Sust Commission Minutes April 2023RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE SC
REGULAR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING
Thursday, April 27th, 2023
Heredia Room, City Hall
PRESENT
COMMISSIONERS: Amanda Kueper, Adam Burnside, Craig Heinen, Matt Dobratz
STAFF: Rachel Lindholm
LIAISONS: Ben Whalen (City Council)
ABSENT
Bryan Beltran, Santwana Dasgupta, Logan Thein, David Vrieze Daniels (CSC) < </w:t></w:r></w:p></w:tc
Call to Order
Kueper called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm.
Approval of Minutes/Agenda
Heinen motioned, Burnside seconded, approved by all.
Public Comment
Lindholm read an email from a St. Louis Park resident about a water resources/utilities topic and provided follow-up clarifying information from Richfield Utilities staff.
Staff Reports
Lindholm reported on the following:
The Eco Fair was a great success! There were 29 exhibitors and around 500 attendees. Several commissioners attended and volunteered as well. Staff will follow up with the League and
other groups to gauge interest in continuing this event next year. Whalen suggested reaching out to community members like the Richfield Leadership Network or Steve Schneeberger.
Community garden plots continue to be prepped for the season. More soil and compost will be added to the tilled areas.
The pilot tree program sold out in a day. Trees will be available for pick-up on Saturday 5/6 at Public Works. Residents who purchased a tree will be notified once the City receives
the trees and details are finalized.
Commissioners were reminded about the clean-up on 4/29 from 10-noon at Roosevelt Park and encouraged to attend.
Discussion Items
Digital Sustainability Guide
Kueper shared that the subgroup met to discuss content formatting and project direction. They will be drafting a topic content and layout example so commissioners have a model to follow
when writing their own content for the guide. It should be shared by/at the next meeting.
Workplan Brainstorming
The list from the last meeting was reviewed and those absent shared their individual topics of interest. The group identified the top projects that commissioners expressed the most interest
in and moved the remaining projects to the brainstorming list to consider in the future. Lindholm will edit and format the workplan and send it out to commissioners and post it on the
Commission webpage.
Action Items
Workplan
The commission voted to approve the workplan as created through group discussion. Heinen motioned, Dobratz seconded, approved by all.
Elections
Burnside motioned to nominate himself as Secretary. Kueper seconded, approved by all.
Committee Reports
For the CSC, Lindholm reported on behalf of Vrieze Daniels:
Amy Markle testified before the MN state senate for Wood Lake Nature Center. The bonding bill appears like it will be one of the last items dealt with by the Legislature towards the
end of May. She is not sure as to whether the local sales tax request will pass.
Summer programming hiring is still taking place, especially for Playground Leaders and individuals for the Farmers Market.
Recreation has hired a consulting group for a new mission, visions, and values. It should be ready this fall.
Other/Next Meeting/Adjournment
Next Meeting: <Thursday, May 25th, 7:00pm in the Heredia Room.
Adjournment: < The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm