Sustainability at Lake Superior College

Meeting Minutes 10/14/16

10:00 – 11:30

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Mike Francisco, Theresa Hornstein, Nathan Bronk, Kristi Heintz, Al Finlayson, Eric Brandt, Cliff Koski, Marissa Johnsen

General Members present:

Guest Present:

Announcements

New Business

Al gave an update on the status of the concourse lighting.  The control panel has been replaced and half of the lights are turned off most of the day when natural light is available.  Kristi and Jean have both made signs for the halls

Kristi brought the continued requests for heated foot rests to the council. It seems there is a trend for where those requests are coming, and it may mean a larger heating/cooling study or thermal comfort analysis needs to be performed.  The Council reiterated the responsibility to purchase heated foot rests lies with the department budgets.

Kristi shared that she’ll be sitting on a panel at Fond du Lac TCC with other campus coordinators (Courtney from FDL and Mindy from UMD) as part of the Sustainability Awareness Week (SAW). Those campuses have activities planned for the week; we are promoting our waste sort project at the Club Recruitment Day.

Old Business

Kristi gave an update on the NREL solar analysis.  We received the results a couple of weeks ago, and their analysis was not favorable for solar at this time (a $125,000 loss over the 25 year analysis) based on our relatively low electricity rates.  Citing a recent EITE and franchise fee increase, a primary ownership model and storage, Kristi, Al, Wade, and Jon will conference call with NREL and request some adjustments to their assumptions and some additional costing information.

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

Kristi gave a brief overview of the Toward Zero Waste project she is working on with our student employees, Alex and Luke.  The three met with Ryan and a graduate student he’s worked with on NRRI’s waste sort analysis last week, and we’re now designing our own waste stream analysis.  Mike will look at the Waste Management Contract to see when we need to make adjustments, if the study indicates savings can be made.

Motions

Budget

Kristi outlined a payment conundrum facing Jon Lintula for the Hartley Solar+Storage course he took in August.  A number of misunderstandings has left him with a $500 bill for which no money has been encumbered.  Workforce Development is managing the registration and payment for this course.  After long discussion, the Council declined to offer financial support for the course, citing improper timing and lack of previous discussion.  Kristi will continue to work with those involved to find a suitable solution.

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

FY17 Budget priority review/planning will follow November’s priority project planning

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

• Ditch/swale/raingarden info signs
• 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

November 4^th, 2016

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

Meeting Minutes 9/2/2016

10:00 – 11:30

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Mike Francisco, Theresa Hornstein, Glenn Merrick, Nathan Bronk, Deanne Roquet, Kristi Heintz, Wade Gordon, Eric Brandt (new member)

General Members present:

Guest Present:

Announcements

Growing Sustainable Communities Conference Oct 4-5, Dubuque IA

Grants available for Minnesota playgrounds and athletic field upgrades

Recycling Assn of Minnesota’s Annual Conference Oct 5-6 in Bloomington

New Business

Kristi brought the FY17 co-chair nominations discussion to the table.  The Council reviewed current membership, quorum, and discussed the merits of co-chair shared roles.  The Council felt a faculty chair was beneficial along with Kristi’s co-chair role.  The Council agreed to think about the best fit for the co-chair and will discuss at November’s meeting.

Kristi suggested the Council discuss FY17 goals and priorities, and allow those goals to drive student employee hires for the year.  The Council has budged 20 hours per week for students and has hired 1 student already for landscape and plant watering responsibilities.  Using the Integrated Planning document developed for 2015-2016, a number of continuation projects were discussed:

• Legacy Garden advisory and development assistance to Student Senate
• Interpretive Trail signage “refresh” (adding a few and re-printing those that have faded)
• Mapping and signage for north loop trail
• Energy-related:
  • portal/kiosk
  • Sub-metering the main campus electricity meters, updating descriptors
  • Office area thermal audit (temperature and comfort zone analysis)
  • Streamline B3 data input and assessment (possibly direct input from MN Power?)
• Purchasing:
  • Additional education about the Sustainable Purchasing policies and applicability for campus users, utilizing the Policies Prezi Kristi posted this summer.
  • Develop a sustainable supply purchase request process (request to SC, tracking in ISRS, request to budget request committees, etc.), open to all

These ideas will be sent out via email to the Council to review and priorities further at October’s meeting, each will be discussed for its student employment potential.

Stormwater-related landscape signs are printed, cedar supplies have been purchased for frames, and John Calcaterra will build the signs when he has student employees available.  Install may wait until fall.

Kristi gave a brief update on the Zero Waste initiative.  Kristi designed some sample templates for reduced paper towel use.  Mark is in the process of replacing most/all towel, soap, and sanitizer dispensers, so we’ll wait until the dispensers are replaced to initiate signage.  Kristi has talked with the new supply rep about signing the GreenSeal soap products that will now be used, and also inquired about highlighting the additional sustainability attributes (less packaging/waste, sustainable forestry, etc).  Based on conversations Kristi had with students at Welcome Week table, recycling and composting education is sorely needed.  This could potentially be a nice student worker initiative.

Additional discussions about SC responsibility as an Advisory body ensued, as well did discussion surrounding the appropriate use of Sustainability Council budget for facilities-related matters.  Additional heated foot rests have been requested, the conversation held at the onus being placed on facilities or individual departments to rectify the comfort in some of the building areas.  This conversation related back to the student employee project to assess temperatures of each space.

Kristi reported that she has set up food scrap pick-up service with WM for the kitchen.  3 of the 4 worm bins have been emptied and the bins are in cold storage.  Kristi talked with Bruce, Jill, Arlene, and Mark about getting food scrap to the bin.  Mark purchased bins and bags, Jill and Arlene are eager to comply.  Since Monday, the only compost bags that have been placed in the bin is the one Kristi brought from the Biology office.  Kristi will continue to monitor the situation, and contact WLSSD if additional assistance is needed.

Additional agenda items, deferred to October meeting: Gary Adams tribute, ACUPCC new commitment framework, and NREL assistance update,…

Old Business

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

Motions 

none

Budget 

FY16 Budget wrap report and FY17 priorities discussion

• Landscaping, Atrium work

Motions needed

none

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

FY17 Budget priority review/planning will follow October’s priority project planning

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

• Ditch/swale/raingarden info signs
• 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 10:30

Next Regular Meeting

October 7^th, 2016

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

Meeting Minutes 3/4/16

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 15^th @ 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 18^th.

Earth Day at LSC will be Wednesday April 20^th.  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 20^th.  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 1^st, 2016

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