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Record of Proceedings

Park Ridge Sustainability Commission Meeting - June 3, 2026

City Council & Commissions — Wednesday, June 3, 2026
BodyPark Ridge, Illinois
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateWednesday, June 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:12:28

Original source
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0:20

Where do I start?

0:25

Oh for the roll call.

0:27

Oh yeah.

0:28

Sorry.

0:31

So that's a good one.

0:47

Here.

0:49

Here.

0:53

We have a quorum.

0:55

Um so the first thing uh is approval of the minutes from May 6th, 2026.

1:05

Move to approve.

1:06

Any seconds?

1:08

Anyone have any discussion?

1:12

All right, hearing none.

1:13

All in favor of approving.

1:18

All right.

1:19

Um any citizens here wishing to be heard on a non-agenda item.

1:26

No.

1:26

All right.

1:28

Then technically not on our list, but I just want to recognize Craig is one of our new members here.

1:36

Sorry, I missed the last one.

1:39

Some people kept me informed, Jen.

1:40

Thank you very much.

1:42

Yeah, we're glad to have you.

1:44

So welcome.

1:45

Um and that will take us to the first topic.

1:48

Uh it was something that was brought up a couple meet.

1:52

We brought it up a couple of meetings ago when Andrea was still the chair, but it with new people coming in, other people leaving, we thought it made sense to just go over it again.

2:02

Just um the sustainability commission decision making structure, uh, just that we can decide how we want to go about.

2:10

Um so the way that Andrea used to do it and the way that I think also makes sense.

2:16

Um is by moving things forward through consensus.

2:21

Um basically um we want our decisions to hopefully be all in consent.

2:27

Um we can have discussion inclusion, uh, but we want to try to speak with one voice.

2:32

Um so and then if there are dissenting opinions, if there's something we're relaying to city council, then we can include that in whatever you know memo or something that we do.

2:44

But does that seem fair going forward?

2:48

Yeah.

2:49

Anyone have any issues?

2:50

All right.

2:51

Then that works.

2:53

Okay, then moving on to the next one, the calendar.

2:57

Um so the farmers market.

3:02

I was talking with Tracy.

3:03

So Tracy unexpectedly was gonna miss today.

3:07

Um, and then she's going to be gone this weekend too.

3:10

So she went out of town earlier than she was anticipating, which meant I was worried we weren't going to have enough people between the main um what is it?

3:22

The main township health fair and the farmers market because we needed people to volunteer at the table for the main township and then volunteer at the farmers market this weekend.

3:33

So uh Tracy has reached out and we're pushing that.

3:38

We're not gonna do the farmers market this weekend, and we wanted to move it to June, I think it's June 26th, whatever that Saturday is.

3:45

So my understanding is she's updated the sign up.

3:50

27th be the second.

3:51

Yeah, the 27th.

3:52

There we go.

3:53

She updated it to the 27th.

3:55

She's reached out to the farmers market people, um, to the city about that.

4:01

So um anyways, uh just be aware of that.

4:05

And then what we'll do just want to mention that is the same day as the EV expo, but I'm sure that I'm sure we can manage it.

4:12

I'm sure we'll yeah, because usually Tracy is able to go and I should be able to go to the farmers market.

4:18

So then I think other people are doing the EV, right?

4:21

Um yeah, I was planning to be there and yeah.

4:24

Okay.

4:25

Okay, so I know I'm gonna and Chris had texted me because he's going to do the table this weekend.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement██████████████████████████████30%
Fiscal Sustainability██████████████14%
Waste And Wastewater Management█████████████13%
Procedural███████████11%
Environmental Protection██████████10%
Waste Management████████8%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Sustainability Initiatives█████5%
Public Transportation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Park Ridge Sustainability Commission Meeting - June 3, 2026

The Park Ridge Sustainability Commission met on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 7:15 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting was chaired by the Commission Chair (not named in transcript). Members discussed and voted on several items including the decision-making structure, calendar updates, priorities, budget, compost game purchases, and various work items. The meeting was adjourned after a motion to reschedule the next meeting.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes – May 6, 2026: Moved by a member, seconded, and unanimously approved.
  • Composting Game Purchases: Motion to authorize approximately $100 for educational materials for tabling (composting game). Seconded and unanimously approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • None.

Decision Making Structure

  • The commission discussed and agreed to operate by consensus going forward. If there are dissenting opinions on items relayed to City Council, minority views will be included in communications.

Calendar

  • Farmers Market Tabling: Moved from June 6 to June 27 due to a member's absence. Sign-up link will be recirculated.
  • Other Events: Main Township Wellness Fair (June), EV Expo (June 27), Sustainable Yards tour (July 12). Solar tour to be investigated.

Priorities Discussion

  • The commission reviewed the existing priority list (from July 2024) and discussed potential new priorities including tree planting (L24), updating the invasive weed list, LED lights, and green pavers. Members will highlight items of interest and vote on top priorities at the next meeting to inform budget requests. The timing is driven by the budget request deadline.

Budget Review

  • Energy: Street retrofitting request to continue; EV charging station feasibility study funding to be requested this year.
  • Mobility: Bike plan RFP to be issued; may need to budget for carryover of consultant money.
  • Waste/Recycling: Community composting bins may need a budget amendment for the remainder of the year. Discussed adding a trash/recycling bin next to compost bins to reduce contamination; Tracy will investigate past hurdles. Concerns were raised about SBC's composting service (destination of materials not confirmed); the commission prefers Urban Canopy due to traceability. Farmers market waste stations to continue.
  • Education: Proposal to request ~$2,000 for 500 reusable bags for distribution at events. Speakers not well attended; funds could be redirected to co-sponsoring events like Chicago Climate Week.
  • Next steps: Budget draft to be finalized and voted on at the next meeting.

Work Items

  • Mobility: Recap of meeting with CP&D Director Awsumb was very positive. RFP for a new bike plan will be issued by fall. Community bike rides promoted with a new QR code poster.
  • Waste and Recycling: Contamination of compost bins observed (plastic bags, water bottles). Commission will continue to recommend Urban Canopy until SBC's processing is confirmed. Staff follow-up on SBC contract and destination data.
  • Education and Outreach: Go Green Garden Walk and Plant Sale on July 12. Idea for a sustainable business certification/sticker program proposed; may become a priority.
  • Climate/Energy: City applied for the EV readiness program; staff research was praised. EV memo under review.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved.
  • Composting game purchases authorized.
  • Consensus decision-making structure confirmed.
  • Farmers market tabling rescheduled to June 27.
  • Budget discussion: feedback to be incorporated, final vote at next meeting.
  • Next meeting: Moved from July 1 to July 8 (motion passed unanimously, with discussion about member availability).
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Where do I start? Oh for the roll call. Oh yeah. Sorry. So that's a good one. Here. Here. We have a quorum. Um so the first thing uh is approval of the minutes from May 6th, 2026. Move to approve. Any seconds? Anyone have any discussion? All right, hearing none. All in favor of approving. All right. Um any citizens here wishing to be heard on a non-agenda item. No. All right. Then technically not on our list, but I just want to recognize Craig is one of our new members here. Sorry, I missed the last one. Some people kept me informed, Jen. Thank you very much. Yeah, we're glad to have you. So welcome. Um and that will take us to the first topic. Uh it was something that was brought up a couple meet. We brought it up a couple of meetings ago when Andrea was still the chair, but it with new people coming in, other people leaving, we thought it made sense to just go over it again. Just um the sustainability commission decision making structure, uh, just that we can decide how we want to go about. Um so the way that Andrea used to do it and the way that I think also makes sense. Um is by moving things forward through consensus. Um basically um we want our decisions to hopefully be all in consent. Um we can have discussion inclusion, uh, but we want to try to speak with one voice. Um so and then if there are dissenting opinions, if there's something we're relaying to city council, then we can include that in whatever you know memo or something that we do. But does that seem fair going forward? Yeah. Anyone have any issues? All right. Then that works. Okay, then moving on to the next one, the calendar. Um so the farmers market. I was talking with Tracy. So Tracy unexpectedly was gonna miss today. Um, and then she's going to be gone this weekend too. So she went out of town earlier than she was anticipating, which meant I was worried we weren't going to have enough people between the main um what is it? The main township health fair and the farmers market because we needed people to volunteer at the table for the main township and then volunteer at the farmers market this weekend. So uh Tracy has reached out and we're pushing that. We're not gonna do the farmers market this weekend, and we wanted to move it to June, I think it's June 26th, whatever that Saturday is. So my understanding is she's updated the sign up. 27th be the second. Yeah, the 27th.

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