City of Bloomington, Indiana Environmental Commission, 15 Oct 2020

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From YouTube: Bloomington Environmental Commission, October 15, 2020

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meeting agenda: https://bloomington.in.gov/onboard/meetingFiles/download?meetingFile_id=7140

A

So I didn't exactly have the resources in front of me here to do this, but.

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Give it a shot. This is the october meeting of the bloomington environmental.

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Commission and we'll start with a.

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We have a quorum confirmation, so we'll start with introductions.

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And found the page, I was really looking for that list.

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Members so we'll uh we'll do it alphabetically again.

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We'll, starting with myself, I'm mike litman, I'm.

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Commission member and vice chair, matt matt caldey, commissioner meredith.

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Meredith dickerson, commissioner don don eggert, commissioner, is susannah here.

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Yet, okay, we'll keep moving.

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Daniel is here no okay, dave dave parker's, commissioner.

C

Okay, we have bear quorum uh next. Item of business is the approval.

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Of minutes- and we have at least two months worth of.

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Minutes to work on here, uh august and september and.

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Ben sent those to everybody recently, so uh I don't know ben did you get any.

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Feedback on that.

D

Ben he's muted, ah then you're, muted.

E

Sorry about that um uh so yeah I got one uh set of feedback from dave. I think.

E

um I I know I just it was just sent out like uh yesterday. I think so I was still waiting for more people to.

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Comment on it, but um I'll wait until maybe mid next week and.

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If I don't hear anything, then I'll um make the changes that are necessary.

A

Okay, well, I will uh I, I said a few things too, but they were.

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Housekeeping type things, grammar and so on, not not substantive.

C

Mine were just spelling yeah, so uh anything.

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uh I don't think we would need to uh wait on a vote for it for those sort of.

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Things and uh if there were substantive recommendations by the other people are too late.

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So can someone move to approve the minutes? I move that we.

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Approve both sets.

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For a second second, okay, anybody who is.

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Not in favor of approving the minutes say no.

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So minutes are approved and move on to public comment. Is there.

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Anybody from the public that would like to make a comment.

F

No but andrew's with us now: okay, let's see take a look at him.

A

Okay, andrew we started the meeting. Can you hear me? Okay, we started the.

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Meeting just a couple of minutes ago, so it's all yours.

F

You need to unmute there we go, I was trying, it was telling me the host. Wasn't.

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Going to let me, but then it did uh sorry for being late. I had a.

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Phone call that ran over um I got off as soon as I could once I.

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Realized that we were running over um so now, if I'm not mistaken, we are on.

G

Reports from commissions um with tree commission up first.

C

Well, this is an odd month. Usually the tree commission meets.

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On well always the tree commission meets on third.

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Wednesdays and we meet on third thursdays, so.

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Usually theirs is the day before hours, but this is a strange month because the.

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First of october was a thursday, so the third thursday, the third.

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Wednesday comes six days after the third, let me start that over the third.

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Wednesday comes six days after the third thursday, so we meet next week and I.

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Don't have anything to report.

F

And I'm mute andrew.

G

Sorry about that getting used to zoom again um the monroe county.

G

Environmental commission is up next. um I have not heard anything from their.

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Chair recently, I'm going to actually.

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Look because I honestly I'm going to admit I forgot to before the meeting.

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Look for their minutes from their last meeting to tell you I do know that there has been a movement on the.

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Deforestation at the watershed at the peninsula on.

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Lake monroe that the county had to settle on, and I.

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Know they were involved in that lawsuit, but that's the only.

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Development- I've heard in the commission recently but I'll.

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Double check to see, if there's anything that I missed.

G

So next we have the uh commission on sustainability.

H

As far as I know, they didn't meet this month.

H

um I looked on um the.

H

There was nothing listed on the uh city meetings for this month. I had no idea.

H

What uh what why.

H

I looked over the meeting minutes from last month's meeting and.

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Basically, they just had a presentation on the sustainability.

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Proposal or uh and letter supporting the budget- I guess to city council.

H

From last month,.

H

um That's all I have. uh They have no idea what why there was.

H

Not a listing for them for this bond.

H

And I checked multiple times during that yeah since the beginning of the month to.

H

See when they were meeting so I don't know if maybe people or.

H

Somebody was out of town or something or it just didn't, get posted.

H

So that's all I have on on that. Okay, that's perfect!.

G

um So I assume everyone had a chance to look over.

G

uh The iraq minutes that were sent um is there anything anyone had to add to.

G

Those uh minutes that we received earlier or anything.

G

Questions anyone has about that. Well, the thing I sent.

C

Yesterday wasn't exactly minutes, uh it was just a small part of our meeting.

C

So let me go through the agenda.

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Which wasn't quite the same order that we did things there, but.

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This was yesterday afternoon.

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First on the agenda is the griffey lake loop trail.

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And the fishing pier that they're going to be building.

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There's progress on that they're working on how to cross the dam.

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Safely and the uh trail is apparently ninety percent complete, so.

C

That's along second on the agenda was saturday weed wrangles uh for.

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Invasive plant removal that's been canceled for the year.

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They're hoping in march, to be able to do a weed wrangle and take out garlic.

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Mustard but I didn't catch where that would be.

C

At miller, showers ecologic is burning down some turf. I think it might.

C

Have been as much as an acre meaning to get rid of what seems like a.

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Lawn and they're going to plant natives there.

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And they're, taking down some calorie pairs as well.

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Happily so that was the old business new.

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Business for education, rebecca who wasn't there.

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She was on vacation, but she's, usually our.

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Our leader, there is filming at leonard, springs and griffey.

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Most years, I forget whether it's the fourth graders from all the schools or.

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The fifth graders, it's one or the other, I think, go to leonard.

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Springs and uh look at things like.

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This dream quality, my wife and I several times have uh told them about.

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The deciduous forest there there are, I think, eight different sites.

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That they go to when they uh do those tours well this year, that's.

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Going to be done by a film that rebecca is taking and she'll.

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Send those to the schools there are some outside activities that.

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Go with those films, but I didn't that we weren't told what those were.

C

um Next on the agenda: actually we did this first.

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Was leif willie's presentation on aquatic vegetation management at.

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Griffey he's, um I guess, the head of a.

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Firm, that's actually doing the work there and.

C

C

It turns out that boat registration at.

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Is actually paying 80 percent of the cost of controlling the.

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Aquatic invasives, and so the city is getting 11 000 600.

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For doing that, and the main plant that they worked on this year was eurasian.

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Water milfoil and one other plant that I.

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Didn't catch it competes with native plants for.

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Nutrients and light it startled me to hear him say that it.

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Could grow 13 and a half inches a day, not a food source for any animals that.

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We would like to have fish or anything else.

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Apparently, there's a milfoil weevil that helps to control them and they use those.

C

Earlier but this year they used a herbicide.

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Which um they only applied a total of 0.4 pounds of the active ingredient.

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And no eurasian water milfoil was found after august 3rd.

C

Next on the agenda is the chap program. That's an acronym for.

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Something I've forgotten what it is, but it's a hunting program.

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Where somebody from the uh white buffalo.

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Company that actually did the shooting several years ago.

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Taking out deer at griffey, somebody from there coordinates this.

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Chap program for this year they have over 50 hunters.

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Who are approved to go there and the dnr says that this is a deer.

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Reduction zone um they'll, be there the weekends of.

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November 14th and 15th 21st and 22nd, 28th and 29th and the park will be.

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Closed down at that point,.

C

Let's see oh next on, the agenda is.

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um Parks and trails are being produced on are being.

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Dealt with with a couple of apps that provide.

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Maps that people can look at the city's parks and trails.

C

I didn't understand that too well, but I did send you a link that you can use to.

C

Get to some of those and next on the agenda was the.

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Integrated pest management plan that was updated this year.

C

I read through it and didn't see any problems with it. It all sounded pretty.

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Good some people are suggesting revisions and they're working on those now and.

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That's all for yesterday, so mc iris next year will be.

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Trying to take out winter creeper, that's the that's the plant of the year.

C

For invasives that m.c iris wants to take out.

G

Qed um I'll double back for a second to the.

G

Monroe county environmental commission, they are changing or attempting to.

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Change how many members they have they're trying to.

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Narrow down to a lower number as well as change the name of the commission.

G

Officially, it's still technically the environmental quality and sustainability.

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Commission or equos, and they just want to change that to the.

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Environmental commission- officially, they also are looking at.

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Developing internal guidelines of how to make sure.

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New members are from around the county and not just centered in.

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On in or immediately around bloomington, um and they are working on.

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Energy tracking for offices uh within the county.

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Which they did when I was on the commission several years ago as well.

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um And they're uh looking at ways to do social media outreach during.

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The pandemic, since they can't hold any in-person.

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uh Events at this point in time um and then moving on to the next one, which is.

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uh The metropolitan policy organization- um they have uh been working on the.

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Trans draft transportation plan for the 2045.

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Transportation goals due to difficulties and how long it is and.

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Intense it is they're extending how long their internal policy committee.

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Can make recommendations to that plan? They are not currently reaching public.

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Comment yet, um but when they do um I'll make sure to.

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Let you know in as much advance as I can um and that's really about it. They.

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Discussed also uh possible topic suggestions for future agendas. Besides.

G

The transportation plan, um but uh they've made any action on any.

G

Of those items, as of yet I'm assuming that'll, be at the next meeting.

G

Do we have an update from friends of lake monroe.

C

Yes, I think the steering committee, the 20 of us.

C

On that there was a zoom meeting with maybe just four people, and I don't.

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Remember much of anything being accomplished, but.

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More important was the sampling blitz, which was actually written up in the.

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Herald times some of you may have read that.

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They meant to do this last spring, but that was shut down at the time, because.

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Of the virus, but they held it this time by.

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Either having people we work in teams of two, and it was either like family.

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Teams or if, uh if it was separate people from separate.

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Places they were supposed to travel separately.

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Lots more co2 going off into the air- I guess, but.

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That's what happened? There were 70 volunteers.

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I think something like 150 small streams or bigger streams, but.

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In the lake monroe watershed, which is about half in brown county.

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Only a small part of it is in monroe county, maybe.

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As much as 20, but not more than that, I think.

C

And um so what we did was my wife and I were one.

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Of the teams- and we went to- uh I guess we had four.

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Streams that were kind of hard to find- and we went to some of the we went to.

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Those three of our four streams were dry, so we.

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Didn't have much sampling to do the fourth one was a big stream.

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Under a bridge, and so we lowered a bucket into the stream.

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To get the sample and um quite a few of the streams that people.

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Did that year, that time were like that, they're going.

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To be doing this again in the spring.

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Of next year now to make up for the fact they couldn't do it this past spring.

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And they may want more volunteers, then, if they do I'll, let you.

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All know and you might get involved so it's just a matter of taking some.

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Samples and then they send them off for e coli.

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Which, in my view, is something that gets sampled? Because it's.

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Easy for people to uh count the numbers on petri plates, but.

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It's not I've got a book chapter that says. E coli are not very good at.

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Predicting the things that actually make people sick.

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They just indicate that there's fecal material of some sort around.

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And so it's it's, I think, sampled very often just because.

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It's a simple thing to do. We also the samples also went into.

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Sediments and nitrogen and probably phosphorus and some other.

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Things as well, so that's friends of lake monroe.

H

Did I uh add something to that? I was also one of the volunteers in.

H

Oh, like david and his wife, um water at all four sites, but the flow.

H

uh At two of the sites was absolutely zero.

H

On the other, the other um one side did have flow, and that was salt.

H

Creek itself and the other one uh we sampled.

H

uh uh There was no visible, it was, there was water there, but no.

H

Again, no visible movement, so uh the drought conditions.

H

Are really evident: three of ours were totally dry, but by spring there ought to.

C

Be water in all of them, so we'll try to do a better.

C

Job of finding him.

G

Thanks dave and don um moving on to working groups.

G

I'm starting with the ecpc and planning commission linda: do you have anything.

G

F

uh Yes, a little bit, it won't take too long.

F

uh The mcdowell um or mcdouall business center is back on the agenda.

F

For the planned commission in november and.

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They have changed their uh plan, their site plan to.

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Be two apartments and townhouses.

F

F

Sort of a major change that I'll be talking to the ecpc about.

F

The next one on the list is bill, brown at fullerton pike.

F

And what they are requesting is just a zoning change.

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Currently it's a pud and they want to change it to mixed-used.

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Corridor and they don't have a plan, there's no.

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Site plan because they don't have anything in mind for it yet, but part of the reason that they're doing.

F

This is because the city is looking into retiring.

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Some old puds, so there's uh very little difference between.

F

What was allowed and disallowed in the pud.

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And what will be allowed and disallowed in.

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The mc district, so it's it's, it's um almost a housekeeping issue.

F

um uh And let's see.

F

Oh, that's also the same. I'm skipping ahead of my of myself on my list.

F

But another bill brown property is on the corner of 446 and east third.

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Street at century village and that's a pud.

F

Most of it is built out, but not all of it.

F

And uh it's another one that they're requesting just a.

F

Change in zoning um sort of just to bring it up to date on.

F

What you know on the new udo and the new zoning um districts, uh the last one on the list, is.

F

Habitat for humanity- we've talked about this one before this.

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Is the um large area off of south.

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Rogers and the address is actually on guy.

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Avenue and it's between seven and eight acres that they.

F

Want to build a development that they're calling osage.

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Neighborhood and um we'd heard about this before when they went through.

F

A rezone but but now they're bringing the site plan.

F

Forward and it really isn't um any different than what we saw before.

F

So again I will be bringing this one to the ecpc.

F

Just so they can see it and it's you know it's time for us to weigh.

F

In on a little more now than we did when it was just a rezone.

F

So that's all I have in that department.

G

I have a question for you linda um when you say uh the city is looking to retire.

G

Some puds um do you have more information on.

G

What that means in the timelines, because.

G

I worry about it becoming uh potentially like a.

G

Use it or lose it scenario where we see a sudden.

G

Influx of rezoning requests within a set period of time.

G

But I don't know how many puds fall under the retirement plan so to speak.

F

Right, um I I cannot give you any real details, because I don't know them. I.

F

Just know we have a lot of pud, not a lot. We have some puds.

F

That are very old and because they were created a long time.

F

Ago they don't necessarily follow.

F

The plan that we may have for them now, so what we'd like to do is.

F

Basically, retire them, and then you know that would mean that they'd.

F

Have to be put into a current zoning district.

F

um But they are puds that um nothing's happened on them in all these.

F

Years so why have them as pud anymore.

G

That's fair, but I honestly don't know um how many.

F

I I I just told you all the details. I know. Okay,.

G

That's fair, I um was just wondering and you may not, you probably don't know.

G

Since you just told me, you know all the details, but one other question I would have would be.

G

um Do developers still have the opportunity.

G

Now to still purchase the land and use it as a pud, or is that already.

G

Bygone, I don't think it's bygone yet okay. I was just curious for my own. um I.

F

I think it's something that they're looking at down the.

F

Down the road you know the retirement of of some of these puds.

F

But I I don't, I don't think it's a um a done deal.

F

Or anything yet so, thank you, linda does uh anyone else have a question about.

G

uh The uh plan commission or the ucpc yeah mine comes from my sense of humor.

C

um She mentioned uh an osage development.

C

And I wonder if that's got osage orange trees or what's otherwise.

C

Known as hedge apple trees and the reason I ask that is that.

C

There's a retirement village called red bud, hills.

C

My wife and I looked around their property once and they had.

C

Absolutely zero redbuds, so why is it called red bud, hills.

C

Anyway, well, I assume that there are osage oranges. There.

F

Given the name, but um I I couldn't really vouch for that.

C

I see well, my backyard along the border has.

C

Five osage orange trees that are forestry guy once told me, used to be.

C

Part of a mile, long row of them and they were planted as.

C

Hedges because they're very thorny thony, which is why their fruits get called.

C

Hedge apples too, but it's an interesting tree.

C

um Wonderful firewood, except it's very hard, and it just burns and.

C

Burns and burns, but it also chews up uh chainsaw chains.

F

Well, I haven't been out there uh for a while.

F

But now that uh they've submitted a site plan I'll go out again.

F

And the hedge apples ought to be on the ground right now,.

F

So I'll be able to tell you- and I um I am familiar because I believe osage is.

G

Another habitat for humanity neighborhood, if I'm not mistaken, um and the other habitat for humanity, neighborhood trail.

G

View off the beeline trail actually arranged with.

G

The community orchard here in bloomington.

G

To get fruit and trees and hedges planted.

G

Around their property for the residents to.

G

Utilize themselves, so if they don't have any fruiting trees, there.

G

I'm sure that they can be easily convinced to do something similar.

G

um Whether or not that's something that we want to.

G

uh Offer our friendly recommendation for that's. You know.

G

We all have to wait and see how they use the property to begin with, but.

G

Excellent, um do we have any reports this evening.

G

From the other two working groups.

A

No reports, but I think we need to discuss at some point.

A

This working group format, because the several of these.

A

Groups don't have members and have not met in.

A

A long time- and we really want to keep this format or.

A

Revise it or re-established committees, something that sounds like something to.

C

Take up at our january planning meeting, maybe.

G

Agreed, I agree as well um we've kind of I know at least I have.

G

And I've tried to convey it in my conversations with linda that.

G

I have struggled with how to rearrange working groups or how to utilize them.

G

Best simply because, especially now, it's more.

G

Difficult, I think, um to work on a lot of things, because I.

G

Always envisioned the working groups being a.

G

Major part of our community ties um so like the water working group would.

G

Perhaps work with friends of lake monroe and other groups focused on the watershed and then report back and.

G

Maybe encourage the environmental commission to work with them on.

G

Different volunteer days or on gathering information or that sort of.

G

Thing um but that's more difficult nowadays than.

G

Ever before um so I think in january we will have to.

G

Have an in-depth conversation about how best to utilize them, both during uh kovid and.

G

After when it eventually ends- and we can go back to meeting in person more.

G

G

Does anyone have anything to add to that conversation? I definitely agree we'll.

G

Have to talk about it at our january meeting, um because I think it requires almost an entire meeting dedicated to hashing out.

G

That format and I encourage everyone to think about.

G

That, as we lead up to january, so that we come in with ideas already.

G

Prepared about how we could possibly move forward two comments about water.

C

um One is that now that the friends of lake monroe have this.

C

Two-Year research program that they're sort of doing a lot of the water.

C

Work that we might be interested in and we'll no doubt get reports.

C

Of what they find in the end, the other thing is that in november,.

C

We're going to have a presentation from.

C

Andrea webster from the environmental resilience institute.

C

And one of the things I've asked her to talk about is.

C

Something she showed on a zoom meeting that I sat in on.

C

Of the state has a pretty neat system generating.

C

Floodplain maps and it would be good to see the floodplain map from for.

C

Bloomington so.

G

uh Any other comments on working groups or a specific working group or anything.

G

Related to that topic.

G

Seeing none we'll move on to our old business um item a.

G

Is mary welts water issues? I would appreciate from whoever takes.

G

Ahead on this topic to provide a little background information both for anyone.

G

Watching who may be unaware and for myself um who.

G

Has been absent on this issue so who would like.

G

To go ahead, I can start out on it.

A

Mary came to our last meeting as public comment. She.

A

Lives in the broadview neighborhood and she previously had a water feature.

A

In her yard, I believe a spring started on her neighbor's property.

A

Somebody correct me: if I'm missing the details here and created a.

A

Small waterway that crossed her property and she said there was a wetland along it, a while back the cbu.

A

Did a sewer installation there and they had a lot of digging to install sewer.

A

Line low point in the ground in the landscape: that's where they like.

A

To put sewer lines but after they finished the water.

A

Feature no longer existed. She said there was.

A

Some sort of a karst connection to it, I believe.

A

So she's complained and talked to the city about it.

A

And I think she came to us when she wasn't getting any.

A

uh Resolution elsewhere, but I'm I have no.

A

No details on that part of it. um That's so we we said. Maybe we should discuss.

A

That in a future meeting and decide if we wanted to take some.

A

Sort of action on it and what would be needed to do that is.

A

We're going to have to do some research and find out some more information about it.

F

Well, in the meantime, I've gotten a little more information.

F

um There uh in that area uh there were some.

F

Failing septic systems, so uh utilities got.

F

A grant to put in um sanitary sewer lines, and so they.

F

Bought the easement from um from mary and her husband.

F

It purchased an easement along the back of their property.

F

And um you know it was in fact a low spot and though.

F

um It was between two properties, and um it was, it was had been damp back.

F

There and so um uh mary had.

F

Had purchased and and planted some um plants, some native plants back there.

F

Anyway, when they came through they, uh that is when.

F

A spring was discovered on the um neighbors property, at least that's when.

F

It was discovered by utilities. uh Mary maybe knew knew about the spring.

F

Previously, but I'm not sure about that, but utilities.

F

Didn't know about it until they got there, so they.

F

Put in their their sanitary sewer line and when they did that.

F

As you can imagine, they uh they put gravel down and then they put.

F

The pipe down and then they put more gravel down so the gravel can act as kind of a faster water way. So.

F

Evidently, and they um when they encountered the spring, they.

F

Contoured it down to the intermittent spring.

F

Intermittent creek that went through there.

F

And I guess the gravel around them, the pipe you know made.

F

Sort of a conduit for the water to move faster.

F

F

So it doesn't stay as wet as it used to, and so she feels.

F

As mike said that something was done wrong.

F

But according to utilities, which is that's who I talked to.

F

um Everything was done uh exactly right. They even compensated her to buy.

F

New plants for the area and they.

F

You know mary said that she didn't think they were following.

F

Monroe county karst regulations, but they're, not in monroe county. It's.

F

Bloomington cars regulations and they didn't do anything wrong in.

F

In that regard, so I'm not sure what we can do.

F

F

About her situation, but that's just a few more details I want to throw in.

F

There, uh after talking to the utilities department more than we did know, I hate to ask this.

A

But is there by chance was any of the water standing water.

A

There a result of the failed septic systems.

F

Well, actually, I don't know these, I don't know the answer to that.

F

uh Because uh mary and her husband had just installed a new.

F

um Septic system, but the whole purpose for the the sanitary sewer was.

F

Because there were other people along there that um couldn't do that, and so they were.

F

Providing you know, city sanitation there, so I don't know the answer to that mike.

F

Good question, though, I had the same thought when I was.

G

Younger um my brother, excitedly told me after a day of making mud pies outside.

G

That he had discovered a new creek behind our grandma and grandpa's house and that's how we discovered my grandma.

G

And grandpa's septic system had ruptured.

G

So I it I had a very similar thought come to my mind.

G

um But I um I don't see any real way forward if the easement was purchased.

G

Properly and it followed bloomington cars.

G

Guidelines, um I think if the homeowner feels.

G

That we need to advocate for stricter guidelines within bloomington.

G

That's a fair argument. That is something we could definitely.

G

Take a look at, but that's about as far as I think we could go.

G

In rectifying this issue in the future, since, what's done is done.

G

I I'm afraid to say so question I have is: is there a chance.

H

That the the um over time, the.

H

Effect of the gravel will diminish. I I couldn't answer that travel does.

A

Fill up with if there's soil filtering through it.

G

So to understand they, they installed gravel, which made.

G

The stream basically wick away further towards the intermittent creek that was.

G

On the property, no.

F

Say it again, they installed gravel for the sewer line that they were installing.

G

Correct yes, around the pipe standard procedure did that.

G

If I unders, I may probably misheard you, it sounded like you said that that.

G

Caused that spring that she was talking about.

G

To move faster towards the intermittent creek so that the spring.

G

Wasn't staying as full and thus was drier.

F

No, I don't think that's exactly the case. I think that basically, the water that.

F

uh Went through the creek uh and um because it was a low spot, it.

F

Kind of you know slowed down a lot there.

F

And- and it was you know, it was, um uh I think it moved faster away because of.

F

That gravel so uh think of it as a drainage pipe.

F

Almost next to uh the the intermittent creek.

G

Did mrs welts have uh before and after pictures by chance do we know.

F

uh She probably does, but I uh have not seen them. Okay, I was just.

G

Curious if we had seen those um like, I said before, I'm still convinced that uh beyond research into possibly.

G

Strengthening karst regulations within bloomington.

G

If everything was followed by the letter of the law, I don't see.

G

Much we could advocate for much less change.

F

Well, as far as I know, you know, let me add that disclaimer I I.

F

Think that it was and the uh street the spring wasn't.

F

Identified beforehand, um you know it wasn't on our gis, so.

F

Utilities wouldn't have known it was there until they came upon it. I also think they said or mary said. In the last time we met.

E

That um they she did have pictures, but they she said they weren't great. So.

E

I don't know if that's helpful at all a question I have uh linda and.

G

You may not like this question because it may cause.

G

More work, if the answer is yes, um I'm not quite sure a hundred percent.

G

What the legal relationship between cbu and the city of bloomington is in.

G

Regards to um city influence on.

G

On policy making or decision making, but would it be possible for.

G

Either our commission or the commission on sustainability.

G

um To work with the city of bloomington utilities, when there is.

G

um A plan that would exist that would impact existing waterways or something.

G

Similar um for when they're making installations.

G

Of that nature, the same way that we're asked when.

G

Planning uh proposals come forward that impact.

G

The environment obviously.

F

um Well, as as probably always, communication could.

F

Always be better, but I do have to say that I know that.

F

From my position, I work pretty close with with the stormwater group.

F

In utilities, um not that we not that, I know every case.

F

That they're working on and they don't know every case, I'm working on.

F

But um it certainly isn't true that we have no communication.

F

um We do work together. Okay, I was wondering if we, if we hadn't heard about.

G

This, if it even went through the stormwater.

G

Group, and if it didn't, um is that? Because.

G

It there's a regulation out there regarding what does and does not.

G

Go before that body, um and why would this not qualify.

F

Well, the stormwater group is in utilities.

G

Correct and my question has morphed into um you said you don't know so my.

G

Question would be if we could possibly find out whether or.

G

Not stormwater reviewed the plan for the sewer.

G

Installation because it impacted an existing waterway or if it.

G

Didn't go before that storm water group and if it didn't.

G

Is that? Because they have a set regulation on how big a waterway must be.

G

Or something similar before they get involved. um I I'm happy.

F

To ask the question: okay, that I think I think that's just.

G

uh Something that would be important to know, even if we're just responding to.

G

The homeowner, because we could say well, the stream has the spring- has to be a certain size or has to have certain connectivity.

G

Elements before it goes before a review body like that, um I just think that might be something.

G

Worthwhile to be able to pass on to the homeowner as well as know for our own.

G

Information, what the exact regulations are, because if every stream, under a certain size or something similar.

G

Criteria um is excluded from a review process. That's just.

G

I think important to know for future reference.

I

Okay, are there any other questions regarding.

G

um The water issue at the welts property, um not a question per se, but just a.

D

Comment, I'm I'm not sure what happened right or wrong procedurally, but I think.

D

The main thing was, she was just really uh just mourning the loss of a wetland.

D

Area that she cultivated and fears the the the water.

D

Element will never return to and even with the the compensation.

D

She says the compaction uh from the work and the.

D

Gravel and things make the area um she said, unplantable.

D

But I'm just assuming that that makes it a huge pain.

D

And so I think she's trying to find a way.

D

I don't know if there's a way we can make this not happen to other.

D

People by surprise, that would be somewhat of a win.

D

Even if what's done is done on her property.

G

Thank you and I I I agree that um it would be nice to know.

G

Whether or not there's even a process for.

G

Water features of this size and if there isn't, if it's possible to advocate for.

G

One or even if it's just a simple notification process to the homeowner or to the storm water group, to make sure.

G

There's just that link there um for all possible scenarios.

G

Or as many that are as reasonably possibly to be expected,.

G

Is there anything else on uh this agenda item.

G

Before we move on.

G

All right next is the environmental justice statement and letter.

F

Ben, do you want to address this.

E

Sure um so I sent this out, I think uh the middle of this week, so I'm not.

E

Sure, if everyone's had a chance at looking at it, but the previous two fellows uh craft, this.

E

uh Letter and I kind of just morphed them together uh to make it flow better.

E

um And to take some points that um maybe one fellow didn't.

E

Really do so well and another one did and kind of combine them.

E

There's a summary and like a statement and I think.

E

The goal is to send to put one of them, at least in the paper, if.

E

I'm correct and I know this has been a long time coming because.

E

I think you they started writing this over the summer. If.

E

I'm not mistaken, and uh so if you guys have taken a look.

E

What would you guys think, um and uh hopefully we can get this in the.

E

Paper um next month or in november, when or even.

E

Earlier, I don't know when the papers come out exactly in bloomington, but.

E

um Yeah, so I'm confused about a reference to a letter.

C

I, what I printed out was four separate paragraphs. Is that.

C

Whole thing, not the statement or is part of that. A letter and.

C

Part of that is the statement and uh what's up.

C

There's um there's sorry, I keep saying letter, I meant to say summary. uh There's.

E

A summary um and then there's a statement, the statement's just one paragraph and then the summary is more. uh I think three or.

E

Four paragraphs, but is the is the statement one of those.

C

Paragraphs or is it something separate that I haven't seen yet? No, I think you should have seen I I've labeled it so.

E

It should have the summary first and then I think below is the statement.

F

I think dave the the summary we talked about.

F

uh Putting uh a letter in the ht in the guest column.

F

And I think that the first three paragraphs, I think the whole.

F

Thing is the letter, but included in that letter is.

F

Our our statement that will probably go other places.

A

uh I did not receive that until I saw linda's.

A

Edits on it, so I had not seen if it was sent out to everybody. I missed.

A

It somehow- and I haven't, announced it as well.

G

I don't know that it was sent out to everybody because.

F

Ben was waiting for me to um to edit it and uh after uh dave's comments today, I.

F

Went ahead and edited it to everybody, so he did not have the opportunity to send.

F

It out previous to what I sent out today,.

B

So, just to add to everybody's confusion, jesus and I worked on um in.

B

August, a four paragraph version of the environmental justice statement.

B

That I sent in reply to suzanne asking for it.

B

A couple of days ago, I don't know if we would just got our wires crossed and we.

B

Were both working on the same thing at different times,.

B

But I sent that out looks like on.

B

B

I don't know I just want to say I thought this was something I was.

B

Also assigned to do it's crazy, okay, uh I I have no idea. I didn't see what you.

E

Wrote uh or what you did so, but I know I took something that.

E

Jesus wrote right linda, I I think so I'm very confused about it.

F

Too, because kate was working on it and jesus was.

F

Working on it, and evidently they came up with two different things at two.

F

Different times, I think meredith was working more with.

F

Jesus I was working more with kate. uh I think the whole thing is in a state.

F

Of confusion right now, um I look back at jesus's.

A

July 30th, I believe it was version that he sent out it looked very similar to.

A

The one that meredith sent a couple of days ago so.

A

I just assumed that was coming from his well. They should all be pretty similar.

G

Is the draft we received from ben significantly different from the draft.

G

We would have received from meredith or jesus, it's shorter.

B

But not different, I think I I'm hesitating like just sharing.

B

Screens right now, because I have like a million things pulled up, so I just.

G

I just plugged the I'm sorry interruption, I'm so sorry go ahead.

G

I just wanted to say I I so. The ht has a guest column.

G

Limit of 600 words, um but it's important to note.

G

In my experience with publishing guests and guest columns and letters to the.

G

Editor in the ht that, for some reason, their software that.

G

Does word count counts. Some words that I would say are.

G

One word as two words, so I plugged in the letter draft that we.

G

Got from ben into the guest column uh section.

G

Submission section on the ht and we only have about 30 words.

G

Left in our um in our uh bank to you.

G

So I'm just saying that because when you said it was shorter, I was just saying.

G

That so you know um that's about as long as we could get.

G

It without maybe adding one or two more sentences, but we would still have to put.

C

The disclaimer at the end, too disclaimer, I included, I included the.

G

Disclaimer when I plugged it into the system, my.

F

Understanding is that the disclaimer is not counted in.

F

Our word count: okay, oh okay. If that's what the hta has.

G

Told you then right, but the the first one one of the.

F

Earlier drafts was still too long.

F

So I know in my edits I took one of the paragraphs out that I didn't think was.

F

Relevant to the the letter.

F

And so last I heard it was just a little bit under the.

F

600 word limit; okay. If we, um if the disclaimer doesn't count towards the.

G

Word limit. We have 81 words left.

C

Not to slow things down, but it seems to me we have enough confusion here that we.

C

Ought not to be making a decision tonight.

G

I would I would agree, I would say that perhaps ben and meredith should.

G

Work together to identify any differences in the drafts that do exist.

G

um And to decide how to incorporate um anything, that's.

G

Missing from um the I would.

G

Say perhaps ben's draft or just work just work out? You know.

G

uh Finalizing them, and instead of two separate drafts into one.

G

Draft to propose at the next meeting for approval.

G

um Is that yeah I just wanted to clarify? Has everyone read ben's statement.

B

That linda sent out in a word document with her edits on.

A

I have I've only seen linda's edited part, and that was a little hard.

A

To read so I don't know that I saw something.

C

That had linda's edits in it. I just have four paragraphs that don't show anything.

C

Being edited or anything, so I don't know what we're referring to here.

C

Part of that I sent out a uh track changes. um Seven hours.

F

And shortly after you sent yours dave after I suggested one word change you.

C

Mean yes, okay, I missed that somehow.

B

Okay, so then we do need to resend it. I was gonna say if everyone had read it, we.

B

Should vote on it now because I did read both and they're not very different.

B

But since we should just send out one more.

B

Email with one document clearly labeled.

B

Sounds like I agree me too. All right um do we want.

G

um Emails to come from ben then or from linda.

F

So what was the question? Who wants to send.

G

The draft out to everybody to review would that be.

G

Linda's with her edits or what should we send ben's original.

E

I I can make the edits that linda has put on, and then I can send it out to.

E

Everyone, if that works,.

G

I I would agree with that, because I reviewed linda's edits and.

G

They mostly seem um just some minor word changes and some.

G

Lengthening and shortening nothing substantial, no substantial changes to.

G

The ideas or spirit of the letter, so I I think that would be fine and.

E

Meredith we can coordinate if you want to add like stuff as well: okay, I'll email, you perfect.

G

Glad that we could hash that out, um if there's no other uh comments or.

G

Statements on that um we'll discuss that at our next.

G

Meeting for approval of the finalized letter before then, I.

G

Would say, give people at least a few days to a.

G

Week to make any proposed edits that they may.

G

Have to the final draft, and then that will give you enough.

G

Time to incorporate some of the more minor changes as well as for all the members to review any major changes that may be proposed.

G

But prior to the meeting next month,.

G

Moving on to monroe county and city of bloomington, environmental commission.

G

Survey, discussion um linda: do you.

G

Wanna uh sure I can I exchanged emails with the chair of the.

F

Moco ec this morning- and they have not.

F

uh Actually moved forward with it they're.

F

Still talking about it, um it it's still on their radar, but nothing right now has.

F

Has moved forward.

G

uh Could you just um briefly uh describe to me.

G

uh The purpose of the survey is it like a survey of membership to determine.

F

They talked about sending a survey out to residents.

F

Okay, to uh see if um to see what was the highest priorities.

F

Of the residence isn't that right, don.

H

Don which I'm not following connie easy and their.

F

Survey in monroe county ec yeah.

F

I thought you had gone to those meetings, never mind it clearly.

F

Clearly it wasn't you, I think it was daniel now that I think about it.

F

Sorry, um anyway, the monroe county ec discussed sending a survey out to county.

F

Residents to see what the environmental priorities.

F

Of the residents are- and uh we just we talked with them- about.

F

Joining in with them and um are helping them our partnering or just.

F

Whatever capacity they might want us to work with them in.

F

And um uh basically I it sounds like it's on.

F

On hold last email from daniel said the same thing.

F

Okay would would residents of bloomington be considered residents of.

H

The county or are they gonna? Are they.

H

Just going to be, would they be just addressing to the county.

H

Residents, well, that that hasn't been determined.

G

I would say, logically, it would make sense for them to.

G

um Do a broad scale county-wide, including bloomington survey,.

G

And then provide our commission with the results within.

G

Bloomington city limits because the county does evaluate um the.

G

Concern, like you know, bloomington's in monroe county, but monroe county is not.

G

Just bloomington, so uh it would make sense for them to collect data wide and then share it with them.

G

By that that you do, we have someone currently in conversation with.

G

The monroe county ec or the county regarding that.

F

Daniel daniel had been he's not here tonight, but he had been.

F

And so I reached out to the chair and then he got back with me. This.

F

Morning and said that they really hadn't done anything more and to answer your.

F

Question don, I don't know uh what the initial discussions in.

F

In their commission uh involved, so I I don't know the answer whether it be.

F

All of monroe county or monroe county, excluding bloomington.

H

Well, thinking back to the um seemingly the negative inpu of.

H

Response to the mayor's suggested tax, um I mean we really are all in.

H

The county and city uh really are should be considered one entity and.

H

uh As far as the environment uh in general, not just climate change, I.

F

Think that's why um you know we asked the question about.

F

Could um you know, could we be involved also and if we.

F

Could par if the? If the city, ec and the county ec could.

F

Partner on asking everybody in the county, it seems like that would be the best route to go.

G

um So just to clarify is the survey being done.

G

By the monroe county, ec of their own volition- and you know, work or is it being done by the.

G

County um and they're providing the information to.

G

The monroe county, environmental commission.

F

I am not positive. Okay, I was not in. I was not involved in.

F

The initial discussions of it, so I don't I don't really know. Okay.

G

Because I was curious because if we I was wanting to know if we wanted to.

G

Talk with them about collecting data within bloomington, whether or not they're, going to what the plan is, um whether or not we would email the.

G

Chair of the ec or someone within the county government.

G

Themselves, um I will, I have not had that uh a.

F

Conversation that goes into depth that much so I I don't.

F

Know the answer to your question: no, that's fine! I I. What I'll do um is.

G

I'm going to go back and watch the last couple. Monroe county.

G

Environmental commission meetings, as well as ours just to catch me up to speed on everything that I have missed.

G

um And I will hopefully find an answer within that and if I don't.

G

um We can proceed from there.

C

Well, it seems like we should contact daniel too.

C

Didn't you say, linda that he'd had something to do with this in the past.

F

Yes, he went to a couple of the um uh moko ec meetings, which is how he.

F

Found out about it in the first place,.

F

So yeah he should definitely be on these conversations she's just in here tonight.

F

And, as I said, I only had this email exchange this morning.

G

I'll email, daniel um and ask.

G

um Are there any other questions or comments regarding.

G

G

Okay, so I'll I'll reach out to daniel and if he doesn't know.

G

I'll check back the last few meeting uh on cats um just to see if the answer is.

G

Out there and if it's not then I'll reach out to the environmental.

G

Commission chair and ask him I'm just not too eager to ask if it's.

G

Been discussed multiple times in their meetings or something similar.

G

But we'll find the answer uh prior to our next meeting and then hopefully.

G

We'll be able to uh get some input on that or more information as to.

G

Whether or not we'll have access to that data.

G

Moving on to new business, we have bachelor forest letter to the herald.

G

Times and the library board of trustees, I know there's been a lot of movement on.

G

This who would like to uh take.

G

Charge of this agenda item well, I will I sent you those letters.

C

Because and I moved that we send them.

D

Do we have a second a second all right? Are there uh any questions or.

G

Conversation or discussion prior to the vote, anyone.

G

Have any like final last-minute edits, they want to propose or.

G

Anything similar all right, um all in favor of.

G

Submitting that letter to the herald times and sending it also to the library.

G

Board of trustees say I I I any opposed.

G

Excellent wait, hang on here uh ben. Can you see everybody's name along.

F

With their picture on your screen, yeah, I'm gonna.

E

Go back on facebook and uh just look again so I can record uh who said what.

F

Okay, because ben doesn't know everybody yet.

F

uh And which face goes with, which name? And um he needs to know that. As far as.

F

The vote roll call goes. Would you like a.

G

Line, would you like me to call a roll and just go down.

E

I think it's okay, uh because I see all your names here so.

E

um I don't think it's an issue and I'll go back on facebook and I'll.

E

Just make sure that I I'm just counting how many people said I so.

E

But I'll go back and get everyone's name on it didn't seem like anybody objected.

C

I do have a comment um I'd like for this letter to go.

C

To the library on uh city.

C

Clearhead and so linda, can you take care of sending it to them.

C

I'd send it to mary. um What's her last name, woods, mary woods.

C

Marilyn woods it is who's head of the library.

C

I would send it to her and she can distribute it to the rest of the members.

C

Of the board, I would say, and then I'll take care of sending the one to the.

C

Newspaper okay sounds good.

F

Thank you any further discussion on this letter.

G

Perfect. Moving on to our next discussion and agenda item, which is.

G

uh Moving forward in a covet 19 world, um as I emailed you in my email, a couple.

G

Days ago, um we wanted to have a conversation.

G

About how to best move forward, um I'm sure I'm not the.

G

Only one who hoped, perhaps naively, that this pandemic.

G

Would have been over by now, or at least back to the point where we.

G

Could meet in meetings in person with masks or something.

G

Similar, um we are clearly not at that point and.

G

According to uh the trending infection rates in indiana as a whole, we are not.

G

Anywhere close to that, um so we need to quickly.

G

And adeptly adapt uh new strategies for advocacy.

G

For planning review for our involvement with other bodies.

G

um So that we can best utilize your time as well as the resources of the city.

G

um To advocate for the environmental climate.

G

In bloomington um now there are of course, endless ways to.

G

Do that um so we need to have a brainstorming.

G

Session now, with any ideas that any of you may have.

G

Come up with since then um about potential avenues to go forward.

G

uh In my letter I in my email I outlined linda and I.

G

Talked about possibly re-reviewing, the udo.

G

um And seeing if there's any additional changes that we might want to advocate.

G

For to the plant commissioner city council,.

G

That's just one potential avenue of ways to.

G

Use our time and energy- and I am more than happy.

G

To hear any others that many of you may have come up with.

F

Well, um this is a little bit of an aside, but I would like to put ben on the spot.

F

And have him tell you just really briefly what he's working on.

F

Right now, just so, you know at least what he's.

F

E

um Okay, so that's my cue, um so what I've been working on is.

E

In the sustainable um action plan and also the environmental action plan, it.

E

Talks about uh a connectivity plan a little bit.

E

And actually objective eight promoting biodiversity by protecting and enhancing.

E

And expanding native wildlife, habitat and the second.

E

Goal creating pocket parks in bloomington to prom, promote wildlife and then the sustainable action plan.

E

uh 7.1 d um also talks about the connectivity plan, um so what I've.

E

Been going over with linda is um trying to find an area.

E

To basically create corridors, um small corridors.

E

And private ownership areas where there might be forests or.

E

Backyards of where people might be able to plant different.

E

Trees or flowers or different ways for like pollinators and birds.

E

um And we're trying to basically create um uh we're not going to create like a.

E

Stewardship but we're going to create volunteers who basically say um we're going to pledge our land.

E

For this project- and we won't develop anything on it and we're going to try to.

E

Plant more species on it and protect it, so that.

E

It's going to be a wildlife corridor or a wildlife.

E

Connective environment, um so what we've been brainstorming is that.

E

I I've been working on making a brochure that will hopefully.

E

Send to all the different families or different houses that we.

E

Identify to be along the corridor that we'll be.

E

Making or where we think the connectivity plan.

E

Would work best so we'll send that to them and if they.

E

Hope to do this or if they want to be part of.

E

The program I'm going to make a link where they can.

E

Basically, make a pin on like google earth or.

E

A similar app like it and they'll write a note saying we pledge this amount of.

E

Land, um this is what we're going to do on it.

E

um This is how we're going to protect it um and then also we're going to have.

E

Them sign basically, a petition.

E

And since we're not meeting a person, we discuss doing a google doc.

E

um So I'll also have the link on the brochure where they can go.

E

To this google doc, and it will have basically a couple pages saying.

E

Exactly what um they're pledging to do and we haven't.

E

Really worked out the final kinks of it yet, but we're working on it and.

E

um By the next meeting, you'll definitely have exactly.

E

What um the parameters are for um signing this pledge and then.

E

Hopefully, uh we'll have like a big list of people that sign.

E

um And we've decided that we're hoping to do it with just the people that we.

E

Identify in the connectivity plan so linda.

E

Mentioned that a map that kind of shows a donut.

E

Where, in bloomington, we want to have that area conserved for different.

E

Private homes or different private land ownerships, and once we have that we can send out.

E

Everything- and this is just hopefully the beginning and.

E

Hopefully, we'll do all bloomington eventually having people.

E

Sign saying like we're going to plant this or we're going to conserve this.

E

Area um so hopefully it could be. It's.

E

Hopefully it could be a pretty big project in the end, but this is just kind of getting off uh getting or starting off.

E

So yeah, that's working, sorry andrew! I want to just throw that in as an aside.

F

um So you'd know about that before we moved on with.

F

Additional projects, no! That's! That's completely fair. Thank you for.

G

Doing that um I was unaware. um My question for ben would be.

G

How much time commitment do you think you would need.

G

From the members of the commission um on that project, if any.

G

Just so that we have a general idea of how large of a commitment it may be on.

G

The commission's time versus what we could be using for.

G

Another project- just so we don't take on too much at once. I would.

G

E

E

What my or what I'm thinking is that you're really only going to have to.

E

Review what I write and what they'd have to say.

E

Oh okay, all right, we'll we'll, hopefully make.

E

Like parameters to what the private owners will.

E

Say yes to what they'll want to do, and hopefully you can review that and say: oh.

E

No, they should be stricter. We should encourage them to do more, not.

E

Just that they, if they sign this, that's really not encouraging them to do anything.

E

So I would like you guys to hopefully review that when I write it.

E

Also, to look at the map of the connectivity plan, of where we we.

E

Want to send this brochure to and have the people sign off in what areas of bloomington.

E

That they uh are living, um so we haven't really.

E

Narrowed that down yet um where we want to send the brochure to.

E

Or who we want to send the brochure to um so? Hopefully I could get a little.

E

Help with that, um but I'll obviously again.

E

Write that first or figure out where that is first and see what you guys think um so kind of just reviewing what I'm.

E

Doing would be the necessary work that I think you all.

E

Wouldn't need to do it. It would be helpful if uh everyone read.

F

The uh connectivity plan, because um the ec.

F

Finished that before many of you were on the ec.

F

And so you probably don't know exactly what it says.

F

But when you do read it this, what what ben is doing is.

F

Basically, the continuation of kind of a phase two.

F

To implement what what the plan said.

A

This is an extra thought for that. A lot of times.

A

Priority for uh habitat quarters is long streams.

A

And if there was private property interested in doing such a habitat.

A

Corridor there is federal cost share money available.

A

For that, so that might be something you'd want to include in the brochure.

F

Excellent, that's really good information I'll I'll. Look into that.

G

Okay, yeah the connectivity plan is located. I think it's linked on the.

G

Ec website webpage on the city website correct. Yes,.

G

Okay, you can find it there. It's only 19 pages.

G

Light reading uh for anyone who's used to reading.

G

uh Environment who anyone who's here for the udo.

G

It's very light reading um in comparison, so.

G

uh I would encourage everyone to give that a look.

G

uh As we move forward with that, uh but it sounds like from what ben is saying.

G

It our role would be largely uh review and approve.

G

uh In various steps along the way, um so I do think we still could take on.

G

Safely, another project or two.

G

Granting that they're, not you, know extremely major overhauls of time.

G

um But I uh I I would uh say that uh we would be safe to move forward.

G

With brainstorming, what else the commission could do in addition to ben's connectivity project.

G

Moving forward does anyone have any uh proposals or thoughts or ideas or.

G

Comments or questions regarding potential avenues for.

G

Don't be shy again, it seems like this is usually.

C

Something we do in january of each year of.

C

Deciding where we're going and how we want to change and.

C

Maybe we ought to wait till january, I'm not sure.

H

The question is uh in january: how will we be doing this again on zoom, probably.

H

It looks like I would say: yes, um I obviously it doesn't represent the.

G

City of bloomington or uh indiana, um but I know that.

G

You know all the large tests that college students take, for example, the.

G

Lsat, the gre, the gmat, the mcat, are continuing to.

G

Suspend in-person exams until april or through april.

G

So at this point I think a lot of organizations.

G

And businesses and educational facilities and institutions.

G

Are preparing to endure this uh through the rest of the spring.

G

Into 2021, um so it would not surprise me at all to continue meeting through zoom.

G

Well into 2021, unfortunately,.

H

A little bit harder exactly and I and I agree dave this is.

G

um An ideal january bucket list meeting discussion.

G

Topic, um I I wanted to bring it up now.

G

Partially because I want to start getting people, brainstorming ideas.

G

um Since, uh in you know in the past it could be.

G

The sky was the limit at the january meeting regarding.

G

You know whether we could do more field work or do more.

G

Advocacy at public meetings or something similar.

G

Some of those options are now no longer on the table.

G

um So people may need to think a little longer and harder about.

G

uh What we could do with the new normal that we have.

G

To face, um I also want to bring it up now, because we still have.

G

uh Two more months um in which to.

G

Continue the work of the commission before we start making.

G

The large changes that we normally change.

G

In january my cat's saying hello, um so I would uh you know, even if we just.

G

Decide to continue submitting the letters to the editor and.

G

The ht, um as well as.

G

Maybe start like lyndon and I said, um have people on their own time.

G

At just whenever um they have some free time and want to do.

G

Some heavy reading um re-review some aspects of the udo.

G

That we may not have gotten the changes we want to get changed.

G

um Back in when we did the process uh earlier on, um but again that's just.

G

One possibility, uh but I think we do need to find something to do.

G

In addition to um what we're currently doing,.

G

For the next couple months, until we can have the big meeting in january, where we.

G

Hash all this out for the rest of 2021. andrew one thing I.

F

uh I reminded the commissioners of last month.

F

And I I intend to remind to bring this up.

F

Often is that next year, uh in august uh will be the ec's 50th.

F

Anniversary and 1971- I just was reading that earlier.

G

Today, yeah um and I'd really like to see the ec do.

F

A great big thing for it that we should be starting to plan for.

F

F

Or you know sometime soon, I just want to put it on everybody's radar, so.

F

You weren't with us last meeting, so I was just mentioning it.

G

One thing that could be cool would be to do a.

G

I mean it's not cool. One thing I think that could be beneficial would be to do.

G

Like a 50-year report, I'm just detailing um whatever records we do have of.

G

Large projects or accomplishments that the easy has done since.

G

um Starting you know, but in the last few years we've done the udo.

G

um That was a major accomplishment, I'm wondering if something like that's been.

G

Done before and it would just be cool just to have a report saying you know, this is how what's changed in the ec over the.

G

Last 50 years, this is what we've accomplished um and then also as part of that outlines, maybe some goals we want to do.

G

Over the next 50 years, um what we want to see.

G

Have accomplished by the ec uh by 2071., you know just.

G

It would be cool, I think, for our commission to establish.

G

um Some long-term either goals or quantifiable measures of achievement.

G

That we'd like to see reached.

G

Over the next several years, but that's just an idea that I have, I think.

G

There's several things we could do, especially if we're able to meet in.

G

Person by next august that we could.

G

Consider I was first appointed in 1974.

C

And I was on it for 14 years back then, and much of our work back then was.

C

Trying to clean up westinghouse's pcbs, I probably have some records about that.

A

Maybe you could send this request out by email too, to sort of keep it on our.

A

Radar: um another item that we might consider.

A

Is at the august meeting christy lindbergh came in as a member of the public and requested that we consider this is in.

A

The august minutes uh partnering with cbu to.

A

Make a video about us for homeowners about stormwater.

A

Okay, there hasn't been anything more on it since then, but.

H

Yeah and one of the things that uh I don't know whether.

H

Vic kelson's.

H

Gone further with his idea of adopt the storm water.

H

Adopt a storm water sewer in your neighborhood.

H

Sort of akin to the adopt a street but.

H

I think when looking at city budgets etc, any type of volunteer activity.

H

H

Myself and several of my neighbors now are being more conscientious of.

H

Looking at uh cleaning out our own uh storm sewers.

H

So the city doesn't have to send a crew out there to do it.

H

There's a lot of things and then the volunteering in the park.

H

uh Doing that as well, there's a lot of things that.

H

Are getting more citizen participation and uh you know volunteer so many people.

H

Rail about taxes, but.

H

If we can somehow increase the volunteer effort.

H

H

Buyer citizenry get them involved, certainly help in the stress that covets.

H

Put on the city budget: that's an interesting idea. I I noticed.

G

When I was walking or when I I walk everywhere,.

G

So when I was walk around town, um especially after rain, there's tons of.

G

Sewer drains, and uh that are just in culverts that.

G

Are just completely clogged um and I.

G

I posted a picture of one on facebook when I was walking around and.

G

Just pointed it out, and people said you know- would be.

G

A lot nicer if every homeowner could go out in front of their house and just.

G

Clear their own storm drain, and then you wouldn't have to worry about your your street flooding. um But I think creating a program where people who.

G

Are already conscientious about that type of thing can volunteer.

G

To do it for a section of street would be beneficial, especially if we could.

G

Identify areas in town that flood repeatedly.

G

And reach out to homeowners and property owners there, because I think, if you.

G

Reached out to uh a a homeowner whose yard floods.

G

Few times a year, because all the storm drains are clogged that homeowner may be.

G

More willing to get a friend or two of theirs together.

G

And just go out after rains and clear the storm drains so that.

G

It can cut their their yard, flooding and save them. Some trouble and money.

G

um I think that could be something that we could look for look into and I think.

G

That could have the potential to at least help some.

G

Of the areas in town that I've lived in that flood over and over.

G

And over again, each summer and spring, um so I I like that idea. Personally, I.

G

Think that's uh an interesting idea to help the city and.

G

Homeowners alike growing up in chicago richard, the first daily.

H

Had a cleanup week uh to coincide with the public schools uh spring break.

H

Every year, um if boy, if you saw the litter in the city of.

H

Chicago today, you'd.

H

Kind of wonder about maybe a blast from the past would help.

H

But there's a lot of things that I think that this gets into the outreach.

H

Aspect again of.

H

Not just us, but all the other different commissions that we all have.

H

So many of our commissions have overlapping interests.

H

um Again, just sort of.

H

Trying to get out of the uh the opposite of never never volunteer.

H

um It's a good reason for people to volunteer.

G

And- and one of the aspects I I like about it- is that.

G

It is something that can be done, arranged remotely and done.

G

With social distancing uh in place, um we don't have to go out there.

G

And wrangle together, a group of 25 people to go clean up a creek bed.

G

Somewhere and risk people being too close together.

G

And handling the same objects, but you can reach out to a homeowner or two.

G

And they can walk opposite sides of the street and just clear the storm drains.

G

On their street and it's it's done um and you don't have to arrange a big.

G

Volunteer day where people are working together.

G

Just have people adopt what's close to them and have them work.

G

On their own or with their family members, to do it.

F

I'm pretty sure utilities already has this in place.

F

This program adopt adopt a drain.

G

I haven't heard of it. If they do, I don't yeah, they do.

H

Yeah um and with southeast park, um two of my.

H

Neighbors or husband and wife neighbors are both active and mciris.

H

And the three of us have been working in the.

H

Southeast park uh now since spring, and I think that you know we've.

H

Put a fair number of hours in and it hopefully will make things a little.

H

Easier for the parks people to meet their.

H

Objectives so I just pulled up the cbu adopt a.

G

Drain map they have a map online, where you can.

G

See where drains have already been adopted and they're marked in red.

G

There are about eight.

G

Dots of red on the map, so it does not seem to be.

G

A very well known or publicized program, and I'm wondering whether or not.

G

They could use assistance in advocating for that program.

G

If they don't have the staff or manpower available.

G

To do that, um I doubt that they have a full-time position dedicated to that.

G

I doubt that they have, you know um much money allocated towards advocating.

G

It so I wonder, if maybe reaching out to cbu and seeing if there could be a.

G

Partnership opportunity to try and get that more well-known.

G

Because we could also assist in looking at if there's any records.

G

That pertain to flooding within the city of bloomington, maybe identifying.

G

Areas that are more prone to flooding, like I said, than reach out to homeowners,.

G

There that might be a way that we could advocate with cbu on the existing program that way cbu.

G

Doesn't have to they don't have to create anything new.

G

We would just work to get the new people signed up.

G

um As a possibility.

H

Well also, one of the things.

H

I think that uh the utilities enchanting increased amount.

H

Of runoff, if the purdue modeling climate, modeling.

H

Having a significant increase in annual precipitation and extreme weather events.

H

um It's you know again.

H

People don't like to pay taxes, but if they can.

H

People can roll up their sleeves.

H

To make things a lot simpler for the city.

G

And I can tell you if I owned a house in my yard, kept flooding, because our storm.

G

Drains were getting clogged, I would be more than.

G

Willing to cajole my neighbors into joining me.

G

Once every week or two to clear them out, um I know how expensive a flooded yard.

G

Can be so if we can help people avoid that, I think.

G

That's a good angle for us to go about.

G

I'll try and find out linda, would you know off the top of your head.

G

Who's a good person to reach out to at cbu.

G

To ask about maybe forming a partnership for this.

G

For this type of thing, yes, christie lindbergh is in charge of it at cbu,.

G

Christie, lindbergh, yes, cbu.

G

I think that's something that if I don't want to assume that this is something.

G

That the commission wants to undertake, um but is there any objection, people.

G

Have to perhaps the commission working with cbu.

G

If they're interested um on identifying areas that we could.

G

Target specifically to try and get people at least to know about this type.

G

Of program, and hopefully get them interested enough to actually participate in it is there anyone who has any problems.

G

With that idea, at least reaching out and seeing if.

G

They're interested.

G

All right, uh seeing none I'll reach out to her.

G

And just bring up the possibility, you know explain that we were.

G

Brainstorming- and we were talking about the program and thought- maybe.

G

A partnership could be mutually beneficial.

G

um And if they're interested I'll report back at the next meeting.

G

And we can work on figuring out details about how we want to move forward if.

G

That's okay with everybody! How about a letter to the ht.

C

Telling about this program again joint letter.

H

From both or also along with tulsa and sustainability, commissioners.

H

H

F

Talk to christy, because I I know that she does quite a bit of advertising on.

F

It um already, and um you know, see what.

F

What she has to say about um you know when the last time she said something to.

F

The ht about it was.

G

I'll get that information and then I'll report back to you.

G

um Hopefully, before our next meeting and then we can start brainstorming.

G

If possible, if necessary, uh ways to move forward with that type of thing.

G

um But I do like that idea because, like I said I do think.

G

It's something that's perfectly doable uh in a covet 19 world.

G

um And I would like to encourage everyone to think of more ideas like.

G

That um that are that were able to do.

G

Remotely uh and not have to worry about.

G

Social distancing or something similar, so uh thank you don.

G

For that idea, that's so cool related to that to just dawn on me. One of the.

H

Things that I see in both queensway and sussex is.

H

Two streets that I uh watch the storm drain.

H

Is also the fact that, when I reported to the on the city's.

H

Reporting problem website um the past over the past.

H

A year and a half the uh deterioration of the pavement on sussex and queensway.

H

Is getting a lot of uh chunks of loose asphalt, which is.

H

Washing down and periodically plugs up so I'll pile up.

H

The chunks of broken asphalt on the curb.

H

I think eventually disappear, uh but that's another issue.

H

These two storm sewers end up going into a creek.

H

And so basically, you've got asphalt washing down.

H

In part of the system, obviously these things are getting.

H

Could plug up the underground part of the system if you.

H

Get enough chunks of the.

H

Asphalt washing into the storm drain, so it gets into what the streets.

H

Are separate responsible for the maintenance of the pavement.

H

Is that correct street department is the one that.

H

Deals with this other who deals with those issues with the.

H

Asphalt with the street or the sidewalk, the street, with the street.

H

With the deterioration of the street pavement, I think so.

G

Yeah, that should be the public works department.

G

I would say.

G

um I think it would be beneficial for us to.

G

Try and get you know as many homeowners as possible involved.

G

That way, the city can focus on areas that we know won't. Have many volunteers.

G

Because I'll tell you by the stadium, I doubt you're going to.

G

Get very many student houses volunteer to go out and clean storm.

G

Drains on the weekend, I don't think that's what they're.

G

Looking for to do so, city resources can be spent to get the areas or you know. Another example is.

G

Areas with clusters of retirees who may not be able to go out.

G

uh And bend over to clean out strong drains. So I I would say.

G

We could, if we could get a little bit of the strain.

G

Off of cbu or the public works department to.

G

Clear some of those drains, I think it would be a worthwhile effort.

G

That could have tangible benefits for some people.

G

um And what one thing I observe is that I've literally take my lawn cart.

H

And lug off the um organic material and put it into my compost area into the.

H

Back yard this, um and also I'll, take out remove any plastics or.

H

Be going down into the waterways, it kills more.

H

More more, you can take care of other issues. Besides just.

H

uh Getting the water moving, you can prevent contamination downstream.

G

um Is there first, I want to ask if there's any more.

G

Comment or questions about reaching out to cvu.

G

About a partnership of this kind, okay, and then um is there anybody who.

G

Has anything else to add um regarding moving forward in a coven.

G

19 world um and if there's not, I just want to.

G

Remind everyone that I encourage you between now and january.

G

To think long and hard about how the commission can contribute to the.

G

Community and to the environment um in a way that is safe and.

G

Appropriate for covet 19 world.

G

So is there anyone who has anything to add now about that before we continue on.

G

To announcements.

G

Seeing none we'll move on to commissioner announcements.

G

um And we'll start with dave, okay! Well, as I mentioned earlier,.

C

I've invited andrea webster from the environment.

C

Environmental resilience institute at iu to come and talk to us.

C

Next month, uh one of our 15-minute introductions to programs kind of thing.

C

And they had. I listened in to.

C

A longer it might have been a half day or even a full day.

C

Program from the environmental resilience institute and they're doing.

C

Lots of interesting things, but some of them.

C

Seemed of interest to us so andrea is going to come and talk to us.

C

In november and then it turned out that they have.

C

Something called the hoosier resilience index, readiness assessment.

C

And it struck me when I first heard about that that that's something we.

C

Ought to have been involved with, and then I find.

C

Out that the sustainability director lauren travis is actually.

C

Doing that and I'm a little annoyed that we haven't been involved with it, because.

C

It seems like much of what they're talking about is.

C

Environmental stuff and we should have been involved but anyway, um if it's okay with everybody, I think I will try to invite.

C

Lauren to come and tell us about what's happening with this.

C

Readiness assessment for the city and.

C

Invite her for december, if we could make.

G

Sense makes sense to me: um does anyone have.

G

G

Thing to add to that or ask okay, I will do that. Thank you. Dave.

G

Anything else, okay, uh moving on to mike.

A

I have nothing all right, don anything uh really trying to be very.

H

Quick, the meeting that we had.

H

Yesterday, with the mciris, the other plants.

H

We're on the list why we ended up uh the our lovely invas.

H

To pear and trees tree of heaven and off the top of.

H

My head, I can't remember the third one uh removal of those a couple of those.

H

Were the tree heaven and the pears can be potentially dangerous, uh costly and.

H

And uh difficult to do and whereas the winter creeper is a real.

H

Threat as well, the others are threats too,.

H

But it is a threat to our force, uh so that was it.

H

Part of the uh rationale um and one of the other thing I want to.

H

Bring out uh bring to your attention is the.

H

uh Under the restore grant update, uh there's a uh a dear browse citizen.

H

Science project in the making.

H

uh Which they're gonna be trying to get people in the community to.

H

If they can't set aside some of their land, uh so that's those are the things.

H

That other that takes uh out of yesterday's meeting that I.

H

Thought I needed to pass on.

H

Another one other thing: I guess the the asian bush honeycycle.

H

Members participated yesterday overall, we're basically.

H

Fairly pleased with the success of that program.

H

There's a lot more, it can be done, but it's getting the message out.

H

And getting people to take responsibility for their own.

H

Backyards um and also you know, accomplishing some of our goals.

G

Any questions for don.

G

Moving on to matt any report.

D

Yeah um yeah, I can confirm that tree of heaven would be a tough.

D

Ask for people to to remove as we my dad and I removed the.

D

Cluster in my backyard, the tallest of which was 60 feet tall.

D

um And that's just not gonna be safe for a lot of people.

D

Especially around power lines or anything else, but.

D

Separately, the only announcement I was going to make was, I.

D

Read a really interesting article in the times.

D

Talking about a nationwide shortage of arborists.

D

And mostly focused on a couple arborists in the new england area, who said.

D

With the changing climate they're recommending people plant a lot of trees.

D

That aren't particularly native to the new england area. They they named a lot of them that are native around here. um I remember redbud persimmon. I can't remember much else off.

D

The top of my head, but it made me wonder, just thinking forwards at what point.

D

We want to start looking at trees that are native to.

D

A couple states south of here, instead of just.

D

Natives, whether it's street trees or recommendations just to the public in.

D

Their own yards- um I don't have the answers, but I just.

D

Wanted to put that out there and see at what point we want to consider that.

D

That type of thing.

D

That's all no further announcements, any questions for matt.

C

My wife's, a retired forester. I should ask her that question.

G

uh Do we have uh announcements from linda.

G

Anything from ben.

G

All right, I have nothing more, except that I'm glad to be back.

G

If anyone needs anything from me, you can always email me. I try to respond.

G

As quickly as possible,.

G

If there's nothing else I'll uh entertain a motion to adjourn.

A

So moved all right uh I'll. Second, um any one opposed to a journey.

G

All right, thank you. Everybody have a great rest to your night. I look forward.

G

To talking to you again uh stay safe out there, thanks bye.

F

H

I

I