Meeting Minutes 3/4/16

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Sustainabilty logo

10:00 – 11:00

Large Admin Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Mike Francisco, Theresa Hornstein, Glenn Merrick, Nathan Bronk, Deanne Roquet, Kristi Heintz, Mel Sease

General Members present:  Cliff Koski, Dave Israel, Heather Grillo, Jane Marynik, Aaron Ekstrom

Guest Present:

 

Announcements

NE Higher Ed gathering: with UMD intern, Hannah Smith, to discuss campus’ strategy to integrate climate, water, food systems, energy, and landscape topics: March 15th @ UMD Bagley Center from 9-11am.  Anyone interested is welcome to attend, Kristi plans to go, request more details from Kristi if you’re interested.

 

 

New Business

Kristi shared that Sustainable Twin Ports will be applying for a MN GreenCorps member.  As a past Early Adopter, STP would like to partner with LSC to run a waste-focused project through a trial run.  Kristi would supervise the GreenCorp member on behalf of STP, but the first few months of work will take place at LSC.  Kristi will be talking about the particulars of the project with Susie at WLSSD next week.  The Council unanimously supports the idea.  Kristi is requesting a letter of support/intent to partner with STP.  In his absence, Glenn was nominated to draft the letter.  Applications are due to MPCA by March 18th.

 

Earth Day at LSC will be Wednesday April 20th.  Up-to-date details can be found on the google doc.  This year’s theme will be focused on promoting our campus and city trails, Joanna Swanson with the SHT is our confirmed speaker at noon, Lenny Pepperbottom I sour unofficial mascot (cuz ‘a the way he is), and the tag line will be “LSC Trails: They’re Pretty Neat”.  Mel has confirmed most of our vendors, including MN Power, Eco3, Duluth Community Gardens, SHT, City of Duluth, Duluth Invaders, WLSSD, and Cut Loose Creations.  Kristi has not yet invited COGGS but will do next week.  This year’s new event will be a trails scavenger hunt with prizes for most “points” collected at the points of interest and neatest photo contest.  The Earth Day committee (Nate, Mike, Mel, Jane, Vince, Jane, and Kristi) will use different methods to promote the scavenger hunt the week prior to the 20th.  Heather will provide compostable trail mix, popcorn and lemonade and scavenger hunt prizes.  Additional details or ideas should be emailed to Kristi.

 

World Water Week is March 21-25.  Plans for the day include the annual water bottle chain and re-usable give-away.  Kristi will work on finding a water-focused documentary for the day and will share plans with Mindy at UMD to use for shared events publishing.

 

Old Business

Kristi, Al and Wade had their first conference call with NREL.  UMD put out a joint press release; it can be accessed from the LSC Sustainability blog post.  Kristi also submitted the press release to AASHE and the UMACS list serve.

 

The Council gave the LSC Sustainability logo one more look.  Kristi will finalize with Jean.

 

Aaron, Glenn and Kristi have been working on stormwater and landscape signs.  They met to edit content, Glenn and Aaron will review the revisions before they’re sent to Jean for layout on the template she designed.  Cliff agreed to ask John Calcaterra to again construct our cedar sign frames.

 

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

Kristi briefly discussed preliminary planning for the wildflower area in front of the S Building.  An open invite to all employees to provide feedback has been posted on the employee portal.  Kristi has also reached out to Paula at ERTC to obtain a permit to burn the H hillside if spring conditions permit it.  Kristi will doodle poll a landscape meeting to discuss spring seeding and planting needs.

 

Motions 

Compostable bags are needed to internal (on campus/office) food waste collection.  Mike motioned we buy bags, spending up to $50.  Theresa seconded.  Motion carried unopposed.

 

After meeting with a landscape planning committee, Kristi will purchase wildflower seed from Eden Brothers.  Deanne motioned to approve up to $500 of seed, discussion included the need to make the area’s color last longer into spring.  The planning group will take that into consideration when order.  Nate seconded the motion with discussion points.  Motion carried unopposed.

 

Budget

FY16 Budget: $8,400 

Encumbrances to date:

  • Boreal Natives (fall maintenance): -$348.68
  • Human Svs Dept (plastic bag removal-annual): -$280
  • AASHE travel (hotel for 2): -$601.58
  • AASHE registration for 2: -$575
  • Encumbered supplies (Dan’s, Shopko, Home Depot, Menards): -$700
  • Garden/Council supply shed: -$1000
  • AASHE dues: -$280
  • Food Service: <-$150

BALANCE as of today: $4,219.92

 

FY15-16 potential budget items

  • AASHE travel reimbursement
  • Educational signage
  • Ditch/swale/raingarden info signs
  • Additional bike rack for main entrance?
  • Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
  • Sustainability kiosk
  • MnSCU Sustainability Across Curriculum workshop

 

Meeting adjourned 10:15

Next Regular Meeting

April 1st, 2016

 

Notes submitted to SC blog and LSC Employee Portal>Committees by Kristi Heintz

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