Loading...
2021-10 AgendaSUSTAINBILITY COMMISSION Regular Meeting Agenda Thursday, October 28th, 2021, 7:00 pm Bartholomew Room, City Hall Commission Members Staff/Others Liaisons Jeremy Barthels, Laura Durenberger-Grunow, Carolyn Engeldinger, Amanda Kueper, Alyssa Sanden, Brian Shaw Rachel Lindholm (Sustainability Specialist) Roxanne Nelson (MN GreenCorps) Ben Whalen (City Council) Jenna Hanson (CSC) 1. Call to Order/Welcome 2. Approval of Minutes/Agenda  Regular Meeting Minutes: September 23rd, 2021 3. Public Comment  Any resident comment and items not printed on agenda 4. Staff Reports  Organized Collection (Lindholm)  Other (Partners in Energy, commissioner recruitment/applications, etc.) (Lindholm) 5. Discussion Items  Letter of Support for Hennepin County Anaerobic Digester (Kueper) 6. Action Items None 7. Committee Reports  Community Services Commission (CSC) (Hanson) 8. Next Meeting Thursday, November 25th, 2021, 7:00 pm Bartholomew Room, City Hall 9. Adjournment REGULAR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TThhuurrssddaayy,, SSeepptteemmbbeerr 2233rrdd,, 22002211 HHeelldd vviirrttuuaallllyy oovveerr WWeebbEExx PRESENT SC: Laura Durenberger-Grunow, Carolyn Engeldinger, Amanda Kueper, Alyssa Sanden, Jeremy Barthels STAFF: Rachel Lindholm LIAISONS: Jenna Hansen (CSC) ABSENT Ben Whalen (City Council), Jenna Hansen, Brian Shaw Call to Order Kueper called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm. Welcome and Introductions for Roxanne, the new GreenCorp member Approval of Minutes/Agenda Sanden moved to approve the agenda and previous minutes, seconded by Engeldinger, approved by all. Public Comment None Staff Reports Penn Fest (Lindholm) -Lindholm was present to talk with residents about organized collection -talked to a lot of residents -signed up 20+ households for organics (most had already signed up) Partners in Energy (Lindholm) -Website up on city page -Xcel experts are doing a business blitz in October where they will be going to local businesses and offering to help reduce energy and provide ways to make the building/business more energy efficient Organized Collection (Lindholm) -900 compost bins were purchased for the community. Question: how to distribute? educate? how can we get the message across that you don’t have to buy a bin? Many containers are good examples of reuse – like coffee or plastic ice cream containers. -organic credit on water/utility bill still coming. amount still unknown -recycling prices are currently cheaper than what is quoted on the form. This credit will come back on the hauler bill. Kueper asked for clarification on this. Cost will be $17.37 a quarter. -working on translating information to Spanish. Staff members fluent are now on staff and helping with this -Be sure to check the map to make sure of the pickup day you were assigned. It may be different than what you have now. ¼ of the population is switching days -The week of Oct 4, put out cars on the NEW day (all carts). Hauler will pickup and drop off new ones. -Haulers may have wrong sizes. If this is the case, contact the hauler. -Haulers will be using parking lots in the Hub and Legion for the transition. Have rented through Oct 2 9, but all are hoping to complete the transition before then -Yard waste: if you use bags, haulers may have marked you as having yard waste, and you may get a bin. Yard waste bins do not cost extra. You pay a one time annual fee for yard waste, whether you use bags or a bin. If you do not want a bin, it can be picked up. -Walk-up service: you need to sign up with the city. It’s free for accessible reasons. Sanders asked if there was a list from the haulers so the city could better identify the people. No real list exists for some haulers. About 30 people currently signed up. -Another guide is coming out in the mail with more information. Also includes a recycling and garbage calendar. Guide will com e each year. Haulers will be paying for the mailings, county pays for printing -Bags can be purchased at many stores locally. It is recommended to use compostable bags. Kueper asked if people can use paper bags instead of compostable bags. As far as city is aware, it’s fine. The haulers don’t mind. The composting facility is ok with it too. There are risks to not using a compost bag. Bins will get messy, insects, and critters are some common risks. -Social outreach idea: find out businesses that are selling compostable bags and shout them out. Add itionally, find restaurants in Richfield that are offering compostable takeout containers and shout them out -Signing up for an organics bin: Sept 15 was deadline for getting bin in time for the transition the week of Oct 4. Residents can still sign up online through October 4, but will not get a bin the week of transition. After October 4, requests must go through haulers. All residents pay for service regarding if they use it or not. DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE SC -Sanden proposed having a waste/recycling/organics sorting activity/event -Lindholm said there will be at least one composting class at Wood Lake this winter/spring Discussion Items Combined with organized collection above. Action Items For commissioners: Start making a list of stores that sell compost bags, and restaurants that offer compostable takeout containers Committee Reports Hansen reported on the CSC’s last meeting, giving an update on: -Native plant sale idea is moving forward. would like to work with the sustainability commission on it. -Round up program at liquor stores supporting a pollinator garden at Augsburg -Playground at Freemont and Christensen on hold due to supply chain issues -Pool had its most successful season ever -Bonding bill legislation to provide funds for a new nature center at Wood Lake. Legislator tour is happening soon. -Wood Lake birthday party Oct 2. Lots of fun activities throughout the afternoon. Other/Next Meeting/Adjournment Next Meeting: Thursday, October 28 at 7:00 pm, will be held in person at City Hall. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn by Engeldinger, seconded by Barthels. Meeting was adjourned by Kueper at 8:02 pm.