EC 2010 01 13
Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
Regular Meeting
January 13, 2010
Members Present:
Rose Kircher, J.R. Relick, Beverly Foster, Denny Hansen
Members Absent
:
Staff Present:
Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resources Specialist
Minutes:
December minutes were approved.
Urban Forestry Discussion:
Jill presented a brief overview of urban forestry in Chanhassen.
The discussion included the benefits and importance of trees, concept of canopy coverage, and
listing of city forestry programs. The commission talked about what message should they focus
in on – the value of trees, basic information about trees, etc. A suggestion was made regarding
the creation of a memorial forest where people could buy trees to plant in the forest. Located on
a bare piece of land the forest would develop over time. Another suggestion was made to
include information about trees in the New Resident packets. The commissioners thought that
ongoing forestry project would be the best way to thoroughly communicate the message.
Beverly has made a list of all the means of communication available to the commission. She
also cautioned the commission to decide on the message first. What does the commission want
to communicate: Planting trees, removing buckthorn, etc.? Deciding on the message first and
then decide on how to deliver it.
Arbor Day Planning:
Jill informed the commission that the schools were notified of the poster
contest in December and the deadline for submittal is the first week of February. The
commissioners will be selected posters at the next meeting. Rose volunteered to contact the
teachers by email to remind them of the contest deadline.
The commission discussed further the idea of a new Arbor Day event. Jill shared that she had
discussed the idea of partnering with the Park and Rec Commission to do a tree planting event in
a city park. Using the past budgets for Arbor Day, around 10 trees could be planted. The whole
community would be invited and recycling coupons and tree coupons could be given out. A tree
scavenger hunt could be created for kids. The next Park and Rec Comm is at the end the month
and the commission may do a presentation to them to garner their support.
2010 Work Plan
: A suggestion was made to use a tree maintenance calendar to come up with
some timing aspects of projects for the coming year. Jill will send a maintenance calendar to the
th
commissioners. For the 4 of July, Denny suggested having a float instead of a truck and asking
a scout troop to participate with the commission. The scouts could get credit for helping with the
environmental theme. The commissioners envision setting up an artificial campfire with potted
trees around it and the scouts sitting around it.
General Discussion:
The terms of Denny and Rose will expire on March 31. There will be 5
vacancies on the commission.
The next meeting will be moved to Wed., Feb. 10 at 6:00 pm.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:50 PM.
Minutes Prepared by Jill Sinclair