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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10-10 EEC Minutes Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 11/7/2019 Minutes City Of Edina, Minnesota Energy and Environment Commission Edina City Hall Community Room Thursday, October 10, 2019, 7:00 PM I. Call To Order Chair Jackson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering Roll Call were Chair Jackson, Commissioners Horan, Hussian, Manser, Seeley, Lanzas, Maynor. Late: Satterlee, Glahn Absent: Martinez Staff Present: Liaison Brown, Casey Casella III. Approval Of Meeting Agenda Motion by Lanzas to approve the October 10, 2019 meeting agenda. Motion seconded by Horan. Motion carried. IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes Motion by Seeley to approve the September 12, 2019 minutes. Motion seconded by Lanzas. Motion carried. Commissioner Satterlee arrived at 7:01 PM. V. Special Recognitions and Presentations A. City Turf Conversion Management Assistant Director of Parks and Natural Resources Swenson presented about the City’s Turf conversion management program. Main points were: • Turf inventory: tracking where the City mows • Example of recent City projects: o Lake Cornelia Buffer o Arden Park • Turf management plan o Passed in 2015 o Only apply chemicals to competitive athletic sport turf o High tolerance for weeds • Questions: o Electric mowers - Staff demoed electric mower, working through options, potential for grant o Tracking progress on mow data - Yes, staff is working on this Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 11/7/2019 o Cost to convert grass to native plants - Staff doesn’t have that data now, but could investigate o Biochar - Staff had not heard of it, will investigate via the article sent Commissioner Glahn arrived at 7:06 PM. VI. Community Comment Nate Kroshell promoted an environmental event at Best Buy. VII. Reports/Recommendation A. Initiative 4: Study & Report on Pollinators Support Commissioner Horan recommended the Commission work on a pollinator protection resolution. Benefits: • Celebrates City’s actions • Provides a document for reasoning and holds the City accountable • Shows commitment • Provides awareness/education to residents Comments: • Who will enforce/where will it be within the City? • Education of residents on change in turf • Tie in with Health Department on the reduction of chemicals in grass Discussion: • The Commission would like to produce the following separate items for pollinators: 1. Study and report document on why pollinators are important 2. Resolution to be pollinator friendly city 3. Charge to staff to integrate pollinator protection into staff working docs (ex: strategic parks plan) • Process for submitting resolution to City Council is an advisory communication Motion by Manser for Commissioner Horan to draft an Edina specific pollinator resolution. Seeley seconds. Motion carries. VIII. Correspondence And Petitions None. IX. Chair And Member Comments A. Open Streets Debrief Commissioner Lanzas reported on the event. Thanks to staff Liaison Brown for the recycling game. Lanzas recommended doing the event again next year. B. Initiative 5: CAP presentation to Council Commissioner Satterlee reported out on the presentation to Council Oct 1, 2019. Commissioners felt the report was well received by Council. C. 2020 Work Plan Session with Council Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 11/7/2019 Chair Jackson reported out on the City Council’s work session with all the Boards & Commissions on Oct 1, 2019: • Theme was trees • An idea was stated about a contest for the oldest tree in Edina • HRRC wanted to prioritize a co-sponsorship about climate change with the League of Women Voters instead of co-sponsor event with the EEC (on 2020 EEC work plan) • Mayor asked why to-go packaging ordinance was not passed Changes the Commission wants to make to 2020 work plan: • Move HRRC climate event to parking lot • Add “oldest tree in Edina” contest and potential opportunities for tree talk • Enthusiasm for to-go packaging ordinance from the Commission o A commissioner observed businesses are already addressing to-go packaging. The question was posed, “Why not do something that hasn’t been done?” o Commission discussed pros and cons of the ordinance. D. County Landscaping project with pollinators Commissioner Satterlee shared a report about biochar. Staff Liaison Brown will send to Swenson and Parks & Recreation Commission Chair. X. Staff Comments A. Roadside Turf Grass Test University of Minnesota will speak at the Commission’s February meeting. B. Green Corps Member City has their second member focus on energy efficiency. C. Reminder: November meeting on 11/7 The November Commission meeting is on the 1st Thursday of the month. D. December meeting – no agenda topics There will be prep for Climate Action Plan presented to Council December 17, 2019. Commission will decide in November whether to cancel the December meeting. E. Sustainability Intern Update The City’s sustainability intern completed her term at the City in August. F. CERT Annual Conference Liaison Brown attended today. XII. Adjournment Motion by Glahn to adjourn the October 10, 2019 meeting at 8:30 p.m. Motion seconded by Lanzas. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Casey Casella City Management Fellow Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 11/7/2019