July

General

• Green Gazette:  The July issue can be found here.  August is in the works.

• Green Media and Outreach:  Sam Fleckenstein (U of M Grad Student) has been working on materials for a social media campaign related to lake-healthy landscaping, native plants, water-related topics, wetlands, and more. Communications staff from Meridian and U of M have also been assisting with this. 

  • More here

• Green Dialogue:  Sam F. may join us on July 12 to discuss his Media and Outreach Plan and gather ideas from attendees.  Jared Harmon, Mid-Michigan Land Conservancy will discuss their efforts to plant trees and protect land on July 19. Join dialogues Wed. at 9am on Zoom here.

• Roundabout:  Emma and LeRoy held a Native Plant Tour in the "Hidden River Rain Garden" on July 11 at noon. Pictures here

• Green Burial Team:  Kim has developed a nice two page factsheet on the subject.

• Catalyst Leadership Circle Tour:  I developed a handout describing some of the eco-features of the Municipal Complex and adjacent Central Park. Students also visited the Emterra Recycling Processing facility and East Lansing Water Recovery Facility.  

• Recycling Center Grant:  We hope to hear from EGLE later this summer

• Pollinator/Native Plant Signs:  About a dozen residents have expressed interest. I've gathered some samples and Emma will help design based on her publication, "Planting a Native Meridian"

Environmental Commission

• Climate Sustainability Plan:

  • Draft 8/2/23 (with Sam Lovall's edits)

• Green Grants:  Projects are underway.  

  • Meridian Garden Clubs Project at Rayla is largely complete.  

  • Mud Lake Publication: "Mud Lake is coming along well and is now in the layout stage. We expect to have the draft back in mid-August for review and fine tuning." (7/28)

  • Cornell Woods will plant in fall

  • Radmoor has finished! 

  • Okemos Presbyterian: initial landscape survey and design has been received and is being reviewed (7/25)

Energy Team

• Solarize Meridian:   The next Solarize Workshop will be held on July 26 in collaboration with the City of Lansing.  Flier

• Energy Study:  We need to discuss priorities for efficiency upgrades

• Energy Block Grant:  Meridian will be required to submit an energy plan in November.  This may be modeled after the energy section in our Climate Sustainable Plan.

• Consumers EV Charging Pilot:  Reps from Consumers will provide an overview of this program on Thursday,  July 13 on Zoom.

• Solar Study: Rob with Absolute Solar will provide an overview of his study at the July Energy Team Meeting. 

  • Dan's Memo to Board (8/1/2023)
    
    

Green Team

• Green Fair:  The Green Fair was held July 29.   Pictures

• Planning has begun for the Fall Electronics Event and Sustainable Home Tour

• Green Team meets monthly to discuss summer events.  Next event is August 19th.

• Compost Bin/Rain Barrel Sale and Distribution

Food/Compost Team

• Compost Factsheet:  I've been working on a draft factsheet with input from Gabi  Mayer (volunteer), Will Christy (Intern), and Rachel Stohlin (Communications).  Also created a web page for more info at https://sites.google.com/view/compostinfo/home 

• Good Food/Smart Composting:  I've been working on fliers and posters for the Gabi and Val and Tom who've been promoting the food waste collection at the market and rain barrel/compost bin sale.