CCAgenda_05Apr27 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -3- April 13, 2005 Discussion of outcomes of the Joint Council-Commission Workshop held on March 23, 2005 (continued) Mayor Gehrz said there was brainstorming in a workshop format and it went extremely well. Robert Thompson, Co-Chair of the Neighborhood Commission, facilitated the workshop discussion and a lot of good ideas were generated from the commissioners present. One of the commissions will need to take a leadership role and the most logical one seems to be the Solid Waste Commission. The attendees recommended that the Solid Waste Commission be re-named the Environment Commission and that their scope of responsibility be increased to include the following: Plan and coordinate environmental workshops for city residents, using existing educational resources from other governmental agencies, non profit organizations, research bodies, or university and academic resources. Council member Lamb, Council Liaison to the Solid Waste Commission, said the Commission is working on the recycling contract, which will be up at the end of this year. There are issues of . air and water quality. Periodically, municipalities receive unfunded mandates from the Federal and State governments. Education is the major component. A lot of research will need to be done. They will be pulling together things that are existing, packaging them and creating mailers and town meetings about these issues. The people on the Commission are excited about their new charter. He invited residents who are interested in serving on the Commission to call City Hall and express their interest. Council member Lindstrom said there was a lot of energy generated that night. There are real programs that can be done, that people want to do. He suggested adding two words to the revised scope of responsibility: "and programs" after the word "workshops". He commented that he recently read about a program in Maplewood for rain gardens. They have volunteers who identify where a rain garden would be appropriate. Maybe there could be something at the Farmer's Market regarding plants for rain gardens. Council member Lamb said he agreed and that the Environment Commission's definition should be broad. Lindstrom moved to rename the Solid Waste Commission the Environment Commission and add the amendment, outlined below, to their charter. The motion was unanimously approved. Plan and coordinate environmental workshops and programs for city residents, using • existing educational resources from other governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, research bodies, or university and academic resources. 3