Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale Sustainability Commission met March 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

Voting Members:

	Present	Absent	Comment
Aur Beck (Chair)	x
Jane Cogie	x
Kevin Clark	x
Sarah Heyer	x
Yoonseo Jung (Student)	x
Isaac Ludington (Student)	x
Treesong	x
Gayle Klam	x

Ex Officio Members:

	Present	Absent
Tom Grant (City Councilmember)		x

City Staff:

	Present	Absent
Lauren Becker (Staff Liaison)	x

Community Members Present:

1. Call to Order and Roll Call (5:00pm)

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 16th, 2023 (J. Cogie moved, K. Clark seconded. Chair Beck ensured unanimous consent)

3. Citizen Comments and Questions 

4. Presentations 

a. Tidying loose ends: Aligning City-wide Commission Bylaws with current C.C.R.C. (City of Carbondale Revised Code) w/ City Clerk Jennifer Sorrell

i. Clerk Sorrell shared and S. Heyer seconded that these bylaws were amended, viewed by Sustainability Commission, and passed through City Council in January 2022, but somehow the Sustainability Commission did not have the opportunity to vote on them formally due to the pandemic and staff turnover. The Bylaws must be adopted first and then can be amended as needed.

b. Preparing for Annual Vote on Chair & Vice-Chair (April 2023)

i. Liaison Becker shared that the April meeting will feature nominations and a vote on the positions of Sustainability Commission Chair and Vice Chair

ii. Chair Beck offers that being Chair is a lot easier now that there is a staff liaison. “Essentially run the meeting. Herd the cats as they say.” As well as “Come prepared, don’t vote on conflicts of interest.”

iii. The floor will be open to nominations, those nominated must accept the nomination.

5. Report of Officers, Committees, and Communications 

a. Sustainability Coordinator Monthly Progress Report (L. Becker, attached)

i. City of Carbondale has been awarded Phase 1 Energy Communities Transition Grant funding, pending award of Phase 2 – Headed up by Economic Development

b. Federal, State, and Local Policy Landscape Report (J. Cogie, attached)

c. Former Koppers Wood Treatment Site Report (A. Beck)

6. Old Business 

Earth Day Proclamation:

S. Heyer moved to approve the Earth Day Proclamation

K. Clark seconded

Chair Beck ensured unanimous consent

7. New Business 

Sustainability Commission Bylaws:

S. Heyer moved to adopt the proposed bylaws with the correction of “energy” to “sustainability” in SECTION 2 Purpose as suggested by Treesong J. Cogie seconded, Chair Beck ensured unanimous consent

8. Announcements 

∙ S. Heyer expressed interest in establishing a no-mow April for Southern Illinois, Liaison Becker shared that a “weed inspector” is strategically not hired until May

∙ Chair Beck – Humane Society fundraiser Saturday with spaghetti and no nut brownies 

∙ S. Heyer expressed interest in water bottle filling stations across the community, can we help the Park District?

∙ Liaison Becker shared the Earth Month 2023 Calendar of Events (it’s live!) that was developed in collaboration with SIU Student Affairs and community entities

∙ S. Heyer reminded everyone of the April 4th Election

9. Adjournment (6:00pm G. Klam moved to adjourn, Treesong seconded. Chair Beck ensured unanimous consent.)

https://www.explorecarbondale.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04202023-1963