HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022/03/02 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - Regular Official minutes
Environment & sustainability commission
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
3/2/2022
1. Call to order
1a. Roll call
Members present: Chair Andrew Willette, Marisa Bayer, Shaina Ashare, Ryan Griffin, Dave
Wilsey, Eric Zweber, Tatiana Giraldo, Paige Kane, JD Moore, Sasha Shahidi, Lillian Hertel
Members absent: Holly Johnson
Staff present: Emily Ziring, Sustainability Manager
Guests: none
2. Approval of minutes – Feb. 2, 2022
The minutes were unanimously approved as presented.
3. Business
a. Creation of events workgroup for Year of Climate Action planning
Ms. Ziring noted if there is enough interest in doing this, the commission can move ahead with
creating a workgroup to focus on events in 2022. She said potentially there will be 3-5 events
going on and it would be helpful to have the commissioners give their input.
She added the group could meet virtually, approximately once per month.
Commissioner Shahidi stated she could assist if the meetings were virtual. Commissioners
Giraldo, Bayer and Chair Willette are also interested.
4. Staff Updates
Ms. Ziring noted the following staff updates:
- working to get a consultant on housing research study
- doing sustainability specialist interviews – hoping will hire by April 1st
- working with electrify cohort to develop a campaign around heating and cooling
electrification in preparation for ECO legislation next year
- special assessment for energy programs and improvements – writing policy amendment
to be approved by council Monday, March 7
- State of MN climate action framework – staff providing input in 2 workgroups
- Rolling out new tree planting program – most of tree varieties are already sold out
- Working on earth month Windsource challenge, mostly through weekly social media
posts
- Year of Climate Action updates, many opportunities to sign up to volunteer
Environment & sustainability commission -2- March 2, 2022
- Climate ribbon tree – will be able to take to events – will present to all 6th grade science
classes at St. Louis Park middle school, other ideas also welcome for decorating the
ribbon tree
- Ride and Drive – looking to do a stand-alone event at Lenox Community Center this fall
- New tree planting programs – information on city website was reviewed with
commissioners, including Growing Shade, a new Met Council tool
- Project with University of MN – class at Humphrey School doing a research project
examining ways to increase solar on roofs of commercial buildings in the city
The commission also discussed the use of trees in traffic calming. Ms. Ziring stated she could
get information from the engineering department about this.
She added that the city had hoped to double the number of trees planted on private property
within the city this year. As of now, 190 were purchased through the Tree Sale.
5. Open discussion
Commissioner Shahidi stated she is grieving over the tree clearing at Weber Park. She added
she was encouraged to bring it up at the commission meeting and to make sure this never
happens in St. Louis Park. She wondered if anyone else was as stricken by this as she was and
she thinks there is an issue with transparency here. She also is wondering how others feel
about this, noting that no one is talking about this.
Commissioner Griffin agreed and noted he had to step away from the issue. He had reached out
to various neighborhood associations within the area and the city councils of Edina and St. Louis
Park, adding what happened there was a tragedy.
Commissioner Shahidi added there is already green space on both sides of the area, and she
does not understand the idea of creating a new park there. She added that if nobody wanted
this, how did this pass; she believes the council is not representing their constituents.
Commissioner Shahidi stated she does not know where the Edina environmental commission
was on this.
Commissioner Bayer stated Westwood Hills Nature Center and Aquila are all preserved parks
and asked, if the city wants to cut down trees are the neighbors notified? Ms. Ziring stated she
does not know the notification requirements for public tree removal. She added she will look
into this and report back.
6. Workgroups updates – none
7. City Council Engagement
Ms. Ziring stated council meetings are being organized around the five strategic priorities, and
right now council is examining topics within the community engagement priority. She
encouraged the commission to check future agendas and tune in to meetings.
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8. Environmental Justice and current events open discussion
Chair Willette described an article he read about a solar subsidy in California where the PUC is
looking to reduce the subsidy; because other rate payers are paying more for their electricity it
is affecting disadvantaged communities. He stated this is something to keep on the radar.
Ms. Ziring stated there has been some talk about creating a community solar garden in St. Louis
Park, but they have not been able to find the real estate for this. She added the school district is
going to be installing 2.3 megawatts of solar on all the roofs of all the schools, which is great
news.
Commissioner Zweber asked if the commission could have a legislative update or speaker at a
future meeting. Ms. Ziring stated she would look into this and noted Mr. Hoffman could
potentially provide an update to the commission.
9. Upcoming/proposed events
The commissioners were encouraged to look at the SignUp Genius for upcoming events.
Ms. Ziring noted the State of Minnesota will be having a climate action framework community
conversation on March 16 from 1-3 p.m., and it will be virtual. More information is on the state
climate action website and Mr. Ziring will send out information to the commissioners. She
added if you cannot attend the meeting, there is room for feedback to be sent via the website.
10. Adjournment – 7:50 p.m.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Emily Ziring, liaison Andrew Willette, chair member