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1.2021 REGULAR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING Thursday, January 28, 2021 Held virtually over WebEx PRESENT COMMISSIONERS: Laura Durenberger-Grunow, Carolyn Engeldinger, Amanda Kueper, Alyssa Sanden, Jeremy Barthels, Brian Shaw, Kameron Murray STAFF: Rachel Lindholm, Amy Markle LIAISONS: Ben Whalen (City Council), Heather MacDonald (CSC) ABSENT None Call to Order Kueper called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. Approval of Minutes/Agenda Sanden moved to approve the agenda and previous minutes, seconded by Barthels, approved by all. Public Comment Lindholm introduced and read a letter from Gordon Hanson and Sandy Spanier for accessibility purposes. Staff Reports Organized Collection (Lindholm, Markle) Lindholm: Listening and learning sessions went really well. The city had three and total attendance was ~100 residents and other community members. The city is grateful for all the questions and feedback. City staff are in the middle of negotiations with haulers which are going well. More information will probably be shared at the next commission meeting. Markle agreed with Lindholm and said that staff have been able to follow up with lots of residents regarding questions and comments. Barthels mentioned he was able to make one of the listening sessions and that it went well. Tree Policy process update (Lindholm, Markle) Lindholm and Markle met with the city manager to talk about this topic. The commission will vote on sending their letter to council at this meeting. The next step is to get outside guidance to come talk to the commission about tree preservation policies. Engeldinger mentioned that Gordon Hanson may know a professor from the U of M who would be a good person to speak. Miscellaneous items – smart salting training, plastic free challenge (Lindholm) Lindholm will send a link to commission about Hennepin County’s plastic free challenge. Smart Salting Training: Green Corp member from Nine Mile Creek Watershed approached Lindholm and wanted to see if any commission members would be interested in going to a free training. The training is mainly for property managers but the member has offered to do a one hour long training for our group. Shaw asked a clarifying question about the training, and if it was similar to training on agriculture bodies of water. Discussion Items MN City Coalition IRP letter (Julia Eagles, IMT) Julia Eagles came on as a guest. Integrated Resource Plan = IRP. Looking for cities to sign on and send a letter of support. Xcel exploring energy alternatives, looking at equity, and overall accelerating their clean energy goals. Action Items MN City Coalition IRP letter motion of support (Lindholm) Lindholm: Clarified that the commission is motioning for the City to support this letter, and the Commission’s recommendation will go to council. Kueper asked for any questions. Kueper reiterated what Lindholm said that we would be motioning to support. Asked for a motion for support. Engeldinger motioned. Murray seconded. All voted in favor. Motion passed. Lindholm will now continue process to city council. MNCC legislation motion of support (Lindholm) The legislation is working to expand current compostable bag legislation to compostable product labels on food packaging, so if packaging says it is certified compostable, it truly is. Motion is for adding Richfield to the name of cities towards support of this legislation. Kueper asked for a motion in support: Murray moved to approve. Barthels seconded. All voted in favor. Motion passed. Approve the Commission’s letter to City Council re: tree preservation policy (Lindholm) Lindholm clarified this was the letter the commission talked about before, but hasn’t been voted on. Kueper went through the letter and paraphrasing what it says for accessibility issues, then asked for any questions. Engeldinger asked a clarifying question about the tree replacement policy. Brought up the speaker at a past FOWL event (tree expert) and how they specified certain trees are better for urban environments than others. Should we add something about how replacement trees are selected? Lindholm: For private developments, those plans have to be reviewed by the city, which goes through a committee. City staff looks at the trees being proposed. She was not sure if developers have to follow the list that the city does in terms of tree types. She will get more of an answer on Engeldinger’s question. Kueper added a sentence about site-appropriate species being planted. Kueper reiterated motion would be to send letter to council from the commission. She asked for a motion. Sanden motioned. Engeldinger seconded. All voted in favor. Motion passed. Kueper will take responsibility for sending letter to council. Committee Reports MacDonald reported on the CSC’s last meeting, giving an update on: Outdoor programing resuming Received a presentation on the all-terrain wheelchairs at Wood Lake Community Center feasibility study (funding is limited) 2021 focus: Wood Lake Nature Center is 50 years old - building redone. Pool is 60 years old and needs repairs. Received damaged from not being used. 4000 lbs from December food drive! Woohoo! Other/Next Meeting/Adjournment Next Meeting: Thursday, February, 25th at 7:00 pm, will be held virtually over WebEx. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn by Engeldinger, seconded by Murray. Meeting adjourned by Kueper at 8:09 pm.