  addition  to  commission.       3. ComEd’s  proposed  demand  charges  policy  discussion   Discuss  additional  information  on  SB1585  and  potential  for  drafting  a  letter  stating  the   commission’s  position  on  the  issue.     Commissioner  will  discuss  letter  and  position  with  legal.  If  permitted,  she  will  mail  to  Illinois   Senators  Noland,    Oberweis,  McConnaughay,  and  Syverson.       4. Sustainability  Honor  Roll   Review  any  new  nominations.  Discuss  advertising  nominations.  Commission  to  vote  for   next  awardee  at  the  August  meeting.   Chairperson  Knoerr  will  submit  a  nomination  via  the  online  form  at   cityofelgin.org/greenaward.  Liaison  will  post  to  social  media  that  nominations  are   encouraged  by  the  public.     F. Commissioner  comments/announcements   Liaison  will  provide  an  update  on  rain  barrel  sales   Liaison  updated  the  commission  that  15  rain  barrels  have  been  purchased  through  the  program.   The  commission  passed  a  motion  to  purchase  a  rain  barrel  to  keep  on  hand  for   educational/demonstration  purposes.       G. 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.