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Environmental Advisory Council presents slimmed-down annual report, urges city engagement on climate and trees
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Summary
The Environmental Advisory Council told the Parks and Recreation Committee its 2025 annual report is shorter and more focused, highlighting litter reduction, invasive-species work, urban-forest planning, an electric-vehicle pilot and youth climate grants; the EAC urged public participation in upcoming surveys and the climate action planning process.
Kyle Rofsky, chair of Allentown's Environmental Advisory Council, told the Parks and Recreation Committee the council's 2025 annual report is "about 13 pages" and organized around five pillars: advising on environmental issues, encouraging sustainable design and greenhouse-gas reductions, protecting natural resources, maintaining open land uses and promoting community environmental programs.
The report, Rofsky said, reflects a year of targeted work including research on litter-reduction strategies and a Muhlenberg College intern's project on invasive-species management that helped inform a joint resolution passed in December committing the city to "using less herbicides as well as sustainable land management practices." He thanked the sweep and parks departments for their cooperation in that research.
Rofsky highlighted the EAC's engagement with students and local groups: Penn State students presented an inventory of greenhouse-gas emissions, Little Lehigh Watershed Stewards gave a winter-salting presentation, and a Muhlenberg class on local sustainability produced reports the EAC plans to use in the forthcoming climate action plan. "I would urge you all to read the report," Rofsky said.
On sustainable design, Rofsky said the EAC has long advocated for an electric-vehicle pilot and supports the city's climate action plan and an urban forestry master plan. He credited new Planning Commission member Craig Beavers with helping ensure EAC advisory comments are considered in land-development reviews.
Rofsky also noted community-focused work: the EAC participated in the Youth Climate Action Fund review committee and highlighted that many resident-led projects received funding; the council preserved its Bird Town PA Gold status and launched a public EAC website to centralize agendas, minutes and resources.
Why it matters: the EAC's two-pronged push ' advising on policy and engaging residents ' aims to connect technical planning (inventory and master plans) with on-the-ground projects, from cleaner streets to youth-led climate initiatives.
The committee invited public participation in EAC and city planning surveys, and Rofsky said the EAC will continue producing policy research on litter reduction, residential stormwater and a possible naturalized landscape ordinance. The presentation closed with an offer to answer questions and a reminder that the full report is attached to the meeting agenda and available on the council's website.
The committee did not take formal action on the report itself; members thanked the EAC and moved to the next agenda item.
