EC 2018 10 10
Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
Regular Meeting
September 12, 2018
Members Present: Bill Chappell, Keith Butcher, Don Vasatka, Greg Hawks, Rachel Popken, Kristin
Fulkerson, Wayne Benbow
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resource Specialist;
Guests: Sharon McCotter, Master Water Steward/Chanhassen Resident
Minutes: September minutes were approved.
Community Clean Up for Water Quality: Sharon is the event organizer and updated the commission
on the latest actions. Invites have been sent to all lake associations in the district as well as community
organizations. Nine people have registered so far for the event. It was decided to wait until just before
the event to decide if all 5 streets will be cleaned or if just a few will be done. Sharon will contact the
volunteers with the details and will decide early in the last week which streets will be cleaned. If there’s
not enough volunteers, then she will pick the streets to be done. If all streets are cleaned, then
commissioners volunteered to be group leaders as follows: Don/Bill/Greg can do Stone Creek Dr;
Wayne can do Carver Beach Rd; Don could also be put at Dakota or another street if needed. The
commission wondered if signs could be put on the streets notifying the neighborhood about the event.
Might be easier than knocking door-to-door with flyers. Keith suggested having the city council
announce the event at their meeting. Jill will get a public announcement to the council and make the
signs.
GreenStep update: Jill has registered the city on the GreenStep website and looked into the process of
entering Action data. The most efficient route to getting the data input will be for city staff to enter the
information, rather than the commission collecting and entering the data. The commission will consider
how to incorporate GreenStep into their work plan. Jill had researched how other cities use their
commissions to facilitate GreenStep and compiled some ideas. She reviewed them with the commission
and will send them the list. Keith wondered when the Action data will be entered and when the city will
become a Step 2. Jill said the deadline is May 1 for all cities. She was planning on working on the data
input over the winter. Bill wondered if the press release was ever sent to the villager. Jill said she
would check with the GreenStep representative.
Student commissioner: Jill researched the student commissioner position on the Park and Recreation
Commission and informed the EC that the position was created in 2014, it is a one-year term, there may
be 1-2 student commissioners appointed, they have full voting rights, no age or grade limits are
specified. The students are generally found through the current commissioners. The city council would
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have to approve adding an additional member to the Environmental Commission and changing the by-
laws. After some discussion the commission decided not to pursue a student member. Keith suggested
making contact with the club and club leader at the high schools to maybe partner with or involve
students some other way.
Strategic Plan worksheet: The commission discussed the need for the worksheet at this time. They
felt that perhaps they have enough projects and focus now so that the ideas gleaned from the worksheet
wouldn’t be as beneficial. The commission decided to table the worksheet until a time they deem it will
provide more benefit to the commission.
General Discussion:
Add review of the GreenStep worksheet to the November agenda.
Kristin wondered if the city does anything for Recycling Day, Nov. 15. Jill said nothing is
planned. The commission suggested posting a video about recycling made by PBS that is
very interesting. There’s also a recycling video done by Sesame Street too that could be
posted. Jill will get that scheduled.
The commission is interested in a tour of the Resource Recovery Facility at DemCon.
Maybe add that to the 2019 work plan for March?
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm
Minutes prepared by Jill Sinclair
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