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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019/04/03 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - Regular St. Louis Park Administrative Services Department • 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416 www.stlouispark.org • Phone: 952.924.2531 • Fax: 952.924.2170 • TTY: 952.924.2518 Environment and sustainability commission (ESC): Sustainable SLP Minutes April 3, 2019 Community Room, St. Louis Park City Hall Members present: Chair Bridget Rathsack, Shaina Ashare, Sue Bloyer, Katie Christiansen, Nicole Ciulla, Stefan Collinet-Adler, Ryan Griffin, Jim Leuthner, Claire Lukens. Excused absence: Hannah Ampe, Zoe Frank, Larry Kraft Staff present: Meg McMonigal, ESC coordinator; Lauren Michaels, intern Guests: Monica Stumpf, Kim Erickson, Jim Vaughn, St., Louis Park Natural Resources Coordinator 1. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Rathsack. 2. The minutes of the March 6, 2019 meeting were approved unanimously with slight changes. 3. Chair Rathsack opened the meeting and asked members to share with the group. 4. Business a. Staff speaker: Jim Vaughn, St. Louis Park Natural Resources Coordinator Mr. Vaughn spoke about the forestry program, noting 18,000 trees are in St. Louis Park, and Emerald Ash Bore has not yet been found as yet. A plan is in place to manage the disease in case it is found in the future. He noted trees are injected in the city to prevent the disease. He added the city plants 500 trees each year, and costs are about $80,000 per year to do this. He added Dutch Elm disease has gone way down, and only about 150 elm trees remain in the city. Mr. Vaughn added the city does not plant maple trees any longer in the city, as they also have insects that attack them, and they are not doing very well. He noted they try to diversity the tree stock in order to keep away as much disease as possible. Mr. Vaughn noted carbon credits that are received through a new program, for tree plantings. He also noted the city has a tree sale each year since 2009, so as to increase the tree population diversity within the city. He also noted the city has a tree preservation plan also, and developers must pay credits to the city if they cannot keep trees on developments. Monies from this go to adding more boulevard trees within the city. St. Louis Park Administrative Services Department • 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416 www.stlouispark.org • Phone: 952.924.2531 • Fax: 952.924.2170 • TTY: 952.924.2518 Mr. Vaughn stated the city works with Minnehaha Creek Watershed District near the maintenance facility as well. He noted the area along the creek in St. Louis Park will also be repaired and restored with Great River Green. Mr. Vaughn stated the city is involved in the Wood from the Hood program and also noted the successful community gardens program in the city with 110 plots total, which feature native plantings. They are the Texa-Tonka, Shelard Park and Birchwood neighborhoods, and much of the food is donated to STEP. Plots are $35 per plot with funds going to the city, and folks take good care of their plots, Mr. Vaughn noted. Mr. Vaughn mentioned he is also involved in city wildlife control, including geese, beaver and deer. He noted wild grasses have helped control the geese population, and the DNR has helped control the others. He stated the city does control the nature center area also to help balance the wildlife there periodically. Mr. Vaughn prairie restoration will also take place this spring. Mr. Leutner asked if the city keeps track of mowed vs. wooded areas in the city. Mr. Vaughn stated yes, and the city does try to keep more native plants in the wooded areas of the city. He also noted the city’s integrated pest control plan which lessens the amount of chemicals that are used, except for in ball parks, within the city. He also noted the city uses 75 percent less chemicals than they did 10 years ago. Stefan asked if there will be a time when residents will be asked not to use pesticides on their lawns. Mr. Vaughn stated that has not been pursed yet. Mr. Vaughn noted the city’s buckthorn control program also, and invasive species control as well. He stated the beautify the park program is very active, to preserve and clean up parks, and the city give an environmental award each year to residents and business and nominations are accepted through August. Mr. Collinet-Adler asked what the net gain is of trees each year. Mr. Vaughn stated the city plants about 800 trees per year – so there is a gain each year of trees. Mr. Collinet- Adler added for the CAP, the city will need to accelerate the tree planting. Mr. Vaughn agreed. Mr. Vaughn added that Tree Trust helps the city with tree plantings each year, and tree plantings have increased each year for the last five years. b. Review request to city council Mr. Griffin noted the five items to propose to council for review in support of the CAP: 1. To immediately implement the EP3 and as a city to purchase renewable energy, while also offset city natural gas uses through the CenterPoint Green Star program. Also, the city passed this in 2015, and it needs to be followed. Mr. Griffin made a motion to ask council to standby the EP3 they unanimously adopted in 2015, to purchase 100 percent renewable energy to offset on municipal buildings. Ms. Lukens seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Instruct city communication staff to create a plan to build the website stronger and create a vision of where it could go. This would be a new page to build on, and to track the progress of the CAP and set priorities. Possibly Lotus can help with this. St. Louis Park Administrative Services Department • 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416 www.stlouispark.org • Phone: 952.924.2531 • Fax: 952.924.2170 • TTY: 952.924.2518 3. Need to pass an energy benchmark by end of the year per council’s request, but should this be accelerated, so by end of the year an ordinance is in place. Ms. Ashare made a motion to ask council to accelerate the energy benchmark ordinance and have the ordinance in place by end of 2019. Mr. Collinet-Adler seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 4. Mr. Griffin made a motion to request a monthly standing study session item be discussed by council to review CAP priorities and measures, with ESC involvement, and with an update from staff on a monthly basis to the ESC. Ms. Bloyer seconded. The motion passed unanimously. c. Topics for discussion: i. SEEDS event – April 24 starts at 5 p.m. and solar event begins at 7 p.m. Looking for two people to be at the table at high school cafeteria. Let Chair Rathsack know if you can help at this event. Lauren will be at the event also. ii. Sustainability Champions iii. EV event – June 8 - 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Mr. Collinet-Adler asked if city staff be present at the event to explain EV ordinance, answer questions, and what city is doing related to this. Need to update Facebook page. iv. Children’s First Ice Cream Social – commissioners can be present for questions that might come up. v. Biking event – Sat May 18, noon – 2:30 p.m. will take place during bike week. Councilmembers Rog and Brausen said they would be interested in attending. Will add this on Facebook and Nextdoor. vi. Parktacular/Ecotacular – need to prep for the table, decide items to have available. Will brainstorm more in May on this event. vii. Chair and vice ehair elections – June 5 meeting d. Topic for next meetings: i. Sandy Fazeli, Lotus Engineering and Sustainability - May and June ii. June staff speaker: Planning and development staff The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.