Sustainability Minutes - March 28, 2024
REGULAR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Heredia Room, City Hall
PRESENT
COMMISSIONERS: Amanda Kueper, Logan Thein, Adam Burnside, Craig Heinen, Matt Dobratz, Amanda McKnight
STAFF: Rachel Lindholm (Sustainability Specialist)
LIAISONS: Kris Anderson (CSC), Mayor Mary Supple
ABSENT
Santwana Dasgupta (Commissioner), Ben Whalen (City Council liaison)
Call to Order
Kueper called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. A resident, Katy Boone, from City Bella was also in attendance.
Approval of Minutes/Agenda
Dobratz motioned, Heinen seconded, approved by all.
Public Comment
The Commission received a comment from a resident, Kathleen Balaban, suggesting a city-wide Earth Day celebration that encourages residents to pick up trash in their streets and alleys
with a possible city-coordinated trash pickup available afterward. Commissioners briefly discussed the idea and agreed we need more time to plan an event of this scale, so it will be
considered for 2025.
Staff Reports
Sustainability Specialist Lindholm reported:
Tree sale promotions have gone out on social media; commissioners are encouraged to share the pre-order website
There are less than 60 rain barrels left to sell in the joint sale with the City of Bloomington
Staff is working on the federal EECBG application - a $76,000 grant from the federal government
Staff will host a joint informational presentation about pond health, stormwater, and forestry for the CSC and Sustainability Commissioners at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 16
Staff will help Commissioners coordinate a park clean-up the weekend of Earth Day. Burnside volunteered to be the commission lead.
Discussion Items
Digital Sustainability Guide
Commissioners reviewed three cover options for the Digital Sustainability Guide and provided feedback to staff to incorporate into the design. Commissioners agreed a simple cover design
with Richfield-based photos would be best suited for the publication.
2024 Work Plan
Kueper discussed the general flow of the work plan; commissioners will spend the first half of the year discussing and planning projects, while meetings later in the year can be focused
on updates and progress reports. This should provide commissioners more time in the year to work on implementing projects instead of waiting to begin after an initial discussion months
in the future. Heinen mentioned he and Burnside will work together this spring on a plan to recruit a youth commissioner. Kueper clarified for the group that these initial planned discussions
about work plan projects are often informal brainstorming sessions with the goal of leaving the meeting with an action step to report back on later.
Action Items
Secretary Election
Burnside motioned, Heinen seconded to nominate Amanda McKnight as the Commission Secretary, approved by all.
Committee Reports
For the Community Services Commission, Anderson reported:
City is hiring for a recreation program manager.
City is hiring for the Naturalist position, which was vacated due to a retirement. The position is being advertised now.
CSC is working on a master planning process for the parks and seeking feedback from the community regarding the future of the parks; this will cause some projects to be delayed by a
minimum of one year as some tasks are put on pause during the planning stages.
Other/Next Meeting/Adjournment
Next Meeting: Thursday, April 25, 7:00 p.m. in the Heredia Room.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.