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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-10 EEC Meeting Packet Meeting location: Edina City Hall Community Room 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN Energy & Environment Commission Meeting Agenda Thursday, April 10, 2025 7:00 PM Accessibility Support: The City of Edina wants all residents to be comfortable being part of the public process. If you need assistance in the way of hearing amplification, an interpreter, large-print documents or something else, please call 952-927-8861 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Meeting Agenda 4. Approval of Meeting Minutes 4.1. Approval of Meeting Minutes 5. Special Recognitions and Presentations 5.1. Chloride Pollution in Edina 6. Community Comment During "Community Comment," the Board/Commission will invite residents to share issues or concerns that are not scheduled for a future public hearing. Items that are on tonight's agenda may not be addressed during Community Comment. Individuals must limit their comments to three minutes. The Chair may limit the number of speakers on the same issue in the interest of time and topic. Individuals should not expect the Chair or Board/Commission Members to respond to their comments tonight. Instead, the Board/Commission might refer the matter to staff for consideration at a future meeting. 7. Reports/Recommendations 7.1. Work Plan Item 1, CAP Prioritization 8. Chair and Member Comments 9. Staff Comments Page 1 of 24 9.1. Paved Area Work Plan Item 10. Adjournment Page 2 of 24 BOARD & COMMISSION ITEM REPORT Date: April 10, 2025 Item Activity: Approve Meeting: Energy & Environment Commission Agenda Number: 4.1 Prepared By: [PRESENTER_TITLE_NO_BR] Item Type: Minutes Department: Engineering Item Title: Approval of Meeting Minutes Action Requested: Approve Meeting Minutes. Information/Background: Receive and approve Mar. 13, 2025 Meeting Minutes. Supporting Documentation: 1. Draft Minutes, March 13 Page 3 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING 7:00 PM THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2025 Meeting location: Edina City Hall Community Room 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 1. Call to Order Chair Lukens called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. then shared the procedure for public hearing and community comment. 2. Roll Call Answering roll call were Commissioners Lukens, Haugen, Bartholomew, Tessman, Schima, Martinez-Salgado and Walker. Absent were Commissioners Weber, Dakane, and student Commissioner Langsweirdt. Student Commissioner Srivastav arrived at 7:10 p.m. 3. Approval of Meeting Agenda Bartholomew made a motion, seconded by Martinez-Salgado, to Approve Meeting Agenda. Motion carried. 4. Approval of Meeting Minutes 4.1. Approval of Meeting Minutes Haugen made a motion, seconded by Bartholomew, to Approve Meeting Minutes. Motion carried. 5. Special Recognitions and Presentations No special recognitions or presentations were received. 6. Community Comment No community comment was received. 7. Reports/Recommendations 7.1. Work Plan Item 1, CAP Prioritization Liaison Bayer reviewed the CAP Prioritization summary for Water & Wastewater sector. EEC discussed and provided comments. 7.2. Earth Day 2025 Commissioner Bartholomew discussed EEC's support for the Morningside Earth Day Page 4 of 24 event. EEC provided input on tabling material content and agreed to promote within their networks. 8. Chair and Member Comments • Commissioner Martinez-Salgado shared Edina Magazine will feature the Tree Recognition Campaign in a future issue. • Commissioners discussed the Feb. 18 City Council work session discussion on the tree protection ordinance and how the tree protection ordinance will apply to the Southdale Library redevelopment project. • Commissioner Tessman shared he is involved in an event in April with SD-46 related to environmental issues. • Commission Haugen requested an update from staff on how the EEC can be involved in a City vehicle event to promote EVs. 9. Staff Comments 9.1. Annual Sustainability Update Liaison Bayer reviewed draft slides to be presented at the March 18 City Council meeting for the Sustainability Division's annual update. 10. Adjournment Tessman made a motion, seconded by Schima, to Adjourn. Motion carried.Meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m. Page 5 of 24 BOARD & COMMISSION ITEM REPORT Date: April 10, 2025 Item Activity: Information Meeting: Energy & Environment Commission Agenda Number: 5.1 Prepared By: [PRESENTER_TITLE_NO_BR] Item Type: Other Department: Engineering Item Title: Chloride Pollution in Edina Action Requested: Receive presentation. Information/Background: Edina resident Sue Nissen will present on chloride pollution and share best practices for mitigation. Supporting Documentation: None Page 6 of 24 BOARD & COMMISSION ITEM REPORT Date: April 10, 2025 Item Activity: Discussion Meeting: Energy & Environment Commission Agenda Number: 7.1 Prepared By: [PRESENTER_TITLE_NO_BR] Item Type: Report & Recommendation Department: Engineering Item Title: Work Plan Item 1, CAP Prioritization Action Requested: Receive information. Provide comments. Information/Background: EEC Work Plan Item 1 is a "review and comment" on Staff's work to re-prioritize Climate Action Plan actions. Staff will present information each month for ease of review by the EEC. This meeting will include a review of "Waste Management" sector actions. Organics Recycling Coordinator Twila Singh will join the meeting to answer questions. Supporting Documentation: 1. To EEC - WM, Waste Management Actions Page 7 of 24 WM - Waste Management Actions April 2025 EEC Meeting CAP Label Envisio StatusDescription Prioritization Status City Role Division Lead Budget Staff Capacity Staff Notes EEC Comments WM 1-1 Upcoming Coordinate with the school district to establish paths towards Zero Waste program. Program to include zero waste curricula, family content, training, volunteer program connections, as well as zero waste strategies for school facilities. Keep, Change Support Public Health n/a Capacity needed Update wording to clarify scope of city role and focus on waste reduction. City has limited role and influence on curriclum and training. Support Edina School District to establish waste reduction initiatives in order to meet the requirements of Ordinance 13, including connections to education materials and County resources. WM 1-2 On Track Support collaborative consumption community projects, such as neighborhood compost projects, tool libraries, and repair cafes through mini-grant programs. Ongoing Lead Public Health Sustainability Organics Funding Budget needed for non-organics Existing capacity Staff supporting local projects and using organics funding to support organics-focused projects (e.g., zero waste pancake breakfast with Boyscouts). New budget source will be needed to expand scope and breadth of projects to support non- organics focused waste initiatives. WM 1-3 Completed Explore options for waste hauling improvements supporting CAP goal achievement, including modifications to City's existing licensure process and requirements as well as organized waste hauling strategies. Keep, Change Lead Public Health Budget needed Capacity needed Update wording to clarify scope and alignment with Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Plan. Evaluate organized trash collection policy and program as directed by Hennepin County's Solid Waste Management Plan, including evaluation of staff and budget capacity needed for implementation and enforcement. WM 1-4 Upcoming Create a space where items can be donated at the end of the school year or after graduation and hold an annual event for children's things and toys to be given away. Keep, Change Support Public Health n/a Capacity needed Update wording to clarify scope of city role. Other organizations hosting swap events related to school and sport equipment. Support Edina School District and other organizations offering school-related material and equipment reuse and donation at swap events. WM 1-5 Completed Eliminate petroleum-based, single-use products through phasing out the use of single-use plastics including plastic bags by 2025. Require food service retailers to use re-usable, biodegradable, compostable or recyclable packaging and utensils (including for take-out). Explore the feasibility of establishing a reusable takeout container service. Complete Carryout Bag Fee Ordinance effective July 2024. City unable to ban bags due to State statute limitations. Green to Go Ordinance addresses restaurants and takeout services. WM 1-6 Upcoming Establish a Zero Waste policy for City operations that outlines increasing incremental annual waste reduction goals charting a path to Zero Waste. Policy to require that outside users of City facilities also follow Zero Waste policy and will modify the event permit application to require the inclusion of recycling and composting at events. Keep, Change Lead Public Health Budget needed Existing capacity Change wording to focus on waste reduction, not zero waste. This action will be ongoing and operationalized through updated policy focused on waste reduction for all events hosted at City Facilities and for special event permits. Ongoing implementation by Public Health. Implement waste reduction policy for city operations, including requirement for external users of city facilities to follow policy as part of event permit applications. Page 8 of 24 WM - Waste Management Actions April 2025 EEC Meeting CAP Label Envisio StatusDescription Prioritization Status City Role Division Lead Budget Staff Capacity Staff Notes EEC Comments WM 1-7 Upcoming Establish a Universal Zero Waste Ordinance, requiring all property owners (including City buildings and parks) to provide recycling and compost collection services and requiring businesses to use these services. Remove Not feasible to implement city-wide zero waste ordinance. CAP Actions WM 2 and WM 3 focus on recycling and compost requirements. WM 2-1 Completed Make City worksites a model for organics composting by developing a collection program for City buildings (owned and leased) and park spaces. Ongoing Lead Facilities Enterprises Budget needed Existing capacity Operationalized with organics available at primary city officing locations (City Hall, Public Works). Ongoing contract review for Enterprise locations based on facility's staff capacity and budget. WM 2-2 Completed Require that compost be used as a soil amendment for public and private construction projects that disturb the soil cover by a set amount. Ongoing Lead Engineering Street Levy Existing capacity Operationalized for all street recon project contracts; Sustainable Building Policy sustainability standards have set criteria for soil management. WM 2-3 On Track Conduct an organics waste collection pilot project with a sample of City businesses to test the interest, methodology, and amount of commercial food waste that would need to be accommodated by a commercial organics collection program. Explore possible incentives for food retailers, restaurants, and institutions to participate in food waste reuse and recycling programs. Complete Commercial organics collection now required. WM 2-4 Completed Expand curbside and availability of other composting options for single family and multi-family residents and businesses. Explore options for low-cost or free compost/organics collection or drop off particularly for people of low income. Promote and educate on the value and methods for composting. Complete Five drop sites established to meet the needs of properties to dispose of organics recycling without on-site collection. City continues to grow drop-site offering. Single-family residents automatically enrolled in curbside organics program. WM 2-5 Upcoming Develop compost captains on each block/neighborhood to educate neighbors on the benefits of composting, gardening, creating "cool yards". Ongoing Lead Public Health Organics Funding Existing capacity Operationalized through engagement with neighborhood associations and community leaders to educate and promote organics program through communications and events. Focused on community leader relationships. WM 2-6 On Track Explore requiring large new buildings to provide facilities for disposing organics.Keep, Change Lead Public Health Sustainability Budget needed Capacity needed Clarify wording to align with Hennepin County Zero Waste Plan and Ordinance 13. Single-family and commercial properties already required as waste generators. Multifamily has no requirements. Evaluate new policy to require multi-family properties to provide on- site organics separation and collection in alignment with Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Plan requirements, including evaluation of staff and budget capacity needed for implementation and enforcement. Page 9 of 24 WM - Waste Management Actions April 2025 EEC Meeting CAP Label Envisio StatusDescription Prioritization Status City Role Division Lead Budget Staff Capacity Staff Notes EEC Comments WM 2-7 Upcoming Combat food waste by encouraging retailers and restaurants to donate, reduce, reuse, or compost their unsold food, creating “zero-waste sections” where products are sold close to their expiration dates, and designating “zero-waste coaches” to raise awareness among staff and help manage products reaching the end of their marketable life. Edible unsold products shall be donated. When not edible, organic waste shall be composted through City's organics collection vendor. Keep, Change Partner Public Health Budget needed Capacity needed Update to clarify action and focus on partnerships to create food rescue and food recovery opportunities locally. Will need to connect to Local Food & Agriculture sector as appropriate. Partner with food rescue and food recovery organizations to combat food waste from commercial establishment through food donation and collection sites. WM 3-1 Completed Coordinate with public partners to ensure recycling is provided and promoted in all schools, City buildings, public housing, and public spaces. Include coordination on recylcing education and communications to improve reduction of contamination. Ongoing Lead Public Health n/a Existing capacity Operationalized through partnerships with internal divisions, school district and other organizations to promote recycling best practices. WM 3-2 Upcoming Explore a requirement that all waste be recycled or salvaged at large construction sites.Keep, Change Lead Sustainability Building Inspections Conservation and Sustainability Fund Existing capacity Change wording to clarify incentive opportunities as first step with future policy exploration. Provide incentives for sustainable deconstruction in alignment with Hennepin County grant programs for property demolition. Evaluate opportunities to require sustainable deconstruction and material recycling for properties with approved demolition permits, including residential and commercial redevelopment. WM 3-3 Upcoming Work with the Planning Department to require adequate space/chutes in multi-family buildings for recycling and organics making sure recycling is as convenient as garbage. Remove Recycling already required for multifamily properties. City unable to establish interior construction or layout requirements beyond building code. WM 2-6 addresses requirement for organics recycling in multifamily properties. WM 3-4 On Track Explore establishing or expanding requirements for recycling and organic waste collection for multi-family residential buildings, and commercial/industrial buildings. Promote, educate and advocate for equal access to organics collection as well as collection of other common items typically requiring drop off at the recycling center to support participation by all, including individuals with limited mobility. Keep, Change Lead Public Health Budget needed Capacity needed Clarify wording to align with Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Plan and Ordinance 13 compliance. Remove 'organics' wording as this is addressed in "W 2-#' actions. Budget and enforcement mechanisms needed to be successful beyond education and audits. Create new program to ensure compliance with on-site recycling requriements for multi-family and commercial properties in alignment with Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Plan requirements, including evaluation of staff and budget capacity needed for implementation and enforcement. WM 3-5 Upcoming Expand consumer education (e.g. host community forums and provide direct outreach) on sustainable consumption, materials management, available services, incentives, and facilities as well as proper recycling, composting, and source reduction methods. Ongoing Lead Public Health Sustainability n/a Existing capacity Different projects initiated each year based on staff capacity and budget. In 2024-25, GreenCorps member focused on waste education and outreach. Page 10 of 24 WM - Waste Management Actions April 2025 EEC Meeting CAP Label Envisio StatusDescription Prioritization Status City Role Division Lead Budget Staff Capacity Staff Notes EEC Comments WM 4-1 Completed Promote and explore partnership with clothing businesses, reuse non-profits and textile recycling businesses to create a Clothing Reuse and Recycling pilot project to advance zero waste textiles within the City. Ongoing Lead Public Health Budget needed Existing capacity Operationalized with annual clothing swap event. Organics Recycling staff exploring additional "swap" events and "mend-it" clinics to support textile reuse. Additional budget needed to expand the type and scope of events. WM 4-2 Completed Promote and partner with existing waste audit or diversion assistance programs for businesses. Program to support businesses in establishing tracking and reporting waste streams, identify reduction, diversion, beneficial use opportunities, identification of potential financing sources, and connect businesses with energy audit and other resources in support of full CAP goals. Goal: 30 business waste audits completed annually with businesses engaged in measuring and diverting waste. Ongoing Partner Sustainability Public Health n/a Existing capacity Operationalized. City partners with WasteWise to promote free waste audits and support programs. Organics Recycling staff partner with Multifamily properties to audit organics recycling infrastructure. WM 4-3 Upcoming Establish a policy or ordinance expanding or requiring textile reuse and recycling based on outcomes of the Clothing Reuse and Recycling pilot project. Remove City staff focused in requirements in Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Plan, and there are no existing state or county-level directive on textile recycling included in plans. Textile recycling options are limited making policy difficult to enforce. WM 4-4 Upcoming Conduct a Beneficial Use Study to identify greatest beneficial use opportunities present in current City solid waste streams. Study to estimate potential return on investment and identify job and economic development potential associated with opportunities. Research/identify pilot project opportunities to explore capture of benefit. Complete Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Plan evaluated beneficial reuse streams, including opportunity identification and municipality's role in waste streams. City implementing by direction of Solid Waste Management Plan and Hennepin County requirements. WM 4-5 Completed Promote and partner to support a Fix It Fair at the Library and create a resource list for reuse.Ongoing Partner Public Health n/a Capacity needed Operationalized. Public Health staff partner with Hennepin County and other organizations to co-host Fix It Clinics. Additional space and co-hosts are needed to continue to offer this program (i.e., larger spaces to accommodate size of crowds). Page 11 of 24 BOARD & COMMISSION ITEM REPORT Date: April 10, 2025 Item Activity: Information Meeting: Energy & Environment Commission Agenda Number: 9.1 Prepared By: [PRESENTER_TITLE_NO_BR] Item Type: Other Department: Engineering Item Title: Paved Area Work Plan Item Action Requested: Information only. Information/Background: Commissioner Weber has integrated comments from the January 2025 EEC meeting into the Advisory Communication related to the paved area work plan item from the 2024 EEC Work Plan. The advisory communication, report and staff report will be on the City Council April 16 agenda. Supporting Documentation: 1. Advisory Communication 2. EEC Report 3. Staff Report Page 12 of 24 City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424 Date: March 21, 2025 To: Mayor & City Council From: Energy and Environment Commission Subject: Converting Underutilized paved areas and community gardens Approved Work Plan Item: x Yes No Council Charge: x 1: Study & Report 2: Review & Comment 3: Review & Recommend 4: Review & Decide Items not on the approved work plan: Council action is rarely taken mid-year for items not on the current approved work plan. Action is only taken if Council chooses to discuss the Advisory Communication at the Council meeting and provides specific direction through a Council vote. Commissions are encouraged to submit new initiative proposals through the annual work plan process. Action Requested: Receive the study and report Situation: Workplan item for 2024, objective was to determine where underutilized paved areas may be located and consider conversion to greenspace or pollinator habitat. Workplan item also called to investigate whether or not any of these potential converted green spaces could be community gardens. Background: These items are included in the 2021 Climate Action Plan from the City of Edina. Transportation and Land Use, Local Food and Agriculture and Greenspaces and Trees all have action items that correspond directly or indirectly to this topic. Assessment: Commission believes that TS 3-4 should be undertaken once the Land Conversion Opportunity Study is completed. Commission also believes that additional community gardens can benefit the city, but need to determine appropriate sites prioritizing with equity in mind and explore other ways to administer and fund. Commission is working on LF 1-2 in the 2025 workplan item for the EEC on food security. This initiative will dig into where there may be hotspots for food insecurity to help drive prioritization for community gardens and other initiatives. Page 13 of 24 Conversion to Green Spaces and Community Gardens Report December 2024 Page 14 of 24 Contents Situation ...................................................................................................................... 2 Background ................................................................................................................. 3 Land Use in Edina ..................................................................................................... 3 Community Gardens ................................................................................................. 6 Assessment ................................................................................................................. 6 References ................................................................................................................... 8 Situation Around the world, many communities are in the process of reducing the amount of impervious ground cover and surfaces and/or increasing pollinator habitats. This can have many desirable impacts – fiood mitigation, critical pollinator support, reduced potable water usage along with helping decrease urban heat islands. At the same time, food insecurity is growing in many places. With supply chain issues and infiation, the cost of food can be prohibitive for many. Each year, thousands of Edina residents require support from local food shelves such as VEAP. This report looks at the conversion to green space or pollinator habits, and the feasibility of any of these spaces should be turned into a community garden. Speciflcally, this directly relates to two items on the CAP: TL 3-4: Identify underutilized paved areas and incentivize conversion to sustainable green space or inflll development. Conversion focus should take into consideration neighborhood’s greenspace, heat island mitigation, affordable housing, and bike/walk mobility needs and prioritize site utilization based on addressing the greatest needs at each site as determined through appropriate engagement with the community, particularly people traditionally underrepresented. (Pale Blue Dot LLC, 2021) LF 1-2: Support existing school and community gardens and provide opportunities to expand community growing spaces with a focus on locating garden infrastructure to serve youth, immigrant, and people with lower incomes or who are experiencing food insecurity. Community growing and garden spaces may include use of park space, unused city owned space, or public right of way/boulevard areas. Program Page 15 of 24 should prioritize conversion of impervious spaces to garden space and preservation/increase of overall green space beneflt. (Pale Blue Dot LLC, 2021) Background The Climate Action Plan (CAP) approved in Edina in 2021 addresses several targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. From that report, actions under Transportation and Land Use, Greenspace and Trees, and Local Food and Agriculture apply to this topic. (Pale Blue Dot LLC, 2021) Along with the CAP, the 2015 Parks Strategic plan is also relevant to this report. This plan provided a clear vision for the next 20 years of Edina parks, including redevelopment of parks, trails and recreational opportunities. Land Use in Edina 93% of grasslands in Edina are manicured lawns (Pale Blue Dot LLC, 2021). According to the 2021 CAP, Edina has a goal to reduce turf coverage from 25.2% to 22.6% and reduce dark impervious surface cover from 25.5% to 23% by 2030. Reducing turf leads to better stormwater mitigation, less potable water use and increased carbon storage. Impervious surfaces contribute to urban heat islands and can hinder stormwater mitigation. (Pale Blue Dot LLC, 2021) The below image displays the percentage of ground cover that is grass (by Census Tract) Page 16 of 24 This diagram illustrates by type of impervious surface coverage According to the CAP progress portal, item TL 3-4 is upcoming and has not yet been started; however many other actions under Greenspace and Trees have been started or completed, and many of them have an indirect positive relationship with our work plan item. (City of Edina, 2024) Page 17 of 24 Greenspace and Trees CAP items already completed by the city that help advance pollinator/native habitats: (City of Edina, 2024) 1. Remove lawn/grass requirements in ordinances 2. Manage city-owned natural areas to enhance and maintain diverse native communities, implementation of best practices for stormwater management, increased plant diversity and improved pollinator habitat 3. Manage city-owned lawn/turf areas to enhance and maintain diverse native communities, increase turf replacement with native wildfiower and prairie grasses, increased plant diversity, improved pollinator friendly habitat, and carbon gardening practices including elimination of synthetic fertilizer and pesticide use, high mow deck settings, use of biochar amendments, and polyculture lawn mixture. The following actions are underway: 1. Land Conversion Opportunity Study – analyze public and private property for unused turf and impervious areas, create implementation plan to convert to native plant and pollinator restoration areas (on track, percent complete unknown) 2. Install roadside pollinator vegetation that creates effective barriers to prevent drifting of air pollutants to adjacent schools and residences. (on track, 4% complete) 3. Establish policy to require use of native plants in landscaping at City owned properties. Continue natural vegetation conversion for passive park areas (on track, 75% complete) – add 100 acres of native plant and pollinator restoration area on city property by 2040 4. Establish policy and identify, create and promote incentives to assist homeowners and households with low incomes by covering some of the cost of converting traditional lawns by planting pollinator friendly food gardens, permaculture, wildfiowers, clover or native grasses (on track 25%, exploring grant opportunities) In accordance with the 2015 Strategic Parks plan, nearly 200 acres of Edina parks are in some phase of planning or active construction in the next few years. This includes removing invasive buckthorn, restoring wetlands, establishing native habitats and other climate adaptive species. (Engineering, 2024) Page 18 of 24 Edina has also consistently been providing residents with opportunities to learn and get assistance in creating pollinator habitats in their yards with Metrobloom. Community Gardens Edina currently has two community gardens – one run by the City of Edina (Yorktown Plot), and the other the co-op at 7500 York. The Yorktown community garden has 55 plots and has had a consistent waitlist since opening in 2014. The rental fees are $45 for a 10’ x 10’ plot and $50 for a 10’ x 15’ plot. Fees are used to cover soil preparation and tilling, compost, water and garden improvements. Residents are responsible for the upkeep of their plots and receive warnings when not in compliance. (City of Edina, 2024) The city staff manages the administration for the garden – helping reserve plots (Feb – March), opening the garden early May, inspecting the garden July/Aug/Sept, and then closing mid-October with communications throughout the year. City staff believes there may be more demand for additional community gardens. Assessment The commission believes that the following actions should be continued/advanced • TL 3-4 identify underutilized paved areas – this should be completed once the Land Conversion Opportunity is completed. According to the CAP, GS 2-1 calls for a Land Conversion Opportunity study to be completed, along with a Ground Cover Conversion Implementation plan to convert to native plant and pollinator restoration areas, wetlands, permaculture areas, tree coverage or urban agriculture. This action covers both private and public property and should be used as input for evaluating which impervious surfaces can and should be converted. (Pale Blue Dot LLC, 2021) According to the Ground Cover Survey (Pale Blue Dot LLC, 2021), dark pavements comprise 50% of all impervious surfaces in the city of Edina (dark roofs at 30%). As roof replacement would be less feasible for many, the opportunity to reduce dark pavement is a great opportunity to reduce impervious surfaces and replace with pollinator habitats. Page 19 of 24 • Parking lots are a top target for paved areas; however, most of the parking in Edina is not city owned, requiring the city to work with the private owners to depave parking lots. Edina city staff has not looked at paved areas for conversion at this time. o Edina could consider a program like St. Louis Park “depave” program for businesses or homeowners who would like to replace pavement with pervious surface (ideally pollinator habitat). Park maintenance staff could be consulted regarding Edina parking lots, but many of our public lots near parks are already overfiowing with parking and not likely to reduce what is there. o Southdale area would be the largest target for impervious surface reduction (along with helping decrease urban heat island affect). City would need to determine best way to incentivize property owners to depave. • Recommend that wildfiower/pollinator/native habitats be prioritized over community gardens for converting underutilized paved areas. These habitats provide more biodiversity beneflts and require much less maintenance. Community gardens require ongoing maintenance and administration. • Continue advertising and promoting services like Metrobloom and encourage residents to apply for local grants to help install pollinator habitats. • As food insecurity is growing, the commission recommends that we include LF 1-2 in the 2025 workplan item for the EEC on food security. This initiative can dig into where there may be hotspots for food insecurity to help drive prioritization for community gardens. • Commission also recommends further investigation into ways to manage community gardens without city staff oversight. Local schools as part of education, local churches with large properties, or other organizations may be able to host and maintain a community garden. There are also grants available to help with community gardens that may be utilized. o Explore if developers can be required to include community gardens in new developments Page 20 of 24 References City of Edina. (2024). Community Garden. Retrieved from City of Edina: https://www.edinamn.gov/255/Community-Garden City of Edina. (2024). Plan Sectors. Retrieved from Climate Action Plan Progress Portal : https://performance.envisio.com/dashboard/ClimateActionPlan-Edina Engineering. (2024, August 16). Water Resources Manager. (L. Weber, Interviewer) Pale Blue Dot LLC. (2021). Climate Action Plan. Edina. Pale Blue Dot LLC. (2021). Ground Cover Survey and Carbon Sequestration Study. Edina. Page 21 of 24 City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424 Information / Background The Energy and Environment Commission (EEC) completed a “Conversion to Green Spaces and Community Gardens Report” as part of their 2024 work plan and approved the report at their January 2025 meeting. This staff report is a response to the EEC’s report and includes a summary of existing work and future opportunities as it relates to converting green spaces and expanding community garden access. Existing City Initiatives The following are existing City initiatives that support turf conversion and limit impervious surfaces: • Offering workshops and other educational opportunities about converting turf on private property to pollinator gardens and native areas. • Promoting Lawns to Legumes grant program that supports pollinator, rain and wildflower gardens. Staff are pursuing grant opportunities to create a city-sponsored grant program to enhance the impact of Lawns to Legumes. • Including a maximum impervious surface lot coverage for single-family dwelling units in Zoning Code. • Facilitating turf conversion and native restoration on City property, per the 2015 Parks Strategic Plan. In 2015, the City was managing approximately four acres of natural areas on four City properties. As of 2023, that acreage increased to approximately 140 acres restored across 10 properties. Projects in 2024-2025 include the Braemar Park buckthorn removal related to construction of biking trails and nearly 44 acres of restoration at Bredesen Park supported by a $500,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. See chart below. Date: March 31, 2025 To: Mayor and City Council Cc: Energy & Environment Commission From: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager Jessica Wilson, Water Resources Manager Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director Subject: Green Space Conversion and Community Garden Initiatives Staff Recommendation: Receive report and refer to staff. Page 22 of 24 City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424 • Host a Natural Areas Storymap describing the progress in this area of work including ecological quality assessments for restored areas. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/7358631381524a909959f4ef9480edb2 • Expanding native and wild spaces in Fred Richards Park Master Plan. • Hosting two community garden spaces: Yorktown Park Community Gardens and the Lewis Park Giving Garden. 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 2015 2017 2020 2023Area (acres)Year Edina Managed Natural Areas Weber Park and Lynn/Kipling Inundation Area Nine Mile Creek corridor Melody Lake Park Facilities (includes Fire Station 1 turf conversion) Arden Park Braemar Park (golf course included) Rosland Park (includes Lake Cornelia shoreline restoration) Yancey Park Bredesen Park Pamela Park Page 23 of 24 City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424 • Including turf alternatives like clover as a landscaping option during street reconstruction projects. • Working with volunteer youth service projects to establish smaller restoration/pollinator areas within parks. Opportunities to Expand The City currently does not have existing initiatives to convert impervious surfaces on private property. Staff agree with the EEC that there is an opportunity to expand this work and that native and other wild habitats should be prioritized over community garden spaces. Programs focused on private property will need to be incentive- and education-based because of the City’s limited scope to require conversion on private properties that are not part of a development plan and outside of zoning regulations (i.e., the City cannot require private properties de-pave their existing parking lots). Opportunities to expand this work include: • Update education materials and review additional outreach strategies to promote existing education opportunities. • Host a GreenCorps Member or hire intern to analyze private property and hardscapes, identifying priority de-paving areas to reduce extreme heat, expand tree canopy, and increase green and natural spaces. This work is dependent on successful selection as a host-site for this project, or budget to staff an intern. • Identify annual budget allocation from Conservation & Sustainability Fund or other source to create an incentive-based pavement conversion program, like the City of St. Louis Park’s “Depave SLP” program. Outreach to be conducted based on analysis of priority areas. • Educate nonprofits or other volunteers to self-manage “giving gardens” that function as community gardens but grow and donate food to food shelves (similar model to the Lewis Park Giving Garden). Staff can explore capacity grants and other funding opportunities to fund this type of program. Staff agree with the EEC there is limited pavement conversion opportunity on existing City property. Existing parking lots are actively used by employees and public visitors (e.g., park users). Staff do not plan to prioritize City parking lot conversion unless directed. Regarding food security, the approved 2025 EEC Workplan includes a “study and report” for food security. This report will inform future outreach and support the Climate Action Plan’s Local Food and Agriculture strategies. As part of ongoing Climate Action Plan implementation, opportunities to expand this work can be considered in future department and commission work plans as capacity and budget are available for implementation. Page 24 of 24