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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 06/08/2021APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2021 7:00 P.M., Prairie Room 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Aaron Poock (Chair), Priya Senthilkumar (Vice Chair), Jeanne DeSanctis, Debjyoti Dwivedy, Cindy Hoffman, Daniel Katzenberger, Emily Eddy-Theis, Jeff Nobleza CITY STAFF: Jennifer Hassebroek, Sustainability Coordinator, Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT MEMBERS: Ellianne Retzlaff, Amanda Schlampp Anisha Singhatwadia, Pranav Vadhul I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Poock called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Absent were Commissioners Dwivedy and Katzenberger. Commissioner Hoffman joined the meeting after the approval of the minutes. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: DeSanctis moved, seconded by Eddy- Theis to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 4-0 with one abstention (Nobleza). III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM APRIL 13 MEETING MOTION: DeSanctis moved, seconded by Eddy-Theis to approve the minutes of May 11, 2021 Sustainability Commission. 4-0 with one abstention (Nobleza). IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. CAP IMPLEMENTATION COMMUNITY OUTREACH DISCUSSION Hassebroek explained how to engage the community was a recurring theme regarding outreach and asked for brainstormed ideas to facilitate Sustainability Commission Minutes June 8, 2021 Page 2 more involvement from residents on the Climate Action Plan. She displayed a guide put together by Columbia University on how to communicate on climate change and climate action. One recommendation was to put oneself in the community’s shoes, with the diversity and variations involved. Objective facts were not necessarily the only influencing factors. Values, identity, and worldview were also very important in considering how to make policy meaningful for residents. There could be no “one size fits all.” Another takeaway was using existing social groups and networks; this contributed to the most successful engagements. This shifted the mentality from an individual to a group context and reminded people they were not alone in seeking solutions to this huge problem. Also, this allowed the use of de facto leaders of these groups as resources. The issue of climate change and its impacts can make people overwhelmed and perhaps feel apathetic or hopeless. How people respond to challenges—feeling helpless or charged to make change—also determines their response to climate change. Putting the solution first rather than listing the worrisome facts prevents listeners from tuning out and evokes a more positive response. The solution provided to one’s audience has to match the action this audience can actually take. The “behavioral wedge” showed how individual actions mattered. Tying this back to personal relevance was also effective. Another recommended strategy was to bring climate impacts close to home to help residents envision consequences that would otherwise seem to be far away or in the future. People had a finite amount of worry they could handle in their lives, and immediate issues could dislodge more distant-seeming ones. Seeing local consequences of climate change would help residents understand it was an issue for them, now. However, the guide also warned against scaring residents, who could then shut down in the face of “doom and gloom.” There was a fine line to walk. Also, the guide recommended against emphasizing when climate change events would occur but emphasizing the what. One framing device was to tie climate change impacts to public health. This was easier for people to understand than vague, complex effects. Images around climate impacts were either emotional (a polar bear struggling on the ice) or an image of someone doing something about it (agency). The emotional image would get people’s attention but not show a solution; the agency image showed a solution but might not get as much attention. This was a choice to weigh in the desired outcome of outreach: attention, or action? Sustainability Commission Minutes June 8, 2021 Page 3 Another recommendation was to “show people, not pie charts,” i.e., personal connections to the policy. Images and stories should also be realistic and emphasizing what Eden Prairie residents had achieved would be most impactful. Discussion followed on the limited resources and time versus engaging climate change skepticism in Eden Prairie. DeSanctis stated even such skeptics would change their behavior if they saw neighbors doing so. Hassebroek asked the commission members to think about goals, as this had an effective engagement record. Positive rather than negative social norms (such as the high residential energy use in Eden Prairie) would be highlighted. Fewer and small, impactful choices rather than more and more ambitious actions were also more effective. Social rewards were also a suggestion such as public acknowledgement. Hassebroek also presented another resource that contrasted low barriers and benefits to residents (such as hanging clothes out to dry) to high barriers and benefits (the solar garden). Discussion followed on realistic strategies and goals the commission could formulate. Ideas included: • Education: Seminar on electric vehicles with links to resources • Communication: Social media • Lists: Five things, etc. and/or a monthly topic • Rewards: the City mails a certificate after residents complete five tasks (such as an Energy Squad visit, etc.); treasure hunt; highlighting families • Speak to Heritage Preservation Commission regarding outreach ideas • Have a presence at People Fest • Self-reporting: Climate Action Map (“random acts of flowers,” etc.) • Send out alternate options (such as wind source) to email list generated by the solar garden event • “Green Step Family” reward (yard sign and/or gift certificate/letter), similar to the “Climate Champions” program with businesses in St. Louis Park and Adopt-a-Drain in Golden Valley Hassebroek also asked the commission members to think about specific audience groups to target for which messages. Sustainability Commission Minutes June 8, 2021 Page 4 2. HOURCAR EV CARSHARING PILOT FOR MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS UPDATE Hassebroek stated The Preserve Association in Eden Prairie, a large owner-occupied association, was considering submitting an application. The Association had been a past recipient of the Sustainable Eden Prairie Awards. 3. DROP OFF AND CURBSIDE RECYCLING EVENTS RECAP Hassebroek stated the three spring programs were complete and were successful. The drop-off on April 17 was for appliances and electronics and generated good numbers. The second was a whole month of curbside pickups—electronics, furniture and appliances. May 15 was the furniture- only drop off site which garnered a good response. There was the potential for a grant from Hennepin County to cover the costs for 2022. 4. ELECTRIC POLICE VEHICLE UPDATE Hassebroek led a tour of the new police vehicle. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR Poock stated the Freecycle Facebook group offered items for reuse. Residents could post items they wish to throw away and the group would pick it up. C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION 1. WATER UPDATE 2. WASTE UPDATE ORGANICS RECYCLING Eddy-Theis announced a webinar was being put together by her, Poock, and Senthilkumar. They had reached out to the Master Recycler contact and had not yet heard back. They were also exploring alternative resources. They were also planning to attend a meeting of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby to present. Hassebroek added she had information on organics recycling the commission could possibly use. 3. LANDSCAPE/POLLINATOR UPDATE Sustainability Commission Minutes June 8, 2021 Page 5 4. ENERGY UPDATE Hoffmann mentioned the upcoming City Green Teams meeting and Hassebroek clarified this seemed more geared for cities that did not yet have a Sustainability Commission. Hoffmann stated the Statewide Environment Commission was starting up meeting again, perhaps next spring. D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS V. OTHER BUSINESS VI. UPCOMING EVENTS • Community Drop Off Day – Hennepin Technical College: June 19, 2021 - 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM • Community Solar Garden Subscription Educational Event – Zoom: June 21, 2021 – 6:30 to 7:30 PM • Board and Commission Banquet – City Center Garden Room: July 15, 2021 • Student Members would begin attending in September and there would be a joint meeting with the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, July 13, 2021, in the Heritage Room. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Nobleza moved, seconded by Hoffman to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m.