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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017/02/01 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - RegularMINUTES ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION: SUSTAINABLE SLP ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA February 1, 2017 Community Room, City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Francie Abramson, Chris Anderson, Terry Gips, Ryan Griffin, Julie Rappaport, Nancy Rose, Jayne Stephenson, Judy Voigt EXCUSED ABSENCE: Joe Barten STAFF PRESENT: Shannon Pinc and Recording Secretary (Ms. Pappas). GUESTS: Bridget Rathsack, visitor – interested in joining the Commission. 1. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. The minutes of the January 4, 2017 meeting were approved unanimously with several minor changes. 3. Chairperson Abramson opened the meeting and the Commissioners introduced themselves and noted their activities over the past month. Chair Abramson also told the Commission that Joe Barten has resigned his position due to personal reasons. 4. Business a. Review Project Plans – Green Steps Cities and Comp Plan Nancy explained that Joe Barten was going to give the update, however, he has resigned from the Commission. Chair Abramson noted the 2016 work plan summary from Nancy can be added to the Commission’s composite work plan document at a later date. Nancy added the 2016 goal was to achieve Step 2 and that was completed. Areas where the work group will continue working on in 2017 related to Green Steps Cities include land use, buildings and lighting and transportation. Chair Abramson stated she will assist Nancy as needed, in the absence of Joe. Julie added she hopes the work group will work on the 10 year goals for Green Step Cities, in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan and that a wish list will be created, in conjunction with community input. Terry and Julie commented on the Comprehensive Plan noting it is a living document. They commented on a recent conversation with Meg McMonigal who is the lead staff person involved with the Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan). Environment and Sustainability -2- February 1, 2017 Commission Meeting Julie noted the Comp Plan will be worked on this year through June 2018 and gathering robust community feedback during the visioning process which ends May 1st, 2017. Qualitative and quantitative data will be gathered by facilitators and brought back to the steering committee, who will then bring it to the council with recommendations for the Comp Plan. She noted the environmental section will be expanded per Ms. McMonigal. Julie added that between 40-50 facilitators are needed to gather feedback from residents and facilitator training will be conducted. She encouraged the Commissioners to become facilitators, in order to gather feedback from all voices in the community, and help to get this information into the Comp Plan. Training is on February 21st. Julie explained that February 22nd is the first Town Hall visioning session, to be held in the City Council chambers. She added two live Facebook meetings will also be held, in order to give multiple opportunities for feedback. Additional types of outreach include neighborhood meetings, meetings at churches, pop-up surveys at malls and grocery stores, among others. Julie added the Commission might want to have a table at Parktacular (Ecotacular is the environmental section this year), or at a creek clean-up event, or even staff a table at the schools, to gather feedback from residents and students. Jayne noted she could create polls for students through the high school newspaper website as well as she could help coordinate lunchroom surveys during March. Julie noted the Commission can also do surveys that focus through a sustainability lens, and help improve on environmental stewardship as part of the Comp Plan. She added there are funds set aside for conducting surveys, also noting that flyers can be included in utility bills, and other city mailings. Julie noted that surveys can also be conducted through survey monkey on Next Door, Facebook and other social media. Julie noted the visioning feedback will be turned in by May 1st and presented to Council by June of 2017, and then the work on the Comp Plan will be conducted into 2018. Terry stated the meeting with Ms. McMonigal was extraordinarily positive, and open. He stated the Commission can submit questions for the larger survey adding that the facilitators who go to the neighborhoods to gather feedback will be a very important part of the process. He added the facilitator’s kit will be available soon. Chair Abramson stated the next step for the Comp Plan workgroup is to come up with recommendations so that after training and the town hall visioning and community meetings, the Commission will have a more informed opinion and recommendation for events related to this, and how we how we plan to support the process. Terry stated a phone survey is too cost prohibitive, but added he and Ms. McMonigal have connections at the University of MN and Macalester to work on Environment and Sustainability -3- February 1, 2017 Commission Meeting this further. He added this is all finally clear and very exciting. He added there will also be a weekly social media question of the week, and the Commission can have input on this also. Julie stated the visioning process is the job of the steering committee, but she noted Ms. McMonigal stated the Commission could review the feedback before it goes to the Council. Terry added as individuals, and as a Commission, the Commissioners can weigh in on the vision and can be part of the process. He added Ms. McMonigal stated staff is totally open to incorporating and including the best practices of other cities into the visioning process as well. He also noted that what was included in the last Comp Plan about sustainability led to the development of the Environmental and Sustainability Commission. The visions and policies that come of this process will lead to future plans, and will become the work of the Commission in the coming years. It will be huge opportunity for the Commission to be engaged. Guest Bridget noted that she works in marketing research and can help in this process with the work group, or possibly as a facilitator. Terry added that training the facilitator will be a quick process and a very important piece of the whole Comp Plan process. He encouraged the Commissioners to consider being facilitators. Chair Abramson thanked the workgroup for their updates and said she will resend the full work plan link to all of the Commissioners. b. Brainstorm 2016 accomplishments & input for annual report to Council The Commissioners developed the following list of 2016 accomplishments: - 2-year plan for Green Step Cities - weighing in on living streets policies - plastic bags - zero waste plan – Styrofoam packaging -climate action plan resolution passed in resulting in work in 2017 - completion of energy action plan - completion of partners in energy plan - organic living – volunteered -earth day -harvest festival -achieved step 2 in green step cities -bike the park tour -eco garden tour -attended events: compost tour, etc. -realigned the work groups per council recommendations - two Commission retreats conducted - other items accomplished – influenced by the Commission - school district got grant from Hennepin County for recycling Environment and Sustainability -4- February 1, 2017 Commission Meeting - other cities are reaching out to SLP on our climate action plans, and other initiatives and how to develop a Commission Chair Abramson stated if the Commission thinks of any more items, to email them to Shannon. c. Project Team Updates/Other announcements Chair Abramson noted she would like the Commission to use a standing regular agenda for meetings going forward, which would be similar to tonight’s agenda allowing for the last half hour of the meeting time to be for work groups to work on their action steps. She noted it is difficult for work groups to meet outside of the regular meeting time, and this would give work group members a chance to accomplish some of their tasks, have work time and conversations related to the work of their groups. A motion was made by Nancy and seconded by Julie to standardize the meeting agenda and to allow the last half hour of meeting time to be used for work group time. Chris and Nancy asked if having the work groups work after the meeting is adjourned conflicts with the public meeting law – being that all Commissioners would remain in the same room to work with their groups. Shannon stated she would check further on this in the Commission bylaws, and with the Timesavers record keeping manager. The motion was approved. Judy stated the Energy Conservation Group meeting is next Wednesday at Knutson Construction, at 6:30 p.m. The location is Wayzata Blvd. off 394 and all are invited. The focus will be working with students from a sustainability class at the U of M. Terry distributed information from the LaCrosse MPower Sustainable Business Champions event he attended in Lacrosse related to water, trash, appliances, and home audit processes that the city is involved in. He noted 10 years ago he helped the city and county of Lacrosse to develop a sustainability program, and they are champions now. He added great changes have gone on there, which have made a difference for businesses, congregations and schools – and all become certified at the end of the program. He stated this will be something for St. Louis Park to refer to over time. Julie handed out some earth day information and details on the keynote speaker. Shannon noted she spoke to Ms. Heiser, on city staff regarding the Living Streets policy. Ms. Heiser will send information and the policy shortly to the transportation work group, and the full Commission, to review and give feedback. Shannon also met with Roots and Shoots to discuss the next steps and how students want to be involved going forward, and also recruiting new students. Environment and Sustainability -5- February 1, 2017 Commission Meeting She said she is requesting data on energy use percentages by school, for the climate action plan, and she stated she will continue to attend the meetings in the future as well. Julie mentioned being on the GREEN STEP CITY webinar related to brownfields. Terry noted the issue of contaminated water and the closing of water treatment plant #4. Julie also mentioned the plume going under the Central school building, and the survey the district is conducting online asking how the building should be repurposed. Julie mentioned there are opportunities for input and funding through Green Step Cities. Chair Abramson asked the Commission to figure out how to incorporate this topic into the work of the Commission and its priorities for 2018. Chair Abramson stated she will present to the council at the February 27 meeting, and encouraged the Commissioners to attend that evening also. d. Commission vacancies – Jayne is leaving the Commission, as she is graduating in May and Joe Barten has resigned his position. Applications for Commissioners are due February 28, and replacements will be needed on the ESC. Shannon noted that applications are online and that there are 6 new applicants who listed the ESC as one of their choices of a Commission to serve on. Chair Abramson will reach out to city clerk Kennedy on this process. Ryan suggested those interested should be asked to visit the ESC meetings. 5. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.