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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 11/14/2023APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2023 7:00 P.M., Heritage Rooms 1&2 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Aaron Poock (Chair), Laura Bishop, Tim Conners, Gretchen Enninga, Cindy Hoffman, Moussa Ousmane, Carolyn Wieland, Michelle Frost, Jim Nehl STUDENT MEMBERS: Rylee Brazil, Sophie Cain, Lucy Dowdal-Osborn, Alyssa Ehler, Lalitha Gunturi, Roshan Gurumurthy, Isaac Hepper, Sabreen Khanikar, Pranav Narayanan, Kate Ropchak, Lilli Timpe, Keerti Tumu CITY STAFF: Jennifer Fierce, Sustainability Coordinator, Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Poock called the meeting to order at 7:43 p.m. Absent were commission members Enninga, Conners, and Bishop and student representative Gunturi. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS MOTION: Wieland moved, seconded by Nehl to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MARCH 8, 2022 MEETING MOTION: Nehl moved, seconded by Wieland to approve the minutes from the October 10, 2023 meeting. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. 2024 WORK PLAN Fierce displayed a PowerPoint and reminded the commission members of their existing work plan, which could be added to as the members had suggestions. Sustainability Commission Minutes November 14, 2023 Page 2 Existing programs to be continued included: • Climate Action Plan Implementation • Electrify Everything MN campaign • EV Showcase • GreenStep Cities • Green Power Purchase Campaign Existing advocacy initiatives were: • To support legislative efforts for climate-related legislation. • To comment on relevant utility planning process. • To give feedback on relevant city policies that impact Climate Action Plan implementation. New suggested programs were: • EV Smart City Certification • Commercial Energy Squad Fierce asked for feedback on these ideas or suggestions for others. Frost suggested creating a Climate Fund from franchise fees, which gave rebates to citizens who purchase energy-efficiency or electrification equipment for their home. Fierce replied that Eden Prairie currently has a franchise fee, but it is used to pay for road reconstruction projects in lieu of individual assessments on surrounding property owners and is only used for this purpose. Nehl suggested discouraging the use of single-use bags, as Edina had just done, through a fee on plastic bags. Hoffman suggested touring to see what Sun Opta had done to create a sustainable workplace and sharing this information with the community. The commission could put together a commercial showcase, like what was being done now with EVs. Poock stated this could be a “parade of businesses” like the “Parade of Homes.” Brazil suggested supporting private companies such as Lotus which reduced greenhouse gases, which could create a technical outlet for sharing analytical data for reducing greenhouse gases and emissions. Fierce continued the Work Plan overview. Existing Waste and Recycling programs: • Drop off and curbside bulk recycling events • Community education, such as a possible Fix-it clinic return, and the potential for Hennepin County Hazardous Waste Drop off in Eden Prairie. The commission would handle the logistics only. Sustainability Commission Minutes November 14, 2023 Page 3 • Minnesota Compost Council—Plate to Garden at the Arbor Day event • Garden Tool Swap Wieland suggested a recycling/composting 101 training. Fierce replied these could be considered but they were quite hit-and-miss with estimating attendance and commitment. Frost suggested a recycling guide regarding what to do with textiles; the community could have an informational aid and/or a drop off site. Narayanan asked if there was an opportunity for recycling electronics, and Fierce replied current drop off events took them. Existing Water quality programs: • Support water conservation and quality rebate programs. Nehl stated Eden Prairie had replaced most residential meters with smart meters, which have a free app to detect leaks and monitor usage. 16 percent of the population had downloaded the app, and the commission could help to promote this tool. Existing education and community events: • Resident learning opportunities—Fierce asked for topics. Wieland suggested a simple fix-it forum with four different experts presenting on four different common quick fixes. Nehl suggested classes for planting pollinator gardens. Fierce replied Eden Prairie had contracted out with Metro Blooms in which residents could talk to a Master Gardener, and these were almost full to her recollection they were a bit more expensive than anticipated. Discussion followed on promoting pollinators. Hoffman suggested partnering with the Wild Ones. Other existing education and community events: • Promote utility programs • Participate in metro-wide learning opportunities • Participate in Arbor Day, Spring Clean Up and other relevant city events • Sustainable Eden Prairie Awards • Participate in Chamber and Rotary events • Continue to focus on organics recycling • Continue refining information on website and social media for various campaigns Sustainability Commission Minutes November 14, 2023 Page 4 Fierce will review for feasibility and incorporate the feedback into draft of the Work Plan. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR Poock thanked the student representatives for attending and presenting the Sustainability Awards. He also commended the commission members for their participation. C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION • Student Commissioner Project Introduction Fierce stated each commissioner group would present a summary of their proposed student project, and each student representative could join one of the groups or propose their own project. Wieland presented her and Hoffman’s swap event hosting project. Hoffman gave examples of items that were eligible for the swap. Student representatives would come up with items to swap and help with a venue, partners, and logistics for the swap events. Frost presented their high school lunchroom waste reduction project, which could include food sources, packaging, reducing plastic waste, et cetera. Poock added this could be expanded to overall waste reduction. Water waste was also an issue at the school as they were automatic. The result might not be a solution, but getting the school involved and working toward change. Nehl summarized Conners’ and Ousmane’s solar display project. This could include meaningful information on solar, to promote the use of solar. This would involve vetting information and interpreting the data in a meaningful way and working with the Eden Prairie Community Center. Poock added the final piece of the rooftop solar array would be mounted in March of 2024. Fierce stated she would send out a sign-up sheet. She encouraged the student representatives to suggest their own projects as well. They should meet with their relevant commission members before the next meeting or email her. Wieland added the commission would work with the student’s schedules. Wieland stated she had toured the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) and they were opening a new Dakotah Roots Sustainability Commission Minutes November 14, 2023 Page 5 Composting Site. The tribe had also purchased 13 bison to rotate through the lands. Frost stated she had attended the Electrify Everything event at the community center. D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS Brazil suggested education around disposable wipes being flushed when they were not actually “flushable.” She also suggested having the swap event at the high school, and she would suggest this to the student council and the environmental club. Also, regarding food waste, she had spoken with fellow students and there was controversy regarding whether the requisite sorting was being done. She thought “sustainability literacy” was a big issue for students. Poock agreed, saying not everything sporting the recycling logo was recyclable. Brazil stated the high schoolers were also working on a climate action plan. Ehler stated students had spoken with administration, but there were renovations happening at the time, and there would be future talks. Fierce stated she would inform the commission members which students joined what groups. Not all projects had to be completed by their last meeting in May; some could be ongoing, and the students would work with the commission to implement them. V. OTHER BUSINESS VI. UPCOMING EVENTS VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, December 12, 2023, in the Heritage Rooms 1&2. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Nehl moved, seconded by Ross to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:47 p.m.