12-14-22 EC Agenda
AGENDA
CHANHASSEN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022
FOUNTAIN CONFERENCE ROOM, 7700 MARKET BOULEVARD
6:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November minutes
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Finalize 2023 media calendar
Assign Spring/Summer Connection Article - Sustainability
Plan February Environmental Trivia Night
Review and discuss 2023 Environmental Academy
Finalize 2023 Work Plan
COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
ADJOURNMENT
UPCOMING ITEMS AND EVENTS
1
Environmental Commission Item
December 14, 2022
Subject November minutes
Section APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Prepared By Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resource Specialist
11-9-22 MIN.docx
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Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
Chanhassen City Hall, Fountain Conference Room
6:00 pm
November 9, 2022
Members Present: Kristin Fulkerson, Leslie Elhadi, Scot Lacek, Julia Adams, Markus Fischer, and
Scott Grefe, Greg Hawks, Kaisa Buckholz
Members Absent:
Staff Present: Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resources Specialist
Visitors: none
Minutes: October minutes were approved.
2023 Focus Topic: Kristin explained the reason why a focus topic is selected and then reviewed what
had been chosen for the last few years. The commission suggested Sustainability or Alternative Energy.
The commission discussed the pros and cons of a broad topic such as Sustainability and agreed that it
would work well because it offers the opportunity to cover a lot of subtopics, such as Alternative
Energy. The commission approved Sustainability as the 2023 Focus Topic.
2022 Media Calendar review and update for 2023: The commission thought the media calendar
worked well in 2022. It allowed everyone to be involved and participate in public education. Markus
wondered in the Communications team could tell the commission what was working, how frequently the
commission should be posting, etc. He will summarize a list of questions about the commissions
outreach in 2022 and Jill will forward it to the Comm. Dept. The commission worked on populating the
2023 Media Calendar with the focus topic of Sustainability. The draft calendar is as follows.
JAN: natural
home cleaning,
Kristin
FEB:
Appliances,
Scott
MAR: Home
energy
efficiency,
Greg
APR:
Laundry,
Leslie
MAY:
Energy
efficient
gardens, Scot
JUN:
Composting,
Markus
JULY:
Sustainable
travel/staycations,
Kaisa
AUG:
Alternative
energy
sources,
Markus
SEPT:
Clothing,
Julia
OCT:
Home/Holiday
waste, Kaisa
NOV: Food
waste, Leslie
DEC: Gift
giving ideas,
Kristin
It was also suggested that maybe Sustainable House Design could be the July 4 topic.
Winter Environmental Trivia Event: Kristin asked if the commission would like to do another event
this winter. The commission agreed that they would. February would be a good time to do it, possibly
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later in the month. There could be a category of questions on Sustainability to tie in the focus topic.
Prizes could be sustainable items such as dryer balls and microfiber cleaning cloths. Possible dates for
the event include Jan. 31, Feb. 7, Feb. 21, or Mar. 7. Kristin will check with the brewery on dates and
Jill will check with Dave to see if he could emcee again.
Chanhassen Environmental Academy: The commission debated whether to do 3 or 4 sessions and
when to offer them. They decided on 3 sessions for 2023 and moving to 4 in 2024 if they go well. The
classes will be offered in Aug, Sept., and Oct. The tentative schedule would be:
Aug – tour of West Water Treatment Plant
Sept. – tour of Carver County Environmental Center
Oct – Forestry workshop on current diseases and pests of trees
2023 Work Plan discussion:The commission did an initial review of the 2023 work plan working on
deleting items known not to be relevant for 2023, updating dates, and adding items necessary for next
year. The commission will review again in December.
Commission Updates: Greg gave an update on the watershed district. He said the projects for Bluff
Creek and Riley Creek were approved as was a 2022 Pond Rehabilitation project for the city. It was
also noted that a boat lift infested with zebra mussels was introduced into Rice Marsh Lake and action
was talked about by the district. The watershed is still doing zoom meetings but talked about going back
to live meetings.
City Updates:
Jill updated the commission on the Fox Hill subdivision development.
Commissioners discussed the change to the West Fire Station from a firehouse to an ambulance
station.
Jill announced her retirement in January.
General Discussion: None
Meeting adjourned at 7:35p
Minutes prepared by Jill Sinclair
4
Environmental Commission Item
December 14, 2022
Subject Finalize 2023 media calendar
Section DISCUSSION ITEMS
Prepared By Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resource Specialist
2023 Communication Calendar.docx
5
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
Markus
Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Sustainable travel Alternative energy Sustainable clothing Home/Holiday waste Food waste Gift giving ideas
Kaisa Markus Julia Kaisa Leslie Kristin
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Environmental Commission Item
December 14, 2022
Subject Review and discuss 2023 Environmental Academy
Section DISCUSSION ITEMS
Prepared By Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resource Specialist
Chanhassen Environmental Academy.docx
7
Chanhassen Environmental Academy
Chanhassen residents interested in learning more about their environmental footprint can sign up for the
Chanhassen Environmental Academy.
The academy will be held over three months with a 90-minute class each month. The courses are aimed at
helping residents and property owners identify ways to reduce their environmental impact.
Each class begins at 7 p.m. on the dates listed below and will be held at Chanhassen City Hall, 7700 Market
Blvd., unless otherwise noted.
Thursday, Aug. 17 – What’s wrong with my Tree? Common problems and pests of trees
Thursday, Sept. 21 – Carver County Environmental Center behind-the-scenes tour
Thursday, Oct. 19 – Chanhassen water treatmenbehind-the-scenesthe scenes tour
The Chanhassen Environmental Academy is an initiative of the Chanhassen Environmental Quality
Committee.
Learn More and Apply
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Environmental Commission Item
December 14, 2022
Subject Finalize 2023 Work Plan
Section DISCUSSION ITEMS
Prepared By Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resource Specialist
Env_WorkPlan_2023.doc
9
Chanhassen Environmental
Commission
Annual Work Plan 2023
Commissioner events highlighted in bold
January
Guest speaker:
Select Arbor Day contest theme
Trivia event planning
Advertisement Posted for Openings on
Environmental Commission
Jan x – Spring/Summer Connection article due
February
Possible public/youth event planning
Communication annual plan development
Arbor Day poster contest – finalize details
Arbor Day Planning – develop activities
Partner with CNHS for earth day event – planning?
Earth Hour – promotion?
Feb X – Trivia event at CBC
Feb x - Interviews with CC for new members
March
Tour of West Water Treatment Facility
Review updates to onboarding packet
GreenStep city actions update
March 31 - Last Day of Term
April
Appointment of New Members
New member orientation
Review By-Laws
Appoint Chair/Vice-Chair
Select Arbor Day Poster Contest Winner
July 3rd Trade Fair Planning
Finalize Arbor Day Work Plan
Arbor Day Poster Contest Presentation
April 1 - First Day of Term
April 22 - Earth Day
April - Arbor Day Poster Contest Presentation at
City Council
April 29 - MN Arbor Day
May
July 3rd Trade Fair Planning
Arbor Day Summary
Env. Comm regional Meeting Summary
May - Arbor Month
May 1 – Deadline for GreenStep Cities Action Input
May 7 – Chan Arbor Day
May 21 – Paper shredding event
June
Connection article on focus topic
Plan Environmental Academy
July 3rd Trade Fair Progress
Plan promotions for Plastic Free July
Review GreenSteps – progress towards Step 3
Advertise for youth commissioner
July
Plan Fall Community Service Event
Plan Environmental Academy
Promote Plastic Free July
Trade Fair Event Summary
SM education results review
July 3 – EC at Trade Fair Event
July - Newsletter article due for fall/winter edition
Youth commissioner interviews
August
Month off
Env Academy 1st Session
Aug. 31 – Last day of term, youth commissioner
September
Date TBD – Joint Commission Tour
Plan Fall Trivia Night Event
GreenStep update
Plastic Free update
Env Academy 2nd Session
Sept. 1 – First day of term, youth commissioner
October
Harvest Moon Potluck
Discuss and assign Villager Submittal - Holiday
Waste
Env Academy 3rd Session
Oct X - Trivia Night Event
November
2024 focus topic finalization
Media calendar for 2024 review and develop
Update commission interview questions
Choose topics and dates for EA
Nov 4 – Yard waste collection last day
Nov 15 – National Recycling Day
December
2024 Work Plan finalization
Work on filling 2024 media calendar
Assign Spring/Summer Connection article
Plan for winter trivia event (feb?)
Possible tours/speakers
Carver County Environmental Center-
selected
Arb Pollinator Center
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Blue Lake wastewater treatment facility
SMSC compost facility
Chanhassen water treatment facility
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