Sustainability Subcommittee of Campus Planning
California State University, Fresno
February 18, 2009
8:30am-9:30am
Thomas Administration, Room 117
Members Present:
Ronald Durham, Matthew Harmin, Andrew Jones, Lanny Larson,
Ronald Leach, Briana McDonald, David Moll, Michael Mosinski, Gary
Nelson, Christopher Pluhar, Nate Wills, Jerilane Willis
Absent:
Amy Allen, Caryl Jacobs, Lisa Kao, Thomas McClanahan, Joseph
Oldham, James Tyner
The meeting was called to order by David Moll at approximately 8:30am.
Approval of last meetings minutes: Motion to approve placed by Mr. Leach, seconded by Mr.
Larson and all accepted.
Agenda Item #4 San Joaquin Valley Blueprint Summit—David Moll
Mr. Moll attended the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint summit, an exposition of the
results of the Blueprint community planning process. The Great Valley Center in
Modesto received a 2 million dollar grant to develop a growth plan for the valley to
coordinate infrastructure, and the ability for multiple jurisdictions within the valley to
cooperate on regional issues. They have been working on a local and county level by
collaborating with each county’s Council of Governments. Mr. Moll & Mr. Harmin
attended the summit one month prior to this committee meeting, for one of the last
rounds of community feedback on the Blueprint plan. The Blueprint process
recommended options for housing density, trying to balance the expansion of housing
with the need for agricultural land, mixed use development, and transportation. The
emphasis appeared to be on new development, even though they strategies they
espoused would also be ideal for downtown and infill redevelopment. They also
propose an increase in housing density from a little over 3 units per acre to 10 units
per acre: feasible everywhere with the exception of downtown where development has
been dense a long time. Because of a shortage of water in the valley The Blueprint
should have been explicit in how water factors into these development plans. The
Blueprint consensus, after working with many county leaders throughout the valley, is
that housing density needs to go up in newly developing and re-developed areas for
the valley to continue to be an agricultural leader, while building communities with
more diverse transportation options.
Campus Pointe is being developed in a way that would agree with the
recommendations laid forth by the Blueprint planning process: Campus Pointe will
increase density in the area, use low-water landscaping, as well as use a 1st stage sewer
plant that will produce reclaimed water for irrigation, and possibly for use on the
campus farm.
Michael Mosinski added that he is involved with a group dealing with recycled water
issues and how the farm can be more efficient with water use while not contaminating
the ground water. The group is working together regionally to solve the water issues.
High Speed Rail—David Moll
The high speed rail system is projected to have a station in Fresno. The challenge will
be to have in place a convenient way to get people from the high speed rail stop in
Fresno to campus. One possibility is a Personal Rapid Transit/Automated Rapid
Transit system. This would serve us well with 3-4 stops along the way. It can be
expensive, with the cost per mile at $5.2 million; the high end was $15.2 million. Cost
per station was half a million on the low end & $2.9 on the high end (High end costs
are associated w/ climates not conducive to people waiting in bad weather).
Another possibility is the Bus Rapid Transit system that is already being worked on by
regional transportation authorities. This system will use hybrid articulated busses, 2
joined together w/ flexible membrane. The 1st routes would be on McKinley and
Ventura because they are the most heavily traveled bus routes. The two routes that
would best service the campus would be routes on Cedar and on Shaw. For this system
to function there must be a dedicated lane for busses in the center so as not to interrupt
right-turn traffic. Would be very beneficial if this system could bring people from
high-speed rail to campus, if routes could be so configured.
Agenda Item #3 Greenhouse Gas Audit: Item is skipped. Matthew Harmin is running late
this morning and will present it at the next meeting.
Agenda Item #5 Student Recycling Club—Briana McDonald
Signing up for National Recyclemania competition for end of February through April.
Earth Day-Helping River Trust volunteers clean up San Joaquin River. They will be
clearing away metal and wood debris from wildlife habitats, trying to find a way to
recycle found metal to get money for dorms, but are unsure whether that is possible.
Dave Moll referred her to Lisa Kao (not be present at meeting because of an Air
District Inspection occurring on campus). Another option if working from a fixed
location would be for a company to bring a bin out to the location.
The Dog Days coordinator has contacted the Recycling Club to request more recycling
bins around the chemical storage area where Dog Days orientation occurs during the
summer. This would be helpful to get incoming freshmen acquainted with the dorm
recycling project, and make it a part of their experience from the outset.
Dog Days no longer use plastic bags for distributing their information and have started
to now use cloth bags. The club is going to try and get a compost pile out near the
orientation area for incoming students to use during lunch. California Integrated Waste
Management Board has made available $8000 worth of recycling bins available to any
public institution who wants to apply for them.
Focus the Nation: April 18, every congressman is going to visit their district’s town
hall and have a nationwide meeting on America’s energy future. The Recycling Club
and College Democrats groups will host at city hall, a discussion open to the
community.
Agenda Item #6 Recycling Center—Matthew Harmin:
Facilities Planning and Michael Burgess have been discussing and planning some lowkey cost-effective upgrades to the recycling center. The recycling center will be
upgraded in appearance; it will also consolidate glass and plastic into single stream.
We are going to use recycling to generate as many resources as possible. In the future
when we consolidate some of these streams we will still receive the same revenue as
before. It will be fenced in, made safer for storage of e-waste and hazardous materials.
The blue fork-lift-able bins will be utilized for e-waste transportation. We are waiting
to hear from Lisa Kao about community e-waste events. We are changing provider of
e-waste recycling services and we are currently referring calls to Clovis Recycling
Center. It may be difficult to do e-waste events on campus because it would have to
take place on a Saturday, would increase costs, and require a parking lot.
Agenda Item #8 No Green Team report as Joseph Oldham was not present.
Library update from David Moll
Not a certified green building, but has many green components. The brochure
highlighting the green features of the library was put together by Bruce Whitworth and
Matt Harmin, and will be handed out at ribbon cutting ceremony.
Agenda Item #9 Sustainability Policy-Matthew Harmin
Sustainability Policy Draft—Matthew Harmin sent digital copy out, received some comments
back. A request was placed to redraft with filtered comments from others in time for next
meeting. David Moll requested the draft to be approved at next meeting.
Agenda Item #10 Roundtable.
Christopher Pluhar we have several EES1 classes (Earth Resources and Natural
Disasters) with students requiring extra credit, offering free services to work for a few
hours in areas such as the Recycling Club. Mr. Moll inquired if that includes
emergency planning for disasters. Mr. Pluhar said yes and he can be reached at office
extension 1128 better contact is email cpluhar@csufresno.edu. Mr. Moll mentioned
Douglas Kennedy our emergency planner who maybe benefit from the work of
students in the department.
Mr. Moll asked a question regarding RESCO grant application. Dr. Don Hunsaker is
coordinating this grant. Andrew Jones will forward emails to Mr. Moll. Mr. Moll has
a lead on an Environmental Justice grant program, and the application is due April 1st.
The city is taking the lead on both programs, while Universities have to apply as subapplicant to a government entity.
Andrew Jones-Teach-in for Earth Day was given an okay by the Senate Executive
Committee; the only concern is if there is if there is a keynote speaker. This would
have to be approved through the outside speaker’s approval process. The Executive
Committee would like teach-in material to be presented to the full academic senate.
Date is April 22, 2009. No location reserved yet, but Satellite Student Union would be
preferable. Advertising for this event will start about a month before with fliers and in
the Collegian. It was agreed that the speakers for the teach-in should be a faculty
members. Matt Harmin suggested that the teach-in not be solely made up of lectures,
but also get community organizations involved to present the work that they do.
Gary Nelson-Vintage Days. Trying to get recycling program involved with Vintage
Days. Matt Harmin stated that there aren’t any recycling bins on campus currently
that are not being used in offices. Vintage Days will be April 17, 18, 19, 2009.
Recycling service at Vintage Days will be provided though, with the help of the Local
Conservation Corp.
Michael Mosinski-Update from the Farm. They are still moving ahead with the
organic crops program. Evaluation of the composting operation methods and looking
is underway, with an eye towards any environmental impacts it may have. They are
looking into water quality and water use, and trying to reduce water use and
implement technologies to help towards that end. At this point, we haven’t started the
dining hall compost operation: have the bin and talked to Karen Focarazzo and Mr.
Harmin. Original plan was to place it at the Bucket, but switched to moving to
Residence Dining Hall. Mr. Mosinski says they are ready at the compost site campus
food wastes, and Whole Foods will be bringing out their food waste. Some businesses
have shown community interest. At this time the compost is not being sold, but we
have reached a point where we are confident the compost is being handled properly.
Nate Wills - Athletics Nothing to report at this time, still working with local
conservation for football.
Ronald Leach – Lighting issues: Getting a good price for 4’-8” to do change outs. 28
watt vs. 32 watt, working on safe path lighting, looking at better fixtures. Was told that
price per square foot is good. Replacing bulbs with CFL’s only when they can get
them for a good price, but are doing it where they can, however it’s not cost efficient.
Ron Durham - Auxiliaries. Need a spot for a second recycle bin for cardboard near
the bookstore. Some questions still being asked about where things go that are thrown
in the various bins. Mr. Harmin will do a one page fact sheet to pass out to managers
regarding recycle bins. Tan bins go to the landfill. The blue bins go to recycle.
Briana McDonald-No more to report.
Lanny Larson-Nothing to report.
Meetings have been set for the rest of the semester so be sure to put on your calendars.
Pay close attention to the locations.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30am