EC 2009 02 10
Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
Regular Meeting
February 10, 2009
Members Present:
Denny Hansen, J.R. Relick, Beverly Foster, Bill Fouks, Rose Kircher
Members Absent
: Ron Olsen, Jim Sommers
Staff Present:
Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resources Specialist
Minutes:
January minutes were approved.
Arbor Day Poster Contest Winner Selection
: The commission reviewed the 56 entries in the
contest and selected a total of 15 posters. One of the posters was chosen to be sent on to the state
contest. The other 14 are considered runners-up.
Discuss Arbor Day work plan:
Jill reviewed the plans to date: Bruce the Bug Guy is
scheduled as are the Master Gardeners. There will also be the park clean up, tree sales and kids
crafts. The city wants to reduce the budget of this year’s event and the tent won’t be ordered.
Instead all of the activities will take place in the library or senior center, but there will still be
picnic tables in the commons area. Another significant expense is advertising. The commission
discussed ways to reduce the costs. The ads could be run only 2 weeks prior to the event. In the
ad, a picture should be used instead of the usual logo. Free seedlings should be advertised. The
Chaska Env. Club could be invited to sell their reusable shopping bags at the event. Bill will
have compost delivered and people can take home buckets of compost for free. This will be
advertised. The lunch should be a waste free event. Bill has posters of what can and can’t be
composted. These will be hung at the disposal bins. Planting handouts or a demonstration is
also needed with the seedlings and trees.
Organics Collection:
Jill informed the commission that the organics collection program for city
hall and the library is moving slowly right now due to a lack of a project manager for the
program. Bill mentioned the RecycleBank program happening in Eden Prairie. You earn points
for recycling that can be redeemed for coupons and products.
General Discussion
: The newspaper liaisons will continue to be Bill and Beverly. The next
article will probably be for Earth Day.
An update on the backyard gardening meeting was given: 16 people attended, at the end of the
meeting the idea was to form a sort of garden club, excess produce was a common quandary,
more public plots are needed, Crop Swap is being organized by the Master Gardeners and may
tie in.
The joint meeting with the PC and EC needs to be scheduled to discuss hard cover and wind
energy.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 PM.
Minutes Prepared by Jill Sinclair