HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes 2-12-08City of Falcon Heights
Environment Commission
Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2008
Present: Diane Ross, Ron Kroese, Nina Semmelroth, Stan Sveen, Michael Talbot
Peter Lindstrom, Justin Miller
Absent: Gretel Keene, Sam Bontrager
The commission meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM.
Minutes of the January 14, 2008 meeting were reviewed and unanimously approved.
Miller reported that the rain garden workshop has been scheduled for March 17th at 6:30 pm. The event will be publicized in local newspapers, in city newsletters, and on our website.
Lauderdale residents will also be invited to attend. Kroese asked for staff to check in there will be an opportunity to purchase native plants at a discount at the workshop.
Miller then proposed the idea of starting an energy efficient appliance rebate program. The rebate would only be applied through the permit fees that are charged to residents. Many
of the commissioners did not realize that permits were needed for water heaters and furnaces. Sveen suggested that we also advertise other rebates that are offered through the energy
companies. Miller agreed to provide more details at the next meeting.
Mayor Lindstrom then made a presentation on the Mayor’s Kyoto Protocol and the Cool Cities Campaign. Steps would include the city council adopting the cool cities pledge and then coming
up with a program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Lindstrom also noted that the city has recently contacted the Minnesota Climate Change Corps, a group of retired engineers, who
provide evaluation services free of charge. The commission then mentioned several ideas regarding programs that could be included in the city’s emission reduction plan. Miller will
contact the Citizen Corps and ask them to come to the next commission meeting. The commission agreed that the city should pursue adopting the agreement and work on coming up with a
plan.
The commission then debated what the overall theme for the commission’s work should be for 2008. After some discussion, the agreed upon theme was decided to be “Helping our planet,
one home at a time.” Staff will work on coming up with a master list of ideas to advertise to the community, but each commissioner is asked to come to the next meeting with five of
their own ideas.
The meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM.