EC 2017 09 13
Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
Regular Meeting
September 13, 2017
Members Present: Charlotte Chappell, Don Vasatka, Wayne Benbow, Keith Butcher, Rachel Popken, David
Hess
Members Absent: Bill Chappell
Staff Present: Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resource Specialist
Minutes: July minutes were approved.
Community Service project planning: The commission made a short list of project ideas. Jill will look into
details of each and respond to commission with information on each:
Fall pumpkin collection
Adopt-a-hwy clean up
Infiltration pond planting at Market/Hwy 5
Herman Field trail upkeep/park plantings
GreenStep Cities: The commission reviewed the worksheet with Don and Charlotte who had reviewed the city
staff responses. Don went through each section assessing what’s been done and what may be implemented with
some ease in the future. The city appears to be a solid Step 2 with a handful of areas needed still to become a
Step 3 in the future. The commission decided that the next step is to draft a resolution and present it to the
Council. There would be a work session discussion with the council before it becomes an agenda item to discuss
with the council the implications of passing the resolution to become a Step 1 city and then moving forward to
become recognized as a Step 2. Keith volunteered to draft the resolution. Jill will work to schedule a work
session opportunity for the commission.
2040 Comprehensive Plan: Commissioners had previously read the chapter and came with edit suggestions and
changes as well as questions and clarifications:
City of Chanhassen needs consistency in chapter; use City or Chanhassen, not both; capitalize City in
City of Chanhassen
Solar energy: 30% of city’s energy from solar, is this documented? Does the city own the RECs?
Section 5.5: add a picture of a Rusty Patched bumble bee; call out invasive species of particular concern;
highlight education plans or mitigation ideas
Goal 5: change ‘overstory’ to ‘Shade’; add ‘of the city’ to ‘overall canopy coverage’.
Introduction: well done; good to have resiliency and sustainability mentioned.
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Goal 2, 3 bullet: add mention of Water Wise; add mention of how to engage in program, how to contact
city, who to contact
Goal 6: reference ‘City of Chanhassen’ Approved Tree List
Section 5.2: Add mention that new construction is required to plant a canopy cover percentage; in the last
paragraph change they to there; start new paragraph with ‘….green infrastructure’; UF Mgmt. Plan –
change to ‘the city proposes to create a UFMP that would assist…’
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Goal 3, bullet 3: change tense to action item
Goal 6: develop ‘urban’ forest mgmt. plan; should approved tree list update be separate bullet?
Lots of items in chapter co-mingle with RPBCWD so should there more emphasis or mention made of
that?
Make note of the Green Step Cities reference – the chapter narrative will need to be revised if GSC is
approved before the comp plan is. May need to update the references made to GSC.
General Discussion:
Charlotte reviewed the Bluff Creek Tour she participated in with the RPBCWD. She said the district is
doing their 10 year plan update. The district is 50 square miles and has 5 employees. The tour made a
stop at Duck Lake to look at a erosion fix/shoreline restoration. The tour then went to Purgatory Creek
Recreation Area. The district is trying to promote sustainable management of groundwater resources.
The Eden Prairie fire station #2 has a re-use system for washing trucks and doesn’t have grass on site.
The tour visited Lake Ann where staff demonstrated data collection techniques. Charlotte thought the
tour was very interesting and very well run.
Commissioners reviewed the August Joint Commission tour. They liked the tour and appreciated the
variety of stops – water treatment plant, shoreline restoration, new development. It was a well-run tour.
Commissioners liked the details given at each site and thought that the city was very conscientious in
their planning.
Someone mentioned that RPBCWD is hosting a fall bike tour of the district again. This year’s tour is
along Riley Creek and is on Oct. 7, 10am – Noon. RSVP at the district website.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm
Minutes prepared by Jill Sinclair
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