HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.a. 20160719 Regular Meeting Minutes
ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY TASK FORCE
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
July 19, 2016
1 CALL TO ORDER
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof the meeting of the Environmental & Sustainability Task
Force of the City of Rosemount was called to order on July 19, 2016, at 5:30 p.m. in the Conference
th
Room of the City Hall, 2875 145 Street West, Rosemount. Attendees included: Task Force
Members Kathleen Koch-Laveen, Mark Glende, Rebecca Higgins (arrived 5:35), Renee Burman, and
Wade Miller; Council Member Vanessa Demuth, Interim Public Works Director John Morast, and
Senior Engineering Technician Derick Anderson. Guests attending included: Avery Hildebrand,
Conservation Minnesota; Melissa Burton, Farmington resident and intern at Mississippi Watershed
Management Organization.
2 ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO AGENDA
There were no additions or corrections to the agenda
3 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Demuth. Second by Miller.
Ayes: 5.
Nays: 0. Absent: 0. Motion carried.
4 PRESENTATIONS
Avery Hilderbrand from Conservation Minnesota presented a PowerPoint presentation and spoke
about Conservation Minnesota; its Mission, Top 10 Issues, and the partnerships they have with
various businesses, government and other organizations. They have grown from less than 5,000
members to over 60,000 in the last three years, including 244 members in Rosemount. They can
help with Resolutions, Initiatives, and Outreach.
Higgins asked how long does the Bird City process take, Hilderbrand responded it takes about a
year. Higgins suggested the Task Force pursue becoming a Bird City as an accomplishment that can
be done in the timeframe of the Task Force.
Demuth asked Hilderbrand if he recommended we sign up for Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy
Program.
Burman asked about Partnerships and membership structure, Hilderbrand responded that for the
City there would be a Memorandum of Understanding. For memberships, it is $50 per household
or $25 for individuals, or free if you complete a survey.
5 UPDATES
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Leprechaun Days
The Task Force discussed staffing and logistics for setting up a tent at Leprechaun Days and
collecting a survey of residents on 6 topics ranked 1 to 6 plus space to add other topics. Handouts
and brochures available were also discussed.
Stormwater
Demuth and Glende brought in water sample from each of their backyard ponds, followed by a
discussion about Duckweed.
Morast discussed the buffer requirements for wetlands, sites that predate the adoption of the
wetland buffer requirement are encouraged but not required to have buffers. Demuth asked to find
out the date of the buffer requirement; Anderson later determined that the Wetland Management
Plan was adopted in 1998.
Lawn clippings in the street were discussed, Morast stated that Section J prohibits residents placing
lawn clippings in the street.
Organic Drop-off Site
Higgins had to leave at 6:35 and will provide update at the next meeting
Diesel Retrofit
No update
“Freeze Out”
The Task Force briefly discussed ways to increase participation by helping residents get refrigerators
and freezers out of basements; possibly using the rebate to offset the cost of hiring a moving or
recycling company to remove the appliance.
Additional items
Morast brought up having Deb Manning from the Met Council present at the Utility Commission
about waste water recharge of groundwater and having the Task Force members attend. Higgins
asked if the process was reviewed by a Consultant with expertise in the subject as the process alters
the geology.
The next meeting is scheduled for August 16, 2016.
6 ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
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