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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 09/14/2022APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 7:00 P.M., Prairie Room 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Aaron Poock (Chair), Emily Eddy-Theis (Vice Chair), Laura Bishop, Tim Conners, Gretchen Enninga, Cindy Hoffman, Daniel Katzenberger, Carolyn Wieland STUDENT MEMBERS: Tanvi Bhujle, Mia Cain, Palak Dhiman, Maura Fitzgerald, Tyler Little, Taylor Oliver, Suchita Sah CITY STAFF: Jennifer Hassebroek, Sustainability Coordinator, Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Poock called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Absent were Commissioners Enninga, Bishop, and Katzenberger. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS MOTION: Eddy Theis moved, seconded by Wieland to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MARCH 8, 2022 MEETING MOTION: Conners moved, seconded by Wieland to approve the minutes of August 10, 2022 Sustainability Commission. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. INTRODUCTION OF 2022/2023 STUDENTS MEMBERS Hassebroek welcomed the new student members and asked them to introduce themselves. The student representatives and commission members introduced themselves. Sustainability Commission Minutes September 14, 2022 Page 2 [Hoffman arrived at 7:06 p.m.] 2. SUSTAINABLE EDEN PRAIRIE AWARDS SELECTIONS Hassebroek displayed a slide of the nominees and explained the awards process for the new student representatives. A detailed description of the nominations was contained in the packet. Hassebroek summarized each project. The commission members discussed the nominations and voted for at least one nominee in each category: Hassebroek announced the Sustainable Eden Prairie award winners: John and Dawn Fedora, William (Bill) Weiher, Rod Fisher, Marcia Kolb and Johnny Severson. 3. BULK ITEM RECYCLING EVENT RECAP - 2022 Hassebroek summarized the program for the students and announced the participation numbers: 38 percent of participating residents attended the fall drop off 42 percent of participating residents attended the spring drop off 20 percent of participating residents used the curbside pickup option 564 households in total participated in a recycling event over the course of the year. There were fees associated with the service, but the City covered the first ten dollars. The three options were planned to also be offered again next year. Hoffman suggested moving the August drop-off into September for even greater participation. Hassebroek replied that was a possibility. Wieland asked if multi-family housing had been considered. Hassebroek replied this was a good question; she stated she did not see an impediment to one resident signing up multiple households as long as the volume was planned for. $11,500.00 in organics recycling rebates was paid out in 2022, totaling 270+ households. The rebate would be offered annually. 4. EV RIDE AND DRIVE EVENT PLANNING Sustainability Commission Minutes September 14, 2022 Page 3 Hassebroek announced the Ride and Drive Event was coming up. At least 16 display vehicles were expected, along with e-bike displays and an Xcel Energy information booth. The Pizza Karma food truck would be there, and the Great Plains Institute would give an EV 101 presentation. However, there would not be the latest test-drive vehicles there. A 2017 Volt was available. The City was considering the possibility of allowing the public to drive the City’s vehicles. Poock suggested there could be many passengers for each driver. 5. RECYCLING AND ORGANICS EDUCATION EVENT PLANNING Hassebroek announced the Citywide Open House would be held on Saturday, October 8, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. She described the list of gift items: LED lightbulb kits Sustainable Eden Prairie reusable bags Smart thermostat and irrigation controller drawing Countertop compost bins for organics recycling game giveaway She asked for volunteers for shifts to staff game booth and invited the student representatives to attend. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR Poock described for the students the reports from the commission, the Sustainable Eden Prairie Awards, and the reports form the chair. He thanked the students for their participation. C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION 1. WATER UPDATE 2. WASTE UPDATE ORGANICS RECYCLING 3. LANDSCAPE/POLLINATOR UPDATE Eddy-Theis stated she attended a “bee lawn” seminar at Tonkadale Nursery in Minnetonka, which gave information on alternative to lawns. She offered to send out the information on individual grants, and also the program “Lawns to Legumes.” Hassebroek added the program was competitive so not all applicants received funding. Also, funding was not retroactive; the applicant could only apply for current and future plantings. Sustainability Commission Minutes September 14, 2022 Page 4 Conners stated on September 24 a group would be gathering to eradicate buckthorn at Edenvale Park. He offered to send Hassebroek the information. Wieland stated there were scholarships for the National Reuse Conference] on October 4 at the University of St. Thomas. The topics ranged from “Take a look at equity” to technology and small business reuse practices. Wieland also announced she had participated in the Hennepin County Zero Waste Planning Group. A reduction in 90 percent would be considered zero waste. There were seven action groups looking at various issues. A presentation would be given to the Hennepin County Board in November. She encouraged other commission members and students to get involved with this. 4. ENERGY UPDATE D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS V. OTHER BUSINESS Hoffman also thanked the students for participating and lauded Eden Prairie as a competitive city and one of the top leaders in the Metropolitan Area in the area of sustainability. She added the students should be proud of Eden Prairie’s efforts. Conners announced an Energy Innovation Town Hall would be given October 15 in Eden Prairie VI. UPCOMING EVENTS EV Ride and Drive: Monday, September 19th, 2022, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – Staring Lake Park Citywide Open House: Saturday, October 8, 2022, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at City Center VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, October 11, 2022, in the Heritage Rooms 1&2. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Sustainability Commission Minutes September 14, 2022 Page 5 MOTION: Wieland moved, seconded by Eddy-Theis to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 p.m.