01-08-25 EC AgendaA.6:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER
B.APPROVAL OF MINUTES
B.1 Approval of December 11, 2024 Environmental Commission Minutes
C.VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
D.DISCUSSION ITEMS
D.1 Earth Day Everyday Program
D.2 Revisit 2025 Focus Topic
D.3 Select Arbor Day Contest Theme
D.4 Trivia Night Event Planning
D.5 Camp Fire MN Update
E.COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
F.UPCOMING ITEMS AND EVENTS
G.ADJOURNMENT
AGENDA
CHANHASSEN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2025
FOUNTAIN CONFERENCE ROOM, 7700 MARKET BOULEVARD
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Environmental Commission Item
January 8, 2025
Subject Approval of December 11, 2024 Environmental Commission Minutes
Section APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Prepared By Amy Weidman, Senior Admin Support Specialist
December 11, 2024 Environmental Commission Minutes
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Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
6:00 pm
December 11, 2024
Members Present: Scott Grefe, Kaisa Buckholz, Leslie Elhadi, Billy Cripe, Paget Pengelly,
Sidney Lindmark, John Stutzman, Wren Roemer
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Jamie Marsh, Environmental Resource Specialist; Jerry Ruegemer, Park and
Recreation Director
Visitors: Jeff Miller
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m.
Minutes
Commissioner Cripe moved to approve the meeting minutes, with clarifying edits, dated
November 13, 2024; Commissioner Buckholz seconded. The minutes were approved with an 8-0
vote.
Visitor Presentations
1. Lake Ann Trail Update
Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director, presented on the status of the Lake Ann Park
Preserve expansion. The expansion of Lake Ann Park was identified as a priority by the Park and
Recreation Referendum Task Force in 2022.
The park expansion features three boardwalks that are now complete. Boardwalk A is 350 feet
and is on the south portion of the park. It crosses over the Met Council Interceptor, which
dictated some of the design work. Boardwalk B is near Greenwood Shores; this boardwalk was
built with additional strength to support dump trucks during construction and plowing in the
winter. Boardwalk C is 150 feet in the northwest portion of the park preserve. It was originally
planned to be 400 feet, but the soil testing allowed for a shorter boardwalk.
Boardwalk A received a DNR local trail connection grant for $250,000. The grant triggered state
agency review, including the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO). This review
discovered lithics (stone fragments) within an area of interest. Additional research is being done
to identify any significance of the lithics. The main area that required additional research is the
area near Greenwood Shores, which is now in phase two. More will be known after phase two. If
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phase three (mitigation) is required, it could include educational signage and altering the
stormwater or parking plans.
Two grants were received from St. Paul nonprofit Great River Greening for a little over
$350,000. The funding will be used to enhance and clean up the natural resources, including
diseased ash tree removals and buckthorn removal. Biochar can enhance the soil quality, reduce
waste, and store carbon. The goal is to preserve healthy and mature trees in the preserve and
wind the trails around said trees.
Access points to the preserve are from Paisley Path, Lake Lucy Road, and Greenwood Shores.
Some trails will be paved, but there will be some natural paths as well. The bridge connecting
Lake Lucy and Lake Ann will be high enough to allow kayak access between the lakes.
Discussion Items
1. Select 2025 Focus Topic
2024 focused on aquatic and terrestrial invasive species. The commissioners brainstormed
different ideas before deciding to focus on balancing a healthy environment and growth. There
are large projects going on throughout Chanhassen, and this will provide an umbrella of topics to
guide the Environmental Commission’s focus in 2025.
Commissioner Stutzman made a motion to select the focus topic as discussed, open to edits
throughout the year, and Commissioner Buckholz seconded the motion. Commissioners voted 8-
0.
2. Review 2025 Workplan
The commissioners decided to update the work plan a few months at a time. In the coming
months, they will be planning the Environmental Trivia in February, visiting Camp Fire
Minnesota, selecting the Arbor Day poster contest theme, and working on details for Arbor Day,
Earth Day, and Earth Hour. The work plan will be revised and edited throughout the year.
3. Review and Develop 2025 Communications Calendar
Within the lens of the new 2025 focus topic, the next several months of environmental topics on
social media will include winter construction, residential sidewalk salt use, water treatment,
adopt-a-drain, and Arbor Day. The communications calendar will be revisited and adjusted as
needed throughout the year.
4. Environmental Trivia Night Planning
The commissioners reviewed the question format and tips from previous trivia nights, including
how they will format the tie-breaker question. They chose the themes for the trivia rounds and
assigned which commissioners would write those questions. The questions will be written by the
January meeting. In January they will then assign roles during trivia night as it will be the last
meeting before the proposed February trivia night.
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5. Get to Know the Environmental Commission
The communications department would like to conduct short video interviews to highlight the
Environmental Commission. The videos will be featured online to spread awareness of the
commission and its members.
Commission Presentations
Commissioner Lindmark has been invited to participate as a Carver County stakeholder in
aquatic invasive species.
Upcoming Items and Events
1. Review Commissioners' Term Expirations
The Environmental Commission terms are staggered in three-year terms. Commissioners Grefe
and Buckholz terms will expire at the end of March 2025. The application period to continue for
another term is in January and they are encouraged to apply for another term if they are
interested.
Adjournment
Commissioner Pengelly moved to adjourn the meeting. Chair Grefe adjourned at 8:02 p.m. with
a vote of 8-0.
Minutes prepared by Amy Weidman, Senior Administrative Support Specialist
Minutes Submitted by Jamie Marsh, Environmental Resource Specialist
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Environmental Commission Item
January 8, 2025
Subject Select Arbor Day Contest Theme
Section DISCUSSION ITEMS
Prepared By Jamie Marsh, Environmental Resource Specialist
Each year, the Environmental Commission selects a theme for the Arbor Day Poster Contest. Local 5th
graders are invited to submit their artwork based on this theme and the Commission selects a winner
during the April Environmental Commission meeting.
Arbor Day Poster Contest Themes
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Arbor Day Poster Contest Themes:
“Trees are Terrific….and forests are too!”
“Trees are Terrific….Inside and Out!”
“Trees are Terrific….From Acorn to Oak!”
“Trees are Terrific….and EnergyWise!”
“Trees are Terrific – And Need Our Care!”
“Trees are Terrific – For Bees and Butterflies!”
“Trees are Terrific, Root for Trees”
“Trees are Terrific, so bark up the right tree”
“Trees are Terrific in Many Wonderful Ways”
“Trees are Terrific in all Shapes and Sizes” – 2024 WINNER
“Trees are Terrific, Small and Tall”
“Trees are Terrific, roots in the past Branches Reaching Towards Tomorrow”
“Trees are Terrific Leaf-ing the Past Behind”
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