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Home My WebLink AboutEC Packet 2.8.2021 City of Falcon Heights Environment Commission City Hall 2077 Larpenteur Avenue W. Monday, February 8, 2021 6:30 p.m. A G E N D A Note: This meeting will be held by web conference. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84727439535 * A. CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m. B. ROLL CALL: Jim Wassenberg ____ Nick Olson ____ Martin McCleery ____ Patrick Mathwig ____ Jordyn Bucholtz ____ Esha Seth ____ Pedro De Filippo Vannucci ____ Council Liaison Wehyee ____ Staff Liaison Moretto ____ C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 16, 2020 D. AGENDA 1. Revise and Update 2021 work plan E. NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. Other F. ADJOURN Next Meeting: March 8, 2021 If you have a disability and need accommodation in order to attend this meeting, please notify City Hall 48 hours in advance between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 651-792-7600. We will be happy to help. City of Falcon Heights Environment Commission Online Monday, November 9, 2020 6:30 p.m. MINUTES A. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Wassenberg called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. B. ROLL CALL: Members present: Bucholtz, McCleery, Mathwig, De Filippo Vannucci, Wassenberg, Seth, and Olson Also present: Council Liaison Andrews, Staff Liaison Krzos C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: McCleery moved, seconded by Mathwig to approve minutes for September 15, 2020 and October 12, 2020. Minutes approved. D. AGENDA a. Discuss 2021 Work Plan i. The Commission looked at the previous years’ work plan and determined what they wanted to complete. ii. Commission members discussed ideas for 2021 including: • Item: Opportunity to reduce light pollution-install dark sky fixtures in city buildings (hoods on light fixtures to shine only on what should be) a. Action 1: Jim will do an Environmental Corner (EC) article on this topic. • Item: Add an education item with ordinances before and when they are passed. a. Action 1: Seth will pair EC corners with ordinances. • Item: Renovations at Community Park. a. Action 1: See if there is a way to include dark sky fixtures • Item: LED traffic lights. a. Action1: Pedro will follow-up. • Item: Consider working with Partners in Energy. They help cities go deeper on energy related goals. a. Action 1: Find a way to work with the organization to assist the city. • Item: Improve local food availability. a. Action 1: Seth will review local food section of Green Step program. b. Action 2: Look for Green Acre and CSA cooking classes. c. Action 3: Research if there is a farmers market in Falcon Heights? • Item: EV Charging a. Action 1: Encourage City to electrify fleet b. Discuss EV charging stations i. The commission discussed the topic of electric vehicle (ev) charging stations. • There are organizations that have cost share grants but they are not fully funded. When the Minnesota Pollution Control Administration (MPCA) publishes the request for proposal (RFP), then they will have something more specific. • Falcon Crossing asked the city who would pay for electricity for the charging stations. • Patti Holmes (1635 Garden Avenue) – o Commented that there is an Xcel program for Public Charging EV Service Pilot Program. Holmes stated they would be happy to look through Metro EV cohort materials to help answer some of those questions, if Commission provides summary of what we are looking for and specific questions we have. • The Commission ask about getting the MN State Fair to add charging. • Commission Request: Can someone with the City fill out the Cooperative Purchasing Venture (CPV) application, which is required for viewing the State Purchasing contract pricing for chargers. That would give us a chance to see what Level 2 chargers cost through their program. • Xcel program must have a site within 2 miles of interstate highway: o Community Park is within that range o Falcon Crossing is 2.6 miles away from I35 W o Stouts might be 2.5 miles • Work with Xcel to review requirements and commitments needed from the city. • Would need to determine the best location dependent on funding sources. • Xcel and MPCA programs are not compatible. • The chair will send questions to resident Holmes. • Action 1: Ryan request that staff look into completing a CPV cooperative purchase agreement. May need be approved by council. • Action 2: Research other cities and how they implemented these programs. c. Discuss EC corner i. EC corners go out every other week on Fridays. Staff needs to receive the articles two weeks prior to publishing. ii. Action 1: Seth will publish a winter efficiency article and send it to Ryan. iii. EC items completed: • ice melting salt • composting iv. EC items not completed: • home energy audit • work place recycling • native landscaping • bicycling • summer energy efficiency • EV hybrids v. EC items for the future: • native landscaping/rain gardens • gardening topic • rainfall and stormwater • winter efficiency • light pollution • beekeeping • home energy squad incentive E. NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS a. Garden ordinance will be passed on the 18th. Already discussed at City Council workshop and at Planning Commission. F. ADJOURN a. Meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:01 p.m. 2020 FHEC Calendar and Projects List January 11 EC Corner: Food scraps and composting February 8 Feb: East Metro Environment Commission gathering 6:30-8:30 Jim and Justin: Identify Youth Commissioner Nick: EC Corner: Use of Ice Melting Salt Patrick: EC Corner: Home Energy Audit and discount opportunity March 8 Jim: EC Corner: Workplace Recycling April 12 April: Environmental Commission Conference Hennepin UMC Nick: EC Corner: Native Landscaping May 10 Marty: EC Corner: Rainfall and Stormwater June 14 June: City wide cleanup at fairgrounds Esha: EC Corner: Bicycling July 12 TBD: EC Corner: Raingardens Esha: EC Corner: Summer energy efficiency August 9 Jim: EC Corner: EVs and Hybrids September 13 Sept: Sustainability Fair. Silverwood Park October 11 November 15 Esha: EC Corner: Winter efficiency December 13 Project Lead Update Implement a bee keeping ordinance via City Council Marty Draft March, Workshop April, Final in April. Permitting? “Farm animal”? Draft a Planned Urban Development ordinance to encourage developers to implement positive measures in their developments when requesting City funds. Nick Part of GreenStep Cities program too Hold a Sustainability fair in 2020, possibly in cooperation with Roseville and St Anthony CFS groups Patrick – Lead Jim and Esha also on subcomm September 12, 2020 Resilient Roseville will participate. Point of contact is Sherry Hood. 651 633 1434 sherrychood@icloud.com Develop guidelines and resources for landscaping that is native/pollinator friendly/storm water wise. Nick Draft Out for Public Comment (12/09/19). Approved by City Council on 02/12/2020. Sustain outreach to other Environmental Commissions in the Twin Cities Jim Plan to attend a Roseville and a St. Anthony CFS meeting in Q1 2020. Follow up on opportunities for funding for an EV charging station in FH through the MPCA Jim Phase 2 funding plan comment period closes Dec 20, 2019. $3.5M additional planned for EV charging stations in 2020-2023. Including 52 Level II stations. Need to review previous application requirements to be ready when RFPs are opened. Improve communication to FH residents with a EC “corner” in the City Newsletter and twice monthly online mailer 250 words for a topic on EC corner Jordyn Add a Youth Commissioner to the FHEC. Jim Obtain funding and finance Home Energy Audits for FH Residents and Businesses Patrick Raingarden ordinance Wait until 2021 Plastic Bag disposal and Elimination in FH Esha Getting a GreenCorp volunteer for the city Lawns to Legumes workshop Jim Infrared imagery Marty By end of year