Lake County Gazette

Lake County Energy & Environment Committee met Oct. 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. Call to Order

Chair Wilke called the meeting to order at 10:40 a.m.

2. Pledge of Allegiance

Vice Chair Parekh led the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. Roll Call of Members

Present 5 - Member Hewitt, Member Hunter, Vice Chair Parekh, Member Wasik and Chair Wilke

Absent 2 - Member Altenberg and Member Barr

Others Present:

Abby Krakow, Communications

Alex Carr, Communications

Carl Renouard, Public

Cassandra Hiller, County Administrator's Office

Eric Waggoner, Planning, Building and Development

Frank D'Andrea, Finance

Gary Gibson, County Administrator's Office

Gina Roberts, Board Member

James Hawkins, County Administrator's Office

Janna Philipp, County Administrator's Office

Jennifer Brennan, Communications

Jessica Vealitzek, Board Member

Joe Arcus, Planning, Building and Development

Jolanda Dinkins, County Board Office

Jon Nelson, Division of Transportation

Kevin Quinn, Communications

Krista Kennedy, Finance

Kristy Cechini, County Board Office

Maegan Trygstad, Public

Mary Ross Cunningham, Board Vice Chair

Matt Meyers, County Administrator's Office

Michael Wheeler, Finance

Mick Zawislak, Daily Herald

Patrice Sutton, Finance

Robin Grooms, County Administrator's Office

RuthAnne Hall, Purchasing

Sonia Hernandez, County Administrator's Office

Sam Vaghani, Public

Sandy Hart, County Board Chair

Stephen Rice, State's Attorney's Office

Theresa Glatzhofer, County Board Office

4. Addenda to the Agenda

There were no additions or amendments to the agenda.

5. Public Comment (Items not on the agenda)

Public comment was made by Sam Vaghani.

6. Chair's Remarks

Chair Wilke clarified with Eric Waggoner, Planning, Building and Development (PB&D) Director, that discussions regarding building code changes will go to future Public Works, Planning and Transportation Committee meetings.

7. Unfinished Business

There was no Unfinished Business to discuss.

8. New Business

CONSENT AGENDA (Item 8.1)

*MINUTES*

8.1 22-1384

Committee action approving the Energy and Environment Committee minutes from September 7, 2022.

A motion was made by Member Wasik, seconded by Member Hewitt, that the minutes from September 7, 2022 be approved. Motion carried by the following voice vote:

Aye: 5 - Member Hewitt, Member Hunter, Vice Chair Parekh, Member Wasik and Chair Wilke

Absent: 2 - Member Altenberg and Member Barr

REGULAR AGENDA

8.2 22-1404

Presentation & discussion regarding the Single Use Plastic Prohibition.

Matt Meyers, Assistant County Administrator, introduced Robin Grooms, Sustainability Program Manager, and gave a brief background of the item.

Sustainability Program Manager Grooms gave a presentation regarding the single use plastic prohibition for Lake County operations.

Discussion ensued.

The consensus of the Committee was to direct staff to research vending options that would eliminate the use of plastic packaging.

Assistant County Administrator Meyers noted that staff will return to the Committee with a recommendation next month.

8.3 22-1405

Resolution supporting and endorsing Grow Solar Chicagoland 2023 as facilitated by The Midwest Renewable Energy Association.

Robin Grooms, Sustainability Program Manager, gave a presentation regarding the Grow Solar Chicagoland 2023 program.

Discussion ensued.

A motion was made by Member Wasik, seconded by Vice Chair Parekh, that this resolution be approved and recommended to the County Board agenda. The motion carried by the following voice vote:

Aye: 5 - Member Hewitt, Member Hunter, Vice Chair Parekh, Member Wasik and Chair Wilke

Absent: 2 - Member Altenberg and Member Barr

8.4 22-1406

Update on Committee Workplan.

Robin Grooms, Sustainability Program Manager, gave updates regarding the County's: Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program, Green Team, and Net-Zero greenhouse gas emissions targets.

Discussion ensued.

9. County Administrator's Report

There was no County Administrator's Report.

10. Executive Session

The Committee did not enter into Executive Session.

11. Members' Remarks

Chair Wilke asked Member Wasik about the status of the residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. Matt Meyers, Assistant County Administrator, noted that the program is listed as a topic of importance on the proposed 2023 Legislative Agenda.

Eric Waggoner, Planning, Building and Development (PB&D) Director, informed the Committee that Joe Arcus, Senior Planner for Sustainability, has accepted a new position and will be leaving the County as of October 7, 2022.

The Committee wished Senior Planner Arcus well and thanked him for his hard work.

12. Adjournment

Chair Wilke declared the meeting adjourned at 11:48 a.m.

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