Minutes_Environmental Stewardship Commission 9 1 09
MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ADVISORY COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
5:00 P.M.
CITY HALL ANNEX, 1300 MAIN, CONFERENCE ROOM # 1
Wayne Klostermann called the meeting to order at 5:06 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Wayne Klostermann, Ed Cawley, Chad Oberdoerster, Joe
Suarez
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Mike Buelow, Gayle Walter. One seat remains vacant
STAFF PRESENT:
Mary Rose Corrigan, Jon Brown, Don Vogt, Paul Schultz
Mary Rose Corrigan completed the Certification of Compliance with the Iowa Open
Meetings Law.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Chad Oberdoerster moved to accept the Minutes of the May 5, 2009 meeting. Joe
Suarez seconded the motion. No changes and the motion passed 4 – 0 by roll call vote.
TEST AGENDA:
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION:
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Committee Reports.
- Developers Roundtable (Mike Buelow) - No report.
- Stormwater/Erosion Control Committee – No report.
- Unified Development Code Citizen Advisory Committee(Wayne Klostermann) – There
will be an open house to review the UDC on Wednesday, September 2, 2009, for
reviewing sections 11 through 14.
Wayne asked a follow-up question to Don Vogt regarding the methane capture at the
landfill. Don Vogt explained the Landfill Agency Board is moving ahead with this.
Several capital projects had been put on hold in January due to the need for strategic
planning and also budget shortfalls. In October, a RFP will be issued or do a direct hire
to get the methane recovery project moving.
NEW BUSINESS.
1. Commission attendance.
Mary Rose Corrigan discussed attendance at the ESAC meetings and the number of
meetings which had been cancelled due to lack of quorum. Since August 2007, the
Commission has not had a quorum for sixteen out of twenty-five scheduled meetings.
After discussion, Joseph Suarez moved to look at those Commissioners who didn’t
attend regularly and assess their willingness to serve and reconfirm their commitment.
“Regularly” is defined by the By-laws as two-thirds of the meetings. Ed Cawley
seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously 4-0 by a roll call vote. Mary Rose
Corrigan will draft a letter for Wayne’s signature about attendance and willingness to
serve for current ESAC members. A document is also needed as to who calls in for
absences, so we can have a better tracking mechanism of why a quorum is not
reached. The City Clerk’s Office and Mary Rose will again recruit for Youth
membership.
ITEMS FROM STAFF:
1. Coyote Management.
Mary Rose outlined the process that City Council approved for coyote management in
the recent Urban Deer Management Plan. This year, incentives for hunters will include
reimbursement of the first deer tag at $27 and for each deer tag, thereafter, for every
coyote harvested in the City’s hunt. In the meantime, the Commission is to use this
year to study the coyote issue and make additional recommendations for Council
regarding coyote management in the city. Mary Rose will order reading material for the
Commission to prepare themselves on this topic. All Commissioners are encouraged to
gather other urban coyote management information.
2. Jon Brown reported that by the end of September, the new Water Pollution
Control Plant will have 60% of the design complete. The goal is to have an Energy Star
plant rating, along with credits for energy efficient buildings.
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC:
No one present to address the Commission.
CLARIFICATION OF TASKS:
Chad will work with Don Vogt and Paul Schultz on letter for City Council regarding the
variance for increasing the food scrap composting program at the landfill (follow-up item
from May 2009 meeting.) Mary Rose Corrigan will draft a letter for Wayne
Klostermann’s signature about ESAC attendance. Don Vogt will inform Commissioners
about Solid Waste Agency meetings dealing with methane recovery. Mary Rose will
order coyote resource materials. Commissioners will think about Commission’s role in
City sustainability.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Coyote management. City’s role in sustainability planning/process.
NEXT MEETING DATE:
October 6, 2009.
ADJOURNMENT:
Joe Suarez moved to adjourn the meeting. Chad Oberdoerster seconded the motion.
With a roll call vote, Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 6:15
p.m.
MRC/cj