Minutes Environ. Steward. Adv. C. 9 5 06
MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ADVISORY COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 5, 2006
4:00 P.M.
CITY HALL ANNEX, 1300 MAIN, CONFERENCE ROOM # 1
Mike Buelow called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Buelow, Joseph Suarez, Sister Mary Clare O'Toole,
John Nemmers, Wayne Klostermann
MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT:
Mary Rose Corrigan, Jon Brown, Don Vogt
Mary Rose Corrigan completed the Certification of Compliance with the Iowa Open
Meetings Law.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Joseph Suarez moved to approve the Minutes of the June 6, 2006 meeting. Sister
Mary Clare O'Toole seconded the motion. There was no discussion and the motion
passed unanimously.
TEST AGENDA:
Wayne Klostermann moved to accept the revised agenda as distributed. John
Nemmers seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION:
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Goal setting.
Mary Rose Corrigan reported that the City Council received and filed the
communication from Michael Buelow and the ESAC on their goal setting session and
referred it to the City Manager. Mary Rose stated that the City Manager and various
staff members met to discuss the results of the ESAC goal setting. The City Manager
is in concurrence with the recommendations and would like representative names that
will be serving on some of the various committees/projects to be submitted to the City
Council in his recommendation for implementation. As discussed earlier, Mike Buelow
volunteered to be the representative to the Developer's Roundtable. Wayne
Klostermann had responded to the Planning Services Department memo and agreed to
be part of the Unified Development Code Citizen Advisory Committee. Sister Mary
Clare O'Toole agreed to be part of the Stormwater/Erosion Control Committee. All
Commissioners concurred with those recommendations and further agreed that John
Nemmers would be a representative to the Bluffland Advisory Committee, which is part
of the Unified Development Code Committee.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Kyoto Protocol Adoption.
Mary Rose stated that at a recent City Council meeting, Council Member Karla Braig
expressed interest in the City reviewing the Kyoto Protocol and acting on it as other
cities have been doing, even though the United States has not adopted or ratified the
Protocol. Joseph Suarez had done some research and indicated that 116 countries
have ratified the Protocol, but not necessarily implemented the specifics. He could not
find a source for how many local communities/governments had ratified the Kyoto
Protocol. John Nemmers also expressed an interest in what other cities were doing
with this. The Commission also discussed the obligations under adopting a policy
document such as the Kyoto Protocol and the monitoring and tracking that would be
involved. The Commissioners are not sure what the Kyoto Protocol would do for
Dubuque, Iowa. It may be beyond a local community's abilities. However, it could be
endorsed in principle. Joseph Suarez added that there may be elements of the
Protocol, I.e., green policies that could be doable and beneficial for the city. John
Nemmers stated that the Commission would still be in support of the efficiencies and
some of the concepts. Mike Buelow asked if Mary Rose could find out how many and
what other cities have endorsed this. Don Vogt offered the assistance of Paul Schultz
who is well-versed in the topic. Mike Buelow moved to receive and file the
communication from City Council. Claire Miller seconded the motion. Motion passed
unanimously.
2. Communication from Long-Range Planning Advisory Commission Regarding
Youth Membership on the ESAC.
Dave Johnson, Planning Services Department, stated that City Council Member Pat
Cline had brought this up at the Long-Range Planning Advisory Committee and thought
it was a good idea to have more youth representation on the ESAC since they are the
ones to inherit the environment. Pat Cline specifically thought a representative from
each high school would be beneficial. John Nemmers and Claire Miller expressed that
they did not see the need for one student from each high school, but possibly,
increasing the number of youth representatives. John Nemmers also asked the
question if other Commissions had youth representation, since their actions also would
be inherited by the youth. Mary Rose stated that there was no such Commission.
Wayne Klostermann moved to change the Ordinance in concurrence with Charles
Winterwood's/Long-Planning Advisory Commission's memo, but to include a total of
three (or two additional) youth with an attempt to recruit from all four high schools. John
Nemmers seconded the motion passed unanimously.
3. Environmental Quality Element.
Dave Johnson, Planning Services Department, reviewed the process for seeking input
on the Long-Range Plan, particularly the environmental quality element. The Long-
Range Plan is a policy guide adopted by the City Council for staff and Council's
direction on decision making, goal setting, etc. There were not specific comments from
the ESAC other than their wish to thank the Planning staff for a job well done. Dave
reminded the Commission that comments may be received at the meeting on
September 20, 2006.
Jon Brown informed the Commission that the City had received a notice of violation
from DNR Region 1 for a violation at the Water Pollution Control Plant. Jon will be
responding to this violation to Michael Van Milligen and will copy Mary Rose Corrigan
for distribution to the Commission so that they can be informed in case they get
questions from citizens. The violation was due to a large rainfall and infiltration of a
large amount of extra water into the plant.
ITEMS FROM STAFF:
OLD BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC:
No one present to address the Commission.
CLARIFICATION OF TASKS:
John Nemmers will communicate with Mary Rose on whether September 18 or 20 will
work for a special meeting for reviewing the Erosion Control Ordinance with
Engineering. Mary Rose Corrigan will prepare a letter for Mike Buelow's signature to
City Council regarding the youth representative.
NEXT MEETING DATE:
Special meeting date to be announced.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Reports on Commission member committee activities. John Nemmers' Mines of Spain
presentation.
ADJOURNMENT:
Sister Mary Clare O'Toole moved to adjourn the meeting. Claire Miller seconded the
motion. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
MRC/cj