7-12-23 EC Agenda and Packet
AGENDA
CHANHASSEN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023
FOUNTAIN CONFERENCE ROOM, 7700 MARKET BOULEVARD
6:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of May 10, 2023 Environmental Commission Minutes
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
DISCUSSION ITEMS
July 3rd Business Expo event summary and review
Finalize Environmental Academy planning
Review Communications Calendar
Review Greensteps progess
Plan fall community service event
COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
ADJOURNMENT
UPCOMING ITEMS AND EVENTS
1
Environmental Commission Item
July 12, 2023
Item Approval of May 10, 2023 Environmental Commission Minutes
File No.Item No:
Agenda Section APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Prepared By Jenny Potter, Sr. Admin Support Specialist
Reviewed By
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approval
Motion Type Simple Majority Vote of members present
Strategic
Priority N/A
SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
DISCUSSION
BUDGET
RECOMMENDATION
ATTACHMENTS
Environmental Commission Minutes dated June 21, 2023
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1
Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
East Water Treatment Plant
6:00 pm
June 21, 2023
Members Present: Kristin Fulkerson, Leslie Elhadi, Greg Hawks, Scot Lacek, Julia Adams, Scott
Grefe, Billy Cripe
Members Absent: Kaisa Buckholz
Staff Present: Matt Unmacht, Assistant City Manager, Jamie Marsh, GreenCorps Intern, Jake
Casebeer, Water Production Foreman
Visitors: Judy Harder
Tour of the Facility
Jake Casebeer, Water Production Foreman gave a tour of the East Water Treatment Plant
Minutes
May minutes were approved.
July 3rd Trade Fair Planning
There will be a table for the tent from 2-4 PM on July 3rd. Billy Cripe gathered information from the
Arboretum, and he was able to get a list of master gardeners that could help. Three of them, Kelly
Eshleman- beekeeper, Mary Kemen, and Laurel Schnabel will be able to come to the volunteer at the
table during the Trade Fair. They have handouts and things to give away. Matt Unmacht can assist with
having the City of Chanhassen Communications Department create some materials (name tags, handouts
and QR codes for Environmental Academy sign-up, posters, etc.) for the table as well. It was discussed
that the focus might be just on pollinators since the master gardeners are available. Scott Grefe can come
at 1:30 pm to assist with setup. Billy Cripe offered to assist during the entire event. Greg Hawks offered
to assist well. Jamie and Matt will help with the setup as well. Billy shared the downloadable content
that could be reproduced from Smithsonian Institution. The suggestion was to give away seeds as a
reward for the trivia contest.
Environmental Academy Planning
Matt Unmacht reported that the Communications department has started posting about the Academy and
so far there have been 5 people that have signed up to attend all three events. Manuel Jordan will be
running the August Academy of “What is Wrong with My Tree”. Livestreaming may not be an option.
August date of the Environmental Academy is now Tuesday, August 22nd to help facilitate having
Manuel be there. Communications will continue to advertise the academy. A conference room at City
Hall will be used for the August Academy.
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2
Chanhassen Connection
Matt Unmacht is wondering how involved the Environmental Commission has been in the past with
writing articles for the Connection. Commissioners stated that they had written the articles in the past.
Matt will facilitate how to get articles from the Commissioners for each publication. He shared the
“How the City Communicates” information.
Plan Promotions for a Plastic Free July
Commissioners have tried a plastic free month and found it difficult. A day without plastic seems more
feasible than a month, or suggestions of using no bottled water. Plastic Free will be September’s social
media topic and Matt will add this item to the July meeting to discuss further.
Youth Commissioner Update
This was Julia’s last meeting as she will be gone to college this fall. There will be advertising for a new
Youth Commissioner in the coming weeks. July 1 – 31 applications will be accepted, August 14
interviews will be held and a new Youth Commissioner for the Environmental Commission will be
appointed August 28 with their first meeting being in September. Julia was asked for her
recommendation for any new Youth Commissioner. She said she would reach out to the High School
Environmental Club and see if there is any interest and will let her Environmental Sciences teacher
know about the position. Julia was thanked for serving two terms and for being part of the Commission.
2023 Environmental Commissions Conference Recap
Greg Hawks attended the Conference that was held in person on May 13 at Ridgedale Library and also
on Zoom. There were 30 people in person and many online. The first presentation was from the City of
Eden Prairie. There was a study for a comparison of costs between a Dodge Charger and a Tesla police
car. The results came out that the Tesla was more economically feasible than the Charger. As Eden
Prairie replaces their vehicles, they are looking at purchasing the Tesla instead of the gas vehicle. The
City of St. Cloud did the second presentation about their dam and their hydroelectric power as well as
their own waste treatment and water treatment plant. St. Cloud was taking waste material that came out
of the water and were using it to make energy as well as giving the waste products to the local farmers
for fertilizer.
Commission Presentations:
Watershed meeting update from Greg Hawks:
Lake Susan Pond Refuse Intake Modification Project only got one bid and it was too expensive. The
project was tabled. The second item was an authorization of a joint agreement with the City of
Chanhassen for Lake Susan Park project and only one bid came back and was too high so that project
was tabled as well.
A discussion was had about monitoring chloride in the water along Hwy 5.
Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm
Minutes prepared by Jenny Potter
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Environmental Commission Item
July 12, 2023
Item Review Communications Calendar
File No.Item No:
Agenda Section DISCUSSION ITEMS
Prepared By Matt Unmacht, Assistant City Manager
Reviewed By
SUGGESTED ACTION
N/A
Motion Type N/A
Strategic
Priority N/A
SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
DISCUSSION
BUDGET
RECOMMENDATION
ATTACHMENTS
2023 Communication Calendar.docx
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2023 Communication Calendar
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Natural Home
Cleaners/cleaning
Appliances Home energy
efficiency
Green laundry
practices
Enviro-friendly
gardening
Compost
Kristin Scott Greg Leslie Scot
Billy
Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Sustainable travel Alternative energy Sustainable clothing Home/Holiday waste Food waste Gift giving ideas
Kaisa Billy Julia Kaisa Leslie Kristin
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Environmental Commission Item
July 12, 2023
Item Review Greensteps progess
File No.Item No:
Agenda Section DISCUSSION ITEMS
Prepared By Matt Unmacht, Assistant City Manager
Reviewed By
SUGGESTED ACTION
N/A
Motion Type N/A
Strategic
Priority N/A
SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
DISCUSSION
https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/city-detail/11903
BUDGET
RECOMMENDATION
ATTACHMENTS
7
Chanhassen Resolution Green Step City.pdf
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CITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
DATE: Auaust 27, 2018 RESOLUTION NO: 2018-41
MOTION BY: McDonald SECONDED BY: Tiornhom
ARESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CHANHASSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE MINNESOTA GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAM
WHEREAS, Minnesota Session Laws 2008, Chapter 356, Section 13 directed the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency ("MPCA") and Office of Energy Security in the Department of Commerce
Office of Energy Security"), in collaboration with Clean Energy Resource Teams ("CERTs"); and
WHEREAS, a broad coalition of public and private stakeholders including the League of
Minnesota Cities, the MPCA, Office of Energy Security, and CERTs responded to the 2008 legislation
by establishing the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a voluntary challenge program; and
WHEREAS, GreenStep is a free, continuous improvement program, managed by a public-
private partnership, and based upon 29 best practices covering five categories: (1) Buildings and
Lighting; (2) Transportation; (3) Land Use; (4) Environmental Management; and (5) Economic and
Community Development; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program with 122 currently participating
municipalities, including many neighboring cities, assists in collaboration and facilitating technical
assistance; and
WHEREAS, efforts taken by the City of Chanhassen closely align with the goals promoted by
the GreenStep Cities Program. To date, the City of Chanhassen has already:
1. Adopted a comprehensive plan approved by the Metropolitan Council; and
2. Adopted a water ordinance to preserve and protect drinking/ground water resources; and
3. Been designated as a Tree City USA for the last 23 years; and
4. Adopted a tree preservation and/or native landscaping ordinance; and
5. Adopted a shoreland ordinance for all river and lake shoreland areas; and
6. Created a mechanism to address failed or non-compliant septic systems; and
7. Adopted a subsurface sewage treatment system ordinance based on the Association of Minnesota
Counties' model ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chanhassen continues ongoing pursuit of voluntary activities and
continual process improvements such as:
1. Conducting public service education campaigns to conserve our community's water resources;
and
2. Continuing to improve the City's parks and trails; and
3. Promoting recycling and composting; and
4. Promoting and implementing cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in all city operations
to minimize the tax burden on our citizenry; and
5. Continuing to be good stewards of our valuable and limited natural resources.
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NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Chanhassen City Council does hereby
authorize the City of Chanhassen to participate in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City appoints the City of Chanhassen Environmental
Commission to serve as GreenStep coordinator to document, identify, and facilitate best practice
implementation. In addition, the Environmental Commission shall provide a report to the City Council
once a year on how well the GreenStep Cities Program is serving the city.
Passed and adopted by the Chanhassen City Council this 27`h day of August, 2018.
ATTE /)
T dd Gerhardt, City Manager
YES NO
Laufenburger
McDonald
Tjornhom
Ryan
2
ABSENT
Campion
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