HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/09/11 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - RegularMINUTES
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSIONS: SUSTAINABLE SLP
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
September 11, 2013
BRICK HOUSE
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chris Anderson, Tim Brausen, Mark Eilers, Terry Gipps, Caitlin
Glennon, Rachel Harris, Mary Karius, Cindy Larson O’Neil, Renee McGarvey, Alex Sundvall,
Whitney Thesing, Judy Voigt
MEMBERS ABSENT: Tom Hillstrom
STAFF PRESENT: Bridget Gothberg
CONSULTANTS: Mike Lamb, Fred Rozumalski, Barr Engineering Company
1. The meeting was called to order at 5:02 p.m. by Chair Brausen.
2. The minutes of the August 7, 2013 meeting were approved.
3. Unfinished Business
a. Finalize Norms and Guidelines: It was moved by Terry Gipps and seconded by
Mark Eilers to adopt the Norms as a guideline for how the Commission works
together. Motion adopted.
b. Meeting length was discussed. It was a healthy discussion. Some members felt
that keeping the meetings to 90 minutes helped them to focus on the job at hand
and not diverge from the topics. Others were concerned about not having enough
time to learn what is already happening at the City; to understand what other
entities do around Environment and Sustainability; to develop the work plan; and
to start making a difference. It was moved by Mary Karius and seconded by
Rachel Harris that for the next two meetings (October 2 and November 6) the
Commission would meet for two hours, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Motion adopted.
c. The next two meetings would be educational meetings.
4. New Business
a. Work on Step II of Work Plan exercise from last meeting
b. Green Step Discussion
c. Next Steps on Work Plan
Fred Rozumalski and Mike Lamb explained their handout regarding the Q and A
exercise of last meeting on the Meaning of Sustainability, Direction of the
Commission, and Making St. Louis Park Sustainable.
The Commissioners talked about the diagram of key information, combined with
how the Commission should operate, how to be effective and using all that
information to give direction for the work plan. The areas they agreed include:
i. Commission education
ii. Work group identification
iii. Schedule for completing activities
Then the Commissioners reviewed the Q & A exercise, the Green Steps summary,
and the Green Steps categories comparison matrix.
They also went around the room to “survey” work group topics. The outcome
was: Alternative energy – 3, Water Quality – 2, Organics Recycling, Native
Plants/Habitat, Green Building Code, Vision for a Sustainable City, Bikes and
Walking, Green Food Packaging, Education and Green Practices
This led to a general agreement to the work plan outline and having staff from the
city (Jim Vaughn) and the Green Steps Cities (Phil Muessig).
5. Communications
a. Rachel Harris shared information with Bridget Gothberg, who brought it to the
meeting. http://wrc.umn.edu/news/PreparingMinnesotaforClimateChangeAConfer
enceonClimateAdaptation/
6. The meeting was adjourned at 6:35.
Respectfully submitted,
Bridget Gothberg
Organizational Development Coordinator & Staff Liaison