City of Batavia Environmental Commission met June 10.
Here is the minutes provided by the commission:
1. Call to order/Member and Guest Introductions
Members present:
Carolyn Burnham, Emma Cole, Andrew Greenhagen, Andrew Deitchman, Alex Zelles, Michael Willuweit, Anna Bakker
Volunteers/Special Guests present: Laura Newman
Absent:
Andrea Podraza, John Kennedy
2. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Approved and sent.
3. Single Use Bags/Plastics
Things were moving along pre- COVID, but we will table this until the pandemic has passed. Another thing we may want to pursue is working with restaurants to reduce take- out waste (alternatives to Styrofoam, only including plastic utensils when requested). Alex, Michael, and Emma will assist.
4. Green Night Out at the Movies
This event may need to become an online movie night. Need to work on which platform and figure out how many people could be allowed as well as any other limitations. The city uses GoTo as a platform. All advertisements would be online.
5. EV Infrastructure
We will wait on this to hear from the city about what infrastructure updates are supposed to be happening before we try to write up something separate. We would still love to see a charger at the Batavia Public Library.
6. Open Discussion
Other communities have a Champion Tree program. Basically, notable trees will get a plaque for owners to display and people could visit Champion Trees on their walks. This would function both as an educational tool and a way to encourage conservation. The Tree Commission could possibly also be involved. The city has done a tree inventory in the past and is planning to do another in the near future. Kane County and the State of Illinois have a Champion Tree program. We would need to follow their guidelines and be in charge of verifying the data. This could be a competition to increase participation. Training for people (so they know how to take measurements) could be put on our website. Anna, Michael, Andrew, and Alex will work on this.
Emma will contact Wally to see about another Wildflower Walk or something similar, once restrictions loosen up.
Michael would like to know if a Parkway Prairie Program would be possible. However, plants would need to be lower than 2 feet. This would be limiting, but not impossible.
Alex is working on writing a post regarding responsible backyard firepit practices. Laura will send ordinance.
7. Adjournment
https://www.cityofbatavia.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06102020-1564
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