City of Lawrence                                         

Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB)

September 12, 2007 (5:30 PM) Meeting Minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Chris Cobb, Dickie Heckler, Sarah Hill-Nelson , Matt Lehrman, Daniel Poull, Laura Routh, Marie Stockett, Cindy Strecker

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

John Craft, George Eoannou

STAFF PRESENT:

Tammy Bennett, Kathy Richardson

 

CITY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:

 

PUBLIC PRESENT:

Brian Vancil, Sara Vancil, Paul Youk

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

None.

 

Approval of meeting Minutes

 

Motion and second to approve the August 8, 2007 minutes (Heckler/Routh). 

Vote: Motion was passed unanimously.

 

Home Energy Conservation Fair (HECF) and Sustainable Homes Tour Update

 

The Sustainable Home Tour and Speaker Schedule have been finalized. Kathy Richardson thanked Daniel Poull, Sarah Hill-Nelson, Dickie Heckler and Laura Routh for all the time they have volunteered to organize this year’s Fair and Tour. Kathy passed around a volunteer sign up sheet and asked SAB members to help on the day of the event or help distributing event posters throughout the community. Kathy also handed out Exhibitor/Sponsor Letters and Registration Forms to board members. Dickie Heckler noted that Ingredient, Local Burger and Great Harvest have all signed up to sell food at the Fair. The next HECF Team meeting will be Wednesday, September 19th at 6:30 pm.

 

Discussion on Recycling

 

Daniel Poull asked city staff for an update of the city recycling survey. Tammy Bennett stated that the survey is in next year’s budget and the city won’t pursue it until next year. Tammy confirmed that SAB will get an opportunity to review the draft survey questions.

 

Downtown recycling was discussed. SAB brainstormed on what possible barriers there are for downtown recycling. The city is currently not set up to recycle containers. So would the city use a private curbside recycling business? Would the City require private haulers to be licensed? There was discussion on focusing on aluminum cans because there is a market for aluminum. Non-profit organizations like Cans for the Community would be interested in setting out aluminum recycling bins downtown if allowed. All proceeds from recycling are donated to charitable organizations. Volunteers would service the aluminum recycling bins. Laura Routh commented that it would be a good idea to have some sort of waste sort of downtown trash to determine what is in the trash (e.g. aluminum cans, plastic bottles, or disposable cups from restaurants). What is in the waste stream? Daniel Poull would like to invite Mark Hecker and Ernie Shaw to a SAB meeting.

 

Laura Routh asked if there was any news from the city’s Solid Waste Division on updating the waste characterization study. There is no update.

    

Land Use Development and Agricultural Land Protection

 

Laura Routh noted that she did some research on land use planning and agricultural land protection and has talked to Charles Jones, County Commissioner and her current professor. Laura did not get a chance to meet with John Craft as planned. Laura said that she could adopt this topic as a research project for class.

 

A meeting at Grants School on the 27th to discuss the issue regarding the land by the airport was announced.  Should SAB participate?

£ Action: Daniel Poull will e-mail John Craft and ask if he can attend this meeting on behalf of SAB.

 

There was discussion on whether this is an issue that SAB should focus on. SAB has other priorities (recycling and energy issues). This is a very controversial topic. How can SAB be strategic about this issue?

 

Tammy Bennett mentioned that Lisa Pool who is a city/county planner is working on an Environmental Chapter which would be of interest to SAB. The Chapter is drafted and nearly ready to be presented to the City Planning Commission. Tammy suggested inviting Lisa Pool to a SAB meeting.

£ Action: Tammy Bennett will e-mail SAB about the Planning Department information for implementation of the Environmental Chapter.

 

Announce Meeting with Mayor Sue Hack

 

Daniel Poull announced that Mayor Sue Hack will be at the next SAB meeting on October 10th. Daniel wants to provide a write up for the Mayor about what SAB is working on.

£ Action: Daniel Poull will type up a summary statement for Mayor Sue Hack.

£ Action: SAB will e-mail Daniel Poull questions they would like to ask the Mayor by Sept. 26th. Daniel Poull will forward these questions to Mayor Sue Hack prior to the meeting.

 

Plan Calendar

 

People to invite to future meetings (keep presentations to 10 - 30 minutes):

Mayor Sue Hack - October

Mark Hecker and Ernie Shaw

Lisa Pool

Commissioner Mike Dever

Grassroots Action & Lawrence Sustainability Network

Chamber of Commerce, (working on guide for businesses listing top ten things a business can do to be more sustainable) Sarah Hill-Nelson would like help from SAB on developing this list. SAB can e-mail her suggestions.

Home Builders Association

Wakarusa Music Festival

City of Lawrence Waste Reduction and Recycling Division

 

£ Action: Daniel Poull will develop a draft calendar.

 

Proposed Sustainability Education Campaign Update

 

Sarah Hill-Nelson handed out a one page summary of the proposed Sustainability Education Campaign discussed at last month’s SAB meeting. Ideas for campaign: stickers, logo and webpage for sustainable Lawrence. There was discussion on what the message of this campaign is and who the audience is.

 

The meeting with Lisa Patterson, City’s Communication Manager, is on September 17th at 5:15 pm at the Solid Waste Annex North building.

£ Action: Sarah Hill-Nelson will e-mail Kathy Richardson the final draft of the proposal. Kathy will then forward the proposal to Lisa Patterson prior to the meeting.

 

Waste Reduction and Recycling (WRR) Report – Staff

 

A printed copy of the monthly updates was provided to SAB.

 

Miscellaneous and Guest Comments

 

None.

 

Agenda items:

 

 

Meeting adjourned 7:00 p.m.

 

Attachments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City of Lawrence

Proposed Sustainability Education Campaign

Offered by the Sustainability Advisory Board

 

Goal:  To increase awareness throughout the City of Lawrence regarding sustainability, what it means, its benefits for the city and its citizens, and how community members can promote it through their daily lives. 

 

Background:  The City of Lawrence already does many things throughout its various departments to support sustainability.  Although the Solid Waste Division is a prime example with its recycling efforts, nearly every department in the City is doing something to promote sustainability.  The City is providing leadership on this issue, but many Lawrence citizens remain unaware of these efforts.  Simply by publicizing their efforts, the City of Lawrence will demonstrate that sustainability is a key value for the city, and that all citizens should care as well.

 

Cost:  Minimal

 

Campaign Elements:  The key element of the proposed campaign is to create a tagline and a logo that communicates the concept of city-wide sustainability.  Some suggestions include “Green Lawrence” or “Sustainable Lawrence.”  A logo containing these words and an image of sustainability would be used in city communications, ads, banners, and any other city materials that are related to a sustainable effort.  Examples of potential logo placement include recycling containers in city offices, city utility bills, banners for Earth Day, ads in the newspaper, etc..  To bear the logo, the effort would need to meet one of the goals established in the “Solutions Plan,” established as a part of the City’s effort to meet the commitments of the Sierra Club’s Cool Cities Designation.

 

Audience:  The primary audience for the campaign is Lawrence citizens who are “slow adopters.”  They may have heard a little bit about sustainability, but they aren’t absolutely clear about what it means to them.  They may have concerns that living more sustainably might be uncomfortable or require some sacrifice.  They might be relieved to learn that by spending less for their water bill, they are living more sustainably.  Among this group, the campaign would specifically aim to educate the decision-makers, for both businesses and households.  In addition to the “slow adopters,” the audience for the campaign includes “the choir,” which is a group of Lawrence citizens who are already on board with the concepts of sustainability.  For this group, the purpose of the campaign is less about education, and more about reinforcement.  Seeing some sort of public on the part of the City about sustainability could galvanize this group because it will demonstrate that there is some traction on this issue.

 

Potential Partners:  Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Lawrence Inc., Businesses, Environmental Groups

 

Waste Reduction & Recycling Division - Update for August 2007

 

Waste Reduction and Recycling Division Update

All WRR vacant positions have been filled! Cassandra Ford (WRR Specialist), Jennifer Pereira (Administrative Support) and Susan Burke (WRR Intern) have all joined the WRR Team.

 

WRR Staff has been busy organizing the 7th Annual Lawrence Home Energy Conservation Fair and Sustainable Homes Tour. The Fair will be held on Saturday, October 13th from 9 am to 5 pm, at Free State High School, located at 4700 Overland Drive. Homes Tour buses will leave from the Free State High School promptly at 10 am and 2 pm. The City of Lawrence will be introducing Kristin Riott of The Climate Project as this year’s keynote speaker. A veteran of former Vice President Al Gore’s training initiatives, Ms. Riott will be presenting a slide show on which the Academy Award-winning film, “An Inconvenient Truth” is based.

Fair and Tour information has been posted on our website http://www.lawrencerecycles.org/energyconservation.shtml

 

Saturday, October 13th, 2007 – Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive

 

 

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program Report

 

 

 

Fibers Report

Old Corrugated Containers (OCC)

Cardboard                                 Tons                 Revenue

Current YTD                              708.58              $82,104.12

Prior YTD                                  609.63              $49,043.75

Avg. Price/ton thru AUG 2007: $ 115.87   Avg. Price/ton thru AUG 2006:   $ 80.45

Old Newspapers (ONP)

Newspaper                                Tons                 Revenue

Current YTD                              604.91              $57,930.05       

Prior YTD                                  580.64              $44599.85

Avg. Price/ton thru AUG 2007:$95.77     Avg. Price/ton thru AUG 2006:   $76.81

 

Office  Waste Paper (SOP)

Sorted Office Paper                    Tons                 Revenue

Current YTD                              17.31                $2875.51          

Prior YTD                                  10.08                $609.84

Avg. Price/ton thru AUG   2007: $166.12  Avg. Price/ton thru AUG 2006:   $60.50

 

Mixed Waste Paper (MIX)

Magazines                                Tons                 Revenue

Current YTD                              14.31                $1157.15

Prior YTD                                  0                      $0

Avg. Price/ton thru AUG 2007: $80.86 Avg. Price/ton thru AUG 2006:   $ n/a

Old Magazines (OMG)

                                                Tons                 Revenue

Current YTD                              .63                    $ 40.63

Prior YTD                                  N/A                   $          N/A

Avg. Price/ton thru AUG 2007: $    Avg. Price/ton thru AUG 2006:   $

 

TOTAL       ytd                   tons                       Revenue

                                                1345.73 $144,107.45     

Prior YTD                                  1200.35 $94,253.44

 

 

Public Recycling Drop-Off Bins:

A PUBLIC CARDBOARD RECYCLING BIN WAS ADDED AT HILLCREST SHOPPING CENTER.

THE PRAIRIE PARK ELEMENTARY NEWSPAPER RECYCLING BIN WAS BROUGHT IN.