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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/10/04 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - Regular Official minutes Environment & sustainability commission St. Louis Park, Minnesota 10/4/2023 1. Call to order – 6:30 p.m. 1a. Roll call Members present: Vice Chair Tatiana Giraldo, Marisa Bayer, Ramil Goonetilleke, Ryan Griffin, Sasha Shahidi, Abigail Oppegaard, Andrew Willette, Dave Wilsey, Paul Zeigle Members absent: Chair Shaina Ashare, Eric Zweber Staff present: Emily Ziring, Sustainability Manager, Cheyenne Brodeen, Administrative Services Director; Michael Sund, Elections and Civic Engagement Coordinator Guests: Councilmember Sue Budd; Emily Suppes, resident 2. Approval of minutes – Sept. 6, 2023 – The minutes were approved unanimously as presented with 1 abstention. 3. Business 3a. Outcomes from Oct. 2 council discussion of board and commission program purpose Ms. Brodeen and Mr. Sund presented the report. Commissioner Wilsey asked given the emphasis that was placed on access and diversification of the representation of who serves on boards and commissions, whether it feels like with 25 people it would be a dramatic reduction of representation in the community. He noted people will come in with a different voice and background, so there will be more people, but they will come into this differently and that could be both good and bad. Mr. Sund agreed. He noted all of the commissions have a different number of members and their bylaws were all written at different times depending on when they were created, and that the ESC has more members than any other commission. He stated with the new structure, the ad hoc committees would take on a new role. He added the cohort model would be utilized so the groups can pass on to others over time. He noted 25 members was chosen to coincide with 5 members per commission, but this can be changed, and if there is staff support then this number can go up. Commissioner Willette asked if the task force groups would meet on a regular basis. Ms. Brodeen stated for the groups to meet remotely, there are some rules around this that need to be explored. Environmental & Sustainability Commission Oct. 4, 2023 Ms. Brodeen added with the larger group, they would have training in city government, and how they can participate and learn. Ms. Ziring stated under the new structure, anyone could work under the wide umbrella of sustainability projects, adding there are pros and cons to the new structure. Mr. Sund added staff wants to also ensure that commission members would still have access to city council members. Commissioner Bayer asked how this group would be directed, pointing out that with such a large number of people on the task force it would be difficult to get anything accomplished. Ms. Brodeen stated this was a concern and noted they do plan each year what systems projects will be worked on and then people can sign up for what they are interested in. One staff person will manage the large group, and there will also be subject matter experts such as Ms. Ziring to assist with projects. Mr. Sund added the group would not follow parliamentary rules or need to vote on items but would provide input to decision-makers only. Commissioner Bayer asked how the information then gets to the decision-makers. Mr. Sund stated the staff member would forward the item to council but would also include all the input from the task force members. Commissioner Wilsey stated that this describes more of a listening session than a task force. If the sub-groups would only be taking information in and not designed to work, that is different than a working group and if it’s not so named, it will exacerbate the current problems. He stated this structure will give something up by doing this. Mr. Sund stated he appreciated that feedback and added this is not finalized and is still being discussed and worked on. He added the new format will free staff and members to make decisions on how this will work. Commissioner Bayer agreed with Commissioner Wilsey’s comments and added consensus building and discussion is not the same as a formal recommendation but are things we want the council to consider. She stated if it’s a truly facilitated discussion, there will need to be some consensus or coalition and themes that can be presented to council. Commissioner Zeigle added this all could be done online as well since it would be difficult to get 25 people and small groups together at certain times. Commissioner Griffin agreed with prior comments and added from a sustainability standpoint, there are 10 commissioners here every month for 2 hours, which equals 240 facilitated, engaged hours on sustainability each year. He stated when you add 5 more commissions there are then 1,200+ facilitated engagement hours. He asked how many hours would be devoted to sustainability with the new model, noting it would be far less. He asked if the sub-groups will post meetings so that all can attend and if the big Environmental & Sustainability Commission Oct. 4, 2023 group only meets four times per year, that’s less frequent. Ms. Brodeen stated they would meet and work on the mini city academy sessions. Commissioner Griffin stated the new model could be in addition to the commission meetings as they are now, but with the new model, much would be lost. Commissioner Shahidi agreed as well and asked if it’s possible for sustainability to have both – to lose the ESC would be a shame. She added the systems approach for people who only meet two times per year would be difficult to work with. She stated it is also harder to make long-term connections under the proposed model and that it seems more like a certification course. She stated she likes the idea of self-development, or a lecture, but it does not replace the ESC, which would be a large loss. She added it would also be losing some expertise as well. Ms. Brodeen stated as far as expertise, staff can do more work to make sure this is covered with a variety of experts. Commissioner Shahidi stated that is great but it does not replace the sustainability commission. She stated staff may be underestimating how much time and work goes into the work groups, adding there is burn-out so this part would need to be more structured. Mr. Sund noted the work groups would be scheduled and with a great amount of structure and then folks could choose how they want to participate. He added a staff member would be leading the work groups also. Commissioner Shahidi added volunteers will need to need to be knowledgeable for tabling at events, and the ESC commissioners would be more appropriate for this work. Ms. Brodeen stated this will be fleshed out with an expansion of the current volunteer program and new trainings. Ms. Ziring added that a new training would be similar to the detailed training given to Recycling Champions. Commissioner Shahidi reiterated that dismantling the ESC would be a great loss. Commissioner Oppegaard added having the expertise of ESC commissioners is vital and keeping the ESC is important. She asked if there could be town hall meetings instead of the new model, especially for those with lots of commitments. Ms. Brodeen stated town halls would be difficult because they’re not built into the system. Mr. Sund agreed with all the points made and appreciated the feedback from commissioners. He noted staff discussed the purpose of the boards and commissions and the model of community-driven process being reviewed as the new model. He noted with the new model, each year about half of the people would be appointed to the total group. Commissioner Shahidi stated 25 is too many and would be difficult for good discussion. Vice Chair Giraldo noted the amount of time it takes for the ESC to organize work groups. She added she doesn’t understand why the new model of 25 in the large group Environmental & Sustainability Commission Oct. 4, 2023 would be needed and stated she would not want to lose any of the ESC commissioners currently on the commission. Commissioner Bayer hoped as this is designed getting additional input on the structure and a pilot would be helpful as the new structure is created. Commissioner Oppegaard asked how all the input from the 25-member group would get back to council and would they be able to actually do something with that input. Mr. Sund stated this is one of the concerns now that commissions have about getting their recommendations to council and then not having them acted upon. He added this will be a continued discussion as the new model develops. Commissioner Griffin stated the commission’s report to the council was a good model in the past. Mr. Sund stated that the annual work plan presentations to council were discontinued when council meetings went remote during the pandemic, and annual commission recognition events received mixed reviews from some commissioners so they were discontinued. Ms. Ziring noted she is fond of the ESC members and proud of what the city has done as a result of the ESC’s work. She stated she wants to celebrate this work, but added she is not sure what more she has to bring to the group in the future. She stated for her a structure that is more timebound would be most beneficial, and noted there will be times when commissioners feedback is needed, but staff will not continue to constantly create new programs around sustainability, and she does not believe it is an effective use of staff or volunteers’ time to meet on a monthly basis and she asked the group to consider that as well. Ms. Brodeen thanked the ESC for their input and stated they will send out information on an upcoming listening session with council. 3b. Efficient Building Benchmarking program 4-year data analysis Ms. Ziring said the last time the data was reviewed it was suggested that a fourth year of data was needed. She then reviewed background information on the project. She noted there has been a 4% improvement in energy use intensity for those 71 buildings that have reported four years of data. Ms. Ziring stated that staff will recommend to council that the program will sunset when it’s taken over by the state. Commissioner Griffin stated the ESC and Ms. Ziring need to take credit for this 4% improvement. He asked if the data points to which schools need more work. Ms. Ziring stated yes it does, and to view the reporting map. Environmental & Sustainability Commission Oct. 4, 2023 Commissioner Bayer asked with the benchmarking project going to the state, how will staff time be redirected. Ms. Ziring stated with grant writing, and explained there are many grant opportunities every week with federal and state grants. 4. Staff updates Ms. Ziring updated the commission on the following items: • Assisting with grant writing for tree funds • Benchmarking data analysis • New video – a day in the life of a sustainable resident • Climate Champions for homes • EV 101 event – had over 40 people in attendance • Energy efficiency programs with STEP and Wayside Recovery Center • First Station #1 rooftop solar project 5. Work plan update Vice Chair Giraldo noted contractors came to her home and provided recommendations on her furnace. She stated she wanted information on heat pumps and that it was difficult to convince them. Commissioner Zeigle asked about different rates if you have a heat pump. Ms. Ziring stated that there is a winter heating rate and people can call Xcel to set this up. 6. Environmental justice and current events open discussion Commissioner Zeigle noted MPR has climate week and articles about climate change. Commissioner Bayer also noted NPR had an article about the HERC, and pollution that goes to the north side of Minneapolis. She noted many homes and buildings are powered with the HERC which was surprising. Commissioner Griffin noted an article regarding the UK government asking auto manufacturers to increase production of smaller electric vehicles. He noted the profit margin is not there and noted it’s not just a consumer choice issue. 7. Upcoming/proposed events Ms. Ziring noted the upcoming Electrify Everything MN fall workshop, Nov. 4, 10 a.m. – 12 noon, at Westwood Hills Nature Center interpretive center. Ms. Ziring thanked the commissioners for their volunteering this past year. 8. Adjournment – 8:28 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Environmental & Sustainability Commission Oct. 4, 2023 Emily Ziring, liaison Shaina Ashare, chair member