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HomeMy WebLinkAboutConservation Commission - 12/10/2019APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 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 Lohnes called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Absent were Anderson, Dwivedy and Poock and student member Kim, Orning and Timmerman. Eden Prairie resident Menaka Nagarajan joined the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: McGuire moved, seconded by Katzenberger to approve the amended agenda to move the discussion with Menaka to the first item under Reports from Staff because she had to leave after the discussion. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM JULY 9 MEETING MOTION: Katzenberger moved, seconded by McGuire to approve the minutes of November 12, 2019 Conservation Commission meeting. Motion carried 6-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. AEON FOR OCEAN MOVIE Menaka Nagarajan, Executive Director of Aeon for Ocean, presented the idea of showing the film “Chasing Corals.” The cost of renting a space to Conservation Commission Minutes December 10, 2019 Page 2 show the movie was an issue, as her organization was a nonprofit, and also timing. The advantage of holding a screening in winter was people wanted indoor events. Spring was also an option. Another question was how to market the screening: newsletter, social media were possibilities, thought the commission should remain mindful about the environmental impact (not printing flyers). She asked the commission to help promote this. Another choice to make was to offer the screening free or charge a minimum $2.00 fee. Free admission was a disadvantage, as people might plan to go but not RSVP or show up, whereas a minimal fee might incentivize the public to attend. McGuire wondered if this could be considered a fundraising event if a fee was charged and Nagarajan replied it would not since there would be no profit. Novak-Krebs offered to confirm this with the City Manager. McGuire asked when the oceanographer would be available and Nagarajan offered to work with her. Another option was to supply a VR booth with headsets either before or after the film. The VR booth offered a ten-minute film showing the scientists exploring the ocean in a realistic experience. This was in conjunction with the Stanford Research Lab and accommodated around 15 people. Discussion followed on a possible venue. Novak-Krebs offered to pursue venues and availability, though the Cambrian Room at the Community Center emerged as a top candidate. Nagarajan stated she expected about 40-50 people. Senthilkumar noted if it was screened at the Community Center there were food options outside the Cambrian Room which resolved the issue of a food license, popcorn, waste, et cetera. There will be time before the movie to talk about the Conservation Commission and Aeon for Ocean. Discussion followed on having the screening on a week night versus the weekend. Hoffman stated Saturdays were difficult; Sunday afternoons were better, and many commission members agreed. Lohnes suggested early Friday evening, perhaps 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. or Sunday afternoon. DeSanctis asked what age was appropriate to attend and Nagarajan replied the film had a G rating; Kindergarten and above was appropriate. It was 90 minutes. Hoffman suggested having a two hour program. Senthilkumar suggested asking people to RSVP for a count and to encourage actual turnout. Discussion followed facilitating sign-ups and on an actual date. Hoffman suggested Sign-Up Genius or Event Bright. Lohnes noted in spring people come out of “hibernation” and this was a good time for an event. Hoffman urged avoiding spring break. Lohnes and Senthilkumar suggested the end of March, 2020. Nagarajan noted Earth Day was in April. . Katzenberger noted the Expo was March 21, 2020 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Conservation Commission Minutes December 10, 2019 Page 3 2. 2019 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2020 WORK PLAN Novak-Krebs presented the latest version including the additions sent by Aaron Poock. The park cleanup was added to the 2019 accomplishments and to the goals for the second quarter. McGuire suggested adding the Hennepin County Master Recycler class as a goal to set an example to the public and especially the private sector. Discussion followed on this. DeSanctis stated this came down to visibility and suggested instead the commission be more proactive with articles in the paper to inform the community. Novak-Krebs replied the commission could strive for a more visible presence in the City’s newsletter and its social media. McGuire suggested sending out a press release before going on a tour. Lohnes asked if the goal was more visibility for the commission or to inspire people to action. McGuire replied it was both. Discussion followed best practices for communicating focus and action that the public could take now. Lohnes suggested the Climate Action Plan would be a resource and Novak-Krebs replied there were implementation strategies in that and in the Solid Waste Management Plan as well; these two documents could help the commission focus on messages and incentivize residents. Hoffman noted the commission seemed to offer more publicity for next year: a film, a display at the Mall, et cetera. She added many residents didn’t seem to know there was a commission at all. She agreed with having a focus but the commission already had one for events. Lohnes noted the more specific the request, the more likely residents would follow through. Discussion followed on prescription disposal and collection as a focus and a desired change. Hoffman noted Eden Prairie had limitations on native plantings residents are allowed to plant in their yards and suggested the commission look at and make a recommended changes of City Code. Novak-Krebs offered to invite Leslie Stovring to an upcoming meeting. . Discussion followed on looking at the ordinances. Katzenberg suggested the commission start telling residents what they already were allowed to do: solar power installation, keeping bees and chickens, et cetera. Novak- Krebs reminded the commission members the work plan was not a static document and could always be amended. Lohnes suggested the Commission decide on one action related to energy in quarter one, one action related to pollinators in quarter two, et cetera. Novak-Krebs listed the events for each quarter which were opportunities for this. Hoffman suggested getting dates for newsletter deadlines for articles, and Novak-Krebs offered to get these deadlines from Conservation Commission Minutes December 10, 2019 Page 4 Communications. Katzenberger offering printed out handouts available in the public, especially about the seed exchange, pamphlets on energy, freecycle events, et cetera. Senthilkumar suggested having a monthly column for the commission: “Green Corner” or “Did You Know?” Novak- Krebs offered to talk to the Communication Department regarding this. [Senthilkumar left at 8:00 p.m.] Katzenberger suggested having arts-and-crafts events for children, such as constructing bat houses. Discussion followed on opportunities to host something like this. Novak-Krebs stated she and Anna Anderson would be presenting the 2019 Accomplishments and the 2020 Work Plan on January 21, 2020 at the City Council Workshop. Dinner would be at 5:00 p.m. with the presentations to follow. 3. SCHOONER DAYS PARADE Novak-Krebs announced there would be a parade in early May, whereas there would be no parade for the Fourth of July. The City Manager would give the commission a contact person for parade planning, and commission members could plan on having a float and/or to march in the parade. Discussion followed on parade ideas. Novak-Krebs offered to follow up with more information. 4. DISPLAY AT EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER DeSanctis stated she had a meeting scheduled with Nancy Litwin and Sarah Lubitsch on January 14, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. to discuss using a kiosk for three months. Mall staff strongly recommended the commission hire the Mall’s designer at $200.00 but this was not a requirement. The commission members had to decide upon a message and dates, with the understanding that any paying customer would displace the commission’s presence. If no customers rented, the commission’s display could conceivably be up more than three months. DeSanctis passed around a photograph of the kiosk on her phone. Novak-Krebs stated the commission already had pollinator, water and energy three-panel displays. Discussion followed on possibly using these. Hoffman asked if the commission would be able change messages out, and DeSanctis replied she would ask Litwin. Katzenberger suggested including a calendar of events with URLs, and perhaps a suggestion box. DeSanctis offered to get the dimensions of the kiosk and return with answers to the commission members’ questions. Conservation Commission Minutes December 10, 2019 Page 5 5. HOME AND GARDEN EXPO AND ARBOR DAY EVENT Novak-Krebs encouraged the commission members to start thinking about these events. She suggested Leslie Stovring, who helped plan the events, could attend the February meeting. The date of the Arbor Day Event would be April 24, 2020. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION 1. WATER UPDATE 2. WASTE UPDATE 3. LANDSCAPE/POLLINATOR UPDATE 4. ENERGY UPDATE Katzenberger stated the next Hennepin County Environments Network meeting would be on Wednesday, January 22, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. There would be four tables and three people from each commission were invited. Lohnes encouraged commission members to attend, saying it was amazing to hear what other cities are doing. D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS V. OTHER BUSINESS VI. UPCOMING EVENTS VII. NEXT MEETING The next Conservation Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, January 14, 2020, 7:00 p.m. in Heritage Rooms 1 & 2. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: DeSanctis moved, seconded by Hoffman to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m.