[00:01:46]
>> [MUSIC] JOHN, WE ARE ALL SET TO GO, ACCORDING TO SAMANTHA DEAL WHO'S IN THE BACKGROUND HERE SUPPORTING US.
>> WELL, LET ME CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER ]
AS ALWAYS, THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA,[2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ]
SO WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING TO THE AGENDA? I SEE NOBODY RAISED THEIR HAND TO ADD ANYTHING.WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA?
>> THANK YOU, TOM. CAN I HEAR A SECOND? THANK YOU, BILL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND? MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
[3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES ]
OF COURSE, [INAUDIBLE] THE MINUTES.LEROY HAS GIVEN US THREE OPTIONS, BUT SINCE WE'VE PUT ALL THE WORK, INTRODUCE YOU TO THE DETAILED MINUTES, WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE DETAILED MINUTES? I'M NOT SEEING ANYTHING.
WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? THANK YOU, VALERIE. DO I SEE A SECOND? THANK YOU, COURTNEY. ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES RAISE THE HANDS.
I GUESS THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR US TO DISCUSS LEROY SUGGESTION THAT WE GO TO A CONDENSED VERSION.
HE WAS NICE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY GIVE US A VERY CONDENSED VERSION [LAUGHTER] A ONE-PAGER AND THEN A VERY DETAILED MINUTES.
I KNOW THERE WAS SOME FEEDBACK, A NUMBER OF US THOUGHT THE MIDDLE VERSION, WHICH IS THE ONE-PAGER, WAS PRETTY GOOD.
BUT WE PROBABLY WANT TO SEE WHAT YOUR PREFERENCES ARE.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS AND SHALL WE MAKE LEROY'S LIFE EASIER? [LAUGHTER] HOW ABBREVIATED WOULD PEOPLE LIKE TO SEE THE MINUTES? ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? VALERIE? YOU'RE MUTED.
>> THEY RECORDED AND AVAILABLE, SO WOULD SEEM LIKE A SHORTER VERSION TO SAVE ENERGY WOULD BE GOOD BECAUSE IF YOU WANTED AN EXPANDED VERSION, YOU CAN GO TO IT.
EVEN WHEN WE'RE IN PERSON, WE'RE ON CABLE.
THERE IS A VERSION THAT PEOPLE CAN GO AND SEE EVERY WORD THAT'S SAID, SO YEAH, EXACTLY.
I WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED WITH LEROY MENTIONED IN HIS EMAIL LEAD LEGALLY, WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE MINUTES.
IT SURPRISED ME. VALERIE, YOU SUGGESTED THE CONDENSED VERSION WOULD BE GOOD?
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION MORE THAN A CONDENSED VERSION. SORRY, LEROY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE OPTIONS AND I THINK IT'S HELPFUL JUST TO CAN GO THROUGH THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES REAL QUICKLY AND THEN WE CAN LOOK AT IT IF NEED BE WITH MORE DETAIL.
[00:05:02]
I DO LIKE THE MIDDLE VERSION AS WELL.I THINK IT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THE CONDENSED VERSION, BUT IT GIVES US A FLAVOR OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MEETING WITHOUT GOING INTO A LOT OF THE DETAIL.
MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE WOULD BE THE MIDDLE VERSION AS WELL.
>> I HAVE DIFFERENT DEVICES AND I NEVER KNOW WHERE THE BUTTONS ARE ON EACH OF THEM. I WOULD AGREE.
THE PURPOSE OF MEETING MINUTES, EVEN THOUGH MAYBE NOT REQUIRED FOR THE COMMISSION, IS TO HAVE THAT HISTORICAL RECORD.
EVEN THOUGH WE DO HAVE IT RECORDED, I KNOW FOR ME I HAVE ALL THE INTENTIONS OF WATCHING EVERY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
IT'S [LAUGHTER] HARD TO DO SOMETIMES, SO HAVING THE FOOTNOTES OR THE CLIFF NOTES IS HELPFUL SO THAT SOMEWHAT HISTORICAL WRITTEN RECORD, BUT CERTAINLY NOT PUTTING AS MUCH ENERGY AND EFFORT IS AS YOU HAVE BEEN LEROY, I THINK YOU CAN DO JUST AS GOOD A JOB IN A CONDENSED VERSION.
>> YEAH, I SUPPORT THE CONDENSED VERSION GIVEN THAT THE RECORDINGS ARE AVAILABLE.
IN THE INSTANCE THAT WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR A WETLAND USE PERMIT APPLICATION WE'LL PROBABLY WANT TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE FORMAL.
BUT IN GENERAL, I THINK SOMETHING THAT RECALLS GENERALLY THE OUTLINES OF THE MEETING AND THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE IS APPROPRIATE.
>> WELL, LET'S SEE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS. YEAH, NED.
>> JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT [LAUGHTER] AT THE RISK OF HAVING LEROY COME OVER TO MY HOUSE AND DO BAD THINGS TO ME.
WHAT WOULD BE REALLY COOL WOULD BE I LIKE THE MIDDLE VERSION.
THAT'S BASICALLY ONE LINE PER ITEM, BUT IT IS TRUE SOMETIMES THE MEETINGS CAN GO TWO HOURS.
SINCE I DIDN'T GO BACK AND WATCH THE MEETINGS, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF THE MEETING, BUT IF THERE WERE ANY WAY TO INCLUDE AT LEAST ROUGH TIMELINE, THAT WOULD HELP MAKE THE USE OF THIS OUTLINE FORM THE MOST EFFICIENT, I THINK, BECAUSE IT WOULD ALLOW US TO GO TO THE RECORDING, BUT NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO FILTER THROUGH TWO HOURS OR WHATEVER IT IS TO FIND THE ITEMS. IT MIGHT JUST BE A MATTER OF WHEN YOU WRITE DOWN THE ITEM AT THAT POINT IN THE MEETING, JUST LOOK AT THE CLOCK AND NOT NECESSARILY FILTERED THROUGH THE WHOLE TAPE YOURSELF AGAIN.
I ALSO THINK LEROY'S TIME IS WORTH MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
HE'S DONE SO MANY OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS.
>> IT WOULD TAKE A LOT MORE THAN THAT TO GET ME TO COME BEAT YOU UP.
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW. [LAUGHTER] I'LL FIND ANOTHER SONG THAT MESS UP.
>> I HEAR LUCA'S GOOD WITH A BAT.
>> NO, I KNOW, IT'S MORE DANGEROUS IN THAT.
ANNAKA'S IN MY CLASS NOW, SHE SITS [LAUGHTER] RIGHT IN THE FRONT AND I HAVE TO KEEP MY NOSE CLEAN.
>> SAMANTHA, WHO DOES A LOT OF WORK IN THE BACKGROUND, DOES MATCH THE AGENDA WITH THE RECORDING.
THAT IS A NICE, IF YOU GO TO THE MEETING, CHECK THAT OUT.
I THINK YOU'LL FIND IT A USEFUL GUIDE AS YOU'RE TRYING TO HONE IN ON THE AGENDA ITEM.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD THAT ALSO I LIKED THE MIDDLE VERSION.
I WAS WONDERING IF WE WANTED TO AND I SHOULD KNOW IF THIS IS INCLUDED IN OTHER MEETINGS MINUTES, BUT I CAN'T THINK OF IT, BUT HAVING A NEXT STEPS OR, TO DO AREA OF THE AGENDA JUST SO THAT'S TOP OF MIND.
WHAT WE'VE COMMITTED TO DOING BETWEEN MEETINGS COULD BE HELPFUL.
LEROY, IN OTHER BOARDS AND MEETINGS, I'M THE CLERK.
CLERK STAFF IS THE ONE TAKING THE MINUTES, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CLERK HERSELF OR THE OTHER CHAIRS.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD GET ASSISTANCE FOR YOU OR WOULD THAT EVEN BE SOMETHING YOU'D WANT? IS THAT EVEN NOT EVEN A QUESTION?
>> YEAH, IF I COULD, I I BELIEVE THAT MANY OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE STAFFED BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS, PARKS, AND PLANNING, AND THEIR STAFF TYPICALLY, I THINK TAKE THAT ROLE.
>> YEAH. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE LEROY PROVIDING THAT STOPS FOR THIS COMMISSION SO THE CONNECTION OF HOMOGENEOUS.
[00:10:02]
WHEN I HINTED TO DEB GUTHRIE THAT I MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR SOME HELP, I THINK SHE HAD A LITTLE STREAK OF VIOLENCE ACROSS HER EYES [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE THERE'S REAL PROTECTIVE OF HER STAFF, PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY OVER COMMITTED.
BUT SHE ALSO DID MENTIONED THAT WHEN THEY DO MINUTES, THEY JUST DO A VERY CONDENSED VERSION.
IF THEY DISCUSS AN ISSUE FOR AN HOUR, THEY PUT DISCUSSION THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH.
BUT I LOVE THE IDEA OF SOMETHING THAT'S USEFUL, ANNA'S SUGGESTION IS GREAT BUT I WOULD ALSO RELY ON YOU TO CONTINUE TO EDIT, AND ADD THINGS THAT I MIGHT NOT HAVE PICKED UP ON YOU SEE ON YOUR TO-DO LIST.
I'LL TRY, AND GET THAT OUT TO YOU QUICKLY SO IT'S FRESH IN YOUR BRAINS.
[NOISE] THANK YOU FOR THAT INPUT ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU. I LOVE ANNA'S IDEA BY THE WAY, THE NEXT STOPS ISN'T SUPER GOOD IDEA.
THERE'S CLOSED CAPTIONING ON THIS.
ISN'T THERE A WAY TO SOMEHOW HAVE THAT COME OUT, AND THEN YOU CAN PICK SENTENCES OUT OF IT? I'M NOT SUPER SMART WHEN IT COMES TO THIS STUFF, BUT IS THAT POSSIBLE TO MAKE LIFE A LITTLE BIT SIMPLER FOR YOU, AND NOT HAVE TO WATCH EVERYTHING BACK?
>> IT'S ACTUALLY MORE WORK BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY, IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF WORDS, AND NOT NECESSARILY SORTED, SO IT'S ACTUALLY MORE WORK.
I THINK. BUT THIS IS AN EXPERIMENT SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE HOW IT'S WORKING OUT, TAKE YOUR IDEAS TO HER, AND THEN WE'LL JUST LEARN AS WE GO HERE.
BUT THAT'S A NICE IDEA, WOULD SEEM LIKE CLOSED CAPTIONING WOULD BE HELPFUL, AND THE WAY IT SHOWS UP ON THE SCREEN, IT IS HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A CHALLENGE OF HEARING BECAUSE YOU SEE IT IN SYNCHRONICITY.
BUT JUST WHEN YOU GET A BIG GAMBLE OF WORDS, IT'S NOT QUITE AS EASY TO SORT THROUGH.
>> LEUCINE SHOULD BE A CONSENSUS THAT LOW-RES MIDDLE VERSION, WHICH IS ONE PAGE OR MAYBE A LITTLE MORE AS IS THE EXCEPTED ACCEPTABLE WAY TO RECEIVE IN THE FUTURE.
IS THERE ANYBODY WHO HAS ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT OR CONCERNS? IF THAT'S IT, THEN OKAY. MOVING ON.
WE HAVE A PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, IS THERE ANYBODY ON THE PHONE OR WHEREVER WE'D LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT? HEARING NOTHING MOVES ALONG TO NEW BUSINESS,
[5A. Wetland Outreach and Awareness ]
AND WE HAVE A WETLAND OUTREACH AND AWARENESS, AND NOT SURE IS KENDRA OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRING US UP TO DATE OR IS THERE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT MAYBE WANTS TO PROVIDE SOME UPDATES ON WHAT'S GOING ON, AND ALSO MEDIANS HAD BEEN LOOKS LIKE COURTNEY, ARE YOU VOLUNTEERING?>> I JUST HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION WITH WETLANDS STATION SO I PROMISED I WOULD HELP FACILITATE IT [LAUGHTER].
YES, I WILL JUST GIVE A LITTLE BRIEF.
WE DISCUSSED AS A GROUP POTENTIALLY HAVING A WETLAND EDUCATION MAYBE CAMPAIGN, IF YOU WILL, I THINK THAT THAT WORD CAME UP A COUPLE OF TIMES.
I THINK IN OUR WORK GROUP DISCUSSIONS, THE REASON THAT WE CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION THAT THAT MIGHT BE A GREAT IDEA IS TO GET AHEAD OF SOME OF THESE COMPLAINT BASED ORDINATES ISSUES.
THE STAFF BEING TASKED WITH FOLLOWING UP ON COMPLAINTS, BUT WE'RE REALLY NOT GETTING AHEAD OF IT, AND I THINK WE THINK THE BEST WAY WE COULD DO THAT IS CREATE THIS AWARENESS AMONGST THE COMMUNITY, AND THE COMMUNITIES MORE AWARE OF THE PURPOSE OF WETLANDS, THE IMPORTANCE OF WETLANDS, AND THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE THIS ORDINANCE.
HERE'S WHY WE HAVE THIS ORDINANCE, THE NATURAL VEGETATION BUFFER.
DOES THAT ALL GO THROUGH? WHY WE HAVE THE ORDINANCE, AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.
WE TALKED, LORRAINE, THANKFULLY, GOT US A MEETING WITH BRANDY, OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR.
KENDRA, LORRAINE MYSELF, AND EMMA WHO WAS OUR NATURALISTS THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, TO MAYBE SEE WHAT BRANDY'S IDEAS COULD BE, AND HOW IT MAYBE WE COULD APPROACH THIS WHERE IT COULD BE HOLISTIC.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF GROUPS RIGHT NOW DOING DIFFERENT THINGS RELATED TO WETLANDS, AND LORRAINE MADE A GOOD POINT.
WE SHOULD CONTINUE THAT MOMENTUM BUT MAYBE COME UP WITH A MORE SOLIDIFIED PLAN.
IN TALKING WITH HER TODAY, SHE HAD SOME GREAT IDEAS, OF COURSE, SHE'S AN EXPERT, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE HER.
BUT SHE CONVEYED, AND MADE SENSE TO ME WAS THAT WETLANDS ARE VERY COMPLEX AND COMPLICATED ISSUE.
[00:15:05]
IT'S NOT JUST ONE THING, THERE'S STILL MANY THINGS THAT ALL IN THERE THAT OVERLAP WITH OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.SHE SAID WHAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IS TO CREATE A TIMELINE, AND PICK OUT SOME MAIN TOPICS THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO COVER OVER A TIMELINE SO THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY FOCUS IN ON A TOPIC, AND THEN USING DIFFERENT MEDIA TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.
WE THOUGHT THAT WAS A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.
IN WORSE, HOPING THAT WE COULD MAYBE USE THE COMMISSION TO HELP US IDENTIFY WHAT TOPICS OUT OF THE ORDINANCE IN OR OUT OF THE COMMUNITY OR OUT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT OF IT THAT WE THINK WOULD BE IMPORTANT OR THAT YOU'VE HEARD COULD BE IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW.
THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT THOUGHTS, FOR ME, I HEARD ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY GOING ON, AND EMMA IS WORKING ON WETLAND INFORMATION DURING PARKS AND LAND-PUT RESERVATIONS.
NOW, THIS IS ALREADY HAPPENING SO MAYBE WE COULD BRAINSTORM TO KNOW WHAT'S ALREADY OUT THERE, WHO'S WORKING ON WHAT, AND HOW CAN WE CROSS COLLABORATE TO PROMOTE BOTH, KENDRA GAVE A GOOD EXAMPLE TODAY, HARRIS NATURE CENTER.
WE COULD BE THERE HANDING OUT WETLAND BROCHURES OR WE'RE DOING NATIVE PLANTS SALES BECAUSE THEY GO HAND IN HAND, SO THAT CROSS I GUESS DEPARTMENTAL BE CROSS PROGRAM OBJECT THERE.
I'M SORRY, I'M LOSING WORDS TODAY.
PROMOTION COULD HELP BOTH US IN HOW NATIVE PLANTS, AND HELP HERE [INAUDIBLE].
I THINK LEROY, YOU AND I HAD A LITTLE CONVERSATION TO THAT.
WE FEEL THAT MAYBE THAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR US TO USE A COMMISSION'S TIME.
THEN WE CAN WORK WITH BRANDY DEVELOP THIS SOMEWHAT MORE OF A SOLIDIFIED PLAN OVERTIME, AND KNOWING THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO START RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO CREATE SOME OF THESE DIFFERENT MEDIAS.
THEN USE YOUR GUISES INFORMATION, ALL YOUR INFORMATION, AND THEN BRING THAT BACK TO BRANDY.
THEN WE CAN CREATE A PLAN, AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR INPUT, AND APPROVAL. KENDRA [LAUGHTER]
>> YEAH, I THINK [OVERLAPPING]
>> ALL RIGHT. THINGS ARE SUMMARIZING THEM UP.
I THINK ABOUT THINGS IN RELATIONSHIP TO TIMELINESS, AND IF WE LOOK AT ALL THE FLOODING THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING TOO, AND HELPING PEOPLE.
WE WANT TO WORK ON IN PROTECTING FOLKS FROM FLOODING, AND DAMAGE, AND ALL THAT STUFF.
HOW WE CAN HARNESS LIKE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING CURRENTLY TO HELP PROTECT FOLKS.
BECAUSE THE BIG BRAINS THAT WE'VE HAD THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET MORE OF THOSE BIG RAINS.
THERE ARE STILL PLACES THAT ARE FLOODED FROM THE 5.5 INCHES OR EIGHT INCHES FROM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT WE GOT, AND WHAT A SIX HOUR PERIOD OF TIME.
HOW DID WE LOOK AT DOING STUFF THAT ARE AS TIMELY, AND PREVENTATIVE AS WELL, AND LOTS OF IDEAS ABOUT THAT.
>> COURTNEY, YOUR SUGGESTION RIGHT NOW WE SPENT SOME TIME IDENTIFYING THOSE MAJOR TOPICS, AREAS THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE SCHEDULE, THE PLAN?
>> LEROY, I THINK YOU HAD SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS COMING UP, THE ISSUES, THE TOPICS, THE CONCERNS THAT MIGHT FIT INTO THAT TIMELINE? I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF TAPPING YOUR COLLECTIVE CREATIVITY AND BRAINSTORMING.
THERE'S NO JUDGMENT ON ANY IDEAS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF, MAYBE TIME-LIMITED BRAINSTORMING TO JUST GET ALL THE IDEAS ON THE TABLE THAT WE CAN TAKE BACK AND FIT INTO A TIMELINE AND MORE OF A PLAN, AND THEN FEED THAT BACK TO YOU FOR ADDITIONAL IDEAS.
>> WELL, I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE IT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES AND IF WE'RE GOING STRONG, MAYBE EVEN MORE, BUT WHY DON'T WE GET STARTED AND, I'VE GOT 7:20 NOW, WE GET TO 7:30 AND WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS WE CAN STOP IT AT THEN OR CONTINUE, BUT GO AHEAD, WHAT DO PEOPLE THINK? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO THROW OUT? NED?
>> WELL, I JUST ECHO WHAT KENDRA HAS SAID.
I REALLY THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE JUST HAPPENED TO BE AT A MOMENT WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REMINDED OF THE IMPACTS OF HEAVY-DUTY RAIN DUMP.
[00:20:07]
WHAT I REALLY WANT TO THINK WOULD BE IMPORTANT WOULD BE TO THINK OF WAYS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY NOT ASK, HOW DO I BUILD MORE CURB AND GUTTER TO DIRECT THE WATER NOT INTO MY BASEMENT? INSTEAD TO ASK MORE GLOBALLY, MORE AT LEAST LOCALLY IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING WETLANDS, TO MAINTAIN THE RESILIENCE OF THE LAND RATHER THAN.ALSO REALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE AMOUNT OF DEVELOPMENT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN HAS HUGELY ENHANCED THE IMPERVIOUS SURFACE AND SO FORTH.
I KNOW QUITE A FEW PEOPLE [LAUGHTER] THAT ENDED UP WITH WATER IN THEIR BASEMENT AND I'M SURE YOU ALL DO TOO.
THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE VALUE OF BEING RESILIENT ANYWAY.
>> VERY GOOD POINT. [LAUGHTER] OTHER THOUGHTS? COMMENTS, PRIORITIES? BILL?
>> YEAH, THANKS. I'M VERY MUCH ON THE SAME TRACK, I THINK THERE'S THE ISSUE OF STORMWATER IS CRUCIAL TO THE TOWNSHIP.
IT'S PART OF OUR CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A COUNTY DRAIN COMMISSIONER WHO'S LEADING THE FIELD IN DEALING WITH INCREASING STORMWATER AND THE THINGS THAT THAT STORMWATER BRINGS INTO OUR RIVERS AND LAKES.
THERE ARE SOME REALLY BIG PROJECTS GOING ON WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP RIGHT NOW INCLUDING STUFF UP LIKE LANCING AND MORE RECENTLY ON THE DANIEL'S DRAIN RIGHT THERE AT WALDEN POND, SOME OF WHICH INCLUDES CONSTRUCTING WETLANDS TO TRAP SEDIMENT COMING FROM RUNOFF.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE PRODUCED SOME REALLY GOOD MATERIALS ON THE DANIEL'S DRAIN PROJECT AND ON A COUPLE OF OTHERS, TOWER GARDENS AND OTHERS.
THOSE MIGHT BE REALLY GOOD RESOURCES FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO BUILD A DRAWN AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS.
>> OTHER THOUGHTS? WHEN I THINK [INAUDIBLE] EDUCATION TOO I THINK IN TERMS THAT YOU CAN'T ASSUME PEOPLE KNOW ANYTHING AND SO AGAIN I THINK YOU HAVE TO REPEAT THE REAL BASICS.
I WAS SURPRISED THAT WE HAVE 25 PERCENT OF THE TOWNSHIP IS WETLANDS.
I KNEW WE HAD A WETLANDS ORDINANCE, BUT I'M SURE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT.
I THINK SOME OF THE REAL BASICS NEEDS TO BE PERIODICALLY REPEATED AND SOME DIFFERENT MEDIA TO GET OUT TO FOLKS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WETLANDS, [LAUGHTER] THEY'RE IMPORTANT, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE, WE HAVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND JUST GET THAT MESSAGE OUT TO PEOPLE.
THEN FURTHER, MAYBE THAT WILL HELP THEM WHEN THEY RE-SEND DIFFERENT MORE SPECIFIC MESSAGES.
OTHER THOUGHTS, COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS PLAN? COURTNEY?
>> I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY CREDIT FOR THIS, BUT KENDRA AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WETLAND ACTION PLAN.
SHE PUT QUITE A FEW IDEAS IN HERE.
ONE OF MANY THINGS THAT I LIKED WAS DID IT SEASONALLY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND WHEN WE HAVE RAINS BUT ALSO IN FALL HOW TALKING ABOUT DUMPING IN WETLANDS.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE GETTING RID OF THEIR LAWN WASTE OR IN SPRING, THE PLANT SALE SHE HAD MENTIONED.
SOME OF THOSE THINGS TOO JUST I THOUGHT I AS A RESIDENT WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE PERTINENT TO ME AT THAT TIME.
LIKE, OH, I'M MOWING MY LAWN AND THERE'S A WETLAND OVER HERE, I DIDN'T REALIZE.
I THOUGHT MAYBE THINGS LIKE THAT SEASONALLY WERE ALSO PRETTY INTERESTING.
>> WELL, THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
THAT'S HOW YOU GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION WHEN YOU HIT THEM AT THE RIGHT TIME.
>> JUST BRIEFLY, ONE IDEA SARAH VERHAEGHE (PHON) CAME TO OUR MEETING THIS MORNING AND SHE WAS SAYING THAT WORKING WITH YOUTH GROUPS MIGHT BE REALLY HELPFUL BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS IS
[00:25:02]
INSTILLED WHEN WE'RE YOUNG AND IF WE COULD THINK ABOUT WAYS TO WORK WITH THE YOUTH.WE HAVE A NICE CONTINGENT COME OUT THIS WEEKEND, BERNADETTE AND AUDREY AND OTHERS DOING SOME INTERACTIVE PROJECTS WITH KIDS AND ADULTS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO COME UP WITH ALL THE IDEAS TONIGHT, BUT IF YOU HAVE IDEAS OF HOW TO REACH YOUTH, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A YOUTH, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
TIMING OF LESSON PLANS OR CURRICULAR, THINGS LIKE THAT MIGHT FIT IN AS WELL.
BRANDY BROUGHT UP THAT IT'S WORLD WETLANDS DAY COMING UP IN FEBRUARY.
THAT MIGHT BE ANOTHER THING TO PUT ON THE CALENDAR.
>> YES, I THINK I SAW ANNAKA RAISE HER HAND FIRST. GO AHEAD, ANNAKA.
>> I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU GUYS WERE THINKING OF HAVING MORE GREEN FAIRS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE SEASON.
WOULD THAT HELP? OR MAYBE A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN.
>> WHAT DID YOU SAY IN THE VERY BEGINNING? I'M SORRY, I MISSED THAT.
>> I WASN'T SURE IF YOU GUYS WERE CONSIDERING HAVING MORE ENVIRONMENTAL GREEN FAIRS, WHAT WE HAD LAST WEEKEND.
>> YEAH, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO EVEN JUST HAVE A BOOTH OR AN ACTIVITY.
TOM, THE MARKET MANAGER, REALLY WANTS TO HAVE MORE STUFF THERE.
THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT MAYBE YOU GUYS ORGANIZE OR WE TRY AND DO ONCE A MONTH, BUT ANY IDEA IS FAIR GAME, SO WE'RE BRAINSTORMING NOW.
BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE US EACH FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT INSPIRES US AND WHAT WE WANT TO SPEND TIME ON.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY WE HAVE AN AMAZING TURNOUT TODAY AT EARTH CLUB.
IT WAS OUR FIRST MEETING, AND WE HAD SOMEWHERE AROUND 40-60 PEOPLE, AND IT WAS [OVERLAPPING] INSANE PACKING THAT MANY PEOPLE INTO A CLASSROOM, AND WE'VE NEVER HAD MORE THAN 15-20 BEFORE.
IT WAS AN INSANE TURNOUT, SO I THINK BRINGING A LOT OF THIS STUFF INTO THE EARTH CLUB IS DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP, ESPECIALLY WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WE HAVE THIS YEAR.
>> I THINK WE WERE IN AN ENVIOUS POSITION IN THAT WE HAVE SO MANY OF YOU HERE INVOLVED WITH THE EARTH CLUB IN OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL.
OBVIOUSLY, [LAUGHTER] YOU MAKE THIS ALL POSSIBLE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK, BUT ALSO I KNOW THAT YOU CAN SPREAD THE WORD TO THE EARTH CLUB AND OTHER FELLOW STUDENTS WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS TALKING ABOUT AND WHY WE THINK WETLANDS ARE IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S A TWO-WAY STREET.
ANNA, I THINK YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP?
>> YES. I WAS JUST THINKING, WHAT ARE THE TOP ACTIONS THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE? I THINK IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR ME TO THINK THROUGH, WELL, WHAT DO WE WANT TO EDUCATE ON? IF I HAD A CLEARER SENSE MYSELF.
WHAT IS IT THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO? THEN THINK THROUGH.
WELL, ONCE WE KNOW WHAT IS IT THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE MECHANISMS TO CHANGING THEIR BEHAVIOR? CERTAINLY, EDUCATION, CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE'S VALUES.
IT'S LIKE IF WE COULD CONNECT WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO AND THEN YOUR BASEMENT WON'T FLOOD.
[LAUGHTER] I KNOW I'M THINKING ABOUT HOW DO I GET MY BASEMENT NOT TO FLOOD, AND MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION AT SOME POINT.
I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HAVE A MUCH CLEARER SENSE THAN I DO ON WHAT THAT IS, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING IF IT'S WORTH TALKING THROUGH, WELL, WHAT ARE THE MYTH? IF WE WANT BEHAVIOR CHANGE, WHAT ARE THOSE MAJOR BEHAVIOR CHANGES WE WANT THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN DO THAT IS GOING TO HELP US WITH OUR PRESERVING WETLANDS.
>> WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IF SOMETHING CONCISE COULD BE PREPARED, PACKAGED, AND THEN OFFERED TO THE GREEN NEIGHBOR NETWORK ON FLOODING AND TYING IT INTO WETLANDS, IN PARTICULAR.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN EASY DRAW.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN EASY THING TO EITHER SHARE BY EMAIL OR WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR NEXT MEETING, IF IT'S A VIDEO OR WHATEVER IT IS, TO SHOW THAT AND TALK ABOUT IT, AND MAYBE NOT EVERYBODY HAS A WETLAND,
[00:30:01]
THEY PROBABLY DON'T, IN THEIR YARD, BUT THEY MAY IN THEIR SUBDIVISION.TO ANNA'S POINT, MAYBE INCLUDE SOMETHING LIKE, YOU MAY NOT HAVE A WETLAND, BUT YOU COULD BE PLANTING MAYBE ONE OF THIS LIST OF FLOWERS THAT ALSO HELPS, OR SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW. SOMETHING CONCISE THAT CAN BE GIVEN AND EASILY UTILIZED AND DISSEMINATED BY THE NETWORK THAT WE'VE, I GUESS, CREATED AND ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE TO GROW.
>> IT'S BECAUSE A NUMBER OF COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE THAT THERE ARE WETLANDS AND SOME OF IT MAY BE OUT OF IGNORANCE AND SOME OF IT MAY BE BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T CARE.
I THINK IF YOU END UP HAVING A COMMUNITY THAT BASICALLY UNDERSTANDS THE VALUE OF WETLANDS, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN PROVIDE SOME, LET'S CALL IT PEER PRESSURE, SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES THEIR WETLANDS, AND THEY'RE IMPORTANT [LAUGHTER] TO HELP PREVENT THOSE FLOODING PROBLEMS. WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE.
IF WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE, LET'S SAY, ABUSING THE WETLANDS, WE CAN THINK IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS FINE, BUT ALSO PEER PRESSURE IS ALSO HELPFUL TO THAT.
PEOPLE SAY, "YEAH, I JUST LEARNED THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE DUMPING THINGS [LAUGHTER] NEXT TO THE WETLAND," AND THEY'RE TALKING TO THEIR NEIGHBOR, AND THE NEIGHBOR GOES, "OKAY, MAYBE I SHOULD STOP DOING THAT." ONE QUESTION I'VE GOT IS, TOO, I WONDER, IS THERE A WETLAND IN THE TOWNSHIP THAT IS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WAS, I DIDN'T KNOW, A BIG ONE, A POPULAR ONE, SOMETHING THAT SHOWS PEOPLE IN AN OBVIOUS WAY WHAT A WETLAND IS? IS THERE ONE OR MORE THAN ONE THAT YOU CAN SAY, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PRIME WETLAND, IN THE TOWNSHIP? I COULDN'T POINT TO ONE.
>> I GUESS THE ONE THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS THE ONE SURROUNDING BY LAKE LANSING ITSELF THAT FEEDS INTO THE LAKE, THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WETLAND AND THE LAKE THERE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHEN I RIDE AROUND THE LAKE, EVEN WEEKS AFTER A SUBSTANTIAL RAIN, THERE'S WATER FLOWING IN FROM THERE, SO IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS THIS ABILITY OF WETLANDS TO SLOW THE RUSH.
ANOTHER WETLAND I WOULD NOMINATE AS A TREASURE IN THE TOWNSHIP IS THE ONE THAT'S ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE INTERURBAN TRAIL.
AS I'M RIDING TO WORK, MANY DAYS, I SEE PEOPLE OUT THERE LOOKING AT THE BIRDS, TAKING PHOTOS, WHATEVER IT IS.
I JUST PLAIN WALKING BUT ENJOYING IT, AND I THINK IT'S A PRETTY BIG AREA.
IT'S A LITTLE WEIRD BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF BIG TREES THERE, AND SO IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A [LAUGHTER] WETLAND, AT LEAST IN THIS FORM IN ITS ABORIGINAL STATE, BUT ANYWAY, FOR NOW IT IS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF WILDLIFE THAT COMES THROUGH.
>> LAKE LANSING ITSELF, IS THE SOURCE OF IT AS A WETLAND.
ACCORDING TO THE EXTENSION CLASS I TOOK ON INSIDE LAKES, LAKES CAN BE FORMED BY SPRINGS OR RIVERS OR WHATEVER, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT ARE JUST MADE OUT OF WETLANDS, [LAUGHTER] AND THAT'S WHAT LAKE LANSING IS.
>> YEAH. LAKE LANSING IS JUST RUNOFF, THAT'S RIGHT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THERE ARE SIMPLE DOS AND DON'TS.
THOSE DEEP-ROOTED VEGETATIONS ARE HELPFUL.
THERE'S TREES THAT ARE IN WETLANDS AS WELL.
IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE SIMPLE DOS AND DON'TS, HAVING NATURAL VEGETATION THAT HAD THOSE DEEP ROOTS THAT ARE GOING TO SOAK UP THAT WATER IS HELPFUL.
RELATION TO FAVORITE WETLANDS ARE ONCE A HIGHLIGHT.
WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF LAND PRESERVES AND I'M SURE PEOPLE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] FAVORITE ONES AND I KNOW EMMA CAN MOST CERTAINLY HIGHLIGHT A LOT OF THEM.
A BIG TREASURE IN OUR TOWNSHIP IS THE LAKE AND PRESERVING THE LAKE AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT WHEN I TALK ABOUT LAND PRESERVATION LATER ON.
I KNOW SHE'S GOING THROUGH AND CATALOGING THE DIFFERENT PRESERVES AND IT WILL HIGHLIGHT DIFFERENT ONES AT DIFFERENT TIMES,
[00:35:03]
I THINK, BUT IT'S NICE THAT PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED DIFFERENT ONES.I THINK THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A LIST OF SIMPLE DOS AND DON'TS ON THE WETLAND BROCHURE, BUT WE CAN COME UP WITH MORE OF THEM TO HELP EDUCATE PEOPLE ON WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST FLOODING AND PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AS WELL.
>> I SUGGEST ONE OTHER ITEM THAT COULD GET COMMUNITY MEMBER CONCERN OR AT LEAST INTEREST UP A LITTLE BIT.
JUST LAST NIGHT, SUSAN MADSEN ORGANIZED A PRESENTATION ON THE SUBJECT OF GROUNDWATER AND THE TESTING PROGRAM THAT HAD BEEN DONE THROUGHOUT INGHAM COUNTY AND THEN OUT INTO [INAUDIBLE], ETC.
IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THE PATTERNS OF CHANGE.
BASICALLY, WE COMPARED THE GROUNDWATER'S TESTING THAT HAD HAPPENED IN 1983 TO CURRENT ONES.
FOR THE MOST PART, THINGS ARE PRETTY GOOD.
THE QUALITY OF THE WATER THAT WE GET MUNICIPALLY IS VERY GOOD, BUT THIS WAS TESTING. WHAT WAS IT, BILL? SOMETHING LIKE 300 WELLS IN INGHAM COUNTY, REGULAR INGHAM HOMEOWNERS' WELLS.
THE ONE THING THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME WAS THIS REALLY BRIGHT SPOT OF CHLORIDE WHERE ONE OF THE EXITS TO 69 IS.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE CAN REACH SO FAR AS TO ACTUALLY MAKE PEOPLE THINK, "WELL, MAYBE WE SHOULD USE LESS SALT," BUT THAT'S WHERE IT COMES FROM, THAT SENSE THAT WHAT GOES ON THE GROUND DOES END UP IN OUR WATER SYSTEM.
I DON'T KNOW. IT SHOULD CATCH PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.
WE DON'T HAVE JOHN HERE TELLING US TO PICK UP THE POOP ANYMORE, UNFORTUNATELY.
>> [LAUGHTER] RIGHT. I WOULD SAY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT 15 MINUTES, WHICH A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS HAVE COME OUT.
ANY PARTING THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON? TOM?
>> THIS ISN'T SO MUCH, JOHN, ON TOPICS, BUT JUST A COUPLE OF IDEAS ON HOW TO GET THE WORD OUT.
I KNOW THE TOWNSHIP SENDS OUT TAX BILLS TWICE A YEAR AND I WONDER IF SOMETHING COULD BE INCLUDED WITH THAT.
MAYBE THE WETLAND BROCHURE THAT'S BEEN PUT TOGETHER COULD BE PRINTED AND MAILED OUT WITH THOSE TAX BILLS.
THEN ALSO, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP PREVIOUSLY IN OTHER MEETINGS, BUT MAYBE JUST A SECTION ON THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE THAT FOCUSES JUST ON WETLANDS AND AS WE'VE DISCUSSED ALREADY, THE DOS AND DON'TS.
THEN FINALLY, I KNOW WORKING WITH THE STATE A LOT, EAGLE DOES A LOT OF EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS.
I WAS WONDERING IF MAYBE THAT MIGHT BE AN AVENUE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AND DO SOME FREE WEBINARS ON VARIOUS TOPICS REGARDING WETLANDS.
JUST A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS IN THAT REGARD.
>> THOSE ARE GOOD THOUGHTS. IN THE TOWNSHIP, YOU GET THE PROPERTY TAX BILLS GOING OUT AND THE WATER BILLS TOO.
THE WATER BILLS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TOO.
>> I JUST HAVE ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ECHO WHAT I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS ANNAKA OR BERNADETTE SAID ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN.
I THINK THAT COULD BE GREAT TO COME UP WITH SOME [INAUDIBLE] SIMPLE TIPS LIKE PUT ONE OUT EACH DAY AND ASK FOLKS TO RE-SHARE IT, COME UP WITH A HASHTAG FOR THE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN FOR THE WETLANDS.
I'M SURE THE YOUTH CLUBS COULD HELP US GET THE WORD OUT AND THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO COMMUNICATE TO YOUNGER FOLKS, NOT JUST FACEBOOK AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD APPS AND VARIOUS OTHER ONES WHERE IF WE CAN MAKE SOME SAMPLE COASTS.
WE COULD SEND THOSE OUT IN THE GREEN GAZETTE AND ASK EVERYONE WHO GETS THOSE TO PLEASE POST THIS AND USE OUR HASHTAG ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND REALLY JUST TRY TO DRUM UP SOME HYPE AROUND THE ISSUE.
[00:40:02]
>> ALSO ANOTHER IDEA TO GET YOUTH INVOLVED, A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOLERS ESPECIALLY, ARE INVOLVED IN THE NHS, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.
A LOT OF THEM WANT HOURS FOR THEIR SOCIETY.
I THINK WHEN I DO GET TO MAYBE BE SOMEHOW VOLUNTEERING WITH THE WETLANDS, THEY GET TO KNOW THE WETLANDS AND STUFF AND ALSO LEARN ABOUT THEM THEN THEY ALSO GET HOURS.
I KNOW THAT A LOT OF KIDS WILL PROBABLY BE INTERESTED IN IT BECAUSE IT GETS THE WORD OUT, I GUESS.
>> ALSO BEING A MEMBER OF NHS AND I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE NHS, I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH BERNADETTE AND I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT.
IF I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER BY HELPING THROUGH WITH THE WETLANDS, I WOULD TAKE IT AND I KNOW A LOT OF MY FRIENDS WOULD ALSO TAKE IT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] AND I SPEAKING TO ANNA ABOUT ALL THOSE FANTASTIC IDEAS.
WHEN WE WERE TALKING TO BRANDY, SHE HAS ALL THE MECHANISMS TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE TYPES OF ALL THE MEDIA.
IF WE CAN GET HER THE TOPICS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON, SHE WILL HELP US DO ALL OF THOSE [INAUDIBLE] YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHICH I THINK IT'S GOT TO BE MULTIMEDIA.
ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO JUST MAYBE END WITH THAT THAT THIS IS ALL REALLY GOOD TO TAKE BACK TO HER AND I KNOW SHE CAN HELP US DELINEATE HOW TO DO IT.
SHE NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT WE WANT, WHAT'S OUR MESSAGE, AND THEN SHE'LL HELP US GET IT OUT THERE.
TO THE NHS MEMBERS, THEY DO HAVE A WETLAND CLEANUP DAY [LAUGHTER] COMING UP THAT WE JUST MENTIONED, SO WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT THAT.
APPARENTLY, THEY PULLED 1,500 POUNDS OF TRASH OUT OF OUR WETLANDS IN ONE DAY.
YEAH, I BET THAT EMMA WOULD BE APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF YOU FOLKS, ALL OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT WOULD WANT TO HELP.
>> ANY FINAL THOUGHTS? OKAY, LET'S MOVE ALONG ON THE AGENDA THEN.
I THINK THIS HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL TO THE DISCUSSION.
THERE'S NOTHING UNDER OLD BUSINESS CHAIR'S REPORT.
[7. CHAIR’S REPORT ]
I'LL JUST MENTION THAT THE NUMBER OF US HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THE CAPITAL AREA SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP.I'M ON THE RENEWABLE SUBGROUP AND THE [INAUDIBLE], THAT SUBGROUP.
I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT IT WILL BE HELPFUL IN THAT.
CERTAINLY, IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT OUR TOWNSHIP HAS SUCH GOOD PARTICIPATION, AT LEAST IN THE TWO SUBGROUPS THAT I'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN.
I THINK THAT'S GOOD IN MANY WAYS.
WE CAN GET SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE REGION.
WE CAN SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING.
ALSO, IT SPEAKS WELL FOR HOW GREEN OUR COMMUNITY IS THAT WE HAVE SUCH GOOD PARTICIPATION.
THAT'S IT, WHICH LEADS US TO THE STAFF REPORT.
[8. STAFF REPORT ]
I'D LIKE TO BE AS BRIEF AS JOHN, BUT I'LL TRY NOT TO [LAUGHTER] TAKE MORE THAN 30, 40 MINUTES HERE.
NO, SERIOUSLY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED AT THE MEETING WITH BRANDY WAS THESE, I THINK, GREEN THURSDAY.
ANDREA SMILEY TRIES TO PUT TOGETHER AN ENVIRONMENTAL BLURB ON SOCIAL MEDIA EVERY THURSDAY.
I'VE COME UP WITH A COUPLE OF THEM, BUT I WOULD JUST DELEGATE EACH OF YOU.
IF THERE'S A TOPIC THAT INTERESTS YOU, JUST WRITE UP A PARAGRAPH.
IF YOU'RE INTO HASHTAGS, PUT A COUPLE OF HASHTAGS ON IT.
IF THERE'S A PICTURE THAT GOES WITH IT, SEND IT ALONG THEN MAYBE A LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION.
THEN WE'LL JUST FEED OUR MEDIA DEPARTMENT SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN USE AND RECYCLE.
I'LL JUST CHALLENGE YOU TO BETWEEN NOW AND OUR NEXT MEETING IF YOU COME UP WITH A PARAGRAPH ON ANYTHING THAT STRIKES YOU.
IT COULD BE TURTLES OR IT COULD BE WETLANDS OR ENERGY, CLIMATE CHANGE.
MAYBE YOU'VE ALREADY GOT SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD JUST CALL OUT. GO HEAD, ANNA.
>> IT GOES OUT TO 7,000 PEOPLE ON THEIR WEEKLY SOCIAL MEDIA.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER OF
[00:45:01]
HITS ARE FOR THOSE POSTS AND I'LL TRY AND FIND THAT OUT, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S OVER 1,000 PEOPLE THAT WILL GO OUT TO.THINK ABOUT TAKING YOUR MESSAGE TO 1,000 PEOPLE.
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SHARE? THE GREEN GAZETTE GOES OUT ONCE A MONTH TO ABOUT 1600 PEOPLE AND ABOUT 30 PERCENT MIGHT READ IT, PART OF IT.
SOME OF THIS COULD BE USEFUL AND REPEATABLE IN THE GREEN GAZETTE, SO THAT'S JUST ONE LITTLE PIECE RELATED TO THIS CAMPAIGN.
WE DID GET A RECYCLING GRANT IN GREEN AND RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT WITH HELP FROM THE SPICER GROUP AND DEREK, RECLAIMED BY DESIGN AND MIDMEAC WAS HELPFUL IN IDENTIFYING BUILDING MATERIALS AS SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO GET BETTER AT CAPTURING IN OUR RECYCLING CENTER.
THAT'S A CLOSE TO A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO CONSTRUCT A POLE BARN AND GET SOME ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT.
WE'RE HOPING THAT GRANGER IS GOING TO ADD SOME COMPACTORS AND SO PRETTY EXCITING.
WE'LL FIND OUT PROBABLY BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING SO I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT.
THEN WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THE GREEN FAIR LATER, AND THEN WE'VE GOT THE RECYCLING EVENT, THE ELECTRONICS EVENT COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER 18TH.
IF YOU CAN VOLUNTEER FOR THAT, I'LL TRY AND PUT A LINK IN THE CHAT WINDOW.
YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SIGN UP AND YOU CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOUR FRIENDS TOO.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU THAT PASS THE WORD ON THAT.
>> LEROY AND MOVING ALONG TO TEAMS AND STUDY GROUPS AND BOARD SITUATIONS,
[9A. Board and Commissions • Board of Trustees • Brownfield Redevelopment Authority • Land Preservation Advisory Board • Planning Commission • Transportation Commission ]
BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS UP FIRST.COURTNEY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE?
I THINK MANY KNOW THAT WE'RE REVIEWING AND GOING TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET NEXT TUESDAY.
I'LL HAVE A CLOSE EYE ON THAT FOR ANY HELP WE CAN GET LEROY ON THIS CASE [LAUGHTER].
ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ENDEAVORS.
IF YOU GUYS THINK OF ANYTHING OR YOU WANT ME TO MAKE AN ASK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO AT LEAST CONSIDER IT, PLEASE JUST SHOOT ME AN EMAIL.
THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT NEXT STEPS FOR THE BOARD.
ALSO, THE COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS ARE THE DATA COLLECTION IS COMPLETED NOW BUT DATA ANALYSIS IS NOT DONE, SO WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY SEEN THE RESULTS, BUT COMING CLOSE TO AN END THERE, WHICH I THINK WILL BE REALLY EXCITING AND REALLY GIVE US SOME INPUT ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE AND MAYBE WHAT THEIR FOCUSES ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AS WELL.
I THINK NED WAS IT YOU REFERRING TO, SUSAN HAD A PRESENTATION ON INGHAM COUNTY GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT?
I'M THE BOARD LIAISON FOR THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD.
THEY'RE ALSO AT A STATEWIDE LEVEL THAT GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS BEING UPDATED TOO.
THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND NOT JUST TESTING BY IDENTIFYING WHERE ALL OF OUR WELLS ARE, MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL WELLS, BUT THERE'S SOME PUBLIC WELLS AS WELL.
I THINK YOU MENTIONED IT WAS 1980 WAS THE LAST TIME WE UPDATED ANY OF THAT.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE WILL GET SOME GOOD INFORMATION I THINK FROM THAT.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, BUT THEY'RE WORKING ON IT.
OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
>> COURTNEY AND BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, NED.
>> NO MEETINGS. THE LAST MEETING WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN, WHEN WAS IT? TWO WEEKS AGO? SOMETHING LIKE THAT ANYWAY, BUT THEN TIM SENT OUT A NOTE SAYING, WE DIDN'T HAVE CRITICAL MASS.
I GUESS ENOUGH PEOPLE WERE FAR AWAY THAT, ANYWAY, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
BUT, THE BUILDING OF COURSE, CONTINUES TO HAPPEN OVER HERE ON THE CORNER OF MARSH ROAD AND HASLETT ROAD.
THIS GAS STATION IS BEING UPDATED AND SO FORTH.
UNFORTUNATELY, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAID TO ME THAT, WOW,
[00:50:03]
THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE UGLY [LAUGHTER].BUT, WE DIDN'T DESIGN IT, OF COURSE.
BUT WE WERE PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY YOU CAN DESIGN IT DIFFERENTLY.
BUT ANYWAY, IT DOES SEEM TO COME VERY CLOSE TO THE CORNER.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE DRIVEN THAT PAST HERE RECENTLY.
>> IT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE USED TO. [LAUGHTER]
>> IT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE USED TO. THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> THE THINKING AND THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD.
>> I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF BECAUSE MANY RESPONDING.
THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD MET ON AUGUST 25TH TO REVIEW THE LAND PRESERVATION CODE, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO LAKE LANSING SOUTH, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE HEALTH OF LAKE LANCING.
LOOKING AT EDUCATING RESIDENTS ON THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY CODE, INCLUDING THE NORMAL CODE, WHICH IS FUNNY GIVEN MY NEIGHBORS MONITORING APPROPRIATELY SO.
ANYWAY, THERE'S GOING TO BE EDUCATION, FENCING, AND THEN HOPEFULLY THAT WILL WORK AND THEY WON'T HAVE TO MOVE TO ENFORCEMENT.
>> KENDRA, CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT LPAB.
SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT I'VE, ALTHOUGH I DON'T THINK MY VOICE ACTUALLY MADE ANY DIFFERENCE, BUT FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, I'VE HAD A BMI BONDED ABOUT WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAD SIGNAGE THAT HIGHLIGHTED OUR ASSETS, THINGS LIKE THE INTER URBAN TRAIL AND SO FORTH.
BUT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING IF THE SIGNS ON SOME OF THE LAND PRESERVATION AREAS AND ESPECIALLY THE WETLAND ONES ARE HIGHLIGHTED, NOT JUST, THIS IS SUCH AND SUCH AN AREA, BUT HERE ARE SOME OF THE ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS, ECOSYSTEM SERVICES THAT THESE AREAS PROVIDE.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY A LITTLE BIT OF EDUCATION.
HOPEFULLY CATCHING PEOPLE AT THE MOMENT WHEN THEY'RE ALREADY THINKING, I THINK I'LL GO FOR A WALK IN THE WOODS.
JUST A THOUGHT ABOUT SIGNAGE AGAIN, WE HAVE THESE WONDERFUL ASSETS AND HELPING PEOPLE NOT ONLY APPRECIATE THEM, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE THEM AS MODELS FOR FURTHER POSITIVE ACTION.
>> YES, IT IS AND EMMA'S WORKING ON IT.
THERE'S SOME SIGN WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT EARLIER TODAY.
IT IS WORKING ON GETTING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY IN DIFFERENT SPOTS.
BUT EMMA'S ONE PERSON AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.
I'LL PASS IT ALONG IF THERE'S MORE COMMUNITY SUPPORT [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DON'T KNOW. SOMETIMES SHE SEEMS LIKE A TORNADO.
>> YES, THANKS. JUST TO TAG ON THE LAST TIME I DID USE THE NEW BOARDWALK FROM THE OLD FARMER'S MARKET OVER TO PONDER THE OTHER DAY AND NOTICED SOME REALLY NICE SIGNAGE ABOUT THE WILDLIFE SITEMAP TO REALLY HIGH-QUALITY STUFF IT'S BEING PRODUCED BY THE UNABRIDGED PART.
THE LAST MEETING IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS A JOINT MEETING WITH TOWNSHIP BOARD REALLY ABOUT UPDATING OUR ORDINANCES, SPECIFICALLY MISUSE, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND THEN DOWN ROAD TOWARDS THIS ROAD.
I WON'T BORE ANYBODY WITH ANYMORE OF THAT THIS EVENING.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS BUT I AM NOT PREPARED TO LECTURE ON EITHER OF THOSE JOHN.
>> I'M SURE IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE.
THANK YOU. MOVING ALONG TO TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, ANYTHING TO REPORT ON THAT?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD BRING TO THIS GROUP IS THAT THERE'S SOME RENEWED ENERGY AROUND SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL, HELPING FIND WAYS FOR KIDS TO GET TO SCHOOL WITHOUT NECESSARILY GETTING IN A CAR OR ON A BUS.
THAT SEEMS TO BE TRACKING WITH SOME RENEWED ENERGY THAT WE SEE AROUND EARTH CLUBS AND THINGS.
THAT'S ALL WONDERFUL AND I'M ALWAYS HOPING TO MAKE CONNECTIONS SO THAT THE TOWNSHIP, EACH HAND KNOWS WHAT THE OTHER IS DOING IN TERMS OF REACHING OUT IN SCHOOLS BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE WE'RE SEEING A LOT MORE GOOD CONNECTIONS AND THAT REALLY MAKES ME HAPPY.
>> NEXT TIME OUR AGENDA IS THE EARTH CLUB OR STUDENT GROUPS,
[9B. Teams and Study Groups • Earth Club and Student Groups • Energy Team • Environmental Justice • Green Infrastructure Grants • Green Neighbors • Green Team • Tree Team ]
AND WE HEARD THAT THE FIRST MEETING WAS, A LOT OF STUDENTS CAME OUT.ANYTHING THAT ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO AIR ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE EARTH CLUB? YES, BERNADETTE.
>> WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING TODAY AND WE JUST TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE'LL BE DOING THIS YEAR.
[00:55:09]
ALSO WE TRIED TO HAVE PEOPLE SHARE DIFFERENT IDEAS AS WHAT WE COULD DO.IT WAS MOSTLY JUST GETTING TO KNOW YOU DAY, BUT WE'RE STARTING TO TRY AND BRAINSTORM IDEAS FOR THIS YEAR.
>> SUPER. THE ENERGY TEAM HAS BEEN DISCUSSING THREE THINGS.
ONE IS, WE GOT THE VIRTUAL SOLAR SUSTAINABLE TOUR COMING UP IN OCTOBER SECOND. I GUESS IT WOULD BE THERE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT AND THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES AT THE TOWNSHIP HALL WITH RESPECT TO SOLAR RAYS, AND GOING EFFORTS TO BECOME A 100 PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR TOWNSHIP OPERATIONS.
THEN WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE SOLARIZED MERIDIAN PROGRAM AND HOW WE MIGHT IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO HELP HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES LEARN ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY AND GET A HOPEFULLY A GROUP DISCOUNT.
THOSE ARE THE THREE TOPICS THAT ARE ONGOING THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO DISCUSS AND PLAN AS TO SEE THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
>> ALL SET BUG, FAIR AMOUNT JUSTICE.
TODAY WE'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT THAT IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE WETLANDS, AND FLOODING.
I THINK THAT'S JUST AN IMPORTANT PLACE FOR US TO FOCUS OUR ENERGY AT THE RIGHT MOMENT.
THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH AS I'LL SAY ABOUT IT TONIGHT.
>> WHAT'S UP WITH THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT?
>> NOT A LOT. I THINK MONTESSORI IS PRETTY MUCH DONE WITH THEIR PROJECT.
I SENT BRIDGET BOOTH A REQUEST FOR AN UPDATE ON THE HASLETT, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
BUT I'M HOPING THAT THEY WILL COME, AND PRESENT AT A FUTURE MEETING HERE.
>> IT WOULD BE NICE TOO, BECAUSE BOTH HASLETT, AND MONTESSORI ARE OBVIOUSLY OR PHYSICAL SPACE.
I KNOW I'D BE INTERESTED IN COMING FOR A SHORT TOUR, AND MAYBE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN DOING THAT IF THAT WASN'T TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN ON THESE SCHOOLS.
I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A QUICK, AND TOUR OF WHAT THEY DID.
>> ON A RELATED NOTE, I DID OFFER BRIDGET BILL'S WORM BIN, WHICH HE WAS INTERESTED IN CONNECTING WITH THE SCHOOLS.
SINCE SHE HASN'T CLAIMED IT YET, I GUESS IF THERE'S ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT'S INTERESTED, POTENTIALLY COULD RECLAIM THAT WORM BIN.
THANK YOU, BILL. SARAH, WHO SHOWED UP AS AN ACT OF WORM BIN, SHE OFFERED TO BRING IT TO THE GREEN FAIR THIS WEEKEND, BUT WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE TOO STRESSFUL FOR THE WORMS.
>> THEY DON'T WANT TO GET TOO MUCH ATTENTION.
BILL, I THINK YOU RAISED YOUR HAND.
JUST GO TO SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY?
>> OH, NO. YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD. [LAUGHTER]
>> I DID WANT TO JUST MENTION, I DON'T KNOW IF AUDREY HAD ANYTHING TO ADD TO BERNADETTE'S RECAP OF THE EARTH CLUB OR OTHER STUDENT GROUPS, BUT SHE WAS CERTAINLY VERY HELPFUL AT THE GREEN FAIR THIS PAST WEEKEND.
OR LUCA, YOU'RE MUTED, BUT IF YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN.
>> OKAY. YEAH. WE HAD OUR FIRST EARTH CLUB MEETING TODAY. IT WAS CRAZY.
WE'RE THINKING OF MAKING DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.
AS A COMMITTEE, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS.
WE'RE PLANNING ON MAKING SOME COMMITTEES WITHIN EARTH CLUB IF THE SAME KIND OF ATTENDANCE KEEPS UP.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN HAVE A FEW GROUPS THAT CAN WORK ON WELL AN EDUCATION OR CONNECTING UP, AND BEING AT THE GREEN FAIRS.
OVERALL, JUST PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND ANYTHING ELSE.
WE'LL ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO COME TO THESE MEETINGS AS WELL.
YEAH, OUR FIRST EARTH CLUB MEETING WENT WELL, AND I'M EXCITED FOR MORE OF THEM.
>> OKAY. LET'S SEE. GREEN NEIGHBORS, LEROY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO [INAUDIBLE]
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT ON.
>> WHILE I STARTED TO SAY THAT WE HAD A NICE TURNOUT FOR THE GREEN FAIR.
[01:00:04]
WE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT ANNA COLBY WAS THERE.BERNADETTE PULLED TOGETHER SOME REALLY FUN ACTIVITIES, AND I'M SURE SHE HAD HELP FROM AUDREY AND OTHERS.
IT WAS A GREAT CHANCE TO TALK TO FOLKS FROM GRAINGER, OUR CONSUMERS.
JEFF [INAUDIBLE] WAS THERE AND I SHARED SOME PICTURES IN THE LATEST GREEN GAZETTE.
MALLORY WAS THERE. ANNA, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? OR TOM, BEING ON THE GREEN TEAM.
TOM WAS ONE OF OUR MORE ACTIVE MEMBERS.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, I MISSED THE GREEN FAIR THIS WEEKEND.
I HAD GUESTS UP NORTH, BUT SORRY I MISSED THAT.
AS ROY MENTIONED EARLIER, WE DO HAVE THE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT COMING UP PRETTY SOON.
ACTUALLY, IT'S SEPTEMBER 18TH.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER GOOD TURNOUT LIKE WE HAD LAST YEAR AT THAT EVENT.
>> IF THE STUDENT EARTH CLUB WANTS TO DO A BOOTH AT THE MALL BETWEEN NOW, AND SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER, BE HAPPY TO HELP NETWORK WITH TOM, AND OTHERS ON OUR GREEN TEAM TO HELP WITH THE LOGISTICS. GO AHEAD, BERNADETTE.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT THE GREEN FAIR WENT WELL.
WE GAVE OUT A LOT OF FIRES, AND ALSO A LOT OF KIDS ACTUALLY CAME, I GUESS NEXT TO US WAS THE GIRL SCOUTS GROUP.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMING TO GIRL SCOUTS, AND THEN COMING TO US BECAUSE THEY SAW THE YOUTH ACTIVITIES.
WE DID ROCK PAINTING, WHICH A LOT OF KIDS LIKED.
AUDREY ALSO MADE ENVELOPE STUFF, WHICH SHE WROTE STAMPS, AND KIDS WERE STAMPING ALL OF THE ENVELOPES, AND STUFF WHICH THEY LIKED AS WELL.
YEAH, THAT WORKED WELL BECAUSE A LOT OF THE KIDS WOULD COME OVER, AND DO ALL THE ARTS AND CRAFTS.
WE GET TO TALK TO THEIR PARENTS ABOUT OUR DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE CHIPPEWA MIDDLE SCHOOL CLIMATE CHANGE CLUB COME.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WERE THERE, AND THEY WERE HELPING BRING IN OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL.
>> ANYTHING RELATED TO THE TREE TEAM? [BACKGROUND]
>> I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK ABOUT THE TREE TEAM.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT RELIEF MICHIGAN, I THINK THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, MEASURING DIAMETERS OF TREES, AND ALL THAT STUFF.
I THINK BILL MENTIONED THE MINUTES AGO ABOUT HAVING ANOTHER TREE PLANTING AND GETTING PEOPLE ENGAGED OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AGAIN, AND CARE ABOUT WETLANDS.
MAYBE WE COULD HAVE A TREE PLANTING, NATURAL VEGETATION BUFFER EVENT.
MAYBE [INAUDIBLE] OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MAYBE.
I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW.
>> ANYTHING RELATED FURTHER ABOUT
[9C. Other • Capital Area Sustainability Partnership and Ingham Environmental Commission • State of Michigan ]
THE CAPITAL AREA SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP OR ACTIVITY TO THE STATE OF MICHIGAN? ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN SHARE IN EITHER OF THOSE TOPICS? LIKE I HAD MENTIONED ABOUT THE CAPITAL AREA SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP.IT'S AT AN EARLY STAGE, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING WELL.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF YOU HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING, SO IF YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING THERE.
>> AT THE GREEN DIALOGUE THIS MORNING, I JUST SHARED CRAP MAYBE EVERYBODY ALREADY KNOWS ANYWAY, THAT THE MICHIGAN SOLUTIONS ON CLIMATE, HOWEVER THAT GOES.
THE INITIATIVE THAT THE GOVERNOR STARTED, THEY'RE IN FIVE GROUPS AND I THINK THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AVAILABLE SOON, LIKE WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, WHICH WHAT EACH OF THE GROUPS ARE SUGGESTING, SO THAT WILL BE HELPFUL.
I KNOW ON THE TRANSPORTATION GROUP, IT'S NOT TAKING OFF.
IT COULD BE BECAUSE THE INITIAL VOLUNTEERS ARE NOW WORKING ON THE STATE LEVEL OR SOMETHING.
I'M NOT SURE, BUT I SUGGESTED TO CLIFF,
[01:05:03]
AND BILL, I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK, THAT MAYBE THE SCOPE SHOULD BE REDUCED A BIT AND MAYBE TALK ABOUT THE THINGS LIKE BIKE PASS, WATER PASS.MAYBE DO MORE OF A REGIONAL FOCUS ON TRYING TO PULL THAT TOGETHER A LITTLE MORE INSTEAD OF, IT APPEARED TO BE SOME DUPLICATION, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
THOSE ARE JUST SOME MENTAL MEANDERINGS, I GUESS, FOR WHATEVER IT'S WORTH.
PEOPLE AREN'T RESPONDING TO GET THE FIRST MEETING EVEN GOING, BUT I THINK THE OTHER ONES ARE GOING WELL, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE OTHER FOUR GROUPS.
>> I THINK ONE PROBLEM THAT IS HAPPENING THESE DAYS, BECAUSE I SEE THAT WITH SCHEDULING WITH THE CAPITAL AREA SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON.
THE SIMPLER PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS.
THAT'S CREATING PROBLEMS WITH SCHEDULING, AND MAYBE PARTICIPATION FOR SOME OF THE GROUPS TOO.
THAT'S CHALLENGING. I MEAN, A LOT NEEDS TO BE DONE, BUT YEAH, GETTING IT. YEAH.
>> IT MAY BE RELYING ON A HEAVY PERCENTAGE OF STAFF PEOPLE, MAYBE CASTLE.
THEY'RE ALREADY MAXED OUT, I WOULD ASSUME WHAT THEIR THEIR JOBS, AND THEIR EXTRA VOLUNTEER AND THEN THEY PROBABLY HAVE YOUNG FAMILIES, YOU KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON THERE OR NOT. I WONDER.
>> YEAH, THERE WERE ANYTHING FURTHER FOR THE GOOD OF THE CARS OR WE HAVE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS TOO,
[10. PUBLIC REMARKS ]
IF ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ANYTHING BUT ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS BEFORE WE ADJOURN? GARMENTS?>> I JUST WANT TO REITERATE IF YOU'VE GOT AN IDEA FOR A THINK GREEN THURSDAY, THAT WOULD HELP ANDREA PUT SOME TOGETHER, SO SEND A PARAGRAPH OR EVEN JUST A TOPIC IDEA.
ALSO, BILL GAVE ME THE IDEA THIS MORNING AT THE DIALOGUE THAT IT'S SOMETHING MY KIDS USED TO DO.
EVERY SO OFTEN WAS HAVE A WACKY HAIR DAY IN THEIR CLASSROOM.
IF WE DO THAT FOR ONE OF OUR UPCOMING ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETINGS, THAT MIGHT WE MIGHT GET SOME MORE VIEWERS.
>> I JUST CHALLENGE YOU TO THINK OF YOUR HAIRSTYLE FOR OUR NEXT MEETING, AND SURPRISE US.
>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A LOT LEFT UP HERE THAT IF I COULD BE VERY CHALLENGING, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT IDEA.
>> WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY FOR PARTICIPATING.
ALL WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> BILL. OKAY. SECOND [INAUDIBLE].
WE HAVE A FROM KENDRA, FORTH FROM COURTNEY. OPEN FAVORITE.
>> THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.