Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2024-06-25

Village of Skokie
 Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission
 AGENDA

 June 25, 2024
 7:00 pm
 Village Hall Room D/E
 Public Comments: sustainability@skokie.org


  I. Approval of minutes

 II. Old Business

 a. CMAP Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan Technical Assistance update
 b. Safe Routes to School update
 c. Skokie Green Business Recognition Program update


III. New Business
 a. Green Space & Trees Sub-Committee update – O. Mahoney, E. Okallau
 b. Sector-related Engagement Opportunities

IV. Other business

 V. Public Comment

VI. Next meeting

VII. Adjournment




Document Number: 511765

Memorandum
Public Works Department - Administration Division

TO: Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commissioners

FROM: _____________________________________________
 Liz Zimmerman, Assistant to the Public Works Director

DATE: June 28, 2024

SUBJECT: June 25, 2024 Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission (SEAC)
 Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:04 pm in Village Hall Meeting Room D/E.

Present: Chairman Jennifer Grossman, Chris Buccola, Andrew DeCanniere, Lisa Gotkin,
Michael Gershbein, Emily Okallau, Bob Render, Charlie Saxe, Sustainability Coordinator Lisa
Sanzenbacher, Assistant to the Public Works Director Elizabeth Zimmerman, Trustee Khem
Khoen, and Trustee Ralph Klein.

Absent: Commissioners Alma Likic, Olivia Mahoney, Rick Moscovitz, Jim McNelis,
 I. Approval of minutes –Motion by C. Okallau, seconded by C. Buccola.

 II. Old Business

 Sustainability Coordinator (SC) Lisa Sanzenbacher proudly announced that the
 Village was awarded a technical assistance grant from the Chicago Metropolitan
 Agency for Planning (CMAP). Three communities were awarded a grant out of
 17 applications. CMAP will reach out with details soon. A strength of the
 application was the use of the Skokie Environmental Sustainability Plan in the
 grant proposal.

 Commissioner Bob Render recapped the open house for the Church Street Bike
 Lane project on June 13th. He recommended more Village staff at the next
 meeting due to a high turn-out. He noted comments about parking and the Skokie
 Boulevard and Church Street intersection. He suggested that accident data is
 reviewed within the project boundaries. The visuals were very good.

 SC Sanzenbacher is looking for volunteers for GETForce, particularly in
 recruiting businesses. There is a kick-off meeting on July 18th.

 Gas-Powered leaf blower ban update: Village staff had originally intended to
 bring a proposal to Board for a seasonal, summer ban for gas-powered leaf
 blowers, based on the “Regional Leaf Blower Working Group Final Report” made
 up of several North Shore municipalities, the Illinois Landscape Contractors
 Association, and a few private businesses. However, staff paused to do more
 research on lessoned learned from nearby communities who have already
 implemented bans, to glean more information on potential future advances on

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 technology, and to further research equity concerns brought up by small
 landscaping companies.

 Staff concluded that electric leaf blowers are a good fit for homeowners or small
 property owners that do their own landscaping and a potentially good fit for larger
 landscaping companies or property owners with a facility. However, cost and
 operational barriers are disproportionally high for small landscape companies,
 especially because many operate only out of a trailer and have no facility in which
 to charge equipment. Staff will be recommending an educational campaign that
 includes emails to registered landscapers and for Public Works staff to host a field
 training in which landscape companies, schools, and the Park District can learn
 more about the equipment and charging infrastructure. Additionally, SC
 Sanzenbacher explained that it is becoming clear that this is not the most effective
 use of time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There will be an upcoming
 Board presentation, date to be announced.

III. New Business
 Green Space and Trees Update:
 C. Emily Okallau presented, C. Olivia Mahoney also worked on the presentation, but was
 unable to make it for the presentation. As a reminder, the Village is receiving over
 $300,000 in funding from the USDA, to plant trees on private and public land (i.e.
 schools). An executed contract is imminent.

 Commissioner Okallau also highlighted several initiatives from the Beautification and
 Improvement Commission such as website updates, an upcoming native fall planting
 project, and a $100 raffle prize for planting a new tree at their home.

 S.L. Zimmerman summarized some recent staff training. She also is looking for
 volunteers to become a block advocate for parkway trees and highlighted a potential
 project to increase tree canopy in which residents could order a tree and have it delivered
 to their house.

 IV. Other Business:
 C. Render questioned whether the Village could initiate a program for residents to
 replace faulty downpouts or upgrade to bigger downspouts. Whether that be a code
 change or incentive/payment program.

 V. Public comment

 VI. No meeting in July. The next meeting is scheduled for August 27th.
 VII. Meeting Adjourned at 8:17 p.m. with a motion from C. Gershbein and seconded by C.
 Okallau.




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