University Environment Committee

9/27/07

Presiding: Charles Hodson

Regular members in attendance: M. Glascoff, J. Twark, D. Lawrence, C. Hodson, M. Montgomery

Ex officio members in attendance: T. Coleman (for B. Koch), P. Cox, J. Gill, M. Schmidt

The meeting was called to order at 4:00 pm.

Actions of Meeting

1. Committee elections

Actions taken: Charles Hodson elected chair of the committee; David Lawrence elected vice-chair, Marianne Montgomery elected secretary.

2. Meeting time

Hodson proposed changing the regular meeting time to 3:30 to accommodate members’ schedules.

Action taken: The new meeting time was approved.

3. Priorities for 2006-2007 committee

Issues that the committee may consider this year include: the university master plan (especially as it impacts the West Campus), land holdings, new buildings and renovations, trees and landscaping (and the impact of the current drought), energy conservation, and the VOA site.

Discussion: The committee will request presentations from George Harrell on these issues. Because there are too many topics for a single meeting, Gill suggested that the committee schedule a series of presentations at upcoming meetings. There was an extended discussion of which issues to prioritize. Lawrence suggested using alternative water sources; Gill reported that the university has expanded its use of retention ponds for irrigation. Hodson asked about the master plan for the West Campus, which according to Gill is out of date. Hodson also suggested a student services building for the West Campus. Twark raised the possibility of seeking donors to contribute tree plantings for the West Campus. Glascoff mentioned a concern with safety issues on the West Campus, which may be outside the jurisdiction of this committee but is an issue when discussing landscaping and green space. Twark suggested that the committee should discuss the possibility of alternative energy strategies like solar panels on the roofs of buildings. Gill mentioned that ECU is involved with the Coastal Studies Institute, which is now housed in a new green building in Manteo.

Action taken: The committee agreed on the following schedule of presentations by George Harrell at upcoming meetings:

October – master plan / West Campus / new buildings

January – trees / landscaping

February – energy conservation

March – VOA site

4. Mall use

Gill suggested that the committee may want to take a formal position on limiting events on the Mall. The Mall’s trees cannot handle the sustained and concentrated foot and vehicle traffic associated with events.

Discussion: Cox noted that the previous agreement on Mall use specified two exceptions to the general rule banning events: Barefoot on the Mall and Founder’s Day. A faculty senate resolution to this effect was passed last year. Glascoff suggested that the committee should communicate closely with Student Life about Mall use and emphasized that the committee should more generally be proactive in working with Student Life.

Action taken: The committee voted to have Glascoff discuss the faculty senate resolution recommending very limited Mall use with Vice Chancellor for Student Life Marilyn Sheerer.

5. Annoucements

Friends of Greenville Greenways is sponsoring a Candidate Social with mayoral and city council candidates on the Bridge at the Town Common on 10/28/07 from 2-4pm.

The newly-formed ECU Carbon Neutral Committee will hold its first meeting 10/18/07 at 5:30 in N109 in the Science Center.

There was a motion to adjourn and the meeting was adjourned at 5:05 pm.

Next meeting: 10/25/07, 3:30 pm

Items to be discussed: Master plan / West Campus / new buildings