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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 11 17 Minutes  Minutes    Tuesday,  April  11,  2017    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,  Alvarez,  Hajek,  Keare,  Masterson,  and  Segel   present.     C. Approval  of  previous  meeting’s  minutes   March  2017  meeting  minutes  were  approved.     D. Communications     1. Sustainability  Honor  Roll   Mayor  Kaptain  presents  award  to  Advocate  Sherman  Hospital     E. Discussion  Items     1. Greenest  Region  Compact  2  Endorsement   Review  GRC2  and  decide  whether  or  not  to  move  an  endorsement  forward  to  City   Council   There’s  no  cost  to  participate.  The  Metropolitans  Mayors  Caucus  is  looking  for  an   endorsement.  It  can  be  considered  for  future  framing  of  Elgin’s  action  plan  changes.  The   bigger  the  geographic  area  we  can  connect  and  move  forward  in  the  right  direction,  the   stronger  and  more  networked  we  are.  We  can  learn  from  each  other  and  accomplish   goals  together.  It’s  another  networking  opportunity  similar  to  the  Fox  Valley  Sustainability   Network.  Commissioner  Aagesen  motioned  to  recommend  Council  adopt  the   endorsement  of  the  Greenest  Region  Compact  2.   2. Trip  to  Freedom  Field   Discuss  organizing  summer  trip  to  Freedom  Field  open  to  the  public   June  24  or  July  22  would  be  good  dates.  Commissioner  Masterson  will  check  with  Chet  to   confirm  a  date.  Liaison  will  check  on  cost  of  the  bus  rental/trip  and  report  to   Commissioner  Hajek.     F. Old  Business     1. Sustainability  Action  Plan  Update   Review  objectives  to  tackle  suggested  by  commissioners  and  narrow  down  list   Commission  will  work  in  pairs  to  research  some  topics  of  interest  as  they  relate  the  action   plan  and  objectives  not  yet  achieved  as  follows:     • Commissioners  Aagesen  and  Alvarez  –  multifamily  recycling   • Liaison  and  Commissioners  Keare  and  Segel  –  solar   • Commissioners  Hajek  and  Chairperson  Knoerr  –  gardens  in  front  yard/side  yard,   and  community  gardens   • Commissioners  Aagesen  and  Masterson  –  solar  for  schools   • Commissioners  Alvarez  and  Hajek  -­‐  analyze  city  code  and  what  needs  to  be   changed  as  well  as  look  at  potential  text  changes  to  ordinances.     Groups  will  send  over  research  to  Commissioner  Hajek  to  review  how  ideas  could  be   impacted  by  municipal  code.  Commissioner  Alvarez  can  be  a  resource  for  building  code.     2. Backyard  Chickens   Liaison  to  provide  overall  update  on  program  and  get  feedback  regarding  expansion   The  commission  requested  a  report  on  calls/complaints  to  see  if  there’s  been  any  issues   with  the  program.  There  is  currently  a  waitlist  of  about  20  interested  residents,  and  if  no   issues  with  the  program,  it  should  be  expanded.  Ten  additional  licenses  were  added  last   year,  and  the  group  should  evaluate  how  many  additional  could  be  added  to  the   ordinance,  or  if  a  limit  is  necessary.   3. Rain  Barrel  Sales   Update  on  Rain  Barrels  sold  and  commitment  for  subsidies,  set  up  potential  pickup  event   Liaison  provided  update  to  number  of  rain  barrels  sold.  A  pickup  event  around  Earth  Day   would  be  ideal  for  2018.  Liaison  will  look  in  to  options  to  host  presentations  for   Conservation@Home  and  Conservation@Work.     G. Commissioner  comments/announcements   1. MetroFarms  Tour  on  Tuesday,  April  18   2. GreenTown  Conference  on  Thursday,  April  27   3. Earth  Day  Celebration  –  determine  who  will  help  with  set  up  and  who  will  attend  and   cover  Sustainability  Commission  table     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.