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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/05/07 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - Regular Official minutes Environment & sustainability commission St. Louis Park, Minnesota 5/7/2025 1. Call to order – 6:30 p.m. 1a. Roll call Members present: Chair Eric Zweber, Vice Chair Abigail Oppegaard, Shaina Ashare, Ramil Goonetilleke, Ryan Griffin, Jessie Hendrix, Ethan Kehrberg, Avery Kuehl, Bennett Myhran, Sasha Shahidi Absent: Marisa Bayer, Tatiana Giraldo, Natalie Wagner Staff present: Emily Ziring, sustainability manager Guests: none 2. Business a. Recognition of outgoing commissioners – new commissioners will be appointed or reappointed in June. Applicants will be interviewed at the May 19 city council meeting. Chair Zweber will be resigning from the ESC at the end of his term on May 31. Ms. Ziring recognized Chair Zweber and thanked him for his service and insights while serving on the commission. b. July availability poll – Ms. Ziring stated July is a busy month for travel and she polled the group on cancellation of the July meeting, noting it is up to the group. Only a few commissioners indicated they will be unavailable, so they will vote at the June meeting. c. Environmental Stewardship system reports overview – Ms. Ziring stated that council hears study session topics organized by the five strategic priorities. She stated she will report to council on May 19 and June 9. At the May 19 meeting, she plans to explain why climate action is important work at this time. Chair Zweber will also report to council on the ESC workplan for 2025. At the June 9 meeting, parks and recreation will have a report on parks and open space. Ms. Ziring will also present to council on Climate Action Plan goals and projected costs. She stated it is up to council during budget discussions to determine with they want to spend. Ms. Ziring added she will also give an update on the Climate Action Plan work group work. She noted all ESC members are invited to attend both study sessions in May and June. d. Upcoming Vision 4.0 engagement opportunities – Ms. Ziring gave a brief overview of the visioning process which happens every 10 years. She stated the city’s strategic priorities come out of this year-long community engagement Environmental & Sustainability Commission May 7, 2025 process. She stated it forms what council and the city will focus on for the next 10 years. Ms. Ziring added ESC members can either host an engagement session with neighbors or participate in pop-up engagement sessions. She added that engagement sessions will be everywhere this summer and encouraged everyone to be involved in as many Vision 4.0 activities as possible, including the youth commissioners. Commissioner Shahidi made a motion to amend the agenda to allow for approval of the April 23, 2025, minutes. Commissioner Kuehl seconded. The motion passed unanimously. e. Meeting Minutes from April 23, 2025 – Commissioner Oppegaard made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Commissioner Griffin seconded. The motion passed with 2 abstentions. The ESC discussed the April meeting held at the Westwood Hills Nature Center and agreed they would like to do this again in the future with less presentation and more discussion included. 3. Staff updates Ms. Ziring updated the ESC on the following items: • Training on new budgeting software system • Working on Environmental Stewardship system reports • Looking for volunteers for Wheelie Fun bike ride – Annie and Ellie are looking for volunteers for tabling at Dakota Park • Earth Day tabling was a success with lots of engaged residents at the library and Central Early Learning Center • Susan Lindgren Imagination Fair at The ROC • Presentations on Climate Champions with HVAC installation companies • Aquila EV Petting Zoo event – excellent turnout and good engagement around vehicles, with lots of good questions. Mayor Mohamed and Council Member Budd spoke, and Council Member Rog was also in attendance. • Promoting Ecotacular and the M.V.Tree campaign that is coming up – encourage getting the word out on both. 4. Work plan update a. Climate Action Plan workgroup – One meeting was held so far and looking at what will go into the update. Work on this will likely continue into 2026. b. Electrification event – Will meet again in June or July to discuss the passport idea. c. Promote curbside organics – Chair Zweber stated they reviewed information on studies done by University of MN students and data from Minneapolis and Edina. He Environmental & Sustainability Commission May 7, 2025 stated he is happy to see the amount of growth every year on organics, and they will continue to discuss future plans and actionable items. d. Elementary school open houses – Susan Lindgren event, and more events in the fall will be scheduled. e. Promote value of trees and ecosystems – Just starting this workgroup. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commissioner Yakes will be participating. 5. Sustainability open discussion Commissioner Myhran shared information about finding three 80-foot, 33-inch in diameter trees he found in Wayzata. Commissioner Shahidi noted a work project she is involved in related to greenhouse gas data, which makes groundbreaking data now available on a monthly basis. Ms. Ziring mentioned federal cuts to Americorps, which includes funding for GreenCorps and Conservation Corps, and added that natural resources will be affected in the fall. Commissioner Kehrberg added St. Louis Park has one person involved in GreenCorps, adding there are 50-60 involved statewide, and MPCA has stepped in to pay stipends so that work can continue through the end of June. He continues then MN will need to decide if they will provide funding moving forward. He stated many rely on this program, and he will personally reach out to push for this funding. 6. Items to discuss at a future meeting a. Elect new commission chair – Ms. Ziring encouraged all ESC members to attend the June meeting and volunteer for the chair position. Vice Chair Oppegaard will lead the June meeting. Note that she will step down from the commission when she leaves in August to attend college. 7. Upcoming/proposed events – Sign-up Genius is open for all events May 10, 2025: Arbor Day celebration May 16, 2025: Wheelie Fun Bike Ride May 19, 2025: ESC work plan presentation to council June 10, 2025: Fire Station Open House June 14, 2025: Ecotacular – this is held one day of the 3-day Parktacular Event 8. Adjournment - 7:20 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Emily Ziring, liaison Eric Zweber, chair member