[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
[00:00:02]
LET'S GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN, ON MAY 1ST, 2024.
OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS AS USUAL IS PUBLIC REMARKS.
ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, OR ANYTHING ELSE IS WELCOME TO COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE, GIVE US NAME, ADDRESS AND TRUSTEE WILL GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE ANY STATEMENTS AT THIS TIME.
MOVING ALONG TO THE GREEN CARDS ARE UP THERE.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY ASK FOR THOSE.
WELL, IF WE'VE GOT APPLICANTS WITH APPLICANTS ARE ONE THING.
[3. CHANGES TO/APPROVAL OF AGENDA ]
ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE ANY PROPOSED CHANGES? ADDITIONS, DELETIONS? HEARING NONE, I WOULD PROPOSE THAT UNDER ITEM FIVE, NEW BUSINESS PEER REVIEW PROPOSALS FOR CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY RELATED FUNDING.WE CONDUCT THAT PORTION OF THE MEETING A LITTLE BIT AS WE WOULD A PUBLIC HEARING AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WITH APPLICANTS BEING PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR PROPOSALS FOR A FEW MINUTES.
SOME CLARIFYING QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION AND THEN COMMISSION DISCUSSION.
AND SO I'M GOING TO PROPOSE THAT THE FIRST ITEM UNDER FIVE IS A DISCUSSION OF PROCEDURE, HOW THIS IS WORKING, WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR, WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE, WHAT WE CAN DO TONIGHT.
SO EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE.
AND THEN GET INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL PROPOSALS.
HAVE TO BE A STICKLER BUT DID WE APPROVE THE MINUTES TO.
WE COME TO THAT AFTER AFTER THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
YES. WHAT WERE YOU TALKING OKAY.
YEAH. ALL RIGHT. FOR THE AGENDA DISCUSSION.
CORRECT. IS THAT CLEAR ENOUGH? NO OBJECTION. THEN THE AGENDA IS APPROVED AS AMENDED.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ANYBODY HAVE ANY CHANGES? THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE TO THE MINUTES AS CIRCULATED.I FEEL PERSONALLY THAT OUR MINUTES ARE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AS THEY GO.
I FEEL THAT COMMISSIONER FRAIZER FINDS FEWER AND FEWER.
BUT YOU'RE REPORTING THEM OFFLINE, SO THAT'S NICE.
ANYTHING WORTH BRINGING UP THIS EVENING? I THINK THERE MIGHT STILL BE ONE SMALL THING.
UNDER. WELL, I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT YEAH, UNDER GREEN GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS, I THINK INSTEAD OF MC MICHIGAN, IT SHOULD BE MID-MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COUNCIL.
I'M DEFINITELY MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE LATTER THAN THE FORMER.
ANY OTHER CHANGES? I WILL SAY THAT THE SHAME FACTOR HAS BEEN GREATLY REDUCED.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED AS AMENDED.
SO NEW BUSINESS REVIEW PROPOSALS FOR CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY RELATED FUNDING.
[5. NEW BUSINESS]
AS I SAID, I THINK IT'D BE A GOOD IDEA TO AND THIS IS PRETTY WELL REFLECTED IN OUR MINUTES.MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TONIGHT.
AND WE'VE SOLICITED PROPOSALS.
WE'VE RECEIVED THEM, WE'VE REVIEWED THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
AND TONIGHT WE CAN CONSIDER, IN MY UNDERSTANDING, MAKING ONE OR MORE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE USE OF THE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO US. AND I WONDER IF ANYBODY FINDS THAT EXPLANATION PROBLEMATIC.
GREAT. WHEN IT COMES TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW THEM.
AS I SAID, GIVE EACH APPLICANT HERE A CHANCE TO PRESENT THEIR PROPOSAL.
AND THEN HAVE SOME CLARIFYING DISCUSSION AND FINALLY A SUBSTANTIVE REVIEW OF THE INDIVIDUAL PROPOSALS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE AT THIS TIME, IF APPROPRIATE, ANY OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE MADE PROPOSALS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TONIGHT TO COME TO THE PODIUM, GIVE US THE NAME AND ADDRESS, AND GIVE US A THREE MINUTE IDEA OF WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE PLANNING TO DO AND HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK.
NOT SO MUCH HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK, BUT HOW IT WILL WHAT WHAT WHAT'S YOUR GOAL?
[00:05:02]
WHAT WHAT WHAT SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? THAT WOULD BE MY PROMPT TO YOU.AND WHAT ELSE? WE NEED AN ADDRESS.
YES. 1064 WOODSIDE DRIVE AND HASLETT.
OKAY. WELL IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR ALREADY.
OH, ENSUES. IRA'S THE CO-CHAIR, AND I'M A CO-CHAIR WITH THE MERIDIAN MARKET GLEANERS PROJECT.
WE'VE HAD TWO YEARS OF WORK WITHIN THE MARKET WORKING WITH THE VENDORS AND MARKET STAFF TO GLEAN AFTER THE MARKET CLOSES FROM THE VENDORS.
THE FIRST YEAR, WE COLLECTED OVER TWO TONS, 4,700 POUNDS.
AND THAT WAS ALL FROM THE VENDORS.
SO THEY'VE BEEN QUITE BONUS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE PROVIDE WE TAKE THOSE DONATIONS AND PROVIDE THEM TO LOCAL NONPROFIT AGENCIES.
WE HAVE HASLETT FOOD PANTRY, THE WILLIAMSTON FOOD BANK, CRISTO REY COMMUNITY CENTER, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PANTRY SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY KITCHEN.
AND HOW MANY IS THAT? IT'S A VERY IMPRESSIVE LIST.
PARDON ME. IT'S A VERY IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF PARTNERS.
OH, YES. WELL, AND WE'VE ADDED THE OKEMOS COMMUNITY PANTRY THIS YEAR, AND I THINK THE WILLIAMSTON FOOD BANK, I MIGHT HAVE LEFT OFF ON THE THIRD IN THE SECOND YEAR, LAST YEAR, WE COLLECTED WE HAD QUITE AN INCREASE IN TERMS OF OUR COLLECTIONS, WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO GLEAN.
WE HAD 6,900 POUNDS SO OVER THREE TONS NEARLY.
AND AGAIN, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT EACH WEEK THROUGH THE MARKET AND TO OUR RECIPIENT AGENCIES.
THIS PARTICULAR GOAL THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS PROJECT IS ACTUALLY MANIFOLD.
ONE WOULD BE TO SIMPLY I'M SORRY.
LAST YEAR WE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SHOPPERS TO CONTRIBUTE ALSO.
AND SO WHAT WE DID AT THE MARKET WAS HAVE A WAY FOR THE SHOPPERS COULD PLACE IN A DONATION BOX SOMETHING THAT THEY BOUGHT FROM A VENDOR AND THEN PUT IT IN FOR THE AGENCIES.
THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING TO DOUBLE THAT.
THAT WAS ABOUT ALMOST 900 POUNDS THAT THE PUBLIC CONTRIBUTED.
OH, OKAY. SO WHAT'S THE GOAL FOR THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT THAT WE COLLECT TO CREATE AN AWARENESS OF THE MERIDIAN MARKET GLEANERS DUE TO REDUCE WASTE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVING THE UNDERPRIVILEGED IN THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDE A VENUE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MOTION FOR EXTENSION OR WE'RE LOOKING WE'RE ANTICIPATING THE POTENTIAL.
THERE WILL BE A LINEUP OF YES, YES, OF COURSE.
THERE'S ONLY THE TWO OF YOU RIGHT NOW, RIGHT I APPRECIATE GIVE US MORE MONEY, MORE TIME.
OKAY. SO ONE OF THE PRIMARY WAYS WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THAT IS THE PURPOSE IS TO INCREASE THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE RECIPIENTS AND THE THE NONPROFITS AND THE COMMUNITY.
SO ONE OF THE WAYS WE, WE ANTICIPATE DOING THAT IS BEING ABLE TO HAVE ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVE, HOPEFULLY A GREGARIOUS ONE COME TO THE MARKET AND BE ABLE TO SHOP AT THE VENDORS ON A SATURDAY.
TO GO TO THE VENDORS AND SHOP HERE.
AND THE PURPOSE IN DOING THAT, OF COURSE, IS FOR THE PUBLIC DONATIONS.
SO THE VENDOR WOULD BE THE END OF PROFITEER FROM THIS EXCHANGE.
WE HAVE DETAILS FOR YOU AVAILABLE.
[00:10:05]
REP COMING IN DOING THAT.THEY WOULD STAY ALSO IN THE MARKET BECAUSE PART OF IT IS THE INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
WE'LL HAVE LIKE A PHOTO BOARD OF THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS.
AND THAT PERSON WOULD STAY TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO ANYBODY AND OBVIOUSLY WOULD BE SITTING NEXT TO ONE OF OUR DONATION BOXES FOR THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN.
WHY NOT? I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.
IT REALLY HELPS UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.
I GUESS. ONE CLARIFYING QUESTION.
SO WHEN WHEN YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE NONPROFITS WOULD ATTEND THE MARKET, THAT'S THE THE ONES THAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT, LIKE THE SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY KITCHEN AND THE, THE VARIOUS PANTRIES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THAT THAT WHICH SHE OBTAINS WILL GO TO SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY KITCHEN.
AND THEN SHE WOULD STAY AND REMAIN AND INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
OKAY. AND SO THERE'S AND THEN SO I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY.
SO THERE'S AN EDUCATION COMPONENT WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
YES. AND I HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, A RELATIONSHIP BUILDING ASPECT.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE CLARIFICATIONS.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR COMING HERE TO TO EXPLAIN THE PROPOSAL AS WELL.
WELL, IT'S IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
NOT JUST WHAT WE DO, BUT THE MARKET ON A SATURDAY.
WELL, IN WEDNESDAY WE DO WEDNESDAYS, TOO.
IT'S A NICE COMMUNITY INTERACTION.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER AND THEY'RE ALWAYS VERY PLEASANT WITH US.
IF I COULD DRILL DOWN ON THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT MIGHT LOOK LIKE? IS THIS LIKE A TABLING THING? IS THIS A SOMEPLACE WHERE THE PUBLIC WOULD BE INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY? THE AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES AND.
YES. OKAY. WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THE FOOD ENDS UP GETTING USED.
YES. AT THE MARKET, THERE'LL BE THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR, WE'LL HAVE JUST THREE DONATION BOXES CENTRALLY STRATEGICALLY LOCATED.
THEN FOLLOWING THAT, AT ONE OF THESE LOCATIONS WHERE THE BOX WOULD BE, THE DONATION BOX WOULD BE THAT THE SHOPPERS COULD USE THAT'S WHERE THE AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE WOULD BE THERE.
AND WITH A PHOTO DISPLAY OF THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS AND BE ABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY SERVE, WHERE THEY ACQUIRE THEIR FOOD THAT THEY SERVE, HOW THAT'S PROVIDED BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT. THE WILLIAMSTON FOOD BANK IS CONSIDERABLY DIFFERENT THAN CRISTO REY COMMUNITY CENTER.
SO IT SHOULD BE INFORMATIVE TO THE PUBLIC.
YES. WELL, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY POWERFUL PROGRAM TO ME.
YES. EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT A VOTING MEMBER OF THIS BOARD.
YOU'RE IMPORTANT TO ME AS I IS IS IT SEEMS TO BE.
IN EFFECT, YOU'RE PROVIDING A STIPEND TO THE NONPROFIT TO.
WELL, WE NO, WE HAVEN'T DETERMINED THAT YET.
A STIPEND IS A PERSONAL I MEAN, IS AN INDIVIDUAL PAYMENT OR A PAYMENT? I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO GO SHOPPING.
THEIR OWN MONEY OR YOUR MONEY WE'RE GOING TO USE OKAY, THE FUNDS PROVIDED.
AND WE ARE FINDING A WAY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT WITHOUT THAT BEING A INDIVIDUAL CASH PAYMENT.
[00:15:06]
SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO, BUT IT'S STILL YOU'RE GOING TO FUND SOME OF THEIR SHOPPING.OH YES, OH YES, YES, YES, YES.
YOU DETERMINE HOW MUCH TO GIVE TO THE TO THE FOOD BANK, I MEAN OKAY, OF THE BUDGET THAT WE PROVIDED, IT WOULD BE LIKE $100 FOR EACH ONE.
OKAY. NOT EVERY WEEK, BUT I MEAN, IT WOULD BE ONE PERSON ON ONE SATURDAY.
THEY COULD USE THEM TO REDUCE THE COST OF WHATEVER.
YOU MEAN THE VENDORS? NO. THE AGENCY.
THE AGENCY? OH NO, I WOULDN'T I WOULDN'T EXPECT THEM TO BE THERE ALL DAY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT AN HOUR OR TWO.
AND SO I THINK IT PAYS THEM FOR THEIR FOOD.
YEAH. CORRECT. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT, I MEAN, IT GIVES THEM THE INCENTIVE TO COME TO AN EXTENT.
ALSO, THEY HAVE A BENEFIT SIMPLY JUST IN ITS OPERATION.
THIS IS GOING TO SOUND VERY CRASS.
YES, MONEY ONLY WOULD THEY COME IF THERE WASN'T FUNDING TO SHOP.
IF WE ASK, THEY WOULD COME OKAY, BUT IT WOULDN'T SERVE THE SAME PURPOSE.
OKAY. IF THERE WASN'T ANY MONEY, THEY AREN'T GOING TO.
WE ALREADY PROVIDE THEM FOOD AND THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO GET THAT.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING.
THAT'S THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION, BUT THIS IS THE INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO COME AND SPEND AN HOUR AND A HALF OR TWO HOURS TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC AND EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING. OKAY.
I'M NOT SURE THAT I WOULD AGREE.
IT'S NOT THE AGENCY, IT'S THE PEOPLE THEY'RE SERVING THERE.
YEAH. SO IF THERE'S ANY OTHER CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE WE'VE REACHED A POINT WHERE WE CAN CONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL IN PRINCIPLE, BUT NOT KNOWING THE EXACT MECHANISM OF HOW IT WOULD WORK.
YEAH, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME DETAILS TO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'M NOT TRYING TO TO NEGATE THE PROPOSAL.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM, BUT I'M TRYING TO THINK HOW THEY GET SOLD TO THE BOARD.
EXACTLY HOW IT IS SOLD TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
WELL, THEN, ACTUALLY, YOUR QUESTIONS HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE IN GREATER DETAIL.
HOW IS THIS ACTUALLY GOING TO WORK? THAT'S HOW I'M THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.
SO THAT IT'S CLEAR TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WITHOUT QUESTION, THAT THIS IS WHAT THE MONEY IS GOING FOR, AND THIS IS WHY THE MONEY IS GOING THERE. IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.
AND I SUPPORT IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING FROM A TO B TO C, IF I MAY.
GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE THAT PROPOSAL.
ALSO, IF YOU DON'T MIND, GOING TO THE PODIUM OR FROM YOUR SEAT IS FINE.
ALSO, JUST GIVING US THAT SAME SORT OF THREE MINUTE.
THIS IS WHAT WE DO, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE AND WHAT WHAT SUCCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE.
AND WHEN IT BEEPS, THEN WE GIVE YOU SOME MORE TIME TO KEEP TALKING.
I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO SET THE BEEPER.
OH, COME ON, I CAN I DO IT FROM MY CHAIR BECAUSE I HAVE MY.
OH, SORRY. THAT'S FINE. YOU CAN MAKE IT.
SO THE WETLAND EDUCATION, THE PROPOSAL IS TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND THE WETLAND EDUCATION EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN THE TOWNSHIP STARTED BY THE WETLAND EDUCATION TEAM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
SO THE PROPOSAL IS FOR 3 TO 5 INTERPRETIVE EDUCATION SIGNS THAT WOULD BE PLACED AT SOME PLACES WHERE WE HAVE WETLANDS, LIKE CENTRAL PARK AND ALSO WHERE WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME WETLAND BUFFER RESTORATION.
[00:20:04]
AND ANIMALS THAT YOU MIGHT FIND, AND SOME OF THE EFFORTS THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN DOING AT LAKE CENTRAL PARK SOUTH, NANCY MOORE PARK, ONE OF THE BOARDWALK OVERLOOKING THE BIG WETLAND. AND THEN THERE'S A WETLAND AT HILLBROOK PARK THEN.SO THERE'S THOSE 1 TO 2 SIGNS AT A COUPLE OF THOSE PARKS.
AND THEN THERE HAS BEEN ALSO SOME SMALL SIGNS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO RESIDENTS THAT HAVE WETLANDS ON THEIR PROPERTY AND THAT IT IT'S LIKE A NO MOW OR IT'S A, IT'S A SIGNAGE THAT THEY CAN PUT ON THEIR PROPERTY TO DELINEATE WHERE THE BUFFER IS SO THAT CONTRACTORS THAT COME OUT AND DO MOWING OR SPRAYING KNOW WHERE TO STOP SO THEY DON'T SPRAY AND MOW IN THE BUFFER THEN.
SO IT'S FREE TO THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE WETLANDS AND REQUEST AND WANT TO PICK UP THOSE SIGNS.
AND THEN THEN WE ALSO HAVE BEEN DOING SOME MAILINGS TO RESIDENTS THAT HAVE WETLANDS ON THEIR PROPERTY TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE WETLAND BUFFER, REMIND THEM ABOUT THE ORDINANCE AND THEN AND, AND ALSO MAILINGS TO CONTRACTORS.
SO THIS BUDGET ACTUALLY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS KENDRA REMINDED ME THAT THERE WAS AN INITIAL BUDGET PUT IN FOR THE 20 THIS FOR THIS BUDGET YEAR THAT WAS I THINK TOTALED 9970.
AND I TOOK THAT BUDGET AND MET WITH EMMA CAMPBELL AND LEROY AND KIND OF TALKED ABOUT, THESE ARE THE THINGS IN THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, WHERE WHERE ARE THINGS AT? IF WE'VE ALREADY DONE SOME OF THESE THINGS, WE TOOK THEM OFF.
THEN THE REQUEST FOR THIS PROPOSAL.
AND BECAUSE I JUST STARTED, YOU KNOW, WITH THE WETLAND EDUCATION TEAM.
WAS THAT 32ND WARNING? YEAH. WOW. YOU'RE GOOD.
YOU'RE TRAINED WITH THIS. I'M FROM NEW YORK.
I TALK FAST, SO. CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.
WHAT WASN'T ON THERE? LET'S SEE.
I'M PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN ADDITIONAL MAILING.
WHAT TOWNSHIP IS PUTTING UP SOME WETLANDS NOTIFICATION SIGNS ALREADY? YEAH, THE WETLAND ORDINANCE SIGNS.
AND THEN THERE WAS SOME PLANTS FOR HILLBROOK.
AND THAT I THINK THOSE WERE ALREADY IN PROGRESS.
YEAH. SO MAYBE SOME SOME PRINTING.
I'M NOT SURE. OH, THAT WAS FOR THE MAILERS.
I THINK THE MAILINGS WE WE I THINK WE ALSO REDUCED THE RESIDENTIAL YARD SIGNS.
AND SO BECAUSE WE HAD TWO TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL YARD SIGNS BEFORE.
BUT I GUESS LEROY WAS SAYING ONE OF THEM IS PRETTY SHARP AND MORE DIFFICULT FOR RESIDENTS TO PUT IN.
SO WE DID NOT LESS MORE OF THOSE.
I THINK THAT ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
WHAT IS KIND OF WHAT ARE THE CONSIDERATIONS THERE WITH THE DIFFERENCE IN 3 TO 5.
SO YEAH, WE WEREN'T SURE EXACTLY HOW MUCH THOSE FIVE SIGNS.
AND THEN IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH BUDGET WE HAVE.
AND THEN WE WEREN'T EXACTLY SURE OF HOW MUCH THOSE SIGNS WERE GOING TO COST.
SO IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM, YOU KNOW, ABOUT, I THINK IT WAS LIKE 1000 TO 1500 OR 2000, I GUESS.
SO 6000 WOULD GIVE US FIVE SIGNS PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, LIKE FIVE SIGNS.
AND IF WE DIDN'T DO 6000, THEN WE WOULD THE LOW END WOULD BE THREE SIGNS.
AND AT 1000, BUT WE DON'T KNOW, WE MIGHT BE 1500.
SO THAT'S WHY I WAS KIND OF THAT.
YEAH. A COMBINATION OF HOW MANY SIGNS WE WANT TO DO.
AND A LITTLE UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE COST PER SIGNAGE.
IF I MIGHT COULD YOU SAY A FEW MORE WORDS ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER OUTREACH? THOUGHT. THE MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THERE'S A NEW IS THERE A NEW TOWNSHIP, THE NEW SOCIAL MEDIA PERSON.
[00:25:10]
WHO WAS THAT AGAIN? A NEW COMMUNICATIONS STAFF PERSON.RACHEL STOLEN, I THINK IS THE PR AND MARKETING SPECIALIST.
SO WE HAVEN'T REALLY QUITE FIGURED THAT PART OUT YET, BUT SO THERE MAY BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULDN'T COST ANYTHING THROUGH HOME TV AND VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS THERE THAT THEY WOULD REQUIRE SOME TIME AS FAR AS PUTTING TOGETHER WHAT YOU WANTED TO PRESENT.
YEAH, BUT THE ACTUAL PUBLICATION OF IT, OR EVEN IF YOU TYPE IT UP, IT CAN GO INTO THE THE WEBSITE AND MAILERS AND ALL THAT GOES OUT TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA.
SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME VERY INEXPENSIVE WAYS FOR YOU TO GET MORE PUBLICATION.
I GUESS MY LAST QUESTION WAS THOSE MAILINGS.
I BELIEVE THE WAY WE DETERMINED THAT WAS THE PLANNING STAFF DREW A BUFFER AROUND OUR WETLANDS, AND WE CAPTURED ALL THOSE HOMEOWNERS THAT WERE WITH ABUTTING, AND THEY WERE THE ONES THAT GOT THE MAILING.
AND I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER, WERE WE EXPECTING THAT TO BE AN ANNUAL THING OR IS THERE ANOTHER EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GET DEAD TO THE NEXT EVERY BUT MAYBE DO ESPECIALLY TARGET FOLKS WHO ARE PURCHASING PROPERTIES THAT ARE. YEAH.
SO THAT ON THAT LIST, IF WHEN THEY CHANGE OWNERSHIP COULD WE.
RIGHT. I KNOW THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS, YOU KNOW, DO WE CONTINUE TO SEND TO THE SAME PEOPLE WE'VE BEEN SENDING WE'VE BEEN DOING IT NOW FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF YEARS, IS MY UNDERSTANDING. BUT THE FACT THAT YOU ALWAYS GET NEW LANDOWNERS AND THAT CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP.
SO HOW DO WE CAPTURE POTENTIALLY JUST TARGETING THE CHANGE THEN? SO THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE KNOWS, RIGHT.
AS SOON AS THAT CHANGES IN THE DATABASE, YOU CAN FIGURE THAT OUT.
AND YOU COULD LOOK AT WHAT'S CHANGED SINCE WE LAST MAILED.
SO I THINK FOR THIS YEAR, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT A HUGE LIFT TO DO THESE MAILINGS.
SO I THINK WE'LL DO IT AGAIN, THIS ONE THIS ONE YEAR.
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD DEFINITELY REVISIT IT.
THE WETLAND EDUCATION TEAM IS GOING TO BE MEETING THIS SUMMER IN JUNE.
YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO SEND IT TO REALTORS.
BECAUSE THEY'RE DEALING WITH PROPERTY OWNERS.
IF THERE'S WETLANDS ON THE PROPERTY, YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS IS RIGHT.
THERE'S ORDINANCES. YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
BEFORE YOU BUILD THE HOUSE, YOU CAN'T PUT A DOCK ON THAT WETLAND AND GO.
UNLESS SOMEBODY STOPS THEM AND ASKED A HARD QUESTION.
ANY WAY TO JUDGE IMPACT ANY OF THE.
SO WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE WE COULD DO SOME KIND OF A THAT HAS COME UP.
I MEAN, WE HAVE NOT I HAVE NOT HEARD LIKE THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO TO JUDGE IMPACT.
BUT I DEFINITELY AGREE THAT WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ASSESS IMPACT.
I KNOW THAT JUST FROM INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS WITH EMMA AND LEROY, THAT THE INTERACTIONS THEY'VE HAD WITH RESIDENTS THAT HAVE GOTTEN THESE MAILINGS AND LIKE THE EMMA WITH THE WETLAND EDUCATION WALKS.
AND SO SHE HAS GOTTEN SOME POSITIVE FEEDBACK.
I THINK ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE FROM EMMA WAS PRETTY POWERFUL PERSONALLY.
SO ANYWAY, THAT THAT CAN BE SUMMARIZED, I THINK IS IS HELPFUL.
SOCIAL MEDIA MAY PROVIDE YOU OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE WHO'S OPENING YOUR EMAIL OR WHATEVER IT IS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WORKS, BUT YEAH I THINK SHE'S GOT MORE, MORE, MORE INTERACTIONS FROM RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WETLANDS. YEAH, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER I THINK WHAT THEY GET SENT HAS A QR CODE ON IT.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT. NOT THAT I RECALL.
I'M WONDERING IF THAT MIGHT PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY IF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SCAN IT.
I THINK YOU YOU CAN COUNT THEM.
THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. VISITS TO THE WETLAND PAGE ON THE WEBSITE.
[00:30:04]
YEAH. I'M SORRY, I'M HOGGING THE DISCUSSION.WE CAN ALSO TRACK THE VIOLATIONS.
JUST TO SEE IF IF WE'RE CUTTING DOWN ON THOSE OR IF I HAVE NO IDEA IF THERE'S A LOT OF THEM.
NONE OF THEM. UNLESS SOMEONE COMPLAINS, I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. BUT I KNOW WHO KNOWS.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER CLARIFYING QUESTIONS FOR THAT PROPOSAL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE.
IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THE OTHER PROPOSALS? AND DO WE HAVE IN THE PACKET? WELL, I GUESS JUST TO CLARIFY THE HOOPS.
UNDER THE GREEN TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS, ONE AND THREE WERE ACTUALLY DRAFTED BY MYSELF ON BEHALF OF THE INDIVIDUALS INDICATED IN EACH ONE.
AND AGAIN DAVE AND SUSAN WERE PART OF THE GREEN TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL.
THEY DRAFTED THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.
I JUST INCORPORATED IT INTO THIS DOCUMENT.
BUT I GUESS JUST BRIEFLY TO EXPLAIN THE FIRST PROPOSAL, THIS IS REALLY A CONTINUATION FROM LAST YEAR WHEN VAL AND GABBY STARTED PROVIDING COMPOSTABLE BAGS AT THE FARMERS MARKET FOR PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO START DOING FOOD COMPOSTING.
AND THEN IN TURN RESIDENTS COULD BRING THOSE BACK TO THE MARKET, DROP THEM OFF IN TWO DIFFERENT BINS THAT ARE AT THE MARKET, AND THEN THOSE BINS ARE PICKED UP ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
AND SO REALLY, THE GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO OFFER THIS PROGRAM FOR ANOTHER YEAR AT NO COST.
OR POSSIBLY PEOPLE COULD STILL DONATE FOR THE BAGS OR DROPPING OFF THE BAGS.
BEFORE WE WE EVENTUALLY GO TO SUBSCRIPTION TYPE OF SYSTEM.
SO AGAIN, IT WOULD JUST ALLOW FOR ANOTHER YEAR TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COLLECT THEIR FOOD SCRAPS AND BRING THEM INTO THE MARKET. AND THEN I GUESS REAL QUICKLY ON ITEM NUMBER, MAYBE WE CAN TAKE QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE.
I SEE YOUR HAND AND THEN HER HAND.
MY MY QUESTION WAS HOW WAS HOW WERE THE COMPOSTABLE BAGS AND THE FOOD WASTE PICKUP PAID FOR LAST YEAR? ACTUALLY THE BAGS WERE PURCHASED BY GABBY, AND SHE DONATED THEM TO THE CAUSE, SO TO SPEAK.
AND THEN THE THE BINS WERE PICKED UP BY MY GREEN.
MICHIGAN. THERE IS A COST TO THAT.
THAT COST CAME OUT OF THE THE MARKET'S BUDGET AND IS CONTINUING TO DO SO AT THIS POINT.
INCIDENTALLY, I SHOULD INDICATE THAT THE PROPOSAL INDICATED A RATHER HIGH AMOUNT OF $9,320.
AND THANK YOU TO LEROY FOR CATCHING MY MISTAKE.
I MULTIPLIED THE MONTHLY RATE THINKING IT WAS A WEEKLY RATE FOR PICKUP.
SO THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE THERE.
THE ACTUAL COST IS $2,240 FOR THE YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
QUESTIONS MORE THAN ANY OTHER.
SO DO YOU DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF LIKE, HOW MANY PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THIS? JUST KIND OF ANECDOTALLY I WAS THERE IN A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS THERE THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST, AND PEOPLE WERE ASKING ABOUT COMPOSTING FOOD, COMPOSTING IN PARTICULAR, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAME UP TO THE GREEN TEAM TABLE AT THE MARKET WERE TAKING THESE BAGS I BELIEVE AND I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I BELIEVE GABBY HAD 2000 BAGS
[00:35:03]
INITIALLY AND AROUND A THOUSAND OR A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A THOUSAND WERE GIVEN OUT DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE BAGS LIKE IT? SOUNDS LIKE THEY WERE JUST TAKEN BY PEOPLE.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY, LIKE, ACTUALLY MADE IT BACK? YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S HARD TO SAY.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A WAY TO TRACK THAT.
WE WEREN'T THEY WEREN'T GIVING OUT, LIKE, MULTIPLE BAGS AT ONE TIME.
IT WAS USUALLY, HERE'S ONE BAG TO GET STARTED, YOU KNOW, FILL IT UP, BRING IT BACK TO BECOME POSTED AND THEN PICK UP ANOTHER BAG OR MORE BAGS AT THAT POINT.
SO WE TRIED TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION BY JUST GIVING OUT ONE BAG INITIALLY.
SO THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT UTILIZE THAT SYSTEM THAN ARE REPRESENTED BY A THOUSAND COMPOSTABLE BAGS.
SO WHATEVER YOU HAVE IS PROBABLY AN UNDER ESTIMATE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE OUR COMPOSTING BINS, SALES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN PURCHASE IS A LITTLE CONTAINERS FOR FOOD COMPOSTING TO PUT ON THEIR KITCHEN COUNTER.
AND SO I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST BRING IT BACK IN THAT DUMP IT OFF INTO THE BINS.
AND THAT JUST HALF TIMES IT PULLS THE BAG OUT OF THE BIN AND THAT FALLS DOWN INSIDE.
THAT'S A BIG MESS. YEAH, RIGHT.
AND THEN HERE DO YOU KNOW, LIKE, SO DOES THE SERVICE DO THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T PURCHASE THE BAGS, WOULD THEY STILL BE ABLE TO USE THE BIN THAT IT'S DROPPED OFF IN FOR FREE? THEY CURRENTLY CAN.
YES. AS, AS AS PAUL WAS JUST SAYING THAT.
YEAH. YOU CAN COMPOST USING OTHER TYPES OF CONTAINERS, BRING THEM BACK TO THE MARKET AND DUMP THEM INTO THE BINS AT THE MARKET.
BUT WITH THE SUBSCRIPTION, IS IT STILL ALLOWED.
SO WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET AT WAS JUST LIKE, YEAH, HOW? LIKE WHEN, WHEN WE PICK UP THE BIN, LIKE HOW MAYBE IS THERE A WAY TO MEASURE IF WE CAN'T MEASURE HOW MANY PEOPLE RIGHT NOW? BUT LIKE, IS THAT BIN USUALLY FULL, YOU KNOW.
SO THEN IT IS LIKE IT'S WORTH IT EVERY TIME WE PICK UP THE BIN, YOU KNOW.
RIGHT. AND ACTUALLY THERE'S TWO BINS.
THEY'RE PICKED UP ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
AND I HAD THAT SAME QUESTION AS I WAS WORKING WITH VAL AND GABBY IN THIS PROPOSAL.
AND I SAID, ASK IF IF WE GET TO THE WINTER MONTHS, YOU KNOW, DO WE NEED TO SCALE BACK AS FAR AS PICKUP? AND THEY SAID, NO, NOT REALLY.
IT'S IT'S STILL NEEDED ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
IT MIGHT BE A SITUATION IN THE WINTER MONTHS WHERE THE THE SECOND BIN IS ONLY HALF FULL, INSTEAD OF BOTH BINS BEING COMPLETELY FULL, BUT IT'S STILL UTILIZED EVEN IN THE WINTER MONTHS.
OKAY, BEAR WITH ME. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
OKAY, SO FIRST, SO AM I CORRECT THAT ULTIMATELY YOU WOULD LIKE THE SUBSCRIPTIONS TO PAY FOR THE BIN COLLECTION OR ANY BAGS? AND PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION TO PARTICIPATE? WELL, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE TOWNSHIP'S POSITION.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY MY PERSONAL POSITION, BUT I THINK THE GOAL HERE IS BEFORE WE EVEN CONSIDER GOING TO THE SUBSCRIPTION BASED SYSTEM, LET'S GIVE IT ANOTHER YEAR TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET USED TO COLLECTING THEIR FOOD SCRAPS AND BRINGING THEM BACK TO THE MARKET.
OKAY. AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTIONS WERE, AND I GUESS YOU SAID RIGHT NOW A LOT OF THE THIS IS WELL, HOW THIS BIN COLLECTION IS COVERED IS THROUGH THE FARMER'S MARKET BUDGET, I GUESS, I DON'T KNOW, LIKE HOW OUR FARMER'S MARKET EXACTLY IS FUNDED, BUT I GUESS I'M CURIOUS IF.
I MEAN, THIS SOUNDS STRANGE, BUT IS IT FUNDED BY THE CITY? LIKE, ARE WE JUST MOVING MONEY AROUND OR LIKE WHAT? WHAT IS INTENDED BY VENDOR FEES? OKAY, OKAY.
NOW WHETHER IT'S FULLY FUNDED BY VENDOR FEES, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT EVERYBODY THAT SELLS THERE PAYS A FEE FOR THEIR SPOT.
AND THEN HOW MUCH DID YOU ALL GET IN DONATIONS?
[00:40:04]
YOU SAID YOU THEY COULD, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR YOU COULD GET DONATIONS FOR THE BAGS OR TO DONATE.I TALKED TO TOM TODAY AND HE SAID IT'S UP TO ABOUT $600.
OKAY SO FAR IS THAT THAT'S THE SUBSCRIPTION.
SUBSCRIPTION MOSTLY THE SUBSCRIPTION, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES SOME OTHER DONATIONS.
BUT IF WE WERE JUST DOING DONATIONS IT PRESUMABLY WOULDN'T OFFSET MUCH OF THIS.
I THINK ONE TIME WHEN I WAS THERE LAST SUMMER WE COLLECTED, I BELIEVE IT WAS $49 IN DONATIONS, WHICH WAS LIKE THE, THE TOP UP UNTIL THAT POINT.
SO THAT WAS CONSIDERED VERY GOOD AT THAT.
YEAH, IT'S THERE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN PUBLISHED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND TOWNSHIP NEWSLETTERS AND WHATEVER, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY READ THOSE.
WELL, THAT'S I MEAN, ONE REASON I CAN SEE THE BAGS BEING A GOOD THING, EVEN IF A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T USING THEM BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, HEY, TAKE THIS BAG, BRING US BACK SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, LIKE, I COULD SEE THAT AS AN OUTREACH TACTIC, BUT SORRY, I SAID I'M SAVING THEM.
AND I KNOW WE HAVE MORE QUESTIONS.
I THINK THEY ALREADY HAVE. SO YEAH, THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS.
ANY OTHER CLARIFYING QUESTIONS? I WAS JUST GOING TO SECOND THAT.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD.
I WOULD DO IT. I JUST DIDN'T KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IT WAS AN OPTION.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE PICKUP COVER THEIR COSTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND SEE HOW IT GOES AND WHAT'S ACTUALLY REALLY TRY TO PROMOTE THE PROGRAM TO THE BINS, ARE THERE 24 HOURS A DAY TO WHAT I'VE TAKEN? I'VE TAKEN FOOD SCRAPS THERE AT 1030 AT NIGHT.
AND THEN OH YEAH, SO I'VE TAKEN FOOD OUT AT £0.09.
WITH AN EYE, WITH AN EYE ON THE CLOCK.
I THINK WE HAD ONE OTHER QUESTION, THOUGH.
GO AHEAD. I'M NOT SUPER FAMILIAR WITH THE BUDGET, BUT HAS.
IS THERE A REASON THE MARKET CAN'T CONTINUE TO FUND THIS? LIKE HAS IT BEEN STRUCK FROM THE PROPOSAL OR SOMETHING LIKE THE VENDORS NOT WANT TO FUND IT ANYMORE? PROBABLY NOT.
I MIGHT DEFER TO TO LEROY ON THAT OR OR YOU KNOW, OUR BOARD MEMBER HERE AND, AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, BUT ALL RIGHT, IF I MAY SUGGEST WE ALSO LOOK AT THE SIGNAGE FOR THE MERIDIAN DROP OFF RECYCLING CENTER, THE SHORT PRESENTATION, A COUPLE OF CLARIFYING QUESTIONS.
AND AT THAT POINT, UNLESS ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO I MIGHT SPEAK BRIEFLY TO ONE OTHER.
WHY DON'T YOU PRESENT THE SIGNAGE FOR MERIDIAN RECYCLING CENTER? SO I HAVE TO START THE CLOCK.
GO TIME YOURSELF. THAT'S EXCELLENT.
I COULD SEE WHERE IT WAS GOING.
SO I THINK THIS ONE IS PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY.
I DID WORK WITH TREVOR ON THIS.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS OF THE GREENS.
HOOVER FROM RECYCLED BY DESIGN.
CORRECT. WHO WILL OPERATE AS A CONTRACTOR AT OUR TRANSFER STATION? CORRECT. SORRY.
SO, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS FAIRLY SELF-EXPLANATORY.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS BY ONE MEMBER IN PARTICULAR, THE GREEN TEAM, WAS WHO UTILIZES THE MERIDIAN DROP OFF CENTER A LOT, IS THAT THERE'S REALLY NO SIGNAGE THERE.
AND AND IT'S KIND OF CONFUSING AS TO WHAT, BEN, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT CERTAIN ITEMS IN.
AND SO WE TOOK A LOOK AT THAT.
THERE IS SIGNAGE ON LAKE DRIVE FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS THAT THE ENTRANCE TO THE RECYCLING DROP OFF CENTER IS 300FT. SO THE SIGNAGE ON THE ROAD IS PRETTY GOOD.
BUT ONCE YOU GET INTO THE FACILITY, IT'S PRETTY MUCH NONEXISTENT.
SO AGAIN, I WORKED WITH TREVOR.
[00:45:02]
HE HAD LOOKED INTO SIGNAGE IN THE PAST AND JUST CONFIRMED A COST TO GET SIGNAGE FOR THE VARIOUS DUMPSTERS AND, AND BEN SO PEOPLE WOULD KNOW WHERE THEIR ITEMS ARE, ARE SUPPOSED TO GO.HE CAME BACK WITH TEN SIGNS 36 BY 24, WITH STAKES OF $635, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS PRETTY REASONABLE.
AND I THINK THE GOAL HERE IS JUST TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO RECYCLE THEIR ITEMS AND HOPEFULLY TO REDUCE CONTAMINATION AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT OVERVIEW.
ANY QUESTIONS? SO DO WE DO WE CURRENTLY.
AND I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW IT OPERATES.
SO WE PAY THE RECYCLE BY DESIGN TO OPERATE THE CENTER.
YEAH. AND AGAIN, I'LL DEFER TO OTHERS WHO SPEND ABOUT $1,500 A MONTH ROUGHLY.
BUT THAT'S JUST A PORTION OF THEIR OPERATING EXPENSES.
OKAY. SO THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO COVER, LIKE, THE COST OF SIGNAGE AND STUFF.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING? IF YOU'VE SEEN THEIR BOOTH, THEY CAN BARELY AFFORD HEAT.
OKAY. DO THEY HAVE HEAT? THEY MUST HAVE SOME. THEY DO HAVE HEAT.
YEAH. THERE THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RECYCLING CENTER.
AND YOU MIGHT DEPENDING ON IF THERE'S MONEY LEFT IN THE BUDGET, WE MAY WANT TO APPROACH THAT.
WE PUT IN A $300,000 PROPOSAL THREE YEARS AGO TO THE EAGLE, WHICH WAS NOT FUNDED TO DO BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, ELECTRICAL IMPROVEMENTS DRIVEWAY IMPROVEMENTS. AND SO WE HAVE THAT BUDGET AVAILABLE AS WELL TO POTENTIALLY LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF A CLARIFYING NATURE FOR ANY OF THESE OR FOR THAT PROPOSAL? EXCUSE ME? JUST FOR THE SAKE OF OF FAIRNESS. I'M A LITTLE BIT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPOSED UPDATE OF THE GREEN SPACE PLAN, AND MY IF I WERE THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THAT PROPOSAL, I WOULD SAY THAT IS A GREAT FUTURE PROJECT TO THINK ABOUT.
AT WHAT TIME WILL WE BE IN A POSITION TO FUND AN UNDERTAKING AND WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE? AND IT'S GREAT THAT THE BALL IS ROLLING, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER AS PART OF A FUNDING DECISION TONIGHT.
I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE ACTIVITY FROM A DISTANCE.
WHAT I'M SEEING HERE IS A FEASIBILITY STUDY WITH APPARENTLY A REPUTABLE FIRM TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT THE BOARD WOULD NEED IN ORDER TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY'RE INTERESTED IN GOING FORWARD WITH THIS NOTION.
I KNOW THERE'S OUR NEIGHBORS IN WILLIAMSTON ARE IN ADVANCE OF US IN THIS REGARD.
I BELIEVE THEY'RE ALREADY HAVE DECIDED IF AND IMPLEMENTING IN THAT DIRECTION.
SO THIS IS I BELIEVE, A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IS GOING TO BE AS LEAST DISRUPTIVE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE PRACTICE AS POSSIBLE.
I DON'T HAVE A GRASP OF WHAT A FEASIBILITY STUDY WOULD LOOK LIKE.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT A 3D RENDERING IS, BUT THAT CAN HELP IN ENGAGING.
STAKEHOLDERS. CEMETERY OWNERS, PEOPLE WHO USE THE FACILITY, ETC.
HAVING AN ACTUAL THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE THE HOPEFUL.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THIS ONE? YEAH. YOU CAN. YOU CAN ASK WHATEVER YOU WANT.
I WAS JUST WONDERING, HAS THE TOWNSHIP OR THE BOARD ALREADY EXPRESSED INTEREST IN LOOKING INTO THIS FURTHER AND SAYING LIKE, YEAH, WE WANT THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY OR WE WANT THIS INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN WE WOULD LIKE TO POTENTIALLY PURSUE THIS OR THIS HASN'T REALLY BEEN, YOU KNOW, BROUGHT UP OR I JUST DON'T MY KNOWLEDGE, IT HAS NOT BEEN LOOKED AT IN DEPTH.
IT IS IN THE MASTER PLAN TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY, THE WILLINGNESS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S ON THE HORIZON IMMEDIATELY.
IT'S NOT TO SAY IT COULDN'T BE, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN ANYTHING CONCRETE.
THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST, THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST.
[00:50:02]
SO THAT THAT'S TO EXPLORE WHETHER THAT'S RIGHT FOR THE TOWNSHIP.THE COMMITTEE DID COME TO SPEAK TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AT SOME POINT.
SO KIND OF EXPLAIN SOME OF THESE THINGS.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW YET IF WE'RE READY TO ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH A FEASIBILITY STUDY, IF, IF THERE HASN'T BEEN LIKE ALREADY SOME INITIALS, YOU KNOW, LIKE INTEREST OR SUPPORT IN, IN THIS IDEA THAT WAS NOT PRESENT IN THE MASTER PLAN WOULD INDICATE.
AND I CAN IMAGINE SOME POSSIBILITIES TO GIVE YOU A FLAVOR.
WE COULD ENTERTAIN SPECIFIC MOTIONS TO RECOMMEND INDIVIDUAL PROPOSALS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
WE COULD DECIDE THAT SOME OF THE PROPOSALS NEED MORE INFORMATION AND COME BACK TO US NEXT MONTH.
I CAN LOTS OF WAYS OF GOING ABOUT THIS.
CAN YOU REMIND ME HOW MUCH WE THINK WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET? THE BUDGET ITEM IS 30,000.
OKAY. RIGHT. THAT'S OUR TARGET.
AND THE HIGH LOW ESTIMATE PREPARED BY STAFF FROM THE PROPOSALS BEFORE THE CORRECTION WAS BETWEEN 24, 688 AND 3888.
AND IN THE EVENT THAT LIKE SIMPLEST WAY IS SOME OF THE SAVINGS FROM THAT FOOD SCRAP BAG ERROR COULD BE CORRECTED, WE'D BE RIGHT AT 30,000 FOR MAXIMUM FUNDING FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
OKAY. SO I, I ONE WAY PROBABLY THE SIMPLEST WAY PARLIAMENTARY, IS TO PROPOSE A SLATE OF ACCEPTANCE WITH SOME CONDITIONS MORE SPECIFIC WAYS TO GO, PROPOSAL BY PROPOSAL AND MAKE INDIVIDUAL RECOMMENDATIONS OR DECISIONS ON EACH OF THEM.
DO YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS? IT SOUNDS LIKE LEROY HAD, I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, JUST I THINK JUST A FEW THOUGHTS.
I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO TRY AND MICROMANAGE THESE PROJECTS TOO MUCH.
AT THE SAME TIME, ONE WAY TO DEAL WITH IT MIGHT BE TO IDENTIFY DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS LIKE PLANNING PARKS PUBLIC WORKS.
THAT WOULD BE NATURAL OVERSEERS AND LET THOSE, THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS SORT OF MAKE FINAL DECISIONS AS PROPOSALS BECOME CRYSTALLIZED RATHER THAN HAVE TO COME BACK TO US KIND OF KEEP IT GENERAL AND, AND THEN HAND IT OFF, ASSUMING THE, THE TRUSTEES APPROVE THE GENERAL BUDGET, LET THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS SORT OF MAKE THOSE MORE SPECIFIC DECISIONS.
SINCE YOU'VE PUT THE MOVING IT FORWARD BALL ON THE TABLE, KEEP ROLLING IT BY.
WHEN WOULD WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION IN YOUR VIEW? WELL, THE 30,000 HAS BEEN BUDGETED THIS YEAR.
SO I KNOW SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLESHED OUT.
AND OBVIOUSLY THE GLEANING PROJECT WANTS TO GET GOING QUICKER THAN LATER.
SO WE'RE BACK TO PROCESS IN TERMS OF WHAT RECOMMENDATION WE'RE MAKING TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
AND AS STAFF HAS OUTLINED, ONE APPROACH IS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS WITHOUT AND LEAVING THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO THE JUST DELEGATE THE DECISION MAKING ABOUT DETAILED PROPOSALS TO DEPARTMENT HEADS. AND THE CHALLENGE OF BRINGING APPLICANTS BACK ANOTHER MONTH LATER IS A DELAY IN TRYING TO EXPEND FUNDS WITHIN THE CALENDAR YEAR.
[00:55:02]
THEY CAN USUALLY BE CARRIED OVER.UNLESS WE'RE IN A BUDGET CRUNCH.
PLEASE. I THINK YOU'RE OVER THE SKIS ON THAT ONE.
I THINK UNTIL THE COMMUNITY HAS HAS GIVEN AN INDICATION THAT THEY WANT TO GO THAT WAY, PLANNING HOW IT WOULD BE DONE SEEMS AHEAD OF THE GAME, ESPECIALLY AT THIS PRICE.
SO I COULD SEE SOME MONEY APPROPRIATED TO THAT GROUP PUSHING THAT AS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY IS AS FAR AS PROVIDING THIS IN THE TOWNSHIP, BECAUSE I DON'T IF THE BOARD LOOKED AT THIS, IT LOOKS LIKE A DONE DEAL.
YOU WANT US TO PAY X NUMBER OF DOLLARS TO EXPEND IT TO DESIGN THIS? WE HAVEN'T DECIDED WHETHER WE WANT IT.
I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT. AND MAYBE WE NEED MORE DETAILS ON WHAT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ENTAILS.
WHEN I THINK FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND WHEN I HAVE DONE THEM PROFESSIONALLY, THEY DO OFTEN INVOLVE UNDERSTANDING IF SOMETHING IS FEASIBLE, AS IN IS THERE A DESIRE, YOU KNOW, LIKE IS IT ARE PEOPLE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE? BUT I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THIS ENTAILS.
WE SEE AN AREA OF THE CEMETERY THAT CAN BE USED FOR THIS.
LET'S SHOW YOU HOW IT COULD BE DONE.
IT DOESN'T SEEM AND MAYBE IT WOULD.
IS THERE A MARKET FOR IT? DOES ANYBODY WANT IT? DOES THE TOWNSHIP WANT IT? AND I THINK UNTIL SOMETHING BECAUSE IT PROBABLY REQUIRES AN AMENDMENT OF VARIOUS CODE PROVISIONS FOR THE OPERATION OF THIS TYPE OF BURIAL SERVICE.
SO AND MAYBE THAT'S NOT THROUGH THIS ORGANIZATION, BUT TO HAVE A PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD FROM THE GROUPS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THIS, TO GET THE BOARD TO FUND SOME SORT OF A STUDY RESEARCH, WE'RE DOING A QUESTIONNAIRE.
WE DO A SURVEY EVERY THREE YEARS.
WELL, IT'S NOT A VALID SURVEY BECAUSE IT'S A VOLUNTARY RESPONSE, BUT IT GETS SOME IDEA.
AND WE COULD ADD QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.
THERE'S A HUGE EDUCATION COMPONENT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS COMMON IN THE STATE.
SO I THAT'S JUST MY FEELINGS ON IT.
BUT I'M JUST SAYING IF IT COMES TO THE BOARD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITH THIS.
SO WITH AN EYE AGAIN ON THE CLOCK, I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT THE BEST WAY FOR US TO PROCEED IS THAT IF A COMMISSIONER WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING ONE OR MORE PROPOSALS, THEN WE CAN ENTERTAIN DEBATE ON THAT MOTION AND ADOPT OR NOT THAT MOTION.
IT COULD BE CONCERNING ALL, SOME OR ONLY ONE OF OUR CURRENT PROPOSALS.
OKAY, I MOVED TO FULLY APPROVE THE THIRD ITEM IN THE GREEN TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS, THE SIGNAGE UNDER TREVOR HOOVER, FOR THE FULL COST OF $635.25 FOR THE SIGNAGE.
THE SECOND I HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND TO FULLY FUND ITEM NUMBER THREE, SIGNAGE FOR MERIDIAN CYCLING DROP OFF CENTER AT THE FULL AMOUNT OF $635.25. IS THAT AN ACCURATE RESTATING OF YOUR MOTION? YES. IF I MAY JUST FOR THE SAKE OF THE MINUTES, RESTATE YOUR MOTION AS A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO APPROVE THAT PROJECT FOR THE STIPULATED AMOUNT.
IS THAT AN ACCEPTABLE STATEMENT OF YOUR MOTION? YES. THANK YOU.
GREAT. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION, WHICH HAS NOW BEEN SECONDED? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? THANK YOU. THAT'S ONE.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? AND I PERSONALLY DON'T FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH A PROPOSER MOVING THEIR OWN PROPOSAL.
BUT PROBABLY FOR SAKE OF DECORUM, SOMEBODY ELSE SHOULD.
YEAH. I MEAN, I GUESS THIS IS NOT A MOTION, BUT MAYBE YOU CAN SUGGEST I, I
[01:00:04]
MEAN, I THINK WE'RE AT $30,000 AND I LIKE ALL OF THE TOPICS THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE ALL OF THESE PROPOSALS, BUT I THINK TWO IN PARTICULAR MAY NEED SOME MAY.WELL, THE GREEN BURIAL WE MAY WANT SOME REWORKING OF.
AND I REALLY LOVE THE IDEA WITH THE GLEANING PROJECT TO LOOK AT LIKE IT OCCURS TO ME, YOU KNOW, WE COULD, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS WE KEEP THE BINS THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE IN THE MARKET BUDGET AND SPEND SOME MONEY ON OUTREACH AND THEN MAY NEED SOME MORE PICKUP.
LIKE IF WE'RE ABLE TO INCREASE OUTREACH, WE MAY NEED SOME MORE PICKUP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
OKAY. DO YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW ONE MIGHT CRAFT THAT INTO A ARE YOU LOOKING AT 2 OR 1? I WAS LOOKING AT TWO.
I MEAN, NUMBER TWO, THE GLEANERS.
YES. YOU'RE LOOKING AT NUMBER ONE.
YOU LOOK AT NUMBER ONE COMPOSTABLE BAGS OR THE OH WAS I, I HAD MY NOTES KIND OF IN BETWEEN.
OH I WAS LOOKING AT NUMBER ONE.
SO THE COMPOSTABLE BAGS AND THE FOOD WASTE PICKUP, NOT THE GLEANING.
AND I MEAN, AT THIS COST WITH THE I DON'T KNOW WHICH COST OR THE 9320 OR THE 20,240 WITH THE ABILITY OF THE TEAM TO ADJUST SOME OF THAT FUNDING FOR OUTREACH IF DESIRED OR I, YOU KNOW.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME MONEY COMING IN FOR DONATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS AS WELL.
LET'S KEEP IT TO A MOTION IF WE MIGHT.
IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THAT MOTION TO PUT A NUMBER AT THE BOTTOM THAT INCLUDES OUTREACH WITH THE ABOUT EVEN 2500 WITH THE CONDITION THAT SOME PORTION OF THE FUNDS BE USED FOR OUTREACH.
IS THAT THE MOTION YOU WERE MAKING? 4500 TO INCLUDE X AND OUTREACH AND LET THEM DECIDE.
ANYONE CARE TO SECOND THAT MOTION? I CAN'T MAKE THAT MOTION.
I'M MAKING THAT. I'M MAKING THAT MOTION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. THAT'S TWO.
I'LL MAKE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION THEN TO RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD TO FUND THE GLEANING INITIATIVE, THE NUMBER TWO GREEN TEAM PROPOSAL AND THE WETLAND EDUCATION PROPOSAL.
I'LL SECOND THAT. WE HAVE A SECOND TO THE MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? OH, WE'RE KNOCKING THEM OUT.
SO WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD TO FUND AT SPECIFIC LEVELS, THE THREE GREEN TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE WETLAND EDUCATION TEAM PROPOSAL.
I ALMOST HEARD A MOTION THAT WE DECLINE THE GREEN BURIAL DESIGN PROPOSAL. I DON'T MEAN TO CORRECT YOU, BUT I DON'T THINK WE VOTED ON THE WETLAND PROPOSAL.
THERE WAS A BOTH WERE INCLUDED IN THE MOTION.
BOTH OF THEM IN THE MOTION? YEAH. WE'RE ROUNDING UP.
WE'RE WALKING DOWN THE TRACKS.
MY MISTAKE. I APOLOGIZE IF SOMEONE LIKE TO PROPOSE A FURTHER MOTION.
I GUESS IT'S FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER DECLINING THE GREEN BURIAL.
I'M SORRY I OVERSTATED. WE DON'T HAVE TO DECLINE IT.
WE CAN. WE CAN JUST DECIDE TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION, OR WE CAN.
YEAH, I DON'T KNOW. I'M LIKE, IS IT DECLINED? BUT BUT YEAH, MAYBE IT'S, YOU KNOW, LETTING THEM KNOW HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW WITH EVERYTHING WE'VE APPROVED HOW MUCH IS REMAINING.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A CONVERSATION WITH THEM COMING IN.
SO THIS IS NOT QUITE A MOTION YET.
I WOULD LIKE YOUR INPUT ON ON THAT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS.
[01:05:02]
WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE.SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE SOME MODEL LANGUAGE, ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION CAN MAKE THE MOTION.
SEE? SEE WHAT? BECAUSE I DON'T WANT I DON'T WANT YOU TO PUT PUT YOU ON THE, THE HORN SAYING WE'RE GOING TO REJECT IT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
NO, YOU CAN SAY IT'S NOT TIMELY IF YOU WANT TO FILE A MOTION.
THIS THIS I WANT THIS TABLED UNTIL WE GET MORE INFORMATION FROM THE PRESENTER, BECAUSE THESE DON'T ALL HAVE TO BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD AT THE SAME TIME.
OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY ADVICE, AS ALWAYS.
I GUESS THAT WOULD TYPICALLY HAVE CONDITIONS IN TERMS OF AT WHAT POINT WE HAVE TO FILE A MOTION TO TAKE IT OFF THE TABLE AT SOME POINT, WHICH YOU COULD DO IS SAY, WE WANT TO TABLE THIS AND INVITE THEM HERE ON THE NEXT MEETING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION AND ANSWER QUESTIONS AND SPECIFICS ABOUT THIS, IF YOU WANT TO DO IT THAT WAY.
YES. ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE I CAN MAKE A MOTION AT THIS POINT IN TIME NOT TO ACCEPT THE GREEN BURIAL DESIGN PROPOSAL AND KEEP IT SIMPLE, THAT WE JUST DON'T ACCEPT IT. YOU CAN DO THAT.
WE JUST DON'T ACCEPT IT AT THIS TIME.
YOU HAVEN'T SPENT YOUR WHOLE BUDGET SO YOU CAN OPEN IT UP TO OTHER APPLICANTS.
AT THIS POINT, WOULDN'T IT JUST BE SIMPLER NOT TO TAKE ANY FORMAL ACTION AND JUST CONTACT THEM AND SAY, WE'VE THE COMMISSION HAS QUESTIONS, WE NEED MORE INFORMATION.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO COME TO OUR NEXT MEETING AND EXPLAIN IT FURTHER? LET ME SAY THIS ABOUT THAT.
WITHOUT A FORMAL MOTION, WE CAN'T DO NOTHING.
SO IF NOBODY'S PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION WE WILL NOT TAKE ACTION ON THIS.
DECLINED. I THINK IT SERVES US, AND IT SERVES OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
TO GIVE AN INDICATION OF WHAT THE NEXT STEP FOR THE APPLICANTS SHOULD BE.
AND I DON'T I MY SENSE IS THAT IF WE DON'T MAKE A FORMAL DECISION ON IT THIS EVENING THE APPLICANTS WILL SEE OUR MINUTES.
ABOUT WHAT KIND OF CONCERNS OR THOUGHTS AND ISSUES WE HAVE.
SO UNLESS THERE'S A MOTION READY TO BE MADE, I'M READY TO PROCEED WITH THE AGENDA.
I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE MOTION AND WHETHER WE WANT TO SAY IT'S APPROVED OR NOT APPROVED OR WHATEVER, BUT I WOULD LIKE HOWEVER WE DO IT, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THEM TO COME SHARE MORE INFORMATION.
SO WHETHER THAT'S A TABLING OR A WE DON'T APPROVE.
AND THE OTHER THING YOU CAN DO, IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME YOU HAVE A REGULAR AGENDA.
PIECE FOR UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
DECLARE THIS AS UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND PUT IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
COMMUNICATE WITH THE APPLICANT AND SAY WE NEED MORE INFORMATION.
ALL THE OTHERS BECOME FINISHED BUSINESS SIMPLY APPEARS ON OUR NEXT MONTH AGENDA, AND IF THE APPLICANT IS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND, THEN WE KEEP INVITING THEM TO COME BACK UNTIL THEY CAN. THAT MAKES SENSE.
GREAT. THAT LEAVES THE LAST AS A UNFINISHED BUSINESS ITEM.
[6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS]
WELL, STAFF, I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT INVITED COMMENTS WHEN THEY WERE UPDATING THE MASTER PLAN. AND THE MOST COMMON TOP COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC WAS GREEN BURIAL.SO IT IS IT IS A PRIORITY IN THE COMMUNITY.
[01:10:03]
THERE IS SUPPORT OUT THERE.WHAT THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT IN AN OPEN ENDED SURVEY IS.
THANK YOU. I THINK WE'RE ON TO REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[7. REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
AS USUAL, STAFF HAS INCLUDED A LINK TO THEIR DETAILED STAFF UPDATE.IF THERE'S ANY SPECIFIC ITEMS YOU'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THIS EVENING.
I'M GOING TO LET TOM GO FIRST.
AND THEN IF I COULD GO LATER, I THINK HE'LL PROBABLY HIGHLIGHT MOST OF WHAT I WOULD SAY OR SHARE.
I WILL GIVE THE GREEN TEAM THE FLOOR THEN.
OKAY, WELL, WE HELD OUR RECYCLING EVENT, SPRING RECYCLING EVENT THIS PAST SATURDAY.
WE HAD OVER 60 VOLUNTEERS THAT HELPED OUT WITH THAT.
WE HAD OVER 450 VEHICLES BRING ITEMS FOR DROP OFF.
THAT INCLUDED BIKES, METALS, SHREDDING, PAINT.
SO I THINK IN, IN SOME IT WAS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL RECYCLING EVENT, A LOT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND THE RAIN ACTUALLY HELD OFF FOR US DURING THE DAY, AND IT WENT WELL.
YES. WE WE DID HAVE A MEETING AND DISCUSSED THE SOLARIZE PROGRAM.
THE NEXT MEETING IS GOING TO BE AT THE WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP HALL ON MAY 21ST 6 TO 730.
WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'LL HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL MEETINGS THIS YEAR.
ONE IN EAST LANSING AND ONE IN LANSING.
THAT'S IN THE PROCESS OF BEING PLANNED.
AND WE DISCUSSED QUITE A BIT ABOUT EV CHARGING PARTICULARLY THE ISSUE OF MULTIFAMILY AND EMPLOYERS, AND DIDN'T COME TO ANY CONCLUSIONS. BUT WE HAD, I THINK, A PRETTY GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT YOU KNOW, WHAT THE TOWNSHIP SHOULD DO AND HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE WITH RESPECT TO EV CHARGING, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND DON'T HAVE A GARAGE, YOU KNOW.
AND HOW SHOULD THAT BE? ENCOURAGED OR MAYBE NOT ENCOURAGED.
AND THE BROWNFIELD AUTHORITY DID NOT MEET LAST MONTH.
GREAT. I HOPE THAT REFLECTS A LACK OF BROWNFIELDS.
YEAH, RIGHT. BUT ANY FOOD THINGS TO GIVE US ANY UPDATES ON? I ACTUALLY DON'T DO NOT HAVE AN UPDATE.
REALLY? NOTHING FOR ME EITHER.
I MIGHT ADD ONE ITEM UNDER THAT.
I GOT A REQUEST FROM PROFESSOR AT MSU WHO OPERATES THE ANAEROBIC DIGESTER DIGESTION RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER.
ADDREC PROFESSOR LIAO, TO SUPPORT A PROPOSAL THAT HE'S PUTTING TO REPRESENTATIVE SLOTKIN'S OFFICE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS, BUT APPARENTLY THERE MIGHT BE SOME ABILITY TO GET SOME FUNDING, BASICALLY TO LEVERAGE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE DAIRY CATTLE TEACHING AND RESEARCH FACILITY AND LOSS OF ITS SILOS AND SUCH WHICH WILL RESULT IN A TRIPLING OF THE HERD.
AND IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BE MAKING FORWARD ADVANCES IN ANAEROBIC DIGESTION.
I THINK THERE CAN BE CONNECTIONS HERE.
AND SO PROVIDE A LETTER OF SUPPORT ON YOUR BEHALF TO THAT PROPOSAL.
NO OBLIGATION TO THE TOWNSHIP.
JUST SIMPLY SAYING WE SEE THE VALUE IN THIS KIND OF RESEARCH AND OUTREACH RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL ANY ANYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL THESE DAYS? I WENT BY TODAY IN THE PARKING LOT WAS JAM PACKED.
I THOUGHT, AREN'T THEY OUT YET? MSU IS GONE. IT'S EMPTY.
AND THE PARKING LOT WAS JAMMED.
OH, ANOTHER MONTH REALLY? YEP. YOU DON'T GET IT UNTIL JUNE.
OH SHUT UP. NOT MUCH RECENTLY BESIDES THE RECYCLING EVENT.
I KNOW I'M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE WAS ACTION HELPERS THERE, LIKE HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANTS.
YEAH. SO I REACHED OUT TO THEM, SO I'M GLAD THAT WENT WELL.
THAT STARTED TO PICK UP. NOW THIS ONE IS COMING AROUND.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S BEEN DEVELOPED YET OR HOW THAT'S GOING.
[01:15:03]
BUT IT COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY.OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S BEEN PRETTY TAME.
THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE GREENHOUSE.
PART OF YOU MEAN CLASS? YEAH, IT WOULD BE A MIXTURE.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME WOODS SURROUNDING THE PROPERTY THAT'S CURRENTLY USED FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCE AND EARTH SCIENCE, WHICH IS LIKE A COMBINED CLASS OKEMOS FOR ALL NINTH GRADERS HAVE TO TAKE THAT HAS SORT OF AN ECOLOGY COMPONENT TO IT THAT UTILIZES OUTSIDE SPACE.
BUT THE MAIN FOCUS, I THINK, OF THE HORTICULTURE CLASS WOULD BE INSIDE THE GREENHOUSE.
SO I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW MUCH WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THAT.
GREAT. AT ITS LAST MEETING ON APRIL 22ND, THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWED A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO FOLKS.
WE'VE THE TOWNSHIP REVISED ITS SPECIAL USE PERMIT PROCESS.
AND ONE OF THE NEW STEPS IS FOR APPLICANTS TO PROVIDE A CONCEPT PLAN TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO GET GENERAL FEEDBACK ABOUT THE KIND OF NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE PROJECT BEFORE GOING INTO A FULL DESIGN PHASE AND PUBLIC HEARINGS.
AND AND THE APPLICANT HAS PRESENTED TWO CONCEPTS FOR HOW THE SITE ON OKEMOS ROAD WOULD BE BUILT UP, WHERE PARKING WOULD BE PLACED AND WITHOUT GENERATING A LOT OF DISCUSSION, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THE TWO CONCEPTS ARE, ARE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED, OR AT LEAST VERY, VERY DIFFERENT MIRROR IMAGES.
IT'S A BASICALLY A PARTIAL BUILD ON ONE OR A DIFFERENT SECTION OF THE SITE, AND A LOT OF IT HINGES ON WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR UNDERGROUNDING ELECTRICAL AND WHERE BOULEVARDS CAN BE BECAUSE OF THE OVERHEAD.
AND IT'S PRETTY. I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, BUT AND THE OTHER IS A DISCUSSION OF THE ZONING OF THE SO-CALLED VILLAGE OF NIMOCA, WHICH IS UP AT LAKE LANSING AND HAS A LOT OF HOUSING TYPES THAT AREN'T TYPICAL OF OUR ZONING ORDINANCES, AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER, HOW BEST TO ADDRESS OR NORMALIZE.
MIGHT WE GET AN UPDATE FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES? WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING IT. NO, NO, THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS PRETTY COMMON BUSINESS.
I THINK WE PASSED THE ORDINANCE CHANGE TO REDUCE PLANNING FROM 9 TO 7.
MEMBERS. FIRED A BUNCH OF NEW POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE ALMOST FULLY STAFFED.
WE'RE STARTING THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR NEXT YEAR.
WE GO FORWARD. RELEVANT TO THAT? CAN YOU ADVISE US ON HOW AND WHEN TO MAKE A BUDGET REQUEST? FOR NEXT YEAR? I WOULD SAY SOMETIME THIS MONTH.
I DID IT IN EARLY AND MAYBE AFTER THE NEXT MEETING HERE.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE DETAILS OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GO EAT THIS YEAR.
SO OUR NEXT AGENDA WILL INCLUDE A DISCUSSION OF A BUDGET REQUEST FOR NEXT YEAR.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE MIGHT SEEK SOME ADVICE AND MAYBE EVEN A COUPLE OF WORDS AT THE MEETING.
WHO KNOWS AT THIS MEETING? YEAH. FROM WHOM? WELL, TIM DOESN'T GET OUT ENOUGH.
WE NEED TO GIVE HIM OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ON TV.
HE'S GOT TOO MUCH STUFF TO DO.
I MEAN, HE PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE PART OF ANY DISCUSSION YOU MIGHT HAVE WITH.
I'M TRYING TO STAY OUT OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, BUT I DEFINITELY HAVE $0.02 TO THROW IN.
YEAH. AND I THINK YOUR $0.02 ARE VALUABLE.
OKAY. IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT WITHOUT ACTION BY THE COMMISSION THAT IT MIGHT BE NORMAL FOR THE CURRENT BUDGET LINE TO STAY PUT? OR SHOULD WE BE THINKING WE SHOULD BE MORE PRUDENT? THING WE'VE HEARD IS THAT THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE NO LONGER HAVE LEFTOVER FEDERAL MONEY.
SO AND WE HAVE TO PREDICT WHAT THE BUDGET WILL OR WHAT THE INCOME WILL BE AND SOME THINGS LIKE THAT.
[01:20:06]
NOW, IS THERE GOING TO BE HUNDREDS OF CUTS IN THIS? AND I DON'T THINK SO, BUT IT MAY BE A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT TO GET ALL OF THE PIECES THROUGH.I'M SORRY. I WAS GOING TO SAY.
SO. WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER AN UPDATED OR LIKE IN A SLIGHTLY LARGER REQUEST IN CASE IT GETS NEGOTIATED BACK, RIGHT? MAY ALSO WANT TO, AS A GROUP, DECIDE WHAT YOU FEEL IS IMPORTANT TO ACCOMPLISH NEXT YEAR ON A MAJOR ISSUE.
WELL, THE WETLAND, NOT THE WETLANDS, THE GREEN SPACE.
THAT'S I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY PRETTY SAFE.
AND I'M TALKING MAYBE IT'S THE FULL 30, MAYBE IT'S 25 OR WHATEVER.
YOU MAY WANT TO PROPOSE THAT IN LIEU OF SOME OF THESE OTHER ONE.
ONE THING I JUST WANT TO MENTION IS MY POSITION.
DO YOU WANT TO KEEP AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSON HERE NEXT YEAR? BECAUSE I'M THINKING ABOUT SCALING BACK IN SEPTEMBER, POSSIBLY HELPING WITH THE TRANSITION PERIOD OR WORKING, YOU KNOW, FIVE, TEN HOURS A WEEK NEXT YEAR, IF THAT'S IN THE BUDGET. BUT DO WE WANT A FULL TIME PERSON? DO WE WANT A THREE QUARTER TIME PERSON LIKE WE HAVE NOW? AND DO WE WANT TWO, THREE ENVIRONMENTAL STAFF PEOPLE? NO, I'M JUST KIDDING. SO YEAH, CAR WOULD BE NICE OR A BIKE.
YEAH. SO JUST SOMETHING TO PUT ON THE RADAR.
YEAH, BUT I WOULDN'T PROMOTE THAT NECESSARILY AS FUNDING FOR THIS COMMISSION BECAUSE I THINK ON THAT TOPIC, I MIGHT ENDEAVOR TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE INTERIM MANAGER AND TRY TO GET SOME CLARITY ON WHAT MIGHT BE SOME IDEA OF WHERE TO GO.
I THINK I'M ONE OF SEVEN, SO YEAH, DON'T HOLD ME TO THAT.
WELL, WE'LL HOLD YOU TO THE SEVENTH THROUGH YOU HOLD ME TO ONE.
I, I HAD A COUPLE OF THINGS IN MY UPDATE.
I WANTED TO SHARE THAT TOM DIDN'T TOUCH ON.
WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, TIME IS RIGHT.
OKAY. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THE COUNTY SOLID WASTE PLAN THERE'S AN APPLICATION FORM AVAILABLE, AND I'VE GOT A LINK TO IT IN MY STAFF UPDATE. THE SOLID WASTE PLANNING PROCESS IS GOING TO BE GETTING GOING TO BE BEGINNING SOON.
AND IF YOU WANT TO APPLY OR IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO YOU'D LIKE TO SUGGEST, BE ON THAT COMMISSION.
I MEAN, I'M SORRY, MAY MAY 10TH.
THANK YOU. OKAY, SO AT THE BOTTOM OF THE UPDATE IS THE APPLICATION.
AND IT DESCRIBES MORE ABOUT THE TYPES OF PEOPLE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND WE WILL BE HAVING SOME SAMPLES AT OUR NEXT FARMER'S MARKET TABLE, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO BE MAY 18TH, SO AND THEN PICK UP IN JUNE.
SO THOSE WERE THE TWO MAIN THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION.
WE DO HAVE AN INTERESTING DIALOG FROM A FACULTY MEMBER AT MSU NEXT, NEXT WEDNESDAY TALKING ABOUT A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INITIATIVE CALLED THE EARTH IS MY HOME.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE DESCRIBING THAT AT THE NEXT DIALOG ON WEDNESDAY AT 9 A.M..
CATHERINE ALAIMO IF ANYONE KNOWS HER.
I THINK ANNA MIGHT MIGHT HAVE KNOWN CATHERINE ALAIMO.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR OTHER ITEMS? BUSINESS. OH, I WAS GOING TO SAY THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD.
YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO THEY MET IN APRIL AND JUST A COUPLE THINGS.
THEY'RE PLANNING A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR PRESERVE SIGNAGE.
PROBABLY IT WILL BE AT DAVIS FOSTER AND SOMETIME IN MID-MAY.
I THINK THEY'LL GET MAY 18TH OR 19TH.
[01:25:02]
PART OF THAT PART OF THAT EVENT.WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TYING SOME KIND OF AWARENESS EFFORT FOR DOG OWNERS, BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING LOTS OF ISSUES WITH DOGS OFF LEASH AND DOG POOP, PEOPLE NOT PICKING UP DOG POOP.
AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE TAKING A LOOK AT REVISITING THE LAND ACQUISITION SCREENING PROCESS, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T REVISITED THAT IN A WHILE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
AND WHAT ELSE IS THERE? OH I THINK THE ONLY, THE ONLY OTHER THING WOULD BE TRUSTEE.
WILSON WILL BE JOINING THE LAND PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD THEN.
SINCE. YEAH, BECAUSE OF COURTNEY TAKING NOW THAT SHE WORKS FOR THE TOWNSHIP.
DID I HEAR THAT ONE OF THE PRESERVES HAD A CONTROLLED BURN RECENTLY? CORRECT. YES.
IT WAS JUST MENTIONED, WASN'T IT.
YEAH. DAVIS FOSTER JUST HAD A I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT.
RIGHT. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL BURN.
ACCORDING TO EMMA, IT WAS PERFECT.
IT STAYED OUTSIDE WITH EVERYBODY.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I HEARD THAT IT WENT INTO THE EVENING, BUT IT WAS.
SO. YEAH. AND PEOPLE ARE FAIRLY ACCUSTOMED TO THAT.
YEAH, PRETTY SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER LIAISONS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONER UPDATES ANY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.