Sustainability at Lake Superior College

Meeting Minutes 12/1/2017

9:00 – 10:30

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Kristi Heintz, Danielle Wood, Mike Francisco, Connie Moore, Cliff Koski, Deanne Roquet, Dave Israel, Eric Brandt

General Members present:

Guest Present: Chris Whaley

Announcements

The Twin Ports Campus Sustainability Network (TP-CSN) meeting 12/1 at 1:00 in the Student Life Conference Room.  Everyone is welcome to join!

New Business

Kristi outlined the history of LSC’s commitment to the ACUPCC (President’s Climate Commitment).  Three years ago, the Council decided to discontinue reporting citing other required reporting formats.  While still committed to our Sustainability Plan and the mission of the ACUPCC (Now Second Nature – Climate Leadership Network), Kristi reached out to the organization to find out if there was an option to reduce annual fees (then $750, last invoice was $900/year) and requirements.  The CLN now offers 3 “Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments” including: Climate Commitment, Carbon Commitment, and Resilience Commitment each with different reporting requirents.  The Resiliance track would be most appropriate for LSC, however, we aren’t yet sure if we find enough value in this membership for the fee.  After discussion, the Council agreed there may be value if the campus’ Marketing Department is willing to showcase it as such.  The Council suggested we bring this discussion to Administration for feedback.  Kristi will try to get a meeting with Admin during semester break.  If we decide to rescind our membership, a letter from President Johns is required, along with rational for withdrawing.

Kristi and Connie have worked to stock compostable products for department purchase in the LSC Store.  Since last meeting, Kristi talked with Student Life and Student Senate president to ask if they’d be interested in using these products for events, purchasing from the Store.  Both were very positive about the opportunity. Connie reported she has not yet purchased but will be soon and will send an update to all campus when the products are available.

Kristi also noted the compost bins are available, and maintenance will put them out when event organizers indicate they want them available (through EMS).  Kristi noted that any additional educational materials (signs, “trash talkers”, etc) should be the responsibility of the Sustainability Council and student employees.

The Council discussed some outdoor Minnesota Recycles receptacle-bottles.  There wasn’t huge support of placing these outside, however it was agreed some kind of recycling and trash should be available at every entrance.

Kristi shared the high points of the System-wide Sustainability Work Group web-meeting hosted by Emily Ziring from the System Office on Tuesday 11/28.  Kristi noted a 6-month Building Operator Training/Certification was mentioned as a really good option for building operators and energy efficiency gains.  Kristi passed that information and contact information to Mark.  Emily asked for feedback on the B3 Term Reports.  If anyone has ideas/suggestions, send to Kristi.

After several recycling complaints were communicated with Kristi from both students and employees, a detailed email including links to state recycling statutes and local ordinances were sent to Craig to convey to his staff.  A solution was found and the maintenance staff and Kristi talked about the discrepancy.

Kristi and Chris will do another energy walk-though over break, replicating results from 2009 and 2011, to quantify costs (energy and dollar) of small appliances and heaters.  This information will be useful in out Green Office roll-out.

Old Business

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

GreenCorps project(s) update

• Chris gave a Green Office work group update. The small group met last week to go through the survey and talk through the timeline and roll-out details.  The group decided the January 4^th Duty Day might be a good place to roll it out.  The group decided we would use a large map to define “teams” rather than letting people self-define.  Kristi will work on the logo design with Jean.
• Chris updated the TP-CSN group on his EnergyMiser project at the November meeting. Jonna (from UMD) mentioned UMD has 5 new misers that they aren’t using and offered to give them to us.  Kristi picked them up; Chris will install them over semester break.

Kristi gave a 2-month update for our Trex recycling challenge.  110 pounds were counted this month, bringing us to a 165 pound total of our 500 pound goal.

Danielle didn’t have an update on grounds and garden maintenance aside from “frozen”, but Danielle will now be working with Chris to develop some infographics and other social media and blog graphics to go along with Chris’s outreach materials.

Budget      

FY 18 total budget: $7,399.26

Encumbrances to date:

• Menards: -300
  • Atrium soil, potting soil, landscape tools
• Mileage reimbursement: MPCA site supervisor training: -160.50
• Mileage B3 luncheon: -167.99
• B3 luncheon registration: -27.37
• AASHE annual membership: -280
• Print/postage: -18.04

Review/revise FY17potential budget items

• Bottle filling station for Atrium?
• Picnic table under H catwalk, or Student Life area?
• Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
• Sustainability kiosk: pamphlet holder, plastic bag bin
• workshops?

Meeting adjourned 10:30

Next Meeting

Friday, January 5^th, 9:00

Meeting Minutes 11/3/2017

9:00 – 10:30

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Theresa Hornstein, Kristi Heintz, Marissa Johnsen, Danielle Wood, Mike Francisco, Nathan Bronk, Connie Moore, Cliff Koski, Deanne Roquet, Dave Israel, Wade Gordon

General Members present:

Guest Present: Chris Whaley

Announcements

The American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) is hosting a “Sustainable Practices: Solar, Worms, and Ojibwe Values” discussion/meeting tonight (Nov 3^rd) from 5-7:00 pm at The Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center at 202 W 2^nd St in Duluth.

The Twin Ports Climate Coalition is hosting it’s November speaker on the 21^st at the MPCA office in Canal Park.  This month’s topic is What climate action lessons can the Twin Ports learn from South Florida?  Networking at 11:30 and program at noon.  Bring your own lunch.

New Business

Kristi attended the B3 Awards Luncheon last week and accepted the award on behalf of the college.  This news has been shared with the campus, and Janet put together press release this week.  The award has been in Admin for the week, and will live permanently in the Sustainability Office for all to sniff (it’s made of cedar wood).

Kristi and Connie met this week to talk about the LSC Store’s ability to purchase compostable product kits for campus events, and departments can purchase from the Store.  They both feel this will be advantageous for the campus, as Connie can purchase in bulk for better pricing, less time will need to be spent across campus on product pricing and purchasing decisions, less time will be spent on PO encumbrance and record keeping, and hosting zero waste events will be simpler.  Kristi will work with Connie on product options.  Deanne suggested it might be good to offer a “brown bag” to roll out this Zero Waste Kit idea to the campus, inviting key purchasers to hear about the procedure and benefits.  This is also a listed goal in our Strategic/Master Work Plan.

Al shared that the METASYS upgrade will happen next week, and programming and training will happen when the upgrade is complete.  Kristi also noted the new roadway lights have now been retrofitted to LED fixtures with programmable timers.  These improvement projects are now logged in B3 so we can track energy savings.

Marissa shared that Minnesota State (C&U) is reviewing MS4 status for our campus (among others).  She will let us know when a decision is made by MPCA.  Kristi noted that future reporting will get more onerous with Miller Creek now in approved TMDL status.  Also, we are nearing the end of our “grace period” to implement a number of enforcement and response procedures (ERPs) and documentation for best management practices (BMPs) related to the most recent permitting cycle.  We’ll wait for MPCA’s decision before we move forward with getting these procedures finalized.

The Council decided April 19^th would be a good day for LSC’s 2018 Earth Day (actual holiday is the following Sunday).  Ideas for theme and speakers will happen later.

Old Business

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

Chris gave a GreenCorps project(s) update:

• He’s been working to reconnect the campus’ EnergyMisers, most of which were disconnected after they were originally installed (5+ years ago). Kristi shared that Al has been using the electric and cost data that we found to renegotiate our contract with Lighthouse for the Blind.  Chris noted that we would need just over $900 to connect the machines that are not currently on misers.  There are no rebates currently available to defray this cost.  The Council decided it would be a good idea to wait until the contract is settled to see if some machines could potentially be removed before we put misers on them.
• Kristi and Chris went to ERTC to do a mini-audit of energy use. Chris noted there were very few students in the building at the time, but the whole place was lit up like a Christmas tree!  The fixtures are dated and there would be guaranteed savings from fixture/bulb retrofits and also motion activated sensors for many of the classrooms and hallways.  Wade noted this has been discussed before, but not made a high-level priority.  It might be a good idea to quantify the potential energy savings.  Kristi will look around, and work with Mark and Al, to find someone to do this analysis.
• Chris has been working on a Green Office survey. The idea behind this is to both provide information and dialog within departments/office-mates and also get information and campus ideas to the Sustainability Council.  The Council reviewed the survey, some minor adjustments were made and questions about scoring and incentive were briefly discussed.  Kristi noted it might be a good idea to get a small group to work on this more between now and the next meeting.  We may want to roll it out in April, around Earth Day, maybe introducing it at the April Duty Day.  Kristi will ask Kirsten to pencil the Council in on the Agenda for this and maybe a larger update on GreenCorps projects.  Dave suggested we also include some workspace nature/calming components into the survey.
• Related to the Green Office, Wade wondered if there might be an individual opportunity to participate if office mates weren’t willing. There could be a “Green Champions” category/award.  Dave cautioned we don’t “nominate” someone for this distinction without their consent, as green-nosing might be seen as unwelcomed attention in some areas.

Kristi shared an update on the Trex recycling challenge.  After our first month of this challenge’s collection, we have 55 pounds on record!  We have 5 more months to reach our 500 pound goal!

Danielle gave an update on her grounds and garden maintenance work.  She worked with Marissa and maintenance to get the glass removed from the garden area and has done a lot of work to clear the vegetable garden for spring.  She will also decorate the planters with festive branches for the winter once they are moved.

Budget      

FY 18 total budget: $8,450

Encumbrances to date:

• Menards: -300
  • Atrium soil, potting soil, landscape tools
• Mileage reimbursement: MPCA site supervisor training: -160.50

Review/revise FY17potential budget items

• Bottle filling station for Atrium?
• Picnic table under H catwalk, or Student Life area?
• Interpretive Trail bench, trash/recycling cans, exclosures
• Sustainability kiosk: pamphlet holder, plastic bag bin
• workshops?

Meeting adjourned 10:30

Next Meeting

Friday, December 1^st, 9:00

Meeting Minutes 10/6/2017

10:00 – 11:15

Student Life Conference Room

Attendance

Governing Core Members present: Theresa Hornstein, Kristi Heintz, Eric Brandt, Marissa Johnsen, Danielle Wood, Mike Francisco, Jose Perros

General Members present:  Dick Haney

Guest Present: Chris Whaley

Announcements

Regional Economic Indicators Forum (REIF): Exploring the influences on our region’s economy  “Economics of the Region’s Water Resources”, Keynote: Stephen Polasky Tues, October 31^st, 7-9:00 am.  Registration is $25.  Contact Kristi if you’re interested in requesting Council funding to cover registration costs.

New Business

Chris gave an update of his current GreenCorps project(s).  He’s currently working to get all of our vending machines on misers while also capturing energy use data, before and after miser installation.  At the same time, he’s been researching some model college Green Office programs and will be designing something for our campus to fulfill the facility-user education and outreach committment.  He’ll have additional projects to report on each month, as outlined in the GreenCorps workplan.

Through conversations with maintenance on recycling practices, Kristi received a request from a maintenance staff to provide employee office recycling education.  Kristi brought some example “reminder cards”, and the Council discussed options to deploy these reminders along with other modalities.  Eric suggested an explanatory email be sent first to prep people for the card on their desk.

The Council also discussed an opportunity to streamline event supply purchases, favoring less waste and compostable materials.  Kristi offered that its currently a voluntary practice and she has worked with Recruiting on some changes to their event offerings, but so far no other requests for assistance have been made to the Sustainability Council.  Marissa shared a not positive experience with even waste management she had at another campus, and wondered if we could restrict some purchases or provide “acceptable” options.  Mike wondered if we might ask if Connie could bulk purchase, much like the Copy Center does for supplies, and departments could purchase from her.  This may even provide a staff time and cost saving opportunity; great ideas!  Kristi will check with Connie.

Kristi shared that a Campus Climate Committee Recommendation was put to President Johns regarding Outdoor Gathering Spaces.  The Council wasn’t quite sure about the role it could play, but will watch for president Johns’ recommendation and perhaps look for ways to provide assistance.  Regarding outdoor walking spaces, the Council will continue to work on ways to better promote the trails, including maybe adding additional trail map displays to vestibules like the one in the E building, and maybe adding some information to new student orientation materials.

Kristi shared that the latest GMW position posted does include “groundskeeping”, so potential may exist to bring additional attention to outdoor spaces, especially where it has been voiced as  a valuable asset to the campus community.

Kristi noted that the AASHE annual membership dues are up for October 31^st.  Mike motioned to continue annual $280 membership, Theresa seconded.  Motion carried unopposed.

Old Business

Kristi asked Peggy to add a compost bin request toggle to EMS and Craig has moved the bins to a maintenance closet along with compost bags and composting information.  Kristi will continue to work with maintenance on best practice for managing the additional waste steam.

Work Group and Student Employee Reports

Kristi shared an update on the Trex recycling challenge.  Jose has been working to put more bins out, and has done some additional work to emphasize recycling bin use on campus.  Additional suggestions welcome!

Danielle gave an update on her grounds and garden maintenance work.  She’s been clearing the vegetable garden of weeds and has done work to clear the North Trail.

Budget      

Encumbrances to date:

• Menards: -300
  • Atrium soil, potting soil, landscape tools
• Mileage reimbursement: MPCA site supervisor training: -160.50

Meeting adjourned 11:15

Next Regular Meeting

November 3^rd, 2017 at 9:00

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