WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.000 Welcome to the meeting of the Sustainability Framework Advisory Committee on December 13, 2024. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:22.000 Our first item for consideration is approval of October 25, 2024 minutes. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:28.000 Is there any discussion regarding the minutes? 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:30.000 Motion? 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.000 I'll second. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:34.000 Move to approve. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:38.000 Seconded by Mr. Briegel. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:44.000 I can remember you. I'm drawing a blank. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:46.000 My name? 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:48.000 Yeah. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:50.000 Richter? 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:52.000 Yes. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:01:00.000 Seconded by Dr. Briegel and initially initiated by Mr. Richter. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.000 Shall we vote? 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:04.000 All in favor? 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:06.000 Aye. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:08.000 Minutes are adopted. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:26.000 Our second item today is receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding recommending the Sustainability Framework Fund Fiscal Year 2024-2025 work plan to the City Council. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:30.000 We have a presentation. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:41.000 You're not flipping me. 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:44.000 Katherine Barnett, Sustainability Manager. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:52.000 Just wrapping up the previous discussions we've had about the Sustainability Framework Fund and the priorities for this year. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:02:03.000 So I have one change to discuss with you today from what we've discussed previously, and that would be adding funding for water conservation initiatives or incentives. 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:21.000 Just a reminder on the budget, we had the $500,000 adopted the first year, the $4 million for '22-'23, the second year of the fund, $750,000 for last fiscal year, and $800,000 for this fiscal year, and then the actual revenue there on the right-hand column is what we discussed previously. 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:29.000 Just shows that shortfall from budgeting to actual revenue. 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:35.000 So water conservation strategies, like I said, that's a new one to discuss today. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:42.000 It was a priority for the committee whenever we worked through the topics for this year, the priorities for this year. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:51.000 We did go ahead and include the ecosystem protection and enhancement and the transportation incentives to moving those EV and EVITE to the framework fund. 00:02:51.000 --> 00:03:11.000 Water conservation, we were working with Denton Water Utilities to work out an incentive program, and it looks like they're going to focus on some larger scale projects, so we're coming back to recommend including an irrigation tune-up rebate and a smart irrigation controller rebate. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:20.000 They would run similar to the Green Seps program, where it would be you submit a receipt for your purchase, and then you're eligible for a rebate. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:37.000 That way we could get the Wi-Fi capable, the rain or the moisture sensor on the smart irrigation controller, and then folks would be able to choose who they wanted to use to do an irrigation tune-up, and then we wouldn't have to have any contact with the actual irrigation companies or contract with them. 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:43.000 You would be free to choose whoever you wanted to do, and then just submit that for a rebate like you do for an HVAC tune-up currently. 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:48.000 So it's very similar to the Green Seps. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:04:11.000 With that addition, we were proposing, previously we proposed 550 of expenditures for this year, adding another 50, and for the water conservation, we're bringing this up to 600, which is still 200,000 short from what the estimated revenue for this year would be. 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:18.000 You have the document in the backup, and that just gives us our go-by for this year. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:29.000 Still just implementing that first big $4 million plan and all of the ideas that went into that, just kind of narrowing it down to what we can accomplish this year moving. 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:32.000 Any questions? 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:44.000 Two questions, just one question of clarification on the specific. When you say irrigation tune-up, that means like beginning of the growing season, somebody comes out and makes sure there's no leaks or anything. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:05:00.000 And then the more broader question back on your budget slide, if you could just remind us what it means to spend funds as they accrue. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:06.000 So, you know, if you look at last year, we had an adopted budget that didn't match the actual. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:14.000 So if there is a shortfall like that, our policy is basically, we just spend whatever we actually get. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:19.000 And in this case, let's say we actually do get to the full 800. 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:32.000 Now, if we approve this, if it's approved, we've allocated 600, right? Correct. If another 200 comes in, would we meet again to see how to distribute those funds? 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:45.000 We can absolutely bring that back. If we see revenue coming in that's higher than expected or we're trending where it looks like we're going to exceed that 800, then we would come back and talk to the committee about the next step of what to implement. 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:50.000 Or to scale up if we're working on something that we're having a shortage on funding for. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:52.000 All right, thanks. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:06:00.000 I have two questions. First, kind of a comment. I, again, super love that we're moving the transportation stuff over to this fund. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:12.000 For the rain barrel workshop under the Water Conservation Program, I know typically that class costs like an initial $50 for materials to receive that rain barrel afterwards. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:20.000 I guess that still has that structure and is it possible we could use some of this money to just cover that for people who register to attend? 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:27.000 That is the way we're approaching it. For Denton residents, Denton Water Utility customers, it would be free. 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:35.000 Not necessarily only Water Utility customers, because we do have some who are residents who do contribute to the fund, possibly. 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:44.000 So we'll work on those costs, but for folks who live outside of Denton, we would probably make it available for the fee for materials. 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:45.000 Okay, cool. 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:47.000 We're working on what that mechanism looks like. 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:53.000 Right. The second question was for the ecosystem protection and enhancement portion of this. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:07:00.000 We were still talking mostly about that being directed to the Bowling Green. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:11.000 Primarily Bowling Green. Parks have some other areas identified where they want to do some of this work where we might be able to, if we have the funding, stretch and do some more restoration. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:16.000 Okay. It's not necessarily concrete where that will be directed at the moment? 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:32.000 The only one that has already started is Spencer across from DME. So eventually there, it used different control strategies and I think it had a little bit more regrowth. So just some timing. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:47.000 For what we actually put in to, I'm going to say support those projects, are we actually fully funding the work that goes on and whatever contracting for, say they bring in a Bobcat or something to do or the Go person at one point. 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:53.000 Are we paying for all of that or does Parks or Watershed Protection or somebody else cost share some of that? 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:57.000 I need to go back and look at what Parks has committed for those. 00:07:57.000 --> 00:08:04.000 I know that we paid for some of the initial work, but then they haven't been back to ask for funding for both of those projects yet. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:12.000 So I can get the cost on that and share that a little bit. I do know that they have some skin in the game. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:15.000 Awesome. Thank you. Those are my questions. 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:25.000 I have a couple. On the EV rebate, does that include automobiles that are leased? 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:28.000 We did discuss adding leases this year. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:31.000 So that is a possibility or indefinite? 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:35.000 No, we can include those this year. That was the direction from the committee. 00:08:35.000 --> 00:09:03.000 The other question is, I don't know if this is feasible, if it makes any sense at all, but when we look at the budget, is there any way to figure out how those dollars translate in the individual categories into actual carbon reductions towards our 2025, 2050 goal? 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:21.000 I will have to get back with you. We are working on the deemed savings on the burning sector program right now, and there is some information that I believe will translate to these programs, but I will have to do a little deeper dive on that. 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:34.000 Okay. I was just curious if we could develop some sort of system where we could make a prediction as to how much carbon would be reduced with each category. Is it appropriate? 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:36.000 Yes, we can certainly dig into that. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:48.000 Okay. Thanks. Any other discussion? No? And you are not asking for any direction? 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:54.000 Just feedback? Thumbs up, I think. Thumbs up from everybody. This is a good direction. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:57.000 Yeah, yeah, everybody agrees. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:58.000 We've got that captured now. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:59.000 Thank you. 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:01.000 Thank you. 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:18.000 Okey dokey. The next item is to receive a report and hold a discussion about the University of North Texas textiles initiative and collaboration with the City of Denver. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:33.000 I'm Julissa Omdor. I want to present this one. 00:10:33.000 --> 00:11:01.000 Good afternoon, committee members. My name is Julissa Omdor. I am the senior program coordinator over in the sustainability division. 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:08.000 I'm going to give you guys a presentation over the University of North Texas textile initiative collaboration. So it's a big mouth. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:21.000 So this is going to be our focus. I'll talk a little bit about the background for the UNT Zero Waste Textile Initiative, our collaboration as a city, and then some next steps. 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:35.000 So a little bit of background about the UNT Zero Waste Textile Initiative. They are led by a doctorate professor there through the College of Merchandising, Hospitality, and Tourism. 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:45.000 They applied for a grant through the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling, through STAR, for eight pink collection bins, and those are located at the University of North Texas. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:53.000 So they collect textiles throughout the year, and so we kind of saw them as a great opportunity to collaborate with. 00:11:53.000 --> 00:12:08.000 They had previously done a tour at the landfill and also at the recycling facility, and so through that, that kind of got the conversation going for maybe a collaboration on a future project. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:20.000 So what do they do? They, through the clothing that they collect on campus, they have clothing swaps at the University, so they host clothing swaps right on campus. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:28.000 For students, students can bring an item and take an item, or if they don't have an item, they can still go and grab an item. That's still perfectly fine. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:39.000 They also organize the clothing by the quality of it, so they organize it by that, by the seasonality. So they have a fall line, a spring line, which is really cool. 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:46.000 They also set aside clothing for a professional closet that is on campus at the Diamond Eagle Resource Center. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:53.000 So if students are needing clothing for an interview, they can use that clothing that is in that professional closet. 00:12:53.000 --> 00:13:03.000 They also set aside clothing like rags, fabric, and they're wanting to implement sewing classes so they can teach repair right on campus to the students. 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:10.000 So that's for clothing that's not meeting those standards of going into the clothing swap or the Diamond Eagle Resource Center. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:19.000 From our contact there in the program, I don't believe they've had enough material to take it to the Chickasaw Nation Reuse Center in Oklahoma. 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:25.000 I believe they have to have a specific quantity before they take that material over there because it is a good drive. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:30.000 But I know that clothing they were going to also set aside to take there as well. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:40.000 So our collaboration with them. So this took the collaboration of the Department of Environmental Services and Sustainability, and then also Solid Waste and Recycling. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:51.000 So we collaborated with them at the UNT Spring Move Out. And what we did was, ESS, so Environmental Services, sponsored three dumpsters. 00:13:51.000 --> 00:14:00.000 Those three dumpsters were placed at these three dormitories. And then our division created the signage. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:07.000 So the dumpsters had signage on them saying donate clothing here. We wanted to see how much material we could get, textiles. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:15.000 And we also, the poster that's on the right, that's the UNT Move Out Guide, which we created and placed in all of the dorms. 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:24.000 So there was signage in all 15 dorms on campus, just reminding students how to properly dispose of their trash so that they're bagging the material, 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:30.000 but also that they have opportunities to donate clothing right near their dorms. And then donating small appliances. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:41.000 So those are some, there's stores and charities that are in Denton that they can take their material to, just providing them that reuse option so they don't have to dispose of it in the trash. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:48.000 So what does that look like? So with the help of Solid Waste and Recycling, we were able to get three of those dumpsters. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:55.000 They set those aside for us, and we were able to sticker them on all sides of the container. So ideally you're going up to a container. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:15:05.000 You're also seeing that it has a chute lid and a locking bar and a lock, so ideally you're not throwing any trash in there because you can see that there are signs on there saying it's just for clothing. 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:15.000 This one doesn't take any trash. We want to make sure that it also had those preventative measures, just making sure that nobody's mistaking it for a dumpster. 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:26.000 And the chute lid and locking bar has proven to be very effective in the recycling side, and so we were able to also use it for this project as well. 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:31.000 So through that collaboration, once the dumpsters were in place, they were in place for one week. 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:41.000 We promoted that they were in place, and so did the UNT Zero Waste Textile Initiative, as well as the We Mean Green Fund at UNT, just reminding students where they could take their material. 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:48.000 The students that are part of that initiative checked on the containers every single day, and they checked on them twice a day. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:16:01.000 So if they could see any trash or debris from the openings of the dumpsters, they would remove that material, just making sure that once we tipped that material at our building that there wasn't an overflow of trash or no one was mistaking it for that. 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:18.000 So this is what that looked like at our facility. So this was at the sustainability office. We grabbed out some parts, solid waste, and our department organized tipping that material there, and then our staff did kind of a pre-sort of the material. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:29.000 So the students, after the move out, were on summer break, and so we had to house that material at our building, which thankfully we have kind of a warehouse space in the back, which we're able to utilize. 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:42.000 So that pre-sort was us removing any trash if we saw any. There was minimal trash, which was really great, just being able to see that students were reading the signage, were making sure that they weren't placing any material in there. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:49.000 So we did a pre-sort, dividing some of that clothing out, and making sure that it was able to be used. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:17:00.000 So through that, solid waste was able to help us by weighing the material. Through that we were able to find that we collected 1,273 pounds of textiles. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:12.000 We stored that material during the summer in these little metal cages that Home Chemical Collection let us use, and then we hosted a sort-a-thon during September when all of the students came back. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:19.000 That's what that looks like. So this is the sort-a-thon that we hosted in the sustainability office. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:31.000 I had someone from Parks and Rec, Alicia McDaniel, come out. She's one of the rec coordinators that does some of the classes, and so she did a stretch with them at the beginning of the sort-a-thon, which was really fun. 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:38.000 So that's the picture that's over here on the far left. And then those are going to be the other pictures of the students sorting the material. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:47.000 Again, they're sorting it by the quality of the material, the seasonality of it, and they're organizing all of that into different sections. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:59.000 We had over 60 volunteers that came to our building for it, and we originally planned the sort-a-thon for three days, and these volunteers were able to finish it in two. 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:16.000 So next steps are we're going to continue to identify opportunities. We, of course, want to work with the universities and colleges within the city of Denton, just making sure that they know that we want to partner with them and that we want to be able to divert more material from the landfill whenever we have any move-out events. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:24.000 So we want to work with UNT for move-out 2025, and then also continue to work with the universities and colleges. Questions? 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:29.000 Thank you. Any questions or comments? 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:31.000 Mr. Rick? 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:51.000 I guess a little background first. The other hat that I wear is on the Women Green Funds. I chaired it for the last two years, and this is my outgoing semester, but we were able to fund this initiative at about $11,500 for the requested budget, which included, I hope we can all appreciate, the amount of labor that goes into this type of program. 00:18:51.000 --> 00:19:07.000 A student worker position for an entire year, and additional pink bins and a number of outreach and education materials, and really looking forward to getting them fully off the ground after this first kind of pilot phase. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:22.000 I guess to communicate a little more formally as well, this is still very much an initiative from the school's perspective as well, and trying to figure out how we can partner with the city in this and what it looks like on the ground at UNT. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:42.000 And there are still a couple needs that, you know, they're being ironed out. One of them, they are still really trying to figure out their long-term storage location for where all their materials are housed. We can also appreciate the volume that they go through, which it does meet a really critical need for our students on campus. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:52.000 I think it truly is close for people that sometimes just don't get new clothes. As some of the events I saw that they handed clothes out, it was really, really interesting and powerful. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:20:05.000 Laundry was a need that we could not address for them through what we had to offer that they had requested, and so that's still an ongoing issue that they essentially pay out of pocket to clean all these clothes before they go out. 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:30.000 But we were able to meet their labor costs, and one additional thing is just trying to get them more fully incorporated into the UNT apparatus, call it like institutionalization, but then also what that relationship looks like with the city going forward, and exactly how we can enhance this partnership to offer more diversion from the waste perspective, but then also this, call it a community service or, you know, student life enhancements on campus. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:53.000 And so I really want to thank Julissa, because I know your hand was fully in there helping them out and getting this really off the ground. We're really looking forward to what these students do next. It's an entirely undergrad-run program with the help of two staff members on campus, but truly it's three people that are the muscle behind this, including Julissa, who's been a huge help, so thank you a ton on that. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:21:14.000 I just have only one question in terms of this committee. How, within your position, and how this is phrased under a diversion program for solid waste and recycling, for the longevity of the city's involvement in this program, where exactly do you see it fitting within your work plan under your role? 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:24.000 What services or support that you're able to offer this type of initiative, and where you kind of see either growth or just sustaining the current level? 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:44.000 Yeah, I won't lie, this project was a big undertaking. So definitely we want to continue to be able to work with the universities at the move-out time, and hopefully they're able to kind of how we establish, I don't know, maybe a foundation with the UNT Zero Waste Textile Initiative. 00:21:44.000 --> 00:22:05.000 Hopefully we're able to provide that support and meet them, but kind of guide them and help them with the foundation that they already have. And then hopefully we're able to expand that to other universities as well, and that's a big part where we'll have to make sure that we have the manpower to be able to take on some of the projects that are coming on board. 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:14.000 But we definitely want to be a support for wherever we can for the universities and for the opportunity to deliver more material. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:17.000 Do you partner with TWU? 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:30.000 We didn't have a partner for TWU for this program, but we are always and definitely open to partnering with TWU. We've definitely worked with them in the past for the housing that they have on campus. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:35.000 Yeah, because we have the dumpster, I see it at the end of the semester there. 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:51.000 And we worked with, I believe it was somebody in the TWU Housing and/or Marketing Office to update signage within the dorms to make sure that people were recycling correctly at TWU. But yeah, we definitely want to get more of the ball rolling in the TWU's campus. 00:22:51.000 --> 00:23:04.000 And I know that Dr. Eva from this initiative is interested in expanding to TWU as well. So we can definitely provide that contact and then get the ball rolling with future initiatives at TWU. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:10.000 Is there a mechanism for people to donate to that program, like on social media or something like that? 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:21.000 We do have a social media channel, so they're on social media. I know that the bins are on campus, so you can bring that material to those bins. 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:29.000 I was thinking about donating funds to cover the cost of running it in addition to the grant, you know, because I was thinking about the cost of laundering and all that. 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:38.000 Yeah, no, we can definitely get you in touch with them because I know that they're always looking for funding sources. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:54.000 I had a question. I ran across an article the other day that said that 10% of all plastic waste globally is made up of synthetic fibers. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:24:14.000 And I was just curious as to what, if there's any approach to taking out the synthetic fibers, clothing that's made of synthetic fibers or plastics, how does that enter into this equation? 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:29.000 That's a good question. I know that some of the professor who works with us on this project, she does research into materials and fabrics, and so she may be a better contact to be able to answer your question. 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:32.000 I wouldn't be able to give you an answer off the top of my head. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:51.000 Could we look into that? Because it's a big part of the plastic waste that's affecting the environment, and they predict that synthetic fiber is projected to more than double by 2060. 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:57.000 So it's something we might want to look at as something that we might want to deal with down the road. 00:24:57.000 --> 00:25:18.000 This may be too early to tell, I guess, but do you have a sense of the demand for the clothing that's collected? How much is it being taken up versus collecting stuff that seems like nobody wants, or is it really flying off the shelf? 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:35.000 No, it really is. We were tabling at the UNT Sustainability Fair, and they had a campus clothing swap there. They had to go back and get more clothing. 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:42.000 They had a certain amount of clothing that they had brought for the clothing swap. The students had to go back to the building to grab more clothing because they had run out. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:26:05.000 So there is definitely a demand for it. Good. If I can jump in. Most of what they were requesting for funding from UNT was for storage, because there is, we call it handling time, a long lag in handling time from when they receive a donation, when it's laundered and sorted and stored until there's a time or a space open for that to then get taken up. 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:20.000 And so that was their primary request so far, as the need was, but they were in no way needing additional sources of material. That was pretty well covered, mostly from the donation pins on campus and then these kind of one-off things that they're able to do for different collections. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:35.000 But it's what they receive, they're not holding longer than what it takes to find an event or a space open to get it out the door. Okay, so just to underscore your point, you're saying there's storage need just to get it ready to then turn it around. 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:54.000 It's not like it's piling up and we need more and more storage. No, it's the demand that they're really needing, that they were clearly able to identify and then find a program to help meet that need was kids need clothes, right? And also the ability to shop in a more sustainable way to where you're not. 00:26:54.000 --> 00:27:08.000 You are diverting that waste and it's not just going in your trash or something you're no longer going to wear yourself. And so it's kind of a two-pronged approach so far as the student service as well as the quality of life and sustainability initiative. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:27.000 And this raises another question, how do you see this program fitting in with the kind of ecosystem of similar programs like when I have extra textiles, I take them to Goodwill or there's you know thrift stores around. I mean this is basically just complimenting that sort of already existing infrastructure. 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:46.000 Yeah, it can be another additional opportunity for someone wanting to, because yeah, if you want to take your clothing to Goodwill, you can. If you want to support this initiative, you can. There's multiple avenues, but we do want to make sure that residents are aware and we're able to educate them that there are opportunities for them to use. And there's really amazing things happening right at the universities. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:49.000 That's a great program. Thank you. 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:51.000 Any other discussion? 00:27:51.000 --> 00:28:17.000 Just in closing this, I'm looking at the notes here about how this will advance the sustainability goals up to 75% waste diversion by 2075. So I hope that that indicates that this program is going to fulfill the longevity that's projected here, because it's a great program. Thank you very much. 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:21.000 Thank you. 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:48.000 All right. Our next item is to receive a report, hold a discussion regarding the relaunch of the green business. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:51.000 Awesome. So, it's me again. 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:59.000 I'll be doing a presentation over the green business update or the relaunch of the program. 00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:19.000 So, a little bit of background about the green business program. There was a pilot program that was launched in 2019 where nine businesses participated in the program. The pilot lasted for 12 months and ended in 2020. Due to the pandemic and staff changes, the program did have to be put on hold during that time. 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:45.000 We are wanting to launch it for January 1. So, right on the corner, a little overview of the program. The green business program is intended to encourage the sustainability that is already happening at the businesses, but also offer that opportunity to educate businesses on some of the opportunities that they may not be aware of. 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:59.000 And so, just reminding them of different green practices that they can do at their business. Some businesses have corporate sustainability goals or policies already implemented. So, it may just be kind of reminding or educating them about what those are. 00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:10.000 So, the focus areas are going to mirror the focus areas in the sustainability framework, which is water, energy, transportation, materials management, wildlife, and community resilience. 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:23.000 The green business program will also be an opportunity, hopefully, for the businesses to be able to talk amongst themselves, share practices, and then be able to share that information in the network. 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:37.000 So, some program specifics. So, how can a business participate in the program? So, the only requirement to be able to join is completing the questionnaire, which provides us kind of a baseline of what the business is doing. 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:47.000 There is another opportunity. So, you can see the sustainability curve on the right-hand side, which after you complete the questionnaire, a business would join at the bronze level. 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:57.000 And so, to go up in the levels of participation, they could either join a cohort, have community engagement, or have ongoing participation. 00:30:57.000 --> 00:31:09.000 So, cohorts are going to be classes that are focused around the focus areas. So, water, materials management, wildlife, those are going to be what the cohorts are based around. 00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:17.000 And it's going to provide education for the businesses. They'll meet on a monthly basis from a three- to four-month time frame. 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:27.000 And that will be another opportunity for those businesses to be able to learn, you know, get more knowledgeable about something that they are wanting to learn a little bit more about. 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:39.000 The community engagement is another step. So, a business, what that may look like for a business can be social media, you know, just promoting on their social media what sustainability practices are already doing. 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:54.000 It can also look like having signage around the office for the public, and that signage can state some of the sustainability practices that they're doing so that the community can know, you know, some of the things they're doing behind the scenes. 00:31:54.000 --> 00:32:06.000 Community engagement can also look like hosting a cohort class, hosting a volunteer event, working with us on an upcoming event as well. So, it can look different for every different business. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:17.000 And then, for ongoing participation, we are going to be checking in with the businesses at the six-month mark, whenever they join, and we'll be doing some annual reporting with them as well. 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:26.000 So, we'll be touching base with them, and so that way, if they need help during the program or if they have feedback, they can provide that to us in the time we need. 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:34.000 So, what does that questionnaire look like? So, the questionnaire is going to look like this. So, this is an example taken from the water section. 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:45.000 So, it's going to include some basic metrics, a checklist. These are some options of sustainability that maybe they're already doing at their business, and/or it is something that they could do as well. 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:53.000 So, it's kind of a start-off point so that they can get the ball rolling, get some ideas going on what that may look like for their business. 00:32:53.000 --> 00:33:01.000 And then, that bottom part is a short answer. So, it gives businesses the opportunity to tell us what they're doing if these two previous sections don't cover it. 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:09.000 Tell us your story. Tell us what you're already doing. Tell us what you want to do, and that is a little section for that as well. 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:18.000 So, recognition and awards. So, we will be having awards based on the following categories and by the employer size. 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:27.000 So, it's going to be for resource conservation, which will include water, energy, and materials management, transportation, and wildlife and community resilience. 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:35.000 So, businesses that are participating in the program can submit information regarding one of those if they would like to qualify. 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:47.000 And it will be based on the employer size. So, we were doing that by small, medium, and large. So, small being 1 to 75 employees, medium 76 to 300, and then large being 300 plus. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:34:01.000 We'll also be able to recognize a project of the year. So, a business can fill out a project of the year basically being a sustainability initiative that they took on during that calendar year and that they're most proud of. 00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:07.000 And they can provide that information for us and for the awards. We'll also be providing window claims. 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:16.000 And so, the window claims will just be letting people know about what level they're at for the green business participation, but also for the awards. 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:22.000 So, if they win the award for transportation, then they would get the 2026 transportation award. 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:26.000 Excuse me, can I ask a question real quick? What did you say window what? 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:32.000 Window claim. So, it's kind of like a little decal that goes on the front of a business. 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:47.000 Some of our multi-families have it. And then I think some of the older, I'm sorry, oh no, the dense sustainable schools also has them as well. Just kind of identifying them so when you walk into the business, you can recognize them. 00:34:47.000 --> 00:35:01.000 And we're also going to be working with the economic development department and also other community organizations so we can get more involvement and more awareness about the program that is going on. 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:11.000 So, next steps, we're going to be launching January 1. We obviously want to spread the word about it and we'll be launching cohort classes based on what the businesses are interested in. 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:16.000 And then we'll report ongoing participation. Any questions? 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:25.000 Thank you. Any questions? First of all, another great program. It's amazing how much cool stuff you all are doing. I'm glad to see this being relaunched. 00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:35.000 As soon as you put this up, I thought about awards and of course you're already doing them of course. But I did think about the Chamber of Commerce. Are you partnering with them? 00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:40.000 Yes. So, whenever I put in community organizations, that would be put in there as well. 00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:41.000 That's included in it? 00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:41.000 Yes. 00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:49.000 Okay. And one more specific idea, maybe it wouldn't work out, is they have small business of the year awards in different categories. 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:57.000 It would be really cool to see one like sustainable small business of the year that could be a partnership with this program. So, we'll look into it. 00:35:57.000 --> 00:36:00.000 We'll chat with our friends over there. 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:12.000 Yeah, just one question. I know it's been a while since we touched base on this program. I was wondering if you could really briefly share kind of if there was any lessons learned because I know it was a different staff member at the time that was running the program. 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:25.000 And remember like four years later since it's been active during the pilot phase, are there pieces of that pilot that you learned from the participants that like this is really working or maybe we shifted this I guess because we're not necessarily looking at like a red line. 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:34.000 Like we changed this, we modified that for how the program is getting relaunched. Like how do you see that four year ago touch point translating to where it's going to be today? 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:47.000 So, a lot of the pilot provided feedback on the questionnaire. So, some of the businesses originally thought that the questionnaire that was originally provided may have been too restrictive. 00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:57.000 And so, we wanted to give them this questionnaire to kind of give them ideas about what they could be doing, what they may already be doing. So, we did get some feedback about the questionnaire. 00:36:57.000 --> 00:37:14.000 I think we also got a little bit of feedback about maybe just advertising the businesses as well. So, taking that into consideration also. 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:34.000 This is Karen Berner our sustainability. Yeah, so I worked with that previous staff member who was on. Yeah, I worked with the previous staff member on our initial thoughts of relaunching and taking in feedback from that old businesses that turned into what this is now. 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:45.000 And then yeah, helped Julissa out through creating this new one. And the biggest one was this questionnaire. The second one was the awards and recognition. 00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:51.000 They were like we're in this program, we like being sustainable, but like do we get anything out of it? So, that was another big one. 00:37:51.000 --> 00:38:11.000 And then we have a resource guide now that gives just kind of general tips that we're going to give to all the businesses who sign up before it was called the roadmap. And they had certain feedbacks about what was in there and then some of the resources they would like to see in the new one. 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:22.000 So, that is updated. We don't have any pictures of it or anything on this presentation, but we've gone through a full changeover from that roadmap to this new resource guide. 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:37.000 There's a couple other little things, but that's a big one. This might be a concluding item. Is it possible to receive the full questionnaire as it's been modified as well as that new resource program that you've developed for this as a follow up report? 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:46.000 If that's a concluding item I can ask right there. Well, it'll be on the website. We can let you know whenever it goes live on the website and then we can access it as you'd like. Thank you. 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:56.000 I had a couple of questions. Have you seen any models from other cities that have programs like this? 00:38:56.000 --> 00:39:04.000 There are a lot of, you know, there's Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston. A lot of the big cities have programs already in place, yes. 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:11.000 Okay, thank you. Do we know how many businesses are in debt? Who could? 00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:20.000 Who could participate in this? Well, we definitely don't want to limit it to a number. We want to make sure that, yeah, if they're able to participate, we want them to participate. 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:37.000 Yeah, I just was wondering how, what the potential is. And does, is a business also, can a business also in this category be an industry? So, safety clean could get on this program too. 00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:52.000 Great. So, every, every, good. Now, I'm not meaning safety clean just as an example of an industry. Yes, yeah. It could be Peterbilt, yeah. Okay. Yeah, because we do have the awards by employer size. 00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:58.000 Great. Well, thanks. This, like Adam said, is another great program. 00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:09.000 And I really like the fact that you keep on the question there from the point of view of water conservation, the xeriscaping and mating. 00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:21.000 Yeah, yes. We push that a lot. Yes. We try to in every way that we can. Thank you. 00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:25.000 Thank you very much. Thank you. 00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:36.000 Next, staff reports. And the first staff report is on the air quality monitor update. 00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:58.000 Yes, and you have a memo in your backup. We can answer any questions that you may have on that. We do have all 12 monitors installed and reporting data. Wrap that up in August, September? October. 00:40:58.000 --> 00:41:10.000 Sorry. The timeline expanded a little bit when our installers responded to a hurricane. So, DMV was great. They helped us with that installation on all 12 of them. 00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:18.000 And we'll be coming back to you in the new year with some information about the data that we're finding. 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:29.000 Okay, let's pull some of that. So, we'll have a good three months with all 12 of them when we come back. We spoke about the dashboard. Is there a timeline for when that will be launched? 00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:40.000 It'll be after the first of the year. I'm building the background on it right now. It's fun to communicate. It's a lot of data to communicate. So, I guess it'll be appreciated. 00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:48.000 Will that dashboard also include the site locations of the 12 monitors, or at least it could generalize? Yes. 00:41:48.000 --> 00:42:07.000 And we generally followed the locations that we had identified previously. We had to modify a little bit because of the light holes. Not all of them are as easy to have power on them and to add to as others. 00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:21.000 And any more discussion on that? Okay, the next follow-up is on a previous meeting question, which I believe is, how does Denton recycle plastic? 00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:29.000 Yes. Yes. So, Dr. Myard asked about that at the previous meeting. So, we included that response in the backup. 00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:31.000 Any discussion about that? 00:42:31.000 --> 00:42:50.000 I just have a question. So, in the first paragraph, you have a list of what you look for. Is it true, TT, HDPE, and so on and so on? 00:42:50.000 --> 00:43:06.000 So, this is what you sort at the facility. Yes. Which means that when people put plastic in their bins, they put everything. So, what do you do with the rest of this that does not fit in these categories? 00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:23.000 So, the plastic that is not programmatic does have to go to the landfill. Correct? Yes. But all of the other recyclables are sorted. So, everything is sorted and what is not accepted in our program does go to the landfill. 00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:37.000 Okay. So, there, what happens to it? Is it just buried or you burn it? It's buried in the landfill. Okay. And that's going to produce more microplastic. 00:43:37.000 --> 00:43:57.000 And one more question that I have. I heard that the black plastic is not very safe, not very healthy for us. Do you recycle that? Or that goes in the landfill too? 00:43:57.000 --> 00:44:05.000 Are you talking about black plastic bags? Any plastic that's black. Like carry-up trays and stuff like that. 00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:23.000 Yeah. I'll have to look into that. I don't know if any, I'll have to ask, I can ask Pratt about that. Okay. I can look up where I read about it and maybe you would like to have that. 00:44:23.000 --> 00:44:38.000 Any more discussion about plastics? It says that those are sold as a commodity to third party vendors. Do they, do they ever audit that, audit those vendors to see what they're doing, what they say they're doing with it? 00:44:38.000 --> 00:45:02.000 I guess I should practice that. Definitely. Do you, do you know any more about the last line is the city might get involved with recycling plastic bags or accepting plastic bags? Do you know when, like is there a timeline? 00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:14.000 Julissa, do you have a timeline on that one? Sorry? I just think, I mean I take them to a grocery store and I know that you can do that, but I'm not sure a lot of people know that, so I do think it could be a big deal if that could happen. 00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:19.000 So we currently accept them at Home Chemical Collection for drop off, but not curbside. 00:45:19.000 --> 00:45:33.000 But it says they're acting to secure a vendor to process these materials. Does that mean there'd be a curbside collection process in place or no? 00:45:33.000 --> 00:45:49.000 No, so for Home Chemical, yeah, Home Chemical residents and non-residents can take plastic film to Home Chemical Collection as of now, whenever they're open, and they're open Monday through Saturday from 7 to 4 p.m. 00:45:49.000 --> 00:45:52.000 But there's not a process to get it into as a curbside? 00:45:52.000 --> 00:46:09.000 No, just because it tangles up the machinery, it causes a lot of issues at the recycling facility, and so I don't see it going curbside anytime soon, just because not a lot of programs that I know of accept a curbside, just because of the problems that they cause with a lot of the machinery. 00:46:09.000 --> 00:46:10.000 Okay. 00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:15.000 That it's easier to sort whenever it's dropped off versus in a single stream. 00:46:15.000 --> 00:46:16.000 Gotcha. 00:46:16.000 --> 00:46:30.000 And they are working on the purchase of a baler for the plastic bags that will then be able, so it'll be a large bale quantity of it that can be sold to the third party. 00:46:30.000 --> 00:46:47.000 One comment is that perhaps at some point with the Green Business Program, there could be a category for businesses that do not use plastic bags. 00:46:47.000 --> 00:47:00.000 Yeah, as part of the resource guide, we, in the materials management section, it does talk about how you can reduce your packaging, packaging needs, and yes. Beautiful. Yeah. 00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:02.000 Okay. 00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:03.000 Thank you. 00:47:03.000 --> 00:47:09.000 Next, we have 2025 meeting dates. 00:47:09.000 --> 00:47:18.000 Yes, you have a calendar with some adjustments for November and December. 00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:40.000 Same thing we did this year, split into different meetings sometime in early December. Just take a look at that, think about your schedules and we'll bring it back for adoption at the January meeting. But if we have any times that it looks like we may have folks out of town, then we can look at modifying the schedule ahead of time. 00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:50.000 And then we're not meeting on the 27th of December, so that meeting cancellation has been posted now for this year. 00:47:50.000 --> 00:47:54.000 Any discussion about dates? 00:47:54.000 --> 00:48:00.000 Okay, the final item is the matrix. 00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:10.000 Does anyone have anything that they would like to add to the matrix? 00:48:10.000 --> 00:48:30.000 I just note what I have from this meeting to add, we're going to get some contact information back to folks, that's not going to go in the matrix, we'll just share that contact information with you for the UNT textiles. We had a question about removing synthetic material. Synthetic fiber. Synthetic fiber through the textile initiative. 00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:44.000 And then looking at some carbon reduction estimates for the framework funded items. Anything, those are the two that I captured that would work onto the matrix. 00:48:44.000 --> 00:49:08.000 I have an idea. We spent so much time, as you all know, working on the climate action plan. And I don't know what the timeline in this would be, but it would be really interesting and important, I think, to, once some time goes by, to come back and talk about implementation. How is it being taken up? Somebody could speak to that, you know? So it doesn't just sort of... 00:49:08.000 --> 00:49:14.000 I think that's being dealt with in January, right? From what it says on the matrix? 00:49:14.000 --> 00:49:40.000 We'll be bringing that back... Spring 2025? That sounds good. Any other matrix material? Okay. I request a motion to adjourn. Mr. Briegel moves. And who's going to second? 00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:49.000 All right. Mr. Helms. So that will conclude today's meeting. Happy holidays, everybody. 00:49:49.000 --> 00:49:50.000 Thank you.