HomeMy WebLinkAboutEC Minutes 11.10.2025 - Approved
City of Falcon Heights
Environment Commission
City Hall
2077 Larpenteur Avenue West
Minutes
Monday, November 10, 2025
6:30 p.m.
A. CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL: Beth Mercer-Taylor (Chair) _A_ Georgiana May _X_
John Pellegrini (Vice-Chair) _X_ David Smith _X_
Adam Keester _X_ Nuz Sanidad _X_
Monika Chandler _X_
Staff Liaison Lynch _X_
Council Liaison Mielke _X_
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Vice-Chair Pellegrini made a motion to approve the agenda. Motion passed by consent.
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. October 13, 2025
Vice-Chair Pellegrini made a motion to approve the October 13, 2025 minutes. Motion
passed by consent.
E. NEW BUSINESS
1. Boulevard Tree Plantings
Staff Liaison Lynch gave an update on the boulevard tree planting program. She stated 24
new boulevard trees were planted throughout the City, with three leftover trees which were
planted at Community Park. She stated the response was good, but there were two unhappy
property owners. One issue is two trees were ordered which were later discovered are soon to
be on the Minnesota Invasive Species list. This issue was corrected within the hour of finding
out, but the resident that brought this to Staff’s attention did not want to be part of the
program anymore. The other resident that was unhappy with their tree thought they would
be getting a drought-resistant elm, but residents were not allowed to choose their tree.
Moving forward, Staff Liaison Lynch stated she would likely offer tree choices on the form,
but also have residents check a box acknowledging that they may not get the tree they are
choosing and it will depend on availability, size of the space for the tree, and other concerns.
For the residents that received boulevard trees this year, a reminder notice will be sent out in
the spring about watering.
2. Energy Action Plan Update
Staff Liaison Lynch gave an update on the Energy Action Plan and stated that the City is
well on the way to meeting goals. She presented the data set from the first half of 2025. She
stated that the focus will be moving to more residential outreach with Home Energy Squad
(HES) visits and follow-up in neighborhoods where many HES visits already took place.
They will also begin to look at energy-burdened Census blocks. She stated the numbers are
slightly skewed due to a large industrial/commercial data set within the City’s numbers. She
also stated that recently flyers were mailed out to all residential rental license holders and all
business license holders within the City to notify them about different Xcel Energy programs.
3. SCORE Funding
Staff Liaison Lynch gave an update on SCORE funding for 2025. There was a total of
$36,636 in funds available, with $14,009 of that to be used for incentives. She asked
Commissioners for ideas for any last events or activities to provide to residents for 2025.
Suggestions included another e-waste recycling, textile recycling, and paper shredding event,
reusable produce and grocery bags, recycling bins for the parks, a mattress recycling event,
and possibly a clothing donation bin for City Hall.
F. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Staff Liaison Report
Staff Liaison Lynch advised on the status of the City Hall solar panels. They are all installed
and awaiting final inspections before they can be energized. Additionally the Sustainability
Fair is tentatively scheduled for April 18, 2026 at the City of Lauderdale, and March 9, 2026
will be a joint meeting between the Falcon Heights and Lauderdale Environment
Commissions. Finally, code changes around landscaping and trees and the Green-To-Go
ordinance is on hold, likely until February, when City Council will have a chance to review
these items.
2. Council Liaison Report
Council Liaison Mielke stated City Council is currently working on the capital budget, and
the City will potentially need to purchase two new trucks. A hybrid vehicle is being explored
but it would also need to have a charger installed.
G. Adjourn
Meeting was adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
Next regular meeting date: December 8, 2025