Sustainability Subcommittee of Campus Planning
CaliforniaStateUniversity, Fresno
July 15, 2010
8:30am-9:30am
Madden Library Room 2108
Members Present: Andrew Bethke, Andrew Correa, Lisa Kao, Lanny Larson, Mailee Lee, Mike Mosinski, Nate Wills
Absent: Tonya Bojorquez, Marco Diaz, Andrew Jones, Peter McDonald, Gary Nelson, Curt Parkinson, Christopher Pluhar, David Williams, Samantha Yang
Meeting called to order by Lisa Kao at approximately 8:45 a.m.
Agenda Item #1 Welcome & Introductions
Agenda Item #2 Review & Approval Minutes of May 20th Meeting
Amendment to June minutes by Andrew Correa (Marked absent; should be noted as present). Motion by Lanny Larson. Second by Nate Wills. Minutes approved as amended.
Agenda item #3 Update DRMS/EHS—Kao
Lisa Kao announced that the department is still undergoing adjustments and is now under the umbrella of Facilities Management. Bob Boyd is trying to figure out a name for the department that would best reflect the inclusion if Enviornmental Health and Safety as well as Risk Management and Sustainability. The goal is to ensure that there is no confusion.
Mike Mosinski stated that many other universities align sustainability and risk management under facilities management as well.
Lanny Larson asks Lisa if she will be the point person from now on. Kao confirms that she will be overseeing risk management and sustainability; she will probably not be appointed as assistant vice president, but rather expects to be given the title of a director of some sort.
Agenda Item #4 Update County HHW Project—Kao
Lisa stated that the last update she heard from Dave Moll was an updated copy of the lease agreement from Fresno County. Alaia Howell went through the document and highlighted the differences from the old document and the updated. Moll sent both documents to Cindy Matson for review. Matson stated that the changes were not a detriment, but were actually to the benefit of the university.
Lanny Larson asks whether or not we ran out of funding. Kao stated that the Fresno County is willing to provide the funds. Will consult with Bob Boyd and Cindy Matson as to whether we are willing to proceed with the project, and will give county the answer by the following week.
Agenda Item #5 Report from CA Higher Ed. Sustainability Conference—Howell
Alaia Howell reported that she and Lisa Kao attended a statewide conference at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, where they gave a presentation in a panel discussion that included UC Berkeley and CSU Chico. Receptive audience and higher attendance than either had expected. They discussed how students, staff and faculty work collectively toward sustainability efforts.
Kao mentioned that both CSU Chico and UC Berkeley have very robust sustainability programs. She believes that their presentations provided good ideas of how they keep students engaged in their projects.
Lanny Larson asks what kind of projects these programs organize. Lisa said their projects entailed recycling and energy conservation efforts, among others. She said she is willing to send out a list of the projects that their program offers for student involvement. Lisa said she would like to see our sustainability efforts coordinate with student engagement and that there is a running list of ongoing projects.
Kao also announced that Alaia Howell was invited to provide the presentation at the CSU Chico Sustainability Conference in November.
Agenda Item #6 Fresno Green Team Report—Williams
Williams was absent; nothing to report.
Agenda Item #7 Library Green Team Report—McDonald
Dr. McDonald was absent; nothing to report.
Agenda Item #8 Roundtable—All
Mosinski reported that Ag Operations is continuing with composting. They are trying to coordinate with the University Dining Hall and Food Services to see if it will be feasible to incorporate composting and sorting bins. Shortage of staff seemed to be a setback. Mosinski does not want to see that project stop; believes this is a good opportunity for the university. Lisa Kao adds that it may also be effective to determine how student involvement can be incorporated in this effort. Sunset Waste is willing to contribute bins.
Andrew Bethke adds that in his experience as an on-campus resident, he sees the majority of the waste being thrown away by students as compostable; very little is paper or plastic. Bethke asks whether or not it is feasible to just provide the bins for students to sort themselves.
Mosinski is willing to look into trying this and noted that when separating bins are provided, people will usually go out of their way to recycle.
Kao suggested that maybe a working group or subcommittee should be organized to focus on this project.
Lanny Larson states that majority of the students do not eat at the dining hall, and suggests that it would be good to incorporate it around campus, including at Campus Pointe.
Lisa Kao inquired about the compostable products. Mosinski stated that they did not produce official reports; however, it took the utensils and cups approximately 16 to 20 weeks to break down completely. The plates and napkins decomposed sooner. He would like to somehow obtain a tub grinder that would make it more efficient to compost those products at the same rate as the rest of the pile.
Andrew Correa reported that he will be replaced by Joe Luccio at the next meeting.
Alaia Howell reported that she will contact Cody Madsen and proceed with presenting the “Operation Green Light” Resolution to Associated Students. Also, she will be working with ASI President Pedro Ramirez on other sustainability efforts.
Meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:30 a.m.
Next Meeting: Thursday, August 19th