HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026/03/04 - ADMIN - Agenda Packets - Environment & Sustainability Commission - Regular Environment & sustainability commission meeting
March 4, 2026
6:30 p.m.
If you need special accommodations or have questions about the meeting, please call Emily Ziring at 952.924.2191 or the
administration department at 952.924.2505.
All board members/commissioners will participate in this meeting at St. Louis Park City Hall,
Community Room, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416. Members of the public
may attend and watch the meeting in person.
Agenda
1. Call to order
a. Roll call
b. Introduction of guests (3 min. each)
2. Approval of minutes (February 4, 2026)
3. Business (6:40 p.m.)
a. Presentations
i. Hennepin County staff presentation on Minnetonka Blvd. West project
b. New business
i. Discuss canceling April monthly meeting or rescheduling to April 7
c. Unfinished business
i. Commenting on draft amendments to parking regulations
ii. 2026 ESC workplan adoption
4. Staff updates (7:45 p.m.)
a. Progress reports
5. Work plan update
6. Sustainability issues
a. Group share-out
b. Kudos
7. Items to discuss at a future meeting
8. Upcoming/proposed events
9. Adjournment
Future meeting and event dates:
April ESC monthly meeting: TBD
Minnehaha Creek spring clean-up events: April 25 from 9 a.m. – noon at Municipal
Service Center and Knollwood (two sites)
Arbor Day celebration: Thursday, May 14 from 5 – 8 p.m. at Carpenter Park
Walk the Park with the ESC: July 11 from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. at Louisiana Oaks Park
Date: March 4, 2026
To: Planning Commission
Attn: Gary Morrison, Zoning Administrator
From: Environment and Sustainability Commission (ESC)
Subject: Zoning Code Update Phase 2 and Parking Reductions
Strategic Priority: Environmental Stewardship
The Environment and Sustainability commission recommends approving the draft zoning code
amendments that reduce minimum parking requirements across zoning districts and
eliminates parking requirements in the Walker-Lake Historical District.
The proposed amendments are designed to use the existing parking supply in dense commercial
areas (e.g., Walker-Lake, Excelsior & Grand) to promote efficient use of shared-parking while
balancing supply and demand and meeting the needs of existing retail, commercial, and
residential uses. As demonstrated through parking reductions in the Walker-Lake Historical
District, reducing parking minimums and creating shared access to street and off-street parking
in walkable, dense commercial areas allows existing businesses to continue to serve their
customers while also removing the requirements for new parking facilities. As future
redevelopment occurs in existing and future commercial nodes, reduced parking minimums will
limit the amount of land used for parking, which in turn can be used for greenspaces, natural
areas, or other landscaping.
This action is a positive step forward for St. Louis Park, who can continue to lead for other first
ring suburban cities where existing transit access and development patterns do not support
eliminating parking. Further reductions can be achieved through the 2050 Comprehensive Plan
process, where the city will update its land use plan and implementation actions.
Board and Commission
Annual work plan
Presented to council: May 11, 2026
Approved by council:
1
2026 work plan │ Environment and Sustainability Commission
1
Initiative name: Prepare for Climate Action Plan update
Initiative type:
☒ Staff support (review project,
policy or program and provide
feedback)
☐ Independent research project
☐ Gather community feedback
☐ Lead community event
Initiative origin:
☐ Third party-initiated
☒ Staff-initiated
☒ Commission-initiated
☐ Council-initiated
Legally required (e.g. response to
Legislative changes or Judicial decisions)?
☐ Yes
☒ No
Commissioner lead(s) name(s):
Shaina Ashare, Ryan Griffin, Marisa Bayer
If joint commission initiative, list other board or commission:
Planning Commission
Is this an established work group? (if applicable)
☒ Yes
☐ No but recommend new work group
Initiative description:
Discuss what, when and how the 2018 Climate Action Plan should be updated, and how to integrate the update into the comprehensive plan.
Review plan and highlight sections or initiatives to keep, remove and add in prep for update.
Recommend a timeline for updating the CAP.
Recommend a structure for updating the CAP: amend current CAP or rewrite?
Consider a community engagement plan.
Strategic Priority: ☐ 1 ☒ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐ N/A
Deliverable: ☐ Research report ☐ Summary of community input ☒ Other ☐ N/A
Target completion date: Q4
This section to be completed by staff:
Council request (if applicable): ☐ Review and comment or reply ☐ Review and decide ☒ Informational only – no response needed
Budget required: None beyond staff capacity
Staff support required: Continuation of 2025 work plan item.
Liaison comments: Supportive of this initiative and help from the work group as needed.
Board and Commission
Annual work plan
2
2
Initiative name: TBD – awaiting council direction
Initiative type:
☒ Staff support (review project,
policy or program and provide
feedback)
☐ Independent research project
☐ Gather community feedback
☐ Lead community event
Initiative origin:
☐ Third party-initiated
☐ Staff-initiated
☐ Commission-initiated
☒ Council-initiated
Legally required (e.g. response to
Legislative changes or Judicial decisions)?
☐ Yes
☐ No
Commissioner lead(s) name(s):
If joint commission initiative, list other board or commission:
Is this an established work group? (if applicable)
☐ Yes—Events (reestablish)
☐ No
Initiative description:
This work plan item is reserved for city council to direct the commission to provide feedback to council on a project or policy, potentially related to
transportation or mobility.
Strategic Priority: ☐ 1 ☒ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐ N/A
Deliverable: ☐ Research report ☐ Summary of community input ☐ Other ☐ N/A
Target completion date:
This section to be completed by staff:
Council request (if applicable): ☐ Review and comment or reply ☐ Review and decide ☐ Informational only – no response needed
Budget required:
Staff support required:
Liaison comments:
Board and Commission
Annual work plan
3
3
Initiative name: TBD – awaiting council direction
Initiative type:
☐ Staff support (review project,
policy or program and provide
feedback)
☒ Independent research project
☐ Gather community feedback
☐ Lead community event
Initiative origin:
☐ Third party-initiated
☐ Staff-initiated
☐ Commission-initiated
☒ Council-initiated
Legally required (e.g. response to
Legislative changes or Judicial decisions)?
☐ Yes
☐ No
Commissioner lead(s) name(s):
If joint commission initiative, list other board or commission:
Is this an established work group? (if applicable)
☐ Yes
☐ No
Initiative description:
This work plan item is reserved for city council to direct the commission to research a topic, potentially related to planning, zoning or transportation
policy, and draft a report to council.
Strategic Priority: ☐ 1 ☒ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐ N/A
Deliverable: ☐ Research report ☐ Summary of community input ☐ Other ☒ N/A
Target completion date:
This section to be completed by staff:
Council request (if applicable): ☐ Review and comment or reply ☐ Review and decide ☐ Informational only – no response needed
Budget required: TBD
Staff support required:
Liaison comments:
Board and Commission
Annual work plan
4
4
Initiative name: Sustainability-focused “Walk the Park” event
Initiative type:
☐ Staff support (review project,
policy or program and provide
feedback)
☐ Independent research project
☐ Gather community feedback
☒ Lead community event
Initiative origin:
☐ Third party-initiated
☐ Staff-initiated
☒ Commission-initiated
☐ Council-initiated
Legally required (e.g. response to
Legislative changes or Judicial decisions)?
☐ Yes
☒ No
Commissioner lead(s) name(s):
If joint commission initiative, list other board or commission:
Is this an established work group? (if applicable)
☒ Yes – Events work group
☐ No
Initiative description:
Lead one “Walk the Park” event in collaboration with the city recreation division, focusing on litter pick-up, pollinator parks, or some other aspect of
sustainability during the walk. Commission will provide input to recreation staff on event plan and communications.
Event will take place on July 11, 2026 in Louisiana Oaks and Oak Hill parks.
Strategic Priority: ☐ 1 ☒ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐ N/A
Deliverable: ☐ Research report ☐ Summary of community input ☐ Other ☒ N/A
Target completion date: Q3 2026
This section to be completed by staff:
Council request (if applicable): ☐ Review and comment or reply ☐ Review and decide ☐ Informational only – no response needed
Budget required: TBD
Staff support required: Staff support will be minimal as this is an existing event.
Liaison comments: Staff appreciates support received from Parks & Recreation colleagues in desire making this happen.
Board and Commission
Annual work plan
5
5
Initiative name: TBD – Youth volunteering opportunity
Initiative type:
☒ Staff support (review project,
policy or program and provide
feedback)
☐ Independent research project
☐ Gather community feedback
☒ Lead community event
Initiative origin:
☐ Third party-initiated
☐ Staff-initiated
☒ Commission-initiated
☐ Council-initiated
Legally required (e.g. response to
Legislative changes or Judicial decisions)?
☐ Yes
☒ No
Commissioner lead(s) name(s):
Avery Kuehl, Avital Krebs
If joint commission initiative, list other board or commission:
Is this an established work group? (if applicable)
☐ Yes
☐ No
Initiative description:
Two youth commissioners will collaborate on a volunteer event (possibly involving item 6) and will work to engage peers. Possibility of National Honor
Society-qualifying volunteer hours earned (or similar).
Strategic Priority: ☐ 1 ☒ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐ N/A
Deliverable: ☐ Research report ☐ Summary of community input ☒ Other ☐ N/A
Target completion date:
This section to be completed by staff:
Council request (if applicable): ☐ Review and comment or reply ☐ Review and decide ☐ Informational only – no response needed
Budget required: None beyond planned
Staff support required:
Liaison comments:
Board and Commission
Annual work plan
6
6
Initiative name: Assist with food forest maintenance
Initiative type:
☒ Staff support (review project,
policy or program and provide
feedback)
☐ Independent research project
☐ Gather community feedback
☒ Lead community event
Initiative origin:
☐ Third party-initiated
☒ Staff-initiated
☒ Commission-initiated
☐ Council-initiated
Legally required (e.g. response to
Legislative changes or Judicial decisions)?
☐ Yes
☒ No
Commissioner lead(s) name(s):
If joint commission initiative, list other board or commission:
Is this an established work group? (if applicable)
☐ Yes
☐ No
Initiative description:
Natural Resources staff planted a “food forest” at Ainsworth Park in 2024. The forest includes plum, apricot, pear, apple, and cherry trees. Commission
would assist with maintenance of the food forest, potentially connecting this with youth volunteering.
Strategic Priority: ☐ 1 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐ N/A
Deliverable: ☐ Research report ☐ Summary of community input ☒ Other ☐ N/A
Target completion date: Q3
This section to be completed by staff:
Council request (if applicable): ☐ Review and comment or reply ☐ Review and decide ☒ Informational only – no response needed
Budget required: TBD
Staff support required:
Liaison comments:
Board and Commission
Annual work plan
7
Initiative Origin Definitions
Third party-initiated – Project initiated by applicant or external agency (statutory boards)
Staff-initiated – Project initiated by staff liaison or other city staff
Commission-initiated – Project initiated by the board or commission
Council-initiated – Project tasked to a board or commission by the city council
Strategic Priorities
1. St. Louis Park is committed to being a leader in racial equity and inclusion in order to create a more just and inclusive community for all.
2. St. Louis Park is committed to continue to lead in environmental stewardship.
3. St. Louis Park is committed to providing a broad range of housing and neighborhood oriented development.
4. St. Louis Park is committed to providing a variety of options for people to make their way around the city comfortably, safely and
reliably.
5. St. Louis Park is committed to creating opportunities to build social capital through community engagement
Modifications
Work plans may be modified, to add or delete items, in one of three ways:
Work plans can be modified by mutual agreement during a joint work session.
If immediate approval is important, the board or commission can work with their staff liaison to present a modified work plan for city
council approval at a council meeting.
The city council can direct a change to the work plan at their discretion.
Board and Commission
Annual work plan
8
Future ideas
Initiatives that are being considered by the board or commission but not proposed in the annual work plan. Council approval is needed if the
board or commission decides they would like to amend a work plan.
Initiative Comments