North Cook News

Village of Northbrook Environmental Quality Control Commission met January 18. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the commission:

     Chairman Reynolds called the EQC meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. in the Terrace Room of the

     Northbrook Village Hall, 1225 Cedar Lane.

     The following Members were in attendance: Jeremy Reynolds, John Albrecht, Dale Duda, Brian

     Bruce, Michael Beeftink. A full quorum was met.

     Also Present: Assistant Public Works Director Matt Morrison.

     Members absent: Scott Robson, Tara Wesselink

Minutes

Minutes of the December 14, 2017 meeting were approved on a voice vote.

Hear from the Audience

There were no public comments.

Old Business

Coal Tar

Assistant Director Morrison provided an overview of how the Coal Tar ban would be operationalized by

staff if it were approved. He discussed the licensing procedure for contractors and the cost for a

license, $60. Mr. Morrison also provided a copy of the contractor’s license form and requirements and

noted that there would be a supplemental affidavit for seal coat contractors to sign off on

acknowledging that they have been made aware of the ban and they need to carry a Safety Data Sheet

for the material they are working with. Assistant Director Morrison also outlined that enforcement of

the coal tar ban would be on a complaint based system which will require educational information to

be distributed to the public. The rough draft of an Ordinance outlining the code changes necessary to

enact such a ban.

Commissioner Duda made a motion to recommend that the Village Board consider and approve a ban

on coal tar based sealants using language similar to that which was included in the draft Ordinance

presented that night. Commissioner Bruce seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

New Business

Greenest Region Compact 2

Commissioner Albrecht presented the Greenest Region Compact 2 (GRC2) to the Commission. He

indicated that the Village was a member of the first Greenest Region Compact, that the Village has

completed its Sustainability Plan, so this is a good next step. He noted that there are more goals in

GRC2 than the Sustainability Plan and the Village could pursue something like this.

Mr. Morrison mentioned that the goals of the first Greenest Region Compact were included in the

cover memo and mentioned that they were more basic. Assistant Director Morrison also clarified that

the GRC2 framework was an amalgamation of the sustainability plans in the region and provided

municipalities who wish to participate in it a menu of green goals to choose from.

Commissioner Bruce asked why the Village should move away from its Sustainability Plan to the GRC2.

The Commission discussed the positive and negative aspects of the GRC2 and how the GRC2 might

compliment the Commission’s review of the Sustainability Plan.The Commission concluded that they

would like to continue to discuss the Greenest Region Compact 2 documents and program at future

meetings as part of the group’s look at sustainability.

Good of the Order

Commissioner Duda mentioned that there was an article in a recent edition of the Northbrook Tower

newspaper that mentioned the efforts by the YMCA to distribute Milkweed in conjunction with the

Village’s Monarch initiatives.

Assistant Director Morrison mentioned that at the upcoming meetings there several topics for the

Commission to discuss that included the Commission’s participation in the Annual Earth/Arbor Day

Celebration as well as the review process for the Green Business Award.

Commissioner Albrecht asked to discuss a Community Solar initiative. He stated that the Illinois

Commerce Commission is currently reviewing the topic but is expected to have a ruling soon. The

Commission was interested in discussing the topic when more information is available and suggested

mentioning it under the next meeting’s “good of the order.”

Commissioner Albrecht also asked if the Commission wanted to consider an attendance rule at the

Commission’s meetings. The Commission discussed the topic and the number of meetings that were

cancelled as a result of quorums and that if Commissioners knew of people interested in serving on the

Commission they should encourage them to fill out an application.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the EQC is scheduled for February 15, 2018.

Adjourn

Commissioner Beeftink made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 p.m. The motion was seconded

by Commissioner Duda, on a voice vote the motion passed.

http://il-northbrook.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_01182018-1349