Patty Hilt Meliusz, environmental manager for the City of Battle Creek, told the Sustainable VC Committee on Dec. 23 that the greenhouse-gas workshop meant for commission review was postponed and staff will bring the matter before the city commission when timing allows. "The commission workshop was postponed," she said, adding staff will continue preparatory work while awaiting a formal commission hearing.

Members discussed a short list of achievable goals for 2025 that staff prepared and asked committee members to re-read the city’s sustainability plan and return proposed edits. Patty said the list is intended to identify near-term items the group can accomplish without overextending staff resources.

The committee flagged several priorities: routine energy audits for city facilities, expanded tree-planting in spring and fall 2025, improved recycling and composting outreach, and a charging-station map tied to ongoing grants for hybrid and energy-efficient buses. "There's no cost to the city" for some energy audits, Patty said, describing a Consumers Energy program that can identify rebates and efficiency opportunities for large users such as wastewater and the Verona Wellfield.

Andy Helmholtz, a community volunteer, encouraged residents to use Consumers Energy’s streetlight reporting tool, noting a flickering light near his home was replaced with a new LED after he filed a service request. "The Consumers... system for reporting streetlight problems... is really easy to use," he said.

The committee also discussed using the i-Tree program to estimate environmental benefits of tree planting and suggested small public-facing initiatives such as tree benefit tags in parks to highlight ecosystem services. Patty recommended developing an internal sustainability recognition program to spotlight department achievements and creating a simple employee manual on sustainable building and electronics practices.

Patty said the committee will circulate the accomplishments and the proposed 2025 goals and asked members to provide feedback in advance of the next meeting in February.

The meeting adjourned at 2:04 p.m.