HomeMy WebLinkAboutEC Packet 4.13.2026City of Falcon Heights
Environment Commission
City Hall
2077 Larpenteur Avenue West
AGENDA
Monday, April 13, 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) ____ Monika Chandler ____
Nuz Sanidad (Secretary) ____ Erica Bjelland ____
Beth Mercer-Taylor ____
Staff Liaison Myhren ____
Council Liaison May ____
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. March 9, 2026
E. NEW BUSINESS
1. Lawn & Garden Tours
2. Sustainability Fair Update
3. GreenSteps Update
F. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Staff Liaison Report
2. Council Liaison Report
G. ADJOURN
Next regular meeting date: May 11, 2026
City of Falcon Heights
Environment Commission
City Hall
2077 Larpenteur Avenue West
Minutes
Monday, March 9, 2026
6:30 p.m.
A. CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m.
A. ROLL CALL: Adam Keester (Chair) _X_ David Smith _X_
John Pellegrini (Vice-Chair) _A_ Beth Mercer-Taylor _X_
Nuz Sanidad (Secretary)_X_ Erica Bjelland _X_
Monika Chandler _X_
Staff Liaison Myhren _X_
Council Liaison May _X_
B. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chair Keester made a motion to approve the agenda. Motion passed by consent.
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES .
Chair Keester made a motion to approve the January 12, 2026 and February 2, 2026 minutes.
Motion passed by consent.
D. NEW BUSINESS
1. Lawn & Garden Tours
Staff Liaison Myhren discussed scheduling the Lawn & Garden Tours to coordinate with
Lawns to Legumes tours and to allow adequate time for advertising and increased
attendance. Commissioners discussed adding additional sites to the garden map,
including University gardens and the Bell Museum garden.
Commissioner Chandler referenced St. Anthony’s garden tour and commissioners noted
the importance of holding the event when plants are in bloom. Chair Keester raised the
issue of tour hosts wanting to participate in the event; Commissioners agreed that Master
Gardeners could serve as volunteers, and Commissioner Chandler will contact the
Master Gardeners.
The Commission agreed on holding Garden Tour on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 9:00
a.m.–12:00 p.m.
2. Sustainability Fair Update and Volunteer Sign-Ups
Staff Liaison Myhren Commissioner asks for commissioners to sign up for volunteer
times. Chair Keester will be EC table AM. Commissioner Chandler will be on the EC
table AM shift. Commissioner Sanidad will be Textile PM. Council Liaison May will
direct cars in the AM. Commissioner Mercer-Taylor agreed to give a presentation for the
fair on plants.
3. Climate Action Plan / Energy Action Plan Implementation Subcommittee
Chair Keester calls back to subcommittee formation conversation. We can only have 3
Commissioner members involved, and asks how many we should have in total. The
Commission decided on the number 5. Chair Keester, Commissioner Mercer-Taylor and
Commissioner Bjelland expressed interest in being part of the subcommittee.
4. Community Advisory Committee – Les Bolstad Golf Course Redevelopment
Council Liaison May explained that the City is assembling a diverse group of nine local
residents to serve on the Community Advisory Committee (CAC), which will provide
input to the City Council. One representative from the Environment Commission is
needed. CAC applications are available online. Commissioner Mercer-Taylor expressed
concern about ensuring representation from both Grove and Coffman Condominiums
residents. The application deadline is March 16.
E. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Staff Liaison Report – Staff Liaison Myhren reported that Fairway Commons will hold
a public hearing regarding a proposal for 110 affordable senior living units on March 24.
The City is also pursuing the purchase of 1407 Larpenteur. As it is grant season, Staff
Liaison Myhren will be submitting several applications. The City will also begin sending
letters regarding boulevard tree planting as part of the tree grant program
2. Council Liaison Report – Council Liaison May shared that the Peace Garden will be
included in the garden tour. She is continuing to get up to speed on Council activities
and has been attending webinars, trainings, and workshops.
F. Adjourn
Chair Keester made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting was adjourned by consent at 8:05
PM.
Next meeting date: April 13 2026
REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION
City of Falcon Heights, Minnesota
__________________________
Item Lawn & Garden Tours
Description
The Environment Commission has agreed to hold the Lawn & Garden Tours
on Saturday, July 18, 2026 from 9 am – 12 pm. At the last meeting, offering
residents the opportunity to have a Master Gardener on site was discussed.
Commissioner Chandler researched this potential with Ramsey County
Garden Education Volunteer Program and they had the following questions
for the EC to discuss:
• Will attendees be traveling to each garden for the tour?
• Are you looking for volunteers to be at each garden?
• How many volunteers are needed?
• Are the volunteers doing a talk to everyone or just available to answer
questions?
• What would the day look like?
• Any other information that may be helpful for us to know so we can
figure out what you are wanting from our volunteers?
Other news of note – The Lawn and Garden Tours were included in the
printed spring newsletter that recently went out and a website to accept host
sign-ups has been created. City Councilmember Paula Mielke will also be at
the Environment Commission table at the Sustainability Fair to further
advertising for hosts and participants for the Lawn and Garden Tours.
Budget Impact N/A
Attachment(s) N/A
Action(s)
Requested
Staff requests Environment Commission discuss the Lawn & Garden Tours
questions from Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer Program and
furthering advertising of the event.
Meeting Date April 13, 2026
Agenda Item E-1
Attachment N/A
Submitted By Hannah Myhren, Community
Development Coordinator / Planner
REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION
City of Falcon Heights, Minnesota
__________________________
Item Lawn & Garden Tours
Description
The Environment Commission has agreed to hold the Lawn & Garden Tours
on Saturday, July 18, 2026 from 9 am – 12 pm. At the last meeting, offering
residents the opportunity to have a Master Gardener on site was discussed.
Commissioner Chandler researched this potential with Ramsey County
Garden Education Volunteer Program and they had the following questions
for the EC to discuss:
• Will attendees be traveling to each garden for the tour?
• Are you looking for volunteers to be at each garden?
• How many volunteers are needed?
• Are the volunteers doing a talk to everyone or just available to answer
questions?
• What would the day look like?
• Any other information that may be helpful for us to know so we can
figure out what you are wanting from our volunteers?
Other news of note – The Lawn and Garden Tours were included in the
printed spring newsletter that recently went out and a website to accept host
sign-ups has been created. City Councilmember Paula Mielke will also be at
the Environment Commission table at the Sustainability Fair to further
advertising for hosts and participants for the Lawn and Garden Tours.
Budget Impact N/A
Attachment(s) N/A
Action(s)
Requested
Staff requests Environment Commission discuss the Lawn & Garden Tours
questions from Ramsey County Garden Education Volunteer Program and
furthering advertising of the event.
Meeting Date April 13, 2026
Agenda Item E-1
Attachment N/A
Submitted By Hannah Myhren, Community
Development Coordinator / Planner
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Jobs
Shift 1 (10:30 AM - 12:30 PM)
All of Shift 1 will attend the morning meeting at 10:30
AM and help set up before moving to your stations.
The event begins at 11:00 AM.
Shift 2 (12:30 PM - 2:30 PM)
All of Shift 2 will be expected to help clean up after the event
ends at 2:00 PM.
Direct Cars (Spot 1) (One person per shift)
Spot 1 is located at the Larpenteur entrance to City
Hall. This will be to ensure cars are not trying to
park here (unless they need accessible parking)
and direct cars to electronics recycling, paper
shredding, and textile recycling.
Name: Jim Wassenberg
Email:
Phone:
Name: Monika Davis
Email: archismo@gmail.com
Phone:
Direct Cars (Spot 2) (One person per shift)
Spot 2 is located further down the driveway from
the Larpenteur entrance to further direct cars to
their destinations.
Name: Paula Mielke
Email: paula.mielke@falconheights.org
Phone:
Name: Bryan Carlson
Email: carls031@umn.edu
Phone:
Direct Cars (Spot 3) (One person per shift)
Spot 3 is located on the drive directly by City Hall,
north of the food scraps bin, to direct people to
textile recycling, parking at the Blaze overflow lot,
or back around to textiles and electronics.
Name: Jess Winkelaar
Email: jwindelaar@gmail.com
Phone: 651.788.0910
Name: Georgiana May
Email: georgiana.may@falconheights.org
Phone:
Direct Cars (Spot 4) (One person per shift)
Spot 4 will be at the exit onto Prior Ave to prevent
cars from entering from Prior Ave, direct cars to
parking at the Blaze overflow lot, and to textile
recycling.
Name: Keegan McKye
Email: keegan.mckye@gmail.com
Phone: 605.891.1157
Name: Randy Gustafson
Email:
Phone:
FH EC Table (Two people per shift)
FH Environment Commissioner to remain at the FH
EC table to answer questions. This will be a general
"check in" table for the event. Will also be
responsible for checking bingo cards and handing
out food scraps bins.
Name: Monika Chandler
Email: mc2monika@gmail.com
Phone:
Name: Paula Mielke
Email: paula.mielke@falconheights.org
Phone:
FH EC Table
Name: Adam Keester
Email: ajkeester@gmail.com
Phone:
Name:
Email:
Phone:
Lauderdale EC Table (One person per shift)
Lauderdale Environment Commissioner to remain
at the Lauderdale EC table to answer questions and
gather feedback regarding the Lauderdale Climate
Action Plan.
Name: Ewa Prochniewicz
Email: ewaalicia.pn@gmail.com
Phone: 651.424.7681
Name: Gregory Goodwine
Email:
Phone:
Lauderdale EC Table
Name: Gregory Goodwine
Email:
Phone:
Name: Ann Sisel
Email: annesisel@gmail.com
Phone: 612.275.0774
Falcon Heights & Lauderdale Sustainability Fair - April 18, 2026
Volunteer Shifts & Sign-Up Sheet
Textile Shredding (Manual Labor) (Two people per
shift)
We need people here to be able to lift large garbage
bags of textiles into a commercial cargo van and
ensure they are placed to ensure the maximum
amount of bags can be placed inside.
Name: David Smith
Email: david.smith52@yahoo.com
Phone:
Name: Nuz Sanidad
Email: nuzsanidad@gmail.com
Phone:
Textile Shredding (Manual Labor)
Name:
Email:
Phone:
Name: Isac Rivera Robledo
Email:
Phone:
Paper Shredding (Manual Labor) (Two people per
shift)
This person will assist with people removing bags
and/or boxes of paper from their vehicles and
taking them to the shredding bins.
Name: John Pellegrini
Email: jjpellegrini@stkate.edu
Phone:
Name: Adam Keester
Email: ajkeester@gmail.com
Phone:
Paper Shredding (Manual Labor)
Name:
Email:
Phone:
Name:
Email:
Phone:
Floater (Indoors) (One person per shift)
This person should float throughout the tables
indoors to answer questions, direct people to
restrooms/snacks/different booths, and fill in
where needed.
Name: Emma Lynch (Hannah's daughter)
Email:
Phone:
Name: Emma Lynch (Hannah's daughter)
Email:
Phone:
Floater (Outdoors) (One person per shift)
This person should float outdoors to answer
questions and fill in when volunteers need to take a
break.
Name: Emma Lynch (Hannah's daughter)
Email:
Phone:
Name: Emma Lynch (Hannah's daughter)
Email:
Phone:
REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION
City of Falcon Heights, Minnesota
__________________________
Item GreenSteps Update
Description
The City of Falcon Heights participates in GreenSteps every year. After the
2025 report was submitted, the City has again hit Steps 4 & 5! The items the
City improved on for 2025 included:
- City Buildings and Lighting: kBTU per square foot, per year – Went down
from 64.51 kBTU in 2024 to 61.21 kBTU in 2025
- City Fleet: Average MPG for Gasoline Fleet – Went up from 8.1 average
MPG in 2024 to 9.78 average MPG in 2025
- City Fleet: Average MPG for Diesel Fleet – Went up from 2.4 average
MPG in 2024 to 2.99 average MPG in 2025
- Transportation Modes & Miles: City Employees in Single Occupancy
Vehicles (Vehicle Miles Traveled Per Person, Per Day – Round Trip) –
Went down from 20.32 miles in 2024 to 19.93 miles in 2025
- Open Space, Parks, Trees: Net Number of New Trees Planted – Went up
from 12 in 2024 to 67 in 2025
- Climate: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Waste – Went down from
1437.9 Tonnes CO2e in 2024 to 1396.9 Tonnes CO2e in 2025
- Climate: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from (Non-Transportation) Energy
– 20451 Tonnes CO2e in 2024 to 20382 Tonnes CO2e in 2025
In 2024, the City only improved in four categories, and in 2023, seven.
Budget Impact N/A
Attachment(s) N/A
Action(s)
Requested
No action requested.
Meeting Date April 13, 2026
Agenda Item E-3
Attachment See below.
Submitted By Hannah Myhren, Community
Development Coordinator / Planner