Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2024-05-28

Village of Skokie
 Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission
 AGENDA

 May 28, 2024
 7:00 pm
 Village Hall Room D/E
 Public Comments: sustainability@skokie.org


  I. Approval of minutes

 II. Old Business

III. New Business
 a. Transportation & Mobility Sub-Committee update – C. Saxe, C. Buccola,
 J. Grossman
 i. Safe Routes to School
 ii. Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan
 iii. Church Street Bike Lanes Public Meeting, June 13, 2024
 b. Hefty ReNew Program – E. Zimmerman
 c. Green Business Recognition Program update – L. Sanzenbacher
 d. Composting updates – L. Sanzenbacher
 i. Farmers’ Market
 ii. Countertop Bins available

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: May 29, 2024

SUBJECT: May 28, 2024 Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission (SEAC)
 Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:08 pm in Village Hall Meeting Room D/E.

Present: Chairman Jennifer Grossman, Lisa Gotkin, Michael Gershbein, Alma Likic, Oliva
Mahoney, Jim McNelis, Rick Moscovitz, Emily Okallau, Charlie Saxe, Sustainability
Coordinator Lisa Sanzenbacher, Assistant to the Public Works Director Elizabeth Zimmerman,
Trustee Khem Khoen.

Absent: Commissioners Chris Buccola, Andrew DeCanniere, Bob Render

 I. Approval of minutes –Motion by C. Gotkin, seconded by C. Okallau.

 II. Old Business - None

III. New Business
 Sustainability Coordinator Lisa Sanzenbacher led an update for the Transportation and
 Mobility Sector on behalf of the sub-committee. Sanzenbacher shared a Village of
 Skokie guidance document for the Safe Routes to School program. She invited Maggie
 Czerwinski from the Active Transportation Alliance to present virtually to Skokie
 schools, however the event was not well-attended. There is a bicycle safety quiz for
 schools and funding available based on student school enrollment. Non-infrastructure
 projects like bike safety rodeos are more likely to be funded. S.L. Zimmerman suggested
 that the commissioners reach out to their local school district with information on Safe
 Routes to School. S.C. Sanzenbacher will share an email with links that could be used as
 a template.

 C. Saxe presented on the importance of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan – a plan would be
 used to improve bicycle facilities and hopefully convert routes to bike lanes. It is
 important to include disadvantaged areas. Sanzenbacher stated that while the Village has
 applied for CMAP funding, it doesn’t look promising due to other communities
 demonstrating a higher economic need. A discussion ensued and commissioners are in
 favor of the plan and would like Village staff to explore funding options. C. McNelis
 suggested partnering with a neighboring community for a potential cost benefit.

 C. Saxe would like Village staff to re-examine the resurfacing program as an opportunity
 to improve traffic calming. Chair Grossman noted that since schools are not showing
 interest for Safe Routes to School, the Village should take more initiative. C. Mahoney
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 stated she observes more pedestrians that cyclists and would like the plan to also focus on
 pedestrians. He thanked Samantha Maximilian (Senior Engineer) and Russ Rietveld
 (Director of Engineering) and complimented them on their knowledge, professionalism,
 and straightforwardness.

 Sanzenbacher encouraged commissioners to attend and advertise the open house meeting
 on June 13th for Church Street bike lanes. The event will be between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. in
 the Activity Room of the Weber Leisure Center at 9300 Weber Park Place. C. Saxe stated
 it is one of the most popular bike routes in Skokie and that it is an important event. C.
 Gershbein asked if the Village is considering protected bike lanes and C. Saxe said that
 Oakton Street would be a good candidate given the destination of Sports Park and the
 connection to the Channel Park trail.

 S.L Zimmerman updated the commission that the seasonal gas-powered leaf blower ban
 will be reviewed by the Manager’s office this week. S.C. Sanzenbacher presented data
 on the rebate for the electric leaf blowers. The commissioners requested that the rebate
 be extended to other electric lawn equipment.

 Sanzenbacher said she is getting an update on the ComEd Fleet Electrification program
 contractor, CLEAResult and should have more information at the June meeting.

 S.C. Sanzenbacher is looking for volunteers to serve on the GETForce and she
 overviewed the Green business recognition program. There will be two levels with the
 Green Business Leader designation requiring a checklist of qualifications. She also
 stated that the Farmers’ Market will have compostable bags this year.


 IV. Other Business: None

 V. Public comment
 A resident asked if the schools were composting or being educated about composting.
 She stated that she thought the annual report for Skokie’s Environmental
 Sustainability Plan was outstanding.

 VI. Next Meeting is June 25th. The Greenspace and Trees Sector will present.
 VII. Meeting Adjourned at 8:48 p.m. with a motion from C. Okallau and seconded by C.
 McNelis.




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