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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.09.16 Minutes  Minutes    Tuesday,  August  9,  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  Aagesen,  Frazier,  Hajek,  Hernandez,  Masterson,  and   Segel  are  present.     Commission  passed  a  motion  to  alter  agenda,  and  allow  JoAnn  Armenta,  president  of  Shared   Harvest  Foundation,  to  introduce  herself  and  share  some  quick  information.  She  mentioned  how   Elgin  was  deemed  the  most  obese  city  in  Illinois.  She  suggested  that  having  a  grocery  store  in   walking  distance  from  neighborhoods  and  in  the  downtown  area  could  be  very  beneficial  to  the   area,  and  to  help  curb  this  statistic.  The  store  would  be  open  to  all,  not  just  members.  She  is   looking  to  form  partnerships  with  the  Sustainability  Commission  and  other  community  groups   that  have  the  same  vision.  She  wishes  to  retrofit  a  van  or  bus  into  a  mobile  food  truck  that  sells   subsidized  produce  to  neighborhoods.  The  foundation  just  became  a  501c3  non-­‐profit,  with  a   focus  on  education.  JoAnn  left  contact  information  with  the  group.     C. Approval  of  previous  meeting’s  minutes   July  2016  minutes  were  approved.     D. Discussion  Items     1. SunPeak  Solar  will  present  it’s  solar  feasibility  study  for  select  city  owned  buildings   Matt  Bellehumeur,  Sales  Director  for  SunPeak  Solar,  discussed  that  they  are  interested  in   putting  together  a  Power  Purchase  Agreement  (PPA),  which  allows  a  non-­‐profit  to  take   advantage  of  tax  incentives  when  getting  solar,  without  paying  money  upfront  for   installation  and  equipment.  The  company  is  interested  in  setting  up  a  PPA  with  the  City  of   Elgin,  to  provide  solar  on  some  city  owned  facilities.  Through  discussion  with  the  liaison,   the  group  is  looking  at  the  feasibility  of  installing  solar  the  Riverside  Water  Treatment   Plant,  at  375  W.  River  Road  in  Elgin.  The  idea  is  to  purchase  the  power  at  a  fixed  cost  for   20  years.  Saving  could  be  nearly  $16,000  in  year  one  with  the  locked  rate  at  .071  versus   the  current  .084.  This  would  cover  15%  of  all  the  energy  at  the  site.  Over  the  entire  20   years,  the  site  could  acquire  about  $650,000  in  energy  savings,  plus  the  environmental   benefits  that  come  with  it.  Tax  equity  investors  put  up  the  lump  sum,  and  get  their   payback  within  6  years.  Investment  groups  provide  the  maintenance,  monitor,  and  insure   the  equipment.  As  they  own  it,  they  basically  would  be  selling  us  the  energy.  We  get   immediate  and  stable  energy  costs.  PPA  can  be  set  up  with  different  rates.  Some  numbers   are  variables.  Commissioner  Frazier  mentioned  concern  over  the  security  risk  of  having   people  out  at  a  facility  that  could  impact  resident’s  safety,  like  a  water  treatment  facility.   The  commission  passed  a  motion  to  have  liaison  get  input  from  Water  Director  Kyla   Jacobsen  on  issues  such  as  water  safety,  and  how  it  aligns  with  critical  responder   responsibilities  she  has  at  a  facility  of  that  magnitude,  or  if  she  has  other  suggestions  of   locations  that  would  be  successful,  such  as  the  ERC  or  the  Slade  Water  Treatment  Plant.     2. Mighty  Acorns  budget  2016-­‐2017  School  Year   The  Commission  passed  a  motion  to  support  the  proposed  budget  and  fund  it  the  same  as   last  year.  The  commission  requested  the  Mighty  Acorns  provide  a  presentation  and  year-­‐ end  report.     E. Old  Business   1. Partners  for  Places  grant  proposal  &  Community  Gardens   Continued  discussion  on  community  gardens  projects  in  Elgin  &  meeting  grant   requirements.     John  Bordsen,  Bob  Bedard  and  Mary  Roberti  were  all  present  from  the  Elgin  Community   Garden  Network.  In  addition,  residents  Paige  Fitton  and  June  Franz  were  present.  The   group  discussed  the  timeline  for  the  Partners  for  Places  grant.  The  Request  For  Proposal   (RFP)  goes  out  in  December,  with  a  due  date  in  January.  Grants  would  then  be  awarded  in   April  or  May.  It  would  be  wise  to  apply  for  the  2-­‐year  grant,  given  we  could  not  receive  the   money  until  the  beginning  of  a  gardening  season,  and  it’d  be  difficult  to  put  all  the  funding   to  use  in  one  year.  The  intent  over  the  last  month  was  to  approach  the  groups  at  the  five   potential  sites  and  confirm  interest,  prior  to  performing  a  cost  analysis.  Bob  and  his  team   visited  all  the  sites,  and  found  they  are  all  ADA  compliant.  The  following  describes  each   site:   • Kiwanis  Park-­‐  This  park  is  owned  by  the  City  and  there  is  parking,  which  is  helpful.   There  is,  however,  no  water  source.  Bob  talked  to  Kyla  and  there  is  a  water  main   close,  and  it  would  cost  about  $5,000  to  bring  a  feeder  line  off  of  it.  This  park  could   have  a  tiered  garden,  so  the  perimeter  would  still  ADA  compliant.  A  solar  panel   could  run  a  timer  for  a  water  box.  This  is  good  site  for  the  grant  as  we  are  using   different  areas  of  sustainability.  It’s  also  right  next  to  Section  A  housing.  This  would   be  a  highly  visible  project,  as  it’s  located  near  Villa  and  National.  We  could  put   native  plants  along  the  back  retaining  wall  improve  aesthetics.  Interpretive  signs   would  be  added  for  education  as  well.     • ERC-­‐  This  site  will  be  undergoing  a  new  park  renovation  soon.  Raised  boxes  and   then  a  teaching  area  off  the  walkway  would  be  appropriate.  There  would  be  a   canopy  over  the  teaching  area.  They  could  make  the  food  available  to  the  members   that  come.     • AID-­‐  AID  was  not  interested  in  anything  being  built  on  their  Bowes  property,  but   they  have  13  acres  adjacent  to  the  DMV  on  Route  31.  North  of  the  house  on  the   property,  there  is  a  lot  of  land  that  ties  into  the  sidewalks.  The  group  has  an   unfunded  mandate  to  go  out  and  show  they  are  engaged  with  the  community.   With  the  state’s  budget  impasse,  they  haven’t  been  able  to  accomplish  as  much.   They  were  thrilled  about  the  proposal.  They  want  a  teaching  area  in  the  middle,   and  possibly  some  benches.  The  rest  would  be  built  out  around  it.  This  entire   project  would  be  handicapped  accessible,  with  all  raised  beds.  There’s  no  limit  to   the  size  of  this  garden  area  and  it  could  produce  an  enormous  amount  of  food.  This   site  hits  a  lot  of  the  criteria  for  the  grant.  AID  assists  18-­‐90-­‐year-­‐olds.     • Food  for  Greater  Elgin-­‐  The  ECGN  group  is  looking  to  visit  Garfield  Conservatory  in   Chicago,  to  help  get  ideas  for  this  location.  Norm  and  Michelle  would  be  working   on  this.  They  also  want  a  center  area  for  teaching.  The  people  that  use  their  facility   would  have  access  to  the  garden.  Master  Gardeners  from  the  Extension  Office  can   teach  classes  at  this  site.  Each  section  of  this  would  involve  urban  farming.  They   would  love  fruit  trees  on  this  site,  too.   • Print  Pack-­‐  Since  this  is  considered  a  hazardous  materials  site,  no  volunteers  or   teaching  would  be  available.  The  company  would  build  everything,  maintain  and   water  it.  They  would  let  Food  for  Greater  Elgin  come  in  weekly  and  collect  anything   that’s  harvested.  They  would  need  a  landscape  architect  draw  up  plans,  and  that’s   basically  all  the  work  needed  on  our  end.     In  regards  to  the  grant  score  sheet,  the  second  bullet  point  gives  points  if  the  project  is  a   multi-­‐issue  plan  endorsed  by  mayor  or  city  manger.  It’s  important  to  incorporate  parts  of   the  Sustainability  Action  Plan  in  writing  the  grant  proposal.       Mary  noted  that  typically  when  we  talk  about  gardens,  we  are  talking  about  a  season.  This   project  plan  doesn’t  provide  for  any  type  of  harvest  in  the  winter  months.  More  work  is   being  done  with  hydroponic  growing,  to  provide  fresh  vegetables  year-­‐round.  She  hopes   to  visit  places  doing  this  in  Aurora  and  see  what  options  there  might  be  for  Elgin.  John  is   working  on  the  infrastructure  plans.       Resident  June  Franz  was  also  present.  She  introduced  herself  and  described  her  passion   for  helping  feed  people.  She  suggested  getting  homeless  people  involved  in  this  project   would  help  to  give  them  a  sense  of  purpose  and  encourage  healthy  eating.  She  wants  to   get  involved  and  eventually  get  her  own  plot  of  land  to  help  feed  the  homeless.       Next  steps:  The  group  needs  to  find  a  grant  writer  to  collaborate  with  other  organization   grant  writers.  Liaison  will  contact  Grand  Victoria  Foundation.  Liaison  will  continue  efforts   to  get  a  USDN  membership,  have  liaison  send  out  STAR  Community  information.     2. ComEd’s  proposed  demand  charges  policy  discussion   Liaison  will  update  commission  on  letter     3. Sustainability  Honor  Roll   Review  nominations  and  vote  for  October  awardee     F. Commissioner  comments/announcements   Liaison  will  provide  an  update  on  rain  barrel  sales   As  of  August  4,  33  subsidized  rain  barrels  have  been  sold  through  the  program,  marking  one-­‐third   of  the  commission’s  100  subsidized  rain  barrel  goal.   Commissioner  Masterson  will  announce  2016  Northern  Illinois  Renewable  Energy  Summit   Liaison  reminded  that  the  commission  has  two  free  entries  this  year,  as  a  refund  was  not   available  last  year  for  the  two  spots  we  had  purchased.  Gary  plans  to  drive  and  has  room  for   others  wishing  to  carpool.  Liaison  will  provide  another  reminder  of  this  event  at  the  September   meeting.     Commission  Frazier  announced  a  Bring  Your  Own  Bag  campaign  put  on  by  other  groups.  This  is   something  the  commission  can  help  promote  year-­‐round.       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.