03-13-20191
Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
Regular Meeting
March 13, 2019
Members Present: Bill Chappell, Keith Butcher, Don Vasatka, Greg Hawks, Wayne Benbow, Rachel
Popken
Members Absent: Kristin Fulkerson
Staff Present: Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resource Specialist;
Guests Present: Jeff Harken
Minutes: February minutes were approved.
Earth Hour update and promotion ideas: The city will promote it on the FB page as well as the
website. Jill confirmed that City Center Park lights will be turned off for the event. The reader board
will advertise the event. Rachel volunteered to write the FB post and will send to Jill for posting. Don
will try emailing the HS about participating.
Joint Council meeting: Jill confirmed that the commission is scheduled to meet with the City Council
on Monday, April 8 at 5:30p. Keith will prepare the term accomplishments for the meeting. Jill will
send last year’s document to everyone. Items to add for this past year include Splash Bash, Metro
Environmental Group, Villager articles, and any organization meetings attended by commissioners.
GreenStep update and documentation: The commission was shown the GreenStep website with the
Chanhassen entries for 17 actions. When reviewed and accepted, this will qualify the city for a Step 2
designation. Jill shared a spreadsheet showing progress towards Step 3. There will be some challenging
items to accomplish, but it could be done in the next couple of years. The commission would like to
take a closer look at what is needed for Step 3 so a review of the next steps will be added to the June
agenda.
Dept of Commerce Grant: After further review of the grant qualifications, the commission decided it
did not apply. Items was withdrawn.
Arbor Day Poster Contest Winner selection: The commission reviewed submissions from Bluff
Creek Elementary and St. Hubert’s School. Winners from each school were selected and then the Grand
Prize winner was selected from those. Abbie Marusich from St Hubert school was selected as the Grand
Prize winner. Don, Keith and Bill are able to attend the April 22 council presentation for the poster
contest.
General Discussion:
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• This is Wayne’s last meeting. Bill thanked him on behalf of the commission for his service and
contribution.
• Jill shared information on a proposed interpretive sign for the Seminary Fen that is being
designed. She asked the commission to provide feedback on the content.
• The commission definitely wants to do a tour of DemCon. Jill said the tour is already on the
work plan, scheduled for October.
• The Metro Area Sustainability Conference is scheduled for April 13. Greg would like to go.
Don might be interested in attending.
• April 10 is the RPBCWD meet and greet, 4:30-7p.
• Don emailed everyone an invitation to the Bloomington Sustainability Tour on April 3, 3-5p.
• Keith spoke with someone from the MN Center for Energy and Environment and learned that
they could help the city/commission with organizing the fall EE workshop.
• Rachel shared that students in St Louis Park went to the city council and demanded a better
city, then the youth in Hopkins did that same. Now students in Minnetonka are following suit.
Perhaps it makes its way out to Chanhassen?
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm
Minutes prepared by Jill Sinclair