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HomeMy WebLinkAboutConservation Commission - 11/13/2018 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2018 7:00 PM—CITY CENTER Prairie Room, 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Lori Tritz (Chair), Cindy Hoffman, Anna Anderson, Michael Bennett, Daniel Katzenberger, Kate Lohnes, Ashley Young CITY STAFF: Senior Planner Beth Novak-Krebs, Planning Division, Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT MEMBERS: Troy Johnson, Rhea Sharma, Govind Makaram I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Tritz called the meeting to order at 7:55 p.m. Absent was commission members Lohnes. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Katzenberger moved, seconded by Bennett to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Anderson moved, seconded by Bennett to approve the minutes. Motion carried 5-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. DISCUSS 2018 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2019 WORK PLAN Novak-Krebs displayed a PowerPoint and explained the 2018 accomplishments and very rough ideas for the 2019 work plan that will be presented early next year to the Council. She met with Carol Lundgren, Sustainability Specialist for Eden Prairie, on other ideas for the commission to engage residents such as pop-up booths at Hockey Tournaments or at the splash pad, a kids' event at the Environmental Learning Center(at the water treatment plant), a plant swap event, a bike Conservation Commission Minutes November 13, 2018 Page 2 trip around Eden Prairie to site with sustainable features, partnering with the Minnesota Tool Library, etc. Hoffman stated the Energy Center had a grant for which the commission could apply. She suggested brainstorming ideas for this. Anderson stated energy was a big topic and asked if this focus area would drive the conversation with the City in 2019. Novak- Krebs replied the Energy Action Team would meet again on priorities for 2019. Anderson stated she saw the commission in a supportive role for the City and its programs and goal. Novak-Krebs replied that was why she involved Lundgren. Katzenberger stated buckthorn and garlic mustard removal are important topics. Tritz urged ideas on how to educate the public on invasive plant removal and partnering with the Watershed Districts and the Wild Ones. Novak-Krebs stated the residents might want to have a clean-up event more than once a year. Tritz suggested having themed months. Makaram mentioned his Boy Scout troupe would enter parks to remove buckthorn, and suggested partnering with Boy and Girl Scouts with a service component. Hoffman suggested an"adopt a park" idea in which a park was cleaned up perhaps three times a year. Tritz noted this year's theme was energy, and urged the commission to decide on a theme for 2019. She did not see a commission of seven people signing up for 20 events, but the commission should reconsider its commitments and stretch its influence, perhaps by involving high schoolers, etc. Katzenberger suggested forming sub-committees. Tritz replied the commission was a year away from realizing this idea, but liked the idea. It would take more organization and commitment, requiring a deeper conversation. Anderson urged the commission to tie into the City's rebate programs. She suggested getting a list of all these programs and finding ways to promote those which could be tied to the four focus areas. Hoffman stated she found the rebate website intimidating; perhaps it could be revamped. The rebate information (including a simple form) could be handed out at events to communicate it effectively,perhaps via a QR code or a postcard. Bennett suggested focusing on specific areas and rebates at events. Hoffman asked what doing all this entailed. Novak-Krebs replied the first point of contact would be Lundgren, then the Communications Department. Anderson stated she wanted to convey other messages than rebates,but promoting them could show measurable, tangible results. The challenge was to weave these ideas together in a practical whole. She suggested doing some small group work outside the commission's meetings. Novak-Krebs suggested emailing the list of rebates to the commission members once Lundgren pulled it together. Conservation Commission Minutes November 13, 2018 Page 3 The educational piece for 2019 included the Sustainable Eden Prairie classes and potentially the rebate information. Hoffman asked what had come of the irrigation meeting. Novak-Krebs replied Lundgren had attended, and Tritz replied the commission was interested in hearing from her. Novak-Krebs stated Lundgren could provide a summary of the meeting and her thoughts. Anderson suggested applying for grants. Novak-Krebs replied the Heritage Preservation Commission regularly applied for grants, and this commission could as well. Finding them and choosing one or more would be the next step. Hoffman urged it was important to know if the City would be on board with a grant application. Anderson and Katzenberger volunteered to be grant writers. Katzenberger and Tritz asked for projects or goals that could be ideas for a grant. Anderson emphasized the commission and the City share goals and priorities and hold deeper discussions to solidify trust. For example, the Energy Action Plan and rebates were areas in which to do this. Discussion followed on this possibility. Hoffman suggested finding other ways to communicate than social media. Makaram replied the most effective way to engage residents was a door- to-door campaign. Katzenberger replied the City of Edina set up staff at the trails in the parks to elicit feedback from the residents regarding the trails. Anderson replied if the commission defined a clear message, the Communication team would find ways to place it. Novak-Krebs agreed. Novak-Krebs announced in 2019, Stovring was working on the Shoreland Code Update. Discussion followed on the commission's role in this. The commission had also considered partnering with the Housing Division to visit multi-family buildings. Bennett stated he attended the City Council workshop on the waste plan, and it was a large issue for multi-family structures, since the state was going to mandate organics recycling. This was a huge issue requiring a large educational thrust from the City. Novak-Krebs summarized the 2018 learning opportunities and suggested touring Fire Station#2 or viewing the Arboretum's storm water and beekeeping practices, and/or a tour of Eden Gardens. Anderson offered to email the list the commission came up with in October. Tritz suggested the Nine Mile Watershed District. Novak-Krebs summarized the many partnerships the commission made in 2018, and suggested the Housing and Community Services, Minnesota Tool Library, the PROP Shop, and the Minnesota Native Plant Society as new partnerships. Hoffman stated she was a member of the Minnesota Native Plant Society and it was largely an educational organization. Tritz Conservation Commission Minutes November 13, 2018 Page 4 again suggested partnering with The Wild Ones, and Novak-Krebs agreed. Novak-Krebs offered to send out the PowerPoint presentation. Tritz asked the commission members to think about whether or not it should focus on one or multiple areas in 2019, and whether or not to work together or in subcommittees. Multiple projects would require more work outside and coming to commission meetings with implementations and strategies, and utilizing the student members and Eden Prairie youth more. Once the commission members define a goal or goals, the rest would follow. Bennett replied the new mayor would need time to get his philosophy in place and to gel with the City Council, so he did not expect guidance from them right away. He wanted the commission to focus on one goal in 2019. Discussion followed on ways to narrow the commission's focus before January; water emerged as a front-runner. Ideas included a pop-up booth at boat-washing stations and an incentive for youth to catch invasive carp. Tritz urged coming to the January meeting ready to strategize and to continue coming up with ideas before December through Novak-Krebs. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION 1. WATER GROUP UPDATE 2. WASTE GROUP UPDATE 3. LANDSCAPE/POLLINATOR GROUP UPDATE 4. ENERGY GROUP UPDATE D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS V. OTHER BUSINESS Bennett urged a push for greater publicity regarding upcoming open seats on the commission. Discussion followed on publicizing the upcoming openings. VI. UPCOMING EVENTS Discussion followed on questions to bring up at the joint meeting with the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department in December. VII. NEXT MEETING Conservation Commission Minutes November 13, 2018 Page 5 The next Conservation Commission meeting will be held Monday, December 3, 2018, 7:00 p.m. in the Heritage Rooms (lower level) with the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Bennett moved, seconded by Anderson to adjourn. MOTION CARRIED 5- 0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:11 p.m.