2024-3 Agenda
SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
Regular Meeting Agenda
Thursday, March 28th, 2024, 7:00 pm
Heredia Room, City Hall
Commission Members
Staff/Others
Liaisons
Amanda Kueper, Adam Burnside, Craig Heinen, Logan Thein, Santwana Dasgupta, Matthew Dobratz, Helen Burk, Amanda McKnight
Rachel Lindholm (Sustainability Specialist)
Ben Whalen (City Council)
Kris Anderson (CSC)
Call to Order/Welcome
Approval of Minutes/Agenda
Regular Meeting Minutes: February 22nd, 2024
Public Comment
Any resident comment and items not printed on the agenda
Staff Reports (Lindholm)
Tree Sale, Rain Barrels
Federal grant landscape
Joint CSC meeting, Earth Day Clean-up?
Discussion Items
2024 Workplan structure (Kueper)
Action Items
Secretary election
Committee Reports
Community Services Commission (CSC) (Anderson)
Next Meeting
Thursday, April 25th, 2024, 7:00 pm
Heredia Room, City Hall
Adjournment
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE SCREGULAR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING
Thursday, February 22, 2024 Heredia Room, City Hall
PRESENT
COMMISSIONERS: Amanda Kueper, Santwana Dasgupta, Adam Burnside, Craig Heinen, Matt Dobratz
STAFF: Rachel Lindholm (Sustainability Specialist)
LIAISONS: Kris Anderson (CSC), Ben Whalen (City Council)
ABSENT
Amanda McKnight, Logan Thein, Helen <Burk
Call to Order
Kueper called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm.
Approval of Minutes/Agenda
Heinen motioned, Burnside seconded, approved by all.
Public Comment
None
Staff Reports
Sustainability Specialist Lindholm reported:
HERC – County staff presented their report to the board of commissioners in early Feb. The report outlined some diversion achievements that should be hit to close HERC. No board vote,
unclear what board will do upcoming. Basically status quo for now. Councilmember Whalen mentioned the County’s budgeting process and suggested that residents could contact our County
Commissioner regarding timelines, funding, etc.
Tree sales and rain barrels. Waiting for go ahead on rain barrels from RAM (organizer). Tree sale will open late March/early April, dates will be firmed up soon. Similar species list
as 2023. Selling at cost.
Community garden: March 4 registration open. Same site at Vets. Priority to multi-unit housing individuals who don’t have on-site opportunities.
Discussion Items
Richfield Fowl Ordinance
Looking to update city code, comparisons to neighboring towns. A survey was taken in a Richfield chicken related facebook group which showed support for increasing the fowl limit to
6. Current limit is 3, so not a major increase. Mpls has a tiered system, with permitting, education component, coop inspection. Heinen is proposing to look to update code in reference
to number, education piece, potential small application cost. Heinen and Lindholm will continue to work with Environmental Health staff on this topic and bring updates back to the commission.
2024 Workplan
Reviewed items on the action plan, commissioners indicating their focus areas. Discussion of other opportunities and projects including bike rack ideas, electrification, etc. Heinen
asked for deadlines on items; consensus was that by the meeting next month each topic would have a month assigned for their commission presentation and other deadlines could be discussed.
Motion to approve the draft workplan was made by Heinen, seconded by Dasgupta, approved by all.
Action Items
Elections
Motion by Kueper, Seconded by Heinen for Kueper as Chair. Approved by all.
Motion by Burnside, seconded by Kueper for Burnside as Vice-chair. Approved by all.
Lindholm will talk to absent commissioners about potential interest in being the Secretary.
Committee Reports
For the Community Services Commission, new liaison Anderson reported:
Guide for programs is out. Sliding fees with the revamped assistance program.
Wood Lake building on track. Lots of community input (ages, cultures, etc) will be solicited through various channels. Referendum (local sales tax) will be on the ballot, which will
help to leverage legislative allotment of $12m.
Park buildings are in need of attention. An asset survey is being conducted in the future.
Adams Hill losing trees due to Emerald Ash Borer.
Other/Next Meeting/Adjournment
Next Meeting: Thursday, March 28, 7:00 pm in the Heredia Room.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm