01-13-20211
Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
Regular Meeting – Zoom Online Meeting
6:00 pm
January 13, 2021
Members Present: Bill Chappell, Kristin Fulkerson, Jeff Harken, Greg Hawks, Don Vasatka, and
Markus Fischer.
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resources Specialist
Minutes: December minutes were approved.
City updates:
• Recycling Days/Recycling Coupon: Jill explained that the county has asked to discontinue the
special event Chanhassen Recycling Day at the Environmental Center due to COVID concerns
and traffic. The city will instead increase the value of the recycling coupon and encourage
residents to use it at their convenience. Since the coupon won’t be available until the Connection
is mailed in Feb. there will be a period of time when no coupons are available to the public. No
complaints have been received. Markus wondered if a QR code could be used for access to the
coupon when the printed version isn’t available. Jill will look into it.
• Jill said she had talked to Bill Fouks, director of the Environmental Center, to see if he’d be
interested and available for a virtual tour of the facility with the commission. He said he would
be and that March would work best. The commission agreed that they would like to add that to
the March agenda.
• Applicant interviews for the commission will be done only with the City Council on Feb 8 and
22. One commissioner is invited to sit with the council for the interviews. Jeff will be willing
and available to do so with Bill and Markus as alternates if needed.
• There is a paper shredding event scheduled for May. The senior center is looking into
scheduling a fall event as a fundraiser.
• Emerald ash borer was confirmed in Chanhassen on Monday, Jan. 11. The city has notified the
public of the discovery on social media and the website. A press release will run in the paper
next week.
• Xcel informed the city that they will be updating all of their street lights in town with LED this
year. The commission wondered how many city owned street lights there are and how many
have been updated. Jill will look into it.
2021 Recycling education event brainstorming: The commission agreed that it would be best to stick
with one event in the fall, preferably in-person but with a back-up plan for a virtual event. October is
the target month for the event. Ideas for presentations include:
2
• DemCon trailer. Greg will look into it and get back to the commission in Feb.
• Tracey Anthony – sustainability/climate change talk
• National weather service also a possibility. Contacts at the agency are known by commissioners.
• Off the Blue Couch – recycling education mainly focused for kid audience. Greg has forwarded
emails with their latest education offerings.
• Stan Tekiela – micro plastics and birds
The commission decided to discuss again in Feb and narrowed it down to DemCom, Blue Couch, or
Stan. Looking online during the meeting Don saw that the DemCon trailer is $100/hour with a $100
mobilization fee. The commission wondered if they were able to do a virtual presentation if necessary.
Markus wondered if the haulers have any content that the EC can use. Maybe they should be contacted
and see what recycling items are accepted by each since the haulers don’t all accept the same items.
Information should be shared. There’s also a good video from DemCon on recycling that should be
shared.
Arbor Day 2021: The commission brainstormed alternative event ideas since a group tree planting
would not be happening. Perhaps city could do a film festival for Arbor Day similar to the movie event
the watershed district did in the fall. Select a tree-themed movie to share. Jill will contact the watershed
district to see how they planned their event. The commission would like it penciled in for May. The
poster contest will be changed as well. The commission decided to open it up to anyone, not just 5th
graders. Participants can submit their own original drawing. The deadline will be in April, maybe April
7 so that commissioners can look at posters before meeting. Jill can scan and send them to the
commission. The poster theme will be ‘Trees are Terrific in Chanhassen’ to keep it simple. The
commission would like the contest to be added to the February agenda to finalize the details.
Advertising would happen throughout March.
General Discussion:
• Greg shared that the watershed district re-elected Sharon McCotter as chair of the Citizens
Advisory Committee (CAC). The committee is always looking for volunteers. The CACs theme
for 2021 is reconstruction of the lake shoreline. A major topic on the district board agenda was
the Rice Marsh Lake water quality improvement project. A discussion was had as to how much
the city will be contributing to the project. The plan was approved 3-2. The water quality of
Rice Marsh is above the 10 year limit in spite of previous improvement in the watershed such as
an alum treatment of Rice Marsh and the iron filings filtration system in Lake Susan which
drains into Rice Marsh. This improvement project is separate and different from the project at St
Hubert school.
• Jill shared that the Carver County Environmental Center is accepting plastic bags again. Kristin
said that was good since the collection station at Target is overflowing. Don said that Target is
working on some interesting reuse projects with the bags.
• Jill also noted that the Adopt A Highway sign on Hwy 5 in downtown Chanhassen doesn’t have
a volunteer name on it. Perhaps it’s open? Don volunteered to look into it and contact MNDOT
3
to see if it’s available. The commission agreed that they would be interested in adopting a
section if available.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm
Minutes prepared by Jill Sinclair