Government Center

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Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC Energy and Environmental

Committee

Meeting Minutes

BATES, Tarver, Allan, Kious, Roth, Strathmann, Young, ex-officios Pierog (County Chair), and

Tepe (County Vice Chair)

Friday, May 17, 2024

9:00 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Chairman Bates called today's meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

Roll Call

Board Member Mavis Bates

Board Member Deborah Allan

Board Member Chris Kious

Board Member Bill Roth

PRESENT

Board Member Cherryl Strathmann

Board Member David Young

Board Member Bill Tarver

REMOTE

ABSENT

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Vern Tepe

Also present: Co. Bd. members Daugherty*, Gumz*, Juby*, Lewis, Linder*, Molina*; KC

Development Exec. Planner Karen Miller; Sustainability Mgr. Hinshaw; Recycling Res.

Coordinator Ryan; Environ. & Water Res. Dir. Wollnik; Spec. ASA Shepro*, ASA

Cermak*; ITD staff Peters; and members of the press and public.

Remote Attendance Requests

Chairman Bates announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting. She

asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Member Tarver

attending today's meeting remotely. There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: April 12, 2024

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Chris Kious

Public Comment (Agenda Items)

Kane County resident Michelle Bettag spoke on the struggling business owners within

the county. She encouraged the Committee to talk with local business owners.

Kane County resident Victoria Davidson-Bell spoke on the tree ordinance. She stated

that it is important to be intentional about when to choose to move a tree.

Davidson-Bell stated that she endorses the Climate Action Plan. She believes this plan

is needed for the county, and believes climate change is real.

Kane County resident Pam Gripe spoke on the removal of gas powered landscape

equipment and machinery and how it will affect the economy of Kane County. She

stated that being required to get a permit to remove a tree does not solve the problem.

She believes that requiring contractors to provide warranty's is misguided.

Kane County resident Billy Malecki spoke on his support for the Climate Action Plan.

He believes it is a good plan for the County, and provides a roadmap for the county's

future.

Kane County resident Vicki Rybak (remote) spoke on her concerns on the Climate

Action Plan. She questioned the toxicity of electric vehicles, and solar panels. Rybak

suggested to the Committee list the cost next to the resolutions on the agendas.

Kane County resident Steve Bruescwitz spoke on his support of the Climate Action

Plan. He believes that this plan is a step in the right direction for the county.

Kane County resident Jonathan Gripe stated that the removal of trees would be a

finable offense without permission, permits, and governmental approval. He stated his

opposition on the assumption that everything electric is "green." Gripe stated his

opposition to the Climate Action Plan.

Kane County resident Jean Meyer stated her opposition to the Climate Action Plan.

She spoke on the fight for scientific proof and serving green peace. She stated that the

whole climate crisis is not only fake news, but it's fake science, and believes that the

climate crisis is a politically, motivated agenda.

(Committee Member Allan arrived at 9:36 a.m.)

Kane County resident Terrence Lally spoke on the economic cost to regulation laws

that are passed by the government. He stated that the conclusions on pro-climate

change are consistently wrong.

Kane County resident Larry Bettag spoke on his opposition of the Climate Action Plan.

Kane County resident Brian Anderson spoke on his opposition of the Climate Action

Plan.

Public Comment (Non- Agenda Items)

None.

Environmental (J.Wollnik)

No report was made at today's meeting.

Recycling/Solid Waste (C. Ryan)

No report was made at today's meeting.

Sustainability (S.Hinshaw)

Kane County Tree Protection Ordinance Presentation (Karen Miller)

Kane County Development Department Exec. Planner Karen Miller presented

several slides of information on the Tree Protection Ordinance for

unincorporated Kane County. She noted that the urban forest is a collective

resource that will rely on for physical and mental health, improved property

values, air and water quality, storm water reduction, and wildlife habitat. She

indicated that the County Board asked staff to draft a tree protection ordinance

for unincorporated Kane County. The county staff formed a team, including staff

from the Development Department, State's Attorney's Office, Forest Preserve

District, and Kane County Division of Transportation (KDOT). Miller thanked

Assistant State's Attorney Francis Cermak for providing his legal expertise for

the ordinance. She shared a graph that showed the unincorporated Kane

County Tree Canopy Cover created by Kane County planner Catherine

McKenna.

Kane County Forest Preserve Dir. of Natural Resources Patrick Chess provided

background on the Kane County Tree Protection Ordinance. He spoke on the

impacts of trees in our society. With respect to air quality, storm management,

and carbon sequestration, Kane County has a 16% tree cover, which provides

$13M worth of benefits. Those benefits are primarily derived from larger, older

trees. He provided several slides on the history of acre growth in Oak trees

within Kane County.

KC Dev. Planner Miller stated that tree protective ordinances are necessary to

preserve and protect resources and infrastructure; same as water, streets,

parks, sewers and utilities. She listed the key components of the Tree Protection

Ordinance. She indicated that the Kane County Tree Protection Ordinance is

based upon the City of Elgin's established Tree Preservation Ordinance. Much

discussion ensued.

Adopting a Kane County Climate Action Implementation Plan

Pale Blue Dot, LLC., Co-Founder Ted Redmond (remote) provided information

on the Kane County Climate Action Implementation Plan. He stated that the

planning process took nineteen months, with 82 planning team members, plus

input from 1,200 community members. The Plan is based on Kane County

specific foundational research. Redmond highlighted that his team anticipates

an increase of ten degrees farenheit average temperature by the end of the

century. Redmond highlighted that 85% respondents have noticed climate

change, and 74% have reported being personally impacted by the affects of

climate change. He stated that the goal through the plan is to achieve carbon

neutrality by 2050. The Plan focuses on nine sectors of Greenhouse Gas

Emission Reductions and Climate adaptation. Those sectors are supported by

44 strategies, which identify sub-goals for each sector. Redmond indicated that

moving forward with the Climate Action Implementation Plan does not

automatically make any policy or ordinance change. He stated that a successful

implementation plan would reduce countywide emissions by 26.5% by 2030.

Much discussion ensued.

Committee Member Roth made a motion to move the resolution to the Executive

Committee meeting. Committee Member Young seconded the motion. Motion

carried by roll call vote. The motion failed.

Committee Member Kious made a motion to call the question. Committee

Member Tarver seconded. Motion carried by roll call vote. Motion passed.

KC Executive Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Executive Committee

Bill Tarver

MOVER:

Deborah Allan

SECONDER:

Mavis Bates, Bill Tarver, Deborah Allan, Chris Kious, and Cherryl

Strathmann

AYE:

Bill Roth, and David Young

NAY:

Corinne M. Pierog, and Vern Tepe

ABSENT: