Sustainability Subcommittee of Campus Planning

Sustainability Subcommittee of Campus Planning California State University, Fresno A ugust 20, 2009 8 :30am- 9:30am Madden Library Room 2108

Members Present: Andrew Bethke, Tonya Bojorquez, Ronald Durham, Alaia Howell, Andrew Jones, Lisa Kao, Lanny Larson, Peter McDonald, David Moll, Michael Mosinski, Gary Nelson, Joseph Oldham, Nate Willis

Absent: Amy Allen, Ronald Leach, Christopher Pluhar, Jerilane Willis

Meeting called to order by David Moll at approximately 8:35 AM

Agenda Item #1 Welcome & Introductions:

Announcement: Thomas McClanahan and Briana McDonald no longer members of Sustainability Subcommittee. Introductions went around the room. New members Andrew Bethke, replacing Briana McDonald as President of Recycling Club, and Tonya Bojorquez, Founder and President of new student organization The Green Issue.

Agenda Item #2 Review & approval, minutes from July Meeting

No minutes for July. Meeting was cancelled. June meeting had no quorum. Confirmed continued meeting pattern of third Thursday of every month at 8:30am.

Agenda Item #3 The Green Issue—Bojorquez

The Green Issue is newly formed organization associated with the School of Engineering. Have been working over the summer to get student interest and will begin official club meetings and member sign-ups in the upcoming fall semester. Spoke with Alaia Howell about Sustainability Day and plans for the event. Ms. Bojorquez has ideas for future Sustainability Days that can be incorporated into the event. The first of her ideas is a Sustainability Pledge for students, faculty and staff members to commit to sustainability practices in their daily lives. Another idea is to utilize the Fresno State Farmers Market to demonstrate organic produce and composting. Other examples include scavenger hunts, movie night, group bike ride, poster or recycled art contest, and roundtable discussion. She believes it would be good to work with University Dining Services to provide incentives to people who bring in their own cups. Dean McDonald inquires about The Green Issue starting in the engineering school but having campus-wide impact. Ms. Bojorquez states that she is looking to help with Sustainability Day, not so much for the club. Mr. Moll gave background that Ms. Bojorquez originally contacted President Welty not knowing of the Sustainability Department and with plans of a large-scale Sustainability Fair that was not exactly feasible at the moment.

Dean McDonald suggests that the draft of the Sustainability Pledge be directed more toward the campus efforts than a generalized life change. He believes it would appeal more to faculty and administration. Dean McDonald also suggests that she and Ms. Howell contact Chris Fiorentino who has list of student organizations, such as the Smittcamp Honors College. He believes it would be beneficial to present a formal documentation to suggest practices and sustainable efforts within these groups. Mr. Moll also advises that the three student members present at the meeting contact Chris Fiorentino with a list of “green” groups currently on-campus, and if too few, make efforts to get more organizations up and running.

Dean McDonald also asks if the pledge form is targeted just toward students. Ms. Bojorquez states that the pledge is for students, faculty and staff (the entire campus community). Mr. Oldham states that he can see the pledge extending past campus environment. He would like to take a copy of the pledge back to the City of Fresno and encourage the staff to take a similar pledge. Ms. Bojorquez would like to see the pledge posted online. Lisa Kao says there is a Healthy Air Living Pledge hosted by the Valley Air Pollution Control District webpage. She suggests that we either use some of their concepts or offer a link to their pledge along with our own.

Agenda Item #4 Sustainability Day, October 21 update—Howell

Ms. Howell has confirmed a guest speaker for Sustainability Day, Undersecretary Cindy Tuck of the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal EPA). Tuck is not asking for an honorarium but is only requesting to have meal paid for. Lecture will take place at Alice Peters Auditorium at 6:00pm. She was considering whether lecture should be rescheduled for earlier time, considering the number of students on-campus at that hour and its effect on audience attendance. Mr. Moll asks if anyone has ideas. Dean McDonald suggested that having food at the venue, prior to the lecture, would get students to stay on- campus and attend the lecture. He would be willing to provide funding for the food. Andrew Jones stated we would need to get an exemption from having food catered from University Dining Services. Mr. Larson also stated that it would have to take place outside the building, not only due to the fact that Alice Peters is under contract with University Dining Services, but also food is not allowed inside the auditorium. He also mentioned that Alice Peters Auditorium is a fairly small venue, holding only approximately 199 people. Mr. Moll made note that it would look better for the event if the keynote lecture of the first Campus Sustainability Day was standing room only; make the event appear to be even more successful. Larson asks whether Cindy Tuck will be available for media; says that there is no guarantee they will be there but it would also add to publicity of the event if some news people came and get footage of the event. Dean McDonald also offers to have the HM Library as another possible location for the lecture; auditorium holds only 100+ but there is upstairs seating making it 200+ people. Lisa agrees that it would be a good contingency plan. Mr. Larson also commented that it is a central location on campus and would eliminate the issue of parking. Mr. Bethke stated that along with food, alerting faculty would be the best way to get students to attend the lecture; academic incentives, such as extra credit, in the Environmental Science classes. Lisa Kao believes it should be an opportunity for extra credit not only in the Earth and Environmental Sciences, but campus-wide. Mr. Moll made note that it was done for Earth Day and it turned out to be a success. Dean McDonald told Ms. Howell that if a good email is crafted, it can be sent to the Provost to be sent out to the chairs’ list and would be the quickest way to connect with faculty.

Ms. Howell is also confirming the participants that will have tables at Campus Sustainability Day. She reiterates that the event will take place from 10:00am – 2:00pm at the USU Balcony, with a set-up similar to Safari Day. Dean McDonald asks if there is any way to incentivize good deeds done on-campus. Mr. Jones suggests that it could tie into public safety; as with some cities where officers give out tickets for good driving, we could give out tickets for good sustainable practices. Dean McDonald is willing to contribute to prizes if need be. Ms. Bojorquez had been to some conferences where other universities are using a similar program where students “Get Caught Green Handed”.

Agenda Item #5 Sustainability web site—Howell

Ms. Howell stated that the test site had been completed this week. Mr. Moll states that he will send out the test site address for the committee to review and edit. He would like to have the web site up and running no later than early September. Mr. Larson states that it would be a good publicity “stepping stone” for the Campus Sustainability Day.

Agenda Item #6 Pacific SW Organic Residuals Symposium—Howell

Ms. Howell received an email from the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) about a symposium regarding ways of achieving greater greenhouse gas reduction. It involves a field trip to the East Bay Municipal District Main Water Plant on September 22-24th. She was wondering whether a member of faculty or staff would be interested in attending. Mr. Moll says that if anyone is interested in the symposium to send an email to Ms. Howell.

Agenda Item #7 County HHW proposed location update #2—Moll Mr. Moll says we are working with the county with proposed location #2 for household hazardous waste; at the calf-barn on Barstow. This will allow people to bring their hazardous waste (i.e. WD-40, fluorescent bulbs, car batteries, etc.) to a safe location to be disposed. It will be open weekly on Fridays and Saturdays. Ms. Kao makes note that it is only used as a collection and sorting site, but it will be transported to another location for disposal. She says there will also be a reuse center. Mr. Moll says that since the current building has a living quarters for students working on the farm, the steering group is working with the farm to arrange for an alternative site for housing the students. Mr. Moll is awaiting formal approval from the Ag Board and Campus Planning. We will know within the next 30 days whether will be able to move forward with the project.

Agenda Item #8 Report on local & regional transportation planning—Moll

Mr. Moll met with Sam Lott, a consultant working specifically with personal rapid transit concepts. Mr. Lott is interested in using the university as the centerpiece for the proposed rapid transit system being proposed to the City of Fresno. He will extend the model to connect with locations where students are living based on data and demographics. Mr. Moll says that it is similar to a “horizontal elevator” that runs on a track and sends small groups of people to designated stops. Mr. Oldham is very excited to incorporate into the bus rapid transit. He believes it would also be great to have a similar system in Downtown Fresno and the Tower District. He says one of the challenges will be the aging demographic and people incapable of walking, and this new system will help improve the quality of living for these residents.

Agenda Item #9 Library green Team report—McDonald

Library Green Team has been meeting regularly throughout the semester. Dean McDonald stated that Ms. Howell has joined the Green Team. The major focus of the group is to change the culture of faculty and staff. They began creating a report that was once designed as a piece of literature, but is now looking into creating a website that lays out basic concepts and benefits of sustainable practices. Green Team is waiting until Ms. Howell’s Sustainability Website is completed as not to duplicate it. The Green Team website will be targeted at the administrative level. Dean McDonald meets with Bill Covino the next day about the website. Ms. Howell stated that there will be a connecting link on the Sustainability Website to the Green Team Website.

Agenda Item #10 Fresno Green Team report—Oldham

Mr. Oldham stated that the city has submitted the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Application on May 22nd. They also launched a new division called Sustainable Fresno, focused on long-range planning for revised community development and encouraging the kind of density viable for rapid transit. They have also begun energy surveys for data and to help communities to become more energy efficient. They are working on a huge renewable energy project as well as a revolving loan program for residents who are revising their homes to be more energy efficient. Revolving loan would be a part of the property tax bill and not come up on residents’ credit reports. He stated that they plan on working with HUD and other federal agencies to plan a program where consumers will be able to compare home values. Sustainable Fresno has also received a grant from PG&E for about $15,000 for a media outreach event that will take place in September. Mr. Oldham put the program together in December and says they have $4.6 million toward sustainable efforts for the city as well as tremendous support from the major and the city council. They are looking to Fresno State as a key partner with these efforts.

Mr. Moll also reminds Mr. Oldham that if he needs to, he can send a delegate to cover for him at the Campus Sustainability Subcommittee meetings. Mr. Oldham is still looking for someone to serve as a liaison for when he is unable to attend meetings.

Agenda Item #11 Roundtable—all

Dr. Jones states he has met with faculty regarding issues of sustainability and was sent information about composting and a recycling unit. Also, he has been asked to serve as a radio host for KCFC to discuss environmental issues within the Valley. He makes note that he will be looking to have Mr. Oldham as a guest. He also spoke to Dr. Dennis Nef recently about the Sustainability Minor. They are thinking of Geography as the home department for the Sustainability Minor. He says Dr. Nef is considering looking toward having it as a system wide implementation of sustainability programs.

No other comments.

Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:40 AM. Next meeting will be Thursday, September 17th, 2009. Location: Madden Library Room 2108.