HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/07/17 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - RegularMINUTES
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION: SUSTAINABLE SLP
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
JULY 17, 2013 – 5:00 p.m.
GALLERY ROOM, REC CENTER
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chris Anderson, Tim Brausen, Mark Eilers, Terry Gips,
Caitlin Glennon, Rachel Harris, Tom Hillstrom,
Mary Karius, Cindy Larson O’Neil, Renee McGarvey,
Alex Sundvall, Whitney Thesing, Judy Voigt
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Bridget Gothberg, Cindy Walsh
GUEST: Mike Lamb, Barr Engineering Company
1. The meeting was called to order at 5:05 pm by Ms. Walsh.
Each member introduced himself/herself and gave some of their own background.
2. New Business
a) Terms
Term lengths for the 13 Regular Members were determined by lottery:
Member Term
Expiration
Chris Anderson 12/31/14
Mark Eilers 12/31/15
Rachel Harris 12/31/15
Tom Hillstrom 12/31/14
Mary Karius 12/31/13
Cindy Larson O’Neil 12/31/13
Renee McGarvey 12/31/13
Judy Voigt 12/31/14
The following members’ terms were set by Ordinance No. 2438-13:
Business Members Tim Brausen and Terry Gips 12/31/15
Residential Tenant Member Whitney Thesing 12/31/15
Terms for the following Youth Members will follow the school calendar:
Caitlin Glennon 8/31/14
Alex Sundvall 8/31/14
b) By-Laws
Ms. Gothberg led a discussion regarding the By-Laws. It was the consensus
of the Commission members to make the following changes to the By-Laws
Draft document:
Environment and Sustainability Commission: Sustainable SLP Minutes
July 17, 2013
Page 2
i. Section 2. Duties, d) – Change sentence one to read, “Establish work
groups with at least one Commission member to focus on specific areas
of interest, special projects, and ongoing concerns.” Delete sentence two.
ii. Section 3. Officers, a) – Change to read, “At its first or second meeting of
each calendar year…”
iii. Section 3. Officers, b) – Change to read, “The Chair and Vice-Chair
positions shall rotate annually. A recording secretary shall be appointed
by staff and need not be a member of the Commission.”
iv. Section 4. Meetings, b) – Change to read, “The annual organizational
meeting of the Commission shall be the first or second meeting of the
year...”
v. Section 4. Meetings, c) – Change to read, “The Commission shall hold
regular meetings on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m….”
Add “…such meeting shall be held at the same hour on the next
succeeding Wednesday not a holiday.”
vi. Section 4. Meetings, i) – Delete sentence one.
vii. Section 6. Attendance and Performance of Duties, b) – Add as a final
sentence, “Council may remove that member.”
Ms. Gothberg noted that these changes will be made to the By-Laws draft
document, and it will be sent out to Commission members with the next agenda.
Hopefully, the By-Laws will be approved by the Commission at the next meeting
and then sent to City Council for approval at their August 19 meeting.
Mr. Lamb asked for staff to expand on the duties of the Chair. Ms. Walsh replied
that the Chair needs to be in touch with the Staff Liaison to prepare the monthly
meeting agendas. If a Commission member would like to see an item put on the
agenda, he or she would talk to the Chair.
Ms. Gothberg explaiined that she and Ms. Walsh are the Staff Liaisons until the
end of the year, at which time an ongoing, regular Staff Liaison will be appointed.
It was the consensus of the Commission members to leave as is 4. Meetings h).
The definition of conflict of interest will be part of the “Ground Rules” or
“Norms” discussion at the next meeting.
Ms. Gothberg elaborated on Section 4. Meetings, i) – When a Commission
member asks staff for information, that information will be sent to all
Commission members.
3. Communications
a) Commission members agreed that the next two meetings will be:
August 7, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
September 11, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Environment and Sustainability Commission: Sustainable SLP Minutes
July 17, 2013
Page 3
After that, the meeting time will be the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00
pm, as discussed earlier.
b) Ms. Gothberg stated that the hope is to get the Commission’s Work Plan to
City Council by October or November.
c) Mr. Lamb proposed that the next meeting will include using strategic
questions to learn from each member of the Commission what issues are of
the most importance to them.
d) A discussion was held regarding future agenda topics, which would include:
i. Discussion about the meaning of environmental stewardship and
sustainability
ii. Learning about best practices from other communities
iii. Having a representative from Minnesota Green Step speak to the
Commission, and having a briefing from staff about where St. Louis Park
is in the Green Step City process.
iv. Learning more about the history of the formation of the Environmental
and Sustainability Commission: Sustainable SLP.
6. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kay Midura
Office Assistant – Administrative Services