Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale Sustainability Commission met Aug. 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

Voting Members:

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

Ex Officio Members:

	Present	Absent
Vacant

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: July 20th, 2023 (Vice Chair Beck moved, G. Klam seconded)

3. Citizen Comments and Questions (None)

4. Presentations (None)

5. Report of Officers, Committees, and Communications

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

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

c. Former Koppers Wood Treatment Site Report (A. Beck, no updates)

6. Old Business (None)

7. New Business

Discussion on Legislative Priorities for the Carbondale Sustainability Commission

- Significant conversation surrounding communications with the wider Carbondale community. Questions were asked like: “Who are the contacts for the little groups that connect?” and “Who are the informal neighborhood contacts?”

- Discussion surrounding improvements to the chicken coop ordinance, which limits the number of coop permits. Vice Chair Beck notes that the city has never run out of coop permits to distribute. Discussion surrounding whether amendments to the ordinance should be made to permit ducks, quail, etc. in an effort to increase food sovereignty.

- Discussion surrounding “what the city allows versus what the city encourages”.

- Discussion surrounding hosting a Pollinator Day in April 2024, to promote University of Illinois Extension resources and city code improvements.

- Discussion surrounding new city-owned parks and whether demonstration plots and education could occur at these sites.

- It is identified that further discussion is necessary regarding legislative priorities.

8. Announcements

J. Davis recommended that the next meeting be a field trip through the Green Earth Chautauqua Bottoms Nature Preserve. Chair Treesong ensured unanimous consent from the body. It was agreed that the commission would meet at the Civic Center and carpool to Chautauqua together for the next meeting.

Vice Chair Beck shared that the World Hunger Sale is happening on Saturday, the Friends of the Shawnee are seeking new members, and that if you are interested reach out.

9. Adjournment (5:50pm, J. Davis moved to adjourn. K. Clark seconded. Chair Treesong ensured unanimous consent)

Good afternoon everyone

https://www.explorecarbondale.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09212023-2083