Sustainability Council Meeting Minutes 5/17/2019

9:00 – 10:00

S-1913 Student Services Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Dave, Mike M., Mike F., Kevin, Jenna, Tim, Tammy, Randy, Deanne, Theresa, Nate, Kristi

General Members present:

Guests:

 

Announcements

MREA Energy Fair, Custer, WI, June 21-23

Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability (UMACS) annual conference is Sept 27-28 at Carleton College in Northfield. Call for presentation proposals ends April 5th.

2019 AASHE Conference “Co-Creating a Sustainable Economy” – October 27-30 in Spokane, WA

 

New Business

Mike M. gave an update on the Eco-Entrepreneurship program’s field site.  Welcome to the program’s CLA/Living Labs Coordinator/Field Site Manager, Kevin!  Deanne suggested a plan for a field site grand opening, Randy suggested fall might be a good time to plan for this.

 

Student Services reached out to Kristi (and Mike and Randy) to volunteer time for some team-building service sessions for both June 13 and 14, 10am-12 and 1-3pm.  A list of tasks was sent to Shannon, and they’ve decided to break out into teams to service:

  • Mulch pollinator garden
  • Planters soil and flower planting
  • Student Senate apple trees and fencing
  • Farm site: fence and terrace, transplanting, tomato trellising, pollinator hotels

 

The Council discussed options for fruit tree planting and associated fencing in the Student Senate Legacy Area, Randy and Kevin offered their cautionary insight and advice on this endeavor on poor, compacted, turf grass soil.  Their suggestion was to avoid land that hasn’t been conditioned.  Kristi offered maybe suggesting 6 trees be planted along the perimeter of the wildflower area, where soil has had some years to improve with perennial grass.  This location would also offer the benefit of no mow-around needed. The Council took a field trip to the Senate Legacy area to survey the area.  Kristi will follow-up with Kevin and Heather.

 

Plans are being finalized for the S-building entrance at the red railing.  A design for the greenspace has not yet been shared with the Sustainability Council, nor has feedback been solicited.  Construction may start mid-June.

 

On April 16, Kristi submitted the following goals to Al for inclusion in the FY20 Workplan:

 

  1. Develop proposal for north trail as pedestrian path
    • Desired Outcomes:
      1. consider appropriate surface for maximum usability,
      2. estimate total costs, development and ongoing maintenance (add: Dave suggests planning signs),
      3. account for the trail’s potential use as an access from lower main parking lots to Living Labs field site

 

  1. Articulate the role of “Living Labs” at LSC
    • Desired Outcomes:
      1. draft potential interdisciplinary collaboration/learning opportunities at new Farm Site (add: collaboration/consult with Student Senate)
      2. develop a forest management plan for Miller Creek corridor – identifying terrestrial invasive species threats and management goals
        1. align goals as potential course-related field experience, both through curriculum and Sustainability Distinction
  2. Update campus’ sustainability and energy goals
    • Desired Outcomes:
      1. align with state and system-wide sustainability goals, following Board of Trustees approval of new system sustainability policies,
      2. update LSC Sustainability webpages to reflect these new goals

 

Kristi put the notion of requesting a meeting with incoming President, Dr. Patricia Rogers, before fall semester start.  Kristi will call for a small working group together to outline a few of our goals to introduce Dr. Rogers to the Sustainability Council and Living Lab areas.

 

Kristi’s summer project will include LSC’s sustainability website content update.  Kristi will discuss pertinent pieces with interested SC members before publishing (in support of WP Goal 3).

 

Deanne brought Subaru’s Terracycle program for consideration.  She is going to ask if they would sponsor us as a satellite collection location.

 

Old Business

The Council debriefed this year’s Earth Day activities.  Aside from somewhat low attendance, the group agreed visibility might be better if tables or activities were extended into the Student Life area.  We may consider theme days with dedicated activities throughout the week.

 

Budget

FY 19 original budget: $8,450

Encumbrances to date:

  • Earth Day supplies: $300
  • Food Farm (carrots): $60
  • Cub Foods (Earth Day): $100
  • RSPT Annual Campus Dues: $330
  • Prairie Restorations (tansy treatment): $300
  • Menards: $200
  • ShelDon: $140.52
  • 4 Seasons Outdoor Svcs: $ 179
  • AASHE annual dues: $280
  • Printing: $22.22
  • Amazon (Hanging scale for Recyclemania): $49.95

Final FY purchases

  • Boreal Natives service contract (tansy treatment, spot weed/seed) -$1,000
  • Menards increase: -$400
  • Four Seasons (mulch and limestone): -$1000
  • Forestry Suppliers (3 rogue hoes): -$200
  • Dan’s Feedbin (flowers): -$500

Balance to-date: $3,445.74

 

Meeting adjourned, 10:00

 

Next Meetings

TBD

Minutes respectfully submitted by Kristi Heintz, 5/20/2019.  Posted to LSC Sustainability Council Blog and Employee Portal Committees page.

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