Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016/05/04 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - RegularMINUTES ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION: SUSTAINABLE SLP ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA May 4, 2016 Community Room, City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Chris Anderson, Terry Gips, Ryan Griffin; Renee McGarvey, Cindy Larson O’Neil, Nancy Rose, Jayne Stevenson, Judy Voigt. EXCUSED ABSENCE: Rachel Harris STAFF PRESENT: Shannon Pinc, Sustainability Liaison/City Staff; and Recording Secretary (Ms. Pappas). GUESTS: Julie Rappaport, Education and Action Work Group 1. The meeting was called to order at 6:36 p.m. by Vice Chair Anderson. The minutes of the April 6, 2016 meeting were approved with minor changes that were given to Shannon to correct. 2. Business A. Overarching Goals i. Comprehensive Plan – Meg McMonigal, principal planner with the City of St. Louis Park, updated the Commission on the Comprehensive Plan. Meg has been with the City for 12 years, and has participated in the development of many Comprehensive Plans over the years. She explained the starting point for the Comprehensive Plan is the 2010 Census, and from there long-range plans are developed. The plan is to be completed by Dec 31, 2018, and then implementation takes place. She explained the vision for St Louis Park is to have a connected and engaged community, which promotes and integrates the arts, culture and community aesthetics, and leads in environmental stewardship, and provides well maintained and diverse housing. Additional items include the possibility of including projects the Sustainability Commission is working on including: biking, walking, efficient use of the Connect the Park program, livable community and transportation goals, trails, and alternative transportation systems including SW Light Rail. The visioning process will begin this fall with extensive community involvement. She noted that in 2017, they will complete the visioning process, and identify any new areas to be addressed. In 2018, the plan will be finalized by mid-year, rolled out, reviewed and adopted by the City Council. Then it is reviewed by the Metropolitan Council and becomes official after that. Environment and Sustainability -2- May 4, 2016 Commission Meeting The Commission discussed the plan and asked questions. Cindy asked about the City’s goals around transportation and managing traffic. The City is working on all aspects of traffic, including bikes, walking, and Light Rail and is keeping environmental concerns at the forefront. The goal is to reduce emissions, and provide alternative transportation, so that citizens are able to live in the City without the need for a car. Meg added that this is not yet in the City’s written goals, but it should be. Ryan asked how the Commission and other citizen groups in the City fit into the visioning process. Meg noted these groups will definitely provide valuable information and feedback and the City will reach out to all of the Commissions. Ryan also asked how goals are measured year over year. Meg stated data in the stewardship section of the environmental goals, can be measured by inspections. Ryan asked about the goals around a climate plan and if this would have a place in the plan. Meg said yes, and the more measureable the plan is, with action steps, the better. Julie asked what campaigns came out of last plan. Meg noted the organics and Connect the Park program came out of a study done during the Comprehensive Plan process. Nancy asked if there are any goals around density or housing type. Meg stated there are 16 goals on land use, and added the City will need to be clearer on these goals, going forward. Renee asked about storm surface water issues being included in the plan. Meg agreed, and added that different agencies require different studies about water, so consultants are usually hired to do these studies, adding that the City anticipates these studies will be conducted during the process of developing the next Comprehensive Plan. Chris asked how the visioning process on sustainability was conducted on the last plan. Meg explained the visioning process for the Comprehensive Plan began in 1995 related to the Excelsior and Grand development. In 2005, a process called appreciative inquiry was used, and visioning areas developed from there. Visioning is conducted a little differently each year, depending on the consultant that is involved in the process. She noted that sustainability could definitely be included and that consultants will develop the process based on the City’s interests and needs. Judy asked about collaborating with other cities, and working on the planning process together so City’s can coordinate ideas, and learn from each other. Meg noted that all communities update their Comprehensive Plans at the same time, and the Metropolitan Council supports the Alliance on this, and also supports getting Commissions and citizen leaders involved. Nancy asked about the communication plan. Meg noted within the next few months, work will begin and this will be communicated back to the Commission. Environment and Sustainability -3- May 4, 2016 Commission Meeting She added that organized neighborhood groups, and citizen/business groups including Children First, Twin West, Rotary, the SLP Schools, the Chamber of Commerce, all be invited to City Meetings. There will also be a great amount of information on social media about ways citizens can be involved in the process. Meg added she will communicate with Shannon and come back to the Commission with more information on the visioning process as it progresses. She noted the Light Rail presentation is also available for viewing online. ii. Green Step Cities – Shannon stated the City is now at 2 stars. It was asked if the work group has plans to work on 3 star status. Shannon stated this goal is set be achieved by 2018. Step 2 recognition will occur in June of 2016, and there are specific requirements the workgroup will need to accomplish in order to achieve a 3 star recognition. iii. Climate Action Plan – Ryan presented to the City Council, and the City was very receptive. Likewise presentations at Earth Day, Vision Sustainability and the student group presentation with Roots and Shoots were also very successful. He added the iMatter Inheritance Resolution will be presented at an upcoming City Council Study Session, before the end of the school year. It was also noted that Jayne and the Roots and Shoots group received an international award, which will be presented in Boston. Their campaign and presentation to the City Council was recognized by the Green School Coalition for creating change in their community, and their group was one of only 16 in the world, which was awarded this honor. The Commissioner congratulated Jayne on her hard work. This meeting is Renee’s last official meeting as a Commissioner. However, she wishes to remain active in the Living Streets and Green Steps work groups. The Commissioners thanked her for her service and knowledge. B. Policy Conversation Bring your own bag ordinance summary was discussed. The Commissioners should have received a summary by Kala Fisher, with updates on the ordinance. Shannon highlighted the updates, and noted Rachel and Judy drafted a position statement of neutrality on the ordinance. This will be provided to City Council after it is reviewed again at the June 1st Sustainability Commission meeting. Judy explained she reviewed the study by Clemson University titled “Life Cycle Assessment of Grocery Bags Commonly Used in the United States, 2014”, which was peer reviewed. She said the study reviewed paper bags, HDPE bags, LDPE reusable bags, and non-woven poly bags, over 12 different parameters and determined that paper bags are far worse in terms of environmental impact. Terry said he had reviewed a number of Life Cycle Analyses and they all showed that plastic bags had a much lower impact than paper and were even superior to reusables unless the reusables had a huge number of reuses. Terry also noted the Scottish government spent two years looking at this issue in 2005 and came to Environment and Sustainability -4- May 4, 2016 Commission Meeting same conclusion, as did the British government. The scientific data is available for review. Terry stressed the scientific data and studies information need to be included in the position statement. He added he is not neutral on this issue and the public and the Council needs to be educated on this issue. He added the Commission needs to say we oppose this ordinance, and think about reusing the bags and educating people on this issue, and then also pushing for a zero waste policy. Chris noted he is not comfortable saying we oppose this ordinance. Nancy stated she supports the addition of more science, data, charts, and more resources in this statement, notating the aforementioned study, and a conclusion. Terry noted that the perception is that plastic bags are the worst and that is not true. The Commission’s purpose should be zero waste and organics, and then education about plastic bags. He added that plastic bags can be recycled – and that people need to be educated on this. Cindy made a motion to oppose the ordinance as it stands today. Judy seconded the motion, which passed with one abstention (Chris). The Commission also recommended that the bag position statement be combined with statements written earlier by Terry, in his position statement regarding polystyrene (presented to Council on December 7th). Terry said he will modify the approved Commission statement on zero waste packaging to address plastic bags and share it. C. Energy Work Group Updates Partners in Energy Plan – Cindy presented the third version of the Energy Action Plan. She noted it is not completed yet; however it has four action areas, and thanked Ryan for his amazing work on this project. She noted his presentation should be added to the Commission’s website, and the link has been emailed to Shannon. Cindy added no goals have been set related to the business energy efficiency area and the group is working on next steps. She noted these businesses make up 70% of the electric users in the City. She added they do have some ideas on how to work on this, however, it is a big undertaking, and they are not sure how to get there. D. Recap of events- due to time constraints this section will be addressed at the June meeting. i. April 12th – Solar Power Hour Rec Center – Shannon/Cindy ii. April 16th – Organic Living Workshop – Shannon/Judy iii. April 24th – 2nd Annual Earth Day Event –Judy/Julie Terry gave a special thank you to Julie Rappaport for all her work on the earth Day event, along with the cable television coverage. He also thanks Judy and the entire SEEDs team for all of their excellent work. Environment and Sustainability -5- May 4, 2016 Commission Meeting E. Acknowledgment of Outgoing Commissioners Tonight is Cindy’s last meeting as a Commissioner, however she will stay involved as a member on the energy work group. Terry thanked Cindy for her invaluable work as a Commissioner and added it has been unbelievable, and amazing how much work their group has taken on related to the Energy Plan. He acknowledged all of her work with getting new people involved and forming new partnerships with businesses across the City. He also noted that when future Commissioners look back at Cindy’s work, they will be incredibly thankful to her. Ryan echoed Terry’s statements, and said Cindy’s leadership has been an inspiration, especially for him and work on his Master’s degree/project. He added it will be good to have an alumni network of Commissioner to call upon and utilize for the future work of the Commission. Julie added that the inspiration of Cindy’s dedication, and the fact that she was always present for everything, is truly appreciated. She thanked Cindy for her commitment to the work of the Commission. The meeting was adjourned at 8:39 p.m.