HomeMy WebLinkAboutEC Minutes 2.12.2024 - Approved
City of Falcon Heights
Environment Commission
City Hall
2077 Larpenteur Avenue West
Minutes
Monday, February 12, 2024
6:30 p.m.
A. CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL: Beth Mercer-Taylor (Chair) _X_
John Pellegrini (Vice-Chair) _X_ Jared Mehlhaff _X_
Emma Kostecki _A_ Amy Christiansen _A_
Pedro De Filippo Vannucci _X_ OEN
Staff Liaison Lynch _X_
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. January 8, 2024
Vice-Chair Pellegrini made a motion to approve the minutes from January 8, 2024. Minutes
were approved by consent.
E. NEW BUSINESS
1. 2024 Officer Nominations
Commissioners discussed officer nominations. Commissioner John Pellegrini nominated
Commissioner Beth Mercer-Taylor for Chair, Commissioner Pedro De Filippo Vannucci
nominated Commissioner John Pellegrini for Vice-Chair, and all Commissioners decided to
have Staff Liaison Lynch continue recording minutes as Secretary. A motion was made by
Commissioner Mercer-Taylor for these nominations. Motion was approved by consent.
2. Minnesota GreenCorps Discussion
Commissioners discussed the potential for the City to apply to receive a Minnesota
GreenCorps member for the next 11 months to work on environmental-related projects. This
is expected to be a 40-hour work week with at least 4-hours of supervision required. Projects
must fall within one of four categories: Community readiness and outreach, energy
conservation and green transportation, stormwater and forestry, or waste reduction and
recycling. After discussing each option and potential projects for each, Commissioner
Mercer-Taylor made a motion to direct Staff Liaison Lynch to apply for the Minnesota
GreenCorps Program with the focus on community readiness and outreach, seconded by
Commissioner De Filippo Vannucci. A vote was taken and all were in favor.
3. Bee Lawn Discussion
Staff Liaison Lynch stated contact was received by Kari Logan from Minnehaha Falls
Landscape about an educational opportunity for Falcon Heights residents about bee lawns.
Russ Henry and James Wolfin are bee lawn experts and offer a one-hour bee lawn
presentation for community groups. Commissioners discussed the opportunity and directed
Staff Liaison Lynch to find out more about the form of the presentation, and the possibility of
holding a community event. They also discussed potentially offering starter kits for these
lawns, or partnering with another city to make it a larger event. Staff Liaison Lynch will
discuss this with Kari Logan and bring more information back to the March meeting.
4. Partners in Energy Update
Staff Liaison Lynch gave an overview of the current status of the Partners in Energy
program. She reminded Commissioners of upcoming meetings including an Open House on
Wednesday, February 21 from 6-8 PM at City Hall, Workshop on Monday, March 18 at the
University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment LES-R370 from 6-8 PM, and a
second Open House on Wednesday, April 17 from 6-8 PM location TBD.
5. Nature Newsflash Calendar
Staff Liaison Lynch went through Nature Newsflash article ideas again to fill in more of the
calendar and advised she would keep it up to date and email it out periodically to
Commissioners.
F. Information and Announcements
1. Staff Liaison Report
Staff Liaison Lynch stated City Hall would be closed on Monday, February 19, 2024 for
President’s Day. She also let Commissioners know about two upcoming public hearings at
the Planning Commission meeting on February 27, 2024 regarding updating City Code to
include EVSE language and changing Hollywood Ct. to resident permit parking. Finally, she
told Commissioners about the Plastic Free February program currently being held by
Washington and Ramsey Counties.
G. Adjourn
Meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Next regular meeting date: March 11, 2024