HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - MGG - 05-10-2011Milton rrwkdr'
MILTON GROWS GREEN COMMITTEE
MAY 10, 2011 MINUTES [APPROVED]
Date: May 10, 2011, 12:00 pm - 2:15 pm
' Place: City Hall Executive Conference Room, Milton, GA
Agenda: It was posted on the City's web site.
Attendees: Jack Lindon, Francia Lindon, Amy Peters, Kathy Johnson, Cindy Eade, Jon McPhail, Cyndee
Bonacci, and Tom Gillam.
I. Old Business:
• Earth Day Recap
- Cindy - Sponsorships and vendor applications/planning needs to occur earlier. Still waiting on WM,
Republic and Whole Foods' money. Would like more "green" vendors - try to secure in fall, at
festivals. We have sent handwritten thank you notes, letter from Chris and thank you certificate to
sponsors and in -kind donors. Need to rethink vendor's parking area.
- Cyndee - One vendor's check bounced. Late registrations need to pay by credit card. We have no
leverage on sponsors after event since they have gotten the benefit. Round up is planned far in
advance. Vendors/sponsors who pay within 2 weeks of event need to do so with credit card. Advise
starting planning much earlier, fall for next year's event. Thought the event and turnout was great.
Need more volunteers for setup. Limit vehicles in event area, use shuttle or have people help from
parking. Try to have more continuous flow in event, so people don't miss things, too many gaps in
setup. Couldn't see some areas like hamster balls, more signage will help, maps and more defined
spaces.
- Tom - some people came to welcome tent and said they tried to volunteer, left messages, but were
not contacted. We all decided we have to do a better job of getting volunteers and following up.
- Jack - need more and better signage, more volunteers to park, and check in.
- Jon - He and Jack will be writing a series of letters to potential sponsors, including Sawnee EMC as
well as others to keep them in the loop for next year. Suggest Cushman cart to help vendors unload.
Thanks to Public Works and Optech for smoothing out the road. Remote speakers on top of hill for
announcements, more connectivity.
- Much discussion about the food vendors - to charge or not to charge. Decided that we need to have a
better consistent strategy on food for next year. Contact vendors and get commitments earlier. Post -
event survey - people did like the free food!
- Discussion about head count, many people did not come through volunteer sign in. They walked up
road to barn entrance. Estimate close to 700 people.
- Francia - Fragile paths in the woods will quickly erode if used as equestrian or trail bike trails. Horses
should not go back there. Cyndee had not seen trail improvements Boy Scouts made. Future plan is
for 3 separate trails, bike, horse and pedestrian around park perimeter totaling about 4 miles. Need
better blockade from New Bullpen Road to park.
• Rain Barrel Workshop: Cindy -17 people signed up. Planning a second one, TBA. Kathy wants 4.
• Adopt -A -Road: Cindy - Training and recognition meeting to be held May 21". 9 -10 am at City Hall.
• Education Grant Program: Got grant applications from Crabapple Crossing ES, Hopewell MS,
Northwestern, Birmingham Falls. Kathy will follow up with Summit Hill and Cogburn Woods. We
can try to use remaining grant funds by Sept. 31.
• Volunteer Intern: - Andrew Butler, a recent Milton HS graduate, will be helping develop an MGG
volunteer database this summer.
Adopt A Stream: - Francia and Jack will get certified.
• Meeting Minutes: - Cindy will help Francia get caught up. Jon suggested making minutes shorter.
Milton Grows Green Committee Meeting Minutes, May 10, 2011 [APPROVED]
ALL MILTON GROWS GREEN DOCUMENTS ARE PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER WITH AT LEAST 35% POST - CONSUMER CONTENT.
• Keep America Beautiful Certification: - Jon needs to check on those people who were previously
interested in training.
H. New Business:
Milton's Strategic Plan: Lynn Tully - City is interested in preserving open spaces. Document is still
in draft form. Individual strategies follow along. Combines goals of comprehensive plan for open
space, departmental plan and master plans. Other MSP stakeholder meetings include HOAs and
Milton Business Alliance. Will have more of a finalized document by mid June work session, July for
council. Short discussion about TDRs - mostly beneficial for large generational landowners.
Conservation subdivisions are being considered, need to identify incentives, i.e., they require less
infrastructure and thus are economically better for developers. Jack - ideal time to develop smaller,
walkable communities, village habitat design. Conservation Easements - Lynn will put together draft
after some work with planning commission has been done for MGG to give input on. Preliminary
work on Rural Protection - for Equestrian and Farming. Jack - potentially adding regulations to
preserve water and natural resources. Start by enforcing laws we have. New water and storm water
requirements will have a big impact. Dedicated inspector to check erosion control/storm water. Last
fall, state office gave Milton one of highest rankings on erosion control in field test. More stringent
energy code for building recommended by Jon. Amy questioned whether other environmental issues
are being covered in strategic plan. Lynn says only open space, not individual environmental issues.
Solid Waste Plan discussed - Jon questioned why businesses were not required to have recycling pad
for dumpsters. Lynn claims Big Box stores have their own system for recycling - balers, etc.
Residential haulers are required to offer recycling at no extra cost. Could require residents to use this
service. Amy thinks we need to do a baseline survey of waste/recycling. Cindy suggested we meet
with Matt Marietta to talk about the solid waste plan and how MGG can fit in to help make a
difference. Lynn - MGG needs to give our feedback to Jason for consideration before May 24 for
inclusion in plan 2012 - 2014. It will be revisited every year - department heads review it monthly for
compliance.
• Green Cities Certification: Lynn - we don't have control of many properties to make a difference
with energy, water etc. ARC is trying to change designation to include municipalities that don't
"own" their own buildings. Milton fell short of bronze designation. If we have additional things to
grant points for, let Lynn know. GA Urban Forestry Grant - tree assessment applied for. Jack
suggested a % system of "available" points so we are not penalized for not owning buildings.
• Summer Concert Series: Cyndee - 2 concerts planned this summer at Birmingham Park, June 17"'
and July 1`16:30 - 8:30 pm. Can bring a picnic or may have food vendors on site.
• Summer Camps: Need educational speakers to come to the 2 camps (6 -12 age group). If we have
any sponsors/vendors interested in a one -hour presentation, let Tom know. Kathy suggested Art -in -
a -Box. Amy suggested Canine Assistants. Jon suggested we come up with list for Tom.
• BetterWorld Books: Cindy - Raises money for libraries and literacy programs, recycles books. MGG
would be marketing arm - could share revenue with schools, libraries, need to identify drop-off box
locations. After much discussion MGG favored moving forward on this initiative.
• Water Wise Landscaping: We will partner with Alpharetta and Fulton County on this.
• MGG Organizational Structure: Cindy - Consider smaller governing board and more committee
people.
• Final Earth Day Budget Numbers: Cindy - Total cash contributions from sponsors, vendor fees and
the City = $7,595. Total in -kind donations assuming 7 restaurants donated $200 in food and including
donations from HomeDepot, Publix and Comfort Zone Porta Potties = $2,150. Total of all revenue =
$9,745.
eeng adjourned t 2:15 pm
- ATTES • Cv''G
Jack L'ndon, C h it an Francia Lindon, Secretary
Milton Grows Green Committee Meeting Minutes, May 10, 2011