Sustainability at Lake Superior College

Meeting Minutes 9/6/2013

9:00-10:30

Location: Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Council Members present: Aaron McIntire, Kristi Heintz, Mike Francisco, Carol Johnson

General Members present:  Dick Haney, Glenn Merrick,

Guest Present: Al Finlayson, Rachel Peterson, Duane Timo

Announcements

Sustainable Twin Ports Public Showcase is October 3^rd at Spirit Mountain Grand Avenue Chalet at 4:30.  Greg Benson, CEO and co-founder of Loll Designs will be the keynote speaker and Greg Tiburzi will provide music. 

Healthy Duluth Area Coalition’s: City-wide bike/ped count is September 11^th and they’re looking for volunteer counters for two-hour counting shifts.  Contact Kristi or Dick for more information.

This year’s UMACS conference is November 8-9 in Decorah, Iowa: The Sustainability Council will have a poster presentation related to the Sustainable Twin Ports project. 

No smoking signs have been posted at the trail’s secondary entrance, where smoking has typically be a big problem.  Student employees will continue monitor the trash and cigarette butt situation.

Student Employee & Work Group Reports

Garden Club:  Aaron reported that the vegetable garden is doing well and some vegetables have been harvested.  Some were used to garner interest for the Club at the Welcome Week table.  Kristi added that the structure of the garden was a huge undertaking and the Club did a great job at persisting through the many hurdles they encountered.  Kristi also commended Aaron on his summer watering responsibility at the S and E building entrances.  The Council will discuss its role in these landscaping projects in work groups.

Interpretive Trail Maintenance:  Glenn reported that our trails student employee, Steve, started trail clearing work Thursday.  He’ll also work on creating some tread way over a couple of seeps at the west end of the trail.  Al mentioned the need to clarify the signage for the secondary “blue” trail the circles the campus.  Hiking signs were installed, but Steve will re-evaluate the effectiveness of the signs in late fall.  This should also be mapped, perhaps another project for Civil Tech.  Cliff’s survey class will be shooting points on the course next week to update the map.  Dick also mentioned the idea of linking to the Superior Hiking Trail.  This would be a good focus group project.  Kristi proposed a trail re-grand opening once the new trail head sign is installed, possibly in late fall.  Glenn and Carol suggested a Student Success Day walk, and make sure the handbook includes information about the trail.  Safety concerns were discussed.  Al will talk with Wade to see if we have any options available to us.

Water aerators from CERTS:  The Council purchased aerators from Niagra Conservation.  Student Employees will install these this fall and keep track of the amount of water saved.  We’ll crunch some numbers and publicize potential savings (estimated to be $100 per faucet per year).  Mike suggested signs near bathroom faucets or mirror clings.  Al suggested promotion at the sustainability kiosk.

Sustainability Kiosk:  Al reiterated his sustainability kiosk idea.  Kristi has some design ideas for a hallway location outside student life.  This will be discussed more in a focus group.

New Business

The Council briefly discussed updates to the SC Committee Structure.  Kristi will look into policy for campus committee chair position.  Discussion tabled until next meeting.  The group also approved changing the occurrence of full Council meetings to once per month with focus groups meeting throughout the month and reporting back to the full Council monthly.  Full Council will meet the first Friday of each month at 9:00 am.

The Sustainability Council reviewed Jean’s poster design for the Sustainable Twin Ports Public Showcase.  It looks great.  Kristi will forward the design to STP for printing.

Sustainability Council’s goals and roles for the year: Many ideas generated today’s meeting will fit into focus groups, outlined below.  Kristi will email the list of focus groups to SC members.  Please sign up for at least one group when you receive the email, and indicate your willingness to organize meeting times.

SC Focus Groups

1. Policy and Procedure: employee reminders (printing, recycling, supplies, computer shut-off, small appliances), student reminders

2. Master Facilities Plan: landscape planning, trails, stormwater, campus green space

3. Sustainability Reporting: Greenhouse Gas Inventory, ACUPCC bi-annual reporting, MnSCU Sustainability Reporting, publicizing results

4. Sustainability Kiosk: energy dashboard/alternative energies demonstration, sustainability signage, seating

5. Grounds Maintenance/Campus Appeal: annual flower planting/seeding, rainwater harvesting system, no-mow area, rooftop gardens

6. Sustainability in Curriculum

AQIP/STP Progress Report: Is due to Kent by September 23^rd.  Kristi will work on the report and send it around for review.

Ongoing Business

Old Business

Budget 

FY14 Budget: $9,000  

MN Waste Wise membership 2013-2014: -$150

Open PO for Menards (landscaping supplies: azalea mulch, planter flowers): -$200

FY14 potential budget items

·         Concourse lighting signage

·         Bottle filling station for ERTC (did this happen in FY13?)

·         Additional bike rack for main entrance

·         Outdoor recycling cans

·         Interpretive Trailhead sign

·         Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans

·         Parking lot info signs

·         Legacy: fencing for edible exclosures

·         Sustainability kiosk

·         Rain water collection system

Next meeting

October 4, 2013, 9:00 am, Student Life Conference Room

Notes submitted by Kristi Heintz

Meeting Minutes 5/3/2013

8:30-10:30

Location: Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Council Members present: Aaron McIntire, Deanne Roquet, Kristi Heintz, Theresa Hornstein,

General Members present:  Dick Haney

Guest Present:

Announcements

Healthy Duluth Area Coalition’s: Active Transportation Week starts May 13^th with National Bike to Work Day, May 17^th.  Check the website for more information.

This year’s UMACS conference is November 8-9 in Decorah, Iowa: The Sustainability Coucil will submit an abstract for poster presentation related to the Sustainable Twin Ports project.  The Council spent some time on wording, Theresa will work more on it.  Abstract is due May 30^th.

NE MN Energy Future Forum with Sierra Club, with keynote Will Steger is May 14^th 7:00-9:00 in the LSC Commons.  Kristi handed out fliers for the event.

Campus Clean-up is May 9^th from 10:00-2:00.  Heather will have supplies available at the East Entrance for volunteers.  SC Student Employees will help organize the groups.  Student volunteers will receive a free water bottle for helping.  Kristi will contact Adopt-A-Parking lot volunteers to help that day as well.

Open House table is May 10^th 3:00-6:00.  Staffers welcome.

Student Employee & Work Group Reports

Student Senate Legacy Project:  Theresa and Kristi met with Michelle and Zak last week about their plans for this year’s Legacy Garden installation.  Theresa offered some very valuable advice, and Senate agreed the Council’s role going forward could be advisory with some help in securing plants with fencing and also helping them with plant signage.

Garden Club Aaron reported that the Garden Club plans are thriving in the Environmental Science Lab and also the Atrium.  He discussed the supplies the group needs to get the north garden functioning and useful as a demonstration of different types of raised beds.  Supplies needed include planting soil, fencing, straw bales, and posts.  Al has show interest in straw bale gardening and Aaron would like to demonstrate a hugal bed.  The Council agreed to provide structural supplies to the group.  Deanne motioned to open a $1,000 purchase order for Dan’s Feed Bin for supplies, Dick seconded the motion.

New Business

Water aerators from CERTS:  CERTS is offering a 75% discount on water aerators.  Maintenance suggested we purchase 100.  Kristi proposed we purchase 70 0.5 GPM aerators and 30 1.0 GPM aerators.  Total for aerators would be $62 with a potential savings of $100 per faucet per year.  Deanne motioned to purchase 100 aerators, Theresa seconded.

SS’s Pilot Green Fee project:  Kristi and Aaron met with Chris Ringsred and Zak Radzak this week.  Chris is offering an Alternative Energies course in the fall and will be using some technologies to test the usage of some campus utilities.  This is something Al is very interested in looking into.  The Senate could use their $6,000 exploratory fund to help make the information that Chris finds public, possibly with an energy dashboard system.  Many other energy saving ideas were discussed that could be great spinoff projects for following years.

LSC is a Smoke Free Ecosystem  Kristi had some signs printed and laminated to hang on the interpretive trail and “pseudo-entrance” reminding students that LSC is smoke free, and asking people to pack their cigarette butts out.

Ongoing Business

Sustainable Twin Ports presentation to staff: Kristi shared the Prezi she and Al presented to staff at Duty Day last week.  There was some great feedback and discussion following the presentation.  Everyone was supportive of water aerators as a “quick win” project.  Others even brought up the use of individual mini-fridges and space heaters.  Paper towel use was a bit of a touchy subject.

Old Business

Budget 

FY13 Budget: $9,000  

Balance as of 5/2/2013: $5,132.45

Ideas generated for remaining purchases (additional items added from last meeting’s list):

·         Water faucet aerators: 70 0.5GPM @$35 + 30 @ 1.0 GPM @$15 + $12 shp=$62

·         Concourse lighting signage

·         Bottle filling station for ERTC

·         Additional bike rack for main entrance

·         Outdoor recycling cans

·         Interpretive Trailhead sign-next FY

·         Interpretive Trailhead entrance stabilization project: landscape timber 3×4”x8’ @ $2.99 eachx17=$50.83 and limestone$150 = $200

·         Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans-next FY

ü  Silver Bay “field trip” for EC

·         Parking lot info signs

·         Garden: raised bed demo supplies: soil $180 + 150’ fencing $150 + 4 4×4”x8” corner posts $80 is $180 = $550

·         Legacy: fencing for edible exclosures-next FY

·         Sustainability kiosk-next FY

After much discussion, the Interpretive Trailhead entrance stabilization project was a priority purchase.  Dick motioned to spend $200 on supplies, Theresa seconded the motion. 

Water bottle filling stations, outdoor recycling receptacles and a water bottle filling station for ERTC were also mentioned as priorities.  Deanne will forward 2 options for outdoor bins to Gary.  Kristi will talk to Wade about the possibility of water fountains.

Next meeting

TBD

Notes submitted by Kristi Heintz

Meeting Minutes 3/29/2013

8:30-10:30

Location: Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Council Members present: Aaron McIntire, Deanne Roquet, Kristi Heintz, Mike Francisco, Theresa Hornstein,

General Members present:  Glenn Merrick, Jeri Schwerin, Sarah Newport,  Wade Gordon

Guest Present:

Announcements

“Shades of Africa” music festival is April 2-6 at Weber Hall.

Isaak Walton League State Convention and Annual Meeting is April 26-28 at Spirit Mountain

Student Employee & Work Group Reports

Student Senate Update: Sarah reported that Neldon will take over the SS Liaison duties.

New Business

Deanne began a discussion to change the Environmental Council’s name to the Sustainability Council.  Discussion followed this suggestion and the Council agreed this would be a good move to clarify the Council’s role NOT as a regulatory group (as in “Environmental Health & Safety”). Wade will forward this proposal to Pat.  With this suggestions, the newly named Sustainability Council decided it would be appropriate to update the responsibilities of the group, so there isn’t confusion as to what talks the groups is working on versus regulatory concerns that the campus faces.

Glenn has organized a tour of the Silver Bay Eco Industrial Park for Friday April 19^th.  The bus will leave at 8:30 and will return to LSC at about 1:30.  A sign-up sheet is in Kristi’s office cube.

Ongoing Business

Earth Day planning:

Heather joined us today to continue discussions for Earth Day at LSC.  It will be April 23^rd and 24^th. 

• Community and student tables, as usual in the East Concourse (23^rd)
• A “picnic” lunch will be prepared by the LSC Café.  Bruce is fairly certain that we will have Thousand Hills hot dogs, and it may be a reduced price lunch.  The group thought a lunch on Wednesday would be nice, following parking lot clean-up.  We could possibly offer free lunch to those that help with the clean-up.  Heather also suggested other give-aways for clean-up participants.  Kristi will talk with Bruce about moving lunch to Wednesday.
• Presentations: Sarah and Neldon (23^rd)
• Mural painting in the Atrium (23^rd)
• Photo booth (23^rd)
• Campus Clean-Up, including adopt-a-parking lot groups at 10:00, 11:00, and noon (24^th)
• Give-aways: water bottles have been ordered (for volunteers), worm raffle, gummy worm cones

Sustainable Twin Ports-Early Adopters Training update was given by Kristi.  So far, Al, Jenni, Bruce and Kristi have completed 16 hours of training.  There’s been some great discussion so far.  The group has identified strengths, weaknesses, and goals.  The groups is responsible for presenting information to the LSC “Stakeholders” sometime in April.  The group will discuss progress and ask for feedback at the April 26^th Duty Day.  Along with the presentation, the group has had to choose a “quick win”.  The group has chosen to sign the Institute for a Sustainable Future: Lake Superior Good Food Network Superior Compact, pledging to support the goal to purchase 20% locally grown food by 2020.  Initial discussion about tracking has been aimed at utilizing a student employee, possibly over the summer months.

Old Business

Budget

FY13 Budget: $9,000

Balance as of 3/28/2013: $5,233.60

Ideas generated for remaining purchases (additional items added from last meeting’s list):

• Concourse lighting signage
• 2 additional heated foot rests to replace space heaters
• Semi-permanent recycling signage
• Bottle filling station for ERTC
• Additional bike rack for main entrance
• Outdoor recycling cans
• Interpretive Trailhead sign
• Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans
• Food/promo materials for Earth Day
• Silver Bay “field trip” for EC
• Parking lot info signs

Kristi sent a facilities related list to Gary A and hasn’t received a response.  Wade will follow up.

Motions

Deanne motioned to change the Environmental Council’s name to Sustainability Council.  Glenn seconded the motion.  Motion carried, unopposed.

Next meeting

Friday April 12^th, 8:30 , Student Life Conference Room

Notes submitted by Kristi Heintz