12.9.21RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE SC
REGULAR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Virtual
PRESENT
COMMISSIONERS: Amanda Kueper, Alyssa Sanden, Jeremy Barthels, Brian Shaw
STAFF: Rachel Lindholm, Roxanne Nelson (MN GreenCorps), Amy Markle
LIAISONS: Ben Whalen (City Council)
ABSENT
Carolyn Engeldinger, Jenna Hanson (CSC)
Call to Order
Kueper called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Approval of Minutes/Agenda
Sanden moved to approve the agenda and previous minutes, seconded by Shaw, approved by all.
Public Comment
Donna Drummond and Susan Rosenberg from the League of Women Voters talked about helping residents and businesses reduce their carbon footprint. The League is interested in partnering
with the Commission in having sustainability fair with resources around waste management, solar panels, EVs, green construction, gardening, and more.
Staff Reports
Other (PiE, commissioner applications)
Lindholm gave a reminder about re-applying to be on the Commission for those with terms ending soon.
Lindholm discussed the recent PiE efforts. Richfield had 35 lighting audits during business blitz, which is very successful! She also talked about the recent residential energy event
where staff handed out energy kits.
Organized Collection
Staff is continuing to work with haulers to fix kinks in the system
Smooth transition overall
2021 yard waste season is officially over
Discussion Items
2022 Commission Brainstorm
Commissioners, liaisons, and staff went through a brainstorming exercise to identify projects that are already on the Commission’s workplan for 2022 as well as ideas that the group is
interested in potentially pursuing in 2022. These ideas include:
Community tour of resident gardens (a la Parade of Homes/remodel tour)
Green event team
On-going community cleanup- trashwalking
Farmers market- schedule of edu opportunities
WL new building work
Tree planting events
Tree sale
Food forest
Community earth day celebration
Sustainable policy review (city ordinances)
Digital booklet for residents about sustainable practices
Resources on albedo-conscious construction
Home gardens
ID opportunities in city for urban forest expansion
Pollinator plantings along the wall by 62
No mow may
Action Items
Hennepin County Anaerobic Digestor
Kueper brought up the anaerobic digester letter of support, and explained the changes she made. Lindholm will follow up with the missing statistics for the letter.
Motion to approve the letter and submit to the County by Barthels, seconded by Sanden, approved by all.
Committee Reports
Markle’s CSC update talked about reconstructing and improving 494, the VEAP food drive, the Wood Lake Building project, and winter recreation programming.
Whalen (City Council) talked about bicycle parking, EV charging stations, and increasing density options (duplexes/townhomes)
Other/Next Meeting/Adjournment
Next Meeting: <Thursday, January 27 at 7:00 pm, virtual on WebEx
Adjournment: < Motion to adjourn by Sanden, seconded by Barthels. Meeting adjourned by Kueper at 8:25 pm.