Sustainability Minutes - Nov. 21, 2024
REGULAR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING
Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024
Heredia Room, City Hall
PRESENT
COMMISSIONERS: Amanda Kueper, Matt Dobratz, Craig Heinen, Adam Burnside, Helen Burk
STAFF: Rachel Lindholm (Sustainability Specialist), Zachary McCarty (Solid Waste Specialist)
LIAISONS: Kris Anderson (CSC), Ben Whalen (City Council)
ABSENT
Amanda McKnight
Call to Order
The meeting began at 7:03 p.m.
Approval of Minutes/Agenda
Burnside motioned for approval of the minutes/agenda. Dobratz seconded.
Public Comment
No public comments.
Staff Reports
Lindholm gave an update on the City’s readiness assessment submissions for the State’s Solar on Public Buildings program for both the Ice Arena and Public Works. This program could reimburse
$72,000 of the total cost of a 40 kW solar array that the City would own.
Lindholm also gave brief updates on the new home energy guide put out by CERTs and Richfield’s 2024 PiE data.
McCarty recapped the successful Pumpkin Smash event and shared information about the 2025 solid waste service rates and how they were calculated.
Discussion Items
Sustainability Communications Campaign
Lindholm updated the commission on the progress of deliverables including the logo and newsletter template and asked commissioners for feedback on banner stand designs. Heinen suggested
using symbols instead of words. Kueper liked the photograph idea and suggested maybe using a single word on each picture – show not tell. Whalen said to “focus on the brownies – the
baking aisle shows you the finished product, not the recipe, words should be about the outcomes and not the process”, like “Save money on your energy bills”. Heinen said that people
respond to their energy and garbage bills. Dobratz asked what does “find out more” mean? He said it sounded a little prescriptive. Burnside said that barriers to participation can be
a lot and we should refer to little changes to entice people, like having a sustainable yard. “What can we do to get you to 0-25?” – suggest actions like mulch every other time you mow,
leave the leaves. Overall the concept of starting small and one little action starting the journey were messages that were emphasized.
CSC request – boulevard permit fee elimination
Anderson requested commission support to undertake a project related to potential elimination of a boulevard permit fee and simplifying the permit process to encourage native plant and/or
rain garden installation.
Work Plan Updates
Kueper led the commission through a review of the annual workplan including accomplishments/finished projects and next steps for unfinished ones in 2025.
Action Items
Fowl Code: Motioned by Heinen and seconded by Burnside to send the drafted code to City Council for ordinance readings.
Committee Reports
Anderson reported on the CSC’s last meeting including work on the Donaldson Park Building project and other initiatives.
Other/Next Meeting/Adjournment
Next Meeting: Thursday, Jan. 23, 7:00 p.m. in the Heredia Room.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m.