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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/05/19 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionOfficial minutes City council study session St. Louis Park, Minnesota May 19, 2025 The meeting convened at 7:59 p.m. Council members present: Mayor Nadia Mohamed, Paul Baudhuin, Sue Budd, Lynette Dumalag, Margaret Rog Council members absent: Tim Brausen, Yolanda Farris Staff present: Building and energy director (Mr. Hoffman), sustainability manager and Environment and Sustainability Commission liaison (Ms. Ziring), community engagement coordinator (Mr. Coleman) Guest: Eric Zweber, Chair, Environment and Sustainability Commission Discussion items 1. Environmental Stewardship system kick-off Ms. Ziring presented an overview of the city’s Climate Action Plan and an update on environmental programs. Ms. Ziring stated the federal government has abandoned its duty to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and the state is doing what it can but is limited by funding and ideological differences among policymakers. What remains is a network of local governments working together to address climate change; therefore, it is important that the City of St. Louis Park continues to do this work. As background, Ms. Ziring stated that in 2016, St. Louis Park High School students presented a report card on climate action to the city council and gave the city a B minus on environmental issues because there was no city Climate Action Plan. In May of 2016, the city council passed the climate inheritance resolution to create a Climate Action Plan at the city level. In 2018, the Climate Action Plan was adopted. Now, there are many cities across Minnesota that have also adopted climate action plans and energy action plans and have sustainability staff in place to implement them. St. Louis Park is now looked upon as a leader in climate action and takes many calls from other cities around the state. Ms. Ziring provided a brief overview of the Climate Action Plan to date. It began as a 22-year plan and is currently in year seven. The city is heading in the right direction; greenhouse gases have decreased by 20% since 2015. There is still a need to deal with emissions primarily from transportation and heating fuels. She added that people will need to shift to electricity to reduce burning fossil fuels in buildings and vehicles. Ms. Ziring stated staff is now focused on incentive programs because regulation is difficult without state statutes to enable it. All the environmental programs staff administer have some type of environmental justice component. Ms. Ziring stated staff conducts a lot of engagement to boost participation in incentive programs. With the potential loss of Inflation Reduction Act rebates at the state level, this may affect city program participation. Ms. Ziring noted they are seeing great participation in the Climate Champions for Homes program because of the push Docusign Envelope ID: 8665355E-BF79-4D68-AE79-3865812BDD4C Special study session minutes -2- May 19, 2025 for Home Energy Squad visits. She also noted that participation in the city’s tree planting program continues to grow. Council Member Baudhuin asked what kind of fruit the city’s incentive programs bear, and what would happen if the city did not provide them. Ms. Ziring stated they see great participation from residents because of the incentive programs, which is shown in surveys and the data that she will present to council in June 2025. Council Member Baudhuin asked how the incentive programs are funded. Ms. Ziring stated incentive programs are funded through the Climate Investment Fund, which was authorized by the city council in 2021. Council Member Baudhuin asked whether city levies might be lower if more people participated in incentive programs. He also asked if there is anything being done to encourage homeowners to replace turf grass with more sustainable alternatives. Ms. Ziring stated there is a program administered by engineering called Rainwater Rewards that provides grant funding for the creation of rain gardens. Council Member Rog stated she appreciated the level of detail in the environmental report and asked if incentives were to go away, would replacement programs be worked into the budget. Mr. Hoffman stated that staff are working with finance on what can be done. He stated the programs will continue to help residents and businesses make changes. Ms. Ziring added that staff planned to promote the ability to stack rebates from Xcel Energy with incentives from the city and from the state, as well as a large incentive from the federal government if the Inflation Reduction Act continues, but that if the Inflation Reduction Act funds are taken away it will be up to council whether they wish to make up that gap. She stated that council will be asked whether they wish to replenish the Climate Investment Fund, and if so, at what level and rate. Council Member Rog asked where the Depave SLP projects have happened in the city. Ms. Ziring stated there is one completed right next door to Wat Promwachirayan in Ward 1 and four additional property owners have inquired. Council Member Dumalag asked if staff sees any philanthropic organizations filling the gap in funding for climate action. She also asked if there are any opportunities here. Ms. Ziring stated that staff does look at this and noted they have had conversations with the McKnight Foundation periodically, but it depends on the focus of the grant money the city is looking for. So far, St. Louis Park has not been successful, noting that many foundations are not in a solid financial position at this time either. Ms. Ziring pointed to the Minneapolis Foundation’s $50,000 pass-through grant from the EPA and noted this may not materialize. However, staff will continue to network with the city's philanthropic partners. Council Member Budd stated she liked the information on grants in the staff report. She noted a grant awarded to the city for shade covers in a higher BIPOC area as very positive. Council Member Budd pointed to this staff’s work on grants as a great example of walking the talk. Docusign Envelope ID: 8665355E-BF79-4D68-AE79-3865812BDD4C Special study session minutes -3- May 19, 2025 2. Boards and Commissions check-in with city council: Environment and Sustainability Commission (ESC) Mr. Coleman introduced ESC Chair Zweber, who presented the commission’s workplan. Mr. Coleman explained that the environment and sustainability commission is one of the five advisory boards and commissions whose purpose is to guide city initiatives by offering recommendations, collaborating with staff and council, fostering community engagement and facilitating partnerships. Additionally, the ESC acts as a bridge between residents and the public for environmental and sustainability-related information. Ms. Ziring noted the duties of the ESC are to advise the city council, to gather community feedback and direction, to provide education to the full community, and to establish workgroups related to special projects and interests. Chair Zweber described the ESC workplan and praised the 13 different commissioners who participate. The first item is to advise staff on the Climate Action Plan. He stated the ESC will look at updating, evaluating and amending the Climate Action Plan but not rewriting it. Council Member Budd asked if the Climate Action Plan work group has met yet. Chair Zweber stated yes, and that they have had two meetings so far. Council Member Budd asked if there is an opportunity to get an interim update. Ms. Ziring stated she could submit a written report, but stated discussions on amending the Climate Action Plan may go well into and beyond Q4. Council Member Rog stated she appreciates the extra work going into the updates of the Climate Action Plan as well as the communication and collaboration between staff, the ESC and the city council. Council Member Dumalag asked if the ESC and the planning commission have been working together. Chair Zweber stated they have not worked on the Climate Action Plan with the planning commission and stated this will come later when they work on integrating climate action work into the comprehensive plan. Chair Zweber stated the next item for discussion with council is the electrification event. He noted two commissioners dedicated time to brainstorming this event, ideas for which eventually were folded into the EV Petting Zoo that was held a few weeks ago. Council Member Baudhuin noted there is some concern with e-bike safety, and asked if some of the legalities around e-bikes could be incorporated into the electrification events. Chair Zweber stated education is definitely part of this and very important, especially if folks are looking to make a purchase. Council Member Budd asked if the “Pedal, Pints and Power” event will happen in July. Ms. Ziring stated no, and added that given staff capacity, staff suggested that the events work group scale back to a game card to promote green businesses in the fall. Docusign Envelope ID: 8665355E-BF79-4D68-AE79-3865812BDD4C Special study session minutes -4- May 19, 2025 Council Member Rog asked if staff work drives most events. Ms. Ziring stated that yes, while commissioners brainstorm ideas, it is up to staff to handle interfacing with business owners and managing all of the event logistics. Council Member Rog asked if there would be a limit on number of events. Mr. Coleman stated no, there was no limit. Council Member Rog noted Ms. Ziring’s comment that this type of work is staff’s responsibility. She stated her neighborhood group does a lot of logistics for events and requests of businesses, and noted commissioners may be interested in doing this work. Ms. Ziring noted that Council Member Rog’s comment brought up a larger question about what is appropriate for representatives of the city, such as whether city staff or commissioners should be soliciting city businesses for sponsorships. Mr. Coleman stated that neighborhood group event planners are responsible for the execution of their events, but for official city events it makes sense that staff is doing that work. Ms. Ziring agreed it is best for staff to handle city events, especially as the city can be opened to liability. Mr. Hoffman added that commissioners do help generate ideas, but in the end, it is staff that figure out how to make it happen. Chair Zweber added that commissioners are advisory to the council and should not be speaking on behalf of council or the city, and this may be of concern when considering whether commissioners talk to business owners. Chair Zweber stated that the next item ESC will be working on will be with public works and participation in the curbside organics recycling program, and how participation can be increased and encouraged through social media and outreach programs. Council Member Baudhuin asked if ESC is working with the city’s communications staff on this, noting there are ways to do creative communication here. Chair Zweber stated he would look to Ms. Ziring and public works to work with communications after asking commissioners for their ideas, as commissioners work through their liaison and not directly with other staff. Ms. Ziring stated that the 43% curbside organics recycling participation rate in St. Louis Park is the highest in Hennepin County. Council Member Rog suggested the ESC work through neighborhood organizations and have the commissioners go to neighborhood events as a way to reach out on this. Council Member Dumalag suggested that some residents might compost in their backyard and noted this is what she does. She added because of this, some may not participate in the city’s organics recycling program. Chair Zweber stated if people have the yard and the effort to do it then they should continue, but added many are not participating in any way. Chair Zweber noted the ESC the next item is about tabling at elementary school open houses to educate parents and students about sustainability. The two youth commissioners are leading this workplan item. Docusign Envelope ID: 8665355E-BF79-4D68-AE79-3865812BDD4C Special study session minutes -5- May 19, 2025 Council Member Budd asked if there is a role for council members at an event like this. Mr. Coleman stated he is not opposed to this, but it is all about the role of the council member in that space. Ms. Ziring stated she does not see a problem with council members volunteering to table if they wish and there is availability to do so. Council Member Baudhuin stated he is happy to see student ESC commissioners tabling and would also like to see students interacting with adults on climate action issues. Ms. Ziring stated that the student commissioners’ table at both kid and non-kid events and are very actively involved. Council Member Rog stated this is terrific and noted she was happy to interview both student commissioners who were appointed last year. Chair Zweber noted that one student commissioner has served as vice chair of the ESC this year and will step down when she graduates from high school. Chair Zweber stated the next item relates to promoting the value of trees and native ecosystems. Ms. Ziring added this is also a cross-commission item with the parks and recreation advisory commission (PRAC). Chair Zweber stated having a joint meeting with the PRAC was helpful in showing both groups where they align and also where they are not duplicating work. They met at the Westwood Hills Nature Center in April and the two commissions also took a tour of the center. Mayor Mohamed noted she attended the Arbor Day event and asked if the ESC partners with Tree Trust. Ms. Ziring stated ESC does not work with natural resources programs, and the relationship with Tree Trust is managed by natural resources manager Michael Bahe. Council Member Dumalag noted that under the tree preservation ordinance, the city has a replacement formula for when a tree is removed from commercial property. Ms. Ziring explained this is the work of zoning and natural resources, and the ESC must be careful not to monitor staff’s work here. She added, however, she has talked with staff about this and asked how the ESC can be helpful. Council Member Budd noted that trees are coming down near where she lives off Highway 169 and near the high school as well. She asked if there is anything that can be done to preserve the tree canopy in these areas not owned by the city. Chair Zweber stated more has been accomplished through the use of tree preservation ordinances and collaboration with the utility companies, but it has been difficult to promote tree preservation with MnDOT in areas where they have jurisdiction. Council Member Rog stated she likes all the pieces of this workplan, but also noted this is more work for staff than they are typically used to seeing with boards and commissions. She added, however, that it does represent community engagement, input and involvement at its most robust. This spirit is something the city prides itself on. Hopefully, this staff work can become fully integrated into the work of the ESC. She believes this is what boards and commissions were meant to be in St. Louis Park, and she commended everyone for their hard work. Docusign Envelope ID: 8665355E-BF79-4D68-AE79-3865812BDD4C Special study session minutes -6- May 19, 2025 Ms. Ziring stated trees are very important to her and to the ESC, but they do fall outside the commission’s purview because trees are only indirectly mentioned in the Climate Action Plan. There is a limit to what can be done, so the ESC needs to work collaboratively with staff, noting it can be complicated at times. Council Member Rog stated she does not understand the charter of the ESC to be specific to laying out the Climate Action Plan. She added that the council has prioritized trees, tree preservation, and funds for tree planting, so it totally aligns with the priorities of the council. She understands this does not fall under the purview of the ESC and asked who decides this. Ms. Ziring stated that public trees in parks and on boulevards are managed by natural resources, which falls under the parks and recreation advisory commission in the city structure. She stated the ESC has an interest in trees but given the PRAC’s duties, the ESC primarily focuses on tree policy only related to private property. Chair Zweber noted the last item ESC is working on. They are supporting the citywide Vision 4.0 process by participating directly and/or encouraging others to participate, as well as sharing information with other community members about the process. Council Member Baudhuin stated the ESC is doing great work and added he appreciates this robust workplan and the fact that they may have to correct their course along the way. Council Member Budd added she also likes the workplan and noted this is a great example of how other commissions can do their work. Chair Zweber stated the ESC members are a diverse group who do bring real value to all the work they do. Council Member Rog added she also likes the ESC workplan, and noted there may be some tension related to the tree item, but she trusts the ESC will keep council informed. Chair Zweber stated that tree preservation could also become more important within the comprehensive plan as managed by staff along with input from the public. Council Member Rog stated she knows there is institutional knowledge within the ESC, and she hopes there is a plan in place to pass that knowledge along to new ESC members. Written Reports 3. Participation in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge Communications/meeting check-in (verbal) The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Nadia Mohamed, mayor Docusign Envelope ID: 8665355E-BF79-4D68-AE79-3865812BDD4C