[00:00:56]
>> [MUSIC] LET ME CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. I'M JOHN SARVER.
[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
THE CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR GREEN THEME FIRST.
[2. GREEN THEME PRESENTATION:The Capital Area Sustainability Partnership & Recycling Facility with Lori Welch, Sustainability Manager, City of Lansing]
WHO'S THE SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF LANSING.SHE'S GOING TO TALK TO US TONIGHT ABOUT THE CAPITAL AREA SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP AND THE NEW RECYCLING FACILITY IN THE LANSING AREA.
SO WITH THAT, LORI, LET ME GIVE YOU THE FLOOR.
>> GREAT. THANKS, JOHN. I'M GOING TO TRY AND SHARE MY SCREEN, SO LET'S SEE HOW THAT GOES.
I'M JUST GOING TO DIVE RIGHT IN.
AS JOHN SAID, I'M THE SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF LANSING AND I WAS ASKED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NEW MRF THAT'S COMING TO TOWN, THAT'S HERE, THAT'S SOON TO OPEN.
THEN I'LL END ON A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAPITAL AREA SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP.
I'LL JUST DIVE RIGHT IN AND I STARTED OFF WITH THIS FIRST SLIDE OF A MRF BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHO KNOWS WHERE THIS FACILITY IS, BUT IT IS VERY CENTRALLY LOCATED.
THAT'S 496 ALONG THE TOP HERE, AND THIS IS PENNSYLVANIA RUNNING ALONG THE CENTER HERE.
IT'S IN 1159 SOUTH PENNSYLVANIA AND IT'S RIGHT AT HEYCO DRIVE.
I MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE SOME OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH HACO DRIVE BECAUSE THERE'S A BOARD OF WATER AND LIGHT CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER THERE.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A GENERAL IDEA OF THE LOCATION.
THIS A TRUE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
LANSING AND EAST LANSING HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR YEARS NOW TO COMBINE OUR TONNAGE AND IT'S BEING SHIPPED TO A MRF IN DETROIT RUN BY REPUBLIC.
BUT WE HAVE A LONG-TERM AGREEMENT NOW TO DEDICATE THAT TONNAGE AND SEND IT TO THE NEW EMTERRA MRF IN LANSING.
HOW IT'S SET UP IS LANSING IS THE ONE WITH THE CONTRACT WITH EMTERRA, A 10-YEAR CONTRACT, AND THEN LANSING AND EAST LANSING HAVE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT.
THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS US TO WORK TOGETHER.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE INTENTION AS [INAUDIBLE] THAT THESE MRF IS HOPEFULLY GOING TO TURN INTO A TRUE REGIONAL MRF WHERE THERE'S OTHER COMMUNITIES AND SURROUNDING TOWNSHIPS AND OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE SENDING THEIR MATERIALS THERE AS WELL.
IT WAS ALWAYS OUR INTENTIONS TO COMBINE FORCES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND DO WHAT LANSING AND EAST LANSING ARE DOING, COMBINING THEIR TONNAGE AND WITH THIS AGREEMENT IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN ALL BENEFIT FROM THAT ECONOMY OF SCALE THAT WHOLE TONNAGE ALLOWS US TO GET A BETTER PROCESSING RATE.
I DO FEEL THERE'S STILL ROOM FOR TOWNSHIPS LIKE MERIDIAN PERHAPS IF THERE'S INTEREST TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT WORK TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE AND I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN DOING THAT.
MIGHT NOT BE THE TIME TONIGHT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT THERE IS STILL TIME TO WORK TOGETHER AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I WANTED TO ALSO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN IDEA ABOUT WHAT GOES ON INSIDE OF A MRF AND MAYBE YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
I'M NOT CERTAIN WHAT YOUR LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING IS WITH THAT, BUT I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.
FIRST, THIS PHOTOGRAPH UP ON TOP IS THE OUTSIDE OF THE MRF WHICH IS AN OLDER PICTURE, ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T LOOK A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT FROM THAT RIGHT NOW.
THEY HAVE INVESTED MILLIONS ON THE INSIDE, BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT IN THE OUTSIDE YET.
I KNOW THAT LATER THIS SPRING THEY'RE PLANNING TO DO
[00:05:01]
SOME LANDSCAPING AND PUT SOME ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE OUT AND SO WHEN YOU DRIVE BY, YOU'LL ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT'S THERE.RIGHT NOW, YOU COULD DRIVE BY AN EASILY MISS IT.
SOME OF THESE OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS HERE ARE FROM THEIR OLDER OR FROM ANOTHER MRF.
WE'LL GET IN AND TAKE PICTURES AND DO A LOT OF PRESS WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT GRAND OPENING COMES.
BUT FOR RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SOME OLDER PHOTOS JUST TO SHOW WHAT HAPPENS IN A MRF.
THIS IS WHERE SINGLE-STREAM MATERIALS GO TO BE SORTED AND SEPARATED.
THERE'S A LOT OF HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE MRF THAT DOES THE SORTING FOR US.
THERE'S ALSO SOME HAND SORTING, BUT IN THE END, YOU GET THESE LOVELY BALES OF MATERIAL AND THEY ARE ALL PACKAGED AND READY TO BE SHIPPED OUT TO MARKET TO BE MADE INTO NEW PRODUCTS.
THIS MRF BECAUSE IT'S SO BRAND NEW, IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF STATE OF THE ART EQUIPMENT, SPECIALIZED GLASS CLEANING EQUIPMENT THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO GET A BETTER QUALITY OF GLASS IN THE END.
THERE IS A ROBOTIC SORTER FOR PAPER CUPS AND FOOD PACKAGING STUFF, SO SOME REALLY NEAT FEATURES IN THERE THAT WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT.
JUST MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION IN UPDATES BECAUSE I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT YOU ALL KNEW ABOUT THIS FACILITY OR THE HISTORY BEHIND IT, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS OUR INTENTION TO MAKE IT A REGIONAL MRF, AND PART OF THE BENEFIT TO EVERYBODY WHO USES IT IS CONSISTENT EDUCATION.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT RECYCLING GUIDELINES DEPENDING ON WHO OUR PROCESSOR IS, DEPENDING ON WHO YOUR HAUL IS, AND WHERE THEY TAKE MATERIALS.
YOU MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF CRITERIA FOR IF YOU LIVE IN HOLT THAN THEY DO ON GRAND LEDGE OR [INAUDIBLE] OR EAST LANSING.
IT WOULD BE VERY NICE FOR ALL OF US TO HAVE THAT SAME COMMON SUITE OF MATERIALS SO THAT WE COULD EDUCATE OUR RESIDENTS THE SAME WAY, REDUCE CONFUSION, HOPEFULLY, REDUCE CONTAMINATION.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT MANY OF US WILL BEGIN TO USE THIS FACILITY AND THAT WILL BE THE RESULT.
FOR LANSING AND EAST LANSING, WE DON'T HAVE TO HAUL ACROSS THE STATE ANYMORE SO THAT'LL BE A HUGE BENEFIT TO US BECAUSE WE SEND NEARLY A SEMI OR TWO EVERY SINGLE DAY TO DETROIT.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S ALSO A LOT OF FUEL AND MORE EMISSIONS THAT WE DON'T CARE TO HAVE SO THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS TO KEEPING THAT MATERIAL LOCAL FOR US.
NOW EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW WHEN THIS MRF IS GOING TO BE OPEN, I JUST HAD A MEETING WITH EMTERRA EARLIER TODAY AND THEY'RE GETTING VERY EXCITED.
[LAUGHTER] I SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE AN OFFICIAL DATE TOMORROW, BUT AT THIS POINT, THEY'RE SAYING END OF MARCH, PROBABLY THAT THEY'LL DO AN OFFICIAL OPENING.
LANSING HAS BEEN SENDING MATERIAL THERE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS SO THAT THEY CAN TEST THEIR EQUIPMENT AND CALIBRATE THE MACHINES AND MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY DO OPEN, EVERYTHING WILL BE RUNNING AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE VERY, VERY CLOSE AND WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO OFFER A FEW LITTLE JUST MISCELLANEOUS BITS OF INFORMATION ABOUT EMTERRA ENVIRONMENTAL BECAUSE THEY'RE A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT MOST OF US ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THAT INVESTED HEAVILY IN OUR AREA.
THEY ARE WOMEN-OWNED. EMMIE LEUNG WHO IS THE OWNER IS JUST A POWERHOUSE AND I HOPE YOU ALL GET TO MEET HER ONE DAY.
SHE'S GOT A REALLY INTERESTING STORY.
SHE WAS AN IMMIGRANT LIVING IN CANADA AND GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY AND COULDN'T FIND A JOB.
SHE HAD A LANGUAGE BARRIER AND SHE JUST DECIDED TO OPEN UP HER OWN BUSINESS AND IT WAS FLEXING NEWSPAPER AT THE CURB AND SHE GREW IT INTO THIS VERY LARGE AND SUCCESSFUL RECYCLING BUSINESS, SO SHE'S GOT AN INTERESTING STORY TO SHARE.
BUT EMTERRA HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY WILLING TO TALK TO US AND PARTNER WITH US ON, A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOLID WASTE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES AND I THINK THAT THEY WILL BE READY AND WILLING TO TALK TO US AS A REGION TOO ABOUT HOW WE CAN INCREASE OUR RECYCLING RATE, INCREASE OUR DIVERSION RATE, AND COME UP WITH REALLY SOME CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THOSE ISSUES.
IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM TO FIND AN OLD SITE TO REFURBISH.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BUILD NEW AND IT TOOK THEM A VERY, VERY LONG TIME TO FIND A SUITABLE SITE.
BUT WHEN THEY FINALLY DID, THEY FOUND AN OLD INDUSTRIAL SITE THAT HAD BEEN SITTING VACANT IN LANSING FOR YEARS.
WE'RE PRETTY PLEASED TO HAVE THAT NOW BE A SUCCESSFUL REFURBISH BUSINESS.
[00:10:03]
IT'S BROUGHT OVER A DOZEN.I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MANY, BUT OVER A DOZEN NEW JOBS TO LANSING AND SOME OF THEM ARE FAIRLY HIGH-LEVEL WELL-PAYING JOBS.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT MORE NOW THAT THE MARKET IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND WE CAN START HAVING DISCUSSIONS BEHIND THIS, GETTING OPEN FOR BUSINESS IS THAT WE'LL BE INCLUDING AN EDUCATION CENTER THAT'LL BE LOCATED WITHIN THE MIRTH AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR A VERY LONG TIME, EVEN PRE COVID, WE STARTED TO DO FUNDRAISING FOR THIS AND WE'VE SECURED ALMOST 300000 DOLLARS FOR THIS.
TARA HAS BEEN CONSULTING WITH THEIR ENGINEERS TO SET ASIDE SPACE WITHIN THE MIRTH SO THAT WE CAN HAVE LIKE CLASSROOM STYLE LEARNING AND A VIRTUAL TOUR AND LOTS OF NEAT CREATIVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT THE MIRTH.
WE HOPE THAT, THAT WILL BE THE NEXT SET OF PHASE TWO OF THIS WHOLE MIRTH RELATIONSHIP.
WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HAVING A DROP-OFF SITE AND THAT WOULD BE A REGIONAL SITE THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY GO BEYOND MATERIALS TRADITIONALLY ACCEPTED AT THE CURB SIDE.
ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTERS AND MATTRESSES AND PAINT AND ALL OF THOSE KIND OF HARDER TO RECYCLE THINGS COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR THAT SITE.
AS A WAY TO ENHANCE OUR RECYCLING RECOVERY EFFORTS.
WE'VE ALSO TALKED TO HIM, TARA ALL ALONG, ABOUT HELPING US INCREASE OUR COMMERCIAL AND MULTIFAMILY RECYCLING RATES.
I THINK THAT THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN DOING THAT FOR THE REGION AS WELL.
LOOKING AT COLLECTING FOOD WASTE AND ORGANICS.
LOTS OF POTENTIAL HERE FOR A REALLY FINDING WAYS TO INCREASE OUR RECOVERY RATES.
THAT WAS ALL THAT I HAD FOR THE TARA PRESENTATION.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK SLIDE TO TALK ABOUT, THE SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF I SHOULD PAUSE HERE AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR DO YOU WANT ME TO JUST KEEP ON GOING?
>> HERE? YOUR TIMING IS GREAT.
PEOPLE HAVE A QUESTION OR TWO OR WE COULD DO A WHOLE LOT TO THE END, THAT'S FINE TOO.
ANY QUESTIONS? WE CAN GO AHEAD AND LAURIE.
>> OKAY. GREAT. I WAS ASKED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS CAPITAL AREA SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A PRETTY NEW, I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO CALL IT AN ORGANIZATION, BUT IT'S A PRETTY NEW GROUP.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY STARTED LAST YEAR BY MYSELF AND A COUPLE OF COLLEAGUES FROM EAST LANSING AND MSU, WHO STARTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE WORKING ON OUR OWN COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY PLANS BUT IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE TO START TALKING AS A REGION AND FINDING WHAT THOSE COMMON GOALS AND PRIORITIES ARE SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
DEVELOPED SOME BEST PRACTICES AND JUST FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
WE KIND OF SURVEYED SOME FOLKS AND REACHED OUT TO SEE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN DOING THAT AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF PHONE CALLS NOW AND I KNOW A COUPLE OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON THAT.
THERE WERE I THINK 25 DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED.
THAT TOLD US THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INTERESTS.
WE KIND OF STARTED TO DO THIS BRAINSTORMING EXERCISE WHERE WE ALL ARE TRYING TO INDICATE WHAT ARE PRIORITY AREAS, WHO'S DOING WHAT.
IT WILL LIKELY KIND OF TURN INTO SOME FOCUSED WORK GROUPS SO THAT WE CAN TACKLE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.
ONE OF THE, I THINK EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS HERE IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION AND YOU'VE PROBABLY ALL KNOW CLIFF, HE HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS GROUP AND WILL BE KIND OF TAKING OVER, FACILITATING THIS ROOM UNDER THE TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING UMBRELLA.
WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS KIND OF PAUSING ON THIS GROUP WILL LIKELY MEET AGAIN IN A ROLE AND THAT PAUSE WILL ALLOW US TO START THINKING ABOUT WHAT OUR MISSION AND VISION IS OR SHOULD BE, AND KIND OF STARTING TO BUILD A STRUCTURE UP SO THAT WE MAKE SURE WE GET THIS RIGHT.
WE WANT TO BUILD IT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE TABLE.
I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S GOING TO COME FROM THIS GROUP THOUGH, BECAUSE I THINK THAT TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING,
[00:15:04]
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW IS PRETTY GOOD AT PULLING YOUR REGION TOGETHER UNDER THESE KINDS OF ISSUES, WITH THESE KINDS OF ISSUES.WHAT THEY ARE TOOLS AND RESOURCES, I THINK THIS WILL BE REALLY GREAT.
WITH THAT, I THINK THAT IS ALL I WANTED TO SAY. THANK YOU.
I DO HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION.
IF THERE'S TIME I CAN TAKE A QUESTION.
IF NOT, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT ANYTIME AFTERWARDS AND I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS ANY OF THESE ISSUES ANOTHER TIME.
>> LAURIE WANTED TO STOP SCREEN SHARING SO WE CAN KIND OF SEE WHO ASK QUESTIONS.
>>YEAH, I'VE GOT ONE. THIS MAY BE SOMETHING YOU DON'T KNOW.
I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS, IF YOU THINK IN TERMS OF ALL THE MATERIALS THAT GET PROCESSED TO DO A LOT OF THEM END UP WITH BUSINESSES, COMPANIES IN MICHIGAN OR THE MIDWEST OR THE WHOLE COUNTRY, ANY SENSE FOR WHERE ALL THESE MATERIALS GO.
>> I HEARD MOST OF THAT, BUT MY INTERNET CONNECTION IS TELLING ME IT'S A LITTLE UNSTABLE NOW.
YOU STARTED TO CUT OUT, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT WHERE ARE THE END MARKETS ARE ENOUGH MATERIALS STAY IN MICHIGAN.
CURRENTLY WITH OUR REPUBLIC CONTRACT.
I CAN'T SEE THAT ALL OF THEM STAY IN MICHIGAN, BUT MOST OF THEM STAY IN NORTH AMERICA.
WITH M TARA, I HAVE A GREATER DEGREE OF COMPETENCE THAT MOST OF THEM WILL STAY IN LOCALLY.
WE CAN TALK TO THEM SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHERE SOME OF THEIR END MARKETS ARE.
THEY'RE VERY OPEN AND TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT.
WE JUST WANT TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE BEING HANDLED RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLY?
>> THINK THAT IS THE QUESTION.
>> I'M ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE RELATIVELY RECENTLY TUNED INTO, WHAT I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO SOUND VERY STRANGE.
MICHIGAN IS A SOURCE OF ONE OF THE BEST QUALITIES OF SAND IN THE WORLD FOR MAKING CONCRETE.
I'M JUST WONDERING, BUT ACTUALLY IT TURNS OUT THAT SAND OF APPROPRIATE QUALITY FOR MAKING CONCRETE IS A LIMITED RESOURCE AND THAT'S WHY I, CERTAIN, CERTAIN PLACES ARE GETTING EXPLOITED.
IT STRIKES ME THAT GROUND-UP GLASS, IF WE KNEW HOW TO GRIND IT UP RIGHT.
TO ACHIEVE THE PROPER GRAIN SIZES AND PROPERTIES, BUT ACTUALLY BE A REPLACEMENT FOR THAT.
THAT WOULD BE, IT TURNS OUT CONCRETE IS SOMETHING THAT MAKES SUCH A LARGE CONTRIBUTION TO GLOBAL WARMING, THE PROCESSING OF CONCRETE, WHICH IS NOT THE SAD PART, BUT ANYWAY, THAT THE WHOLE ECOLOGY OF CONCRETE IS SOMETHING THAT IS KIND OF HIGH ON PEOPLE'S LISTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ENERGY AND THE ATMOSPHERE AND SO FORTH ANYWAY.
THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER CONNECTION TO RECYCLING TECHNOLOGY.
I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT HOW DOES THE GLASS GET RECYCLED? I MEAN, YOU SAID THEY HAVE A GLASS WASHING FACILITY NOW, SO EVIDENTLY THEY'RE COMMITTED TO ACTUALLY RECYCLING IT AS OPPOSED TO JUST ONCE YOU GET UP AND THROW IT AWAY.
>> YES. ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THIS MIRTH IS THAT THEY HAVE THIS NEW CLASS SORTING EQUIPMENT THAT WILL, FOR MY UNDERSTANDING, ALLOW THEM TO ACTUALLY CAPTURE AND CLEAN THE GLASS RATHER THAN HAVE A LOT OF MYTHS AND UP, SWEEPING IT OUT AS RESIDUAL BECAUSE IT ALL BREAKS AND IT FALLS DOWN TO THE BOTTOM AND IT'S SWEPT OUT INTO INTO THE PILES.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AND HIGHER RECOVERY RATE AND A BETTER QUALITY PRODUCT WHEN IT DOES GET RECOVERED.
THE SPECIFICS OF HOW THAT TECHNOLOGY WORKS, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH, I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN THAT EQUIPMENT.
I'M PRETTY INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT TOO, BUT FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD, IT'S MUCH MORE EFFICIENT, HIGHER-QUALITY FROM RECOVERY OF GLASS IN THE END.
>> OKAY, THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> I WILL SAY JUST THIS QUICKLY.
SORRY ABOUT THIS. I THINK WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE LUCK WITH THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE MIRTH.
I THINK WRONG AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.POST COVID RESTRICTIONS TO GO TO THE FACILITY, WALK-THROUGH, TAKE A TOUR AND ASK THEM DIRECTLY SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS,
[00:20:04]
THAT'S MY HOPE ONE DAY.I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY WHEN THE TIME COMES AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HELPFUL TO SEE THAT EQUIPMENT UP CLOSE, SEE THE MATERIALS RUNNING THROUGH AND ACTUALLY SEE HOW IT'S ALL WORKING.
I THINK THAT WILL BE ABLE TO GET SOME MORE CLARITY TO YOUR QUESTIONS THERE.
>> WELL, THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD JUST SAID TO ONE OTHER THING, WHICH IS THAT YOU'RE VERY CLOSE.
IS THERE ANY TALK ABOUT SORT OF TRYING TO COORDINATE EDUCATIONAL, THE EVENTS, WHATEVER RESOURCES.
THE THEMES AREN'T IDENTICAL BUT THEY ARE CONNECTIONS.
>> WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED IT SPECIFICALLY WE ACTUALLY INITIALLY STARTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT WITH IMPRESSION FIVE, BECAUSE THEY DO SO MUCH WITH SCIENCE INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND STUFF IN THERE RIGHT DOWN THE RIVER TRAIL FROM US.
BUT WE'RE OPEN TO DISCUSSING IT WITH ALL COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
THAT'S A NEAT IDEA. I HAVEN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
I THINK WE WILL BE HEADING INTO MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES NOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AN OPENING DATE.
UP UNTIL NOW IT'S BEEN HYPER-FOCUSED ON JUST GETTING THE PLACE OPEN AND RUNNING BUT I EXPECT TO HAVE MORE OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS NOW.
>> THANKS FOR THE EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
THAT'S REALLY EXCITING WITH THIS FACILITY IS COMING INTO THE REGION.
I THINK MY QUESTION STEMS FROM SOME PRIOR DISCUSSIONS THAT LAURIE HAS FACILITATED ABOUT OUR CURRENT SITUATION.
YOU MENTIONED A SITE IN DETROIT WHERE YOU ARE LANSING IS GOING IN AT THE MOMENT MY UNDERSTANDING IS OUR MAIN HOLDER IS GOING ELSEWHERE AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HOW THE FACILITY OPERATES AND SO MANY QUESTIONS I WAS ASKING YOU ABOUT HOW MUCH OF THE GLASSES IS RECOVERED IN THE SENSE I'VE GOTTEN IT'S A LITTLE TRICKY TO GET INFORMATION OUT OF A SITE THAT'S THAT FAR AWAY.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS FOR LAURIE CAN YOU SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE MY GARBAGE IS GOING AND WHERE MY RECYCLING IS GOING AND HOW IT COMPARES TO HAVING A LOCAL FACILITY?
>> HELLO. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT GOES NORTH TO THE TRAVERSE CITY AREA THROUGH AMERICAN WASTE.
GRANGER IS OUR MAIN COLOR AND I'M HOPING THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK TO GET THAT SORTED LOCALLY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW AMERICAN WASTE IS NOT REAL UPFRONT ON WHERE HOW MUCH IS BEING RECYCLED, HOW MUCH IS TURNING INTO WASTE ENERGY? HOW MUCH IS BEING LANDFILLED? LAURIE MIGHT HAVE MORE DETAIL ON THAT.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF ADVANTAGES FOR LOCAL PROCESSING.
A BIG ONE ALSO IS A COMMITMENT TO ZERO WASTE SO [INAUDIBLE] WHILE THEY MIGHT BE MORE EXPENSIVE IN SOME I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'LL BE MORE EXPENSIVE OR NOT.
I HAVEN'T BEEN SHOPPING AROUND BUT THEY'LL BE SOME ADDED INCENTIVE TO USE OUR LOCAL FACILITY THAT'S COMMITTED TO ZERO WASTE RATHER THAN LANDFILLING OR WASTE TO ENERGY OPTIONS.
BUT ROY FEEL FREE TO ADD ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW.
>> YEAH. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THIS. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD.
>> NO, IT'S OKAY, I JUST. WE HAVE LIMITED ABILITY TO SORT OF TELL GRANGER WHERE THEY CAN TAKE OUR RECYCLABLES BUT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A TRICKY SITUATION BUT I'M HOPING THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ORDER IN SOME WAY WITH THEM. GO AHEAD, LAURIE.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S GOING TO TRAVERSE CITY AND I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH AMERICAN WASTE EITHER BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF GRANGER ULTIMATELY MAYBE KEPT THINGS LOCAL TO IF THEY COULD SAVE MONEY ON FALLING THAN I WOULD IMAGINE IT WOULD BE IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS TO SEND MATERIALS THROUGH THIS LOCAL [INAUDIBLE].
I KNOW THEY'D BEEN TALKING TO HIM, TARA, AND SENDING MATERIALS THERE TO TEST AS WELL.
MIKE'S POLL IS THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM FOR THAT SO THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HIGHER TONNAGE PROCESSING REBATES.
BECAUSE LIKE EAST LANSING ON THEIR OWN DOESN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TONNAGE.
BUT COMBINING WITH OURS THAT ARE GOING TO GET A BETTER PROCESSING RATE WHERE INDIAN COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
[00:25:03]
ALSO THE DIFFERENCES, OF COURSE, YOU DON'T COLLECT AND ALL RAW MATERIALS SO WE HAVE TO PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER A LITTLE BIT WITH YOUR SERVICE PROVIDER GREEN BEAR.I THINK THERE'S ROOM TO HAVE THOSE OPEN DISCUSSIONS.
>> YEAH, MY QUESTION WAS PRETTY SIMILAR ACTUALLY I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHERE THE RECYCLING WENT AND ONCE IT GOT TO THE CURVE BUT WAS ANSWERED, I'LL JUST SHARE A THOUGHT I GUESS.FIRST OF ALL I TOOK SEVERAL MATERIALS AND THAT YOUR POINT.
THAT MADE ME THINK QUITE A BIT ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF CONCRETE NASHVILLE WHICH MY PROFESSOR ACTUALLY SPECIALIZES IN.
HE SAYS HE TRAVELS ALL THE TIME MOSTLY BEEN TO LANSING.
I'M CURIOUS IF THERE'S SOME CONNECTION THERE, MAYBE I'LL SEND HIM AN EMAIL ASKING HIM A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT HE DOES AND CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOU GUYS.
I KNOW WHO SPECIALIZES IN RECYCLING OLD TIRES AND THE ASPHALT. JUST A THOUGHT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTION IS FOR LAURIE? WELL, THANK YOU, LAURIE, VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION WAS VERY HELPFUL TO US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MRF AND THE NEW PARTNERSHIP, SO YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME APPRECIATE IT.
[3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA]
IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.IS ANYBODY WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THE AGENDA? SEEING NO ONE NET?
>> I WOULD ADD I WANTED TO YES.
I HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN THE MOST PROMPT ABOUT COMING TO THESE MEETINGS BUT I WANTED TO ADD I COULD DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE GREEN GRANT PROPOSAL IDEAS.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH SHOULD BE DISCUSSED BUT I COULD GIVE YOU GUYS A LITTLE UPDATE WITH HOW THE RAIN GARDEN DESIGNERS IS GOING.
WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT. THAT'LL BE HELPFUL.
>> I THOUGHT UNDER OLD BUSINESS WE SHOULD AT LEAST COME BACK TO THE WELL, I GUESS I'M A LITTLE OUT OF THE LOOP.
WHERE ARE WE ON ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARDS? HAVE WE DISCUSSED THEM THIS YEAR [LAUGHTER]
>> WE CAN PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA. YEAH.
>> UNDER NEW BUSINESS AND ANY OTHER ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA? CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? BILL? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
OKAY. MOVING ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
[4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES]
FROM THE LAST MEETING IS THERE ANY ADDITIONS TO THEIR MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING? CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING? THANK YOU, ROSE, AND SECOND.ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
LET'S SEE, WE'RE UP TO PUBLIC REMARKS.
[5. PUBLIC REMARKS]
IS ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC REMARKS AT THIS TIME?I'M JUST WHITENESS. I HAVE DISAPPEARED.
>> [LAUGHTER] IT'S A SOUND CHECK.
>> YES, I KNOW. I'M SITTING IN FRONT OF MY COMPUTER, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S HAPPENED THERE.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, LEROY, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY HELLO.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO EVERYONE.
I HAVE APPLIED TO BE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND ALSO THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY HELLO TO YOU ALL AND I HOPE TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE COMMISSION.
JUST TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.
I HAVE A DECADE OF PUBLIC POLICY EXPERIENCE AND I'M CURRENTLY A SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE FOR PUBLIC POLICY ASSOCIATE IN LANSING, WHERE I DO POLICY RESEARCH, PROGRAM EVALUATION AND FACILITATION IN THE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES POLICY AREA.
I SPECIFICALLY HAVE EXPERTISE IN FOOD ASSISTANCE AND FOOD SYSTEMS, AND THAT REALLY DRIVES MY INTEREST IN BEING ON THIS COMMISSION AND ALSO THAT I'VE WORKED GREAT OUTDOORS.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY HI AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND I HOPE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU ALL.
[00:30:04]
>> THANK YOU, ANNA. ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> THOSE WATCHING AT HOME, YOU CAN, OF COURSE, DIAL IN 517-349-1232, WE CAN TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WAY.
YOU HAVE NO OTHER ATTENDEES WHO WOULD BE TO RAISE THEIR HAND.
EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO A PANELIST.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS.
[6A. Recognition of retiring Commissioners Susan Masten and Jim Kielbaso]
FIRST ITEM IS RECOGNITION OF JIM AND SUSAN AND THERE SERVICE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.AS YOU ALL KNOW, THEY'VE RETIRED OR RESIGNED FROM THE COMMISSION, SO WE DO HAVE THE TWO VACANCIES NOW.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ACTUALLY READ THE RESOLUTIONS INTO THE RECORD.
LEROY, CAN YOU SCREEN-SHARE THOSE? I WAS WONDERING IF I HAVE A VOLUNTEER TO READ THE RESOLUTION FOR SUSAN. BILL GO AHEAD.
>> RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION, DR. SUSAN MASTEN.
AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN, HELD ON 3RD OF MARCH 2021 AT 07:00 PM.
FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS OFFERED BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL AND SUPPORTED BY CHAIR SARVER.
WHEREAS DR. SUSAN MASTEN HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP SINCE 2016 AND, WHEREAS DR. SUSAN MASTEN DEDICATED HER TIME, ENERGY AND EXPERTISE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND, WHEREAS DR. SUSAN MASTEN HAS ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS MEETINGS, WORK SESSIONS, STUDY GROUPS, SPECIAL MEETINGS TO CONSIDER THE DAY-TO-DAY AND FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND PROPOSALS AND, WHEREAS DR. SUSAN MASTEN REMAINS COMMITTED TO ENGAGING HER STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES IN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY RELATED AND TIMELY ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND ACTION AND, WHEREAS DR. SUSAN MASTEN HAS PARTICIPATED IN SITE VISITS TRUMPING THROUGH THE WOODS TO EVALUATE WHAT WILDLIFE IMPACTS AND PERMITTING ISSUES AND, WHEREAS DR. SUSAN MASTEN FULLY PARTICIPATED IN DISCUSSIONS, PLANNING ACTIVITIES, THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION TO WHICH REQUESTS PRESENTED BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION DURING HER TERMS. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN AS FOLLOWS.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, BY MEANS OF RESOLUTION, EXTENDS TO DR. SUSAN MASTEN, GRATEFUL THANKS FOR HER VOLUNTARY EFFORT ON BEHALF OF ALL RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITIES DURING HER PERIOD OF DEDICATED SERVICE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU, BILL. YEAH. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
CAN WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER TO READ JIM'S RESOLUTION?
>> RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION.
DR. JIM KIELBASO AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN HELD ON THE THIRD DAY OF MARCH 2021 AT 07:00 PM.
ALL OF US PRESENT, CHAIRPERSON SARVER AND VICE CHAIR VADNAIS.
COMMISSIONERS MCCONNELL, JACKSON, WISINSKI AND FRAZIER.
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS OFFERED BY NED JACKSON AND SUPPORTED BY BILL MCCONNELL.
WHEREAS DR. JIM KIELBASO, WHO HAS SERVED AS A MEMBER, AND OFFICER OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FOR OVER 22 YEARS AND, WHEREAS DR. JIM KIELBASO SERVED AS A MEMBER OF AND LIAISON TO THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD FOR 14 YEARS AND, WHEREAS DR. JIM KIELBASO HAS ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS MEETINGS, WORK SESSIONS, STUDY GROUPS AND SPECIAL MEETINGS TO CONSIDER DAY TO DAY AND FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND PROPOSALS AND, WHEREAS DR. JIM KIELBASO THOUGHTFULLY PARTICIPATED IN DISCUSSIONS, PLANNING ACTIVITIES, THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF EACH REQUEST PRESENTED BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION DURING HIS TERMS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN AS FOLLOWS.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, BY MEANS OF RESOLUTION, EXTENDS TO DR. JIM KIELBASO GRATEFUL THANKS FOR HIS VOLUNTARY EFFORT ON BEHALF OF ALL RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY DURING HIS PERIOD OF DEDICATED SERVICE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
WELL, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT JIM HAD BEEN ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION THAT LONG.
[00:35:05]
I THINK BOTH SUSAN AND JIM HAD OBVIOUSLY VERY SPECIFIC EXPERTISE.IT WAS VERY VALUABLE TO THE COMMISSION.
IN ADDITION TO THAT JUST THEIR INPUT AND THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES AND THEIR HARD WORK WAS WAS CERTAINLY APPRECIATED I THINK BY ALL OF US.
I THINK BOTH OF THEM WILL BE SORELY MISSED, BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO GET SOME NEW PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSION.
THAT'S I GUESS THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE CHANGES.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE NEW APPLICANTS FOR THE FEW VACANCIES? THANK YOU. LEROY, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE US A LITTLE SUMMARY OF THE THREE APPLICATIONS?
[6B. New Commissioner Applications]
NOW, THEY WERE IN YOUR PACKET.>> I THINK DO HAVE A VACUUM GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND.
I WILL SAY THAT ALL THE APPLICANTS, WE HAVE THREE.
SOME OF YOU KNOW, VALERIE LAFFERTY WHO IS INVOLVED WITH OUR ENERGY TEAM AND IS ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE CAPILLARIES SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP.
SHE DECIDED TO BACK OUT DUE TO OTHER ACTIVITIES, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THERE WERE STRONG INTEREST AMONGST OTHER CANDIDATES.
ACTUALLY KENDRA IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT AND HAS BEEN REAL ACTIVE WITH RECENTLY WITH WETLANDS, BUT ALSO ON HER WEDNESDAY MORNING GREEN DIALOGUE SESSIONS.
YOU CAN LOOK AT HER APPLICATION.
SHE'S GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AS A PSYCHOTHERAPIST, CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AND THAT PREPARES TO DO EITHER OF THESE APPLICANTS JUSTICE IN SYNAPSES.
BUT LET'S JUST SAY THAT SHE'S DEMONSTRATED HER COMMITMENT BY SHOWING UP VOLUNTARILY TO THESE MEETINGS AND YOUR VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, WHICH BY THE WAY, IF SOMEONE IS NOT VOTED IN, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO DO FOLLOW IN KENDRA'S FOOTSTEPS.
BEN AS WELL AND OTHERS LIKE ELAINE, WHO WAS ON EARLIER JOHN ESSER AND PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PLUG IN WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OR NOT.
BUT KENDRA, THANKS FOR DEMONSTRATING THAT OVER AND OVER.
IKI I'VE KNOWN IKE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
HE RECENTLY MOVED TO THE TOWNSHIP INQUIRING ABOUT A COMMUNITY GARDEN IN OTTAWA HILLS.
ANYONE HAS ANY LEADS FOR HIM I THINK HE'S STILL LOOKING, BUT HE HAS OVER A COUPLE OF DECADES DOING HEALTHY COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.
LET'S SEE HE'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES.
HE WAS A VOLUNTEER FOR MICHIGAN ENERGY ENERGY OPTIONS AFTER I LEFT IN 2002 FOR OVER A DECADE.
HIS RESUME JUST BLOWS ME AWAY.
I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO TRY AND ATTEMPT TO SUMMARIZE THAT.
THEN ANNA, WHO WAS WITH US HERE TONIGHT AND BRIEFLY INTRODUCED HERSELF.
HER WORK AS A SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE WITH PUBLIC POLICY AND ASSOCIATES, HER INVOLVEMENT WITH FOOD POLICY AND LOTS OF OTHER THINGS IS ALSO QUITE IMPRESSIVE.
WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO RON STYKA.
BUT IF ANYBODY WANTS TO MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, THAT'S MY BRIEF SUMMARY.
THANK YOU LEROY. I THINK WE HAVE THREE VERY WELL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, WHICH IS MARVELOUS.
IT'S TOO BAD WE DON'T HAVE THREE VACANCIES.
I DO KNOW I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SEEING KENDRA IN ACTION WITH THE GREEN DIALOGUES ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS.
SHE'S BEEN REAL ACTIVE IN THAT AREA AND HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL RELATED TO THE WETLAND BROCHURE IN EDUCATION.
I WONDER TOO, ANNA DID A BRIEF INTRODUCTION, BUT LET ME GET BOTH ANNA AND KENDRA AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BASICALLY SAY WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO APPLY TO BE ON THE COMMISSION.
NOW, LET'S START WITH KENDRA. GO AHEAD.
I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I APPLIED BECAUSE I LOVED HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOWING ALL OF YOU.
[00:40:02]
I BASICALLY FOUND A PROBLEM AND TURN A PROBLEM INTO A PROBLEM-SOLVING INTO SOLUTIONS AND GOT CONNECTED WITH YOU FOLKS HERE.I LOVE BEING OUTDOORS, IT'S MY FAVORITE PLACE TO BE.
I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS AND NOT ONLY LIKE NATURE OUTSIDE THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT SOCIAL TOPICS.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH POLICY.
I WORK INDIVIDUALLY, WITH GROUPS, I LEAD PEOPLE IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS AND HELPED ME IN ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE AND SYSTEMS OF TO OVER 25 YEARS.
I THINK YOU KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW AT THIS POINT IN TIME THAT I MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
NEW THINGS THAT I'M HAVING BEING A PART OF HERE IS I'M GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BASED ON THE ADVOCACY I'VE BEEN DOING OUT HERE IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, TO BE EDUCATING SOCIAL WORKERS THROUGHOUT MICHIGAN ON ADVOCATING ON ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS.
I'M A LEADER IN THAT CATEGORY FOR THE STATE OF MICHIGAN RIGHT NOW.
I WILL BE TRAINING FOLKS HERE IN TWO MONTHS ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE TO SAY TO YOU BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN PRETTY DECENTLY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
THANK YOU, KENDRA. ANNA, YOU GAVE US AN INTRODUCTION.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
>> YES. I WOULD JUST SAY I'M A MORE RECENT RESIDENT OF MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, I'VE BEEN IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FOR AROUND THREE YEARS NOW AND I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO BE INVOLVED AND TO BE MORE INVOLVED WITH THE TOWNSHIP.
SO CERTAINLY THAT'S PART OF THE DECISION TO APPLY FOR THIS COMMISSION AS WELL AS WHAT I ALREADY SAID THAT, IT REALLY ALIGNS WITH A LOT OF THE WORK THAT I DO IN THE HEALTHY COMMUNITY SPACE AND CERTAINLY THE ENVIRONMENT IS A LARGE PART OF THE FOOD SYSTEM WHERE I ALSO DO A LOT OF WORK.
I'M INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE MORE OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
I DON'T REALLY SEE THE OPPORTUNITY OF THIS THAT ALIGNS WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE INTEREST IN AND WORK THAT I'VE BEEN DOING AS WELL AS THE IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND BOTH IN TERMS OF PROFESSIONALLY SOME OTHER WORK I DO AND JUST THE OUTDOORS.
THANK YOU, ANNA. DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR EITHER OF OUR POTENTIAL COMMISSIONERS? IT LOOKS LIKE, BILL IS READY.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF APPLICANTS WITH US THIS EVENING WHO HAVE INTERESTS AND EXPERTISE IN WETLANDS, AND IN THE LAND RESERVATION, OUTREACH, AND IN POLICY AND THOSE SEEM TO BE BOTH REALLY CORE SUBSTANTIVE AREAS FOR THIS COMMISSION AND CORE COMPETENCIES IN TERMS OF OUR OUTREACH AND LEGISLATIVE MANDATE, SO I'M DELIGHTED TO SEE APPLICANTS COMING TO US TO BRING THOSE SKILLS AND EXPERTISE.
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS TO THEM? I'M JUST WONDERING IF IT'S TIME FOR ME TO RETIRE TO MAKE THREE VACANCIES? [LAUGHTER] ALL I THINK ABOUT IS MOLECULES, THEY'RE PRETTY SMALL.
[LAUGHTER] I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO HEAR SUCH PASSIONATE PEOPLE WITH SUCH BUT SKILLS THAT WOULD COMPLEMENT THE TEAM THAT'S ALREADY HERE.
I WISH WE DID HAVE THREE SLOTS.
ANY OTHER FURTHER THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS OR ANY SUGGESTIONS? SHOULD WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OR, ANOTHER OPTION IS WE CAN BASICALLY SEND COMMUNICATION TO THE SUPERVISOR THAT WE THINK ALL THREE CANDIDATES ARE QUALIFIED, OR WE CAN BASICALLY SAY THAT WITH SOME OTHER QUALIFYING STATEMENTS IF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO, I THINK WHAT YOU SAID BILL MAYBE WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL STATEMENT THAT COULD BE MADE.
I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO FORWARD WHATEVER IS IN OUR MINUTES TO THE SUPERVISOR.
THAT'S A GOOD APPROACH. YES. I LIKE THAT APPROACH.
[00:45:08]
OTHER THOUGHTS? QUESTIONS? AS IT STANDS NOW, BILL SUGGESTED AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD ONE THAT WE BASICALLY HAVE A SHORT MEMO TO MR. STEIGER, AND SHARE WITH HIM OUR DISCUSSIONS AND MINUTES, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE COMMENTS BY BOTH KENDRA AND ANNA, AND THEN THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY MADE IT HERE.ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS FOR THE GO-AHEAD, LORAY.
WELL, IT MAY NOT BE TOTALLY APPARENT BY HIS APPLICATION, BUT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND THERE'S CERTAINLY AN ISSUE RELATED TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE TOWNSHIP.
IS IT A PERSON OF COLOR AND HESITATE TO EVEN BRING THAT UP BUT I THINK HAVING THAT PERSPECTIVE COULD ADD SOME DIVERSITY TO OUR COMMISSION.
I HESITATE TO BRING THAT UP RIGHT NOW JUST BECAUSE ANNA AND KENDRA RIGHT HERE AND HIKE(PHON) IS NOT BUT, I AGREE THAT ANY OF THESE THREE CANDIDATES WOULD DO A REMARKABLE JOB AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHOEVER DOESN'T GET APPOINTED TO PLUG-IN, HOWEVER, THEY ARE INSPIRED TO DO SO AT EITHER ON A SUBCOMMITTEE, AS A VOLUNTEER OR A SPECIAL PROJECT SUCH AS SUSAN HAS MENTIONED MAYBE WANTING TO STAY CONNECTED THROUGH SPECIAL PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU, LORAY FOR THAT COMMENT AND SINCE IT WOULD BE IN THE MINUTES THAT CAN BE SHARED WITH, MR. STEIGER AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT FOR SURE, WE'LL BE DIVERSIFYING THE COMMISSION REGARDLESS OF WHICH OF THE THREE CANDIDATES ARE SELECTED SO THAT'S A VERY GOOD THING THAT WE HAD TWO WOMEN AND A PERSON OF COLOR APPLY TO BE ON THE COMMISSION.
I JUST FOUND OUT THAT KENDRA IS ALSO BIRACIAL, BY THE WAY, JUST ADDING THAT TO THE MIX HERE.
ANNA HAS SOME BACKGROUND FROM GERMANY.
NO, I'M JUST KIDDING. [LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER]WELL, I MEAN WAY BACK, YES GOOD GUESS.
>> MR. [INAUDIBLE] WAS TRYING READING THE MINUTES.
THAT'S GREAT. ANY OTHER FURTHER THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. SUPER LET'S MOVE ON.
[6C. Citizen’s Climate Commitment]
CITIZENS, CLIMATE COMMITMENT.THE ENERGY TEAM HAS BEEN DISCUSSING THIS FOR LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS.
IN MY IDEA, IT WAS PART OF THE PACKAGE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TONIGHT AND THEN GIVE YOU ALL A CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT IT BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT MEETING.
I DON'T EXPECT THAT WE'D TAKE ANY ACTION ON IT TONIGHT.
I WOULD HOPE THAT IN MAYBE OUR APRIL MEETING, WE CAN ENDORSE THE CONCEPT.
JUST TO GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF INTRODUCTION, IT BASICALLY IS THE CONCEPT THAT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD HAS DECLARED A CLIMATE EMERGENCY.
THE ELECTRIC GRID IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY RENEWABLE AND CLEAN, ALTHOUGH, IT'S A SLOW PROCESS.
IF WE THINK IN TERMS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD BEING CARBON-FREE BY 2050 OR EVEN BEFORE THAT, WE HAVE TO GO BEYOND CLEANING UP THE ELECTRIC GRID AND REALLY SOMEHOW DEAL WITH NATURAL GAS AND GASOLINE AND OTHER FOSSIL FUELS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS AREA HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT, BASICALLY, THE STRATEGY IS TO ELECTRIFY EVERYTHING BECAUSE WHILE IT'S NOT TRUE RIGHT NOW THAT THE GRID IS A 100 PERCENT RENEWABLE AND IS HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION.
THIS IDEA IS BASICALLY TO HAVE CITIZENS MAKE A COMMITMENT TO CONSIDER ELECTRIC ALTERNATIVES AT THE TIME THEY REPLACE A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT OR SOMETHING FAILS BECAUSE THE EQUIPMENT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A LONG LIFE.
IF FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, SOMEBODY IS, FURNACES DIES AND THE FURNACE LAST 20 YEARS WE'RE GETTING UP THERE AND APPROACHING THAT 2050 AND CERTAINLY GOING WAY BEYOND 2030.
THE IDEA IS NOT THAT PEOPLE WOULD
[00:50:01]
AUTOMATICALLY PLEDGE TO PURCHASE THE ELECTRIC ALTERNATIVE, BUT THAT WOULD GIVE IT SOME CONSIDERATION BECAUSE OF-COURSE THE PROBLEM IS THAT THINGS FAIL AND THEN MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TAKE A LEISURELY APPROACH TO RESEARCHING OPTIONS.THEY WANT THEIR HOT WATER OR THEIR HEAT AND THE NEXT DAY.
IF A CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, YOU WANT A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE RIGHT AWAY.
GETTING PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
BASICALLY, THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S PART OF THIS IS GASOLINE VEHICLES TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES, GAS STOVES TO ELECTRIC OVENS, WITH INDUCTION STOVETOPS, GAS HOT WATER HEATERS, THE HEAT PUMP WATER HEATERS, OR ELECTRIC ON-DEMAND WATER HEATERS.
GAS FURNACES TO AIR-SOURCE OR GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMPS, GAS CLOTHES DRYERS TO ELECTRIC DRYERS, AND GASOLINE YARD EQUIPMENT TO ELECTRIC MODELS.
LET ME JUST READ YOU THE COMMITMENT STATEMENT THAT WOULD BE ASKING YOU AND EVERYBODY TO SIGN AND AGREE TO.
RECOGNIZING THE CLIMATE CHANGE IS AN EMERGENCY.
I MAKE A CITIZENS CLIMATE COMMITMENT THAT I WILL MAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY A PERSONAL PRIORITY.
WHEN I REPLACE MY VEHICLE, FURNACE, HOT WATER HEATER, STOVE YARD EQUIPMENT, OR CLOSED DRYER, OR IF I BUILD A NEW HOME, I WILL CONSIDER ELECTRIC ALTERNATIVES TO HELP MY COMMUNITY BECOME CARBON-FREE BY 2030.
THIS IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM THAT REALLY IS BASICALLY AN EDUCATIONAL EFFORT.
WITH THAT INTRODUCTION, LET ME GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS, MAKE COMMENTS.
>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY SEEMS PLAUSIBLE AND I'M NOT SURE HOW THE TOWNSHIP MIGHT IMPLEMENT IT.
IT SEEMS LIKE A NATURAL THING THAT GREEN NEIGHBOURS NETWORK COULD DISTRIBUTE THROUGH THE NETWORK AND THAT COULD SOMEHOW BE PROMOTED VIA TOWNSHIP NEWSLETTERS OR OTHER MEDIA.
IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD THING TO DO.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO PUT IT INTO PRACTICE.
>> WELL, I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LITTLE DISCUSSION AT THE ENERGY TEAM ABOUT HOW TO PROMOTE IT AND YOUR SUGGESTION ABOUT THE GREEN NEIGHBOURS NETWORKS IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO DO THAT.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT A WEB-PAGE WITH BACKGROUND INFORMATION ALSO SO THAT IF PEOPLE NEED TO START DOING THE RESEARCH, THERE WILL BE SOME BASIC INFORMATION LINKS RIGHT THERE ON THE WEB-PAGE AND PEOPLE WOULD BE ASKED TO SIGN UP THERE.
THE INTENT TO IS THAT EVERYBODY IN THE ENERGY TEAM ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WOULD SIGN UP AND MAKE THEIR COMMITMENT.
WE'D OF COURSE TALK TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND GET THEIR ENDORSEMENT, HAVE ALL OF THEM SIGN UP.
BASICALLY, SOME OF IT WOULD BE WORD OF MOUTH.
BASICALLY THAT PEOPLE COULD POST ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGES OR THAT THEY DID THIS.
THEY COULD TALK TO THEIR NEIGHBOURS.
BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME MORE OF ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS WE COULD DO TOO.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IT MIGHT BE A NICE THING TO ONCE THIS IS ALL WRAPPED UP, TO SHARE WITH THE GREATER LANSING ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS.
I THINK THAT MOST OF THESE ITEMS, ASIDE FROM THE CARS HAVE TO DO WITH HOW WE'RE LIVING IN THE SYSTEMS AND IN OUR HOMES.
IT WOULD BE A LOVELY THING TO PASS ON TO PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING INTO THE COMMUNITY JUST SO THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF COMMUNITY, THESE ARE OUR COMMUNITY VALUES.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN THINK ABOUT AS YOU ARE MOVING INTO AND POTENTIALLY REMODELING YOUR NEW HOME.
I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT THING TO PASS ON TO PEOPLE COMING IN.
>> AS I WAS RESEARCHING THIS DOCUMENT.
OF COURSE, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF ISSUES WITH RESPECT TO WHENEVER YOU BUY ANY EQUIPMENT OR A CAR.
THE REALITY IS THAT NATURAL GAS IS MUCH CHEAPER THAN ELECTRICITY.
AT LEAST IN THE SHORT-TERM, THE OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR THE NATURAL GAS EQUIPMENT BASICALLY IS CHEAPER.
[00:55:05]
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE TO THINK BEYOND SHORT-TERM ECONOMIC ISSUES AND THE PRICE OF NATURAL GAS WILL BE GOING UP.WE, THE IRT TEAM IS CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR WAYS WITHIN OUR UMBRELLA OF OUR CLIMATE EMERGENCY TO GET PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS? YEAH, LEEROY.
>> I SAY THAT SINCE LEARNING ABOUT THIS ANGLE ON ELECTRICITY THAT I FELT A LOT LESS GUILTY ABOUT TURNING ON MY ELECTRIC SPACE HEATER.
>> WELL, DON'T OVERDO IT. [LAUGHTER] WELL, LIKE I SAID, I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE A CONCEPT AND WE'LL HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE APRIL MEETING.
FEEL FREE TO SEND ME COMMENTS BY EMAIL IF YOU SO DESIRE AND WITH THAT, WE'RE ON TO THE AWARDS.
>> WAIT, JOHN CAN ASK YOU ONE MORE QUESTION.
>> YOU ARE ENVISIONING ASSEMBLING A WEBSITE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD OFFER ADVICE AS TO NOT JUST THE BROADER STATEMENT THAT IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO ELECTRIFY, BUT ALLOW A PERSON WHOSE WATER HEATER HAS JUST QUIT TO GO AND, RELATIVELY QUICKLY SURVEY POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES.
THE REASON I ASK THIS IS BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE RULES ABOUT GOVERNMENT ADVOCATING SPECIFIC BRANDS, OR COMPANIES, OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE EXACTLY.
BUT FOR INSTANCE, I DON'T THINK WE COULD BE SAYING, WELL THE WHATEVER IT IS, 10 MORE WASHERS, THAT MINIMUM NUMBER OF KILOWATT-HOURS, ETC, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
YOU WANT TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH ENOUGH INFORMATION TO, AS YOU POINTED OUT, SOMETIMES THEY WANT TO MAKE A DECISION REALLY FAST BECAUSE THEY WANT [LAUGHTER] HOT WATER THE NEXT DAY LIKE YOU'RE SAYING.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU CAN'T BE TELLING THEM EXACTLY WHAT TO DO IN TERMS OF THEIR LEAST IN A COMMERCIAL SENSE.
>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
THE WAY IT'S SET UP NOW THERE'S ABOUT TWO OR THREE PAGES OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE TRADE-OFFS AND SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES WITH THE ELECTRIC ALTERNATIVES.
THEN THERE'S LINKS TO HOPEFULLY, WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED NEUTRAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
THERE IS NO SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION WITH ANY BRANDS OR THAT SORT OF THING, OR SPECIFIC COMPANIES BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
THAT WOULD NOT REALLY BE OUR ROLE.
BASICALLY WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW, IF WE GO AHEAD AND HAVE THIS GUN AND, HAVE A WEB-PAGE, YOU WOULD GO THERE AND THERE'D BE A ONE-PAGE DOCUMENT SO IT'S NOT TOO INTIMIDATING WITH BASICALLY AN INTRODUCTION AND THEN A LISTING OF THE DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT AND ALTERNATIVES.
THEN WITH LINKS TO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT THOSE ALTERNATIVES, AND THEN SOME FURTHER LINKS TO ARTICLES AND WEBSITES LIKE EPA AND OTHER GOVERNMENT SOURCES THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THIS NOW.
SOME OF IT TOO CAN BE, IF YOU END UP GOING TO EPA ENERGY STAR WEBSITE, OF COURSE, THEY AT THAT POINT TALK ABOUT WHAT'S THE MOST EFFICIENT EQUIPMENT FOR, LET'S SAY, HEAT PUMPS.
THEN THEY WOULD GET INTO LISTING A WHOLE BUNCH OF EQUIPMENT.
BUT CERTAINLY THAT'S NOT ON OUR WEBSITE AND IT'S REMOVED FROM WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO THE PUBLIC.
I TRIED TO GET SOME INFORMATION, BUT YOU DON'T WANT SO MUCH INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE GET OVERWHELMED.
>> THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SET UP NOW, BUT I'M OPEN TO ANY SUGGESTIONS.
BUT OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS.
YEAH. ALL THAT MATERIAL WAS IN THE ATTACHMENTS.
LIKE I SAID A ONE-PAGER WHICH INCLUDES SOME OF THE MATERIAL I JUST DESCRIBED AND THEN ALSO TWO TO THREE PAGES OF MORE SPECIFICS AND OTHER LINKS.
[01:00:03]
I JUST WAS TAKING ONE STEP FURTHER AND AS YOU'VE POINTED OUT THAT SOMETIMES THE DECISION OR THE GOAL IS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM VERY QUICKLY.
ACTUALLY, THE APPROACH HERE IS OF COURSE [LAUGHTER] IT WORKS IS THAT NO EQUIPMENT HAS FAILED YET.
BASICALLY, PEOPLE HAVE READ THIS THROUGH, GIVEN A LITTLE THOUGHT, AND MAYBE ACTUALLY DONE A LITTLE RESEARCH BEFOREHAND, SO THAT THEY HAVE THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THIS.
MAYBE EVEN SEE WHERE THEY MIGHT PURCHASE SOME THINGS.
MAYBE DO SOME RESEARCH LIKE ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT DIRECTORIES, THEN IT'S NOT HARD TO FIND A LIST OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES.
ALL THE DIFFERENT MODELS THAT ARE COMING OUT.
ACTUALLY, THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY SOMEBODY ON THE ENERGY TEAM WAS WHAT ABOUT RENTERS? [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS, AS ROSE POINTED OUT, IS BASICALLY HOME EQUIPMENT, AND THAT'S WHY ONE REASON WE HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES THERE AND ALSO WHY WE THEN INCLUDED ALSO THE ISSUE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY BECAUSE ANYBODY CAN TRY TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT BUYING EQUIPMENT, THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR HABITS.
>> WELL ALONG THOSE LINES, IT WOULD BE EVALUATION OF THE ENERGY COSTS OF PRODUCTION OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
[LAUGHTER] I'M SPEAKING A LITTLE BIT SENSITIVELY BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO HAVE A GENERATOR AT MY HOUSE THAT RUNS ON GAS IF THE POWER GOES OFF.
ALTHOUGH THAT'S RELATIVELY GOOD FROM AN ADMISSIONS POINT OF VIEW, COMPARED TO COAL OR OIL OR SOMETHING ELSE IT'S STILL A FOSSIL FUEL.
I WOULD LOVE TO REPLACE THAT WITH BATTERIES THAT WERE FILLED UP BY SOLAR PANELS AND SO FORTH.
BUT THEN THERE IS THE OVERALL ENERGY COST OF THE PRODUCTION OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
THOSE ARE RELATIVELY COMPLEX SYSTEMS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT.
ANYWAY, I'M JUST CONSIDERING HOW IF SOMEBODY REALLY SAID, I STILL WANT TO MAINTAIN THE ABILITY TO POWER MY HOUSE WHEN THE POWER GOES OFF, SO THEY WENT BACK UP.
WE ARE PRETTY MUCH STUCK WITH BATTERIES IF YOU AREN'T GOING TO USE A FUEL.
THAT'S YOUNG TECHNOLOGY. LET'S JUST PUT IT THAT WAY.
>> WELL, ALTHOUGH I THINK EVERYTHING YOU SAID IS VERY TRUE.
IS GOOD ABOUT YOU JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT, THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS PROGRAM IS JUST TO CHALLENGE PEOPLE AND GET THEM TO THINK ABOUT.
OKAY, I'VE GOT A GENERATOR AT MY HOME NOW, IS THERE A GOOD ALTERNATIVE AND SHOULD I LOOK INTO THAT.
NOW ANYONE OF US MIGHT GO, OKAY NOW LET ME THINK ABOUT THAT AND TALK TO SOME PEOPLE AND REALIZED THAT, BATTERIES AREN'T READY YET, AND I ALREADY GOT MY GENERATOR.
I'M NOT GOING TO THROW THAT OUT.
IT'S JUST BASICALLY TO GET PEOPLE TO THINK THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT IT SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL FIND THAT YEAH, IT'S JUST NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
>> OR WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION, ETC. YEAH, FOR SURE.
>> YEAH, I'M JUST INTERESTED IN EDUCATING HOW FAR WE GO AND IT TRYING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE TO MEAN IN A FAIRLY DEEP WAY ABOUT THINGS THAT AREN'T VERY FAMILIAR, LIKE BACKUP SYSTEM, LIKE THAT.
ANYWAY JUST CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS HERE.
>> YEAH, WELL, YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT THOUGH AND I GUESS THAT LEADS ME TO THE IDEA THAT THIS IS A PIECE OF A LARGER EFFORT ON OUR PART OF THE TOWNSHIP, TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.
IT'S HOPEFULLY A PIECE AND THERE'S OTHER EFFORTS OUT THERE FROM AN EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE THAT ARE HELPING PEOPLE MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
BUT WHEN [LAUGHTER] YOU START THINKING ABOUT THAT LIST THAT I LAID OUT AND ALL THE ISSUES AND YEAH, THAT'S NOT A SLAM DUNK. AT LEAST I DON'T THINK SO.
[01:05:02]
YOU GOT ARTICULATE YOUR IDEALS BEFORE YOU CAN LIVE BY THEM. YEAH.
>> BILL HAS A QUESTION. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IN TERMS OF PITCHING THIS TO THE TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS, I THINK A STRONG SUIT MIGHT BE TO START BY PROMOTING WHAT THE TOWNSHIP IS DOING INTERNALLY.
BY MEETING ITS OWN ENERGY NEEDS AND REDUCING ITS ENERGY FOOTPRINT, AND AT THE SECOND HALF OF OUR CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN IS TO SPREAD THAT FROM TOWNSHIP FACILITIES TO THE RESIDENTS AT LARGE.
IT ALSO OCCURS TO ME THAT, THIS IS A REALLY GREAT ENTRY LEVEL COMMITMENT.
SOME PEOPLE WILL TAKE THIS AND THEY'LL ACTUALLY GO AND DO THEIR RESEARCH AND SAY, WELL, IF I'D HAD TO REPLACE EACH ONE OF THOSE THINGS TODAY, WHAT WOULD I DO IT WITH? OF COURSE, THAT WON'T STILL BE UP TO DATE WHEN THAT EQUIPMENT FAILS.
BUT AT LEAST THEY'LL HAVE DONE THE BASIC HOMEWORK SO THAT IT'S UPDATING, NOT STARTING FROM SCRATCH.
ANOTHER LEVEL OF FOLKS WILL TAKE ONE OF THE TOOLS THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED IN THE MY SORRY STORY DISCUSSIONS FOR THE HOME ENERGY AUDITS.
IF I WANT TO KNOW WHICH OF THESE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT IS REALLY CONTRIBUTING MOST TO MY CARBON FOOTPRINT. HOW I DO THAT? I'VE HEARD FOLKS DO IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS PRESENTING SOME OF THOSE TOOLS.
IF THOSE OPTIONS CAN ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SAME EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM.
I THINK, YOU ALSO WANT TO CAPTURE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO DO THE DEEPER DIVE.
>> GOOD POINT. YEAH, MAYBE WE CAN INCLUDE SOME MATERIAL ON THE WEBSITE ABOUT THOSE OPTIONS ENERGY AUDITS THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE START THINGS THROUGH.
I GUESS LET'S MOVE ON, AND LET'S SEE OUR AWARDS.
[6D. Other]
LEROY, [NOISE] DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING TO INTRODUCE THE TOPIC?>> WHEN I COULD DO IS SHARE WHAT WE'VE SHARED ABOUT A YEAR AGO ABOUT FRANCE TOWARDS, WHAT THE PROCESS IS THAT THE CURRENT FORUM.
I'M NOT [NOISE] REALLY PREPARED TO ANNOUNCE A PLAN RIGHT NOW.
OTHER THAN THAT, THIS IS AN OPEN OPPORTUNITY IF WE WANT TO NOMINATE INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS OR PROJECTS FOR RECOGNITION.
HISTORICALLY, WE'VE GIVEN THEM OUT IN THE FALL AND THE SPRING.
DOES THAT MATTER? THEY ASSUME WE NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'RE GIVING OUT AWARDS AND SOLICIT NOMINATIONS.
BUT, WHAT DO PEOPLE THINK? IS THIS MORE LIKE A SUMMER, FALL, SPRING ACTIVITY? [LAUGHTER] OF COURSE, EARTH DAY COMING UP REAL QUICK NOW.
BUT IT STARTED TODAY [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT WAS USUALLY THE APRIL OR MAY, I THINK, MEETING WHERE WE WOULD GIVE THEM OUT, AND WE'D USUALLY SOLICIT SUGGESTIONS FROM ANYBODY, WHETHER EXTERNALLY OR FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
IT COULD BE FOR ANYTHING INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, TEACHERS WHO WERE TAKING THEIR STUDENTS THROUGH WHATEVER CREATING RAIN GARDENS OR WHATEVER TO LETS SEE.
WELL, ANYWAY, LEROY MAY HAVE A HISTORY OF THE AWARDS SOMEWHERE.
THAT MIGHT HELP US TO THINK ABOUT THE MODEL.
BUT I THINK HISTORICALLY IT DID GENERATE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY AND RAISE PEOPLE'S AWARENESS OF HOW MANY PASSIONATE AND ACTIVE PEOPLE WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY ON.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE US CONTINUE IT IF WE CAN.
>> I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME REAL NATURAL CANDIDATES THAT HAVE SPRUNG UP IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO.
I'M THINKING PARTICULARLY A BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT SITES.
WE'VE GOT SEVERAL PLACES WHERE RECOGNIZED CONTAMINATION HAS BEEN CLEANED UP THROUGH PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
THE MOST VISIBLE OF THAT IS IT FOUR CORNERS BOOK MUST PUT THEIR STUFF GOING ON DOWN AND JOLLY, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME OTHER STUFF GROWING UP IN HASLETT, AND I THINK IT'S WORTH CONSIDERING, RECOGNIZING THESE PARTNERSHIPS IN CLEANING UP LEGACY ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM.
[01:10:01]
>> BUT I ALWAYS KNOW WHEN THE AWARDS ARE GIVEN, IT WAS VERY EDUCATIONAL TO ME PERSONALLY JUST HEAR ABOUT WHAT HAD BEEN GOING OUT AND ON BY DIFFERENT GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE TOWNSHIP.
THAT WAS VERY INSPIRING AND REALLY GOOD INFORMATION.
WELL, LET ME JUST, WE WERE DOING A LOT OF DIFFERENT STUFF AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION, BUT I THINK WE'VE DONE AWARDS BEFORE AND I THINK IT'S A DOABLE ACTIVITY.
LET ME JUST ASK FOR A SHOW OF HANDS, DO PEOPLE THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO AGAIN, IS THIS ENOUGH OF A PRIORITY THAT WE SHOULD HAVE IT ON OUR TO DO LIST? WELL, IF YOU THINK SO, JUST RAISE YOUR HANDS.
>> OKAY, I GUESS THEN I WOULD SUGGEST THAT LEROY FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME LITTLE BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THE NEXT MEETING, IT ALSO GIVES SOME THOUGHT TO MAYBE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD SCHEDULE OR A GOOD TIMETABLE THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR OUR NEXT DISCUSSION.
>> THAT SOUNDS GOOD. I DO HAVE AN OPENING IN 2017.
[LAUGHTER] I'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT NEXT TIME, BUT I'LL PUT IT IN THE PACKET.
>> WHAT DO YOU HAVE? THERE SHOULD BE A LIST SOMEWHERE OF THE LAST 20 YEARS OF RECIPIENTS.
>> YEAH. [OVERLAPPING] IT'S BEEN LAST YEAR AND I'LL DIG IT UP AND REDISTRIBUTED-
>> YEAH, I THINK IT WOULD HELP US UNDERSTAND AT LEAST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT ILLUSTRATED HOW IT WAS USED.,
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE].
>> GIVE US A SENSE FROM HIS WORKLOAD IN PERSPECTIVE, WHAT MAKE SOME SENSE.
BUT, OKAY, LET'S SEE, MOVING ON TO GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS,
[7A. Green Infrastructure Grants for Schools]
WHERE YOU WANT TO GIVE US AN UPDATE.>> SURE. I'M JUST RESPONDING TO HOMTV ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARDS.
IT WASN'T ON THE AGENDA, SO THEY WERE CURIOUS WHERE THAT FIT AS THEY'RE CATALOGING OUR MEETING HERE TONIGHT.
WE DID RECEIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLESHED-OUT PROPOSALS FROM A COUPLE OF THE APPLICANTS, ALCHEMY SCHOOLS IN MONTESSORI, REDMORE, BUT WE HAVEN'T TILL MARCH 15TH.
WE'VE OUTLINED MARCH 15TH AS THE DEADLINE FOR OFFICIAL PROPOSALS.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS JUST SHARE BOTH OF THOSE RESPONSES WITH OUR INITIAL TEAM BECAUSE THEY'VE ASKED FOR FEEDBACK.
[NOISE] BUT I WILL LET MAYBE BEN SAY A WORD OR TWO BECAUSE HE'S BEEN PRETTY ACTIVE WITH THE ALCHEMISTS SCHOOLS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP WITH THAT BEN.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT I'VE GOT.
I'LL DISTRIBUTE THAT TO JOHN AND ROSE, AND I'VE SHARED THAT WITH BEN AND COURTNEY.
>> ALL RIGHT. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ALCHEMIST HIGH SCHOOL EARTH CLUB.
I GUESS I'VE MOSTLY BEEN WORKING ON THE DESIGN OF A RAIN GARDEN FOR THE PROPOSAL, SO THEN WE CAN GET A COST ESTIMATE AND YOU CAN GET AN OVERALL IDEA OF EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECT.
I'M ACTUALLY NOT ALL THAT USEFUL.
REMEMBER IT'S AN ENGINEERING FIRM IN CHARLOTTE.
I'M JUST A MIDDLEMAN WHO'S HERE AND THEN IN THE EARTH CLUB AND WITH THEM.
I DON'T HAVE THE ENGINEERING LICENSE, SO I CAN'T REALLY DO ALL THAT MUCH TO AFFECT THE PROJECT.
BUT I'VE BEEN JUST TALKING WITH THEM ABOUT AN IDEA OF THE DESIGN.
IT LOOKS LIKE, WE'RE JUST GOING TO PUT IT RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE WHERE [NOISE] THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FLOODING, JUST SOUTH OF THE BUILDING, LEAD RIGHT INTO THE POND WHICH IS SOUTHWEST OF THE CHOSEN SITE.
THEN FROM THERE, IT'LL FLOW INTO THE WETLANDS JUST NORTHWEST OF ALL THAT, BY THE PASTURE FARMS AND ALL THAT.
THE STUDENTS ARE WORKING ON SELECTING FLOWERS FOR OUR PROPOSAL AND THEY HAVE EVERYTHING SET FOR THE 15TH.
THEY'RE ASKING ME WHAT SHOULD THE PROPOSAL LOOK LIKE AND I DON'T KNOW.
I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE PRETTY ACCEPTING OF DIFFERENT IDEA, I DON'T KNOW.
I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO TELL THEM.
I SAID THEY PROBABLY HAVE A GOOD IDEA WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
[01:15:01]
>> WELL, THERE ARE MANY PROPOSALS.
WE DON'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO WRITE 100 PAGES, THAT'S FOR SURE.
BUT THEIR SOLICITATION DID INCLUDE A BASIC FRAMEWORK OF THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED.
>> YEAH, THAT'S GOOD. I THINK THEY'LL BE ABLE TO WORK OFF OF THAT.
WE ARE MEETING ON MONDAY WITH THE ENGINEERING FIRM AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE THEIR FINAL INITIAL PLAN.
THEY'RE DOING ALL THIS FOR FREE BY THE WAY, THEY HAVE A STUDENT AT ALCHEMIST.
THEY'RE JUST THROWING TOGETHER A QUICK DESIGN AND COST ESTIMATE.
WE'LL GET WORD ON MONDAY, AND THEN THEIR PROPOSAL SHOULD BE SENT IN.
IT SHOULD BE SENT IN SOMETIME AFTER THAT.
I HAD BEEN CHATTING WITH LOW WRITINGS MEETING AND I THINK I MIGHT TRY AND HELP YOU GUYS FILL THAT OTHER STUDENT POSITION.
I'LL JUST GO TO EARTH CLUB AND THERE WE WERE 22 PARTICIPANTS AT THE LAST MEETING.
A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET INVESTED INTO THE BUSINESS.
LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET ONE FOR YOU GUYS.
>> [LAUGHTER] EXCELLENT. WELL, THANK YOU BEN FOR THAT, AND FOR YOUR HELP AS THE RAIN GARDEN PROJECT.
THAT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE IN THERE HELPING THEM.
>> YEAH, IT'S GREAT. I CAN GET MORE EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD, ACTUAL PROBLEMS, NOT JUST THEORETICAL SCHOOL PROBLEMS. I CAN ACTUALLY FIND MYSELF A BIT MORE AND SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> SHOULD WE HAVE A JOINT MEETING WITH EARTH CLUBS FROM SCHOOLS AT SOME POINT? THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING, INVITING THE WHOLE CLUB OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR MAYBE EVEN MEETING THEM AT THEIR TIMING, WHATEVER IT IS.
THAT MIGHT HELP TO VALIDATE AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE NOT JUST TO DO IT AS A SCHOOL ACTIVITY, BUT TO IDENTIFY IT AS SOMETHING THAT THEY REALLY VALUE, THAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY VALUES.
>> I LIKE THAT IDEA. MY ONLY IDEA WITH ALL THAT IS THE KIDS WERE REALLY NERVOUS FOR SOME REASON WHEN I WAS THERE.
SO MY PERSPECTIVE OF BEING A STUDENT ON THE COMMISSION, I WAS LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY OR IF I SHOULD SAY IT AND I DON'T KNOW." THEY MIGHT BE A LITTLE NERVOUS, SO IT MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF PATIENCE TO GET THEM TO TALK [NOISE].
>> I FEEL LIKE I RECALL AT SOME POINT IN THE AGREEMENT FOR STRUCTURE GRANT DISCUSSION, TALKING ABOUT HAVING THE RECIPIENTS PRESENT THE PROJECT AND ITS RESULTS SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD.
MAYBE THAT'S A WAY TO APPROACH IT.
>> YEAH. I THINK THE DISCUSSION WE HAD TOO, WAS THAT THE REVIEW COMMITTEE WILL COME TO THE WHOLE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR FUNDING.
BUT LIKE COURTNEY POINTED OUT, THE TOWNSHIP BOARD DOESN'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THOSE DECISIONS THEY'VE DELEGATED TO US.
BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THE WINNERS OR MAYBE ALL OF THEM IF THEY'RE ALL WINNERS, MAKING PRESENTATIONS TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD TOO.
BUT IF THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF NERVOUSNESS, WE COULD HAVE THEM MAKE A PRESENTATION TO US, A TRIAL RUN, AND THEN THEY COULD PRACTICE WITH US AND THEN GO ON TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD BECAUSE I THINK THE TOWNSHIP BOARD TOO WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE WINNING STUDENTS OR THE WINNING PROJECTS AT SOME POINT, THAT RIGHT?
>> JOHN ESSER MENTIONED THAT IF WE CAN DOCUMENT SOME OF THIS ON VIDEO, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER WAY TO SIMPLIFY THE PRESENTATION.
IF THE STUDENTS DO THE VIDEO, ALL THEY MIGHT HAVE TO DO IS JUST INTRODUCE THEIR VIDEO AND THEN PLAY THAT AT A MEETING AS A WAY TO EXERCISE YOUR CREATIVITY BUT ALSO GET SOME EXPOSURE.
JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE AGAIN AS, BEN, IF YOU WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO START TO DOCUMENT THEIR PROCESS, TAKE SOME SHOTS, MAYBE SOMEONE'S GOT SOME VIDEO SKILLS.
>> WELL, I'LL LET THEM KNOW. GOOD IDEA.
>> LET ME HELP PUT THAT ON THE SPOT BECAUSE WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE TEE PROJECT IN HASLETT.
I BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND SEE IF THERE MIGHT BE SOME INTEREST.
>> YEAH, I ASKED MY WIFE WHO HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THE HASLETT SCHOOLS, BUT OF COURSE, OUR KIDS ARE DONE THERE AND HAVE BEEN FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.
[01:20:05]
BUT I ASKED HER WHO TO CONTACT AND THEN I'M AFRAID THAT I DROPPED THE BALL OF GOING FURTHER, BUT I WILL DO THAT.SHE'S UPSTAIRS NOW. [LAUGHTER] NOW, THAT I'VE BEEN REMINDED, I WILL DO THAT.
>> YEAH. AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT INTEREST ON THE PART OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD TO DO ANOTHER TREE PROJECT AND HASLETT WOULD BE MARVELOUS, YEAH.
AS I REMEMBER IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE IN THE SCHOOLS, IT COULD BE HASLETT BEAUTIFICATION ASSOCIATION OR WHATEVER THE GROUP IS.
ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE GRANTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO TREE CITY? MOVING ON TO TREE CITY.
[7B. Tree City Update]
ROSE, DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATE FOR US?>> THIS TREE CITY DESIGNATION HAS BLOSSOMED INTO A MULTI-DEPARTMENT EFFORT AT THIS POINT.
WE HAD A REALLY GREAT MEETING.
BUT THE DEEPER WE DELVE INTO THIS, THE MORE WE REALIZE HOW COMPLEX IT IS AND HOW MUCH OVERLAP WE HAVE WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
WE HAD A REALLY GREAT MEETING WITH IVAN FROM PARKS, DERRICK FROM DPW, JANE FROM PARKS AND LAND MANAGEMENT.
MARK WAS THERE, LEROY, BILL AND I WERE ALL THERE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS, THAT WE'VE BOILED IT DOWN AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A NEW SIMPLER TACK.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THIS SIMPLER RATHER THAN, I THINK BEFORE WHEN I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WRITING A NEW OVERARCHING TREE CARE ORDINANCE.
NOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING IS HAVING THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TAKE A LOOK AT THIS THROUGH THEIR LENS.
RATHER THAN WRITING AN ORDINANCE, WE'RE GOING TO COMPILE THE ORDINANCE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AND COME UP WITH SOME BEST PRACTICES AND MAKE A DOCUMENT THAT REFERS BACK TO THE EXISTING ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE.
THAT'S THE PLAN, AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO HAVE A TREE ADVISORY BOARD.
INITIALLY, I WAS TALKING ABOUT HAVING OUR COMMISSION ON THE ENVIRONMENT BE THAT ADVISORY BOARD, AND IVAN HAD SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE WE HAVE ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH COMMISSIONER, EACH DEPARTMENT ON THAT BOARD, JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE AND EVERYBODY'S GOT A SAY.
I THINK WE'RE ONTO SOMETHING GREAT.
IT'S AWESOME THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH COOPERATION AND SO MUCH INTEREST FROM EVERYBODY.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED THAN I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.
[LAUGHTER] WE'LL GET THERE THOUGH.
>> THAT SOUNDED VERY POSITIVE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR ROSE? LET'S SAY CHAIR'S REPORT? LET'S SEE.
[8. CHAIR’S REPORT]
I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING.I JUST MENTIONED THAT THIS MORNING AT THE GREEN DIALOGUE.
WE ALWAYS HAVE VERY GOOD DISCUSSIONS, BUT THE ISSUE CAME UP, OR THIS SUGGESTION ABOUT HAVING AND A GREEN FAIR AT THE MARKETPLACE.
THE WILLIAMSON SUPERVISOR HAD TALKED TO LUANN AND THREW OUT THE IDEA THAT WIMPS AND TOWNSHIP MIGHT LIKE TO PARTICIPATE AND LUANN APPARENTLY THOUGHT WAS A GREAT IDEA, ESPECIALLY UTILIZING THE MARKETPLACE.
THAT IS WHEN WE DISCUSSED IT AT LENGTH AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF INTERESTS AND ENTHUSIASMS FOR DOING LIKE A GREEN FAIR MAYBE TOWARDS THE END OF THE SUMMER.
IT WAS ALSO SUGGESTED ABOUT HAVING LIKE A LIKE A SCAVENGER HUNT WHERE DIFFERENT GREEN STUFF AROUND THE TOWNSHIP COULD BE ANALYZED AND PEOPLE MIGHT GO AROUND AND FIND DIFFERENT THINGS AND CHECK THEM OFF AND HAVE ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS WHICH COULD BE OF INTEREST TO KIDS FOR SURE, BUT ALSO ADULTS.
THAT WAS A VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSION THIS MORNING.
[INAUDIBLE] YOU HAVE STAFF REPORT?
[9. STAFF REPORT]
>> JUST GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN REAL QUICK.
IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN PLUGIN INTO THAT DIALOGUE SESSION, THERE'S A LINK AT THE TOP.
MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN THERE AND KNOW THE LINK.
I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT, BUT IF ANYONE'S LISTENING OR TUNING IN, IT'S THE BITLY LINK GREEN DIALOGUE.
OF COURSE, THE GREEN EVENT JOHN JUST MENTIONED IS REALLY EXCITING.
IT'S ONE OF THE MAGICAL THINGS THAT HAPPENS IN THESE CONVERSATIONS IS
[01:25:02]
JUST THE NETWORKING AND THE IDEA IS THAT FEED OFF EACH OTHER.ITS LIKE THE TREE CITY, THIS COULD BE MULTI-DEPARTMENTAL.
WHEN PARKS GETS BEHIND SOMETHING, THEY'VE GOT A REAL GOOD STAFF.
AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, EMMA LUANN, MIKE ALLISON WITH THE NATURE CENTER.
THE OTHER THING THAT CAME OUT OF THEIR GREEN NETWORKING SESSIONS WAS THIS, THE GREEN NEIGHBORS IDEA.
THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT MAYBE A LEADERSHIP TEAM.
SARAH AND KENDRA, PERHAPS JOHN.
I'D BE HAVING SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW DO WE ORGANIZE THIS BETTER? HOW DO WE ORGANIZE INFORMATION? THEN THE IDEA CAME UP TODAY AGAIN ABOUT A POTENTIAL TRAINING WHERE WE TALK ABOUT A TOPIC OF INTEREST AND THAT COULD BE ENERGY OR WATER-RELATED.
TODAY, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT PONS AND I WAS SORRY, BILL WASN'T THERE BUT I GOT OVER IT BY NOON.
HOW DO WE DO INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT IN SOME OF THESE, SOME OF THEM ARE DRAINAGE PONDS, BUT SOME OF OUR MAYBE SPRING FED, I DON'T KNOW DETAILS OF OUR PONDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT EMMA WAS AT THE MEETING AND TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE DEAL WITH THAT IN SOME OF THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
I GET THERE ALSO CONTROLLED BY THE DRAIN COMMISSION.
I THINK THOSE INVOLVING THE DRAIN COMMISSION AND DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE POND IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND POSSIBLE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT SHOULD TELL US ABOUT MAYBE.
GREEN GAZETTE JUST CAME OUT AS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT TRY AND ASSEMBLE SOME OF THE THINGS I LEARN ABOUT THROUGH YOU GUYS, GIRLS AND GUYS.
I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR IDEAS AND CONTRIBUTIONS.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO TO ANY OF THE BACK ISSUES YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THAT AND MAYBE CONTRIBUTE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A RECYCLING EVENT IS MAYBE THIS SPRING OR SUMMER.
HARRIS NATURE CENTER HAS A PLANT SALE GOING ON.
IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THAT, MAY WANT TO CHECK OUR WEBSITE.
THERE'S A COMMUNITY GARDEN LEADER TRAINING HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
I MENTIONED IKE IS LOOKING FOR A PLOT OR A PUBLIC SPACE.
HE'S IN THE OTTAWA HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF OKEMOS ROAD AND GRAND RIVER AND THAT LARGE NEIGHBORHOOD THERE.
I HAVE MY DIRECTIONS, CORRECT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS, LET ME KNOW.
THEN WE HAVE SOME GOOD, GREAT GREEN THINGS COMING UP, SOME COG NEXT MONTH.
TUNE IN AGAIN. THANK YOU BILL FOR SUGGESTING LAURIE.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS A GREAT PERSON TO TALK ABOUT THE MERV BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH THAT FOR PROBABLY SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
THEN WE HAVE PAGE POLICE WHO IT'S COMING UP IN MAY.
THERE ARE A FEW OTHER THINGS HERE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY MORE TIME BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO AN HOUR AND A HALF HERE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO HIT ME UP LATER OR TOMORROW.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. ANY QUESTION IS FOR LORE BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION?
>> JUST STALL. CAN I STALL FOR A SECOND?
>> COMMUNITY GARDENS ARE WITHHELD AS NOT ALL THE HILLS BACKUP ON TO THE NEW PATHWAY.
THE SECOND PHASE OF THE INNER URBAN AND SOME OF THAT PROPERTY IS LAND PRESERVE.
MAYBE THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES OVER IN THAT DIRECTION.
BUT THAT'S THE LAST TIME I'M GOING TO MISS A HUNDRED LEROYS WEDNESDAY MORNING WHEN I WAS GETTING MY FIELD JOINT. I'M GOING TO GET EXCUSED.
>> IT'S MY CONVERSATION, IT'S OURS.
I JUST PROVIDE THE ZOOM LINK HERE.
>> WE DID ASSIGN YOU SOMETHING TODAY, WHICH I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT LATER.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE ORGANIZING THE GREEN FAIR THAT JOHN MENTIONED.
THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR NOT SHOWING UP.
>> BUT THAT'S ONLY AFTER YOU'RE DONE BUILDING THE SECOND HALF OF DANDER URBAN LOCATION.
>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING IDEA.
LAND PRESERVATION IS PRETTY PROTECTIVE OF THEIR HABITATS BY DOM, THAT MIGHT BE, MAYBE THERE'S A PLOT IN THERE SOMEWHERE.
>> SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT [INAUDIBLE].
[01:30:01]
[10A. Transportation Commission]
>> THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION HAS NOT LAST MET ON JANUARY 21ST SO HAS NOT MET SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.
[10B. Planning Commission]
>> PLANNING COMMISSION LAST MET ON FEBRUARY 22ND AND THE MAIN ISSUE ON THAT AGENDA WAS A PUBLIC HEARING ON A ZONING AMENDMENT TO AMEND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO REQUIRE TOWNSHIP BOARD APPROVAL OF SPECIAL USE PERMITS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE SALES AND SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS.
BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH PRIOR ZONING CHANGE THAT WAS MADE IN THE ALLOWED FROM A DEALERSHIP.
IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON UPON GRAND RIVER.
MY WHOLE PURPOSE ARE A LITTLE BIT STRAINED.
I'M TRYING TO CREATE A FEW MORE STEPS OF REVIEW ON LARGE IMPERVIOUS SURFACE USES OF WHICH A CAR DEALERSHIP IS TOWARDS THE IMPERVIOUS SIDE OF THAT IS THE ISSUE ARE THERE.
SIMILAR ISSUES ARISE IN THE MISSIONS TO PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE REVIEW WITH WHERE DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY LIES FOR DIFFERENT MIXED-USE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT PERMITS.
>> MICHIGAN TOWNSHIP ASSOCIATION, WHO'S THE LEGISLATURE?
[10C. MI Township Association (MTA) or MI Municipal League (MML)]
ONE IS, I'M SURE MOST OF YOU ARE AWARE THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS COME OUT EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH SOME SOFTENING OF SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS REGARDING COVID.
I THINK ONE, IN PARTICULAR, COULD IMPACT LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT.
THEY WILL BE ALLOWING UP TO 25 PEOPLE IN-PERSON GATHERINGS NOW.
THAT COULD POTENTIALLY OPEN UP THIS COMMISSION TO MEET IN PERSON, AS WELL AS THINGS LIKE THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.
THAT STARTS AS OF FRIDAY, I BELIEVE, AND GOES FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS.
IN ADDITION, JUST ONE OTHER THING TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THERE IS HOUSE BILL 4236, HAS BEEN INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MARKETING FROM THE UP.
IT HAS TO DEAL WITH LIFTING THE ONE PERCENT CAP ON DISTRIBUTED GENERATION.
THERE HAS BEEN ONE HEARING ALREADY ON THE BILL.
I'M NOT REAL OPTIMISTIC THAT IT'S GOING TO GO TO FAR REAL QUICKLY BECAUSE THE MAJOR UTILITIES ARE STILL OPPOSED TO THE LEGISLATION.
BUT IF IT SHOULD MOVE FORWARD, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE SOLAR DEVELOPMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL ACTIVITY.
OTHER THAN THAT I GUESS THAT'S ABOUT IT, AT THIS POINT.
>> LET'S SEE. WELL WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY IN
[10D. Land Preservation Advisory Board]
THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD ANYMORE SO LET'S SEE, GREEN TEAM.>> JUST BRIEFLY, I WANT TO JUST MENTION THAT KENDRA AND ANNA HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN JOINING THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD.
I JUST THROW THAT INTO THE FURTHER DISCUSSION PERHAPS OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATES IS THAT WE MIGHT EITHER-OR MIGHT BECOME A REPRESENTATIVE TO OUR COMMISSION IN THE FUTURE. SO THAT'S IT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] COULD YOU GO AHEAD.
>> SO SORRY IF THIS IS OUT OF PLACE, BUT WHEN TOM WAS TALKING, I WAS RECALLING THE DISCUSSION OR THE NEXT PHASE OF THE TOWNSHIPS SOLAR ARRAY ON THE SERVICE CENTER.
I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED HERE AND I WAS WONDERING SO WE WANTED TO.
>> YEAH, BASICALLY, WE'RE HOPING TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT WITH ABSOLUTE SOLAR.
THEY'VE PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE AND A PLAN FOR THAT.
SO DERRICK IS IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING UP A CONTRACT.
THERE'S LOOKING AT FULL OFFSET FOR THE ENERGY USE WHICH IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
I THINK IT'S CLOSE TO A 140 KILOWATT SYSTEM WHICH IS SEVEN TIMES AS BIG AS THE ONE OUT IN FRONT OF THE TOWNSHIP HALL.
BUT DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT? ANYBODY, JOHN?
>> WELL, I JUST MENTIONED THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THE INNER GLASS ENERGY TEAM'S MEETING.
[10G. Energy Team]
[01:35:05]
WE TALKED AT LENGTH WITH ARAB FROM ABSOLUTE SOLAR, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S WORKING OUT REALLY WELL.BECAUSE WE'RE NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT EXTENSION, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET A SHARE PENCIL AND GET THE PRICE ON WATT BASIS MUCH MUCH LOWER PLUS THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE TOO.
SO IT'S A GOOD SIZE SYSTEM AND ALSO A VERY GOOD PRICE TOO.
ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE GREEN TEAM, LEROY?
[10E. Green Team]
>> WE MEET NEXT WEEK, IF ANYONE WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT TO TRY AND COME UP WITH A DATE FOR A SPRING OR SUMMER RECYCLING EVENT.
>> ROSE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, ANY NEWS?
[10F. Environmental Justice]
>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC NEWS, I'LL PUT IT IN THE CHAT, I DO WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A LINK TO A CONVERSATION THAT I SAID WITH THE MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COALITION.
IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THESE FIRESIDE CHATS THAT THEY DID.
I THINK I TALKED ABOUT ONE LAST TIME.
THE PAST MONTH THEY JUST TALKED ABOUT EQUITY AND WATER.
THEY TALKED ABOUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN FLINT.
LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS IN DETROIT.
BUT WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THESE DISCUSSIONS, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, IS THAT THE PANELISTS THAT THEY HAVE PRESENTING THESE ISSUES ARE ON-THE-GROUND ORGANIZERS.
THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS POLITICALLY CORRECT, AND IT'S JUST SO NICE TO BE GETTING THIS INFORMATION FIRSTHAND FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES.
SO PLEASE CHECK IT OUT IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE.
I GUESS THE BIG TAKEAWAY THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU WAS AGAIN, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE DOMINO EFFECT AND HOW THESE ISSUES OF CLEAN WATER, WHO'S GOING TO END UP WITH A BILL? THE CITIES ARE PUTTING ASSESSMENTS ON PEOPLE'S HOMES.
PEOPLE ARE BEING DRIVEN OUT OF THEIR HOMES.
SO NOT ONLY IS THE WATER AND ISSUE BUT THEN IT CASCADES INTO HOUSING ISSUES AND CASCADES INTO ALL OF THESE OTHER ISSUES.
SO REALLY EVERYTHING'S VERY INTERCONNECTED.
IT WAS INTERESTING. I'M PUTTING IT HERE IN THE CHAT FOR YOU NOW.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ROSE.
AND I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE ENERGY TEAM BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THE CITIZENS CLIMATE COMMITMENT AND THE NEW SOLAR ARRAY.
THAT LEADS ME TO BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
[10H. Brownfield Redevelopment Authority]
>> YES. SO LIKE BILL, THAT GROUP HAS NOT MET EITHER SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.
THEY CANCELED THE PLANNED MEETING THAT WAS TO BE I GUESS IT WAS LAST WEEK BASICALLY FOR LACK OF ACTIVITY.
PETER MENSER PROMISES US THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MEETING NEXT MONTH, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE ONE THIS CYCLE.
>> I HAD A QUESTION THOUGH, YOUR DISCUSSION OF THE SOLAR PANELS JUST REMINDED ME OF A QUESTION I HAD BACK IN THE MINUTES.
SO THE MINUTES TALKING ABOUT KILOWATT NUMBERS, DO WE HAVE ANY ACTUAL MEASURE OF KILOWATT HOURS GENERATED, AND SO FORTH? BECAUSE IT WOULD BE GREAT TO BE ABLE TO BOAST TO THE TOWNSHIP THAT IN THIS MANY TONS OF CO_2 HAVE BEEN ESSENTIALLY DISPLACED BY THE ARRAY THAT WE HAVE, AND THEN, PROJECTED BY THE RAYS THAT ARE GOING UP.
I THINK KILOWATTS ARE THEORETICAL THINGS FOR MOST PEOPLE, BUT TONS OF CO_2 IS AT LEAST SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE PHYSICAL SOUNDING. I'M JUST CURIOUS.
THE PROPOSAL FROM ABSOLUTE SOLAR DOES INCLUDE THOSE MEASURES TO MAKE IT MORE REAL FOR FOLKS THAT WITH RESPECT TO I THINK THE NUMBER OF TREES PLANTED AND TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE.
LEROY COULD SHARE THAT PAGE FROM THEIR PROPOSAL, WHICH MIGHT GIVE US ALL A SENSE FOR WHAT THE IMPACT IS FOR US PUTTING THAT A 142 KILOWATT ARRAY ON THE SERVICE CENTER.
>> YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. IT COULD BE PUT IN TERMS OF GALLONS OF GASOLINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT DOESN'T MATTER.
[01:40:02]
>> THE ABSOLUTE HAD THREE DIFFERENT, I'M PRETTY SURE ONE WAS TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND ONE WAS TREES PLANTED AND MAYBE THEY HAD GALLONS TOO.
I FORGET WHAT THE THIRD ONE WAS BUT LET'S SHARE THAT WITH YOU BECAUSE IT'S INTERESTING.
IT CAN MAKE IT MORE MEANINGFUL.
YEAH, AND LET'S SEE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, [INAUDIBLE] IS NOT HERE.
ANYTHING FURTHER FOR THE GOOD OF THE CAUSE.
[11. PUBLIC REMARKS]
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC REMARKS TO, IF KENDRA WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE OR ANYBODY ON THE COMMISSION.ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS BEFORE WE ADJOURN? OKAY. CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? OKAY, FROM BILL. SECOND? THANK YOU FOR TOM.
ALL IN FAVOR? OKAY. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. TAKE CARE.
THANK YOU. STEPHEN. SAMANTHA. [NOISE]
>> NICE JOB.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.