02-09-2022 EC Minutes1
Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
Regular Meeting
6:00 pm
February 9, 2022
Members Present: Kristin Fulkerson, Jeff Harken, Greg Hawks, Markus Fischer, Leslie Elhadi, Scot
Lacek, Julia Adams.
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resources Specialist
Minutes: January minutes were approved.
2022 Water Education Communications Plan: Jeff submitted the water wise promotions for Jan and
Feb to Jill. The promo material was turned in to the Communications Dept. Jill asked for an update on
the scheduling and didn’t hear back from the dept. before this meeting. The postings will happen soon.
The commission talked about future promos and ideas for interesting approaches. One idea was to make
a video with kids doing environmentally friendly lawn care and parents looking over their shoulder to
learn about how to do it. The commission will talk about it again and see if something can be put
together. Scot is working on the lakeshore buffers promos.
Conservation Protection
Indoors Outdoors Outdoors
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Water
wise
Water
wise
Lakeshor
e buffer,
lawn care
(promote
grants!)
Sump
pumps
no
mow
may
Rain
barrel,
irrigati
on
Irrigati
on, car
washin
g
Irrigati
on, car
washin
g
Lawn
fertiliza
tion
Leaves,
phosph
orous
Garbage
disposal,
medicati
on and
HHW
disposal
Salting,
snow
remova
l
(Jeff) Jeff Scot Greg Kristin Leslie Scot/Julia Markus/Joe S. Markus Kristin
Fall event planning: The commission discussed the idea of having a Water-themed trivia night,
potentially at the brewery. Kristin said she talked to the owners and they said they’d be willing to host
it. They’ll need more details. Jill will confirm that the location will be ok for a city event. Possible
dates would be Oct. 4 or 11. Perhaps the trivia questions could be taken from the monthly social media
posts the commission creates. Will there be prizes? If so, should be something environmentally friendly
like a tree/seedling.
Arbor Day event: Jill said the poster contest letters have been sent to all the area elementary schools.
The deadline to submit is in March. This year’s Arbor Day tree planting will happen at Curry Farms
Park. Jill is looking for ideas for activities during the event in addition to the tree planting. Ideas
include:
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Giant Checkerboard with tree trunk slices for checkers
Logs to play on
Corn hole with a tree theme
Knock stuff off of stumps with Arbor Day Frisbee
Kite flying
Scavenger hunt for kids
Making seed bombs
Earth Day and Earth Hour 2022: The commission would like to promote Earth Hour and Earth Day
on social media. Jill will coordinate.
City updates:
Yard waste collection is changing to a season long collection instead of 2 days per
season. Collection days are Monday and Fridays at Public Works, between 7:30a and
2:30p. The fees for drop off remain the same.
Emerald ash borer (EAB) was confirmed in the city limits one year ago. Jill reminded
commissioners that now is the time to manage any ash in their years. Schedule treatment
of healthy ash 10” in diameter or greater. Plan on removing all other ash.
Community Garden reservations have gone well. The Olson community garden is fully
reserved with a waiting list. The new Lyman community garden is almost full with 3
plots remaining.
The Carbon Solutions Group EV charging station proposal is on the council agenda for
next week. The commission would like to voice their support for the proposal and will
email the council.
A paper shredding event is scheduled for Saturday, May 21 at the Public Works facility
9a- noon. It’s free and open to the public.
Jill is working with The Garden on a spring scavenger hunt. The Gnomadic Gnome
Scavenger Hunt will take participants to 20 different parks to snap pictures and learn
interesting facts about nature. The Garden will be giving away native plants to folks for
every 5 pictures taken at the different parks. The program starts April 22 and runs until
June 21.
General Discussion:
Greg had no watershed updates – missed last meeting.
Greg will attend the commission interviews in place of Kristin.
Reminder – March meeting will be a tour of the Carver County Environmental Center.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm
Minutes prepared by Jill Sinclair
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