Environmental Sustainability Board 04/20/2023 03:00 PM Operations Center - Assembly Room | 305 Williams St. | Hendersonville NC 28792

1.CALL TO ORDER

1. A.Call To Order- Kelly Phale, Chairperson

   3:03pm

2.APPROVAL OF AGENDA

1. A.Approval of Agenda

   Ann motioned first, Gary second

3.APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. A.Meeting Minutes; Environmental Sustainability; Board March 16, 2023

   Kelly abstained. Geri motioned first; Mary Ellen seconded.

2. B.Subcommittee Meeting Minutes; Earth Day Fest; March 24, 2023

   Geri motioned first; Mary Ellen seconded.

3. C.Subcommittee Meeting Minutes; Earth Day Fest; March 31, 2023

   Geri motioned first; Mary Ellen seconded.

4. D.Subcommittee Meeting Minutes; Earth Day Fest; April 7, 2023

   Geri motioned first; Mary Ellen seconded.

4.PUBLIC COMMENT

1. A.Public Comment 10 minutes

   No public comments.

5.CITY LIASON UPDATE

1. A.Caitlyn update on current projects, ESB outreach, budget, and reminders.

   Voltswagon VW grant submitted for EV charging stations

   Website drafted and finalized in next two weeks

   ESB to decide if they would still like to continue Plastic Free Hendo effort. For City involvement, Caitlyn will work on internal plastic and overall waste reduction efforts. Specific ideas mentioned: plastic bottles currently used for events, plastic trash bags, etc.

   Pollinator bed maintenance help; ESB on board for once/month help. Sign-up sheet will also be available at Hendo Earth Fest for more volunteer sign-up. City could also offer Wellness Day benefit to volunteer. Marsha suggested contacting Master Gardeners to volunteer for required hours. Beth suggested we could use school groups. Caitlyn is going to report at next meeting on progress and reach out to these groups.

   Birdhouses update; Caitlyn will report in next meeting on status and if funds will be used for this budget cycle

   Mayor's Monarch Pledge; completed and proclamation to be in September

   ESB booths at events; Garden Jubilee booked up but there may  be a spot for the June Farmers Market. Caitlyn will check in with ESB at beginning of each year moving forward on booth reservations needed.

   Reminders; Plastic Free July and Board appreciation dinner August 31

6.CITY COUNCIL UPDATE

1. A.ESB Representative for the new tree board ordinance change committee

   Advisory committee established for Tree Board ordinance change. Lyndsey and Caitlyn are participating.

7.SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATES

1. A.Bee City - Will Garvey, Board Member

   Bee City will have table at Hendo Earth Fest.

2. B.Recycling and Plastics - Geri Conley, Board Member

   The subcommittee is focusing on education. Future work includes looking at a bag ban. Consensus was made to rename committee to Waste Reduction.

3. C.Hendo Earth Fest - Ann Twiggs, Vice Chair

   Tableing is covered for the event. Announcements will be at noon with Kelly or Ann to complete.

4. D.Sustainability Plan - Will Garvey, Board Member

   Consensus was made to remove sub-committee. Caitlyn is now taking this on.

8.OLD BUSINESS

1. A.Parklet/Subpod - Virginia Tegel, Board Member

   Virginia is further planning how this would look like. Project would host multiple environmentally friendly areas like a pollinator bed and subpod, among others.

2. B.ESB Retreat with Fountainworks – Kelly Pahle, Chair

   May 18th at noon. Caitlyn is handling ordering a plastic free and ideally locally sourced lunch that John will handle paying for. Homework: send Caitlyn photo of something that inspires you. Start thinking of your visionj for what you would like Hendersonville to look like.

3. C.Vote on joining SE Sustainability Directors Network – Kelly Pahle, Chair

   Unanimous approval reached to pay for membership.

4. D.Ecusta Trail Comments – Will Garvey, Board Member   

   Lyndsey suggested Brent should be contacted for input and be given draft.

9.NEW BUSINESS

1. A.Pollinator Plant Partnership – Will Garvey, Board Member (see attachment)

   Will suggested we use plugs instead of seeds. Next step: Lyndsey will approval City Council about approval to work with Blue Ridge Horticulture program for plugs to be grown in their greenhouse.

2. B.Green Trail – Virginia Tegel, Board Member (see attachment)

   We need non-profit partner to publish map. Caitlyn to check if we could still use ESB logo and to look at next steps to publish with a partner.

10.ADJOURNMENT

Kelly motioned first, Virginia seconded.

The City of Hendersonville is committed to providing accessible facilities, programs and services for all people in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Should you need assistance or an accommodation for this meeting please contact the City Clerk no later than 24 hours prior to the meeting at 697-3005.