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HomeMy WebLinkAboutConservation Commission - 11/12/2019APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2019 7: 45 PM, Heritage Rooms 1 & 2 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Anna Anderson (Chair), Jeanne DeSanctis, Aaron Poock, JoAnn McGuire, Debjyoti Dwivedy, Cindy Hoffman, Kate Lohnes, Daniel Katzenberger, Priya Senthilkkumar CITY STAFF: Senior Planner Beth Novak-Krebs, Planning Division, Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT MEMBERS: Abhiram Nallamalli, Kiersten Orning, Mina Kim, Nile Timmerman, Rohin Gurumurthy I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Absent were Lohnes and Dwivedy and student member Timmerman. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Katzenberger moved, seconded by McGuire to approve the agenda. Motion carried 9-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM JULY 9 MEETING MOTION: DeSanctis moved, seconded by Poock to approve the minutes of October 8, 2019 Conservation Commission meeting. Motion carried 9-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. 2020 WORK PLAN Novak-Krebs announced she would transition to the staff liaison for the HPC and Carol Lundgren would become the new staff liaison for the Conservation Commission. The timing of the switch is unknown. Conservation Commission Minutes November 12, 2019 Page 2 Anderson stated she had provided comments on the 2020 Work Plan and asked for comments from the commission members. Novak-Krebs went through the 2019 accomplishments. The Climate Action Plan would be approved soon after the New Year, and this was placed in the first quarter. The second and third quarters covered implementation. The 2020 Work Plan would include another joint meeting with Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department. Anderson stated she provided Lundgren with a spreadsheet of achievements as well. Novak-Krebs stated the commission has made some real partnership inroads. Novak-Krebs went through the 2020 Goals and Work Plan. The commission had December and January to discuss it, after which it would be presented to the City Council. The commission members needed to continue to assist with the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Plan and to look for opportunities to apply for grants. Discussion followed on the composting facility off Flying Cloud and ways to promote it. DeSanctis suggested having a display at Eden Prairie Center to promote a variety of City programs/initiatives and Anderson concurred. DeSanctis replied she had had a conversation with Nancy Litwin and no windows/storefronts were available; however, a kiosk could be used. She agreed to bring more information (regarding rental fee, et cetera) before the commission. Nothing could be done until after New Year’s. The commission did not have a budget so she would explore possibilities. Anderson agreed to add this to the first quarter goals. Novak-Krebs stated she had added the Fourth of July event and Anderson suggested commission members be a liaison for planning this in the first quarter. Anderson suggested moving the Sustainability Awards planning to the first quarter. Katzenberger offered to gather more information about the Hennepin County seed exchange. Novak-Krebs noted that some commission members had not attended the Watershed tour and suggested having it again. McGuire stated Aeon for Ocean was still interested in a presentation but she had not heard back. Novak-Krebs stated she would amend the draft with the latest changes and suggestions and send it out again for review and comments. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION 1. WATER UPDATE 2. WASTE UPDATE 3. LANDSCAPE/POLLINATOR UPDATE Conservation Commission Minutes November 12, 2019 Page 3 4. ENERGY UPDATE Katzenberger stated a sustainability consultant from Nottingham England was touring the U.S. and he met with her and Hennepin County Environments Network Tim Sandry and the Bloomington Conservation Commission. The outcome was a suggestion for a contest for the most home energy squad visits. The next Hennepin County Environments Network meeting would be on January 22. He would be meeting with a smaller group next Tuesday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss how to structure this competition. Katzenberger offered to forward the information to Novak-Krebs. Katzenberger also stated that he had attended the Renewable Energy Buyer’s Alliance in California and found out about Target’s renewable energy program, in partnership with EV American and Tesla. Target wanted to have solar chargers at its Eden Prairie store but it leased the space. EV and Tesla were willing to collaborate on this. He asked if the Conservation Commission could coordinate such a project in Eden Prairie and reach out to other major retailers in town. Anderson suggested crafting and presenting a proposal to the City Council. Hoffman asked for next steps, and Katzenberger replied he saw the commission’s role as facilitating the connections to make this happen. Anderson suggested Katzenberger complete his due diligence and give the results to Novak- Krebs as a proposal. City staff could then vet the project. Katzenberger agreed to write up the proposal and asked DeSanctis to be a part of the conversation. DeSanctis agree to meet with Litwin in January to mention this as well. Katzenberger urged promoting rooftop solar for businesses and apartments in Eden Prairie. He asked the commission members to think of new ideas for this. Hoffman suggested making the permit process easier. Novak- Krebs replied rooftop solar on home required only a building permit. The zoning code was recently amended to categorize solar as an accessory structure and streamline the approval process. This was part of the Sol- Smart designation application. Hoffman suggested solar energy should be tied to smart irrigation and other proposals. Discussion followed on ideas to promote rooftop solar programs through community engagement, rebates, property assessment, and other avenues. D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS Orning stated she was working with the teachers and her organization at Eden Prairie High School to have Katzenberger as a guest presenter. She added she had attended Dean Phillips’s presentation on solar energy, Conservation Commission Minutes November 12, 2019 Page 4 which outlined various restrictions to solar, but these did not seem to be found here at Eden Prairie. V. OTHER BUSINESS VI. UPCOMING EVENTS VII. NEXT MEETING The next Conservation Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, December 10, 2019, 7:00 p.m. in Heritage Rooms 1 & 2. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Katzenberger moved, seconded by DeSanctis to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 8-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:42 p.m.