Minutes Env Stewardship 9 4 01MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ADVISORY COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 4, 2001
4:00 P.M.
CITY HALL ANNEX, 1300 MAIN, CONFERENCE ROOM # 1
Mike Buetow called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mike Buelow, John Bennett, Art Sunleaf, Leslee Spraggins,
Dave Czarnecki, William Niemann
MEMBERS ABSENT: Briana Tully
STAFF PRESENT:
Mary Rose Corrigan, Don Vogt
Mike Buelow completed the Certification of Compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Dave Czarnecki moved to approve the Minutes of the August 7, 2001 ESAC
meeting. John Bennett seconded the motion. There were no changes or additions
and the Minutes were approved as distributed.
TEST AGENDA:
Mike Buelow asked that two items be added to the agenda. The first one is under
Commission New Business and is on watershed issues. The second one is under
Staff Old Business regarding Unit-Based Pricing. With these changes, John
Bennett moved to accept the agenda. Leslee Spraggins seconded the motion.
Motion passed unanimously.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION:
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Radon.
Mary Rose Corrigan stated that Rich Russell of the Building Services
Department stated that the Building Code of Appeals meeting could be
scheduled whenever Jim Doolittle of the Iowa Radon Coalition can attend.
Mike Buelow will contact Muscatine to see if anyone from that city could
attend the meeting to give information about what Muscatine has done.
2. Energy.
Mary Rose Corrigan suggested that the Commission needs to develop a
plan for proceeding with a Rebuild Iowa grant application for the next
deadline (sometime in the Spring.) John Bennett asked about City Council
backing, and it was stated that would be necessary in order to make the
application. Mary Rose will draft a letter to the City Council regarding this
grant opportunity. The Commission will review the letter and comment prior
to sending on to Council. John Bennett stated that he hoped it would be
possible to have the initial support from other groups by December 2001.
Different groups and agency possibilities were mentioned and discussed
briefly. Mike Buelow asked John if he would be interested in meeting with
Bob White of the Dubuque Community Schools to get his inpuL John was
willing to meet with him. Mike stated he would contact Bob White. John also
stated that he thinks the focus should be on the City, homebuilders, and
homebuyers. Mike Buelow stated that architects and engineers need to also
address geothermal possibilities when designing projects. Bill Niemann
asked if the grant application is limited to geothermal. It was stated that this
is a starting point. Leslee stated that it's more feasible than solar or wind for
this part of the state.
Mary Rose stated that a timeline needs to be developed, and asked that
Commissioners bring their thoughts and ideas for the grant application
process to the next Commission meeting in October.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Watershed Issues.
Leslee stated that she had attended the American Rivers workshop. At the
workshop, it was stated that storm water management is of high pdodty. She
asked if this subject is anything that the Commission might want to study.
She believes that it would be good for the Commission to be involved in the
process of any planning for storm water management.
Mike Buelow suggested that the Commission write a letter to the City
Council. Leslee Spraggins moved that the Commission send a letter asking
to be part of any storm water management planning process to the City
Council. John Bennett seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
ITEMS FROM STAFF:
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Deer.
Mary Rose Corrigan stated that she has the Library Auditorium reserved for
the public meeting on sharpshooting on October 10, 2001 from 6:00 - 8:00
P.M. The Administrative Assistant to the City Manager from Iowa City can
attend on that date. She would be able to answer questions and give an
overview of Iowa City's experience with sharpshooting.
Mary Rose stated that the Commission needs to develop the format for the
meeting. It was decided that John Bennett will give a brief introduction about
Dubuque's deer management plan to begin the meeting; then the
Administrative Assistant to the City Manager from Iowa City will give her
short presentation; and then the floor will be open for comments and/or
questions (with a time limit.) Leslee suggested that John's presentation
should address where the present program is, what has happened since the
program was developed, and what the Commission feels the goals are. It
was felt that the goals should state: 1) goal of 20 deer per square mile; 2) a
graph of the population trend; and 3) state that it is not the intent of the
Commission to do away with bow hunting. Mary Rose stated that she would
invite Jim Jansen, Wildlife Biologist from the Department of Natural
Resources, but she did not think he would attend.
2. Unit-based Pricing.
Paul Schultz was not present, but requested a date to be set for the public
meeting on "Pay as You Throw." Mary Rose will check to see when the
Library Auditorium is available in October. The meeting has been scheduled
for October 16, 2001 at 7:0{) P.M. at the Library Auditorium.
Don Vogt gave a brief overview of unit-based pricing and why the City is
mandated to implement it. The purpose of the public meeting will be to
inform the public of options, fee structures, and possible containers.
Mike Buelow asked Don to address the composting issue. Don stated that in
1988, law that yard waste could not be buried in landfill went into effect. It
took awhile for the public to buy into the program, but after about a year, the
program was working well and the product was in demand.
New Mellery Abbey made an offer to work with the City and take the final
composting product for their organic gardening. The program was working
well until this spring when the federal govemmant changed the rules to
prevent usage of urban yard waste composting product for organic
gardening because of the possibility of chemicals in the compost. This
change in the law prevents New Mellery from partnering with the City
anymore.
This does not leave many options for the Solid Waste Agency. A general
discussion about testing, fertilizer usage, future drain on the landfill, and
possible markets took place.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mary Rose Corrigan encouraged Commissioners to attend the workshop to
update the County's Land Use Development Plan. She passed out
information about the agenda and dates of the workshops.
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC:
There was no one present to address the Commission.
CLARIFICATION OF TASKS:
Mary Rose will finalize the agenda for the sharpshooting Public Forum.
Commissioners should bring thoughts about the Rebuild Iowa grant application to
the next meeting. Mike Buelow will contact Bob White, Dubuque Community
Schools, about meeting with John Bennett. Mary Rose will schedule Library
Auditorium for the Unit-based Pricing public meeting. Mary Rose will draft letters to
the City Council asking for support for the Rebuild Iowa grant application and
regarding the Commission being included in and planning process for storm water
management.
NEXT MEETING DATE:
October 2, 2001.
FUTURE AGENDA ~EMS:
Energy, deer, radon, and the Rebuild Iowa grant.
ADJOURNMENT:
John Bennett moved to adjourn the meeting. Art Sunleaf seconded the motion.
passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 4:55 P.M.
Motion
MRC/cj