February 23, 2000

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Environmental Council Meeting Minutes
February 23, 2000
Geonomics Library
Vice Chair: Amy Seif

In Attendance: Amy Seif, Krista Siringo, Oren Frey, Tyson Schoelzel, Dan Bedford.

Absent: Jamie McBride, Charlie Sargent, Jessica Pasko, Kathy Morse, Nan Jenks-Jay, Linda Pitkin, Brian Harding, George McPhail, Tom Kelly, Mike Snow, Margaret Aleks.

1. Approved Minutes, February 9, 2000.

2. Summary of Sustainability Assessment Questionnaire:
A. Strengths and Weaknesses:
In educating for sustainability, the college is very strong in curriculum, institutional commitment, diverse interest of both employees and students, and in the work of the Environmental Council. The college is weak in the areas of transportation, purchasing, and in the conflict between aesthetic values and sustainability values.
B. Next Steps:
The next steps that we will take to strengthen the college's commitment to sustainability include working on transportation issues through the Parking Study Committee, landscaping at Ridgeline, responsible investing issues, and continuing the environmental grant program. The next steps for the future include developing an Environmental Center, looking into responsible purchasing and waste reduction through changes in procurement, bringing more alternative vehicles into college fleets, developing an endowment, and building a stronger alumni network.

3. Ridgeline Woods:
A. Summary :
The landscaping at Ridgeline Woods (near the social houses) may be changed, because of aesthetic reasons. Currently, the landscaping scheme is mixed forest and shrubs. One non-sustainable option to create a more tidy appearance may involve replacing the forest with grass.
B. New Sub-Committee :
Nan has requested that the Environmental Council have input into the landscaping decision. A new sub-committee will be formed to address this issue and look for alternative landscaping themes for Ridgeline Woods. The sub-committee currently consists of Linda, Dan, and possibly Oren. All interested members should be prepared to state their interest at the next Council meeting.

4. Sub-Committee Reports:
A. Audit Planning: Report will be given at next meeting.
B. Audit Implementation:
At the last meeting, grant recipients gave a summary of their projects and answered the sub-committee's questions. Each recipient has been asked to give an oral report to the Council at the May 3 meeting and submit a final written report. Amy has arranged for recipients to be paid through a voucher system. A new budget has been developed for next year, with a total of $25000 that must be spent. The sub-committee is now turning its attention to next year's grant program. They are asking the following questions: How will the accounting be handled? Who will choose the grant recipients? Do we want more input from the experts?
C. Transportation:

Survey results: Jess was not at the meeting, report was not given.

Otter Creek Audubon Alternative Vehicle Fair: A majority vote (5 in 5) decided that the Environmental Council would co-sponsor the fair. The fair takes place on April 9.

3. Electric bus: Oren will call a transportation meeting to determine a route and schedule for the electric bus. This information will be compiled with the suggestions from Eric Davis and Eric Skovsted, and then shared with the Community Council for their review.
D. Outreach: No one from this sub-committee was at the meeting, no report given.
E. Events: The Museum brochure for the Earth Day showing will soon go to
Reprographics. The student art exhibit will most likely take place in Bicentennial Hall, and submissions are now being accepted. Career Services will place links on their web page to environmental and social job opportunities during Earth Week.

5. Other Business:
A. New video:
The Environmental Council and Media Services have purchased "The Man Who Planted Trees," which is now available in the video library.
B. Winter Carnivale :
This year's dinner has an environmental theme, and will include hydroponic tanks, solar panels, the electric truck, environmental videos, compostable silverware, and other demonstrations. The Environmental Council thanks Russell Hulst for putting so much work into this. The dinner takes place from 4:30 7 pm on Thursday.
C. Dining take-out containers :
More suggestions for take-out containers include charging more to those customers who would like to use a new container instead of re-using one. Also, dining could give out non-disposable containers to be re-used, like Midd Cupps. A sticker could be placed on the lid of each container asking customers to re-use it.

5. The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Amy Seif on February 24, 2000.