Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2024-10-22

Village of Skokie
 Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission
 AGENDA

 October 22, 2024
 7:00 pm
 Village Hall Room D/E
 Public Comments: sustainability@skokie.org


  I. Approval of minutes


 II. New Business
 i. Local Food & Agriculture update
 ii. Buildings and Energy update
 iii. Pumpkin composting Sunday November 3rd
 iv. USDA/IRA Tree Grant Planting Event

III. Other business
 a. Oakton Street Public Meeting

IV. Public Comment

 V. Next meeting

 i. Discussion on holiday scheduling

VI. Adjournment




Document Number: 511765

Memorandum
TO: Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commissioners

FROM: ____________________________________________________________________________
 Andrew D. DeCanniere, Commissioner, Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission

DATE: December 3, 2024

SUBJECT: October 22, 2024 Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission (SEAC)
 Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:06 PM in Conference Room D/E at Skokie Village Hall

Present: Chairperson Jennifer Grossman, Vice Chair Jim McNelis, Commissioners Andrew DeCanniere,
Michael Gershbein, Lisa Gotkin, Olivia Mahoney, Emily Okallau, Robert Render, Charles Saxe, Trustee
Liaison Khem Khoeun, Staff Liaison Elizabeth Zimmerman

Absent: Commissioners Christopher Buccola, Alma Likic, Rick Moskovitz

I. Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Commissioner Okallau to approve the minutes from the September 24, 2024
meeting, seconded by Vice Chair McNelis. The minutes were unanimously approved as presented.

II. New Business

 i. Local Food & Agriculture Update — Commissioner Lisa Gotkin

 Commissioner Gotkin began her presentation with discussion of Action Item LF 1-1 (Conduct
 a study to identify vacant properties or underutilized plots / land area which could be transformed
 into urban farms or community gardens and establish an implementation plan accordingly).

 The potential for a community garden was assessed. There were three properties within the
 community that had been under consideration but, unfortunately, none were found to meet all of
 the necessary criteria. However, other options are being explored, including the Metropolitan
 Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Leasing Program.

 Commissioner Gotkin then moved on to discussion of Action Item LF 1-2 (Collaborate with
 schools and park district to establish a “Grow Skokie” program increasing community garden
 plots and establishing a “market garden” concept supporting garden and urban agriculture
 training and internship opportunities for youth. Program to work with local restaurants, food
 shelves, or others working directly with food-insecure individuals in the community for
 distribution of food grown in the “market garden.” Explore potential of partnering with Oakton
 Community College).

 Skokie has been relying on The Talking Farm, which says that they have reached out to all of the
 school districts within Skokie, but that they are working with Districts 219, 73 1/2, and 69.

 Commissioner Gotkin also spoke about Careit, which is an app that restaurants and grocery stores
 can use to help eliminate food waste. The app connects non-profits with those who have leftovers.
 It is free for both parties. It has been used by both Will’s Place & Village Inn Pizzeria, though it
 was noted that it hasn’t been used all that much, as neither establishment tends to have significant
 amounts of food waste.


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Discussion ensued as to additional opportunities for businesses to use Careit and/or donate food.

The presentation then moved on to Action Item LF 1-4 (Revise zoning ordinances to remove
barriers to urban agriculture: yard and rooftop food production, beekeeping, front-yard gardens,
edible landscaping, and foraging. Examine and pursue other policy levers to increase food
production within the community. Utilize available and appropriate parks and recreation lands
for urban farming and food production).

Commissioner Gotkin said that, when it comes to the beekeeping ordinance in Skokie, despite
calls in the Sustainability Plan to revise the ordinance, there seems to be no plan to do so on the
part of the Village. There currently is an apiary at Oakton Community College, and Skokie has
one residential beekeeper.

When it comes to front yard gardens, there seem to be no barriers. Staff explained, however, that
edible landscaping can attract rats. So, they’d rather encourage Farmers’ Market participation.

Commissioner Gotkin then noted that the matter of backyard chickens was discussed by the
Board of Health, and that the SEAC’s opinions were considered. However, they voted 9-3 to
keep the current prohibition on backyard chickens in place. They cited risks such as the potential
for rats and the spread of disease, and noted that the chickens could attract predators. It was also
noted that droppings can contaminate the water supply, and that there have been cases of
abandoned chickens. Odors, noise and the potential to destroy properties were also among the
concerns expressed. Additionally, there were concerns that having to regulate backyard chickens
could potentially divert resources.

Vice Chair McNelis inquired whether backyard chickens are a part of the Sustainability Plan.
Commissioner Gotkin stated that removing barriers to urban agriculture is part of the plan.

Commissioner Saxe inquired as to the desired outcome. What is the Commission and community
trying to achieve? We should think about what we are trying to do, rather than trying to check
off of a checklist.

Commissioner Okallau reiterated that removing barriers to agriculture is a big part of what we are
trying to do.

Commissioner Saxe stated that creating a healthy, robust ecosystem is a major part of both
environmental sustainability, in general, as well as the Environmental Sustainability Plan.

Discussion then progressed to Action Item LF 1-5 (Encourage school districts and park district to
expand community gardens and opportunities for community growing spaces — including
indoor — with a focus on youth, immigrant, and low-income residents. Explore grant
opportunities such as the United States Conference of Mayors environmental sustainability
award).

Commissioner Gotkin then discussed Action Item LF 3-3 (Investigate feasibility of a Food Access
Fund to support decreasing food waste and increasing food recovery via the Environmental
Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Hierarchy through existing and new initiatives as well as
private, innovative competitions. Explore partnerships between local food pantries, Skokie
schools, and restaurants for ways to distribute unused food to vulnerable or food insecure
individuals), and how Careit fits in with this Action Item.




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 ii. Buildings & Energy Update — Vice Chair Jim McNelis

 Vice Chair McNelis provided an update on Buildings & Energy and stated that there are 33
 Action Items in the sector in total. Everything that is part of Phase 1 has been started.

 Staff Liaison Zimmerman said that some Action Items cannot be completed, as they will always
 be ongoing. Compost education is one example.

 Vice Chair McNelis said he wanted to highlight Action Item BE 1-1 (Community Development
 shall review for adoption of the most recent International Energy Conservation code as well as
 the International Green Building Code).

 There has been a lot of discussion regarding what is going on with the Stretch Code.
 Municipalities can soon begin to adopt the Stretch Code, as of January 1, 2025. The Stretch Code
 will have a major impact on the ability to mandate stricter energy efficiency for buildings.

 It was noted that, if adopted, the Stretch Code “will have satisfactory requirements for the
 following additional Action Items: BE 1-4, BE 1-5, BE 1-8, BE 2-1, BE 2-2, BE 2-3 (via the
 work of the Advanced Building Energy Efficiency Policies Task Force), BE 3-2, and BE 7-2.”


 iii. Pumpkin Composting

 Staff Liaison Zimmerman stated that Collective Resource will be at the upcoming Pumpkin
 Smash. She is looking for volunteers to help out with the event, which will be held on
 November 3rd, from 7:30 AM until 12:30 PM, and which will take place on the northwest
 corner of Oakton Street and Floral Avenue, across from the Farmers’ Market.


 iv. USDA / IRA Tree Grant Planting Event

 Staff Liaison Zimmerman noted that there will be a USDA / US Forest Service / Green Latinos
 kick-off tree planting event on Monday, November 18, 2024, at a mosque in the community.

III. Other Business

 a. Oakton Street Public Meeting

 Commissioner Saxe discussed the upcoming Oakton Street redesign, including how they will be
 narrowing traffic lanes as a part of the project. There are to be pedestrian signals and bump outs
 for pedestrian crosswalk activity. The project website has detailed information regarding the
 redesign. Almost everyone agreed Oakton Street is bad as-is. There were a mix of concerns
 regarding the plan. At this time, it is unknown what modifications may occur. They are taking
 feedback on the project until November 7th. Additional discussion ensued.

IV. Public Comment

No public comments were received.




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V. Next Meeting

 i. Discussion on holiday scheduling

 Commissioners discussed the scheduling of the next meeting, with a tentative meeting date of
 December 17, 2024 proposed. Staff Liaison Zimmerman said she will send an email poll to
 Commissioners, who will then be able to vote on the date for meeting. She also noted that
 there will not be a meeting in November.

 Update: On November 11, 2024, following a poll of the Commissioners, it was determined that
 the next meeting of the Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission will take place on
 Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

VI. Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM with a motion from Commissioner
Saxe, seconded by Vice Chair McNelis.




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