Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2025-07-15

Village of Skokie
 Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission
 AGENDA

 July 15, 2025
 7:00 pm
 Village Hall Room D/E
 Public Comments: sustainability@skokie.org


  I. Approval of Minutes

 II. Old Business

III. New Business
 a. Community Solar Campaign
 b. Sustainability Plan Q2 Updates
 c. Repair Café Promotion
 d. Water Service Lines Residential Letters

IV. Other business

 V. Public Comment

VI. Next meeting:

 a. August 26, 2025

VII. Adjournment




Document Number: 511765

Memorandum
TO: Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commissioners

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

DATE: July 16, 2025

SUBJECT: July 15, 2025 Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission (SEAC)
 Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:01 PM in Conference Room D/E at Skokie Village Hall

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

Also Present: Lauren Grodnicki, Skokie resident
 Amanda Stromback, Marketing Manager, Joule Assets (via Zoom)
 Glenn Weinberg, VP of Sales and Market Development, Joule Assets (via Zoom)

Absent: Commissioners Michael Gershbein, Alma Likic, Rick Moskovitz

I. Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Commissioner Okallau to approve the minutes from the June 24, 2025
meeting of the Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission, seconded by Vice Chair
McNelis. The minutes were approved as presented.

II. Old Business

No items.

III. New Business

 a. Community Solar Program

 Amanda Stromback and Glenn Weinberg of Joule Assets presented information regarding
 the Community Solar Program.

 There will be a strategic campaign to increase sign-ups for the Community Solar
 Program.

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By signing up for the Community Solar Program, customers can save on their electric
bill and support clean energy. The discount that customers receive if they sign up for
the program can help offset the recent ComEd rate increase. It is easy for customers
to enroll in the program and there is no installation required.

Commission can help by spreading awareness of the program, building trust and
encouraging participation.

Outreach includes print materials and signage, digital / social media content.

Sustainability Coordinator Sanzenbacher stated that the program will be promoted via
the Village’s electronic newsletter (The Scoop) and on social media.

It was noted that if residents have rooftop solar panels, then they cannot participate in
this particular program. It is intended to be an alternative for those who cannot install
solar panels.

There are additional discounts that are available for low income individuals. They would
have to be income verified.

Additional discussion ensued.

b. Sustainability Plan Q2 Updates

Prior to the meeting, Sustainability Coordinator Sanzenbacher provided Commissioners
with materials outlining Sustainability Plan Q2 updates. She noted that these updates are
also available on the Village website. Discussion ensued.

c. Repair Café

Sustainability Coordinator Sanzenbacher spoke to Commissioners about a Repair Café
that is located in Evanston, which aims to keep items out of landfills. Discussion ensued.

d. Water Service Lines Residential Letters

Commissioners were informed that letters were sent out to owners of properties that have
lead service lines, which is one part of a larger campaign to make property owners aware
of the issue. The Village will replace the public side, while residents are responsible for
replacing the private side.

Staff Liaison Zimmerman noted that partial replacements are no longer allowed.
The private side of the service line must also be replaced. Discussion ensued.



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IV. Other Business

No items.

V. Public Comment

No public comments were received.

VI. Next Meeting

Based upon the expected availability of Commissioners, the next meeting of the Sustainable
Environmental Advisory Commission will take place on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

VII. Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:29 PM with a motion from Vice
Chair McNelis, seconded by Commissioner Mahoney.




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