City of Lawrence

Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB)

September 12, 2012 minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT:	Boog Highberger, Sarah Hill-Nelson, Matt Lehrman, Chad Luce, Dale Nimz, Kathleen Nuckolls, Megan Poindexter, Andrea Repinsky, Scott White
MEMBERS ABSENT:	Ian Spomer
STAFF PRESENT:	Tammy Bennett, Matt Bond (guest speaker), Kathy Richardson
PUBLIC PRESENT:	David Dods, Jason Dremsa (guest speaker)

Call Meeting to Order (Chad Luce, Chair person) 5:38 pm

Take roll call to determine quorum of members.

Approval of Meeting Minutes

Motion and second to approve the July 11, 2012 minutes (White/Nimz).

Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.

Guest Speakers

Matt Bond, the city’s stormwater engineer, gave an overview of the Lawrence stormwater management system. The city’s Stormwater Engineering Division manages the stormwater utility that supports system reconstruction projects, system maintenance, development review, and pollution prevention measures.

Jason Dremsa, a restoration ecologist for the Applied Ecological Services (AES), a broad-based ecological services firm that provides practical land-use solutions that strike the most favorable balance between culture, cost and ecology, presented examples of alternative and sustainable stormwater management practices. He discussed examples including Kansas City’s 10,000 Rain Gardens initiative, Lenexa’s Rain to Recreation program, and the AES Stormwater Treatment Train systems designed to emulate the hydrologic behavior of the pre-settlement landscape by using absorbent stormwater swales, prairie buffers, and wetlands to manage stormwater, minimizing curb, gutter, and storm sewer to the extent possible.

David Dods, a senior environmental-engineer with URS Corporation, mentioned he does similar type work as Jason Dremsa. His primary field of work is green solutions for stormwater management including rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavements in urban areas, plus wetlands and stream restoration. In Kansas City, he is working on green infrastructure (i.e. rain gardens) to reduce flooding, erosion, and sewer overflows.

Sarah Hill-Nelson asked the guest speakers what the SAB can do to help with stormwater management. Matt Bond mentioned the board could help support a stream buffer ordinance. There was also discussion of increasing roadside rain gardens / swales and hosting stream clean ups or an “adopt a stream” program. There may also be a role for the SAB to advocate for stormwater management projects planned for the city’s Farmland property.

The board would like Matt Bond to reach out to them when he is working on projects that SAB can support and weigh in on to help win the support of the City Commission.

Staff Reports

Eileen Horn addressed all items on the Sustainability Coordinator report.

Kathy Richardson discussed program updates included in the Waste Reduction and Recycling Division report. SAB members received posters for the upcoming Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair and Sustainable Homes Tour. Staff asked SAB to please distribute these posters as well as help spread the word about the Energy Fair. The board will also receive via email a request to sign up to volunteer for set up and/or break down tasks at the Energy Conservation Fair on Saturday, September 22^nd.

At last night’s City Commission meeting, the Commission received the draft Plan for the establishment of an organized recycling collection service, received the draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for a city-wide, single-stream residential curbside collection service, authorized the distribution of the RFP, and authorized the city to submit a proposal in response to the RFP.

Tammy Bennett informed SAB that the City Commission awarded the bid for the roll-out residential cart implementation program to Rehrig Pacific Company and approved a 3-tier rate structure ($13.44/month for service with one 35-gallon cart, $14.94/month for service with one 65-gallon cart, and $16.94/month for service with one 95-gallon cart). From October 15 to November 9 the city will deliver a standard 65-gallon cart to single-family residences unless the customer requests a different size cart. Apartments, commercial properties, and households with dumpster service are not affected at this time. Information on the trash cart implementation program is posted online at www.lawrenceks.org/carts.

As part of the implementation plan for the roll out of the new trash carts for single-family residential customers, the city will offer residents an opportunity to recycle old trash containers. Staff is communicating the following information with residents:
REUSE. Before you opt to recycle your old trash containers, please consider using the containers for other purposes.

· Use your old trash containers to set out yard waste on Mondays for composting;

· Repurpose your old trash containers by turning them into storage containers;

· Or donate your old trash containers to an individual or organization that could use them.

RECYCLE. On Friday, November 9 and Friday, November 16 city crews will pick up old trash containers and lids for recycling. Mark an “X” on old trash containers and set them out at the curb or alley by 6:00 a.m. Containers must be empty; no trash please.

In addition, the city will begin selling 95-gallon yard waste carts to be used for Monday yard waste collection days. The yard waste carts are designed with vents to prevent strong odors from stored yard waste materials such as grass and leaves. The carts will be sold for $60 each. Information is available online at http://lawrenceks.org/wrr/.

Guest Speakers for Future SAB Meetings

SAB confirmed Crystal Miles, the city’s horticulture and forestry manager, as the guest speaker for the October SAB meeting.

Miscellaneous Announcements and/or Public Comments

Matt Lehrman invited board members and their family and friends to attend the Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair and participate in Westar Energy’s ElectroGo program to test drive an electric vehicle on Saturday, September 22^nd from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Dale Nimz mentioned Clark Coan contacted him to discuss the Clean Cities campaign. He wanted to share this Clean Air Cities document with all SAB members.