Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2025-09-29

Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission
 AGENDA

 September 29, 2025 | 7:00 pm

 Village Hall Room A

 Public Comments: sustainability@skokie.org

  I. Approval of Minutes
 a. SEAC Meeting 08/26/2025

  II. Old Business
 a. IL Solar for All advisory committee opening
 b. The League of American Bicyclists’ 2025 Bicycle Friendly Community Survey.
 (Closes Oct 5)
 c. Compost updates


 III. New Business
 a. Strategic Plan Community Visioning Session
 i. Sunday, October 5: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Niles West High School.
 Register. [link]
 b. Food Recovery Infrastructure Assessment (FRIA) and Pilot Project Planning
 i. Monday, October 6: 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the SWANCC offices (77 W.
 Hintz Road, Wheeling, IL) Register [link]
 c. Community Solar Public Information Sessions
 i. Monday, October 13: 1:00 p.m. and Wednesday, October 29: 5:30 p.m. at
 the Skokie Public Library
 d. Skokie Green Business Recognition Event
 i. Monday, November 3: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30pm at Sketchbook Brewery/
 Village Hall Register [link]
 e. Village Boards and Commission Recognition Event – Save the Date
 i. Thursday, June 25, 2026, 5:00 pm at the Northshore Center for the
 Performing Arts

 IV. Other business
  V. Public Comment
 VI. Next meeting:
 October 28, 2025
VII. Adjournment




Doc#: 626403, Version:1

Memorandum
TO: Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commissioners

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

DATE: September 30, 2025

SUBJECT: September 29, 2025 Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission (SEAC)
 Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM in Conference Room A at Skokie Village Hall

Present: Chairperson Jennifer Grossman, Vice Chair Jim McNelis, Commissioners Christopher
Buccola, Andrew DeCanniere, Michael Gershbein, Lisa Gotkin, Olivia Mahoney, Emily Okallau,
Robert Render, Charles Saxe, Trustee Liaison Lissa Levy, Sustainability Coordinator Lisa
Sanzenbacher, Assistant Public Works Director / Staff Liaison Elizabeth Zimmerman

Absent: Commissioners Alma Likic and Rick Moskovitz

Also Present: Glenn Weinberg, VP of Sales and Market Development, Joule Assets (via Zoom)
 Lauren Grodnicki, Skokie Resident

I. Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Vice Chair McNelis to approve the minutes from the August 26, 2025
meeting of the Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission, seconded by Commissioner
Gotkin. The minutes were approved as amended.

II. Old Business

 a. Illinois Solar for All Advisory Committee Opening

 Commissioner Gershbein attended a webinar regarding the Illinois Solar for All Advisory
 Committee, and his notes were shared with the Commission. He proceeded to talk about
 the Committee and how they were looking for people to join them.

 b. The League of American Bicyclists’ 2025 Bicycle Friendly Community Survey

 Chairperson Grossman reminded Commissioners that the Bicycle Friendly Community
 Survey is still open. However, it will be closing on October 5th.




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 c. Compost Updates

 Staff Liaison Zimmerman noted that another record has been achieved for this month.

 Per the Village website, “27.4 tons were composted in August, beating the previous
 monthly record by 1.1 tons. Thus far, a total of 188 tons have been composted for 2025,
 and 849 tons since the start of the program in 2020.”

 There has not been an increase in the number of complaints of contamination as
 composting rates have risen.

III. New Business

 a. Strategic Plan Community Visioning Session

 Chairperson Grossman reminded Commissioners that a Strategic Plan Community
 Visioning Session will be taking place on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at Niles West
 High School (5701 Oakton Street). Additionally, an online survey is available through
 October 11th.

 b. Food Recovery Infrastructure Assessment (FRIA) and Pilot Project Planning

 Commissioners were informed of the upcoming Local Food Recovery & Solutions
 Forum, which will be hosted by the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County
 (SWANCC) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. This event will be held
 on October 6th in Wheeling. A virtual option is also available.

 c. Community Solar Public Information Sessions

 Glenn Weinberg, VP of Sales and Market Development at Joule Assets, provided an
 update regarding where things stand with the Community Solar program, what’s next,
 how SEAC can support the program, etc.

 He said that they have already seen great engagement. Over 100 people began to
 sign up, and there are two public information sessions scheduled at the Skokie Public
 Library (Monday, October 13 at 1:00 PM and Wednesday, October 29 at 5:30 PM).
 He also stated that he met with Go Green Skokie, and it sounds like there is an
 opportunity to work with them to expand some of their upcoming events to promote
 Community Solar as well. Additionally, there will be more events and promotion
 of the program to come.

 Trustee Liaison Levy inquired as to how companies support the communities in which
 these solar farms are located. Discussion ensued.

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 Chairperson Grossman suggested that the Community Solar program could potentially
 be promoted during the upcoming pumpkin composting event.

 Vice Chair McNelis inquired as to how many people they’d like to see sign up for the
 Community Solar program. Mr. Weinberg replied that the initial goal is approximately
 750 accounts.

 d. Skokie Green Business Recognition Event

 Chairperson Grossman stated that a Skokie Green Business Recognition Event will be
 held on November 3rd. Sustainability Coordinator Sanzenbacher discussed the event,
 noting that there will be a reception and networking event held before the Board Meeting
 that night.

 e. Village Boards and Commission Recognition Event — Save the Date

 Chairperson Grossman mentioned that the next reception will take place on June 25,
 2026 at 5:00 PM at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts (9501 Skokie
 Boulevard).

IV. Other Business

Commissioner Gershbein inquired about e-bike and scooter regulations. Discussion ensued.

V. Public Comment

Skokie resident Lauren Grodnicki spoke about the design of biking infrastructure in parts of
Europe, as an example of how such infrastructure can be better designed. She also spoke about
individuals who have spoken out against bikes and bike infrastructure at Village Board meetings,
saying that addressing traffic violations and enforcing traffic laws can help minimize this sort of
negative feedback.

VI. Next Meeting

Based upon the expected availability of Commissioners, the next meeting of the Sustainable
Environmental Advisory Commission will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM.
The meeting is to be held in Conference Room D/E at Skokie Village Hall.

VII. Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:33 PM with a motion from
Commissioner Saxe, seconded by Commissioner Okallau.



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