February 9, 2010 Sustainability Committee Meeting

Present; Phil Mikus (chair), Woody Woodruff (Secretary), David Burdett, Tom Rohrer, Sharon Wade-Ellis, Mike Lyon, Casey Collings.

Discussion on Area and Regional sustainability groups and the benefits of partnering. Middle MMDC (Middle Michigan Development Corporation) and Vision 20/20 are possible partners. Members agreed that a mission statement is essential to guide the committee and that a list of goals should support the Mission Statement. The following were submitted by email for a working document to be reviewed, edited and expanded over the next month.
Mission Statement submitted by Tom Rohrer:

“The mission of the Union Township Sustainability Committee shall be to provide recommendations and advice to the Union Township Board of Trustees on activities that will assure the environmental, fiscal and social sustainability of the Township.”

Goals Submitted by Phil Mikus:
The Citizens Sustainability Committee Goals
Provide recommendation and advice to the Charter Township of Union Board of Trustees on sustainability issues involving environmental, economic and social concerns leading to an improved quality of life for all citizens of the Charter Township of Union, Isabella County, Michigan.
Specific areas of attention the Sustainability Committee shall address include:
• Implementation of The Michigan Green Community Challenge in Union Township
• Development of a Regional Strategic Growth plan that matches Union Township assets and visions with assets and vision of the rest of the region.
• Examining current and future energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and building growth of the facilities of the township
• Implementation and reporting of the Energy Audit and Wind Study Grant from the Federal Government
• Development of a comprehensive plan to reduce energy use and utility costs in the future
• Development of an action plan, to include target dates, goals, actions and mechanisms for tracking progress of the Charter Township of Union
• Implementation of a street side recycling collection program for single family homes in Union Township
• Implementation of a recycling service plan for multi-family apartment buildings
• Incentives for commercial and industrial recycling in the township
• Investigate establishment of specific partnerships with Vision 20/20 or Council of Governments to create an Isabella County Sustainability Partnership Group
• Maintain involvement of the private sector in the Township Citizens Sustainability Committee
• Work toward the development of bike trails that link local commerce and parks to existing and future state wide trails
• Presentation of informational and educational meetings and workshops open to all citizens of the township.
• Seek grant and funding opportunities that promote sustainability.

Peter Sinclair Event

The Peter Sinclair event on Global Warming Issues has been schedualed for some time now.  It will be held on Thursday October 8, at 7 pm and will be held at the Union Township Hall.  Rather than elborate here please visit the townships web site and see the Union Township News section

or

 visit the event on facebook.

September 8, 2009 Meeting Minutes

Meeting called to order at 8:04 am by chair Mikus. In attendance were P Mikus, D Burdett, B Wagner, C Colling, M Piatek-Jimenez, S Wade-Ellis, T Rorher, W Woodruff.
Agenda Items were Rain Barrels, Walkable-Bikable ordinance update, Curbside Recycling, US 127 Landscaping Project, Peter Sinclair Event

Peter Sinclair Event is confirmed for October 8, 7 pm at the township hall. Committee members Burdett and Wagner volunteered to steer the event along with Woodruff. Sinclair is an environmentalist presenting global warming issues. Woodruff stated that no township funds will be expended for this educational event and will seek public announcements in local paper. We have a a PR package from Mr Sinclair. Wagner will get an ad or piece in CM Life. Rorher will announce the event in his classes. The hall will seat 50-75 persons, a past event on campus drew about 50 students we hope to fill the house and not turn any away.

Curbside Recycling in the township is scheduled to begin on October 1. Containers will be distributed by the MRF with instructions. Bins are 100% recycled material and will be black. There has been a problem with implementation in trailer parks as they are not taxed in the same fashion as one and two family residences. The Public Works Committee is still looking at viable ways to bring service to these residents. One suggestion has been to set up a dumpster style bin that would be rotated between the parks.

Phil Mikus has been discussing rain barrels with the county and offering these at a discounted price from quantity purchasing. Rain barrels are making an impact on water usage and also saves electric usage for rural users by reducing pumping water. Rain water is also better for gardens. Acid Rain is not a problem in this locality. Barrels have a screen top and tap at the bottom to gravity feed a soaker hose or drip emitter.

Woodruff updated the committee on the US 127 Landscaping Plan. The last draft has been provided to the city and the township for final review. The plan calls for primarily native plants that will have low maintenance. The areas are from Summerton Road Overpass to Baseline Road Overpass. Also included are areas along Business 127 coming into the south end as well as the north entrance to the community. Vision 20/20 was instrumental in bringing Mt Pleasant, Union Township and CMU together to draft a plan that could be filled in over time. CMU athletics will provide "sweat equity" Vision 20/20 will seek monetary contributions for the plant material and associated soils and mulch. MDOT will also seek enhancement grants for the project. The results will greatly benefit the economic attraction to Mt Pleasant area. Plans are on the township web site under "Gallery."

Casey Collings of ROWE engineering has been working with the East DDA LED street lighting project. The DDA is replacing all the street lighting on East Pickard from the city limits to Summerton Road. The poles will be very similar to the city's with an ornate turn of the century look. The new lights will be energy efficient Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The engineer expects about a $2,000 per month savings. The East DDA is to be commended for this cost saving and environmentally friendly investment.

Woody Woodruff, Secretary

Community Survey Approved

On August 12th, the Charter Township of Union Board of Trustees unanimously approved an agreement with Central Michigan University for a community survey. The instrument will be designed by the Center for Rural Research and Studies (CARRS). The CARRS program offers the university's resources and expertise in a wide variety of topic to units of government and non-profits. Input to the survey will come from a broad spectrum of township sources in addition to the township board, including the planning commission, a yet to be named planning consultant working on the Master Plan, the Parks and Recreation Committee, and our Sustainability Committee. The project will also utilise students form the CMU Honors Program for interviewing, and data analysis.

Agenda Items for August 10, 7 am Sustainability Committee

· CARRS study update see http://www.uniontownshipmi.com/images/pdf_service/Survey%20Info.pdf
· Curbside Recycling Update
· Sponsor a Global Warming Event with John Sinclair.
· Open Discussion on topics of interest to members

Notes from Michigan Energy Office Seminar

Michigan Green Challenge with Michigan EECDBG grants. Visit MML site and Mich Energy Dept site by Thurs 7/29 for PP. Center for 21st century communities at MML site. MML has 8 assets, see green communities bullet. EECBG page here helps grant application, see webinars there too.

Green Communities challenge - overreaching / leveraging program, 6 step plan 1. Resolution of support, 2 Assign responsibilities, 3 collect data, 4 assess situation and ID gaps, 5 develop goals and activities, planning for future, attachment C, 6 Measures of performances. #1 is only requirement to be enrolled into MML and this will give more weight to state funds.

We need to perform well as a state to get more funding and take from those states that don’t measure up. See MML for sample resolution and submit Intention and Progress form back to MML

For responsible person see ICLEI link and join it. Local Energ Office information, a PP on responsibilities

Rebuild Michigan through DLEG to do energy audit.

Emily Simons, PSC. LIEE RENEWABLE SCHOOLS AND governments. list serv for granting sources. see for revolving fund loans. File for EO loans (Energy Optimization). Michigan Recovery and Reinvestment Plan Michigan.gov/mpsc
Jan Patrick Supervisor for Conservation Section, DLEG patrickj@micignan.gov

Tim Schireman Grant prop development
Multipurpose (non entitlement apps only.) & LED grants
submit for either or both, as single or collaborative
Multiple Purpose
Develop or contract for strategy, res commercial energy audits, financial incentive programs
bldg retro fits, EE and conservation programs, EE transportation (inc bike paths, alt vehicles, training bldg officials, EE distribution technologies district heating and cooling, recycling, gas recapture, EE traffic sig and lighting, renewable energy technologies for govt bldgs,
Funding levels on population 9,500 = $70,000 for single, 14,000 $85,000 prorated, Counties 45-70,000 = $175K-$275k,subtract any entitled entities (maybe tribal) populations; multi-jurisdictional adds pops, while joint apps may not get more money, but will score higher in selections. Can partner with entitlement tribes, but not share funding. up to 10% for admin, 20% FOR REVOLVING FUND USE,

LED grants
Street lighting traffic signals, parking structures, indoor lighting, required component public information/education/demonstration. funding levels, 50-250k 90% of equipment 10% match plus all labor training and education costs (buy American rules) selection criteria demonstrate savings and cost effectiveness, job creation and retention, reduction of greenhouse gases, how strong is project, management (who) and implementation. shovel ready, leveraging other funding compiling data (energy audit and other formulas) MEDC has formula for employment, ICLEI program addresses GHGases, reporting to fed and state - FED qtrly jobs created retained, energy savings vs cost reduction (ROI) GHG reduction, funds leveraged. State reporting requires qtrly progress reports, work to be done next qtr real or anticipated problems, significant changes to project, (call grant manager immediately if anything goes south, re budget before problems), document grant expenses and leverage contributions all funds are reimbursable, final report summary of goals and objectives and conformance, summary of activities, benefits and impacts, state grants hold back 15% till final report approval.
submitting RFP in state defined format COMPLETE ORIGINAL signature propose and 3 copies mail or hand deliver RFP by Due Date and time, emailed PDFs not accepted
RFP release waiting on FED approval of state plans, and we are early hopefuls, late Aug, Multipurpose and LED grants will be released on same RFP, but submissions separately, RFP on energy office website. can only apply once either collaborate or single. Online FAQ for 2 weeks after release of RFP, 30 days after RFP, be prepared! 30 day review period after due date. announce 30-45 days after review period (around end of October)

NEPA and SHPO early
Tim Shireman shiremant@michigan.gov 517 241 6281

Idea-LED lit bike paths, go to school to partner to get them funds not available otherwise, include purpose for collaboration in grant. document leverage dollars and use that word in the app

DOE web has 13 eligible activities see Solutions center

Webinar next tues.

July 14, 2009

Meeting was called to order at 7:04 am. Present at the July meeting were Burdett, Chowdhary, Lyon, Mikus, Piatek-Jimenez, and Woodruff.

Mikus gave a status on the MRFs (Isabella Co. Materials Recycling Facility) recycling proposal to the township.

• The Public Works committee has received the proposal from the MRF and is sending the residential component to the board for review. They have determined that we need a resolution from the county and the township to initiate curb-side recycling based on a per household charge.
• The twp would bill an annual charge of $17 to residential households to be included on the tax bill for bi-weekly pickup.
• Equipment cost is covered by the township and is a good 2% request item. Collaborative requests are more likely to be funded and the township can show a partnering with the county and a resolution of support from Vision 20/20 is a possibility, Burdett will check with Al Kaufmann, V20/20's governmental liaison. Mikus stated the MRF would consider a leasing of equipment to the township on a short term basis to hold us over until a truck is purchased.
• Burdett announced that CMU has received recognition as "Recycler of the Year."
• Mikus asserted that most constituents will save money on their trash bills by the reduction of recyclables in the refuse stream, especially for those who pay on a per bag basis.
• Wagner stated that some of her neighbors have indicated they already recycle and felt they would be double charged. Mikus pointed out that some city's allow a reduction of the annual fee with a voucher system, and that the MRF would likely be open to that.
• Composting was discussed, with the possibility of a joint effort that could also generate income through sales of finished compost. Composting would not be a part of the recycling pick-up program.
• Encourage citizen participation and use of recycling by recognizing "neighborhood champions", student volunteering, competitions, and awards.

Woodruff gave an update on the bikeable walkable projects.

• Planning commission is drafting sidewalk ordinance.
• Township staff is working with MDOT for local and regional non-motorised projects and grant funding.

Other issues discussed

• Dead animal pick up
• Septic Field alternatives using vegetative filtering in heavy clay areas
• Headwaters and Chippewa River protection from Ag and commercial runoff