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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEC Packet 2.2.2026 - Joint with Parks & Recreation CommissionCity of Falcon Heights Joint Meeting Environment Commission Parks & Recreation Commission City Hall 2077 Larpenteur Avenue West AGENDA Monday, February 2, 2026 6:30 p.m. A.CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m. B. ROLL CALL:Adam Keester (Chair) ___ David Smith ____ John Pellegrini (Vice-Chair) ____ Beth Mercer-Taylor ____ Nuz Sanidad (Secretary)____ Erica Bjelland ____ Monika Chandler ____ Eric Brenton (Chair) ____ Robert Haight ____ Tom Faust (Vice-Chair) ____ Jerry Buckridge ____ Joe Morseth (Secretary) ____ Naomi Loud Heinsch ____ Staff Liaison Lynch ____ Staff Liaison Nelson ____ Council Liaison May ____ Council Liaison Gustafson ____ C.APPROVAL OF AGENDA D.APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.January 12, 2026 E.NEW BUSINESS 1.In Common Commission Goals 2.Weatherization Workshop / Sustainability Fair Update F.INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 1.Staff Liaison Report 2.Council Liaison Report G.ADJOURN Next regular meeting date: March 9, 2026 REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION City of Falcon Heights, Minnesota __________________________ Item Discussion of In Common Goals between the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Environment Commission Description One of the identified Parks Commission’s goals for 2026 is to share annual goals with other commissions to foster collaboration and support common goals. Then, more specifically, to work with the Environment Commission for Community Garden expansion. Because the Environment Commission has also previously expressed interest in expanding the city’s available garden plots, the two commissions are brought together to collaborate on this subject and potential upcoming park projects that may have overlap and be of interest to both commissions. Budget Impact N/A Attachment(s) Community Garden Overview Action(s) Requested Staff recommends that the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Environment Commission have a collaborative discussion to suggest recommendations regarding the possible expansion of Community Garden plots and potential future park projects. Meeting Date February 2, 2026 Agenda Item E1 Attachment Community Garden Overview Submitted By Kelly Nelson, Administrative Services Director/Deputy Clerk Community Garden Wait List Overview We have 38 garden plots at Community Park, which are approximately 10’ x 12’ in size. Currently: •20 are gardened by FH residents •16 are non-FH residents •2 plots are currently unassigned and will open to a lottery entry on 2/4. Up until this year, we maintained a waiting list. This year, we will move to a lottery system, which opens on February 4. The lottery system should better determine current interest, as there are 13 people that were added to the wait list between 2022 and 2025 who were offered a plot and then never responded. A few of them said “Yes, but not now; check back again.” It requires considerable staff time to determine who actually still resides in Falcon Heights, and who still has an interest in a plot during any given year. There are currently 21 names on our wait list. -7 are existing gardeners who want a second plot. It was determined years back that no second plots would be granted until all those waiting for their first plot were given one. •4 are Falcon Heights residents •3 are from non-FH residents. Of the remaining 14 requests: •1 is a Falcon Heights resident •The other 13 are non-FH residents (St. Anthony, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Roseville, and Lauderdale). These names were added to the wait list from 2023 through 2025, so it’s unclear how many would still have interest in a garden plot today. REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION City of Falcon Heights, Minnesota __________________________ Item Weatherization Workshop / Sustainability Fair Update Description Staff Liaison Lynch recently met with the Partners in Energy team to discuss a potential upcoming Weatherization Workshop. PIE will be able to run the workshop, but concerns have come up over attendance with current events. As such, PIE will hold the workshop as one of the two “talks” at the Sustainability Fair. Other Sustainability Fair Updates: - Tablers - Volunteer Shifts - What else? Budget Impact N/A Attachment(s) N/A Action(s) Requested Staff requests Environment Commission discuss Weatherization Workshop and updates to the Sustainability Fair. Meeting Date February 2, 2026 Agenda Item E-2 Attachment N/A Submitted By Hannah Lynch, Community Development Coordinator / Planner