Sustainability coordinator named city rep to Lake Erie advisory committee and announces $7,500 compost technical assistance grant

The council heard sustainability updates on June 24 including an appointment to the Lake Erie Coastal Zone Advisory Committee, a technical assistance grant for the city's compost site, and progress toward a local climate action plan RFP.

The sustainability coordinator said they are the city’s new representative to the Lake Erie Coastal Zone Advisory Committee and already have “got a bunch of work done” as they begin service in that role. They announced the city received a technical assistance grant to study operations at the compost site and evaluate the possibility of selling compost rather than only distributing it to parks and landscapers. “It’s $7,500 from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection again, so that’s nice,” the sustainability coordinator said.

Members explained the compost program currently distributes material to parks on set days, and that landscapers sometimes take large amounts before residents arrive; the TA grant will fund an initial contractor assessment and site visit. Separately, staff and members reported they have begun drafting an RFP to hire a contractor to assist with development of a local climate action plan and estimated the RFP could be issued within about four to six weeks, subject to internal review and approvals.

Next steps: the TA contractor will complete a site review, staff will continue drafting the climate RFP and aim to post it in the coming month, and the EAC will monitor both efforts and provide input as needed.