2025-10 Agenda
SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
Regular Meeting Agenda
Thursday, October 23rd, 2025, 7:00 pm
Bartholomew Room, City Hall
Commission Members Staff/Others Liaisons
Amanda Kueper, Adam Burnside, Craig Heinen, Katy
Boone, Chris Danner, Alexa Wozniak, Rose Thompson
Rachel Lindholm (Sustainability Coordinator)
Zachary McCarty (Solid Waste Specialist)
Becca Tucker (Great River Greening)
Paul Smithson (Wood Lake Nature Center)
Rori Coleman-Woods (City Council)
Hayley Tompkins (CSC)
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes/Agenda
Regular Meeting Minutes: September 25, 2025
3. Public Comment
Any resident comment and items not printed on the agenda
4. Staff Reports (Lindholm, McCarty)
General updates: Commissioner recruitment
Solid Waste updates: Better Futures, Commodity sort results and communication, Earth Day fair vendors
5. Discussion Items
Great River Greening presentation (Tucker)
Workplan discussion items, as needed
6. Action Items
None
7. Committee Reports
Community Services Commission (CSC) (Tompkins)
8. Next Meeting
Thursday, November 20th, 2025, 7:00 pm
Heredia Room, City Hall
9. Adjournment
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION
REGULAR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Bartholomew Room, City Hall
PRESENT
COMMISSIONERS: Amanda Kueper, Adam Burnside, Craig Heinen, Chris Danner, Katy Boone, Alexa Wozniak, Rose
Thompson
STAFF: Rachel Lindholm (Sustainability Coordinator), Zach McCarty (Solid Waste Specialist),
LIAISONS: Hayley Tompkins (CSC), Rori Coleman-Woods (City Council)
ABSENT Burnside, Coleman-Woods, Heinen
Call to Order
Kueper called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm.
Approval of Minutes/Agenda
Boone motioned, Wozniak seconded, approved by all.
Public Comment
None
Staff Reports
Lindholm and McCarty reported:
• Climate Action Plan – Work is ongoing, mainly focused on reviewing the existing plan and updating progress. Currently working to add
content related to public health. Additional new content will focus on emergency management planning and resilience planning.
• SolSmart – The City of Richfield is officially SolSmart certified at the silver level.
• Commissioner Recruitment – We have an open adult spot and an open youth spot. Open recruitment begins October 1st – feel free to
spread the word.
• Solid waste updates –
o Winter clothing swap – Sat Sept 13th. Went well! Good participation and the organization in tandem with the farmers’ market
went well. About 50 people came to the event. Some leftover clothing has been donated to the school district and The Arc. o Pumpkin smash – Sat Nov 8th, 9:30-12. We are good on volunteers.
o New city code is being introduced for multifamily buildings, based on research conducted over the last year showing some
buildings in Richfield are not providing adequate capacity for residents to recycle. In general, it will require at least 20 gallons
of capacity per week, per unit. Lindholm/McCarty will also be working on outreach to buildings and residents as needed.
• City of Richfield is getting a new vendor for its website and taking an opportunity to refresh how info is catalogued. Lindholm is on the
“super user” group, so is closely engaged and thinking about how sustainability information can be shared better.
Discussion Items
Presentation from Commuter Services (TMO serving the I-494 Corridor)
The main goal of this group, formed in 2001, is to look for ways to shift commuters from driving alone into more sustainable modes. The
commission listened to a presentation from the organization’s staff about the resources they offer to both businesses and commuters for
construction updates, biking, transit, carpooling, and more.
The presentation included time for Q&A. Commissioners were interested in hearing more about ways to promote sustainable transportation
across diverse stakeholders in Richfield such as students, employee commuters, and residents. Contact Lindholm if interested in seeing the
presentation slides.
Workplan Updates
None to report.
Action Items
None
Committee Reports
From the Community Services Commission:
WLNC construction work is coming along with better-defined plans for the exhibits. Demolition of the old building is complete and site
preparation work is underway. Commissioners viewed slides sharing some of the exhibit designs. The design encourages all visitors to consider
themselves a “naturalist” and explore WLNC-specific content. Coleman-Woods shared that certain features are considered part of a “Phase 2”
which will be developed more after the building opens to the public.
The City of Richfield is working with Great River Greening to address issues of overgrowth of plants and invasive species at Richfield Lake.
Next Meeting/Adjournment
Next Meeting: Thursday, October 23, 7:00 pm
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:33 pm