07-10-24 MINChanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
6:00 pm
July 10, 2024
Members Present: Scott Grefe, Kaisa Buckholz, Leslie Elhadi, Billy Cripe, Sidney Lindmark,
John Stutzman, Ryan Farnan
Members Absent: Paget Pengelly
Staff Present: Jamie Marsh, Environmental Resource Specialist
Visitors: None
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m.
Minutes
Commissioner Lindmark moved to approve the meeting minutes dated June 12, 2024 with
clarifying amendments; Commissioner Cripe seconded. The minutes were approved with a 7-0
vote.
Discussion Items
1. Business Expo Event Summary
The commissioners discussed the Business Expo, where the Environmental Commission hosted a
table during the 4th of July Celebration. The Commissioners agreed that the event went smoothly.
The candy giveaways and the garlic mustard poster were well received. Lucy Rehm was there
throughout the event and was a popular guest; she drew the raffle winner of the rain barrel. Some
ideas for future events include bringing paperweights, an Environmental Commission banner or
tablecloth that can be used at many events, more table space, and maybe an interactive game like
a spinner wheel or Plinko.
2. Finalize Environmental Academy
Jamie Marsh, Environmental Resource Specialist, met with Dustin from Carver County and they
finalized the dates for the additional three academy events. The six academy events will be held
at 6:00 p.m. this year, a change from last year. They also worked with communications to work
on some details. The first Environmental Academy will be held on August 22 to discuss the
Civic Campus, including green initiatives.
The September 26 event will likely be held onsite at Lake Ann; Ms. Marsh will scope out
example trees soon. The plan is to discuss three different invasive species during this event.
Other events will be August 29, September 12, October 10, and October 24.
The commissioners indicated which academy events they will attend, so at least one
Environmental Commissioner will be at each event.
3. Environmental Trivia Night Planning Update
Chanhassen Brewing Company has booked November 12 for Environmental Trivia Night. The
questions will cover five categories with five questions each, plus a tie-breaker round. The
categories will include AIS, terrestrial invasive species, climate change, Environmental
Academy topics, Chan-Happenings, and the tie-breaking round will cover flooding. The
commissioners will take on a topic to write trivia questions, and they will collaborate on the
Academy topic questions.
4. Plan Fall Community Service Event
Due to hosting six Environmental Academy events plus a fall trivia night, the Commissioners
decided to wait for spring. Commissioner Stutzman made a motion, Commissioner Lindmark
seconded to move the service event to spring. The motion passed 7-0.
5. Review Communications Calendar
The Commissioners discussed the upcoming months’ topics. They will include lesser-known
AIS, chlorides and snow removal, and general information about what the Environmental
Commission does as a group.
6. Discuss 2024 Workplan
The academy updates were made. The trivia was planned for November. The Commissioners
might have a Harvest Moon potluck during the October meeting.
Commission Presentations
Commissioner Lindmark visited the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District office. He
shared the resources he discovered. The conversation shifted to mussel plates and how that could
work as a potential service project for the Commission in the spring.
Commissioner Grefe and Ms. Marsh recently served on the county’s waste management task
force; the project is wrapping up and the county is compiling the plan to submit for approval.
The expanded Environmental Academy will be included among the optional components of that
plan.
Ms. Marsh shared that many Chanhassen residents may not be aware, but residents can request
larger or additional recycling bins at no added fee.
Commissioner Cripe shared that there is a lot of interest in a Buy Local campaign; the next step
is to create a draft landing page for QR codes that could be used on signage.
Upcoming Items and Events
Commissioner Cripe will put together an option for the Environmental Commission shirts and
share for feedback on style and price.
Youth Commissioner Farnan is attending his last meeting before he heads out of state for college
next month. Ms. Marsh thanked him for his time on the Commission and wished him luck in his
next steps.
Adjournment
Commissioner Stutzman moved to adjourn the meeting. Chair Grefe adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Amy Weidman, Senior Administrative Support Specialist
Minutes Submitted by Jamie Marsh, Environmental Resource Specialist