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[00:00:14]

AND THAT BOTHERED ME AT FIRST.

AND THEN I. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON STUFF.

LOOKING AT IT, I CAN IF I NEED TO FOCUS ON IT, I CAN ACTUALLY TURN TO LOOK AT IT.

AND WHEN I FIRST USED HIM ON THE BIKE TO BIKE, THAT STUFF DOWN HERE WAS SUPER CONSISTENT.

RIGHT, RIGHT. NO, I KNOW, I KNOW.

YEAH. YEAH, FOR SURE.

WHAT STRUCK ME.

YES. IT'S FUN I CAN MEET A LOT OF.

YOU'RE NOT EVEN ALUMNI.

I WAS HOPING WITH THE TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE THAT THEY'D BUILD IN.

THE COMMISSIONER JACKSON IS GOING TO BE A FEW MINUTES LATE, SO I'M TRYING TO GIVE HIM ANOTHER MINUTE TO COME WHEELING IN AND SEE IF WE CAN GET TO HOM TV TO CAPTURE HIM, DISROBING OR JUST WANT TO DO.

I'M SURE THERE'S DROVES AT HOME ON HOM TV, PULLING THEIR HAIR OUT, WAITING FOR THE GAVEL TO STRIKE.

YEAH, THEY'RE RIGHT THERE.

SO THEY'RE PICKING UP. YEAH.

AND THEY'RE VERY SENSITIVE.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE REALLY, REALLY TOUGH, LIKE THE OLD ONES WHERE YOU CAN SHUT THEM OFF AS LONG AS YOU HOLD IT.

BACK IN THE OLD DAYS, YOU CAN. LITTLE HAND OVER LIKE.

I GUESS WHILE WE'RE WAITING, I THINK I TOLD MOST OF YOU, BUT IF YOU WANT TO SHUT YOUR MONITOR OFF, JUST HOLD THE BUTTON UP FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND TURN OFF.

[00:05:19]

SHE HAD A CURIOSITY ALSO HAVE.

THANK YOU. BUT YOU HAVE THEIR OWN DEVICES WITH THEM.

YOU'RE CONNECTED TO THE MERIDIAN GUEST.

NO. WI FI.

IT WAS NOT CONNECTED, SO I WASN'T SURE WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

DO YOU HAVE MY VERIZON? BUT YOU'RE CONNECTED TO THE TOWNSHIPS.

I DON'T THINK I AM.

LET'S SEE. AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST, BUT IT'S NOT CONNECTING TO MY GUEST.

AND ARE YOU ABLE TO ACCESS THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE ON THAT WI FI? I WAS.

I FOR SOME REASON ON MY TABLET.

THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I WAS TRYING TO.

WELL, I HAD A. APPEARS TO BE WORKING.

NOT CONNECTING TO ME.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]

I AM CALLING TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND CHARTER TOWNSHIP MERIDIAN FOR JANUARY 4TH, 2023.

THAT'S 23 FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T CAUGHT UP TO THE YEAR YET.

AS USUAL, OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS PUBLIC REMARKS IN THE THRIVING PUBLIC AND THE AUDIENCE.

LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO HOLD THEIR TONGUES UNTIL LATER IN THE MEETING.

SO WE'LL MOVE TO APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

[3. CHANGES TO/APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

ANYBODY LIKE TO PROPOSE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA AS CIRCULATED? DID YOU WANT ME TO SAY? YES.

WE NEED TO ADD TO THE AGENDA SOMEWHERE.

NOMINATIONS, RIGHT? THE FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR IS OUR DUTY TO ELECT LEADERSHIP AND A LIAISON, AT LEAST TO LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH IS OUR MAIN FORMAL LIAISON.

AND WE CAN ALSO DISCUSS LIAISONS TO OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

CLOSE THAT AS THE SECOND ITEM UNDER NEW BUSINESS.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED.

ALL THOSE ARE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.

IF YOU SWITCH TO THE BACK OF THE ROOM AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A QUICK TUTORIAL ON CHANGING OF THE GUARD, MOVING TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

LOVELY MINUTES, GETTING BETTER EVERY TIME.

I DID SPOT A COUPLE OF TYPOS THAT ARE QUITE MINOR.

ANYBODY HAS ANY CHANGES? PLEASE LET US KNOW.

ONCE GOING TWICE.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED AS CIRCULATED.

[5.A. -Meeting Schedule for 2023]

MOVING TO NEW BUSINESS ITEM NUMBER ONE MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2023.

I BELIEVE FURTHER DOWN IN THIS PACKET IS A LITTLE LIST WHAT IT IS.

SO I PRESUME THAT THESE, WITHOUT HAVING LOOKED AT THEM QUITE CLOSELY, THESE ARE ALL FIRST WEDNESDAY DATES AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT EVERY MONTH'S COVERED FULL SLATE. ANYONE HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE MEETING SCHEDULE AS PROPOSED? I'M GOING TO GET THIS AT THE TOP.

CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION? YES. HOLD THAT BUTTON IN UNTIL IT WAS ON.

I'M JUST LIKE, OH, WELL.

OH, YOURS IS DEAD. YOU CAN'T PARTICIPATE HERE.

YOU CAN SHARE MINE. YES.

[00:10:01]

SUGGESTION. WELL, I WAS JUST NOTICING THAT JULY 5TH IS DOWN THERE USUALLY SEEMS TO BE PROBLEMATIC, I THINK.

DO WE NEED TO? JULY LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, JULY MEETINGS SEEM TO COME AND GO IN YEARS WHERE WE'VE HAD A LARGE, PROFESSORIAL CONTINGENT.

WE'VE TENDED TO SKIP SOME OF THOSE SUMMER MONTHS.

AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROPOSE A DIFFERENT.

NOT NECESSARILY. I WAS JUST NOTICING IT WAS JULY 5TH, AND IT SEEMS TO ME IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME THAT'S CONNECTING WITH ONE EXTERNAL DEVICE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER THAT.

YEAH, I THINK IT WOULD BE UNLIKELY THAT A QUORUM IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE ON JULY 5TH.

PLUS THAT MOUSE.

I GUESS I PROPOSED MOVING NOT MEETING JULY 5TH.

I HAVE JUST A REAL GREAT.

I DON'T THINK THE CHAIR GOT GOT THAT PROPOSAL.

SORRY. I WAS OFFERING TECHNICAL SUPPORT.

I WAS SUGGESTING PERHAPS WE DID NOT MEET ON JULY 5TH.

IT SEEMS TO BE A HARD TIME FOR PEOPLE.

ALL RIGHT. SO THE PROPOSAL IS TO ADOPT THIS MEETING SCHEDULE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DELETING THE JULY 5TH MEETING.

ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS? CHANGES, ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, WITHOUT OBJECTION AND SCHEDULE IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED.

THAT TAKES US THEN TO OUR NEW ITEM FIVE B, ELECTION OF OFFICERS, OF WHICH WE HAVE

[5.B. - Other]

TO A CHAIR AND A VICE CHAIR.

AND I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR FOR THE YEAR 2023.

HOPING AGAINST HOPE THAT SOMEONE WILL RAISE THEIR HAND OR OH, NOW YOU SHUT THEM ALL OFF.

WELL, ACTUALLY, EVERYBODY ARE OKAY. SO AS I WAS SAYING, THE FLOOR IS OPEN TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO NOMINATE NED OR JOHN OR ANYBODY ELSE TO NOMINATE THEM. OH, I SECOND THAT.

PLEASE. ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS . OKAY, HEARING NO NOMINATIONS WE WILL TAKE A VOICE VOTE ON THAT NOMINATION.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

OPPOSED. DEAFENING SILENCE.

MOVING ON TO VICE CHAIR.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT VICE CHAIR GRASSESCHI SAYS SHE IS WOULD LIKE SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE THAT ROLE.

WHO WOULD? WHOSE ARM CAN WE TWIST? JOHN, YOU'VE SERVED IN THIS CAPACITY.

I'VE DONE IT. I WOULD.

I WOULD DO IT AGAIN. GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE AND CLOSING NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIR.

ALL IN FAVOR OF ANNA SERVING AS VICE CHAIR PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL OPPOSED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE NOW HAVE A SLATE OF LEADERSHIP.

MOVING TO THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD.

COMMISSIONER GRASSESCHI CURRENTLY SERVES AS OUR LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD LIAISON AND I WOULD NOMINATE HER TO RETURN TO THAT ROLE. WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? HEARING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE FLOOR.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED. THAT TAKES US ON TO ITEM SIX.

[6. OLD BUSINESS]

OLD BUSINESS CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN EDITS AND NEXT STEPS.

MY UNDERSTANDING, EXCUSE ME AT THIS POINT IS THAT OUR INTENTION IS TO PRESENT THE MOST DEVELOPED SECTION OF THE DRAFT REVISED PLAN TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION, AND WE ARE AWAITING INPUT FROM THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION SINCE THERE ARE SECTIONS OF THE ENERGY CHAPTER THAT PERTAIN TO TRANSPORTATION.

AND THE LAST MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION HAD A VERY FULL AGENDA, PARTICULARLY THE MASTER PLAN AND UPDATES ON SOME OF THE BIG CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND OTHER ISSUES THAT THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION HAS BEEN DEALING WITH.

SO THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN THAT ITEM UP.

HOWEVER, THEY ALSO AT THEIR LAST MEETING, THEIR CHAIR RESIGNED THE POSITION OF CHAIR AND I THINK

[00:15:09]

RESIGNED FROM THE COMMISSION.

SO I THINK IT FALLS BACK TO US AT THIS POINT WHETHER WE WANT TO CONTINUE WAITING FOR THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW FORMALLY THE THOSE SECTIONS OF THE PLAN, GIVEN THE FACT THEY HAVE BOTH A LEADERSHIP OPENING AND A LACK OF FULL APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMISSION. SO IT'S MY GUESS THAT THEY MAY NOT REACH QUORUM FOR SOME TIME.

AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE THIS FORWARDING OF THIS PLAN TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD DELAYED BY THAT.

I THINK WE'VE WE'VE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE IN TRYING TO PROVIDE OUR OTHER COMMISSION WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW OUR WORK. AND IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT IN A TIMELY FASHION, PERHAPS WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THE CURRENT CHAPTER OF THE ENERGY CURRENT VERSION OF THE ENERGY CHAPTER ONTO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AGENDA.

WHEN DO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONS MEET ACTUALLY? I'M STRUGGLING TO I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTIONS EITHER EVERY OTHER MONTH OR ONCE PER QUARTER.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A MONTHLY MEETING THAT THEY MET IN NOVEMBER.

SO THEY MAY OR MAY NOT MEET IN JANUARY.

AND AS I SAID, WITHOUT A CHAIR AND A LACK OF QUORUM.

IS THERE A NORMAL DAY OF THE WEEK? OH, YOU'RE ASKING ME ALL THESE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS AND PUTTING ME ON THE SPOT.

I MEAN, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN TRANSPORTATION, BUT ONLY CERTAIN DAYS OF THE WEEK WORK, ESPECIALLY WITH A TEACHING SEMESTER. YEAH.

YEAH. SO MY PROPOSAL AT THIS POINT WOULD BE THAT WE GO AHEAD AND ASK STAFF TO GET THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE ENERGY CHAPTER ON THAT TOWNSHIP BOARD'S AGENDA AT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY AND SOUND LIKE A PLAN.

AS FAR AS THE WATER SECTION OF THE.

I'M STILL WORKING ON IT HALFWAY THROUGH, TRYING TO CUT IT BACK IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIFIED GOALS, DID YOU GET MY EMAIL ABOUT WHAT WE CAME UP WITH FROM THE OH NO.

DID YOU SEND ME SOMETHING? YEAH, JUST, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

OH, NO. I MEAN, I WAS PROBABLY NOVEMBER WHEN I KNEW I COULDN'T WORK ON IT LIKE I WANTED TO DO.

NOVEMBER, SO I WROTE DOWN WHAT WE WERE WORKING WITH.

LAKE LANSING, [INAUDIBLE] SUSAN, SUSAN AND VAL, AND NED AND I HAD MET A COUPLE OF TIMES IN SEPTEMBER AND I EMAILED TO YOU AND BILL WHAT WE HAD COME UP WITH AS SOME OBJECTIVES THAT MOSTLY VAL AND SUSAN WROTE AND I EDITED SOME.

YEAH. YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THEM BEING SORT OF TOO ELABORATE, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT? WELL, I CHANGED IT A LITTLE BIT TO KIND OF MAKE IT GO TOWARDS ALL BODIES OF WATER.

SO AND THEN SO THERE'S THAT PART OF IT AND THEN THE WETLAND END OF IT.

YU MAN LEE, WHO ALSO SERVES ON LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD.

SHE WANTS TO DO SOME EDITING AS FAR AS THAT GOES, BUT I JUST HAVEN'T BEEN AVAILABLE TO I'VE DONE SOME FAIRLY SEVERE EDITING, SO MAYBE I'LL SEND IT AROUND TO YOU HOPEFULLY BY I'M HOPING BY THE END OF TONIGHT I WAS WORKING ON IT TODAY, BUT MY OFFICE HAS JUST MOVED.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT BOOKS AND BOOKS, BOOKCASES AND BOOKCASES AND BOXES AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS ARE STILL IN MY BRAIN.

BUT ANYWAY, YES, I DID WORK ON IT MOSTLY TODAY.

SO YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO GET THAT SOMETHING TO YOU, BUT I HAVE TO LOOK BACK AT WHAT YOU SENT ME NOW THAT YOU'RE WORRYING ME.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE MAY BE SOME ENOUGH PROGRESS TO WARRANT HAVING THIS AS A DISCUSSION ITEM NEXT MONTH.

YEAH, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

I MEAN, I'M ONLY JUST ONE OF THEM, SO.

YEAH, SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, LIKE, I HAD TO HAND THIS OVER BECAUSE OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN MY LIFE.

[00:20:01]

SO, YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN COMMIT TO TO AS FAR AS WORKING ON THAT.

BUT I KNOW THAT YU MAN IS INTERESTED, AND I'M KIND OF CONCERNED THAT FEBRUARY MIGHT BE TOO SOON, MAYBE MARCH.

ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER SECTIONS OF THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN UPDATE THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IN TERMS OF PROGRESS READINESS FOR DISCUSSION? I SAW A NOTE THIS EARLIER TODAY FROM FORMER COMMISSIONER LAFFERTY PROVIDING A SERIES OF UPDATES ON WHERE THE FOOD COMPOSTING GROUP IS AND WE CAN BRING THAT UP UNDER REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

BUT I DON'T GET THE SENSE THAT THAT SECTION IS QUITE READY FOR SORT OF COMMISSION LEVEL DISCUSSIONS THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT.

IT IS IT'S CLOSE BUT IT STILL NEEDS A LITTLE BIT MORE.

OKAY. WELL MAYBE BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT MONTH WE CAN GET TOGETHER AND SEE IF WE CAN WHIP THAT INTO SHAPE AND SEE IF MAYBE THAT'LL BE READY FOR CONSIDERATION. THAT AT OUR FEBRUARY MEETING.

YEAH, I THINK IT MAY BE SO.

OKAY, I WOULD DO TOO.

BUT I ASKED, DID THE STORMWATER FOLKS MEET? DID YOU GUYS HAVE THE MEETING? I HAD A MEETING WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND WAS ABLE TO GATHER SOME INFORMATION AND WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING MORE.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR THAT, FORTUNATELY FOR US, HE'S GOT AN AWFUL LOT ON HIS PLATE AND I MY HOPE IS THAT AS THE MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN THE TOWNSHIP NEAR COMPLETION, OUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE BANDWIDTH TO LOOK FARTHER INTO THE FUTURE THAN WHEN IS THAT DARN BRIDGE GOING TO OPEN AND WHEN? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO FINISH THE ROAD PROJECT AND SUCH? I THINK IT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE SMALL BUT HIGHLY COMPETENT TEAM THAT WE HAVE IN THE TOWNSHIP THAT.

INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS CAN CAN ABSORB ALL OF THE ATTENTION.

SO WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON STORMWATER AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS TONIGHT ON THAT TOPIC.

SO IT'S IT'S SOMETHING I'M CONTINUING TO PUT EFFORT INTO.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

SO JUST SO I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE'S A STORMWATER COMPONENT, THERE'S ALMOST A SEPARATE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH IS RELATED, AND THEN THERE'S SORT OF A POTABLE WATER DRINKING WATER GROUNDWATER SECTION POTENTIALLY MAYBE DIVIDING THOSE UP.

AND KENDRA HAS MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS ON THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PIECE OF IT.

IT'S ALMOST READY TO GO.

I'M WONDERING, IS THAT HOW YOU SEE THE WATER SECTION SORT OF INTO THREE, THREE COMPONENTS OR I THINK IF IF WE WERE TO ASK 100 PEOPLE, WE WOULD GET 33 IN EACH OF THOSE EACH OF THOSE THREE BINS.

AND THAT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE WHEN DEALING WITH ANY ENVIRONMENTAL TOPIC, IS THAT THERE TENDS TO BE A LOT OF CARRYOVER FROM ONE TO THE NEXT.

AND WE CAN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT ENERGY WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT WATER PUMPING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE USE MOST OF OUR ENERGY FOR.

SO THESE THINGS DO AND KNOW THERE ISN'T NECESSARILY A REASON WHY GROUNDWATER WOULD.

SOMETHING WE WERE GOING TO DO WITH GROUNDWATER WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE DEALT WITH STORMWATER.

EXCEPT THAT THE SAME DEPARTMENT THAT HELPS US DEAL WITH OUR STORMWATER IS THE DEPARTMENT THAT DELIVERS US OUR POTABLE WATER AND DEALS WITH OUR SANITARY SEWER.

SO IN TERMS OF ENGAGING WITH TOWNSHIP STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INCLUDING THE MOST UP TO DATE AND COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT OUR CURRENT STATE AND OUR PLANS.

I'D RATHER DO THAT MORE COMPREHENSIVELY WITH PUBLIC WORKS RATHER THAN GOING AFTER THEM AND SAY, WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT GROUNDWATER AND HOW THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR SANITARY SEWER AND THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR STORM SEWERS, BECAUSE THEY'RE DEALING WITH THEM IN A MORE INTEGRATED FASHION.

SO THAT'D BE MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE IS TO CONTINUE DEALING WITH THEM MORE COMPREHENSIVELY.

BUT THAT'S JUST ME.

[00:25:03]

WELL, I'LL JUST TELL YOU FROM MY STANDPOINT, LIKE I TRIED, JUST BECAUSE IT'S SO BIG TO BREAK IT DOWN INTO PARTS AND I WANT I'M HOPING TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER LIKE SO.

SO YOU AND I WORK ON THE WETLANDS PORTION OF IT.

THERE WAS A DETENTION RETENTION PONDS, LAKES KIND OF GROUP THAT MET TOGETHER AND CAME UP WITH SOME STUFF.

AND THEN THE STORMWATER FOLKS WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET AND I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS.

SO. AND THEN HOW DO WE INTEGRATE ALL OF THAT? I HAVE NO IDEA. I JUST.

WELL, THEN THERE'S THE INTERFACE TO THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER.

THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER SUBJECT.

RIGHT? RIGHT. AND THAT'S WHERE I FEEL LIKE GUIDANCE NEEDS TO.

IT DOESN'T MATTER ME HOW IT HAPPENS.

JUST MIGHT NOT HURT TO ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING.

WELL, ANYWAY, SO I THINK THE.

FOR THE MINUTES, WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE SOME EITHER COMPREHENSIVE OR BITS AND PIECES OF WATER IN MARCH AND HOPING TO HAVE SOMETHING ON MAYBE RECYCLING OR FOOD COMPOSTING ISSUES AT OUR FEBRUARY MEETING OR ANYTHING ELSE ON CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN UPDATE? QUICK QUESTION. YES, SO I MIGHT HAVE A REALLY OLD VERSION, BUT I DON'T SEE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE WITHIN THE PLAN ITSELF AT ALL. YEAH.

SO I BELIEVE THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE 2017 PLAN.

AND WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT IT NOW BECAUSE WE WANT IT TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE.

WE WANT TO BE MORE COMPREHENSIVE THIS TIME AROUND.

AND IF WE DECIDE THAT THERE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO TRY TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD.

THEN THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT WE COVER THAT TOPIC.

I JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] MANAGEMENT BOARD.

SO I FEEL IF WE WANT TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION, THAT I COULD WORK WITH HIM AND MAYBE DRAFT SOMETHING RELATIVELY SHORT AND CONCISE.

GREAT, GREAT.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE HAVE BASICALLY TWO MAIN ISSUES FROM A SUSTAINABILITY STANDPOINT WHEN IT COMES TO GROUNDWATER. ONE IS SORT OF RECHARGE AND THE QUALITY OF THE AQUIFER AND THE OTHER IS GETTING UP, UP OUT OF THE GROUND AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE EXPEND GETTING THE WATER INTO USE.

AND THE SECOND ONE I TEND TO THINK OF LARGELY IN TERMS OF ITS ENERGY COMPONENT, OF COURSE, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF OTHER ISSUES ABOUT HOW THE FILTRATION IS DONE AND WHAT'S DONE, WHAT'S ADDED TO IT, WHAT'S TAKEN OUT OF IT AND WHAT HAPPENS, WHAT'S THE FATE OF THOSE THINGS.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING AND HAS IMPORTANT SUSTAINABILITY IMPLICATIONS TO IT.

SO FROM THE ENERGY STANDPOINT, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT COULD BE LARGELY COVERED UNDER THE ENERGY SECTION OF THE PLAN.

I DON'T THINK IT REALLY CURRENTLY IS.

OTHER THAN MAYBE SOME BRIEF REFERENCE TO TRYING TO OFFSET SOME OF THOSE PUMPING REQUIREMENTS.

SO THERE IS A POSSIBILITY AND LEROY MAY KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE WORKING WITH THE MSU ENGINEERING AND DOING SOME AUDITS OF OUR VARIOUS FACILITIES AND THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION OF THEM LOOKING AT SOME OF THE LARGER PUMPS BECAUSE THEY USE AS YOU.

MENTIONED EARLIER A LOT OF ELECTRICITY AND BUT I DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THAT? DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE COVERED WITH THE MSU AUDITORS? THAT NOT CLEAR AT THIS TIME? IT'S NOT TOTALLY CLEAR.

THE FIRST AUDIT IS GOING TO BE SCHEDULED IN FEBRUARY, AND THAT'S I BELIEVE THAT'S MOSTLY FOCUSING ON BUILDINGS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T WE CAN'T LOOK AT THAT DATA.

IN THE MEANTIME, I JUST HAVE A SORT OF CAPACITY QUESTION.

DO WE KNOW WHAT THE SORT OF USAGE IS RELATIVE TO THE TANK CAPACITY? IN OTHER WORDS, IS THERE IS THERE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ROOM TO USE, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, ENERGY GENERATED DURING THE DAY BY SOLAR AND THEN MINIMIZE THE FOSSIL BASED ENERGY USAGE, ETC., YOU KNOW, KIND OF USING THE WATER SYSTEM AS A STORAGE MECHANISM. AND I THINK THE I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S ONE ADVANTAGE WITH HAVING A UNIVERSITY INVOLVED.

THEY CAN BE QUITE CREATIVE.

I MEAN, TYPICALLY, THOUGH, WHEN WE LOOK AT PUMPING, WE JUST LOOK AT WHAT'S THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY THAT'S MOST EFFICIENT.

[00:30:07]

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR EXISTING SITUATION IS OR WHAT COULD BE THE NEXT BEST TECHNOLOGY THAT MIGHT BE COST EFFECTIVE OR NOT. BUT THERE'S ALL THESE OTHER LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES, RIGHT? AND AND THAT'S LIKE I SAID, I THINK THAT'S AN ADVANTAGE WITH HAVING A UNIVERSITY DO AN AUDIT RATHER THAN JUST CONSULTING ENGINEERS WHO ARE MORE JUST WHAT THEY ALL LOOK AT.

THEY DON'T THEY ARE NECESSARILY SOME ARE CREATIVE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY.

SO. WE'LL SEE I GUESS.

THERE WAS A GREEN THEMES DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC WITH A GUEST FROM THE MERIDIAN WATER AUTHORITY.

YEAH, WE TALKED ABOUT CAPACITY AND THE VARIOUS PROCESSES THAT ARE USED.

WAS THAT ONE RECORDED? YEAH. YEAH.

AND NEXT MONTH WE HAVE TODD.

I FORGET HIS LAST NAME FROM THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

WATER RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITY WILL BE SPEAKING AS WELL.

OH GOOD. YEAH.

AND I THINK ON THOSE TOPICS, WHAT WE MIGHT USEFULLY DO IS, IS SIMPLY SUMMARIZE SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE GETTING IN THOSE LESS FORMAL SETTINGS AND BRING THAT INTO THE CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN SO PEOPLE CAN, CAN, CAN SEE WHAT WHAT THAT IS.

I CERTAINLY LEARNED A LOT LEARNING ABOUT HOW THE WATER TREATMENT IS DONE.

AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING HOW THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT IS DONE.

ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE ON CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN UPDATES, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ANY OTHER OLD BUSINESS.

I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER OLD OUTSTANDING.

WE DID HAVE AN APPLICATION FOR A STUDENT COMMISSIONER, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT FITS INTO THE OLD BUSINESS OR NEW BUSINESS, BUT AMELIA SAFFRON IS HERE TODAY AS A POTENTIAL STUDENT ALTERNATE.

WE CREATED THE ALTERNATE POSITION AND AS A WAY BE PARTLY TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS BUSY SCHEDULES.

IF SOMEONE CAN'T MAKE IT, WE HAVE ALTERNATES AVAILABLE AND IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE LIFE ON THE COMMISSION.

AND SO WE POTENTIALLY COULD ENTERTAIN HER APPLICATION TONIGHT AND THE CHANCE FOR YOU TO MEET HER. I'LL STOP TALKING IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING.

ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS AMELIA.

I'M A JUNIOR AT OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL.

I HAVE, I GUESS MY PRIMARY INTEREST HERE IS, I GUESS, NATIVE PLANTS.

AND I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN THE WATER SITUATION.

SO I'M GLAD THAT I GET TO HEAR PART OF THAT TODAY.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND I HOPE WE CAN FIND A WAY FOR YOU TO JOIN US.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT OUR CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN? I THINK IT'S ATTACHED TO THE PACKET PERHAPS, BUT I DON'T THINK I'VE HAD THE ACTUAL [INAUDIBLE] WE WOULD, WE'RE ALWAYS VERY INTERESTED IN ANY INPUT WE CAN GET FROM ANY DIRECTION WE CAN GET ON THAT PLAN AND ITS, ITS PROPOSED REVISION.

SO PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, I KNOW IT CAN BE LIFE CAN BE VERY BUSY AS A STUDENT, BUT YEAH, PLEASE.

THANK YOU AND WELCOME.

THANK YOU. SO I GUESS THAT TAKES US TO REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

[7. REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]

I'VE ALREADY KIND OF TOLD YOU WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.

ANYBODY, ENERGY TEAM, ANY REPORTS FOR TONIGHT? WELL, THE DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE ABOUT SOLAR RISE MERIDIAN AND THE EV CHARGING AND THINGS ARE, I THINK, LOOKING PROMISING IN THOSE AREAS. LAST MEETING I MENTIONED ABOUT THIS GRANT APPLICATION TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION THAT WAS HEADED UP BY THE PUBLIC SECTOR CONSULTANTS, WHICH WOULD INVOLVE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IN EAST LANSING AND LANSING.

AND WE DID PROVIDE A LETTER OF SUPPORT SIGNED BY DAN.

AND SO AND I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WOULD GET FUNDING FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

IT WOULD BE A FAIRLY SMALL GRANT FOR REALLY PLANNING BEST OPTIONS FOR DOING COMMUNITY SOLAR KIND OF ON A COMMUNITY LEVEL AND A MUNICIPAL LEVEL.

AND THAT APPLICATION GOES IN JANUARY 6TH AND I DON'T EXPECT WOULD HERE ANY TIME SOON.

THESE THINGS TAKE A WHILE.

THAT'S IT. GREAT.

COMMISSIONER FRAIZER WROTE EARLIER TO SAY THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE GREEN TEAM.

[00:35:02]

IS THERE ANY STAFF WANT TO GIVE ANY OTHER UPDATES ON? I SAW A NOTE ABOUT PLANNING ACTIVITIES FOR 2023.

IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS BEING PLANNED.

YEAH, WE'RE TRYING TO GET A LITTLE MORE IN ADVANCE THIS YEAR SO THAT WE CAN PROMOTE EVENTS AT THE MARKETPLACE SO THAT THERE'S A LINK TO THAT IN YOUR PACKET.

IT'S ALSO IN THE STAFF UPDATE.

I THINK IT'S THE LAST PAGE OF YOUR PACKET FOR THE DRAFT SCHEDULE.

SO THE NEXT GREEN TEAM MEETING IS, I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE THE 12TH OF JANUARY.

IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN ATTENDING.

WE MEET AT 4:00 AT SCHULER'S BOOK CAFE AND SO THAT'S OPEN TO ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE.

THANK YOU. I MENTIONED THAT I'D HEARD FROM MATT LAFFERTY EARLIER IN THE DAY.

ANNA DID YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT OR OTHER ISSUES REGARDING FOOD COMPOSTING CONTINUUM AND ITS NEW MONIKER? YES. SO I THINK WE'RE WHAT ARE WE GOOD FOOD TO SMART RECYCLING NOW.

LET ME PULL UP. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I HEARD.

YEAH. GOOD FOOD TO SMART RECYCLING.

SO WE'RE STILL WANTING A FOCUS ON THE CONTINUUM OF THE FOOD SYSTEM.

BUT TRYING TO, VAL CAME UP WITH A NAME THAT IS A LITTLE SHORTER AND MORE POSITIVE, I THINK, THAN OR AT LEAST SHORT AND POSITIVE.

SO THAT'S ONE DEVELOPMENT.

OUR NEXT MEETING IS THIS FRIDAY AT I BELIEVE IT'S AT NOON AND I'M LOOKING AT HER NOTES RIGHT NOW.

OH, IT WILL INCLUDE THREE OFFICIALS FROM CANTON TOWNSHIP EXPLAINING THEIR NEW TOWNSHIP COMPOSTING PROGRAM AND THEN CHAD TICKNER TO EXPLAIN HOW METRO FOOD RESCUE IN WAYNE COUNTY IS GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS IN HIS COMMUNITY.

SO MY GUESS IS WITH THAT IS A I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THAT PROGRAM, BUT I ASSUME IT IS A GLEANING PROGRAM WHERE THEY'RE RESCUING FOOD AND THEN PROVIDING IT TO PEOPLE THAT ARE FOOD INSECURE.

SO I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE WORKS WITH THE GROUP.

I UNFORTUNATELY WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE LAST MEETING THAT I SPOKE TO THIS FRIDAY.

SO OTHER BOARDS LIAISONS.

[INAUDIBLE] PRESIDENT ME IN DECEMBER, SO DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON THAT.

BUT RELATED TO THE WETLANDS, WORLD WETLAND DAY IS ON FEBRUARY 2ND.

AND SO I BELIEVE THE WETLAND TEAM HASN'T MET SINCE SEPTEMBER.

BUT THE LAST I KNEW OR I SAW THAT EMMA POWELL THAT THERE'S AN EVENT AT NANCY MOORE PARK 1 TO 3 ON WORLD WETLAND DAY, WHICH I THINK IS A WEDNESDAY.

WELL, WAIT A MINUTE. YEAH.

SO IT MUST NOT BE WEDNESDAY.

IT MUST BE THURSDAY. THANK YOU.

SO, SO.

SO THERE'S THAT. LAST YEAR WE THOUGHT WE HAD SOME LEFTOVER MONEY AFTER THE MAILINGS WENT OUT.

AND SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SIGNAGE.

AND SO EMMA AND REBECCA WERE WORKING ON DEVELOPING SOME SIGNAGE TO GO AROUND TO IDENTIFY WETLANDS AND DIFFERENT PARKS AND PRESERVES.

AND I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE LAST MESSAGES I GOT WAS THAT SHE WAS GOING TO TRY TO START UNVEILING THAT AND AROUND WORLD WETLAND DAY.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS REALLY, TRULY HAPPENING AND I CAN FIND OUT NEXT WEEK AT LAND PRESERVATION TO FIND AT THE MEETING TO FIND OUT FROM THAT.

BUT ANOTHER THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE WETLANDS OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, HOWEVER LONG WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS STUFF, SO WE HAVE SOME NICE EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL NOW.

WE HAVE GOT A BROCHURE, WE HAVE WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR NOTICE ABOUT SIMPLE DO'S AND DON'TS.

WE HAVE A RESIDENTIAL NOTICE ABOUT SIMPLE DO'S AND DON'TS.

WE HAVE A LETTER THAT WENT OUT TO RESIDENTS THAT LIVE ON OR ADJACENT TO WETLANDS IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.

THAT BRINGS ME TO THIS NICE LITTLE PIECE OF NOTE THAT GOES OUT EVERY YEAR IN FEBRUARY, I THINK, WITH THE TAX ASSESSMENT.

AND I KNOW THAT WE HAD WONDERED LAST YEAR IF WE COULD HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION TO GO ALONG WITH THIS.

EVEN NOW WE HAVE INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE WE HAVE ABOUT WETLANDS.

SO HERE JUST BASICALLY SAYS YOU MAY LIVE OR YOU MAY NOT LIVE ON A WETLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY TELL YOU WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

SO I WAS WONDERING, TRUSTEE WISINSKI, I KNOW YOU HAD SENT A MESSAGE TO TREASURER DESCHAINE ABOUT THIS, LIKE AROUND SEPTEMBER ISH,

[00:40:08]

DID YOU HEAR BACK ABOUT MAYBE IF WE CAN ADD EVEN A LINE OR SEND ANY ONE OF THESE BEAUTIFUL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS WITH.

I DID REACH OUT, KENDRA AND I CANNOT I DO KNOW TREASURER DESCHAINE DID RESPONSE. I'LL HAVE TO LOOK I THINK IT WAS TOO SOON FOR THE NEXT TAX BILL SO IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE JUST HAD OUR WINTER TAXES SENT OUT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TIME FOR SUMMER.

DOES IT GO TO SUMMER OR JUST FEBRUARY? THIS WELL, THIS, THIS NOTICE RIGHT HERE GOES OUT, I THINK, WITH THE TAX ASSESSMENT OR YOUR ASSESSMENT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHO SENDS THAT.

I MEAN, WHO EVEN SENDS THAT? GOT TO BE THE TREASURER, NOBODY ELSE WOULD DARE SEND OUT A TAX BILL.

IT'S AN ASSESSMENT THAT WAS NOT ACTUALLY THE BILL.

WE PROBABLY WORKS WITH OUR ASSESSOR.

OKAY, BUT THIS LEGALLY HAS TO GO, I'M ASSUMING, BECAUSE IT'S GOT LEGAL, LOTS OF LEGAL JARGON WITHIN OUR ORDINANCE, ISN'T IT? YEAH, IT'S ABOUT THE ORDINANCE.

SO I THINK IT GOES OUT TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOLKS THAT LIVE ON WETLANDS RIGHT.

SO IT'S A NICE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE HOW MANY OF OUR HOMES THAT THIS GOES OR RESIDENCES THAT THIS GOES OUT TO PROPERTY OWNERS.

SO ARE YOU SUGGESTING MAYBE MODIFYING THAT EXISTING LANGUAGE THAT MAY BE REQUIRED? YES, THIS IS REQUIRED, YEAH.

ADD WEBSITE TO IT.

JUST ADD THE WEBSITE ON THE BOTTOM OR ANY ONE OF THESE LOVELY OR WE ALL WORKED ON ONE OF OUR FIRES AND I THINK THERE WAS A MAIN THING WITH THAT.

SO DOUBLE CHECK.

FANTASTIC. YEAH.

BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GIVE I MEAN IT'S JUST A NICE OPPORTUNITY.

AND THE OTHER THING I WILL SAY ABOUT IT, I MEAN IT WAS NICE THAT THE INFORMATION WENT OUT IN OCTOBER.

HOWEVER, SPRING IS A BETTER TIME FOR SOME OF THIS INFORMATION TO GO OUT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ONE TO THE CONTRACTORS NOW THAT SEPARATE FROM THE ASSESSOR.

WELL, LET ME TALK ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT, SO DON'T MIX THINGS UP.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO THIS IS A NICE ONE FOR THE RESIDENTS RIGHT HERE.

SO THIS IS LIKE INFORMATION PICTURES, SIMPLE DO SIMPLE DON'TS THAT COULD GO WITH THAT WOULD BE LOVELY IF THAT COULD GO WITH OR JUST OR IF WE CAN'T GET THAT, THEN MAYBE JUST LIKE THE WEBSITE ON THE BOTTOM FLIER, I'LL GET THEM TO LOOK AT IT I THINK A LITTLE MORE OFTEN.

I WILL ASK. AND THEN THE SECOND ITEM IS THAT WE HAD A CONTRACTOR ON OUR WETLAND EDUCATION TEAM AND HE SAID THAT THIS WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO GO OUT TO CONTRACTORS IN FEBRUARY.

SO THIS GOT SENT OUT IN MAY OF LAST YEAR, I THINK IT WAS, AND THE CONTRACTORS ARE TOO BUSY BY THAT TIME REALLY TO EVEN PAY ATTENTION. HE SAID HE DIDN'T THINK PROBABLY A LOT OF THEM WOULD OPEN THEIR MAIL, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK IT WENT OUT TO 33 CONTRACTORS LAST YEAR.

SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THIS COULD POTENTIALLY GO OUT TO THE 33 CONTRACTORS, FEBRUARY ISH, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE WITH THAT.

SO I THINK THERE'S A FEW THINGS HERE, SO WE CAN CERTAINLY ASK, WAS THAT DECIDED ON US FOR LAST YEAR OR WAS THAT A DATE DECIDED BY STAFF WHEN IT WENT TO THE CONTRACTORS? THAT WOULD, IF I RECALL RIGHT, THERE WAS SOME LOGISTICAL ISSUES WITH GETTING PRINTING AND FOLDING AND ENVELOPE STUFFING AND THINGS, AND IT FINALLY WENT OUT.

BUT IT WASN'T AS EARLY IN THE SEASON AS WE HAD HOPED.

SO THAT'S HOW I UNDERSTAND IT.

AND I THINK, LIKE YOU SAID, THERE WAS SOME REMAINING BUDGET, SO THERE'S ALREADY THE FUNDS SET ASIDE AND HOPEFULLY THOSE TECHNOLOGICAL CONCERNS HAVE BEEN IRONED OUT SO THAT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF PULLING THE TRIGGER AND GETTING IT GETTING THE MAILING DONE RIGHT.

AND I MEAN, WE WERE WILLING TO HAVE A MAILING PARTY TO ASSIST.

I MEAN. RIGHT. SO WHATEVER.

THINK PLANNING AHEAD WILL HELP US.

SO OUR FEBRUARY MEETING, WE CAN BE STUFFING ENVELOPES.

ALTHOUGH STAMPS STAFF CAN ARRANGE TO HAVE A STAMP LICKER.

I LOVE IT. ALL RIGHT.

THERE IS ONE ITEM I WANTED TO BRING UP, AND WE CAN CALL IT WETLANDS.

I CAN MAKE THAT STRETCH IF WE COULD.

AND IT'S ON OUR SCREENS AS THE COMMONS CHURCH.

AND THIS IS A PROJECT I WANTED TO BRING TO THE GROUP'S ATTENTION.

BECAUSE YOU CAN JUST LEAVE IT JUST LIKE THAT PLEASE.

OKAY. BECAUSE WE COULD CONSIDER IT SOMETHING LIKE CREATING WETLAND FUNCTION.

AND THIS PROJECT IS ALREADY UNDERWAY.

IT'S MOSTLY DONE.

IT'S ALL BEEN APPROVED.

THE PERMITS HAVE BEEN SIGNED AND EVERYTHING'S DONE.

BUT THE REASON I WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION IS THAT THE BUILDING PERMIT CALLS THIS AND INFILTRATION BASIN.

[00:45:04]

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IT'S A TERM THAT I HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN FAMILIAR WITH.

SO I'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH WITH PLANNING STAFF ON A LITTLE BIT AND DUG INTO IT.

THIS IS THE COMMONS CHURCH ON MARSH ROAD, JUST ABOVE THE ROUNDABOUT ON YOUR WAY TO MEYER.

AND YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED QUITE A BIT OF EARTH MOVING GOING ON THERE.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT BASICALLY THEY WANTED TO EXPAND THEIR PARKING LOT AND BECAUSE THEY WERE CREATING, THEY WERE REPLACING PERMEABLE SURFACES WITH AN IMPERVIOUS PARKING LOT, THEY WERE REQUIRED TO MANAGE THEIR STORMWATER.

AND THAT'S VERY TYPICAL.

WE SEE WHEN SOMEONE ADDS IMPERVIOUS SURFACE THAT THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER REQUIRES THAT THEY NOT JUST SEND THAT STORM SURGE DOWN INTO THE DRAIN PIPES IMMEDIATELY.

AND VERY OFTEN WHAT I SEE IS THESE DETENTION BASINS, WHICH ARE MEANT TO HOLD THE WATER AS MUCH WATER AS THEY CAN WHEN IT OVERFLOWS, THEN IT DOES GO DOWN THE DRAIN, BUT IT HOLDS BACK A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF IT IN ORDER TO SEEP INTO THE GROUND OR EVAPORATE.

IN THIS CASE, THIS LATTICE WORK THAT YOU'RE SEEING DOWN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE DIAGRAM, THE TOP IS ALL THE SORT OF PARKING SPACES, THE LATTICEWORK DOWN AT THE BOTTOM IN THAT ODD SHAPE POLYGON IS THE DETENTION BASIN.

AND INSIDE OF IT, THIS DENDRITIC PATTERN THAT YOU SEE IS BASICALLY DRAINPIPES.

AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS, IS BUILD SOMETHING LIKE YOU WOULD HAVE DONE IF THIS HAD BEEN PRE AGRICULTURAL AND YOU WERE TRYING TO FARM IT AND IT WAS TOO WET TO DRIVE YOUR TRACTOR OR YOUR HORSES THROUGH, YOU WOULD DIG TRENCHES AND YOU WOULD PUT DRAIN PIPES AND YOU WOULD ALLOW THE WATER TO DRAIN OFF SO THAT IT WOULDN'T BE SO MUDDY FOR YOUR FARMING.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE NOT PLANNING TO CULTIVATE THAT DETENTION BASIN, BUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'VE THEY'VE DUG THIS THIS PIT MUCH DEEPER THAN IT NEEDED TO BE LAID A LATTICE OF DRAINPIPE INTO IT AND THEN BACKFILLED IT.

SO THE AS I UNDERSTAND THIS FUNCTION, THE RAINWATER WOULD COME OFF OF THAT PARKING LOT AND SURROUNDING AREAS AND IT WOULD SIT IN THIS BASIN, BUT RATHER BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH OF IT, RATHER THAN JUST SITTING THERE AND WAITING TO EVAPORATE, EVENTUALLY IT CAN PERCOLATE DOWN THROUGH THE SOIL AND WHATEVER OTHER SUBSTRATE THEY'VE PUT AROUND THESE DRAIN SYSTEMS AND THEN EVENTUALLY MAKE ITS WAY DOWN THROUGH THE STORM SYSTEM.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW NOVEL THAT IS SORT OF NATIONALLY OR STATEWIDE, BUT I'VE BEEN KIND OF GEEKING ON STORMWATER FOR A WHILE HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE.

SO I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO BRING IT TO PEOPLE'S ATTENTION AS ANOTHER APPROACH TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT THAT IS KIND OF DOING WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS HOLDING THE STORMWATER BACK FOR A WHILE, BUT ALSO GETTING SOME FILTRATION BEFORE IT GOES DOWN TO THE RED CITY RIVER.

I'M GUESSING THAT THESE PIPES GO DUE SOUTH AND JOIN THE RIVER, BUT IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO TELL WHERE WHERE THE STUFF GOES UNLESS YOU'RE AN EXPERT.

SO WITH IT RECOMMENDED BY THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER STAFF OR BY THE CONSULTANT OR DID THE? YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET CLARITY ON THAT THAT TOPIC.

BUT MY FROM WHAT I CAN TELL AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T KNOW AND WE WOULDN'T KNOW BECAUSE WHEN THE APPLICATION COMES TO THE TOWNSHIP FOR PERMITTING, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO SUGGESTED WHAT.

IT'S A MATTER OF DOES THIS DESIGN MEET OUR STANDARDS? AND IT DOES.

IT WAS THE PERMIT WAS APPROVED AND IT HAS RECEIVED, IT DID RECEIVE CONDITIONAL APPROVAL FROM THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.

SO THEY'RE CERTAINLY AWARE OF IT.

WHO WAS THE IMPETUS? I DON'T KNOW. BUT WE KIND OF WORKING ON ON DIGGING INTO THAT.

AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS IS A SOLUTION COMPARED TO OTHER SOLUTIONS? WELL, I HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN THINKING MORE ABOUT PLANTING VEGETATION THAT WOULD INCREASE EVAPORATION.

AND I THINK THIS IS A I THINK THIS IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THAT.

I DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT DRAIN FIELDS, BUT I KNOW THAT MY SEWER LINE CLOGGED UP BECAUSE TREE ROOTS GOT INTO IT.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE PIPES WITH WATER IN THEM AND THINGS GET DRY, THE TREES WILL FIND A WAY TO GET TO THAT WATER.

AND IF YOU HAVE A PERFORATED PIPE AND YOU PLANT A TREE ON TOP OF IT, AS SOON AS IT GETS DRY, IT'S GOING TO SEND ITS ROOTS IN THERE.

SO THIS IS, I THINK, A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH.

I WOULD GUESS THAT THERE ARE STILL AREAS AROUND THAT.

[00:50:01]

THAT ARE FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE DRAIN SYSTEM THAT IT MIGHT STILL SUPPORT SOME OTHER VEGETATION THAN JUST MOWED TURF, BUT PROBABLY NOT DOWN IN THE MAIN PART OF THE DETENTION BASIN.

SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO POKE AROUND.

AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T SEEN THE FULL PLAN THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TONIGHT TO LOOK AT THE LANDSCAPING PLAN. I'M GUESSING THAT IT'S TURF GRASS BECAUSE THAT'S THE EASIEST THING TO MAINTAIN.

IS THERE SOME KIND OF CONTROL OF THE FLOW RATE? I MEAN, LET'S SAY THE POND IS FULL, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIG FLOOD AND SO IS IT JUST A MATTER OF PERCOLATION THROUGH WHATEVER LAYERS OF SAND OR GRAVEL OR ABOVE THE PIPES OR.

WELL, THERE'S ALWAYS AN OVERFLOW.

AND IF YOU GO DOWN AND LOOK AT IT, YOU CAN SEE THAT ONE WHEN IT FILLS, IT CAN'T OVERFILL INTO THE PARKING LOT, IT WILL OVERFILL INTO THE DRAIN.

SO IT'S NOT TRYING TO HOLD EVERYTHING.

IT'S JUST TRYING TO HOLD WHAT IT CAN HOLD.

RIGHT? NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT I JUST MEANT RIGHT.

WHAT WHAT SORT OF CONTROLS THE RATE OF FLOW INTO THE PIPES.

AND ALSO THE COROLLARY TO THAT IS HOW LONG AS THAT MECHANISM GOING TO LAST IN TERMS OF SILTING UP, ETC., OR FILLING UP THE PIPES ETC.. AND AS I SAY, I HAVEN'T DUG DEEPLY ENOUGH INTO THESE PLANS TO SEE TYPICALLY WHEN YOU LAY UP A PIPE LIKE THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO SURROUND IT IN SOMETIMES IN FABRIC AND SOMETIMES IN GRAVEL AND SOMETIMES IN OTHER ROCK, AND THEN EVENTUALLY IN SOME KIND OF SOIL.

WHAT KIND OF SOIL IS IT? SAND. IS IT CLAY? IS IT? WE'RE ALWAYS ARE OFTEN TOLD THAT PERMEABLE PAVEMENTS DON'T WORK IN MICHIGAN BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH CLAY THAT YOU CAN GET THE WATER DOWN THROUGH THE PAVEMENT. BUT IF IT HITS A CLAY LAYER, THEN YOU HAVEN'T REALLY ACCOMPLISHED ANYTHING.

OH NO, RIGHT. HERE THEY DID MOVE AN AWFUL LOT OF DIRT.

SO I GUESS ONE OF MY HOPES IS THAT AS THIS PROJECT MATURES, WE CAN GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND MAYBE EVEN A PRESENTATION, IF NOT FROM PUBLIC WORKS STAFF, THEN MAYBE FROM A DRAIN COMMISSIONERS OFFICE OR POTENTIALLY EVEN FROM THE APPLICANT OR THEIR CONSULTANTS WHO CAN TELL US ABOUT THIS NEW APPROACH AND HOW IT WORKS AND HOW IT'S WORKING.

WHAT'S THE THE DAVID BOWIE PANTS PART AROUND IT? BUT THE I ASSUME THAT'S ALSO A A LOW SORT OF RIVER WHATEVER TROUGH.

I BELIEVE THAT'S A BERM.

OH, THAT'S POSITIVE.

I WASN'T SEEING I WASN'T SEEING CONTOURS LISTED ON THERE.

BUT I BELIEVE WHAT THEY DID IS THEY THEY WHEN THEY WERE EXCAVATING, THEY PUSHED A BUNCH OF THE SOIL TOWARDS THE BACK BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK ON THE RIGHT SIDE, YOU SEE PROPERTY PARCEL NUMBERS.

SO THESE ARE ALL HOMES.

OKAY. AND RULE NUMBER ONE IS DON'T FLOOD YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOME WHEN YOU DO STORMWATER DETENTION.

SO AND AS I LOOK IN THE AREA, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THERE'S ALREADY A NATURAL BERM IN SOME OF THAT AREA.

SO I THINK THAT'S I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THOSE ARE CONTOURS.

THAT'S SORT OF AN ENGINEERED.

YEAH. OKAY. SURE. DIKE IS THE SITE.

HMM. SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I WANTED TO TACK ON.

THERE'S NOTHING ELSE ON WETLANDS.

I CAN REPORT THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION LAST MET ON DECEMBER 12TH.

WE CONSIDERED TWO SPECIAL USE PERMITS, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE SOME ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS.

ONE WAS THE LAKE LANSING MSU CONNECTOR TRAIL.

AND WE SAW HERE A WHILE BACK A REQUEST FOR COMPENSATING CUT DURING THE PHASE TWO IN ORDER TO COMPENSATE FOR SOME FILL THAT WILL BE PLACED DURING PHASE ONE.

SO PHASE ONE IS MSU BASICALLY HAGEDORN TO FOODS FOR LIVING.

AND SOME OF THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE PUTTING SOME FILL INTO THE FLOODPLAIN.

AND SO ANYTIME YOU PUT DIRT INTO A PLACE WHERE WE STORE WATER BY THE RIVER, THEN YOU'VE GOT TO DIG A HOLE SOMEPLACE ELSE.

AND THAT'LL BE DONE IN PART OF THE PHASE TWO SECTION, WHICH IS FOODS FOR LIVING BASICALLY HERE.

AND THE SECOND ONE WAS FROM DOUGLAS JAY.

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT DOUGLAS JAY AT FOUR CORNERS GOT A FACELIFT, A WHOLE NEW THE EAST SIDE OF THE BUILDING IS ALL JAZZED UP.

AND THEY REDID THEIR ENTRANCE AND ALONG THE WAY, THEIR CONTRACTOR ACCIDENTALLY PUT SOME FILLER INTO THE FLOODWAY SO THAT PEOPLE WOULDN'T GET THEIR FEET WET GOING IN THE FRONT DOOR.

[00:55:04]

SO THEY HAD TO COME QUITE POLITELY AFTER THE FACT AND SAY, I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND THAT WE DID THIS.

AND THEY WERE GRANTED THAT THAT SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

SO THOSE ARE COMMENTS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

ANY UPDATES FROM THE TOWNSHIP BOARD? JUST ONE. ONE MESSAGE I WANTED TO BRING UP IS THAT IT IS JANUARY 3RD.

AND SO OUR NEW BUDGET WENT INTO EFFECT FOR FOUR WEEKS.

OUR NEW BUDGET WENT INTO EFFECT AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WANTED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS ON LIKE A SPEND PLAN FOR THAT OR IF THAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED.

AND I'M JUST NOT UP TO DATE.

SO I HAVE A FEW WORDS ON THAT.

SO, YES, YOU'RE IN THE BEST.

WE WANT TO TRIM MORE, BUT THEN WE NEED TO HAVE AN EXTRA.

SO THIS YEAR IN THE BUDGET, IT WAS ALL COMBINED INTO ONE.

SO GREEN GRANTS ARE PULLED OUT, WETLANDS NOT PULLED OUT.

IT'S ALL ONE BUDGET, WHICH I BELIEVE IS 30,000 WAS GOING TO DOUBLE CHECK.

SO WITH THAT, I DIDN'T KNOW AS A GROUP IF WE WANTED TO DEVELOP A SPEND PLAN SO THAT WE'RE COVERING THINGS LIKE POSTAGE OR MAILERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP.

IT IS IN EFFECT AND WE HAVE FUNDING.

ANOTHER THING TO MENTION IS I DID CONFIRM WITH MANAGER WELCH THAT LEFTOVER FUNDING DOES NOT ROLL OVER.

SO HE IS IT IS IT SO NOW WE KNOW THAT.

SO OUR SPENDING PLAN WILL BE EXACT.

RIGHT. GREAT.

THANK THANK YOU FOR THAT.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE A REASONABLE COURSE OF ACTION MIGHT BE TO GET A RECAP ON SPENDING FROM LAST YEAR AND HAVE A FORMAL ITEM ON OUR FEBRUARY AGENDA WHERE WE LOOK CLOSELY AT WHAT A WHAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR ON WHAT AND GET A SOLID NUMBER OF WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR AND AS A FORMAL AGENDA ITEM, ADOPT A SPENDING PLAN FOR 2023.

WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE A BUSY FEBRUARY MEETING.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE TRUSTEE WINS THE SCHEME.

SO AT OUR OR I THOUGHT SO THE MONEY IS ALL TOGETHER NOW BECAUSE I THOUGHT AT OUR SEPTEMBER MEETING YOU SAID THAT WE HAD 10,000 FOR WETLANDS AND THEN CERTAIN AMOUNT FOR GRANTS, BUT NOW IT'S ALL TOGETHER AND IT'S ONE LINE ITEM.

SO I WANTED TO BRING THAT BACK UP AND IT CAME BACK TO US IN ONE LINE ITEM, WHICH IS FINE.

IT WAS THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.

IT'S JUST NOT DELINEATED.

SO I DIDN'T KNOW AS A COMMISSION IF WE WANTED TO CONSIDER THE DELINEATION TO MAKE SURE THE THINGS THAT WE WANT COVERED AND IF WE WANTED TO DO GRANTS OR HOW DO WE WANT TO DO THAT JUST SO THAT WE SPEND IT, AND THEN I'LL CONFIRM THE LINE ITEM.

IT'D BE GREAT BECAUSE I THINK EMMA STARTED ON SIGNS THINKING ABOUT THAT.

SO YEAH, HE HAD MENTIONED THAT.

SO IT JUST POPPED IN MY HEAD, CORRECT? WELL, IT'S POSSIBLE.

SO I MEAN, GREEN GRANTS, RIGHT? AND SO WE SPENT I THINK IT WAS TEN GRAND ON GREEN GRANTS LAST YEAR WHEN WE WORKED ON THAT.

RIGHT THEN WE HAD SOME MONEY TOWARDS WETLANDS AND THEN I'M NOT SURE WHAT ELSE WE WANT, BUT WAS JUST TALK ABOUT IT IN FEBRUARY, WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH ALL THAT.

AND I WOULD IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR ME TO SEE AN ITEMIZED LIST.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PAGES AND PAGES.

IT'S GOING TO BE FOUR, THREE OR FOUR LINES.

SO THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

YEAH, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE GREEN GRANTS WOULD, IF WE DIDN'T SPEND IT, WOULD CARRY OVER.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD.

SO THIS IS I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING FORWARD THAT THERE IS NO CARRYOVER, BUT WE'VE BEEN LENIENT ON SOME OF THE GREEN GRANT PROJECTS, SO SOME OF THEM HAVE NOT BEEN PAID YET AND THAT SHOULD COME OUT OF LAST YEAR'S MONEY THAT WAS ROLLED OVER, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

SO IF YOU CAN GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT FROM THE MANAGER BETWEEN NOW AND FEBRUARY, THAT'D BE GOOD.

YEAH, SURE.

AND I THINK SO, YEAH, PREFERABLY IN WRITING.

I CAN, I CAN SEND AN EMAIL.

SO. AND THAT WAS GREEN GRASS ONLY, RIGHT? BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE DID IT RIGHT AROUND, I THOUGHT WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET IT RIGHT AT TEN GRAND WHEN WE, WE WORKED ON GREEN GRANTS LAST YEAR, RIGHT? YEAH. OKAY.

WE, WE PAID 50% UPFRONT AND THEN 50% UPON COMPLETION.

AND SOME OF THE PROJECTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT AT THE OKEMOS PUBLIC LIBRARY AND PERSON HEADING UP THE PROJECT MOVED ON AND THERE'S SIMILAR CHALLENGES GETTING SIGNS PRINTED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

[01:00:06]

SO NOT HUGE ISSUES, BUT CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE CAN SPEND NEXT YEAR IF WE HAVE TO BITE INTO THAT.

I'M SORRY, THE MANAGER'S ON VACATION, SO I WON'T SEND THIS UNTIL MONDAY BECAUSE HE WILL RESPOND.

I'M JUST LOOKING FOR SOMETHING IN THE NEXT IN THE NEXT PACKET THAT MAKES THIS EXPLICIT.

YEAH. SO THEN IN THE NEXT PACKET, ARE WE TALKING MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR VERSUS HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO NEXT YEAR? I'M JUST, I'M HOPING THAT THE PACKET SUMMARIZES IN DETAIL WHAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR AND WHAT WE'RE AUTHORIZED TO SPEND THIS YEAR IN TOTAL, AND THAT OUR DISCUSSION WILL BE HOW WE INTEND TO SPEND THAT MONEY THIS YEAR.

OKAY. THAT MAKES SENSE.

IT DOES MAKE SENSE. ANY OTHER REPORTS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL. SO IN TERMS OF EARTH CLUB, WE HAVE THE SUSTAINABLE FASHION COMMITTEE WHERE WE RECYCLE THE CLOTHES AND THEN WE LIKE, UPLIFT THEM INTO NEW CLOTHES AND KIND OF REVAMP THEM.

AND WE'VE BEEN SELLING THEM ON THIS ONE WEBSITE CALLED DEPOP.

AND WE MADE OUR FIRST SALE.

SO NOT ONLY HAVE WE HAD ONE SALE, WE'VE HAD THREE SALES.

AND THAT'S YEAH, THAT'S HEADING IN A VERY GOOD DIRECTION, WHICH WILL DEFINITELY HELP OUR CLUB RAISE SOME MONEY FOR LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF PESTS IN THE GREENHOUSE RIGHT NOW, SO WE'LL BUY SOME BUGS AND OTHER STUFF THAT CAN HELP TAKE CARE OF THOSE PEST ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH SOME OF THE MONEY THAT WE RAISE.

SO THAT'S BASICALLY THE ONLY UPDATE THAT I'VE HAVE.

THE PESTS ARE CREEPY CRAWLIES OR THEIR LITTLE FURRY FRIENDS.

CREEPY CRAWLIES.

SO WHAT'S BETTER THEY NIBBLE RATHER THAN CHOMP THEM.

GOOD, GOOD, GOOD. LANDFILL COMMISSION DID NOT MEET IN DECEMBER, SO.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE BEING OUR LIAISON TO BROWNFIELD? YES. DO WE HAVE OTHER LIAISONS I NEED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT? I NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT. I NEED TO BE AND OTHER MINE NEEDS TO.

IF STAFF COULD PLEASE INFORM THE CLERK SO THAT I CAN GET SWORN IN FOR LAND PRESS.

SO I CAN VOTE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER REPORTS OR ANNOUNCEMENT THAT TAKES US TO PUBLIC REMARK TO MARK.

REMARK. REMARK, REMARK.

SEEING NONE.

ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MOVE TWICE THAT MAKES THE FIRST AND A SECOND.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'RE ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

THANKS BILL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.