Sustainability at Lake Superior College

Meeting Minutes 10/3/2014

10:00 – 11:45
Student Life Conference Room

Attendance
Governing Council Members present: Deanne Roquet, Kristi Heintz, Theresa Hornstein,
General Members present: Glenn Merrick, Jane Marynik, Melanie Kelson
Guest Present:

Announcements

Annual Minnesota Waste Wise meeting/Chamber of Commerce Business Conference will be held next Wednesday, October 8th at the Hilton Minneapolis. Attendance is $55 per person.
Fall open house is November 7th. We’ll have a table.
Duluth Solar tour and open house is October 4th, sponsored by Arrowhead Interfaith Power & Light, CERTS, Ecolibrium3, Sierra Club, and UMD Sustainability.
The Sustainability Council has 8 low energy heated footrests available from the Sustainability Council. Kristi asked Mat to put an announcement next week’s Newsplash.
Lake Superior Binational Forum’s Open Public Meeting is November 14, 2014 12:30-5:00, at Legendary Waters Resort and Casino in Red Cliff, WI. Complete agenda will be published on the Forum’s website by mid-October. Contact Kristi for more information.

New Business
AASHE annual membership dues are up and due November 1st. There was no quorum at today’s meeting, so Kristi will send an email vote request to pay the $280 dues. Deanne motioned to pay dues, Glenn secondedd.

At last meeting, the Council discussed including campus sustainability in the Integrated Planning documents. Kristi and Glenn will work on this document next week and email for Council review. It’s due to Mark M. by October 15th.

Ongoing Business
It’s time for Wildflower winterization in front of the S-building. The Council discussed best practice for doing this. It was agreed that the area should be mowed and bagged, black dirt and compost added, then cover with dried mowed material. Kristi will talk to maintenance about spreading black dirt for us.

Old Business
At last meeting, Kristi brought discussion to the group regarding metrics fatigue and the nature of multiple reporting formats and conflicting information. The Council discussed the value of the ACUPCC as a resource. After discussion and feedback from Al, the Council decided the best course of action would be to submit a recommendation to the Cabinet to un-file from the ACUPCC. Kristi drafted a recommendation to the President’s Cabinet, and the draft was reviewed at today’s meeting. Kristi will include those elements discussed, and email the draft to the Council for final review.

The Miller Greek Interpretive Trail re-opening ceremony received some great coverage. You can find the press release and news coverage on the Sustainability Council blog page.

Midwest Renewable Energy Association (Custer, WI) ran a Power Pack Program solar education hour called Power Hour at LSC on September 18th. It focused on residential PV evaluations. MREA approved installers discussed financing options and Minnesota Power discussed grant process. Attendance was good, with about 25 people. MREA hopes to hold another event in early winter.

Work Group and Student Employee Reports
Policy and Procedure: employee reminders, education, and training needs (printing, recycling, supplies, computers, small appliance)
*Carol, Kristi, Mel
No updates.

Master Facilities Plan
*Dick, Cliff, Glenn, Kristi, Theresa
No updates.
Sustainability Reporting/Benchmarking: GGI, ACUPCC, MnSCU Sustainability Reporting, Superior Compact, B3, publicizing info
*Kristi, Aaron, Deanne, Bruce
No updates.
Sustainability Kiosk: energy dashboard/demo, sustainability signage
*Duane, Rachel, Student Senate Rep
No updates.
Landscape Planning: annual flower planting, rainwater harvesting, no-mow areas, rooftop gardening
Theresa, Mike, Aaron, Kristi, Jane, maintenance rep
No updates.
Sustainability in Curriculum
*Theresa, Duane, Aaron, Kristi, Deanne, Glenn
No updates.
Other SE Updates
-update from Mel on composting project and Jane on landscape

Budget
FY1 Budget: $8,500
Encumbrances to date:
MN Waste Wise membership 2014-2015: -$150
Boreal Natives-Swale/Ditch project: -$5,735
Airpark Disability Services (plastic bag recycling): $-208
Dan’s Feedbin: -$200
Menards: -$200
BALANCE as of today: $2007.00

FY15 potential budget items
• Earth day costs
• Concourse lighting signage
• Ditch/swale info signs
• Additional bike rack for main entrance
• Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
• Parking lot/rain garden info signs
• Sustainability kiosk
• MnSCU Sustainability Across Curriculum workshop host costs

Motions
Motion to pay AASHE dues: Deanne, Glenn seconded

Next meeting
November 7th, 2014, 10:00 am, Student Life Conference Room

Notes submitted by Kristi Heintz

Meeting notes are also posted to LSC Employee Portal > Committees