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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/09/03 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - Regular Official minutes Environment & sustainability commission St. Louis Park, Minnesota 9/3/2025 1. Call to order – 6:30 p.m. 1a. Roll call. Members present: Chair Jessie Hendrix, Shaina Ashare, Tatiana Giraldo, Ryan Griffin, Kati Helseth, Ethan Kehrberg, Avital Krebs, Avery Kuehl, Bennett Myhran, Adam Oien, Sasha Shahidi, Natalie Wagner Members absent: Marisa Bayer Staff present: Emily Ziring, Sustainability Manager Guests: none i. Introduction of new youth commissioner Ms. Ziring invited new youth commissioner Avital Krebs to introduce herself. She stated she is a student at Breck High School. She stated she is excited to be on the ESC to be involved in helping protect the environment and working to implement ways to help the environment. The ESC members introduced themselves. 1b. Introduction of guests. No guests were introduced. 2. Approval of minutes – Aug. 6, 2025 – The minutes were approved unanimously as presented with 5 abstentions. 3. Business. a. Presentations – none. b. New business. i. Reschedule the October monthly meeting to Tues. Oct. 7 ESC members moved the next meeting to Oct. 7, 2025, due to a conflict with Yom Kippur on Oct 1, 2025. ii. Elect a new commission vice chair Commissioner Shahidi made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Ashare, to appoint Commissioner Myhran as ESC Vice Chair. The motion passed unanimously. Environmental & Sustainability Commission Sept. 3, 2025 c. Unfinished business – none 4. Staff updates. Ms. Ziring updated the commission on the following items: • Working on the 2026 budget and providing input on the Climate Investment Fund and capital budgets for the city while the city council is working on setting the maximum levy. • Monitoring funding for LIHEAP, which was frozen by the current administration. This is financial assistance for those struggling with utility bills. • Working on Electrify Everything MN fall workshop. • Helping with Hennepin County cities’ climate resilience workgroup. • Looking for volunteers to help with door knocking for Home Energy Squad. • Organizing the Wheelie Fun Community Bike Ride event – everyone is encouraged to attend. • Working on MVTree Contest, announcement for the winner is next week, and the award will be included. • Collaborating on Climate Action Academy education sessions at Lenox Center in Sept. • Working with communications on the sustainability scavenger hunt. Commissioner Shahidi asked if one must attend both Climate Action Academy sessions and if it is possible to only attend one. Ms. Ziring stated no, they are two completely separate agendas, so each session can be attended. Commissioner Shahidi asked if attendees of the academy sessions must be seniors or a certain age. Ms. Ziring stated there are no age restrictions. Commissioner Shahidi noted there was some confusion about the age in the communication, and she did get questions from some neighbors. Commissioner Oien asked about the MVTree contest and what the feedback has been. Ms. Ziring stated there has been nothing but positive feedback on the contest. She stated that one person toured all the trees by bike, and people have been really engaged on social media. One neighborhood group publicized voting for their neighborhood tree, and Ms. Ziring added that it has been a positive event to promote trees. 5. Work plan update. Chair Hendrix stated that the scavenger hunt has been prepared and there are six things to do to win a prize, which is 2026 pool passes. It is appropriate for kids and adults. Commissioner Shahidi stated she tabled at the concert at the amphitheater and noted they will do it differently next year. There were no updates from the curbside organics workgroup. Environmental & Sustainability Commission Sept. 3, 2025 Commissioner Myhran updated the ESC on his wood waste research work. He stated he sent a survey to metropolitan tree managers to ask about their process, how much they are getting, and what they do with the waste. Commissioner Myhran added he received some good data, and there are many cons to accepting vs. pros. He added that there is so much more wood waste than can be dealt with, and from an environmental standpoint, there is no good way to control the carbon release. He added it would be beneficial to reuse the wood for other purposes vs. letting it decompose. He added that burying the wood is also a better way to dispose of wood waste, to help create soil, but no one is doing that either at this point in the metro area, adding that supply and demand for wood waste is so upside down right now. Ms. Ziring presented an update on the Climate Action Plan update process, with background information on the history of the plan. The ESC members discussed various sources of pollution and carbon emissions, carbon standards, and emission reductions. Ms. Ziring stated that St. Louis Park is doing good work, but there is also much left to do. She noted the accomplishments of the city’s Climate Action Plan since its adoption in 2018. She stated it is now a 7-year plan, and more of the “how” needs to be added into the plan, along with more equity measures for those most affected by climate change. She added that technology continues to change as well, and the plan will need to be updated as such. She added that many items related to the plan are non-trackable. She stated the plan needs to be more reflective of the work the city is doing. Ms. Ziring stated that a climate action workgroup was developed this year to update the document and look at goals, and then decide on an engagement plan for the community. Commissioner Shahidi noted that the plan should include information about trees and who has access to trees and natural spaces, as well as clean water and costs of water, and locations where people live. Ms. Ziring stated the plan will not be completely rewritten, but will have an amendment made to it, with updates on certain parts, but not all, with explanations on how strategies have evolved. She added that an actionable work plan will also be added, as well as categorizing the strategies. Ms. Ziring explained her interest in categorizing the strategies according to “lead, partner, and encourage.” Chair Hendrix asked if more should be in the lead bucket and if the ESC would alter items. Ms. Ziring stated that this will all be determined by the state legislation that allows for it. Commissioner Ashare asked if Electrify Everything would be a partner strategy. Ms. Ziring stated yes and added that this falls under lead and influence as the city developed the program and curriculum. Environmental & Sustainability Commission Sept. 3, 2025 Commissioner Giraldo asked if items could be added regarding lobbying for certain items. Ms. Ziring stated yes, as long as it is approved by the city council. Ms. Ziring reviewed the timeline on the Climate Action Plan update and stated she will bring items to the group at future meetings and have the ESC weigh in. She added she will provide an update to the city council in the spring and will work with a consultant later in 2026 to set targets for strategies based on the 2040 goals. She added that more community engagement will be added, and then later in 2026, it will be reviewed and finalized by the ESC before city council adoption. She added that this is a long timeline and process, but wants to set expectations accordingly. Commissioner Shahidi stated that cities in Minnesota do this kind of work, but it is not common, and she thanked staff and Ms. Ziring for their work and commitment to this. Commissioner Wagner asked if the Metropolitan Council sees this plan also, so there is alignment. Ms. Ziring stated that for the 2050 comprehensive plan, all cities will be responsible for a climate action portion of their plan, adding that she will be responsible for providing this. She added that these submission requirements are fairly minimal but must be aligned. Chair Hendrix asked if the workgroup would continue to meet on the Climate Action Plan. Ms. Ziring stated that they can temporarily disband so that the whole ESC can provide input since it will be ultimately signed off on by the ESC. She added that the work group can reconvene later next year. 6. Sustainability issues. a. Kudos – Chair Hendrix asked for kudos: • Kudos to Commissioner Shahidi for tabling at the concert • Kudos to Ms. Ziring thanking her for meeting with a sustainability intern at her company • Kudos to Commissioner Myhran for her work on the tree and wood waste survey, and for diving into this long project b. Sustainability issues Commissioner Myhran stated a regulatory body is being developed on vaccines and could be a start of a trend related to regulation on EPA for like-minded states. 7. Items to discuss at a future meeting. a. Human Rights Commission collaboration Chair Hendrix stated she is working to connect with Mr. Coleman related to human rights commission collaboration. Commissioner Wagner stated she would like to discuss water through the lens of sustainability, water use, and water issues at a future meeting. 8. Upcoming/proposed events. Environmental & Sustainability Commission Sept. 3, 2025 • Sept. 6, 2025 – St. Louis Park Art Fair tabling • Sept. 12, 2025 – Wheelie Fun Community Bike Ride • Oct 4, 2025 – Minnehaha Creek Clean-up event with PRAC 9. Adjournment - 7:50 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Emily Ziring, liaison Jessie Hendrix, chair member