Sustainability at Lake Superior College

Meeting Minutes 2/3/17

10:00 – 11:30

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Theresa Hornstein, Kristi Heintz, Eric Brandt, Nate Bronk, Marissa Johnsen, Wade Gordon, Heather Grillo

General Members present:

Guest Present:

Announcements

League of Women Voters presents a film showing of “Bag It”, Feb 16^th 7:00 @ Denfeld Lecture Hall

Duluth Traverse Trail Master and Management Plan First Public Meeting: Thrs Feb 9^th 5:30, Denfeld

Water Is Life: Standing Rock and Beyond Teach-In at UMD, Feb 13^th 8:45-4:00

New Business

Dave and Amy Freeman would be available to key note our Earth Day on Tuesday April 25^th, Kristi suggested maybe a “Leave No Trace” theme for this year’s activities.  Additional discussion points included:

• Tables from 11:00-1:00
• Keynote at noon
• additional community table invitees: Farmer Doug, a SNAP resource, RSPT, Fond du Lac, UWS, Ecolibrium 3, WLSSD (compost demo, info about our drop site, Garden Green)
  • perhaps tickets at each vendor table, redeemed for reusable water bottles
• make one-take one sandwiches (one donated to CHUM or other)
  • perhaps ask 3^rd Street Bakery if they’d like to donate bread
• Wade will inquire with his contact about a sugar bushing demo (tap our own trees, syrup making demo, maple cotton candy…)
• Theresa’s students will poster their compost/landfill project (set up Monday, students may not available Tues)
• Kristi will ask Dave if he and Tom are interested in demoing their diamond willow walking stick carving
• Once details are settled, Kristi will work with Jean to create a poster

Kristi met with recruiters a few weeks ago and the conversation prompted a transition from providing plastic bottles of water that they typically offer to compostable cups and plates for events like open house and career nights.  Kristi noted we can pretty easily provide suggest products that they might use, but our collection process for zero waste lacks receptacles.  Kristi suggested the Sustainability Council purchase compost receptacles that can be used for zero waste events, then easily stored, and perhaps be integrated into regular use at some point.  A product from Clear Systems is similar to the one offered by WLSSD, and cost $299 + shipping for 5 units.  Eric motioned to spend up to $350 on these collection bins, Theresa seconded.  Kristi will make the purchase.

Kristi shared that the Minnesota State office is convening a System-wide sustainability workgroup, and foundational information provided by Emily Ziring includes the following impetus to collaborate:

“…the Governor’s Office recently established their Office of Enterprise Sustainability to assist state agencies (including Minnesota State) in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water usage, increase energy efficiency and recycling, and better coordinate sustainability efforts across state government. In addition, the State recently created a new structure to support and achieve the state’s sustainability goals, including those outlined in Executive Orders 11-12 and 11-13. The new structure will likely result in new sustainability and energy-related reporting requirements for state agencies, including Minnesota State.”

The introductory webex is scheduled for February 21^st.  Kristi will provide additional details at the March meeting.

Old Business

Per discussion and motion to purchase, Kristi now has 10 heated foot rests and has distributed 3 max/min thermometers to individuals that previously requested heated foot rests.  With the thermometers, she requested each person provide some thermal data a few times per week on a google doc.  After the data is collected, Kristi will hand over the heaters.  At least one of the requests came from someone who currently has a space heater.  Kristi will request that space heater taken home before handing over the foot rest.  The offer for additional heaters will be sent out in a couple of weeks.

Kristi provided a summary of talking points from the meeting with MREA and local stakeholders on January 30^th.  Kristi send the following message to internal meeting participants:

Next steps:

• The interested Civil, Chemical and Electrical Engineering faculty at UMD thought it might be a good idea to survey their current students to get an idea of real interest.  Mindy will continue to work together with those faculty to get that information, and a similar survey could be done here.
• It sounds like Rody and Dave [Ormann, Twin Ports Arrowhead NECA] will continue discussions about additional certification options and gauge potential enrollment, maybe some cross-over for our students?
• Bret [Ecolibrium 3] and I will continue talking with MREA about host opportunities and suss out their partnership framework with the C. Wisc and Illinois colleges that Adam mentioned.
• I will be participating in the MAP #3 distinction taskforce and will keep this idea front of mind within that context.

Theresa provided the final draft details of the NEW sustainability scholarship.  Some tweaked wording for eligibility was discussed, and Theresa will forward those to Collin.

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

None

Budget      

Encumbrances to date:

• Annual AASHE dues: -280
• Boreal Natives (fall-spring maintenance): -$600
• Boreal Natives (fall maintenance): -$200
• Human Svs Dept (plastic bag removal-annual): -$280
• Menards -$400
• Dan’s -$300
• Printing -$12
• RSPT Annual dues: -300
• Travel reimbursement (Deanne, Kristi to St. Paul Climate Adapt Wkshp 1/31/17) – $161.57
• Amazon (heated foot rests, max/min thermometers): -499.80

BALANCE as of today: $5,558.46

FY16-17potential budget items (carryover FY15-16 list)

• Bottle filling station near Student LIfe
• Picnic table under H catwalk
• Additional bike rack for main entrance?
• Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
• Sustainability kiosk: pamphlet holder, plastic bag bin, compost bag dispenser
• MnSCU Sustainability Across Curriculum workshop

Meeting adjourned 11:30

Next Regular Meeting

March 3rd, 2017

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

Meeting Minutes 1/13/17

10:00 – 11:30

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Theresa Hornstein, Kristi Heintz, Eric Brandt, Dave Israel, Deanne Roquet, Nate Bronk, Marissa Johnsen

General Members present:

Guest Present:

December meeting minutes reviewed

Announcements

MREA meeting was supposed to happen 1/11 but was rescheduled for Jan 30^th due to inclement weather.  The focus of this first meeting would review solar deployment strategies we’ve been assessing for our own campus (related to our NREL assessment) and regional education opportunities ie, how MREA’s certification programming could partner with our institution(s). Workforce, Business & Industry, and Facilities, and Sustainability Council have been invited.  UMD and Ecolibrium 3 will meet everyone at LSC in the morning for a 10:30 tour of LSC, we’ll meet for discussion at 11:00 in S2920.  Everyone is welcome.

New Business

Kristi shared that Dave and Amy Freeman would be available to key note our Earth Day on Tuesday April 25^th.  The Council agreed that date should work.  Kristi followed-up with Igrid Lyons to confirm, the Council will invite Heather and continue planning at February’s meeting.

Kristi brought the Bag It Duluth discussion to the Council for discussion.  Kristi noted that Connie has been using alternatives to plastic bags in the LSC Store for over SEVEN YEARS (!) and asked for her feedback first.  Connie shared that she had already signed support for both the LSC Store and Café.  All agreed the Council could sign, simply stating support of LSC’s Sustainability Council, not necessarily representing the campus as a whole.  Nate made an official motion to sign on to the Bag It Duluth support page, Eric seconded.

MPCA is hosting a free Climate Adaptation conference for Minnesota higher ed in St Paul on January 31^st.  Deanne and Kristi have already registered, anyone that would like to ride along should register at the eventbrite site.  The Council discussed covering travel expense (mileage) for one vehicle.  Connie motioned to cover mileage, Theresa seconded.

Old Business

Kristi brought, again, the heated foot rest discussion to the Council for discussion.  Citing there have been additional requests for heated foot rests, and some difficulty to obtain the foot rests from their department budgets.  Kristi has worked with Melissa Leno to offer suggestions.  Kristi’s concern is two parts.  First, we’ve talked at length about “fixing” the problems at a facilities level, but she wonders if this strategy is either a) impossible or b) going to be more expensive than just putting a band aid on the problems, on an individual basis.  She’s also concerned that if these individuals are unable to get the foot rests from their department (for various reasons), the alternative is that they may bring in their own space heater, which is against policy and not what we want.  Dave suggested that when requests are made, maybe we try to obtain some temperature data from those areas so we can better figure out if there are patterns.  Max-min thermometers were suggested and could be deployed prior to offering a heated foot rest.  The max-min reading wouldn’t dictate whether or not an individual gets a heater, but rather would give us a better idea of what is “comfortable” for our occupants and how that compared to our current standards.  After lengthy discussion Deanne motioned to purchase 10 space heaters and $50 worth of max-min readers, Dave seconded.  Nobody opposed.  Kristi will work to fulfil past requests first then perhaps put out an open offer to the campus.

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

Kristi brought the topic of student employee utilization to the Council.  She shared that both students working on the waste sort program have resigned their positions, citing other job and changing course loads, so the project is no longer active.  There were some great outcomes from the first phase of this project, but students may not have felt fulfilled in their experience as the pace of the project doesn’t offer enough active employment hours (ie, they were spending 10 minutes a day every day collecting data, not exactly a money maker).  Marissa offered students might not be recognizing the real value of these work opportunities, as it could be a resume builder.  Kristi shared the difficulty in completing some of these ambitious projects with only student employees when time to manage the project can be immense, students need to be self-starters, and the Sustainability Club was unable to muster interested participants to volunteer time to work on the project.  It may perhaps make a better class project with support from a student employee.  Deanne will continue to work on course driven research opportunities.  Kristi offered that it might complement the MAP Theme 3 “Graduate with Distinction” goal if Sustainability were defined as a “distinction”.  The MAP team is assembling now, and Kristi has asked to be a part of these discussions (although it will be a faculty driven development process).

Kristi added she would still like to go ahead with the behavior change idea that was generated, discouraging paper towel use using stickers.  Baseline purchasing information was compiled, new products are now being utilized, so it would make sense to continue gathering that data to see how improved signage/education might affect need to purchase paper towels.   Deanne motioned to support the print cost for dispenser stickers printed in the Copy Center, Nate seconded.

Budget 

Encumbrances to date:

• Annual AASHE dues: -280
• Boreal Natives (fall-spring maintenance): -$600
• Boreal Natives (fall maintenance): -$200
• Human Svs Dept (plastic bag removal-annual): -$280
• Menards -$400
• Dan’s -$300
• Printing -$12
• Travel reimbursement (Deanne, Kristi to St. Paul Climate Adapt Wkshp 1/31/17) – $161.57

BALANCE as of today: $ 6,358.26

FY17 Budget priority review/planning

FY16-17potential budget items (carryover FY15-16 list)

• Bottle filling station near Student LIfe
• Picnic table under H catwalk
• Additional bike rack for main entrance?
• Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
• Sustainability kiosk: pamphlet holder, plastic bag bin, compost bag dispenser
• MnSCU Sustainability Across Curriculum workshop

Meeting adjourned 11:30

Next Regular Meeting

^{February 3rd}, 2017

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

10:00 – 11:30

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Theresa Hornstein, Kristi Heintz, Eric Brandt, Alex Sundberg, Wade Gordon, Cliff Koski, Mike Francisco, Marissa Johnsen

General Members present:

Guest Present:

November meeting minutes reviewed

Announcements

MPCA is hosting a free Climate Adaptation conference for Minnesota higher ed in St Paul on January 31^st.  Deanne and Kristi have already registered, anyone that would like to ride along should register at the eventbrite site.  Kristi will also meet informally with Emily Ziring, Minnesota State Sustainable Facilities Program Manager.

New Business

Kristi shared that Dave and Amy Freeman would be available to key note our Earth Day on Tuesday April 25^th.  The Council agreed that date should work.  Kristi will follow-up with Igrid Lyons to confirm.

Bret Pence of Ecolibrium 3 has initiated a northland meeting with MREA (Midwest Renewable Energy Assn) and representatives from LSC/UMD. January 4^th was put forward as a potential date, or January 11^th would be an alternate.  The focus of this first meeting would review solar deployment strategies we’ve been assessing for our own campus (related to our NREL assessment) and regional education opportunities ie, how MREA’s certification programming could partner with our institution(s).  Kristi asked the Council for feedback on individuals at LSC that should be invited to this initial meeting.  Jon Lintula, Don Ness, and perhaps Matt Whitehill were noted.  Kristi will make the initial invite and include Al and Wade in the planning.

Kristi noted she gave a sustainability-focused facility tour to new campus Admissions and transfer coordinator.  They had some GREAT ideas for less-waste events on campus.  Kristi will continue to collaborate.

Kristi asked if there’s anything for spring 2017 that the Council should be proactively assessing, budget related or otherwise?  Wade asked if local conferences will be happening this year: UMACS or Sustainability Across the Curriculum.  Kristi will look into these. He also noted there is a need for a bottle filling station near Student Life/Atrium.  Perhaps the Council can look at funding one at the end of FY.

Old Business

Kristi gave an update on the NREL solar analysis.  NREL has provided an amended analysis, reflecting rate increases and an ownership model.  Kristi has not taken time to fully review the report, but results were more favorable this time.  Kristi will provide a more comprehensive overview at January’s meeting.  Kristi added there may be an RFP coming for community solar garden hosts in January, and LSC should discuss intentions related to that opportunity.

In November, Glenn requested an estimate for Interpretive Trail sign reprint from Sheldon.  Based on printing in 2012, signs cost $14 each and we’ll likely print 17.  Theresa motioned to print signs up to $300, Dave seconded the motion with no opposition.

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

Kristi gave a brief update of the work the Council sub-group’s November 15^th “Energy Task Force” (working title) meeting.  Attendees at the first meeting included Marissa, Connie Moore, Deanne, Glenn, Luke, and Mike (any others?).  The committee discussed the myriad reports and projects undertaken in past years, and opportunity to report on energy with most efficient use of time, noting the SPA likely wouldn’t be read by a huge audience.  Deanne noted at the committee meeting that it would be good to update initiatives that were outlined to demonstrate progress, Kristi noted this could be formally done in a STARS format each year.  The committee will look at maybe integrating energy reporting into annual reports.

Tangentially, Kristi found a B3 Post Occupancy Evaluation opportunity to collect building occupant feedback.  After contacting the SPOE Director at the UofM Center for Sustainable Building Research, the project team discovered we had not input our project to the B3 tracking portal, therefor we are not eligible for the free SPOE.  Unclear about WHY we didn’t input or were exempt, Kristi will continue to dig into the B3 requirements.  The SPOE for non-B3 participants is $4,000.

Alex provided a PowerPoint update on the status of the waste sort.  Kristi will work with Theresa to try to incorporate the waste sort into a class. Alex also shared the beginning stages of data collection/baseline for paper towel use for the last year.  Starting in January, student employees will initiate a waste reduction campaign and continue to track paper towel use.

Budget 

Encumbrances to date:

• Annual AASHE dues: -280
• Boreal Natives (fall-spring maintenance): -$600
• Boreal Natives (fall maintenance): -$200
• Human Svs Dept (plastic bag removal-annual): -$280
• Menards -$341.71
• Dan’s -$100

BALANCE as of today: $ 6,410

FY17 Budget priority review/planning

FY16-17potential budget items (carryover FY15-16 list)

• Bottle filling station near Student LIfe
• Ditch/swale/raingarden info signs
• Picnic table under H catwalk
• Additional bike rack for main entrance?
• Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
• Sustainability kiosk: pamphlet holder, plastic bag bin
• MnSCU Sustainability Across Curriculum workshop

Meeting adjourned 11:30

Next Regular Meeting

January 13^th, 2017

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

Meeting Minutes 11-4-2016

10:00 – 11:30

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Mike Francisco, Theresa Hornstein, Kristi Heintz, Eric Brandt, Deanne Roquet, Glenn Merrick, Alex Sundberg, Luke Turner

General Members present:

Guest Present:

Announcements

Kiri Langseth-Schmidt reached out to Kristi to ask if LSC would be interested in hosting her and her husband about their recently completed international bike trip.  Their blog has some great pictures and stories: lowgearlife.com.  Kristi extended the offer to the HPER faculty, Jeremy and Joshua.  Jeremy is interested in asking them to their class.  The Council thought they might be good Earth Day speakers, if they’re still in the area this spring.

New Business

Theresa shared that she’s been working with Collin in the Foundation office to establish a sustainability scholarship using the money generated at the annual plant sale.  Last year, Kim set the $500 generated aside and that could be used for a scholarship now.  Theresa ran a few questions about scholarship applicant eligibility, student status (2^nd year), intended career or continuation of education, and goals.  Eric added scholarship review points cautioning that more specific scholarships sometimes don’t receive any applicants.  Theresa will address these in the scholarship development form, if anyone has suggestions, send to Theresa.  The Council agreed this will be a great tool to entice students to consider the Superior Connection transfer pathway to Sustainable Management to UWS.

The scholarship conversation veered to FYE course goals and strategies to explore these new types of options.  Patty Dorn invited Kristi to her FYE classes where she was able to share some information with students about the Superior Connection options.  Hanna has invited Kristi to join a larger group of individuals interested in defining the scope of FYE, next week.  If anyone has suggestions for that group related to sustainability, club memberships, or otherwise, talk to Kristi before Thursday November 10.

Annual dues for AASHE 2017 are due in November.  AASHE offers a number of resources to members, webinars, and conferences for the entire campus for $280 per year.  Mike motioned to remain members and pay dues for the next year, Theresa seconded, no one opposed.

Kristi brought the Sustainability Plan of Action for discussion. The plan was approved in 2011, so this marks year five.  The plan has not been updated or thoroughly reviewed.  Since we are no longer reporting our greenhouse gasses bi-annually, the Council had committed to reporting out on some kind of metric in its place.  We continue to gather energy data in B3, but haven’t created a reporting strategy yet (be it our own, STARS, etc).  The Council suggested the group review outside of regular meetings, and perhaps anyone interested will meet separately to discuss.  Kristi will send the SPA and request for review team volunteers.

Kristi brought the Sustainability Council co-chair discussion back from August.  After some discussion about the chair roles, the Council decided to forgo the “co” and support Kristi in solo chairing the committee, and review the structure after spring semester.

The Council discussed some ideas for a Gary Adams tribute.  To our knowledge, nothing has been discussed at the Administrative level, but Kristi will check with Al and Wade on this.  The Council feels it might be their role to make suggestions for this, but not necessarily our role to initiate.  Kristi will ask Wade for feedback on this strategy.

Roberta Schneider has extended an opportunity to host Dave and Amy Freeman to share their full year in the Boundary Waters.  The Council agreed they’d be a great addition to our 2017 Earth Day, and Kristi shared we’ll likely showcase the work our student employees have been doing on the waste sort, perhaps with a “Leave No Trace” theme.  Kristi will share our interest with Roberta.

Old Business

Kristi gave an update on the NREL solar analysis.  Kristi, Al, Wade, and Jon conference called with NREL and requested the adjustments discussed at October’s meeting.  They will send results to us, likely within the week.

Kristi gave an update on the solar+storage payment conundrum discussed at last meeting.  Wade is working with Workforce to find a solution.

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

Alex and Luke introduced themselves and the waste sort project they’re working on together as well as progress to date.  They’ll be putting a timeline together this week.  Alex gave an update on Sustainability Club membership and needs for waste sort volunteers.

Motions 

AASHE annual due approved, $280

Budget 

Glenn mentioned the Interpretive Trail signs need to be replaced as they are fading, and few more added.  Kristi will provide an estimate for these at the next meeting.

Encumbrances to date:

• Boreal Natives (fall maintenance): -$200
• Human Svs Dept (plastic bag removal-annual): -$260
• Menards -$400
• Dan’s -$200.02 of $300 enc

BALANCE as of today: $7,290.00

Review/revise FY16-17potential budget items (carryover FY15-16 list)

• Picnic table under H skywalk
• Additional bike rack for main entrance?
• Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
• Sustainability kiosk: pamphlet holder, plastic bag bin
• MnSCU Sustainability Across Curriculum workshop

Meeting adjourned 11:30

Next Regular Meeting

December 2^nd, 2016

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