Sustainability at Lake Superior College

Sustainability Council Meeting Minutes 5/17/2019

9:00 – 10:00

S-1913 Student Services Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Dave, Mike M., Mike F., Kevin, Jenna, Tim, Tammy, Randy, Deanne, Theresa, Nate, Kristi

General Members present:

Guests:

Announcements

MREA Energy Fair, Custer, WI, June 21-23

Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability (UMACS) annual conference is Sept 27-28 at Carleton College in Northfield. Call for presentation proposals ends April 5^th.

2019 AASHE Conference “Co-Creating a Sustainable Economy” – October 27-30 in Spokane, WA

New Business

Mike M. gave an update on the Eco-Entrepreneurship program’s field site.  Welcome to the program’s CLA/Living Labs Coordinator/Field Site Manager, Kevin!  Deanne suggested a plan for a field site grand opening, Randy suggested fall might be a good time to plan for this.

Student Services reached out to Kristi (and Mike and Randy) to volunteer time for some team-building service sessions for both June 13 and 14, 10am-12 and 1-3pm.  A list of tasks was sent to Shannon, and they’ve decided to break out into teams to service:

• Mulch pollinator garden
• Planters soil and flower planting
• Student Senate apple trees and fencing
• Farm site: fence and terrace, transplanting, tomato trellising, pollinator hotels

The Council discussed options for fruit tree planting and associated fencing in the Student Senate Legacy Area, Randy and Kevin offered their cautionary insight and advice on this endeavor on poor, compacted, turf grass soil.  Their suggestion was to avoid land that hasn’t been conditioned.  Kristi offered maybe suggesting 6 trees be planted along the perimeter of the wildflower area, where soil has had some years to improve with perennial grass.  This location would also offer the benefit of no mow-around needed. The Council took a field trip to the Senate Legacy area to survey the area.  Kristi will follow-up with Kevin and Heather.

Plans are being finalized for the S-building entrance at the red railing.  A design for the greenspace has not yet been shared with the Sustainability Council, nor has feedback been solicited.  Construction may start mid-June.

On April 16, Kristi submitted the following goals to Al for inclusion in the FY20 Workplan:

1. Develop proposal for north trail as pedestrian path
   • Desired Outcomes:
     1. consider appropriate surface for maximum usability,
     2. estimate total costs, development and ongoing maintenance (add: Dave suggests planning signs),
     3. account for the trail’s potential use as an access from lower main parking lots to Living Labs field site

2. Articulate the role of “Living Labs” at LSC
   • Desired Outcomes:
     1. draft potential interdisciplinary collaboration/learning opportunities at new Farm Site (add: collaboration/consult with Student Senate)
     2. develop a forest management plan for Miller Creek corridor – identifying terrestrial invasive species threats and management goals
        1. align goals as potential course-related field experience, both through curriculum and Sustainability Distinction
3. Update campus’ sustainability and energy goals
   • Desired Outcomes:
     1. align with state and system-wide sustainability goals, following Board of Trustees approval of new system sustainability policies,
     2. update LSC Sustainability webpages to reflect these new goals

Kristi put the notion of requesting a meeting with incoming President, Dr. Patricia Rogers, before fall semester start.  Kristi will call for a small working group together to outline a few of our goals to introduce Dr. Rogers to the Sustainability Council and Living Lab areas.

Kristi’s summer project will include LSC’s sustainability website content update.  Kristi will discuss pertinent pieces with interested SC members before publishing (in support of WP Goal 3).

Deanne brought Subaru’s Terracycle program for consideration.  She is going to ask if they would sponsor us as a satellite collection location.

Old Business

The Council debriefed this year’s Earth Day activities.  Aside from somewhat low attendance, the group agreed visibility might be better if tables or activities were extended into the Student Life area.  We may consider theme days with dedicated activities throughout the week.

Budget

FY 19 original budget: $8,450

Encumbrances to date:

• Earth Day supplies: $300
• Food Farm (carrots): $60
• Cub Foods (Earth Day): $100
• RSPT Annual Campus Dues: $330
• Prairie Restorations (tansy treatment): $300
• Menards: $200
• ShelDon: $140.52
• 4 Seasons Outdoor Svcs: $ 179
• AASHE annual dues: $280
• Printing: $22.22
• Amazon (Hanging scale for Recyclemania): $49.95

Final FY purchases

• Boreal Natives service contract (tansy treatment, spot weed/seed) -$1,000
• Menards increase: -$400
• Four Seasons (mulch and limestone): -$1000
• Forestry Suppliers (3 rogue hoes): -$200
• Dan’s Feedbin (flowers): -$500

Balance to-date: $3,445.74

Meeting adjourned, 10:00

Next Meetings

TBD

Minutes respectfully submitted by Kristi Heintz, 5/20/2019.  Posted to LSC Sustainability Council Blog and Employee Portal Committees page.

Sustainability Council Meeting Minutes 4/5/2019

9:00 – 10:00

S-1913 Student Services Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Mike M., Mike F., randy, Nate, Cliff, Tammy, Deanne, Kurt, Theresa, Kristi, Dave, Glenn, Mary, Mark

General Members present:  

Guests:

Announcements

Duluth Power Dialog: Energy Comedy & Conversation for a 100% Clean & Equitable Energy Minnesota moderated by the Theater of Public Policy, Tuesday April 9^th, 5-7:00 PM at Zeitgeist, free event (contact: Randy)

Green New Deal Duluth Action Summit, Saturday, April 27^th, 9:30-3:30 at AICHO – Keynote by Winona LaDuke

Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability (UMACS) annual conference is Sept 27-28 at Carleton College in Northfield. Call for presentation proposals ends April 5^th

Theresa’s annual plant sale is May 10^th 

2019 AASHE Conference “Co-Creating a Sustainable Economy” – October 27-30 in Spokane, WA

Spring Extravaganza, U of M Extension with keynote Mark Seeley at Coppertop on April 13^th at 10:00 (contact: Mary)

Nobel Conference 55 – Climate Changed: Facing our Future, September 24 & 25 at Gustavus

Ike’s monthly meeting, featuring speaker Dennis Anderson May 1^st at 7:00 at LSC

New Business

Kristi brought FY20 Work Plan goals to the Council for planning consideration.  FY18 goals were reviewed (FY19 were not readily available).  The Council agreed to consider 3 goals (draft):

1. Plan and propose multi-use paths, considering appropriate surface for maximum utility, for the north trail,
2. Solidify the role of Living Labs at LSC, including our urban forest management (develop a management plan) and integration of these projects in classrooms and Distinction
3. Align state and system-wide sustainability goals with our campus’ goals following Board of Trustees adoption of new system policies, and update LSC Sustainability webpages related to these new goals

LSC’s April 18^th Earth Day planning continued. 

• All events will run from 11:00-1:00.
• Kristi offered a preview of the posters that will go up next week, as well as the intended media plan and webpage.
• Council members signed up for Earth Day duties:
  • RSPT table host (Tammy, Kristi will pick up the supplies)
  • Bag It, Duluth + Recycle Mania/campus recycling info  (Kurt)
  • Campus clean up supplies station host (Mike)
  • E-EP demo hosts (Randy and Mike)
  • Sustainability Distinction table host w/ Duluth Invaders (Kristi)
  • Seedlings and seeds table host (Mary)
  • Handmade hummus table host (Deanne)
  • Maple Syrup and willow walking sticks (Dave and Tom G.)
  • Veggie prep (Kristi) and serving (Students – Student Life)

Mike and Randy gave an Eco-Ent program update.  Accreditation is almost complete.  Mike and Randy met with advisors this week.  The field site is drying, and contractors will be back to expand the greenhouse footprint and contour the pad for drainage soon.  The greenhouses have been ordered and should be here in about a month, and some installation needs will be communicated in late May.  A better timeline will be available by next meeting.

The CLA2 Living Labs Coordinator candidate interviews are next week.

The Sustainability Distinction website is up and we are accepting applications now.

The main (S-building) pollinator garden and H-building edible garden (outside labs) needs some spring pruning.  Kristi will have student employees start in on it, but will send out a call for volunteers in the next couple of weeks.

Mark reported there are no new details to share for the S-building entrance renovation, but it is happening.  Kristi has asked Grant to simply put the black plastic back in place for now.

Theresa noted she does not have any active Garden Club members to utilize the existing garden.  Randy offered to adopt the garden for future use. Kristi noted the space should be covered to keep the weeds at bay if there isn’t intent to use it this year.

Dave shared the City of Duluth’s interest in developing a mountain bike spur trail from campus to the Duluth Traverse next summer, but they would like an agreement with LSC to maintain the trail.  The trail falls on City property, so Kristi suggested we have further conversation about how the plan is laid out and proposed.  HPER and the Mountain Bike Club has shown interest in supporting this effort as well as improvement of the north trail.  Dave will continue to work on this project with internal and external stakeholders.

Old Business

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

Budget

FY 19 original budget: $8,450 FY 19 original budget: $8,450

Encumbrances to date:

• Earth Day supplies: $300
• Food Farm (carrots): $60
• Cub Foods (Earth Day): $100
• RSPT Annual Campus Dues: $330
• Prairie Restorations (tansy treatment): $300
• Menards: $200
• ShelDon: $140.52
• 4 Seasons Outdoor Svcs: $ 179
• AASHE annual dues: $280
• Printing: $22.22
• Amazon (Hanging scale for Recyclemania): $49.95

Balance to-date: $6,488.11

Meeting adjourned, 10:00

Next Meeting

Next regular monthly meeting: Friday May 17th, 9:00 am

Minutes respectfully submitted by Kristi Heintz, 4/5/2019.  Posted to LSC Sustainability Council Blog and Employee Portal Committees page.

Sustainability Council Meeting Minutes 1/18/2019

S-1913 Student Services Conference Room

9:00 – 10:15

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Glenn, Mike M, Randy, Grant, Mary, Dave, Nate, Jenna, Jeri, Mike F, Theresa, Deane, Kurt, Tim, Eric, Mark, Kristi

General Members present:  

Guests: Collin Krochalk

Announcements

New “member” introductions, thanks for joining us, students!

Sustainable Farming Assn (SFA) Annual Conference at College of St. Benedicts, February 9^th

Lake Superior Chapter SFA Conference and Annual Meeting at Peace Church Duluth, January 26^th West , Randy will be presenting information on the Eco Entrepreneurship Program

2019 AASHE Conference “Co-Creating a Sustainable Economy” – October 27-30 in Spokane, WA

RSTP February 13^th monthly meeting at LSC, room S1981, with guest speaker Brooke Aselson from MPCA on the impact of salt on ecosystem health

New Business

Kristi brought and update regarding the Master Academic Plan (MAP) Goal #3 subgroup work in Distinctions to the Council.  Both Eric and Collin have been involved in the pilot Distinction in Leadership, and offered feedback from that experience thus far.  Kristi gave a recap from our November meeting (review in November’s meeting minutes), Glenn offered an overview of the “service learning” component of the Distinction and our partnership with Duluth Invaders, and Kristi distributed a draft recruiting hand out for Council feedback.  Recruiting can start now, once Council feedback is incorporated, Kristi will send an electronic copy of the hand out to anyone wanting to distribute the flyer in online classes, and she will provide the flyers for on ground.  Glenn’s spring on ground ENSC 1200 class will be introduced to the project in April with in-class guests from Duluth Invaders and CISMA, and recruited for the fall cohort.  Kristi plans to recruit via Student Success Day presentations, Open House tables, Deanne suggested perhaps presentations in FYE.

Randy inquired as to our membership in the National Council on Science and the Environment’s working group, The Community College Alliance for Sustainability in Education (CCASE).  Kristi offered experience with the group at last year’s NCSE Annual Meeting, and very good resources they are currently developing for community colleges.  Kristi also mentioned that she has found value in the Sustainability Education & Economic Development Center (SEED), and wonder if membership with this group would be valuable.  Kristi noted both are uniquely focused on the resources pertinent to community and technical colleges.  She tasked the Council with reviewing these resources at member’s leisure, and revisiting membership at our February meeting.

At our November meeting, April 18^th was chosen as LSC’s Earth Day.  Kristi offered the year’s campus book read will be “Lab Girl” by Hope Jahren.  The LSC One Book One Campus Committee thought it might be a nice tie-in, and will schedule the events to coincide with Earth Day.  The Council will consider themes that might be carried through.  Kurt noted “unity” would be very positive, Collin noted the Student Senate and the Minnesota State (LeadMN, formerly MSCSA) is focusing on diversity and unity this year, so it may be nice to build on that effort.  Opportunities to incorporate food insecurity and health were discussed.  The Council will continue these discussions at February’s meeting.

Old Business

Kristi offered an update on the Council’s proposed change in waste handling procedures for campus offices.  Mark reported there has not been a move to adopt the change, citing numerous concerns from maintenance.

Those that attended last week’s faculty development day offered the latest details from the campus housing developer and architect.  Of particular interest is the food growing space on the roof of one tower, which still seems to be on track.  Randy wisely reminded us that the plans are still very fluid.

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

Boris was not present to offer an update on the Café serveware inventory project

Kurt and Kristi offered details on the RecyclMania competition LSC will be taking on, starting February 3^rd and running through March 30^th.  The 8-week competition’s goal is to increase recycling rates, increase awareness and we will be reporting our weekly recycling rates to the national scoreboard and ranked per capita.  Kristi and Kurt are hosting the first team meeting on January 22^nd at noon in the Student Life Conference Room, all students are encouraged to attend.  Terracycle options may also be discussed at those meetings.  Collin offered to present the competition participation plan to Student Senate (thanks, Collin!).  Kristi asked for discussion on a weighing mechanism.  Mark reported there is nothing on campus that will work to weigh our recycling carts. Kristi also offered the Eco Entrepreneurship program may want to use the scale for weighing produce in the greenhouse.  After looking at some options, it seems a suspended scale will work best.  The Council agreed, if a 500 pound capacity if only marginally more expensive than a 300 pound capacity, bigger will be better.  Mike motioned to spend up to $200 on a weighing mechanism, Nate seconded, motion carried unopposed.

Budget

FY 19 original budget: $8,450

Encumbrances to date:

• Prairie Restorations (tansy treatment): $300
• Menards: $200
• ShelDon: $140.52
• 4 Seasons Outdoor Svcs: $ 179
• AASHE annual dues: $280
• Printing: $13.42

Balance to-date: $7,337.05

Meeting adjourned, 10:15

Next Meetings

Next regular monthly meeting: Friday February 1^st, 9:00 am

RecycleMania first team meeting Tuesday January 22^nd, noon, SLCR

Minutes respectfully submitted by Kristi Heintz, 1/22/2019.  Posted to LSC Sustainability Council Blog and Employee Portal Committees page.

Sustainability Council Meeting Minutes 11/30/2018

9:00 – 10:30

S-2920 Large Admin

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Mike F., Tim, Theresa, Deanne, Dave, Kristi, Boris

General Members present:

Guests:

Announcements

MPCA grant for electric lawn equipment, up to $24,000, due December 5.  Grant match is requited.  Kristi will forward to Mike and Randy for potential new program-related equipment needs.

Next monthly Ikes meeting at LSC will be December 5^th at 7:00 pm in S-2964, titled “Crowd Funding Your Solar Project in Minnesota”.

New Business

The Council reviewed “LSC Living Labs” content discussed in last week’s work group meeting.  The Council agreed it would be beneficial to invite Mike S. and marketing to a meeting to discuss the context, and the group was comfortable with the document created as a baseline for those conversations.

Kristi brought information regarding the Master Academic Plan (MAP) Goal #3 subgroup work in Distinctions to the Council.  Kristi was tasked with developing a framework for a Distinction in Sustainability for a Fall 2019 start.  Kristi will teach the 1 credit DSTC 1999 course (fall only).  The Council reviewed potential co-courses for 2 semesters, potential course offering for future cohorts as well as associated projects.  The Council agreed:

• Flexibility in admitting students is important (unrelated to student’s credit standing)
• Combination of both nomination and self-application with recommendation is useful
• The pilot’s fall co-course will be ENSC 1200 for its wide applicability
• Co-course flexibility should be offered for those students that may have already taken (ENSC 1200, for example)
• The pilot year should be capped at 10
• The DSTC 2999 course could be facilitated by the same instructor as other Distinctions (leadership, diversity), but continuity from DSTC 1999 to DSTC 2999 is critical
• Project will be defined by ENSC faculty and Kristi.

The Council decided LSC’s Earth Day could be celebrated on April 18^th to avoid a Monday campus event.

Old Business

At last meeting, the Council viewed the State of MN Enterprise Sustainability 2017 Report (found on the MN Office of Enterprise Sustainability webpage).  The Council agreed adopting a combination of the State of Minnesota’s goals along with Minnesota State’s goals was logical.  Kristi provided an update on the Board of Trustees’ timeline to review the Minnesota State Sustainability Policy/Procedure changes (which outline new targets).  That review will happen in May/June.  The Council agreed we would hold off on proposing adoption of sustainability-related targets until the Policy/Procedure is approved by the BoT.  Related, the State of MN is rolling out its own metrics reporting tool (similar to SIMAP previously discussed for GHG reporting at LSC).  While Minnesota State is not currently required to report out on all of the metrics required for the greater State of MN agencies, Kristi suggested we wait until this tools is adopted by Minnesota State because it will jive with B3.  Kristi inquired with Emily at the System Office about voluntary immediate use of the reporting tool (even for internal use); that request will be reviewed.

Kristi had informal discussions with Al and Mark regarding the Council’s proposed change in waste handling procedures for campus offices.  Al requested additional flexibility for users (opt-in or -out).  Kristi incorporated this feedback in the formal proposal and sent to Al, Mark and Craig for feedback.  The email also included our proposal to add cloth hand towels to kitchenette areas to reduce our paper towel purchase/waste.  Kristi will follow-up with those managers next week.

Dave offered a re-cap of the Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council’s (MIC) bikeways draft plan as well as progress in planning for mountain bike trails on campus.  Dave has connected with the housing designer, HPER faculty and the mountain bike coach to start a route plan.  Dave will continue to work on that.

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

Update from Student Employees

• Boris offered an update on the Café non-food inventory project. He started an inventory and will be doing a cost analysis on products to reduce the amount of trash we are generating.  Ideally, we can get to an all recyclable or compostable waste stream and move most waste bins in the Commons area (with additional education).

Budget

FY 19 original budget: $8,450

Encumbrances to date:

• Prairie Restorations (tansy treatment): $300
• Menards: $200
• ShelDon: $140.52
• 4 Seasons Outdoor Svcs: $ 179
• AASHE annual dues: $280
• Printing: $13.42

Balance to-date: $7,383

Next Meetings

Regular monthly meeting: Regular monthly meeting January 11^th, 9:00 am S2920 (Large Admin)

Minutes respectfully submitted by Kristi Heintz, 11/30/2018.  Posted to LSC Sustainability Council Blog and Employee Portal Committees page.