Sustainability at Lake Superior College

Meeting Minutes 10-2-2015

10:00 – 11:30

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Council Members present: Nate Bronk, Mike Francisco, Theresa Hornstein, Jane Marynik, Dick Haney, Cliff Koski

General Members present: Deanne Roquet, Kristi Heintz

Guest Present: Dave Israel, James Eisenhauer

Announcements

New Business

Kristi shared 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 Council will develop the area further in the spring with trees and benches.

James attended to share information he has regarding potential COGGS bike trail or Superior Hiking Trail connectors to campus. Dick shared the city-wide context and significance for a trail like this one, and also shared the thoughtful design capability of the COGGS crew. James has invited some city trails representatives to tour the campus and talk more about route opportunities and cost estimates. This could potentially be a Student Senate or grant funded project. James will follow up with us and let us know when the on-side meeting will take place.

Theresa shared a discussion she had with a LSC Foundation chairperson, Judy Richards. They both felt like sustainability focused scholarship could be a potential addition to the Foundation portfolio. Theresa solicited general feedback; all felt it was an excellent opportunity to pursue with various funding options discussed. Theresa will follow up the Foundation.

Kristi, through a major paper written last semester, reached out to Brett Pence at Ecolibrium 3 a few months ago to discuss opportunity to host Community Solar Garden at LSC. Brett recently contacted Kristi and would like to establish an intent for LSC to partner on a number of proposals that may be coming up in the near future. Feedback from the Council on a project like this was overall very positive. Kristi will pass some general CSG information to Wade, Al, and Gary, then arrange a meeting between them and Brett soon.

Dave Israel shared that it would be nice to have some protected seating areas outside. The Council discussed developing the area adjacent to the exit on the H-building side of the E building (where new mulch was laid this summer). Benches, picnic tables, and shrubs would be a nice addition to that space.

Going into fall, Kristi and the SC student employee are discussion potential tasks/project ideas. Mel may continue to work on composting outreach, but will also be designing a strategy to reduce paper towel use in restrooms. Cliff mentioned his students identified quite a few buckthorn stands while surveying. Kristi shared the work an Eagle Scout project just completed, and suggested Aaron continue to work on that project, maybe with the help of Cliff’s survey course. Jane will continue to work on our Tree Campus USA application and plan for new spring wildflower planting ideas. If SC members have additional ideas, send them to Kristi.

Kristi very briefly shared that she’s been contacted by both Sierra Club and Save the Boundary Waters regarding potential student engagement opportunities. She asked for feedback regarding the best way to involve these groups and get students interested in the agendas. Ideas included inviting them to relevant classes and/or Earth Day activities. If anyone has additional ideas, contact Kristi.

Ongoing Business

None

Old Business

Kristi gave an AASHE conference registration update. She and Deanne are traveling to the conference with SC funding, Jane and Aaron are traveling through Student Life. They’ll all give a riveting report of the conference at November’s meeting.

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 purchase trail supplies requested by Aaron: fence post, cedar posts, flagging tape. Deanne 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

BALANCE as of today: $5,895.59

FY15-16 potential budget items

• AASHE travel reimbursement
• 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 11:15

Next Meeting

November 2, 2015

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

Meeting Minutes 5/1/2015

10:00 – 11:00

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Council Members present: Glenn Merrick, Kristi Heintz, Mike Francisco, Theresa Hornstein,

General Members present: Aaron Ekstrom, Nate Bronk, Al Finlayson, Cliff Koski

Guest Present:

Announcements

New Business

The WLSSD-LSC compost drop site is in full swing. Susie provided Q & A on Earth Day and gave out home collection bins and compostable bags. Kristi has additional container to give away. So far, we’ve given out over 50 bins. In the fall, we’ll launch a full-scale compost collection for the campus. The Council talked a bit about where those bins should be placed. Concerns include number of receptacles, fruit flies/smell, cost of compost bags, and responsibility for pick up. Kristi talked with the triple bin vendor, and we can just swap out the labels for a few bins. The Council agreed we should start small with collection bins then expand based on additional requests.

Kristi asked Kathy Dugdale for the state contract wording for Lighthouse for the Blind’s access to campus facilities for vending machine placement. Concerns shared with Kathy and Al via email include: costs to power them ($300+ per machine per year), wasted energy, especially during non-peak building hours, total number of machines with respect to diversity of products (multiple rows of the same beverage in a machine, not an efficient use of space), loss of revenue to our Store/Café (!), aesthetic and sound disruptions in acoustically sensitive space (like the concourse and Student Lounge, the Lounge is NOT usable for speaker-related events), cost to dispose of refuse, concerns voiced by students/Student Life with regard to lack access to outlets for their electronics around campus because every available outlet is jammed with a vending machine, and offering far too many unhealthy options to our students. Al shared that the current contract is expired, and new criteria will be evaluated for an incoming contractee when the current contractee retires.

May 7^th is our first Clean-Campus Power Hour. Kristi will send an email reminder to all employees along with a “Take A Hike Tuesday” and “Wednesday Weeding” options to gauge interest.

Kristi asked for volunteers to serve on an energy reporting committee this summer. We’ll address the types of information we should be sharing both with the public and administration annually. Al also suggested we re-visit the kiosk idea, and possibly house this information there. Kristi will continue to work with Steve when we further flush this idea out.

Gary Kruchowski would like to donate memorial tress to honor his father. The Council offered offered few location and species ideas. We’ll offer the ideas to Gary and ask what he prefers.

Ongoing Business

Old Business

Sustainability related purchasing and use policies and procedures have been through and approved by the Policy Committee. Kristi asked for any final input before they’re posted for campus review. None offered.

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, Aaron, 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, Aaron, Kristi, Deanne, Glenn

-updates from Mel and Jane

-Garden Club update

Budget                                                                                                                                                                      

FY15 Budget: $8,500

Encumbrances to date:

MN Waste Wise membership 2014-2015: -$150

Boreal Natives-Swale/Ditch project: -$5,735

Airpark Disability Services (plastic bag recycling): -$208

Dan’s Feedbin: -$300

Menards: -$200

AASHE: -$280

IOS (footrests): -$263.20

Amazon (footrests): -$123

Eden Brothers (S-bldg wildflower seed): -$192.51

SWCD for RSPT annual dues: -$300

Earth Day trail mix cups: -$5.92

Anticipated Travel for UW Madison Earth Day conference: -$483

BALANCE as of today: $139.06

FY14-15 potential budget items

• LSC Earth Day costs
• Spring landscape supplies (flowers)
• Concourse lighting signage
• Ditch/swale/raingarden info signs
• Additional bike rack for main entrance
• Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
• Parking lot/rain garden info signs
• Sustainability kiosk
• MnSCU Sustainability Across Curriculum workshop host costs

Next Meeting

Sometime in June, Kristi will send a doodle later in May.

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

Meeting Minutes 4/3/2015

10:00 – 11:00

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Council Members present: Glenn Merrick, Kristi Heintz, Mike Francisco, Theresa Hornstein, Deanne Roquet

General Members present: Aaron Ekstrom, Nate Bronk, Al Finlayson

Guest Present:

Announcements

2015 UMACS Conference at Bemidji State is June 17^th – 19^th. Student registration is $30, employees are $125 until May 1^st. Bemidji State offers free camping on campus and State Park camping options in addition to hotel stays.

New Business

At last meeting, Kristi again brought up the idea of a Sustainability Council member recruiting meeting or open or informative setting. The Council suggested we ask for a bit of time to outline the Council’s current projects and solicit membership. The Thursday’s agenda wasn’t conducive to our pitch, so we’ll try to get on the agenda for fall Duty Day.

The Social Committee announced our plans for the May 7^th Power Hour: Clean-Campus work session. Kristi also sent a follow-up message to Mat to announce in Monday’s Newsplash. We’d like people to sign up ahead of time so we can gauge interest and supplies needed.

Kristi asked for a motion to increase the Dan’s Feedbin PO by $100 for campus flowers and spring landscape supplies. Deanne motion, Mike seconded unopposed.

The Council discussed final planning for Earth Day on April 22^nd : “Scraps to Soil: Campus and Community Compost”. In lieu of a speaker, the Council (Deanne, Theresa, Kristi and anyone else) will present some “how-to-compost” tips and show a short vimeo on home composting. We will also so a short composting movie from the PBS series Food Forward titled “SOS: Save our Soil”. Heather and Student Life will provide popcorn in compostable bags, trail mix in compostable cups and apples. All of these activities will be in the Student Lounge.

Also on April 22^nd, Kristi reported on the WLSSD community drop site. Susie will host a kick-off event and Q&A in W2888 for all employees. Kristi will send an e-invite to employees the week before Earth Day.

Ongoing Business

Old Business

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, Aaron, 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, Aaron, Kristi, Deanne, Glenn

Budget                                                                                                                                                                    

FY15 Budget: $8,500

Encumbrances to date:

MN Waste Wise membership 2014-2015: -$150

Boreal Natives-Swale/Ditch project: -$5,735

Airpark Disability Services (plastic bag recycling): -$208

Dan’s Feedbin: -$200

Menards: -$200

AASHE: -$280

IOS (footrests): -$263.20

Amazon (footrests): -$123

Eden Brothers (S-bldg wildflower seed): -$192.51

SWCD for RSPT annual dues: -$300

Anticipated Travel for UW Madison Earth Day conference: -$400

BALANCE as of today: $406.42

FY14-15 potential budget items

• LSC Earth Day costs
• Spring landscape supplies (flowers)
• Concourse lighting signage
• Ditch/swale/raingarden info signs
• Additional bike rack for main entrance
• Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
• Parking lot/rain garden info signs
• Sustainability kiosk
• MnSCU Sustainability Across Curriculum workshop host costs

Next Meeting

May 1, 2015, 10:00 in Student Life Conference Room

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