Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/08/06 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - Regular Official minutes Environment & sustainability commission St. Louis Park, Minnesota 8/6/2025 1. Call to order – 6:30 p.m. 1a. Roll call Members present: Chair Jessie Hendrix, Vice Chair Abigail Oppegaard, Kati Helseth, Ethan Kehrberg, Avery Kuehl, Bennett Myhran, Sasha Shahidi, Natalie Wagner Absent: Ryan Griffin, Adam Oien, Marisa Bayer, Shaina Ashare, Tatiana Giraldo Guests: None Staff present: Emily Ziring, sustainability manager 2. Approval of minutes – June 4, 2025 – The minutes were approved unanimously as presented. 3. Business a. Presentations – none b. New business i. Recognition of outgoing commissioner/vice chair Ms. Ziring noted that Vice Chair Oppegaard’s term is ending and thanked her for her service. The ESC members wished her well as she prepares to attend college. c. Unfinished business - none 4. Staff updates Ms. Ziring updated the commission on the following items: • Working on compliance for two new developments under the city’s Green Building Policy -- Beltline Station development and Terasa at the West End • Electrify Everything MN workshop – working on a revised curriculum, with advisors present at a table. Commissioner's suggestions included mini sessions before meeting advisors, and organizing the curriculum by building type. • Build Reuse conference – over 100 people from MN, and over 300 people attended in total. The conference focused on carbon and the preservation of older buildings, as well as repurposing buildings. • Looking for volunteers to help with door knocking for Home Energy Squad and Climate Champions in late Aug. and early Sept. in the Aquila and Texa Tonka neighborhoods. Environmental & Sustainability Commission Aug. 6, 2025 • Save the date for the rescheduled Wheelie Fun Bike Ride on Sept. 12. Volunteers needed to bike and table at the event. • Continuing to coordinate the M.V.Tree Contest – finalists will be announced in early Sept. • Working on a sustainability scavenger hunt for this fall, which the event work group will discuss further. • Working on grants received for shade structures for St. Louis Park parks. • Vision 4.0 survey – everyone is encouraged to take the survey. 5. Work plan update Climate Action Plan update – Ms. Ziring stated she continues to make progress on the CAP update and added that she will decide if they should meet again as a workgroup or with the whole ESC to discuss the plan further. Curbside Organics Work Group – Commissioner Wagner reviewed communications sent out and discussed how to update this with stronger language to increase participation from 43% to 50%. Working on a proposal for changes in language and ways to partner with others in the community. Commissioner Shahidi suggested that work be done on clarifying that “organic” does not refer only to organic food and also ensuring that people are informed. Events Work Group – Chair Hendrix updated the ESC on events. She stated the work group is creating a scavenger hunt to launch this fall, possibly showcasing a Climate Champions business or a pollinator site. She noted there will be a prize at the end for anyone who completes the card. Commissioner Shahidi asked if an opportunity could be included for participants to educate others about programs, car idling, or another ESC initiative. Trees Work Group – Commissioner Shahidi explained the scoring for the M.V.Tree contest. Ms. Ziring stated that the value of trees work group has only had one meeting so far, and after reviewing the scope of the work plan item and excluding tasks that are being led by staff, they are focusing on research into wood waste. Ms. Ziring stated that Commissioner Myhran will be working on this and will have an update in the next few months. 6. Sustainability issues – group share-out Update on National Night Out – Commissioner Shahidi stated her neighborhood event was successful, and Council Member Dumalag attended to answer questions. Commissioner Shahidi stated she discussed the Vision 4.0 survey with neighbors at the event and informed attendees that the visioning process takes place every 10 years, so this is their opportunity to weigh in. Environmental & Sustainability Commission Aug. 6, 2025 Commissioner Shahidi added that some residents are interested in a St. Louis Park farmers market, and others are interested in building another library on the southeast side of the city. She stated she also promoted the phase 2 zoning study survey with neighbors. Additionally, Commissioner Shahidi noted that she distributed flyers related to energy that were passed out earlier at tabling events. Chair Hendrix stated that at her neighborhood event, plants and trees were discussed. She showed her backyard meadow to neighbors to spark their interest in native plants. She noted the tree sale and native plant sale were also discussed, while the ward council member attended but did not make a presentation. Vice Chair Oppegaard noted she and Chair Hendrix attended a very successful clothing swap. She stated that textile waste is such a problem, so this was a very worthwhile event. Commissioner Wagner brought up the article about how our summers are now becoming too humid or filled with fire smoke, which is forcing people to stay inside more. 7. Items to discuss at a future meeting Ms. Ziring noted at the Sept. meeting that a new vice chair will be elected. She added that the ESC will also discuss the Climate Action Plan update. 8. Upcoming/proposed events and meetings • Aug. 8, 2025: St. Louis Park library afternoon tabling • Aug. 20, 2025: Concerts in the Park tabling • Sept. 3, 2025: September monthly meeting • Sept. 6, 2025: St. Louis Park Art Fair tabling • Sept. 12, 2025: Wheelie Fun Community Bike Ride (rescheduled) • Oct. 4, 2025: Minnehaha Creek Clean-up event with PRAC 9. Adjournment - 7:18 p.m. (optional meet up following at Steel Toe Brewing, 4848 W.35th St.) ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Emily Ziring, liaison Jessie Hendrix, chair member