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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018/03/07 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - RegularMINUTES ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION: SUSTAINABLE SLP ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA March 7, 2018 Community Room, City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Sue Bloyer, Katie Christiansen, Nicole Ciulla,, Stefan Collinet, Terry Gips, Claire Lukens, Bridget Rathsack, Julie Rappaport and Lukas Wrede EXCUSED ABSENCE: Chair Ryan Griffin, Keir Stiegler STAFF PRESENT: Shannon Pinc, ESC Coordinator. GUESTS: Larry Kraft, iMatter; Councilmember Connie Buesgens, City of Columbia Heights 1. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Vice Chair Julie Rappaport. 2. The minutes of the February 7, 2018, meeting were reviewed, and several adjustments made. Stephan made a motion to approve the minutes, Julie seconded the motion, and the minutes were approved with several revisions and additions. 3. Business a. Workgroup Updates: Comp Plan; Energy/Climate; Communication Lukas noted residential wind sourcing flyers have been finalized and the group will do a small door to door wind sourcing campaign. Niki stated the group is working on the business brochure for the city’s Climate Action Plan. However, not that much is in place yet for businesses, except wind source and PACE, which is found on the city’s website. Also community solar is another area to focus on. The brochure will be 2 pages and they will direct folks to a resource person, either Larry or Ryan. Shannon will also share the link or copies of other documents with the communication group. Shannon will discuss further with communications staff on this project, for more assistance. Julie shared an update on food taskforce resolution. She met with Councilmember Rog, about samples of how to create the food policy. Julie shared copies of the draft with the group, which addresses hunger and disease, due to poor nutrition. Julie stated she would appreciate any feedback from the group. Terry asked Julie to share the document electronically with the commission and then come back with feedback at the next meeting. He added they will need to make sure information from Councilmember Brausen needs to be included, in order to make a case. Julie noted Councilmember Rog felt there was too much data included, so some of that was edited out. b. Comp Plan Presentation & Discussion – Meg McMonigal (staff) Environment and Sustainability -2- March 7, 2018 Commission Meeting Meg handed out copies of the comp plan to the commission. She noted each section begins with a vision statement. Climate action and energy is the main focus now since the climate action plan was adopted by the council. Sustainability was added. She stated staff will use a set of icons that will be used throughout the plan, so as to notice there are items throughout the plan that point to environmental sustainability. She noted instead of using the word “transportation” they are moving to the word “mobility”. She emphasized the Connect the Park project in St. Louis Park, which is adding and closing gaps in the sidewalks and trail system, and essentially creates an alternative transportation system. Julie noted a recent webinar she attended on Green Alleys, and looking to this also as a part of the comp plan as well. Meg noted the parks section in the comp plan as well, pointing to Westwood Nature Center and Minnehaha Creek areas. She also pointed out the healthy eating policy and food access in the community as well, that can be added to the health section. Claire asked if there might be a paragraph at the bottom of each section that points out how this area relates to equity and sustainability, and that would go throughout the document. This is to point out that equity and sustainability is not just a topic for the Human Rights Commission but is for all to be responsible for. Meg stated health and equity, among others, will be evident in all sections, by using the icons throughout the document, but stated she will note this as well. Claire asked about the use of the word “resiliency”. Meg stated this was one of the terms coming from Met Council, along with the word “equity”. Meg stated staff felt strongly about “resiliency and equity”. Shannon pointed out these words are connecting items throughout the whole of the city, such as water systems, not to replace the word “sustainability”. Terry stated words do matter a lot, and whichever words are chosen need to be done very consciously. He stated the commission did a lot of work looking at words, noting he appreciates the UN definition being added as it is very important as one aspect. But, however, he noted just because staff feels these words are important to use, that does not work for him, and there need to be more discussions, so as to come to shared understanding. He also had hoped the consultant would be attending tonight for this discussion. He stated this is not a little thing, as there are a wide range of feelings about sustainability, and these things matter in the outside world. He stated there must be a discussion about this, and that this matters a lot. Shannon stated staff’s definition was based on “resiliency” being used as a theme. Meg stated she wasn’t saying that words don’t matter, and more discussion can happen. Meg continued on with an outline/timeline of the ESC and policy changes since the last Comp Plan, noting staff will work with Shannon on these descriptions for the plan as well. Environment and Sustainability -3- March 7, 2018 Commission Meeting Terry pointed out some of the policies noted in the comp plan are actually programs. Meg stated this can be reformatted, so it will be readable. Julie noted the packaging ordinance, and suggested various formatting changes, with color coding, so there would be a visual of programs that are current and future, and understandable at a glance. Meg stated staff will work on that as well. Meg noted the Climate Action Plan implementation steps and pointed out the steps and strategies that will be taken. Shannon has been working on a plan about who will work on what related to the Comp plan, including being ambassadors and work on the communications plan as commissioners out in the community. This will be called the Sustainability Action Plan. Terry also asked about citizen engagement and residents roles in this and including this in the plan. He also noted some questions related to the Nature Center that some of the commissioners had, and where to submit those. Julie stated the whole Nature Center plan is online, and questions could be directed to Meg by end of day March 19th. Terry stated this is an important question, especially related to the $12 million going to build the new Nature Center, and making it fit the Climate Action Plan. These are questions for the Parks and Rec Commission as well. c. CAP Kickoff Event Discussion Lukas and Katie and Larry Kraft reported on the kickoff of the Climate Action Plan. Lukas stated April 22, Earth Day, will be the launch day of the Climate Action Plan. He said the group had a logistics meeting to look at timeframes for the kickoff. There will be introductions, and presentations from previous Roots and Shoots leaders, and then businesses presenting what they have done so far. Also, they would include Mayor Spano coming in to speak as well. Katie added they would have tables around the rooms for Roots and Shoots, Composting, Energy, Recycling, and Wind. Lukas stated they would like businesses there also to present what they are working on related to Climate Action Plan and then have them also sign a pledge. Xcel Energy would be there also with a table. Lukas said they want to make the event intergenerational, with parents, kids and seniors in attendance. Larry also discussed how to get people to attend the event and read a note from Ryan about a trying to get some youth publicity prior to the event, possibly at the ROC. Terry stated it might be helpful to have Paul Douglas in attendance to help and also have a person of color there as well, to help increase interest. He added it might be helpful to have a musician or music group there also, that young people like and could draw young people to the event. Julie added other city councils and commissions should be invited as well as people of color. Environment and Sustainability -4- March 7, 2018 Commission Meeting Larry stated getting celebrity-types such as the Cohen Brothers, or Tom Friedman, or Governor Dayton, Senator Klobuchar, or Rep. Ellison to attend, would be helpful to promote the event. Julie said having it be more kid-friendly and use Peach Jar also as a way to publicize, the school district communications tool. Shannon stated the venue needs to be finalized, but the ROC is held now, however depending on the weather, they might want to get an indoor venue held also. Terry added having folks from all generations would be preferred as well. Shannon asked Lukas and Katie where they need help to get this started. Lukas said they would like help with connections and writing outreach letters to invite the aforementioned individuals. He added the group will start having logistics meetings shortly as well. Bridget added having food there would be helpful also reaching out to local grocery stores would be a good place to start. Shannon added getting the speakers will be the first priority, and then setting the agenda and getting food items will follow. Terry had to leave the meeting at 8:45 p.m. He noted he did not renew to be a commissioner for the next term and his last meeting will be the May meeting. The commissioners thanked him for his service and added he will be missed. He stated he will continue to work on sustainability in the future. The commission discussed publicizing the Earth Day event on Next Door and the city’s Facebook page. Julie said the Teen Cook-off will be the Tuesday after Earth Day and the Mayor will be in attendance. Julie asked if the group would like to duplicate the tables that will be set up at Earth Day. She added a food/art gallery will be held as well. Stefan stated the Healthcare Professionals for a Health Environment are doing an event in St. Paul on April 20th. He will send details to the commissioners. The meeting was adjourned at 8:51 p.m.