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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/03/05 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - Regular Official minutes Environment & sustainability commission St. Louis Park, Minnesota 3/5/2025 1. Call to order – 6:30 p.m. 1a. Roll call Members present: Vice Chair Abigail Oppegaard, Tatiana Giraldo, Ramil Goonetilleke, Ryan Griffin, Jessie Hendrix, Ethan Kehrberg, Avery Kuehl, Bennett Myhran, Sasha Shahidi, Natalie Wagner Members absent: Chair Eric Zweber, Shaina Ashare, Marisa Bayer Staff present: Emily Ziring, Sustainability Manager Guests: none 2. Approval of minutes – Feb 5, 2025 – The minutes were approved unanimously as presented (with one abstention). 3. Business a. New business • Idle-Free SLP campaign check-in Commissioner Giraldo stated it took over a year to get signs up at schools and in public places. She added that even with signs, there are still people parked idling in their cars. She noted the signs might be hard to see, and there should be more social media and publicity about this issue. Vice Chair Oppegaard stated people are not interested in not idling for the environment unless they hear it can harm children’s health, so maybe it could be projected differently. Commissioner Hendrix asked if the city has air quality monitors that could be installed to notify people if the air quality is bad while idling. Commissioner Wagner asked if signs could be changed from “no idling” to “turn off your engine,” stating this could help with communication. Commissioner Shahidi stated it does say that, but it is too small to read. Commissioner Shahidi asked if we can enforce this since it is not a law. She noted someone could go up to the person in the car and tell them to turn it off and point out the no idling sign. Commissioner Giraldo added that maybe student ambassadors could do this and also hand out information about idling. Environmental & Sustainability Commission March 5, 2025 Commissioner Hendrix suggested information could be put at the upcoming tabling events at the elementary schools. Commissioner Goonetilleke stated going up to the car to tell them to stop idling might be uncomfortable for people, but possibly a crossing guard could hold up a sign to drivers about turning off their engines. Commissioner Shahidi asked about how to report suspicious levels of toxic emissions coming out of a building. Ms. Ziring stated MPCA usually manages permits for point source emissions and stated she could send out a link with more information. Ms. Ziring stated idling is a public health issue mostly about children and that is why staff focused signs on schools and parks. She added the city has really worked hard to engage principals and school personnel, but taking action is up to the schools. She noted framing idling as a public health issue is why Park Nicollet agreed to sign on to the campaign. She added she can talk to Westwood Hills Nature Center staff to see what they recommend but is not sure the city can print larger signs because there are rules around that. She stated when it comes to staff “enforcing” or asking people to voluntarily comply with a city policy, she has been told this puts staff in an awkward position. She added that the number of months staff can ask drivers to turn off their engines is limited given extreme weather. Ms. Ziring stated her staff is printing up postcards about idling and added she will bring some to the next meeting so the commissioners can distribute them, as well as have them at tabling events. Commissioner Griffin stated in the future most cars will have auto shut-off if a car is not moving and EVs can idle with no tailpipe emissions. Commissioner Myhran asked how city vehicles are adhering to the policy. Ms. Ziring stated city vehicles that are non-emergency vehicles have been trying hard to adhere to the policy and reminders are also sent periodically. Ms. Ziring stated schools are tough for enforcement because of the drop-off and pick-up lines and until someone is out there with a better system to organize this, everyone creeps along slowly. Commissioner Giraldo stated the line at PSI is also packed with idling cars waiting in line for drop off and pick up. Commissioner Griffin added waiting for school bus at the stop is also an issue with cars waiting and idling at the school bus stop. Commissioner Griffin added that all city vehicles should be electric. Ms. Ziring stated that all passenger fleet cars are replaced with EVs as they are replaced. She noted that electric police cruisers, however, have been problematic, and it is very rare to find those in the region. Environmental & Sustainability Commission March 5, 2025 Commissioner Myhran stated the majority of city public works equipment and heavy equipment will not be replaced with electric anytime soon. He noted if public works were on board with this, they can communicate this to their contractors. Ms. Ziring stated that the technology does not exist for some of the heavy duty city equipment, or the price is so costly and the funds are not in the capital plan to afford it. Commissioner Kuehl stated focusing on education is important, and targeting younger people might be a good approach since they have not been driving that long. She stated tabling at the elementary schools would also be helpful. Commissioner Goonetilleke noted hockey rinks and asked if promotion could be done at the rink itself, with a promotion or on Park TV for a commercial message. Ms. Ziring stated staff is brainstorming how to educate about idling via Park TV. Commissioner Shahidi also asked about sending education information to all school families in the superintendent’s newsletter, and about making school buses electric. Vice Chair Oppegaard said there are grants available for electric buses, but with budget cuts at the schools it is difficult to find the funds for the charging equipment required. Commissioner Griffin stated we should not be buying new diesel buses though. Vice Chair Oppegaard stated that when the district needs a new bus, however, the diesel buses are more affordable. He added behavior change does not work and noted the technology is the thing that does. Commissioner Wagner stated if there needs to be a work group to make phone calls to driver ed providers, she would be willing to be part of this. • Signup Genius ready for outreach opportunities Ms. Ziring noted the 2025 tabling and volunteer opportunities and shifts. She stated that this is updated throughout the year and noted several events to sign up for: the EV event, Arbor Day, Fire Station Open House, Ecotacular, and the St. Louis Park Art Fair. Commissioner Myhran asked what can be discussed with the public at these events. Ms. Ziring stated at Arbor Day we talk about tree programs more, and the other events more general information is discussed. She added there are lots of materials that can be distributed to the public. Commissioner Shahidi added it also depends on the group that is at the event and what their interests are. Commissioner Griffin asked about the EV showcase and how to show his electric vehicle at the event. Ms. Ziring stated staff will reach out to him with details. Environmental & Sustainability Commission March 5, 2025 b. Unfinished business - none 4. Staff updates a. Progress reports (quarterly) Ms. Ziring updated the commission on the following items: • Purchasing policy work group for the city • Aquila Texa-Tonka outreach project • Geothermal planning grant – due March 10 • Disbursement of EECGB funds • EV event • Ecotacular • Contractor breakfast with Minneapolis, Hopkins and Edina to talk about energy efficiency and solar programs Applications open for boards and commissions on March 10 and more information will be coming. She added that council approved term limits for members of boards and commissions, but it would only apply to future appointments and would be for two terms. Compensation will also be provided at $49 per month, but this can be declined. 5. Work plan update Climate Action Plan update – Ms. Ziring stated the Climate Action Plan update work group met and discussed the approach and timeline. She stated they will meet again in early April. Electrification and elementary school events – the events work group met to discuss the electrification event idea and tabling at elementary schools. The work group has decided to assist staff with building out the EV showcase event on May 2 and creating a self-guided tour/Bingo game of sustainable businesses in October. Two events have been selected this spring for youth commissioners to engage kids while others table. Promoting curbside organics – Ms. Ziring met with Kala Fisher, solid waste manager, to discuss the scope of work for these commissioners. She noted she is waiting for some information on this to pass on to Chair Zweber, Commissioners Goonetilleke and Hendrix. Promotion of trees – will hold on this for now until after the joint meeting with PRAC. Vision 4.0 – no updates as yet. 6. Sustainability issues Commissioner Goonetilleke mentioned the Star Tribune article that reported that there were several 30-year-old trees cut down illegally at Cedar Lake Park, near the bike path and shoreline. Environmental & Sustainability Commission March 5, 2025 Commissioner Kuehl stated the high school will be doing an article on environmental and sustainability issues and interviewing Ms. Ziring. Commissioner Giraldo stated her HVAC contractor gave her discount information but did not give city rebate information. Ms. Ziring stated the city will continue to educate contractors, including at the upcoming contractor breakfast. 7. Items to discuss at a future meeting Commissioner Shahidi asked about updates on zoning and planning related to the four city-owned parcels of land. Ms. Ziring stated it was approved this week as recommended. Commissioner Wagner stated there is an interactive map for the zoning updates on the city website. Commissioner Hendrix stated she would like to discuss water quality at a future meeting. She is interested in education and engagement related to surface water. 8. Upcoming/proposed events • The April monthly meeting will be held April 23 at 6 p.m. at the Westwood Hills Nature Center with the PRAC. • Litter event – Ms. Ziring will check into this, and Vice Chair Oppegaard noted this might be a call for individuals to go pick up trash in various areas around the city. • EV showcase and charger ribbon cutting will be held May 2 at 5 p.m. at Aquila Park. • May 10 is Arbor Day celebration at Browndale Park from 9:00 a.m. to noon. • May 19 is the city council study session where ESC will present their work plan to city council and Chair Zweber will attend. More details will follow. 9. Adjournment – 8:00 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Emily Ziring, liaison Eric Zweber, chair member