Recycling and Resource Conservation Advisory Board Minutes

May 12, 2004

Present: Lew Phillips, Tracy Candelaria, Heather Muth, Laura Routh, Dickie Heckler

Absent: Chris Cobb, Shannon Criss, Steve Hughes, Celeste Fish

Staff: Mollie Mangerich

Minutes of April meeting approved, with spelling correction on “story” noted.

Earth Day Event Recap:

Beautiful day, great turn out -- over 200 people participated in the Parade and over 500 were in attendance at the South Park Celebration.  Mollie passed out summary report on Event proceedings to Board.  Laura noted that she was disappointed that the LJW did not run a story or picture of the event.  Mollie said that a former board member did submit a complimentary letter to the LJW editor, which was printed.  WRR staff received several compliments and a few people indicated that they felt the music was too loud and impaired people’s ability to interact towards the end of the day.  The suggestion was made that we focus on bluegrass or acoustic music next year, and turn it down a bit.

Next year’s Earth Day (ED) event is scheduled for Saturday, April 16.  As WRR staff will be working on a natural yard care campaign next year, Mollie asked that RRCAB members take the leading role in organizing the Earth Day events.  The groups agreed that they wished to have a Bike theme for next year’s ED, and to that end, would approach local bike groups, bike shops and perhaps law enforcement to assist.  The idea of an Earth Day Bike Ride was suggested.  Mollie said that she would talk to Karen Rexroad, Public Transit Administrator, to see if an incentive to ride the “T” could be planned as an option for that day.  Heather suggested working with local neighborhood associations to organize neighborhood-based bike rides for kids.  The idea of a “Pied Biker”, (a.k.a. “Pied Piper”) idea was mentioned as a fun option.  It was suggested that the subcommittee for Earth Day begin meeting in November to start the event planning process.

Update on US postal service letter:

Laura told the group that the letter was sent after our last meeting and that she has heard nothing back.  She did call both recipients of the letter and will follow up and try to schedule an appointment with the local postmaster early in June.  Any RRCAB board members wishing to help can contact Laura.

Energy Conservation Subcommittee:

The Energy Subcommittee is scheduled to meet May 18^th @ 4:00 p.m. at the SWAN facility. Mollie distributed a list of ideas that had been submitted by Steve Hughes and Laura Routh, to be discussed at the meeting.  Based on a request to the RRCAB by the City Commissioners in 2003, “…that the RRCAB had been directed by the City Commissioners to examine opportunities for promoting Energy Conservation as part of 2004’s goal and activities” Mollie suggested the group focus on looking at energy conservation strategies targeting both internal and external audiences.  RRCAB members suggested a potential organizing structure could be:

• Conservation measures/opportunities internal to the City government;
• Community efforts: Education and Outreach regarding energy conservation; and
• Energy Conservation in new construction

Sustainability Subcommittee

Heather reported that this committee met May 11th and came up with the following ideas:

• Create a program to acknowledge local businesses that incorporate sustainable practices;

• Consider expanding the RRCAB function to serve as a “sustainability committee” for the city, which could include collaboration with other City Advisory Boards, and assessing/surveying what other boards and city departments include sustainability practices in their work.

Mollie suggested that the product of both subcommittees would be a brief report for the Commission that would identify opportunities, challenges and a summary section including recommendations, references and resources.  The reports would also be given to the City Manager’s Office, Solid Waste Division Manager and Director of Public Works.

It was agreed by the group that it made sense to merge the sustainability and energy subcommittees as their work was overlapping and a merger would eliminate duplication of efforts.  It would also be easier to schedule meetings.

Energy Conservation Fair:

Michelle Crank, WRR Specialist, will be contacting board members to hold begin the event planning process.  This is the 4th year of the Fair and it is very popular.  It will be held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds (Bldg 21) and Steve Hughes and Steve Lane (previous Board Member) are involved in the organizing.  Several people were named as contacts and/or contributors to the event: Michael Morley, Jan Shocky and Michael Almon.  Mollie suggested that the group that meets with Michelle would be compiling contact lists of potential speakers, vendors and locations for the Sustainable Homes Tour.

WRR Staff Update:

Mollie asked Lew Phillips if he knew any of the owners/mangers of the I-70 Business Center to promote the placement of a community newspaper recycling container.  It was suggested by the group that staff might also wish to investigate FIFI’s property – north of the I-70 as a potential community drop off site.

WRR staff gave a presentation to the City Commissioners of the 2004 Yard waste collection program which includes staff recommendation of restricting use of plastic bags for trash only in 2005.  

Wal-Mart’s most recent proposal to the city to expand their footprint at the Iowa St. location included mention (in the LJW) of an expansion to their recycling facility.

WRR staff is pursuing a mercury thermometer exchange program with the potential assistance of a KDHE Household Hazardous Waste Grant.  Laura suggested they review a similar project in Vermont to benefit from lessons learned.  That information will be provided to Mollie.

Lew Phillips shared information about an ethanol project he is investigating with the group.

Mayor Rundle requested Mollie to ask the Board their preference on background and skill sets for the open position on the RRCAB.  The groups suggested someone with an engineering and/or energy conservation/audit background.  Mollie will forward this suggestion to Mayor Rundle.

Meeting adjourned at 5:45 PM.