MINUTES

MIDDLETON AD HOC SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

TUESDAY MAY 18, 2009 6:30 P.M.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: Brar, Carey, Caron, Helgeson, Koenig, Lorman, Olson, Saeger, Share, West

MEMBERS ABSENT: Vaughn

OTHERS PRESENT: Attoun, Pati, Westby

1. Call Meeting to Order

Brar called the meeting to order at 6:32.

2. Minutes of April 20, 2009

Helgeson moved, Koenig seconded, to approve the minutes of April 20. Motion carried (10-0).

3. Election of Officers

Olson nomimated, West seconded, to approve Saeger as committee chair. Motion carried (10-0).

Saeger nominated, Olson seconded, to approve Koenig as committee vice chair. Motion carried (6-3). Share abstained.

Lorman nominated, Helgeson seconded, to approve Brar as committee vice chair. Motion failed (3-6). Share abstained.

4. Become a Committee by Ordinance

Saeger explained becoming a committee by ordinance. West agreed that it was an excellent idea. Committee members and Attoun will research the makeup of sustainability committees in other areas.

5. Operating Budget Request

The committee will put together cost estimates for potential budget items for 2010.

6. Sustainable Community Plan

Saeger, Brar, Carey, Koenig, and Caron will serve on the ‘Green Team.’ The first meeting will be held the first week of June. Shortly after the first meeting, the Sustainability Committee should meet to hold a work session on the plan.

7. Community Gardens

Carey reported that the committee needs to hold a meeting with the gardeners at the garden site. Attoun will talk to KEVA about the gardeners using their restroom facilities. Saeger, Share, and Attoun will go out to till the additional plots later this week. The committee will work to set up a tour of potential community garden locations. Erdman is looking at late July or early August for a service day. The community gardens task force will put together a proposal for Erdman, and also for West Business Services, the Dane County Environmental Council, and the anonymous donor.

8. Clean & Green Middleton

Moved by Brar, seconded by Olson, to hold a second Clean & Green Middleton day in October. Motion carried (10-0).

This item will be kept on the agenda to begin planning for the next event.

9. MedDrop

Attoun and Koenig will be attending a MedDrop meeting on Thursday, May 21. The MedDrop group has plenty of volunteers for the June 6 MedDrop and Koenig and Attoun will coordinate with Vaughn and Boehm to wrap up the final details.

10. The Natural Step

No update. This item will be taken off the next agenda.

11. Solid Waste Automated Collection

Koenig, Vaughn, Olson, and Boehn will serve on the MedDrop task force and will meet before the next meeting to finalize things for MedDrop.

12. Sustainability Awards

This item will be discussed at the next meeting.

13. Monthly Sustainability Seminar

Henry Hart will be speaking at the June 4 seminar. The topic is “Global Climate Change.” The committee does not have a topic for the July seminar.

14. City Happenings

The committee discussed the current proposal for automated garbage that is being considered.

Moved by Olson, seconded by Saeger to make a recommendation to the Council in favor of allowing residents a choice in the size of garbage and recycling containers they receive. Motion carried (9-0). West abstained.

Moved by Helgeson, seconded by Share to make a recommendation to the Council in favor of charging a special fee for the disposal of large items. Motion carried (9-0). Brar abstained.

Moved by Koenig, seconded by West to make a recommendation to the Council in favor of the new automated garbage collection service. Motion carried (8-0). Brar and Helgeson abstained.

15. Adjourn – next meeting scheduled for Monday, June 15, at 6:30

Meeting adjourned at 8:42.