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HomeMy WebLinkAboutConservation Commission - 05/21/2019 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2019 6:00 PM—Water Treatment Plant 14100 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie 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 I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Lohnes called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Absent were commission members Dwivedy and Anderson. Carol Lundgren, Sustainability Specialist, and Nicole Mosteller, Sustainability Intern, joined the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: McGuire moved, seconded by Hoffman to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0. III. TOUR OF WATER TREATMENT PLANT The tour of the plant was a little over an hour. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM APRIL 9 MEETING MOTION: DeSanctis moved, seconded by Hoffman to approve the minutes of April 9 2019 Conservation Commission meeting with the substitution of"collect" for"college." Motion carried 6-0 with one abstention (Katzenberger). IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. INTRODUCTIONS AND SWEAR IN OF NEW MEMBERS Novak-Krebs swore in the new commission member Senthilkkumar. Conservation Commission Minutes May 21, 2019 Page 2 2. DISCUSS RESEARCH FOR COUNCIL Novak-Krebs reminded the commission about researching and choosing 10 ideas with regard to sustainability to present to the City Council in September or October, 2019. Novak-Krebs also offered to put this discussion item on the agenda for the next meeting so commission member Anderson could also contribute. Discussion followed on the depth of research required and on possible project ideas. Lohnes asked to have a better idea of what the mayor and City Council had in mind, and Lundgren replied the suggestion was deliberately open-ended and projects were up to the commission members' discretion. Novak-Krebs added once research is conducted some ideas would rise to the top. Lohnes suggested focusing on climate change actions. Lohnes asked if the commission wished to focus on a specific focus area, and Hoffman replied she would prefer to keep options open. McGuire added the result could emphasize a specific focus area if that ended up making sense to commission members. Lundgren stated she expected the City Council would offer additional guidance before the next meeting,but for the commission members to conduct their own research. Katzenberger requested a poster board and stickers for brainstorming at the next meeting. Novak-Krebs stated this item would be on the agenda at every meeting until September. Poock asked for and received clarification these projects could include ones currently underway. 3. DISCUSS FOURTH OF JULY EVENT Lundgren announced the City received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce for sustainability at the State Fair. She needs volunteers to present on three clean energy projects at the Eco Building. No date had been set as yet. She asked interested commission members to submit to her by Friday three dates that would be good possibilities and three that would not work. The City was hiring a videographer and planned to have a video edited and submitted by June 30. The State Fair would be held August 22 to September 2, 2019, 9:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. Suggestions for the presentation were the Home Energy Squad buy- downs (20 spots were left), the hybrid trucks,becoming electric-ready at the Fleet Department and the ice rink which put in special insulating ceiling to use energy from pumps to melt the ice. Discussion followed on possible days to volunteer. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR As Vice Chair, Lohnes stated she, Hoffman, and Katzenberger attended the Metro Commission meeting. Katzenberger stated there were more cities represented, especially those without conservation commissions and plans. He received many questions regarding how the Eden Prairie Conservation Commission was started. Novak-Krebs replied it was driven Conservation Commission Minutes May 21, 2019 Page 3 by the City Council and especially Mayor Tyra Lukens. Katzenberger stated Edina has a strong program with subcommittees within the commission and citizen volunteers. He suggested having competitions with other cities for sign-ups such as for water conservation and Home Energy Squad sign-ups. Katzenberger added some student members suggested having voting rights on conservation commissions, and urged building relationships to continually recruit and member new student members. More experienced students could mentor newer members. The event featured a panel of solely student members Lohnes announced Alliance for Sustainability was having a Resiliency for Cities workshop June 20, 2019 which would attract a mix of city representatives and commissions. Attendance was free. Novak-Krebs offered to forward the email. C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION 1. WATER UPDATE Poock thanked the volunteers at the water table for the Arbor Day event. The winner of the drawing could be publicized on the website with that resident's permission. 2. WASTE UPDATE 3. LANDSCAPE/POLLINATOR UPDATE 4. ENERGY UPDATE Katzenberger announced the training program started by former Chair Tritz was held in 2019 in Minnetonka and had a good turnout: 10 people signed up, fewer attended the two-hour presentation. Katzenberger requested an informal opt-in phone list for emergencies. Novak-Krebs offered to help put this together. D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS V. OTHER BUSINESS VI. UPCOMING EVENTS Katzenberger announced the Climate Reality Training program, Al Gore's program, was coming in August. It would be free and spanned three days of training. More information could be found by Googling climatereality.org and it would probably be held at the Convention Center. There would be an application process on a first come, first serve basis. Conservation Commission Minutes May 21, 2019 Page 4 VII. NEXT MEETING The next Conservation Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, June 11, 2019, 7:00 p.m. in Prairie Rooms A & B. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Katzenberger moved, seconded by Poock to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m.