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Sustainable Janesville Committee Goals City Manager’s Office Memorandum June 9, 2010 TO: Eric Levitt, City Manager FROM: Al Hulick, Management Analyst SUBJECT: Sustainable Janesville Committee Study Session Discussion th On May 18, the Sustainable Janesville Committee (SJC) and City Council held a joint study session to discuss the role and goals of the SJC. At the conclusion of that meeting, it was agreed that the SJC would meet again as a Committee and further refine what they believe their role to be, and potentially establish some project goals to be completed within the next 12-18 months. The two th groups would then meet again for a brief follow-up Study Session on June 14. thth Therefore, on June 8, the SJC met as a Committee to discuss the May 18 th Study Session, and prepare for the upcoming June 14 Study Session. The Committee first discussed what they believe their role to be based on the th discussion at the May 18 joint study session. By consensus, the Committee agreed that they are to serve in an advisory role to the City Council. The SJC would provide analysis and recommendations on items forwarded by the City Council. Additionally, the SJC could bring sustainability related issues to the City Council for consideration, and would seek preliminary approval from the Council before moving forward with any proposal. Based on that assessment of the Committee’s role, a short list of priority projects was created that will be recommended to the Council for consideration. The Committee would be seeking the Council’s approval before moving forward with these projects. 1. Solid Waste Alternatives – Councilmember Perrotto suggested that the SJC could play a role in the Solid Waste discussion. Based on the th Council’s Sanitation Study Session held on May 25, Councilmember Perrotto felt that the SJC could provide some insight and analysis on the issue before it returns to the Council in the Fall of 2010. With the Council’s endorsement, the SJC would like to begin to work with City Staff to assist in developing Solid Waste Alternatives for the City of Janesville. 2. Green Action Plan – As part of the City’s 2009 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) allocation, the City Manager allocated a portion of those funds ($75,000) for the creation of a “Green Action Plan.” The purpose of this plan would be to create a framework to create a more sustainable community as a whole. A consultant would be hired to help develop this plan, with the SJC acting as the steering committee for the planning process. The City Council preliminarily approved this concept as part of the larger EECBG application in June 2009. One important note is that all EECBG funds must be obligated by March 2011, or 18 months of the grant award. Therefore, it is critical that this project move forward, or that funds be reallocated to a different EECBG eligible project. With the Council’s endorsement, the SJC would like to begin the preliminary planning steps towards creating a “Green Action Plan” (develop scope of services, develop RFP’s, conduct consultant interviews, etc.). 3. Complete Recycle Away From Home (RAH) Initiative – In December 2009, the SJC presented the RAH program to the City Council. The purpose of this program is to encourage recycling in all aspects of life when away from home. There are four main components of the RAH program as presented by the SJC: Public Facilities, Schools, Special Events, and Businesses. At that December meeting, the Council endorsed the first three components of the RAH program (Public Facilities, Schools, Special Events). Since that time the SJC has been very successful in implementing those three components. The SJC would now like to move forward with the fourth and final component of the RAH program: Businesses. In December 2009, the SJC indicated to the Council that it would take considerable more work to implement the Business component of the plan, and that they would be coming back with a proposal in the future. With the Council’s endorsement, the SJC would not like to focus on the Business component of RAH, and bring a proposal back to the Council in the future. Based on the above information, it is the SJC’s intent to bring this information forward to the City Council for their review and potential endorsement at the June th 14 joint Study Session. On behalf of the SJC, I would like to thank the City Council for participating in these Study Sessions and continuing the dialogue on these matters.