HomeMy WebLinkAboutEC Minutes 5.11.2026 - ApprovedCity of Falcon Heights
Environment Commission
City Hall
2077 Larpenteur Avenue West
MINUTES
Monday, May 11, 2026
6:30 p.m.
A. CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL: Adam Keester (Chair) _X_ David Smith _X_
John Pellegrini (Vice-Chair) _X_ Monika Chandler _X_
Nuz Sanidad (Secretary) _A_ Erica Bjelland _X_
Beth Mercer-Taylor _X_
Staff Liaison Myhren _X_
Council Liaison May _X_
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Council Liaison May requested an item be added to the agenda – New Business #5, Lawn &
Garden Tour Recruitment. Commissioner Mercer-Taylor made a motion to approve the agenda
with this addition. Motion passed by consent.
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. April 13, 2026
Chair Keester made a motion to approve the minutes from the April 13, 2026 meeting.
Motion passed by consent.
E. NEW BUSINESS
1. Sustainability Fair Recap
Staff Liaison Myhren gave an overview of the Sustainability Fair. She stated, despite the
cold and windy weather, it was very successful. Highlights included:
• 18 organizations tabled
• Repowered Electronics Recycling – 1,887 lbs of electronics recycled
• EcoShred – Eight 96-gallon carts of paper were shredded (around 2,400 lbs)
• Retold Recycling – Recycled 808 lbs of textiles
Commissioners discussed the outcomes and decided to potentially remove the speakers
due to low attendance and to have a different giveaway than compost buckets (only gave
out around 40 of 100). Another comment made was that several residents were concerned
about the paper shredding, due to EcoShred taking the paper off-site to shred. This is due
to EcoShred’s model of not having an idling truck, but this is something to consider for
next year.
2. Boulevard Tree Update and Tree Selection
Staff Liaison Myhren presented the DNR 2020 Community Tree Report for the City of
Falcon Heights. Commissioners reviewed and discussed the validity of the report, due to
the large number of maples and “new” trees planted. It was considered these could have
been planted on the University campus or State Fair property.
Staff Liaison Myhren asked Commissioners to review the list from the report and from
the forester’s suggested boulevard tree list and decide if any should be added or removed
for boulevard trees. She stated boulevard tree signups are open currently and she will be
letting residents know what was selected for their yard before planting begins.
3. SolarApp+ Update
Staff Liaison Myhren stated SolarApp+ is ready to be launched for the City, however
there is some testing that needs to be completed. Unfortunately she was not able to give a
demonstration at this meeting due to the test username and password she was given
being invalid.
4. Climate Action Plan / Energy Action Plan Implementation Subgroup
Chair Keester explained the implementation of these plans may be better to keep internal
to the Environment Commission. Commissioners discussed how to prioritize different
focus areas and strategies. They also discussed potentially assigning a project for UMN
students, such as reviewing and offering suggestions for revising City Code to remove
barriers to more energy efficient multi-family buildings.
5. Lawn & Garden Tour Recruitment
Staff Liaison Myhren stated there is currently only one signup for the Lawn & Garden
Tour in July. Commissioners discussed how to promote signups. Staff Liaison Myhren
agreed to email all former participants. Commissioner Mercer-Taylor stated she would
look into the Native American Medicine Garden. Staff Liaison Myhren stated she would
also push the signups more in the newsletter starting next week, after Spring Together.
F. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Staff Liaison Report – Staff Liaison Myhren gave an update on the Fairway Commons
development, the Get Pressed purchase, and reminded Commissioners of the Spring
Together event.
2. Council Liaison Report – Council Liaison May gave an overview of the Community
Advisory Committee for the Les Bolstad Golf Course Redevelopment and that their first
meeting will be Wednesday, May 20. She also let Commissioners know about an event on
July 6 at the Philando Castille Peace Garden followed by a picnic at Falcon Heights City
Hall.
G. ADJOURN
Commissioner Chandler made a motion to adjourn. Motion passed by consent. The meeting was
adjourned at 8:18 PM.
Next regular meeting date: June 8, 2026