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Home My WebLink AboutEC Packet - 09.12.2022 City of Falcon Heights Environment Commission City Hall 2077 Larpenteur Avenue W. Monday, September 12, 2022 6:30 p.m. A G E N D A A. CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m. B. ROLL CALL: Martin McCleery ____ Beth Mercer-Taylor ___ Esha Seth ____ Pedro De Filippo Vannucci___ John Pellegrini_____ Amy Christiansen______ Emma Kostecki ______ Council Liaison Meyer ____ Staff Liaison Moretto ____ C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. May 9th, 2022 2. April 11th, 2022 D. AGENDA 1. Welcome New Members Beth and Emma 2. Election of Officers 3. Climate Emergency Resolution Feedback and Reconsideration E. NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. Other F. ADJOURN Next Meeting: October 10, 2022 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 City Hall 2077 Larpenteur Avenue W. Monday, April 11, 2022 6:30 p.m. MINUTES A. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Mathwig called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. B. ROLL CALL: Members present: Mathwig, Vannucci, Pellegrini, Christiansen Also present: Council Liaison Meyer, Staff Liaison Moretto C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: February 15, 2022 Moved, seconded to approve revised minutes for February 15, 2022; motion carried. D. AGENDA 1. Recycling Contract i. Contract due end of the year ii. Meeting Ramsey County Recycling Representative potential next meeting iii. Communication with residents 1. Single hauler 2. Help from company 3. Messaging 2. Green Step i. Step 5 Achieved ii. Improvements needs for next year 1. Green energy usage and energy efficiency improvements in city buildings 2. Private buildings efficiency and green energy usage 3. Sustainability of city fleet 4. Walkability and public transportation 5. Housing affordability and usage 6. Renewable energy for city operations 7. Local foods % 8. Greenhouse gas emissions 9. -23% of total city emissions from 2020 3. Climate Emergency Declaration i. Declaration Climate Emergency ii. The first step in our Climate Action Plan 1. Subcommittee a. Revisions b. New statistics Up to date c. shorten up wording to 2 pages if possible 2. Draw attention to the immediacy of climate change a. Local News b. Start discussion 3. Addition of new goals from comprehension plan to climate action plan E. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. City of Falcon Heights Environment Commission City Hall 2077 Larpenteur Avenue W. Monday, May 9, 2022 6:30 p.m. MINUTES A. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Mathwig called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. B. ROLL CALL: Members present: Mathwig, Vannucci, Pellegrini, Christiansen, Seth Also present: Staff Liaison Moretto, Administrator Linehan C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: D. AGENDA 1. Recycling Contract Presentation i. Contract due end of the year ii. Filsan Ibrahim from Ramsey County Public Health Presented 1. County Projects and Proposals 2. Work with Foth to review Tennis’ proposal for continued service 3. This proposal is very competitive 4. Might want to look at spreading out the increase or reducing it if possible iii. Communication with residents 2. Climate Action Plan Review and recommendation to Council i. Staff presented the staff report and discussed the work the small group had done to bring the Climate Action/Emergency Declaration to its current form. There was discussion about further action language to include in the final submittal to the Council ii. The commission recommended that a few changes be made by the Chair and staff as soon as possible but that the commission felt comfortable making a recommendation with these changes in mind. Motion by Seth. Approved Unanimously. 3. Discuss No Mow May and recommendation to Council i. Staff presented the report on No Mow May that will suspend the requirements of cutting the lawn until June 1. ii. The commission agreed that this is a good idea and there is a potential for an ordinance change to include this for future Mays. Motion by Seth. Approved Unanimously. E. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Families, Fields and Fair __________________________ The City That Soars! Item Climate Emergency Resolution Description Many cities around the state have adopted Climate Action Plans addressing the pressing issues of climate change. Staff and City Council has requested the Environment Commission study the issues and actions the City has taken and identity future action through a Climate Action Plan. On March 14, 2022, staff, directed by Council, presented to the Environment Commission a framework resolution for a Climate Action Plan Statement. At that meeting the Commission proposed forming a small committee to further develop and fine-tune this resolution. The committee meet several times to finalize a version for the commission. At the May 9, 2022 Environment Commission meeting, the EC approved the resolution with the idea that Chair Mathwig would incorporate the recommendations from the meeting in to a final plan to present to Council. The draft recommendations were submitted to staff early June, with July 6th being the next workshop. Budget Impact N/A Attachment(s) • Draft Resolution Action(s) Requested Provide staff direction whether to include the Environment Commission’s recommended resolution on a future City Council agenda for approval. Meeting Date July 6, 2022 Agenda Item Policy D2 Submitted By Paul Moretto, Community Development Coordinator/Planner CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS COUNCIL RESOLUTION July 13, 2022 No. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- RESOLUTION DECLARING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND THE COMMITMENT OF FALCON HEIGHTS TO TAKE ACTION WHEREAS, the climate crisis is not only a future issue — it is affecting us here and now in Falcon Heights. Our city has recently experienced numerous climate change related impacts including a record June heatwave, dangerous air quality from drought-fueled forest fires, and water restrictions from the same drought. In fact, the ten warmest and wettest years ever recorded in Minnesota have all occurred since 1998. Impacts like warming surface waters are leading to a significant loss of fish habitats in our lakes as well as increasing the risk of harmful algae blooms, and our forests are changing as native northern species are strained by warming temperatures; WHEREAS, extreme weather will bring greater challenges to the local infrastructure of Falcon Heights, imposing escalating economic burdens on our residents and businesses; crops are stressed by cycles of drought and floods, home insurance rates are rapidly rising, costing homeowners an extra $1000 on average in 2015 compared to rates in 1998, and faster warming winters are leading to new pests as well as shorter winter recreation seasons; WHEREAS, the greatest burden from an inadequate response to the climate crisis is most immediately experienced by historically marginalized or underserved communities, due to the lasting impact of segregation, the close proximity to pollution sources, and the lack of resources to deal with such challenges; WHEREAS, the failure to act will lead to the inheritance of these hardships to the youngest generation, including the children and grandchildren of Falcon Heights; WHEREAS, the bipartisan Next Generation Energy Act, passed by the Minnesota State Legislature and signed by then-Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2007, committed our state to achieving an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and with interim goals of 15% and 30% below 2005 GHG emissions levels by 2015 and 2025, respectively, with cities being key drivers of achieving these goals; Minnesota did not meet the 2015 target and is not on track to reach our future targets; WHEREAS, world leaders from 175 countries, including the United States, following the guidance of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, recognized the threat of climate change and the urgent need to combat it by signing the 2015 Paris Agreement, agreeing to “pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius”, which would require emissions to be halved by 2030 and reaching net-zero or net negative carbon emissions by 2050; WHEREAS, due primarily to human activities we have already reached a temperature increase of nearly 1.19 degrees Celsius (nearly 2.14 degrees Fahrenheit) as compared to pre-industrial times and the death and destruction already wrought by this level of global warming demonstrates that the Earth is already too hot for safety and justice, as attested by increased and intensifying wildfires, floods, rising seas, diseases, droughts, and extreme weather; WHEREAS, a transition to a clean energy economy, if not carefully planned, would have a disruptive economic and social impact for many in our community while a well-planned transition may provide expanded job opportunities for local residents, improve local air quality, quality of life, and provide economic stability; WHEREAS, to focus attention on the need for rapid action to address climate change, 2,012 jurisdictions in 34 nations have already declared climate emergencies, including19 cities across Minnesota, led by Duluth, Minneapolis, and Saint Louis Park, and report that acting together, connecting to a larger statewide effort is empowering and; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Falcon Heights declares that a climate emergency threatens our city, region, state, nation, humanity, and the natural world. The City commits to working for a just transition and climate emergency mobilization effort by creating and executing a Climate Action Plan (CAP). LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED the city will utilize the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, Resiliency Plan, and any other pre-created resources to act as a foundation for the CAP. The city may employ professional planning consultation and shale garner community input and involvement in the development of the CAP. The Environment Commission will review further action in support of the climate action plan and report to the council through the council liaison. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Moved by: Approved by: ________________________ Randall C. Gustafson Mayor GUSTAFSON ____ In Favor Attested by: ________________________ LEEHY Jack Linehan MEYER ____ Against City Administrator WEHYEE ANDREWS