Minutes_Resilient Community Advisory Commission 3.3.22Copyrighted
March 21, 2022
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 1.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council proceedings of 3/2, 3/3, and 3/7; Historic Preservation
Commission of 2/17; Library Board of Trustees Update of 2/24; Parks
and Recreation of 2/22; Resiliency Community Advisory Commission of
3/3; Zoning Advisory Commission of 3/2; Proof of publication for City
Council Proceedings of 2/21; Proof of publication for List of Claims and
Summary of Revenues for Month Ended January 31, 2022.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
City Council Proceedings of 3/2/22 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 3/3/22
City Council Proceedings of 3/7/22
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes of 2/17/22
Library Board of Trustees Update of 2/24/22
Parks and Recreation Minutes of 2/22/22
Resiliency Community Advisory Commission Minutes
of 3/3/22
Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes of 3/2/22
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of
2/21/22
Proof of Publication for List of Claims / Summary of
Revenues for Month Ended 1/31/22
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
City of Dubuque
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
GOVERNMENTAL BODY: Resilient Community Advisory Commission (RCAC)
DATE: March 3, 2022
TIME: 5:00 pm
LOCATION: Jule Operations and Training Center (JOTC) Circle Conference Room, 949 Kerper Blvd.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Dean Boles, Josh Chamberland, Katharine Connolly, Robin Kennicker, Jake Kohlhaas, Craig Reber,
Whitney Sanger
MEMBERS ABSENT: Adam Hoffman, Lalith Jayawickrama
STAFF PRESENT: Gina Bell
Chair Kohlhaas called the meeting to order at 5:02 pm.
TEST AGENDA
MINUTES APPROVAL: Commissioner Boles motions to approve minutes from February 3, 2022. Commissioner Reber
seconds. Motion carries.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Jake Jansen introduced himself. He is the new Public Works Resource Management Supervisor. He
shared his priorities for his new position: reduce waste, support sanitation crews and work with the community.
NEW BUSINESS:
a) Budget Recommendations & discussion — Commissioners received a list of improvement packages, with
highlighted items that meet Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals and resiliency goals. Chair Kohlhaas asked which, if any
the commission would like to support. Discussion occurred related to which items were recommended and which
were not. Complete Streets budget request did not receive the City Manager's recommendation despite being listed
in both the CAP and the Imagine Dubuque Plan. For clarification, Public Works (PW) Director, John Klostermann,
offered that the current complete streets policy is used only for new construction projects and the policy is not
considered for what PW is responsible because they are tasked with maintaining what is already in place. Complete
Streets mostly falls to the Engineering department. Timeline for budget input happens throughout March with the
final budget hearing on March 29, 2022.
Commissioner Kennicker motioned to write a letter advising City Council to support the CAP Coordinator position, the
winter farmers market and Teen Resiliency Corps. Reber seconds. Motion carried.
Chair Kohlhaas reminded the Commission of last month's commitment to also write a letter of support of the PW
Waste consultant item in the budget.
Commissioner Chamberland will draft the letter and send to the Chair for submission to City Council.
b) Sustainable Dubuque Sub -Committee — Staff member Bell explained for newest commissioners the process for
Sustainable Dubuque grants and asked for sub -committee members to review grant scores ahead of next meeting.
Commissioners Sanger, Reber and Kennicker will serve on the subcommittee. Additional discussion included a
request that more grantees come to a commission meeting to discuss their projects and/or a request to revisit the
"buddy" system for grantees or a quad chart with numbers and pictures as a final report. Commissioner Chamberland
motioned to keep grant as is for this cycle and revisit the discussion at a future meeting. Commissioner Kennicker
seconded. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
a) Paul Schultz — Automated Trash Collection and Mandatory Carts presentation. Mr. Schultz shared written
remarks to the commission (attached) which he also read and then took questions. Questions were varied and not all
directly addressed Mr. Schultz's statements but were recycling questions in general. Overall, the commission agrees
they want to see recycling numbers and education efforts increase. Mr. Schultz offered that $3/household should be
dedicated to waste minimization education efforts.
Commissioner Chamberland asked for the exact ask from Mr. Schultz. The response was "to delay the mandatory
carts and ASL (auto side loader) collection until the new Resource Management Supervisor can gather data and work
on other solutions".
Ongoing discussion included the mandatory carts and how an exemption policy would work.
b) Public Works Department — Budget Request follow up, PW Director John Klostermann offered that now is the
time to invest in automated collection. The trend has moved toward ASL collection and Dubuque is behind the curve.
The proposal is to provide everyone a uniform, wheeled, trash can, offered in different sizes. They have a lid and
replace residents using their own trash cans/setting bags out. Why is this important? To improve efficiency, safety,
atheistic; plan for future collection growth without adding staff. This is fully funded through ARPA and comes with no
base fee increase. The discount for service for low -to -moderate households remain. Mr. Klostermann additionally
offered an example of PW's reinvestment in their snow removal equipment which has lowered salt usage while
adding lane miles. He also cautioned that mandatory carts/automated service are distinct from recycling. Cart size
doesn't impact recycling. The City just offers the convenience of curb side recycling pick up. All of this convenience is
a part of the base rate. None of these are stand alone.
Questions from the commission followed.
Commissioner Chamberland asked for clarification on how ASL collection accommodates terrain/or other exceptions?
PW: Wants everyone to try out the roller carts and if an exception is needed, it will be addressed. Following up,
Commissioner Chamberland asked if the exemption policy has been drafted and if not, would PW be willing to draft
before the Commission makes their decision? PW: No, everyone needs to try it first and if it doesn't work,
exemptions will be addressed. Commissioner Chamberland also asked what will happen to current trash cans people
use? PW: People can keep for other use, or it will go to the landfill or be recycled if possible.
Additional discussion revisited the mandatory nature of the request and how it relates to diversion. There is no data
to support connection to diversion or otherwise. PW has just hired the resource management supervisor who will
focus some time on this and work with the consultant engineer to work on diversion.
Chair Kohlhaas asked related to data on increasing efficiency/idling and route times with automated service. PW
believed it would create efficiencies but offered no data. He also inquired if PW had been able to review and respond
to Mr. Schultz's comments. PW: They, too, just received his comments tonight at the meeting. But they are familiar
with the FOTH study and know our recycling rates are going in the wrong direction. They continue to explore
potential federal funding to help improve these rates.
Commissioner Kennicker asked who will pay for maintenance and future carts? PW: This is what the base rate covers.
Commissioner Kohlhaas: Is it accurate that PW generates $1M for general fund? PW: There are recharges from CMO
to support services (such as our billing dept.) which is how all city utilities work (water, wastewater, etc.) Addressing
concerns about the funding source, PW offered if they are not used now, they likely will get reallocated.
Commissioner Kohlhaas asked commission to make a decision regarding PW budget support request and reminding
commissioners that they have already approved writing a letter of support for the consultant.
Each commissioner shared their thoughts:
Kennicker: wants to wait to try to increase recycling; right size prices and try to minimize waste. The consultant
should come first, and she doesn't like mandatory carts. Two people have complained about having to get the cart.
Concerns with poverty issues related to rate. (Rates will not increase in FY23)
Boles: supportive, likes efficiency, thinking about resiliency — need to separate trash issue and recycling issue.
Proposes that citizens that reject the mandatory nature can speak directly to CC.
Chamberland: concerns about navigating carts for stairs and hills; wants the exemption policy laid out beforehand.
Reber: Wait another year. Needs more public information. Worried about mandatory. Not in favor of this.
Sanger: Sees opportunity to educate, to reach families and encourage recycling with this free, positive interaction
with PW. As rental unit owner - people don't want to buy their own carts - so this is helpful! Family sizes make
different amounts of trash / need different bins. But more education is needed overall.
Connolly: agrees with increasing education. Need more recycling education. Understands both sides.
Kohlhaas: undecided, doesn't feel strongly enough in favor to write a letter of recommendation. Would like to wait,
wants to move to ASL collection; wanted to hear more about fuel efficiency; wants public communication and
process evaluation which still have not been addressed. Supportive of waiting.
Kohlhaas suggested a letter stating we are in favor of auto -collection and updates to the system but don't
recommend this line item because path to zero waste (PTZW) issues and lacks public input.
Boles asks for clarification on the connection between auto -collection and path to zero waste.
Kohlhaas clarifies that there is no data on if bin size matters. We have seen price structures that can be altered that
would help PTZW. Sanger reminds commission that we are not looking at fee structure, just the carts and that
everyone will be issued the smallest (35 gallon) cart unless requested otherwise.
Sanger motions recommending carts. Boles seconds. Discussion: Concern that this is using maintenance funds for a
new initiative. Motion fails, 2:5.
Kohlhaas motions to send City Council an advisory letter clarifying the RCAC is in full support of auto collection but
concerned with public input and education and a review of existing systems and asks that an analysis of systems and
improvements be made. Kennicker seconds. Discussion: Can we hold ARPA funds? (no, specifics but there is a
timeline on how quickly they need to be spent.) Chamberland amends motion to include recommendation that ARPA
funds be reserved for use after more information can be obtained.
Reber seconds amended motion. Motion carried 5:2.
HOW DID I SHOW UP? COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
Sanger: Project Rooted - needs volunteers 3rd Wednesday each month at Steeple Square from 10 am - 4 pm
Boles: CDAC - did not meet last month
Kennicker: Leisure Services - reviewing CIPs; pesticide free parks discussions, dog waste discussions.
Chamberland: Dubuque colleges sustainability coalition - met several times; talking about CAPS for schools; creating a
hub for resources and sustainability best practices case studies
NEXT MEETING: The next commission meeting will occur on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 5 pm at the Jule Operations and
Training Center (JOTC) in the Circle Conference Room, 949 Kerper Blvd.
ADJOURNMENT: The Commission adjourned at 7:07 pm.
Minutes approved by:
Prepared by:
Attachment —Presentation by Paul Schultz
Jacob Kohlhaas, Commission Chair
Gina Bell, Sustainable Community Coordinator