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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017/01/04 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - RegularMINUTES ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION: SUSTAINABLE SLP ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA January 4, 2017 Community Room, City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Francie Abramson, Joe Barten, Terry Gips, Ryan Griffin, Julie Rappaport, Nancy Rose, Jayne Stephenson, Judy Voigt EXCUSED ABSENCE: Chris Anderson STAFF PRESENT: Shannon Pinc and Recording Secretary (Ms. Pappas) GUESTS: None 1. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. The minutes of the Oct 5, Nov 9 and Dec 7, 2016 meetings were approved with edits. 3. Business a. 2017 Meeting Dates – the commission noted the July 5th meeting will be cancelled. The commission decided to book the meeting room for July 12 as a backup date. They will decide in June if they will have the July 12 meeting. The September meeting will be held on September 6th. b. Review Options for Communications Memo template The commissioners reviewed examples of 2 memo templates. The memos would be used to transmit information from the commission to the city council. The templates are in Google Docs format and Microsoft. After discussion, it was decided the commission will use the Microsoft Office version, and will review again as needed. Chair Abramson will make edits to the Microsoft template, changing “purpose of this communication” to “goal.” She will send the document back to the commission for further review. Joe asked Chair Abramson to draft a plan for use of this document, and note how it will be used effectively for updates to the council. c. 2017 Work Plan Edits Chair Abramson noted this document if for all commissioners to work on and update. She asked for feedback on it, and Shannon projected the document for review. Shannon noted the commission will receive a template from council, next week for work plans. This template will be used by all commissions to present their work plans. Environment and Sustainability -2- January 4, 2017 Commission Meeting Chair Abramson asked Shannon and the commission if all the correct information is in the work plan now, and can just be added to the council’s template. Shannon stated yes, adding the council may ask the commission also for their top accomplishments also. Alternately, the council may ask the commission for a verbal report at their meeting with the council on Monday, February 27th. She added the meeting will begin at 5 p.m. and all commissions will be present. Shannon encourage all commissioners to attend. Nancy stated she and Shannon are adding the 4 topics of Green Steps into the action column, and made a new tab in the work plan regarding Green Step Cities. Chair Abramson added the work plan is the backbone of the commissions’ work and all final changes will be due on January 25. She encouraged all work groups to meet prior to this date, and noted she will take the lead on editing the document. She encouraged all commissioners to meet with their work groups soon and add their information, changes or additions into the document. She noted this is the big picture document of their work. Ryan added the council’s work plan document format will force the commission to be very concise on work plan information. d. Share Project Plans i. Energy Action Plan - 1. Renewable Energy – Chair Abramson is the leader in this group. She noted this plan is mean to be a living document, with ongoing edits, including months for tasks and highlights. Joe asked if additional information, including contact information, can be added to the project document also. Chair Abramson stated yes, and that it would be left to each project team leader to add each team member to their respective plan. Julie asked if a calendar could be added also to each project plan. Chair Abramson liked this idea, and asked each project team lead to add this, noting member can check it periodically for events and deadlines. She stated the commission will have a check in on this in April. Additionally, she will invite Emma to use it as well and to add other partners in energy webinars, or green step cities webinars. 2. Energy Efficiency in Business – Judy explained she recently reviewed the Minneapolis Plan and noted they must report their energy and water usage. She stated she did not see any negatives in any part of this program, adding it is a required program in Minneapolis. Environment and Sustainability -3- January 4, 2017 Commission Meeting Judy further explained the Minneapolis program, noting this is also part of their climate plan. Their goal was to reduce the energy of Minneapolis by 17% by 2025, and so far, they have reduced it by 7%. She added they drive this program through letters from the city council, which helps to give the program legitimacy. She suggested St. Louis Park do this also. Judy added the first objective is to get the program together and start with the top 10-30 businesses, as a pilot plan. Ryan asked about the context of this, adding he is concerned in that we have an energy action plan already approved by the council, and it involves the Partners in Energy group. He added the commission needs to be mindful of their efforts this. Judy stated the plan she is presenting today is from the notes taken at the commission retreat. She also stated that she agrees with Ryan and will use the PiE plan but thinks it is best to start with a smaller subset of businesses as a way to start with concerns about who will do this work and where the resources will come from. Chair Abramson stated she likes this approach and looking at successful cities, but added the commission cannot start over. She added the group could take the current goal, and look at Minneapolis as a case study, and see how well it worked, and then base the pilot on this case study. Joe added he has concerns similar to Ryan, and the commission must stay within their approved plan which is already in place. Terry thanked Judy for this information, but also agreed the commission needs to be in alignment with the energy action plan. He added they could look for students to work on this, or a volunteer, or a green corps student. He added the goal is to work with city businesses. Ryan added the Partners in Energy plan has 18 month goals, for the implementation phase, and that is the immediate accountability. He stated to work on and establish new goals is not doable. Chair Abramson thanked everyone for their comments, noting that this conversation was productive and provided good information for Judy. Environment and Sustainability -4- January 4, 2017 Commission Meeting 3. Climate Action Plan – Ryan stated the group meets every other Friday and if anyone else is interested they are encouraged to join the group. He asked Jayne what is the best way to get more youth involved in this group. Jayne said setting up meetings outside of school or on Tuesday mornings during the youth meetings, is also a good time to meet. 4. Youth Involvement – Jayne updated the commission on Roots and Shoots. She stated they are helping to start other programs in Hopkins and Edina, and the Edina students will present to their city council soon. Julie asked Jayne to point out the link to sign up at the next meeting. ii. Living Streets Policy – Julie met with Sean Walther, noting there is one more opportunity for review coming up. Shannon stated that Deb Heiser will have a final draft of the Living Streets Policy by the end of January for review and can bring this to next commission meeting. She stated the potential meeting/review dates are February 6, 7, 8 or 13. Nancy stated the commission changed course after the May Minneapolis Policy was issued, and asked staff to focus on replicating the Minneapolis plan, but also add in some of the Edina elements. She added she would like to review the draft in February. Ryan agreed and noted he would also like to see the draft and review it as well. Judy said it currently is very vague, and that is a point of concern. Chair Abramson stated the end of January is the deadline to get this to the commission for review, and it’s important to see it and weigh in. Joe made a motion and Terry seconded, that the commission request of council to review the draft and have the opportunity to comment at the February or March meeting. Ryan made a friendly amendment that the transportation work group review the draft first, and that the transportation work group be at the presentation to the council during the study session. Shannon stated she will explain this to Deb Heiser. Ryan added that when Nancy and he attended the study session related to the Living Streets information, the intent was to be very collaborative and to give input. Environment and Sustainability -5- January 4, 2017 Commission Meeting iii. Green Step Cities – Chair Abramson invited the commissioners to review the tab on the plan, noting this will be updated next month. iv. Comprehensive Plan Visioning – Chair Abramson invited the commissioners to review the tab on the plan. She added that Julie and Terry will meet further on this also. Announcements: Shannon added the organic living workshop is not happening and will be discussed at the next meeting. Shannon added she has reminded staff that the commission is very interested in hearing more about the visioning process with the futurist. She added she can have a conversation with Meg McMonigal about updates, so as to learn and hear the information first-hand, and in order to help the work group move forward. e. Review new standing agenda format – Chair Abramson noted due to lack of time, this item will be tabled to next month’s meeting. 4. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.