Sustainability Subcommittee of Campus Planning
California State University, Fresno
May 21, 2009
8:30am-9:30am
Thomas Room 117
Members Present: Amy Allen, Ronald Durham, Andrew Jones, Lanny Larson, Ronald Leach, David Moll, Michael Mosinski, Christopher Pluhar, Nate Wills
Guest Present: Alaia Howell, Peter Mc Donald
Absent: Caryl Jacobs, Lisa Kao, Thomas McClanahan, Briana McDonald, Gary Nelson, Joseph Oldham, James Tyner, Jerilane Willis
Meeting called to order by David Moll at approximately 8:35 AM
Agenda Item #1 Welcome & Introductions:
Started by introducing new Sustainability student, Alaia Howell, Smittcamp Honors student, Biology Major, pre-med. Introductions went around the room.
Mr. Moll changed Agenda Item #9 replaced with Library Report from Dean Mc Donald.
Agenda Item #3 Water Use Plan & Irrigation Update – Mr. Moll
Campus is pumping water at the maximum amount. Contaminated wells are offline; main well across from Save Mart Center is pumping max. Well 5 south of Bulldog Stadium is only other real producer, has a very old pump, shaft and sleeve bearings are failing and has no automatic control—while campus is irrigating, well has to be pumped to max amount in order to keep up. Also only has a 6’’ pipe to pump water through, which holds back water flow. Have a nitrate situation which as already caused shut down of well 3. If well 1 is pumped regularly, will have to be shut down sooner rather than later because will have more than allotted 45 parts per mil of nitrates. Domestic water use is not the issue; primarily irrigation to due to demands of agricultural maintenance. Well 5 will be upgraded, new pump put in with BFD, but still leaves 6’’ pipe issue. Campus will need aggressive water management system for the summer. Suggested to Nate Wills an increased awareness of summer sports camp participants to reduce water consumption is needed. Mr. Larson asked in regards to the nitrate wells if they can be specified to landscaping water. Mr. Moll stated that the piping would have to be replaced and it would cost millions to replumb the system. Suggested using the ditch as a possibility for another water resource. Mr. Mosinski suggested the use of Well #2 for farm irrigation. When Mr. Moll receives final water use plan, will distribute to Sustainability Committee.
Agenda Item #4 Student Hiring Update – Mr. Moll
Reintroduced Alaia Howell, will work full time over the summer. Priorities she’s working on are Sustainability Day and to update website.
Agenda Item #5 Sustainability Day, September 22 – Mr. Moll/Ms. Howell
Thoughts of Sustainability Day as a good balance to Earth Day as they are 6 months apart. Will meet over summer or wait until August, one month before Sustainabilty Day. Focus of Sustainability Day slightly different than Earth Day, greater focus on minimum impact among students. Ms. Howell is working on the event and trying to come up with guest speakers.
Agenda Item #6 Fresno GOC SSTAC Report – Mr. Moll
Mr. Moll distributed copy of Measure C Carpool Incentive Program from Fresno COG. Mr. Moll also sent an email to Chief Huerta and Lt. Alan Gaad to take part in the contest. Benefits would be in addition to rideshare benefits. Social Services Technical Advisory Committee (SSTAC) for Fresno COG handles grants for transporting disabled people. Mr. Moll is new representative for the disadvantaged students at CSUF. The current bus system is not reliable enough for student to use—too few lines, bus routes needed on Bullard, Barstow, etc, and routes close at 10:00 PM. New FAX Fairbox system is onboard for this fall and students will be able to swipe their ID cards to get on the bus.
Agenda Item #7 Recycling Center – Mr. Moll
Mr. Mosinski and Ganesan Srinivasan had idea for locating country Household Hazardous Waste center at corner of Chestnut and Bullard. Roughly a 40 acre block, want to install irrigation system, installed center pivots. Plenty of farmland, but not enough water, so with center pivots it leaves the corners unplanted, could be site of Household Hazardous Waste center at one corner and the Campus Recycling Center at another. Thought plot of land would be a good area for a recycling site.
Agenda Item #8 Recycling Update – Mr. Moll
Department has to take calls from people for direct pick ups, overwhelming one student. Need to educate people on campus and change program to make it work. Only one student assistant collecting the recycling for all departments on campus is inefficient. The university is not making any money for recycling. Departments need to take accountability of the recycling by looking for ideas to make collection more efficient and locating the large blue bins near each department office to use when there is no pickup available. Ms. Alaia suggested recruiting some students that need to do some service hours.
Agenda Item #9 Library Fresno Green Team – Mr. McDonald
Created a Green Team made up of Faculty and Staff and a student. Formed two teams: Plans Team and Scans Team. Scans Team to scan the campus and see what other departments and offices doing. Plans Team will check with other companies to see what they are doing. From there they have three groups: Operations: how to buy smart? Behavior: how to get people to change model? Need to break people from the habit of printing out everything and leaving electronic equipment on. There is a real effort to get a good program going. Education Programming: How to make sustainability fun and get people excited. Need to get out of the paper business. Stop paper printouts of meetings, people need to bring their own bottled water. Mr. Larson asked how the point has been gotten across to the fourth floor. Next Fresno Green Team Meeting is on June 2, 2009 from 10-11 in Library Conference Room next to Starbucks.
Agenda Item #10 Roundtable—Skipped because meeting went 10 minutes over
Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:40 AM. Next meeting will be the third Thursday of June. Location TBA.