Sustainability at Lake Superior College

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

Meeting Minutes 2/5/16

9:00 – 10:00

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

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

General Members present:  Cliff Koski, Dave Israel, Heather Grillo

Guest Present:

Announcements

New Business

Earth Day at LSC will be Wednesday April 20^th.  This year’s theme will be focused on promoting our campus and city trails.  Glenn suggested we contact a speaker with an extensive hiking background, Joanna Swanson(?), to ask if she’d be willing to speak at noon in the SL Lounge.  Kristi will put together an invite list of potential tabling vendors, and ask Mel to do the invites again this year.  The Coucil agreed the City of Duluth’s Parks/Trail Department should be highlighted with maps and information on trails.  COGGS will be a new invite this year, with discussion topics about a potential spur trail on our campus.  Deanne’s students will set up posters in the Lounge from 11-1:00, Heather will provide trail mix, popcorn, and lemonade.  Kristi will work with our student employees to organize a scavenger hunt (GREAT idea, Wade!), and we’ll host the campus clean-up with incentives for participation.  Additional details or ideas should be emailed to Kristi.

Kristi reported that last night’s “Know Your Solar” event co-hosted with Ecolibrium3 was a great success, with about 30 guests.  A few students attendee, Minnesota Power was represented as well as a number of PV installers and educators.  Kristi also shared that Bret has been moving forward to connect interested Community Solar Garden partners.  He’s very excited about the potential opportunity for LSC to be the PV array host site.  More information will unfold about this in the next couple of months.  Kristi, Wade, and Al will continue to assess this as an option.

Kristi received an update from Airpark Disability Services on our soft plastic recycling program.  2015 data showed a big increase in our recycled material, with 555 pounds recycled!

Old Business

Kristi gave an update on the submission of the NREL solar assistance and implementation grants.  UMD also submitted the applications.

Kristi reported the MS4 Permit Application and related procedures are nearing completion.  Our contractor, Michael Kooi, hopes to have the final pieces completed by the end of February.  Kristi will continue to work with him to complete these documents and submit to MPCA.

Kristi showed the draft stormwater signs that were designed by Jean, and also shared the logo she developed. Kristi will send the sign drafts out to Council to review and offer more specific content feedback, then Kristi will share feedback received with Jean.  Kristi and Aaron will continue to develop content for multiple signs around campus.

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

Kristi will doodle poll a landscape meeting to discuss spring seeding and planting needs.

We are still hiring for a student employee to train with Jane and Aaron for spring and into next fall, when they will both be leaving.  The position is posted on the LSC employment page.

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

March 4, 2016

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

Meeting Minutes 12/4/2015

10:00 – 11:30
Large Administrative Conference Room

Attendance
Governing Council Members present: Mike Francisco, Theresa Hornstein, Glenn Merrick, Nathan Bronk
General Members present: Kristi Heintz, Mel Sease, Cliff Koski, Dave Israel
Guest Present:

Announcements
Twin Ports Climate Coalition brown bag session “How Many Light Bulbs Does it Take to Change Climate?” facilitated by Bret Pence (Ecolibrium 3), will take place December 15th: MPCA Suite 400, 11:30-1:00. Email Kristi if you’d like more information.

New Business
Continuing discussions about the LSC B3 data at November’s meeting, Kristi shared a short Prezi that outlines the capabilities of B3 data analysis. The Council reviewed content and formed some general questions about use. The prezi can be viewed here. Any feedback on the prezi content should be sent to Kristi before a meeting with an “energy team” is called, likely in early January. Individuals identified for the “energy team” include Jon Lintula, Chris Ringsrud, Wade, Al, Gary Adams, Jim Borg, and President Johns. Kristi will initiate the meeting.

The Council reviewed some options, created by Jean, for an LSC sustainability logo. The Council offered suggestions about content, and Kristi will share that feedback with Jean.

The Council reviewed the FY16 working budget and put together an FY17 budget proposal. Kristi will work with Wade to finalize this proposal.

Old Business

Work Group and Student Employee Reports
The group informally discussed the S-building landscape options and challenges. Kristi will call a separate meeting for those interested in offering input, in January.

Budget

FY16 Budget: $8,400
Encumbrances to date:
• Boreal Natives (fall maintenance): -$348.68
• Human Svs Dept (plastic bag removal-annual): -$260
• AASHE travel (hotel for 2): -$607.2
• AASHE reimbursement for 2: -$358.58
• AASHE registration for 2: -$575
• Encumbered supplies (Dan’s, Shopko, Home Depot, Menards): -$700
• Garden/Council supply shed: -$1000
• AASHE dues: -$280
BALANCE as of today: $4,219.92

FY15-16 potential budget items
• Benches, picnic table for new SWCD swale and adjacent to E-building north exit (newly mulched area).
• 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 11:30

Next Regular Meeting
February 5, 2016

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

Meeting Minutes 11/6/2015

10:00 – 11:30

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Council Members present: Mike Francisco, Theresa Hornstein, Jane Marynik, Dick Haney, Deanne Roquet

General Members present: Kristi Heintz, Aaron Ekstrom, Mel Sease

Guest Present: Jess Maki (Student Senate VP)

Announcements

New Business

Kristi shared that Glenn has taken a role with the MnSCU transfer committee that will put him off campus during our monthly meeting times. The Council is comfortable moving ahead with Kristi acting in the chair role, but they’ll forgive her multi-tasking shortcoming and also won’t hold her to addressing everyone by correct names.

Kristi shared an update on plans for the new stormwater BMP project with SWCD. This project is an $8,000 Clean Water Legacy grant funded project. All costs will be covered by the grant. It will be a continuation of the Legacy Garden native planted area. The SWCD will also reimburse LSC for up to $500 to cover the cost of informational signage for the space. Wade suggested we use our internal programs to create the signs. Kristi and Glenn are meeting with Jean and Janet in PR to discuss bmp sign concept and design for the campus. After that discussion, we can move ahead with content planning.

Kristi gave an update on the community solar garden discussion with Ecolibrium3/Brett Pence. Wade, Al, and Brett met on October 19^th to discuss some different opportunities for LSC. Overall, Al and Wade were supportive, and Al would like to see an informal note of intent for the Administrative Council to review. Dick noted that it would be nice to involve Minnesota Power in the conversation. Kristi shared that we’ll need to keep in mind the time and resources we have available to us, and transitioned the conversation to building efficiency analysis.

Kristi offered the B3 data dashboard and our own data that is inputted monthly for energy and water, along with other MnSCU campuses. We discussed our increasing energy and made some general observations about the trend. As an aside, Kristi shared that identifying shortcomings and missed efficiencies may be a better route to save resources, before we peruse solar. Kristi would like to get a group from across campus together to discuss this data in greater detail. Individuals identified include Jon Lintula, Chris Ringsrud, Wade, Al, Gary Adams, Jim Borg, and President Johns. Kristi will initiate the meeting in the next couple of weeks.

Mel shared an update on her paper towel reduction project. Kristi will send the draft mini-posters that will hang in the restrooms and classrooms for Council input. Kristi is also working to get paper towel purchasing data from Mark so we can compare the baseline to progress over time.

Deanne mentioned that she talked with Susie at WLSSD about our worm composting struggles. Susie has offered assistance if we needed it. Kristi gave an update on the Café’s composting and fruit fly problems. Kristi will continue to work with them on best practices.

Old Business

Deanne shared her favorite take away from the AASHE conference; a session that focused on recognizing and facing failures. She equated that to our energy discussion, and would like to see us produce a similar presentation. Jane and Aaron also shared their favorite AASHE take-aways. Jane would like to see us focus more effort on helping students see how the sustainability work we do here can be applied by students at home. She also mentioned integrating sustainability in existing courses would be a good introduction for students that may not initially show interest. Many ideas circulated about how we could do this, from videos to brown bags to CFI.

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

Policy and Procedure: employee reminders, education, and training needs (printing, recycling, supplies, computers, small appliance)

Carol, Kristi, Mel, Wade

Sustainability Reporting/Benchmarking: GGI, ACUPCC, MnSCU Sustainability Reporting, Superior Compact, B3, publicizing info

*Kristi, Deanne, Bruce

Grants and Awards: Pre-grant drafts and collaboration with grant office on potential opportunities

                *Deanne, Kristi, Wade

Landscape Planning: annual flower planting, rainwater harvesting, no-mow areas, rooftop gardening

*Kristi, Mike, Aaron, Theresa, maintenance rep, Wade

Sustainability in Curriculum

*Theresa, Kristi, Deanne, Glenn

-updates from Mel and Jane

-Garden Club update

Budget                                                                                                                                                                    

Mike motioned to pay the annual AASHE dues at $280. Theresa seconded, motion passed unopposed.

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

BALANCE as of today: $4,895.59

FY15-16 potential budget items

• Benches, picnic table for new SWCD swale and adjacent to E-building north exit (newly mulched area).
• 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 11:30

Next Meeting

December 4, 2015

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