JOINT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON SUSTAINABILITY

 

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Room B190 – Administrative Center

11:30 a.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Jai Johnson, Dale Hexom, Nick Nichols, Brad Pfaff (exc/arr @11:40), Dorothy Lenard (exc/arr @12:30), Sharon Hampson (temporarily appointed to ensure a quorum)  

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  Tom Rauk, Jeff Bluske

MEMBERS ABSENT:  None     

OTHERS PRESENT: Steve O’Malley, Brian Fukuda, Brian Tippetts, Karl Green, Jim Becker, Jerry Severson, Erica Black, Kerm King, Cheryl Stephen

 

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

Committee Chair Jai Johnson called the meeting to order at 11:35 a.m.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

None requested.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Erica noted two corrections; those being:  the speaker’s last name is Gips (not Gibs) and that April 26 is not the actual Earth Day.  MOTION by Nichols/Hexom to approve minutes of February 12, 2008, including the two noted corrections.  Motion carried unanimously; Rauk, Pfaff, Lenard excused.

 

COMMENTS ON MACKINNON PRESENTATION

Supervisor Hampson noted it as more useful than the book, The Natural Step.  No other comments.

 

APPROVE SPEAKER FEES:  EARTH DAY & COUNTY BOARD

Brian Fukuda noted that he and Tim Kabat contacted Terry Gips from Minneapolis area regarding his speaking fees for two events, Earth Week event and also for the County Collaboration Conference.  If the events were held in succession, he was willing to reduce his fee to one flat rate of $5,000; his fees usually range from $3,000-3,500 per event.  Some discussion followed.  

 

MOTION by Pfaff/Hampson to approve $2,500 as the speaker fee for Terry Gips for the April 23rd Earth Day event, and $300 for Lisa MacKinnon’s speaker fee for speaking at the March 10th County Board meeting.  Cost is to be shared 50/50 between city and county. Motion carried unanimously; Rauk, Bluske, Lenard excused.

 

RESOLUTION RE LEED

Committee Chair Johnson noted she submitted resolution but has not gotten draft yet.  Steve O’Malley noted the drafting of such resolution is difficult because a fiscal note is required.  When Jai receives draft, she will send via email to the committee members for feedback prior to next meeting.

 

UPDATE ON WORK GROUP PROJECTS

Erica gave an update on behalf of Tim Kabat; she noted the following:

ü       Biodiesel meeting is planned for March 12

ü       Updated the newsletter contact list

ü       Re the website, gave a lot of information to County IT so this is moving along

ü       Compiling list of possible indicators  

ü       Researching purchasing policies

ü       “Lights Out America” is planned for March 29 for 1 hour in the evening; Erica offered to promote the event if interested.   

 

UPDATE ON CONFIDENTIAL PAPER DISPOSAL

Brian Tippetts and Jerry Severson are working on this project.  One vendor (Waste Management) is offering reimbursement for collecting confidential papers and these in turn are destroyed in mass at the waste-to-energy program.  Need to meet with the vendor and Facilities Director as there may be some issues relating to storage, labor, etc., that may be associated to cost.  Need to look at money saved and maybe have all of the county facilities involved in order to generate revenue.  There may be other vendors, but looked at local level first. 

 

CHANGE PROCESS PLANNING MATRIX

Erica reviewed and noted that it was updated since the last meeting. Speaker for collaboration conference and date are set.  Erica will incorporate an article in the next County newsletter.  Jai noted the League of Women Voters is getting involved in The Natural Step.  The Coulee Partners for Sustainability are still organizing.  Karl noted he presented at the Jaycees and future presentations include LAPC on March 19th and possibly the Towns Association meeting in May.

 

UPDATE ON SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR

Steve noted a joint meeting of Public Works & Infrastructure Committee and the Solid Waste Policy Board was held on March 5th.  At that time, they supported and approved the hiring of a Sustainability Coordinator.  They would like to give additional input at future meetings, but the County can go ahead and advertise; the position will be responsible to the Solid Waste Director and the department.  Brian noted there is more work than can possibly be done, so need to lay out what the tasks will be as well as create a revenue stream; the person will act as a catalyst and work with municipalities. 

 

EARTH WEEK PLANNING

Dorothy noted April 23rd at the Cleary Center from 7:00-9:00 p.m. for keynote speaker Terry Gips.  General agreement to promote attendance; need to involve UW-La Crosse, Viterbo, Coulee Partners, Sierra Club, Jaycees, etc.  Volunteers for a promotional subcommittee included:  Jai, Brian, Karl and Brad.  Also have a table at Cameron Park for the Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 26.  Brad asked if the speaker could be videotaped.  Brian offered to check with Mr. Gips.

 

INFORMATION SHARING

Brad suggested La Crosse County give a presentation or group session on sustainability at the upcoming WCA Conference in the fall.

 

Karl Green suggested committee endorsement for citizens to spend their stimulus checks at the local level and asked members for their input.  He suggested sustainable items, such as CSA’s, rain gardens, rain barrels, composting, etc.  General agreement by the members to pursue this idea.  Discussion on how to promote; suggestions included guest columns, radio spots; various newsletters.  Contact Karl with additional ideas. 

 

Jerry Severson noted the need for visual recycling containers; maybe the committee or another group could promote such.

 

Jerry also expressed concern with use of compact florescent light bulbs.  He has tried them outdoors and in enclosed areas, and they seem to work fine.  Kerm King noted the La Crosse School District have them in about 800 locations, including freezers, and are having good success with them.  

 

Brian Fukuda requested posters/poster boards relating to sustainability success stories; these will be displayed on easels at the Collaboration Conference.  He will send an email regarding details; forward on to others that may be interested.

 

NEXT MEETING

Tuesday, April 8th at 11:30 a.m. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Committee Chair Johnson declared the meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m.   

  

Disclaimer:  The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.

 

Cheryl Stephen, Recorder  

Edited by Committee Chair Jai Johnson