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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/01/04 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - Regular Official minutes Environment & sustainability commission St. Louis Park, Minnesota 1/4/2023 1. Call to order -- 6:00 p.m. 1a. Roll call Members present: Chair Andrew Willette, Vice Chair Shaina Ashare, Ryan Griffin, Abigail Oppegaard, Marisa Bayer, Lillian Hertel, Tatiana Giraldo, Dave Wilsey, Paul Zeigle Members absent: Sasha Shahidi, Hailey Sexton, Ramil Goonetilleke, Eric Zweber Staff present: Emily Ziring, Sustainability Manager Guests: 3. Approval of minutes – Dec. 4, 2022, retreat The minutes were approved unanimously as presented. 4. Business a. Review proposed 2023 ESC work plan Chair Willette stated he and Vice Chair Ashare reviewed the draft work plan and noted the three categories of work. Commissioner Bayer stated she liked how the work plan is organized and the strategies listed. Chair Willette noted this work plan is currently very open-ended unlike others that are very prescriptive. He noted he appreciates the more general concept of the plan to allow for more flexibility. Commissioner Wilsey asked if goals and strategies should be aligned with objectives. Chair Willette stated he envisions work groups looking at how to develop specific ideas on how to reach the goals. Commissioner Bayer noted metrics will need to be defined within each bucket, which she sees as an add or a change. Ms. Ziring stated metrics for success will be provided by staff for incentive programs. Commissioner Griffin asked if a charter exists for the ESC. Ms. Ziring stated that the ESC’s purpose is included in its bylaws. Commissioner Griffin noted it would be important to not duplicate that. Ms. Ziring stated she reviews bylaws with new members, noting they are at a higher level than these goals and strategies. She added as an advisory body, the tasks make sense and don’t need to change much year over year. Environmental & Sustainability Commission -2- Jan. 4, 2023 Vice Chair Ashare added statewide topics can be included in the agenda. Ms. Ziring noted a member can be designated to receive the House Climate and Energy Policy Committee emails, which would help the ESC keep up on what the group is doing. She noted Rep. Kraft is now the vice chair of that committee. Commissioner Wilsey asked where the focus on leaf blowers and tree preservation in the work plan is. Chair Willette stated this can be worked on in members everyday lives and while tabling if they have capacity to do so. The ESC members and Ms. Ziring worked on various portions of the work plan, rewriting and adjusting items. Chair Willette stated items from the work plan will be added to the ESC standing agenda in order to keep the work plan top of mind. 5. Staff Updates Ms. Ziring noted the following updates: • Capstone presentations – U of M students presented and the report was shared, which will be forwarded to the ESC members • Electrify cohort – plans being worked on, website about to be launched where contractors will be included in a directory – workshops, tabling and presentations are planned • Congressional spending will provide $1 million for whole-home electrification retrofits for 5-10 income-qualified residential properties • Benchmarking – a survey was sent after 3 years, response rate not good, will keep survey open for time being • Multi-family building efficiency program – working with them on an incentive program • Special assessment for energy improvements on multi-family or commercial buildings – STEP is the first to apply for this • Finalizing Climate Champions for organizations – churches, synagogues, non- profit buildings • Solid waste social media campaign for sustainability – staff will set up Instagram reels and TikTok videos Chair Willette asked if the electrify program will be expanded to other cities. Ms. Ziring stated cities are contracted with CEE for one year. She noted more cities will be added over time. 6. Workgroup and/or project updates a. Events workgroup – will meet to plan another trivia night in spring. b. Gas-powered lawn equipment workgroup – ESC will review the report, then meet to discuss. c. Tree policies workgroup – the Environmental Stewardship system will not go before council study sessions until May or June. Update on memo to council – memo sent to council, no feedback yet. Environmental & Sustainability Commission -2- Jan. 4, 2023 Chair Willette asked if a policy work group should be added. Vice Chair Ashare stated she could monitor this. Commissioner Bayer added she can share informally what she hears through her work. She added this could be a standing update. 7. City Council engagement - none 8. Environmental Justice and current events open discussion Commissioner Oppegaard asked about road salt policies in the city, and if it can be addressed. Ms. Ziring stated that the city supports the Smart Salting certification program. She added the city does not have authority over MnDOT or Hennepin County plows or salting practices. Commissioner Griffin asked if salt use by the city is tracked each year. Ms. Ziring stated most likely, but she was unsure and can find out. She added that road salt use will fluctuate each winter and be highly dependent on temperature and snowfall levels. Chair Willette noted a podcast by Rep. Kraft related to the founder of Solar Bear, a business on the Red Lake Reservation that uses solar panels. He added the founder will present at a climate solution series presentation on Jan. 25 at the American Swedish Institute. 9. Upcoming/proposed events a. ESC elections, Feb. 1 meeting – a new chair and vice chair will be elected. If anyone is interested, contact Chair Willette and Vice Chair Ashare on what the position entails. 10. Adjournment – 7:16 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Emily Ziring, liaison Andrew Willette, chair member