435 Hamilton Street  
Allentown, Pa. 18101  
Allentown  
Minutes - Final  
Environmental Advisory Council  
Monday, July 12, 2021  
5:15 PM  
Zoom  
EAC members in attendance: Tinku Khanwalkar, Jon Stanley, Jennifer Swann  
Non-EAC members present: Maddie Schaller, Lacey Pasco, Mary Tomlinson, Alexa Giraudon, Ryan  
Deom, Kyle Ropski, Susan Dalandan, Jon Zeller, Connor Corpora, Leo Rooney(PNLV), James Weber,  
Julie Thomases, RJ Lane  
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Welcome and introductions  
Review and approval of June minutes  
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Approved  
Old Business  
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Reports from EAC/Friends leads on goals  
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Drive Greater Transparency and Accountability (Tinku)  
Need a metric for tree equity (Tinku reporting for Holly)  
Public Works does annual reporting for the TreeVitalize program which includes number of trees  
planted, pruned and removed. This could be part of the dashboard metrics.  
Need a metric for lead exposure (Tinku reporting for Maria)  
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Working with Penn Future on lead contamination. Meeting with Rachel Leon of Bethlehem City  
Council and what they are doing with lead contamination. Planning to hold an event in August at which  
Stevie Wolst will be speaking about Allentown’s actions on lead. Maria wants to know whether the  
AEAC will co-sponsor.  
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Vote: Tinku Khanwalkar made motion for Allentown EAC to co-sponsor Penn Future’s event on lead  
exposure as it falls under the AEAC role of promoting community environmental programs . Seconded  
by Jennifer Swann. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED  
Need a metric/ metrics for energy use/ CO2 (Jon Z. and Lacey Pasco)  
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Dashboard has been broken down into 9 subjects.  
Prioritize top 10 metrics.  
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Look at the selections from Bethlehem and Easton for guidance.  
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Dashboard will be public to allow public to keep city accountable.  
Vote: Tinku Khanwalkar made a motion to present the 10 Climate Action targets/metrics at the next  
meeting with City staff. Seconded by Jennifer Swann. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED  
Thank you to Jon Zeller and Lacey Pasco for their hard work.  
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Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Allentown (Leo)  
Lehigh U. students are designing and siting a solar powered wood kiln that could help  
Allentown reuse wood from the City’s felled trees in more valuable ways than the current practice of  
chipping them up for mulch. The program could also be combined with a workforce development  
program for an AmeriCorps-based program called “PromiseCorps” that is being launched by PNLV.  
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Aiming to create a series of solar powered lumber drying kilns. Then using the wood to create  
benches and other products for public use.  
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Preserving materials that would normally be discarded and providing opportunities for it to be used.  
There is a presentation on this project and more next week, Monday July 18, at Lehigh University.  
Lacey has a new “guide to being outside”  
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The guide has helpful information on what to prepare for when engaging in outdoor activities.  
Including safety, animal/plant identification, and information on Promise Neighborhoods.  
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Consider adding more detailed trail information in the pamphlet.  
Lacey has prepared a report and recommendations on addressing energy efficiency in  
low-income communities in Allentown  
Vote: In light of Lacey’s work, Tinku made motion to revise 2022 Allentown EAC goals to  
add addressing energy inefficiency in low-income communities. Motion seconded by Jennifer Swann.  
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED  
Lacey requested the AEAC to hold a special meeting to meet and vote on the presentation  
material prior to the August meeting. Lacey to send out a scheduling request.  
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Plan for a Sustainable and Resilient Allentown (Jon Z. and Tinku)  
Lacey Pasco to follow up on rain gardens information.  
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City staff is looking for AEAC support on stormwater management  
City Staff (Angie DiBuo) is looking for AEAC support for rain gardens and green  
infrastructure. No specific request has yet been made, however. (Holly, Lacey and Mary)  
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Improve Community Health Outcomes (Leo)  
Radon Testing for homes with Civilian Climate Corp. (Promise Neighborhood)  
Update on radon-- Promise Neighborhoods is working with several contractors that have testing and  
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abatement licenses. The program depends on receiving a $25,000 grant that PNLV has applied for. If  
the grant is received, PNLV will be able to test about 100 homes and abate about 10. Will stop testing  
after reaching 10 homes that require abatement. Please reach out if you have any questions  
ljr@heirloomstrategies.com 610 844 2768  
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No further action from Allentown EAC needed at this time.  
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Increase Environmental Stewardship  
Liter prevention program with Promise Neighborhood  
Liter prevention program with city parks program  
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Engaging the community in recycling items and providing education for the local community.  
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Business Recognition Program  
Vote: Tinku Khanwalkar made a motion to remove the Business Recognition Program from  
2022 Allentown EAC goals. Seconded by Jennifer Swann. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED  
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Earth Day Program(s) -- Completed  
Review and advise on DEP letters – Nothing of importance to discuss  
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Discussion on plastic bag use in Allentown. Possible goal for 2023.  
Discussion with Mary Tomlinson about litter. Will trash cans be part of the Jordan Creek Greenway  
Plan?  
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Work with Allentown Parks & Rec to find out if trash cans are a part of the plan. What are the  
requirements for trash cans to be a part of the development?  
New Business  
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Decision on meeting at City Hall with Remote Attendance Option  
Vote: Tinku Khanwalkar made motion for Allentown EAC to resume in-person meetings starting  
in August with a virtual option. Seconded by Jennifer Swann. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED  
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Decision on EAC Interim Chair for September, October, and November  
Tinku Khanwalkar noted that she will be out of the country in Japan, Germany and India from  
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September through mid-December. She will have access to emails but will not be able to attend AEAC  
meetings due to the time difference. Holly has agreed to serve as interim chair. Jennifer Swann asked  
what the AEAC’s procedures are if a member does not attend several meetings in a row. Tinku  
explained that normally the chair would have a discussion with the member and absent a good reason  
for the member’s failure to attend, would request the member to resign. If such a member fails to  
resign, then the AEAC’s By-laws have procedures to remove such a member.  
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Vote: Tinku Khanwalkar moved to have Holly serve as Allentown EAC interim chair for  
September-November 2022 (there is no AEAC meeting in December). Seconded by Jon Stanley.  
UNANIMOUSLY  
APPROVED.  
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Welcome and Introductions  
Review and Approval of June Minutes  
15-4405  
Allentown EAC June 2021 Minutes  
Attachments: Allentown EAC June 2021 Minutes  
OLD BUSINESS  
2021 Goals Reports  
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1. Waste Minimization/Food Waste – Holly Edinger/Maria Ocasio (5 minutes)  
2. Micro-mobility – Jennifer Swann/Tinku Khanwalkar (3 minutes)  
3. Climate Action Inventory and CDP Questionnaire (Tinku 2 minutes)  
4. Park Spark Project – Jennifer (2 minutes)  
5. Litter Removal Project at 401 Cleveland -- Tinku and Jennifer (2 minutes)  
6. Rain Gardens (Muhlenberg -- Sadie)  
7. Create a public repository of sustainability data including Greenhouse Gas  
Inventory, Climate Action Inventory, Community Sustainability Certification, CDP  
Responses, etc. (Lacey – 2 minutes)  
8. Build social media following (promote Allentown Vision 2030, education about our  
trash and recycling programs, invasive species, build-out to include internships. Talk to  
city about better posting of the link to FB Page. Create a QR code for EAC. Use that  
Neighborhood app/ site). (Lacey/Holly – 2 minutes)  
9. Sustainable Pennsylvania Communities Certification (Tinku –1 minute)  
10. Sustainable Business Survey and Recognition Program – on hold (Tinku)  
11. Get more Council input on EAC activities (Dave – 2 minutes)  
12. Invasive Species Events- neighborhoods and parks. Maybe a Poison Hemlock  
contest on social media (Jennifer/ Holly – 2 minutes)  
13. Get a budget for the EAC (Dave – 2 minutes)  
14. Preliminary Review of Allentown Zoning Map – Holly and Jennifer (2 minutes  
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Reports from EAC Liaisons  
1. Muhlenberg College – Lacey/Sadie (2 minutes)  
2. Parks and Recreation – Jennifer /Tinku (2 minutes)  
3. Public Works – Tinku (2 minutes)  
4. City Council – Dave (2 minutes)  
5. Planning Commission – Holly (2 minutes)  
6. Bureau of Planning and Zoning – Tinku, Holly and Jennifer (2 minutes)  
NEW BUSINESS  
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Platform for future EAC meetings  
Commitment to 100% Renewable Energy (using Mark Pinsley Proposal as basis for  
discussion)?  
Other?  
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