2-8-23 MIN1
Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
Chanhassen City Hall, Fountain Conference Room
6:00 pm
February 8, 2023
Members Present: Kristin Fulkerson, Leslie Elhadi, Julia Adams, Scott Grefe, Greg Hawks, Kaisa
Buckholz, Markus Fischer
Members Absent: Scot Lacek
Staff Present: Matt Unmacht, Assistant City Manager
Visitors: none
Minutes: January minutes were approved.
Discuss Public/Youth Event Planning
Julia’s environmental group wanted to do a planting. It was discussed to coordinate this activity with
Arbor Day.
Arbor Day Poster Contest Finalize Details
The theme is “Trees are Terrific and Help Us Breathe”. Jamie Marsh, intern for the city, has sent out the
theme to Chanhassen schools.
Arbor Day Planning
Games were played last year and checker board was made in the grass. Giveaways were provided by
Jill; last year they were frisbees. Jamie Marsh may help with this event this year. This item will be
revisited in March.
Partner with Chanhassen High School for Earth Day Event Planning
This will be combined with the Arbor Day Planning for next month. Trash pickup around area parks is a
possible post for the city’s social media on Earth Day.
Discuss Possible Earth Hour Promotion
Saturday, March 25 from 8:30-9:30 pm households are requested to turn off non-essential lights. There
could be some social media posts. Matt Unmacht will talk to Communication staff about posts.
Trivia Night Follow Up
Matt, owner of Chanhassen Brewing said that the night was well attended for a Tuesday. A comment to
a commissioner from someone attending was that the event was very educational. There was discussion
of possibly starting the event at 6:30 pm instead of 7 pm. Thanks to Drew Zoromski for all his help.
Dave Ryan was a big draw and did a great job hosting the event. Discussion was had about the questions
2
that had numbers as answers and the fact that they were difficult. It was brought up to maybe have less
of those questions next time. October and February will continue to have Environmental Trivia Nights
and the Environmental Commission will decide at a later meeting about adding a summer trivia night
event.
West Water Treatment Facility Tour
Jill was going to set up a tour of the facility as a field trip for the Environmental Commission. Matt
Unmacht will work with utilities staff to set up a tour.
Commission Presentations
Greg gave watershed updates – At the last meeting they agreed to pay the 6th payment on the Pioneer
Wetland Restoration Project at Pioneer & 101. They passed a resolution to hire Barr Engineering to
design an inlet configuration for Lake Susan Park Pond.
Upcoming Items and Events
Statewide meeting for Environmental Commissions put on by Conservation Minnesota and will take
place in May 2023.
Scott Grefe will not be attending the March meeting.
Julia has an environmental club meeting next week and will discuss with them about possibly partnering
with the Chanhassen Environmental Commission for Arbor Day.
Meeting adjourned at 6:27 pm
Minutes prepared by Jenny Potter