Recycling and Resource Conservation Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes, February 8, 2005
320 NE Industrial Lane – Solid Waste Annex North Facility
Meeting called to order at 4:40 PM
Present: Laura Routh, Cindy Strecker, John Craft, Dickie Heckler, Jeff Severin, Kevin Dobbs
RE: Earth Day Parade--do we want to do it?
After some discussion, the group agreed that they did wish to proceed with the parade. It had been clarified, via email, by Mollie Mangerich that the Earth Day Parade originally began as a RRCAB-initiated and RRCAB-sponsored event. If RRCAB wanted to continue with the Earth Day Parade, WRR recommended the board take the lead in organizing the parade. WRR Staff will continue to coordinate the environmental outreach event “Celebration at the Park”, held at South Park on Saturday April 23rd. Dickie Heckler agreed to coordinate the parade efforts, and John Craft agreed to provide back-up as Dickie Heckler's second. The overall theme of the parade this year will be BICYCLES--we need a title--perhaps BIKE FOR THE EARTH?
Dickie Heckler has contacted two bike shops and Laura Routh agrees to contact Sunflower. There is a conflict between the presumed timing of our parade and the gay pride parade. This conflict will need to be resolved. It is suggested that we solicit folks to bring their kids to ride in the parade on bikes. Also, perhaps we could sponsor a poster/art contest that could be displayed at the park. Kevin Dobbs agrees to pursue this idea further. Heather Muth (by proxy) has agreed to solicit donations of food again this year.
John Craft notes that the minutes from January need to be amended to add the words "according to Larry Hamm", because Larry's statements, while they were made verbatim as recorded, are not factually correct. The minutes are approved pending this change. Motion by Laura Routh; second by Dickie Heckler.
RE: RRCAB Goals for 2005
Goals as outlined in previous meeting minutes approved by the group present. It is agreed that we need to create subcommittees to address tasks associated with these goals; members not present should email Cindy Strecker to indicate their preferred subcommittee assignment. Cindy Strecker will email everyone to begin discussions of who will do what RE: our goals.
Recycling: Laura Routh, Heather Muth
Earth Day Parade: Dickie Heckler, John Craft
Energy Conservation: Cindy Strecker, John Craft (note: preferred date for presenting to City Commission will be either 3/15 or 3/22).
Other goals and tasks and assignments to be determined at March meeting.
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John Craft gave the group an update on the contractor licensing meetings: John Craft thinks the ordinance will pass, and notes another meeting is pending. The ordinance will require classes for all contractors, with 8/hrs of training annually. This might be an opportunity for energy education, or certainly, if the ordinance passes, we would likely be able to get a copy of the mailing list.
Code meetings RE: energy conservation and building code. The meeting on Thursday at 4 PM, will approve the final letter to the City Commission RE: the energy code. Cost is the primary issue of contention, RE: approving the code. The argument that has been made is that energy conservation requirements will affect the availability of affordable housing.
Q. Will there be inspections?
A. Without inspections, the standards will be meaningless and have no teeth. The City has indicated that if inspections are required, it will require hiring another inspector.
John Craft will send the RRCAB a copy of the letter and suggests that we, as individuals, write letters to the commission. Lawrence Home Builders will likely be the biggest opponents of the energy code. In April, John Craft will be organizing a home energy workshop with the university group out of Manhattan. Currently, no inspections are done on homes insulation or and no examination of infiltration are undertaken.
NOTE TO RRCAB: We may request a special meeting between regularly scheduled meetings regarding the letter that John Craft addressed.
Meeting adjourned: 5:45 PM