On the agenda: Rolling Meadows meeting — Data Center (Mar 5)

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MEETING
City Council Chambers
3600 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Thursday March 5, 2026

Agenda

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.

Call to Order
Roll Call/Declaration of a Quorum
Chair Michael Koehler, Maggie Trevor, Ray Mau, Bonnie Haferkamp, Joannie Thomas,
Approval of Minutes : Feb 5, 2026
Pending Business : None
New Business : None
Old Business :
a. Arbor Day Planning
b. Bicycle Pedestrian Planning Project.
Other Discussion

Vacant.

Rolling Meadows Environmental Committee
Meeting Minutes
2/5/2026 at 6:00 at City Hall Council Chambers
1. Call to Order by Chair Michael Koehler at 6:05 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Present : Chair Michael Koehler, Maggie Trevor, Karen Gill, Joan Thomas, Raymond Mau
Absent: Bonnie Haferkamp
Also Present: Robert Savage (Planner and Management Analyst), Alysse Dahlgren, Fred Vogt, Roxane
Summer.
3. Minutes Approval:
Chair Koehler requested a motion to approve the meeting minutes from the January 8th, 2025 RMEC
Meeting. Member Mau made the motion, Member Haferkamp seconded the motion. All voted yes by
voice vote.
4. Public Comment
There was no public comment.
5. New Business
a. Approval of Purchase of Illinois Native Monarch Habitat Seed Mix.
P/MA Savage reiterated the Monarch Habitat Seed Mix giveaway from last year, noting that there is
approximately 200 sample portions remaining from last season. Renovo Seeds have agreed to honor the
pricing from last year, which is $880 for 8 acres of seed; equivalent to approximately 700 sample bags
worth. The RMEC escrow account currently sits at approximately $11,300, and the Committee should
vote on the approval of $1,000 for seeds for this season.
Chair Koehler requested a motion to approve no more than $1,000 for seeds for 2026. Member Trevor
made the motion, Member Mau seconded. All voted aye by voice.
Member Gill noted that the packaging should include a QR code so that residents can send in photos of
growth progress.
6. Old Business
a. 2026 Event Planning and Communications Tasks
P/MA Savage presented the newest version of the calendar to seek confirmation and event ideas from
the Committee:






Prairie Burn: Pete Jackson will provide an update on confirmed date once permits are issued.
Human Services Resource Fair: The date has been moved and will now coincide with Arbor
Day; the Committee will no longer be able to contribute to this event.
Earth Day: Staff have asked Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to assist with marketing for SWALCO’s
Feed The Loop campaign, who said that they would be able to send a marketing package for
social media as well as physical marketing materials for Arbor Day.
Arbor Day : Staff are working with Public Works and Park district to finalize potential locations for
Bur Oak and other complimentary tree plantings. Park District will likely be doing some cleanup
and landscaping work with their volunteers. Ms. Summer noted that we could consider contacting
Good News Coffee Truck for coffee support to make the event more inviting.









Family Services Day: Human services have requested that the RMEC attend; staff are looking at
ways to decorate the stand to be somewhat more professional and engaging, such as through
signage and pamphlets.
Sustainability Saturdays:
o Staff have contacted Paz at Lagman House who has shown interest in hosting a cooking
demonstration and ticketed lunch event. Pending Date: Saturday July 25
o Bike Party: September 19. Location TBA.
o Forest Preserve: Forest Preserve District have agreed to host an educational walk and
lecture in Busse Woods, where they will discuss the preservation work going on at the
site. Pending Date: Saturday, May 30.
Duck Race Sales will begin in June and continue to National Night Out – additional marketing and
presence should be achievable through a new stall and banner, as well as additional seed
giveaways.
Duck Race will occur on the Saturday of Meadows Fest, and is pending for 5:00PM.

Chair Koehler said that the Community Church might be looking for assistance with Corn Fest due to
dwindling volunteer capacity and the absence of boy Scouts in town, who used to assist with the event.
P/MA Savage reiterated the calendar of media releases scheduled for 2026:





Alysse Dahlgren volunteered to produce some content for social media; buckthorn
Joannie Thomas is going to produce a short article about Bur Oak habitat restoration; tying in to
Arbor Day planting events. Due early March for April newsletter
Chair Koehler will write about Climate and extreme weather for the July issue.
Maggie Trevor will write about Busse Woods restoration and recreation for the Fall issue.

7.a Other Discuss and Updates
P/MA Savage provided an update regarding the City’s proposed TIF districts and comprehensive plan
updates:






Staff are preparing two separate amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan related
to the Algonquin Road and Golf Road subareas to enable the future land use maps and plans
best reflect the market changes in commercial, office, and residential real estate trends within
these subareas.
The City is preparing to adopt two TIF Districts along the Algonquin Road Corridor with the
expectation that there it might improve redevelopment conditions for key sites that have
undergone disinvestment and neglect in recent years. The proposed sites include Keystone
Court, Crossroads of Commerce (Algonquin and IL53), Holidome/Holiday Inn, and Southland
Shopping Center. Chair Koehler noted that there would be significant and ongoing discussion in
the City as to the environmental considerations of Data Center land uses, and the Committee
should expect to hear more and be prepared to discuss this further as the potential project
develops.
The Golf Road Corridor has undergone several important land use transitions in recent years,
including several corporate consolidations (AJ Gallagher); potential Data Center Development
(Former Atrium Site); the Pacifica redevelopment, and; a long term diminishment of office
occupancy which may promote either residential, commercial, or mixed-use development in
certain office locations.

P/MA Savage noted that the City has been made aware of recent changes to state law bans batteries
from being disposed of in standard waste streams, which includes all small single use and rechargeable
batteries. The City is looking at ways to host battery disposal at City owned locations, and is expecting to
roll out these containers in the first half of 2026.
Adjournment

Chair Koehler motioned to adjourn. All voted aye. The meeting was adjourned at 7:35pm.

Staff Memorandum
From:
To:

Robert Savage, Planner and Management Analyst
Rolling Meadows Environmental Committee (RMEC)

RE:

Meeting Agenda for March 5, 2026

Meeting Date:

March 5, 2026

6.a. Arbor Day Planning
The annual Arbor Day event is scheduled for
Saturday, April 25, and the Environmental
Committee are preparing to plant several Bur
Oak at selected Park District and City locations.
The preliminary map, right, shows sites that have
been selected for potential planting locations.
Staff are still in the process of finalizing these
locations, which may be redrawn with respect to
other potential future Park District development
sites, as well as expanded City property
locations.

Staff have obtained quotes for 40 Bur Oak
1-gallon plants, and are in the process of
finalizing other materials such as planting
hardware, tree protection materials, and
informational displays for new plants.

Staff are expecting to develop and distribute
marketing materials by the end of March.

Staff will present some branding/marketing
considerations for the RMEC table such as
signage, educational materials, and hats.
Request : The Committee should discuss:




The proposed or alternative planting
locations
Event logistics, arrival times, and
responsibilities
Branding, signage, and merch options.

6.b. Bicycle Pedestrian Planning Project.
Staff, in conjunction with Planning staff from the
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
conducted the first of five scheduled Working
Group meeting for the Bicycle Pedestrian
Planning Study. The group discussed their experience with non-motorized transit within and around Rolling Meadows;
their views of the positives and negatives of the network; and, the scope and range of their involvement with the
project.

The Working Group members were instructed to relay their observations, experiences, and photographs to
staff on a continual basis so further inform the existing conditions report data.

Further engagement opportunities were discussed, including: at City events; engagement opportunities at
schools; inclusion of advocacy or care organizations regarding persons living with disability; outreach to
elderly cohorts; and further outreach and inclusion of the City’s Hispanic communities.

The working group may be expanded to ensure that more stakeholders are represented.

CMAP staff are also working to identify other stakeholder groups to be engaged in this process. This is to include
various technical, policy, and affected stakeholder groups. Notably, the RMEC will be asked to contribute to this
phase of the engagement. In preparation, staff suggest that members begin to document their own experiences and
observations of the City’s active transport network, and begin to consider interventions that not only align with the
environmental benefits of active transport but also incorporate other elements and goals of the Sustainability Plan.
This may include recommendations of areas that could include improved bioswale or drainage infrastructure;
improved shade canopy; green corridors; or other social and economic sustainability goals.
Request: No action required, however the Committee should discuss the scope of their involvement and potential

Ongoing: Event and Communications Schedule.

The Plan goals that are most relevant to the event participation are listed below. The Committee should
2026 Event Schedule
Event

Date

Notes

Prairie Burn

March __, 2026

Event Ideas/Notes

Human Services
Resource Fair,
aging in place

April 3 25, 2026

Earth Day
(Wednesday)
“Planet vs. Plastic ”
Arbor Day
Celebration, Willow
Bend
Arbor Day Cleanup
and Planting,
RMPD
Human Services
Family Services
Day
Sustainability
Saturdays

April 22, 2026

This event has been
rescheduled to April 25,
which will coincide with
Arbor Day events. If
member Trevor wishes, HS
Director Nieves would still
encourage Cook County
resources to be present at
this event.
W-4, C-5 :
Ideas: SWANCC, SWALCO –
Feed the Cart?

Block Party

Friday, June 5

Sustainability
Saturdays

June __, 2026

Sustainability
Saturdays: Bike
Party

September 26,
2026

P/MA Savage contacted Pete Jackson to
provide details and updates.
Item will be deleted for future calendar
updates

P/MA Savage is requesting marketing
material from SWALCO to coordinate a
Feed the Cart media release

April 24, 2026

L-7, W-4:
TBA

April 25, 2026

L-7, W-4:
Bur Oak Planting, pending G.
Strebler.

Meeting with Park District leadership and
Graham Strebler to coordinate Bur Oak
Planting, ~Feb

Saturday May 9

Promotion, participation,
stall/booth, seeds – Ask HS
for direction

Dr. Nieves requests an RMEC stand, seed
giveaway, native planting guides and
recommendations.

TBA

ED-4, SC-4 Ideas: Exploring
central Asian culture and
cuisine – Lagman House;
Native history/crafts (AIAI?)
Booth: Plant/seed sale,
fundraiser?
Ideas: Community garage
sale w/ RMEC plant and seed
sale (WR-4)

Paz (Lagman House) has shown interest
in hosting an event, meeting TBA.

Location ideas: Firehouse
uncertain.

Duck Race Sales
National Night Out

June _, 2026
Tuesday, August
4 2026
Duck Race Event
September 26,
2026
discuss event concepts that include activities related to the following:

ED-4

Updates

Rolling Meadows will promote local
goods and services.

C-5

The City Manager’s office has expressed
interest in hosting a vintage, handmade,
and farmers market event in late June,
pending the RMEC’s interest.
Other Options discussed: CC Forest
Preserve lecture; Native American History
event – to be discussed.
The new owner of the Firehouse has
extended an invitation to use the Facility,
but there may be ongoing construction.
The alternative location is likely City Hall
Parking lot.
Fred Vogt, Karen Gill to sell Duck Race
Tickets; seed giveaway table.
Fred Vogt: Saturday 4-5PM time, confirm
with Lori

Rolling Meadows will educate the public about
climate change.

L-7

Rolling Meadows will raise community
awareness of native and sustainable
landscaping.

E-4

Rolling Meadows will raise community awareness
of energy efficiency programs and clean energy
options.

M-6

Rolling Meadows will educate the public
on alternative transportation and fuels.

SC-2

Rolling Meadows will plan its programs and
policies to be a community welcoming of persons
of all ages.

W-4

Rolling Meadows will educate and
provide supports to residents regarding
water conservation and sustainable
stormwater management.

SC-4

Rolling Meadows will raise awareness of diverse
cultural traditions*.

WR4

Rolling Meadows will educate the public
about waste and recycling.

*SC-4 has a “No Action” status at this time, and
should be discussed as a priority for event
planning through 2026.