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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018/01/03 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - RegularMINUTES ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION: SUSTAINABLE SLP ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA January 3, 2018 Community Room, City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Ryan Griffin, Stefan Collinet, Claire Lukens, Bridget Rathsack, Keir Stiegler, Nicole Ciulla, and Terry Gips. EXCUSED ABSENCE: Sue Bloyer, Lukas Wrede, Julie Rappaport STAFF PRESENT: Shannon Pinc, ESC Coordinator; Meg McMonigal. GUESTS: Katie Christiansen, Larry Kraft, Jeff Miller (HKGI consultant). 1. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Griffin. 2. Business a. Workgroup Updates: Comprehensive Plan – Julie and Keir will touch base and give an update at the next meeting. Energy/Climate – Larry noted the shoots team is assuming leadership in the Partners in Leadership. They have had one meeting, focused on wind source campaign. Mr. Bravo would be willing to meet about other alternative energy resources, but not the solar program. He did say there are other options however they are not certain what Mr. Bravo’s concerns are. The next step is to talk with the new school superintendent. Communication – Niki/Claire/Bridget updated the group. They are working with Shannon on social media, and how to collaborate with the climate action plan and energy group to roll out the climate action plan, and work on a few strategies. They are working to set up a meeting with city staff regarding social media. Some of the content has been rewritten by staff, and there is no recognition of the ESC in the postings. Terry stated they had a great work group in the past, but were not able to do any of the items they had intended. Now there are three women who have taken on communications, and there is an energy and excitement, but it was not completed as we intended. It was our hope to communicate to citizens and have citizens communicate back to us, and we are hoping we can make a difference here. This is about scope 3, we need to address this, through education and awareness. He added this is critical, and needs to be accomplished. Shannon has communicated with staff on this, adding staff is working on a response for the upcoming meeting. Stefan noted he sent bullet points to Chair Griffin on the climate action plan, adding if he needs more information to let him know. Environment and Sustainability -2- January 3, 2018 Commission Meeting b. Comprehensive Plan discussion – Meg McMonigal and Jeff Miller presented. Ms. McMonigal introduced Mr. Miller who is the consultant from HGKI, who is working on the overall comprehensive plan. She noted he worked on the plan 10 years ago also. Chair Griffin asked how the commission engages with Ms. McMonigal and Mr. Miller until the comp plan is written. The commission has completed their work plan for 2018, which includes important priorities for the commission. Ms. McMonigal stated the ESC workplan has been reviewed, and intent will be to draft this up and bring it back in March to the commission and finalizing it afterwards. Ms. McMonigal presented the draft of the environmental chapter as it relates to climate resiliency, energy conservation and public health. She added the chapter is organized as to where we have been, where we are today and where we are going, noting this is how it was done in the past and this has worked well. She noted the Vision 3.0 recommendations as well. Ms. McMonigal added solid waste and other utilities in the chapter as well related to environment and health. Also, efficient use of land, transit mobility and natural resources. Mr. Miller noted the draft climate action plan will go to the council this month for review. Chair Ryan stated it would be better to note climate action prevention vs. climate resiliency, as a topic. Mr. Miller noted Green Steps Cities is another area which will be included in the plan, as well as Living Streets policy. Additionally, community environmental education will be included. Terry encouraged it be listed as environmental sustainability education instead, and looking to expand this to climate change and food systems focuses also. Terry noted that food systems is totally climate action related, and should be listed as a priority. Terry added it would be good to acknowledge the Partners in Energy plan also. Ms. McMonigal agreed and noted there will be text included on this. Terry added the commission needs to be speaking to the business community and acknowledge we are reaching out to them ongoing, and not just working on community projects. Shannon noted this reach out to businesses is definitely part of the climate action plan project. Ms. McMonigal agreed, noting this is a great outreach to businesses. Chair Griffin stated it might be best to focus on where we are headed to make it relevant. Shannon agreed, but stated it is also important to include the accomplishments over the last 10 years as well, and refer to the goals as well. Environment and Sustainability -3- January 3, 2018 Commission Meeting Chair Griffin stated it will be important to also include that there is much work to be done also. Terry added scope 3 includes more impacts as to how we live on a daily basis. He stated this should be included, especially as it affects eco-systems, for example, as another issue of what sustainability is about. Ms. McMonigal added some of these items may not fall into the city’s priorities, however can be addressed as educational items. Terry stated the city has always wanted the commission to be cutting edge on these items. While there is only so much we can do, it would be good to address as many things as possible, from water, to energy, to food, among others. Ryan asked if sustainability should be added as a category. Terry added all of these items can be related to sustainability. Ms. McMonigal stated these are all lenses at looking at sustainability. She noted Connect the Park is one item related to sustainability, as it works to limit the carbon footprint. Items like these will be sprinkled throughout the plan she stated, as well as Living Streets, among others. Icons will also be utilized to relate topics to other categories within the plan as well. Ms. McMonigal concluded the changes and updates discussed tonight will be made, and it will be brought back for final review in March. Shannon added the commission will work on sustainability action plans and bring that work back also in March. c. Finalize work plan recommendations and message for annual meeting with Council – Chair Griffin noted on Feb 26 is the annual meeting with all the boards and commissions and the city council. Shannon stated more details will be forthcoming in the near future, and she will forward those to the commissioners. Chair Griffin asked the commission to spend some time thinking about what they will want to communicate to the other commissions and to the council. He stated it is one of the few direct engagement points the commission has with the council during the year. Shannon stated a written report and a power point is included and presented at the annual meeting, and a way to introduce the group, and their interests. Chair Griffin added if anyone on the commission is interested in presenting, please let him know. Terry stated Chair Griffin should be the presenter at the meeting, and the work group leaders could each also present about their work groups. Environment and Sustainability -4- January 3, 2018 Commission Meeting The commission looked at last year’s presentation, and discussed what could be presented for this coming year. Shannon will send last year’s presentation and work plan to the commission for review, and for updates for this year’s annual meeting presentation. The group also discussed which photographs can be used in the presentation as well. Shannon noted the annual meeting is a public meeting, but is geared toward the commission’s presentations. Terry added it will be important to discuss how to add more diversity to the commission, and make this part of the discussion also. Chair Griffin agreed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.