DeKalb Times

City of Dekalb Citizens’ Environmental Commission met Dec. 2.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

The Citizens’ Environmental Commission (CEC) held a regular business meeting in the Second Floor Training Room at the DeKalb Police Department.

Chair Clare Kron called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m.

A. Roll Call

Roll call was recorded by Management Analyst Scott Zak, and the following members of the CEC were present: Chair Clare Kron, Vice Chair Steve Honeywell, Rachel Farrell, Julie Jesmer, Nick Newman and Council Liaison Barb Larson. Not present at the time of roll call were Ex Officio Members Dakota Burke, Matt Emken, Mike Holland and Sarah Fox.

Also present was Management Analyst Scott Zak.

B. Approval of Agenda

MOTION

Mr. Honeywell moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Mr. Newman.

Chair Kron asked that the agenda be amended to move item G-1 to the first item of new business.

MOTION

Mr. Honeywell motioned to amend the agenda, seconded by Mr. Newman.

VOTE

The agenda was amended by unanimous voice vote.

VOTE

The amended agenda was then approved by unanimous voice vote.

C. Public Comment

No public comments were received.

D. Approval of Minutes

1. Regular Monthly Meeting Minutes of October 7, 2021

MOTION

Mr. Newman motioned to approve the minutes pending minor changes, seconded by Mr. Honeywell.

VOTE

The minutes were approved by a unanimous voice vote.

E. Commission Reports

1. DeKalb County Health Department

Ex-Officio Member Dakota Burke was not present at this time. Her report was given later in the meeting.

2. DeKalb Park District

A written report from Ex-Officio Member Mat Emken was read by Mr. Zak. Mr. Emken reported a large area of Prairie Park west of the river and just south of the foot bridge was cleaned up during a buckthorn and woody invasive volunteer event in November. Encap has been awarded the contract to complete the final phase of the Nature Trail Restoration Project on the south side of the trail from Country Club Lane to First Street and the northside of the trail from the river to First Street.

3. Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District

With Ex-Officio Member Holland absent, no report was given.

4. Northern Illinois University

With Ex-Officio Member Sarah Fox absent, no report was given.

5. City Staff Liaison

Management Analyst Zak reported City Manager Bill Nicklas advised that the Commission should not solicit sponsorships from companies in the City, such as Facebook, since it is a City commission and the companies already pay property taxes to the City. Alderwoman Larson said she received the same explanation from Mayor Cohen Barnes.

F. New Business

1. Collaboration with NIU for revisions of Sustainability Plan

a. Mark Schuller, Professor of Anthropology and Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies

b. Courtney Gallaher’s student involvement

Chair Kron reported that while a grant for an NIU intern to aid the Sustainability Plan update was not pursued, NIU Sustainability Coordinator Courtney Gallaher referred her to Mr. Schuller. Chair Kron said students do not need to be paid for written work, and that Mr. Schuller’s nonprofit and community engagement students could help with the Plan update as their end-of year project.

Ex-Officio Member Dakota Burke joined the meeting at 4:15 p.m.

Ms. Burke reported the DeKalb County Health Department held an e-waste, textile and hazardous materials collection in October. 270 cars went through during the collection, dropping off four trailers of electronics and other materials that will be kept out of the landfill. This was a countywide collection. Ms. Burke shared that scrap recyclers Zimmerman and DIMCO are collecting holiday lights for recycling through Dec. 31.

Discussion returned to item G-1. Chair Kron said Mr. Schuller's students could recruit people to take a survey on the Sustainability Plan. Mr. Honeywell said the idea was win-win for the students and Commission, and Mr. Newman added it would be a benefit to the community. Chair Kron said Ms. Gallaher would like to see climate justice added to the Sustainability Plan, and that her undergrad students could work on that section.

Mr. Schuller joined the meeting by telephone at 4:22 p.m.

Mr. Schuller said soliciting input for the Sustainability Plan would be the perfect fit for his students to gain research and nonprofit experience as part of a collective project in one of their final classes. Students would meet with members of the Commission once a month, will send an e-mail explaining their interest and make a proposal and presentation. The telephone conversation with Mr. Schuller ended.

2. Transfer of chair position

Chair Kron said Vice Chair Honeywell is in line to become the Commission Chair in January. Mr. Zak said the Chair is appointed by Mayor Barnes with the consent of the City Council, and the appointment may be made at the Council meeting in December.

3. CEC budget draft for discretionary funds

Chair Kron presented the budget proposed for the City Council’s consideration. It says, in part, “Several projects will require materials to maximize our desired goals which are to increase public awareness of environmental issues affecting the city, and efforts and practices to address them.” The request included the following activities and expenses:

Presentation items X3

Background research (books that will be donated to the library) $25

Refreshments: $60

Monarch Festival

Publicity (ads) $150

Milkweed plants $200

Fliers: $95 per 500 B&W copies

Activities for adults and children: $200

Cornfest

Table rental: $250

Handouts: $300

Raffle tickets: $15

The request was received by Alderwoman Larson for consideration.

Alderwoman Larson left the meeting shortly before 5 p.m.

G. Old Business

1. Presentations for 2022

Chair Kron said the Commission could participate in the worldwide teach-in for climate change in March and partner with STEM Cafe for another presentation in September. Chair Kron said the updated Sustainability Plan will be presented in the fall, and Mr. Honeywell added that will ensure a new Plan is in place by the end of 2022. Chair Kron said 350Kishwaukee shared with her that the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau is interested in co-sponsoring a solar event with the Commission. A room at the DeKalb Public Library has been reserved on March 21 for the solar presentation. NIU would like to be involved. Mr. Honeywell noted with so many presentations being planned, the topic of bees and insects may need to wait until 2023.

2. P.R.I.D.E. award nominations

P.R.I.D.E. Award nominations were submitted for the Trash Squirrels for picking up tons of trash during their litter collections; Phil Henrikson, owner of There’s Fun in Store, for his support of the Trash Squirrels; and Ron Cress for encouraging his neighbors to plant native plants to create a native plant corridor.

MOTION

Chair Kron motioned to award the nominees the P.R.I.D.E. Award, seconded by Mr. Honeywell.

VOTE

The award recipients were approved by unanimous voice vote.

3. Next article for Daily Chronicle

Chair Kron will author the January and February articles to continue her series on the Sustainability Plan.

4. CEC member recruitment

Chair Kron said she is pursuing Fotis Pappas as a potential member but has not yet made contact with him.

5. Grant possibilities

Mr. Newman reported he contacted the Illinois Water Environment Association regarding the Commission’s eligibility for their grants. He was told they are open to collaborating, but their 2022 funding is already set. Grants are usually $100 to $300 and awarded in the second half of the year. The Commission agreed to continue efforts to collaborate with the IWEA.

6. Coffee with the CEC

Mr. Honeywell reported the owner of Cast Iron Coffee is supportive of hosting Coffee with CEC and the event being advertised. Mr. Honeywell plans on hosting the sessions and notes other members can do the same.

7. Updates on other issues

Chair Kron said 350Kishwaukee is interested in cosponsoring anything to do with climate change and may have funds available for food at the solar presentation. Ms. Jesmer said she was surprised the Commission did not have a community sponsor. Mr. Newman added crowd funding could be an option for support.

Chair Kron shared there are climate action grants that can be written into the sustainability plan.

Mr. Honeywell said he is planning to hold Coffee with the CEC on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 2-3 p.m.

H. Announcements

1. New announcements

Mr. Newman shared he is seeding to thicken the growth in the prairie areas he manages.

2. Next meeting: January 6, 4:00 p.m.

I. Adjournment

MOTION

Chair Kron motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Honeywell.

VOTE

The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote. The meeting was declared adjourned at 5:28 p.m.

https://www.cityofdekalb.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_12022021-2098