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2022-6 AgendaSUSTAIN ABILITY COMMISSION Regular Meeting Agenda Thursday, June 23rd, 2022, 7:00 pm Heredia Room, City Hall Commission Members Staff/Others Liaisons Amanda Kueper, Jeremy Barthels, Adam Burnside, Craig Heinen, Logan Thein, Amy Utley, Santwana Dasgupta 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: May 26th, 2022 3. Public Comment  Any resident comment and items not printed on agenda 4. Staff Reports  Organized Collection (Lindholm)  Community Gardens (Lindholm)  Miscellaneous Items (Lindholm) 5. Discussion Items  Commissioner 2022 workplan items • Digital Resident Sustainability Guide (Barthels) 6. Action Items  None 7. Committee Reports  Community Services Commission (CSC) (Hanson) 8. Next Meeting Thursday, August 25th, 2022, 7:00 pm City Hall, Heredia Room 9. Adjournment REGULAR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING Thursday, May 26th, 2022 Heredia Room, City Hall PRESENT COMMISSIONERS: Amanda Kueper, Jeremy Barthels, Adam Burnside, Craig Heinen, Logan Thein, STAFF: Rachel Lindholm, Roxanne Nelson (MN GreenCorps) LIAISONS: Ben Whalen (City Council) ABSENT Santwana Dasgupta, Amy Utley, Jenna Hanson (CSC) Call to Order Kueper called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm. Approval of Minutes/Agenda Heinen moved to approve the agenda and previous minutes, seconded by Thein, approved by all. Public Comment None Staff Reports Organized Collection Staff conducted an organics audit on May 23rd of Aspen’s Monday route. Staff sorted out contamination and edible food waste. Most contamination was questionable items like non-certified takeout containers. Staff will create resident education around how to identify compostable items and how to work to prevent food waste before composting. The WM and Republic Friday routes will be audited on May 27th. PiE Lindholm asked for commissioners interested in participating/being interviewed for a campaign to promote Windsource and other renewable programs to residents. Whalen, Thein, Heinen, and Kueper all volunteered for the programs they each participate in. Staff was asked if the City is on track with our PiE efforts and timeline. Lindholm said yes. Commissioners suggested a 1 year retrospective/presentation summarizing the City’s efforts and the impact so far would be helpful. Whalen suggested it could be a council update too. Discussion Items Commission Work-plan Items Staff reported information from city leadership regarding development feedback and the previous conversation about work sessions. Commissioners are encouraged to review agendas and packets, attend as a resident or use existing channels (Lindholm as staff or Whalen as the Council’s Sustainability liaison) as the people who should bring up questions or suggestions for projects. Staff are trying to avoid potentially creating confusion with different commissioners attending different meetings, and then looping staff in. Staff reiterated the ARC process, director review, and the role of code restrictions and requirements. Staff and Commissioners discussed the HUB proposed development and reviewed the proposal discussed at a recent work session. Commissioners suggested additions of bike lockers, and wanted to learn if the backs of buildings would face 66th St, or be accessible. Staff will continue to update commissioners on developments they express interest in and hold discussions during commission meetings. Commissioners gave updates on their individual or small group projects. Kueper has emailed Chris Link about tree planting at Donaldson Park and efforts to increase education around tree diversity. Lindholm said that Director Markle is probably the staff member leading that event. Heinen reached out to Paul Smithson at WLNC about the opportunity to teach a class about climate change this fall. Barthels is working on the table of contents for a digital sustainability guide. He’ll send it to Lindholm when finished to send to the group. Burnside shared his experience picking up trash at Washington Park and having several kids join in. He suggested more proactive clean-up communication with groups who have adopted a park throughout the year. Action Items None Committee Reports Lindholm reported on the CSC’s last meeting, giving an update on: -There was a tree planting event at Taft park on May 19th put on by Tree Trust, Travelers, and other partners. -The CSC has voted to remove the boardwalk at Veterans Park due to damage, accessibility, safety, and environmental concerns. It may be replaced by an accessible nature viewing area. DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE SC -Commissioners approved a playground quote/vendor for Sheridan and Monroe parks Installation will happen this fall, depending on the supply chain. Other/Next Meeting/Adjournment Next Meeting: Thursday, June 23rd, 7:00 pm, Heredia Room. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn by Heinen, seconded by Burnside. Meeting adjourned by Kueper at 8:35 pm.