HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-05 minutes - environment commissionCity of Falcon Heights
Environment Commission
Meeting Minutes
November, 14 2005
Present: Heather Worthington, Bob Lamb, Susan Harding, Linda Smith, Jim Keilsmeier, Debbie Tretsven
Commissioner Susan Harding attended the Environmental Education Conference. She found some useful information on how to inform and educate community members that she shared with the
commission.
The recycling calendar will be in each month’s flyer, on the website, and in the Dec. newsletter.
Heather is going to schedule a tour of the recycling plant for sometime in 2006.
Environment Commission can partner with Neighborhood commission to get recycling signs to the block captains. SCORE grant may help with cost of making the signs. Have we made any
decisions about the signage?
Jim Keilsmeier and Deb Tretsven both contacted RAHS to see about student commissioners. No interest at this time. EARTH club staff, Mary Schifsky said most kids were just too busy
with other activities.
Bell Museum – May be willing to meet with us in 2006, perhaps at our meeting on 1/9/05. They are still waiting for some additional funding to move the project forward. They plan to
have a “green” building.
NPDES: National Pollution Discharge Elimination System – mandates some education on environmental issues. Heather has agreed to bring more NPDES info to the commissioners. This may
be a good source of info to guide the commission on what will be the topics for education in 2006.
More on rain gardens: Linda mentioned that the City of Maplewood started rain gardens in 1995. Maintaining rain gardens can be tricky. They demand long-term care to really be effective.
Curtiss Field/SE Corner: The pond at Curtiss Field flooded back in October, but recharged within 4 days. The flooding that occurred was equivalent to a 100 year flood. The pond operated
as it should, as did the buildings and roof at the SE corner.
Dutch Elm: The city does have a forestry program. Many trees were removed this year due to disease. It may be worth while to inform residents about different varieties of tree to
plant. The city also received a Tree Trust grant, which bought 30-35 trees.
Spring Fair/Earth Day (May 2006): The commission explored some ideas about what could be done for Earth Day. Perhaps we could get a booth at the City of Roseville’s home and garden
show, the farmers market, or team with Northern Gardner to get info out and educate community members.
The commission thought it would be a good idea to have a link on the city’s webpage to the capital watershed district’s website. www.capitalregionwd.org
and perhaps rice creek? www.ricecreekwd.com
Some upcoming meeting topics:
NPDES – review goals. How do they apply to the City of FH?
Bell Museum meeting – home owners info? parking plans?
website info – what can we post? Does Environment Commission want their own page?
Invite Dan Krivit, recycling consultant, to come talk to the group about recycling/waste costs.
More talk on Spring Fair/Earth Day – what can we do to educate the public? Continue our focus on water quality issues.
Meeting adjourned after 7:30 PM
Submitted by Debbie Tretsven