Members in attendance: Tinku Khanwalkar (chairperson), Dieter Kretschy, Holly Edinger, Jon Stanley,
Maria Ocasio, Jennifer Swann, Dave Melman
Guests: Josh Siegel (2nd half), Marsha Akoto (Lehigh U.), Jacob Kidd (jkidd@muhlenberg.edu), Jeremy
Taylor (jeremy@somaxhtc.com), Maddie Tschauner (Lehigh U.), Lacey Pasco
Welcome and Introductions
Review and Approval of September Minutes (approved)
Old Business
1. Waste Minimization/Food Waste – Holly Edinger/Maria Ocasio/ Jakob Kidd
a. Jakob contacted some businesses and many are donating already. Talked about getting a
biodigester to serve the city restaurants. Holly, Lacey and Jakob will meet about other sources and the
distribution places. Include Jeremy in this project.
2. Micro-mobility – Jennifer Swann/Tinku Khanwalkar
a. Per Jennifer, CAT helps support the Bethlehem bike share with the Library. Problem remains
that we don’t have bike lanes/ facilities for a lot of bikes. We could look at what the Bethlehem Library
does and see if we can mirror that program. Can this be a new internship for 2022? (Holly to look into
this)
3. Climate Action Inventory and CDP Questionnaire (Tinku)
a. We (Tinku) we will hold off to clean this up and then bring it forward in 2022 for the city
administration to use/ follow/ promote.
4. Allentown Civilian Climate Corps (Tinku)
a. Promise Neighborhood working with members of EAC to create a feasibility study for a grass
roots outreach plan. Maria will talk with PennFuture about interactions with this planning effort.
5. Park Spark Project – Done
6. Clean-Up Events
a. 401 Cleveland Clean-Up on 10/23, Parks Dept will be there to help
b. Big Brothers Big Sisters- Jon is working on this.
7. Reduce Litter to Reduce Crime: Lehigh students will help us develop a system to do more of these
events and ensure they have more impact than just the one day of clean. Plastic reuse effort at Lehigh
University needs support of graduate students. This could bring the Allentown city litter clean up to
match with the reuse program. Jennifer, Dieter and Tinku will follow up with graduate students from
Lehigh U.
8. Create a public repository of sustainability data including Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Climate Action
Inventory, Community Sustainability Certification, CDP Responses, etc. (Lacey and Holly).
9. 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)
10. Sustainable Pennsylvania Communities Certification (Tinku)
a. City is solving IT challenge and will post outcome
11. Sustainable Business Survey and Recognition Program – (Dieter)
a. Dieter, Julie, Jennifer and Jeremy met and developed parameters and selected the first winner. This
will be announced along with opening for nominations for other businesses. Communication will start
with Morning Call and City Planning Director.
12. Preliminary Review of Allentown Zoning Map – Holly and Jennifer
a. No update
Reports from EAC Liaisons
•
Muhlenberg College – Lacey/Sadie
o
Head of Sustainability at Muhlenberg retired.
•
Parks and Recreation – Jennifer /Tinku
