HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-14-2024 Sustainability Commission Packet
SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
City Hall—Shared Vision Room, 3989 Central Ave NE
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
6:00 PM
AGENDA
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC
Members of the public who wish to attend may do so in-person, or by using Microsoft Teams Meeting
at columbiaheightsmn.gov/joinameeting: ID 251 571 694 977, Passcode pr46yV. For questions, please
contact Administration at 763-706-3610.
COMMUNITY FORUM: At this time, individuals may address the Sustainability Commission about any
item not included on the regular agenda. All speakers need to state their name and connection to
Columbia Heights, and limit their comments to five (5) minutes. Those in attendance virtually should
send this information in the chat function to the moderator. The Commission will listen to brief
remarks, ask clarifying questions, and if needed, request staff to follow up or direct the matter to be
added to an upcoming agenda.
CALL TO ORDER
1. Roll Call
2. Review of Minutes
OLD BUSINESS
3. Sustainable Purchasing Policy Update
4. Complete Streets Policy Update
5. Partners in Energy Update
6. Sustainable Collaborations Sub-Committee Update
NEW BUSINESS
7. Commission Chair Position
8. Round Robin
ADJOURNMENT
1
City of Columbia Heights AGENDA August 14, 2024
Sustainability Commission Page 2
Auxiliary aids or other accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request when the request is
made at least 72 hours in advance. Please contact Administration at 763-706-3610 to make arrangements.
2
SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
City Hall—Shared Vision Room, 3989 Central Ave NE
Tuesday, July 09, 2024
6:00 PM
DRAFT MINUTES
Members Present: Commissioners Ahmadvand, Evenson, Finkelson, Groseth, Jensen Christen, Connie
council member came late. Mayor’s assistant- Fabricio was present.
Members Absent: Johnson, Kurek, LaPlante, Leoni-Helbacka
CALL TO ORDER Ahmadvand called to the meeting to order at 6:02pm
1. Roll Call
2. Review of Minutes – Delayed minutes for approval for June until next month
OLD BUSINESS
3. Sustainable Purchasing Policy Update
Environmental Preferable Purchasing agreement- needs to be reviewed by city staff. Asking for
Finance to have a Point person. Sulmaan said he would help draft the first round of
wording of the document based on comments received from City Division Heads. Using
Amazon to filter items that are Environmentally preferable is available. Discussion about
how we recycle used technology.
Advertise on website how we use our solar panels for Energy.
Sulmaan will provide revised policy document a week before August meeting.
Trying to nail down current city practices for sustainability.
Green Corp- help with efforts – Andrew volunteered
4. Complete Streets Policy Update
Sulmaan, Andrew and Jared met with MNDOT. – Received resources from them to help update
our policy. Feedback on INPUT map for SS4A. Will talk more about having something
similar as an ongoing software.
Posted on our website. Safety action Plan.- project has started and is currently in the phase of
community feedback and identifying problem area’s in the city.
3
Item 2.
City of Columbia Heights AGENDA July 09, 2024
Sustainability Commission Page 2
Working on final draft. Talked about bringing it to the Council work session for approval. Jared
Finkelson will attend the August Council work session to discuss plan.
5. Partners in Energy Update
Andrew sent spreadsheet in teams which captures potentials members to be a part of the team
working on partners in energy plan. Need 15-20 people. To have on the board. Discussed
people who are interested.
Andrew will send out letters to seek out interested parties.
6. Sustainable Collaborations Sub-Committee Update
Mayor wanted us to attend Monarch pollinator habitat festival. – Maybe set up a table.
Information Located on city website. Contact Heights Next at news@heightsnext.org. Interactive
map to see where pollinator habitats within the city are located on the Heights Next
website.
Want to have their own GIS map which shows the varies effort the city is involved with related to
sustainability.
NEW BUSINESS
7. Round Robin
Conflict on August 13th meeting. Will send out a poll to see what dates work. Talked about
August 14TH?
Conflict on November 12th. Will send out a poll closer to the date.
Andrew brought up about Ratio – talked about drive throughs
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Kurek. Second by Jensen Christen.
4
Item 2.
SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
City Hall—Shared Vision Room, 3989 Central Ave NE
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
6:00 PM
DRAFT/UNAPPROVED MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Ahmadvand at 6:03 p.m.
Members present: Commissioners Ahmadvand, Evenson, Finkelson, Groseth, Johnson, LaPlante,
Kurek, Leoni-Helbacka
Staff present: Andrew Boucher, City Planner
Liam Genter, Urban Forestry Specialist
Sulmaan Khan, Interim City Engineer
Council Liaison: Connie Buesgens
2. Approval of Minutes
Motion by Ahmadvand, seconded by Groseth to approve the minutes of May 14, 2024 as presented.
Motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
3. Sustainable Purchasing Policy Update
The City’s existing purchasing policy was examined in relation to the proposed draft policy by city
staff as well as the Commission and it was expressed that instead of creating a new policy that the
proposed draft be incorporated into the existing policy. Interim City Engineer, Sulmaan Khan states
that he intends to solicit initial comments from City Division Heads on the proposed policy and will
incorporate those comments into the first round of wording of the document.
4. Complete Streets Policy Update
Complete Streets policy draft was discussed prior to the June meeting between Interim City
Engineer Sulmaan Khan, City Planner Andrew Boucher, and Commissioner Finkelson in preparation
for a future workshop with Nissa Tupper, Transportation and Public Health Planning Director at
MNDOT. The group achieved consensus that the policy had been discussed enough for staff to
prepare the item for a future work session after the meeting with MNDOT. Citywide transportation
safety plan and Safe Streets for All were discussed.
5. Partners in Energy Update
City Planner, Andrew Boucher provided an update on the recruitment of individuals interested in
participating on the Energy Action Team as part of Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy program. It was
5
Item 2.
City of Columbia Heights DRAFT/UNAPPROVED MINUTES November 14, 2023
Sustainability Commission Page 2
desired to include a member of the City Council (Councilmemb er Buesgens as the Sustainability
Liaison) as well as members of the other boards and commissions; Planning Commission,
Sustainability Commission, Parks and Recreation, Economic Development Authority, etc.
Commissioner Leoni-Helbacka and Chair Ahmadvand expressed interest in participating on the
Energy Action Team. Other community groups and organizations such as HeightsNext, the Multi-
Cultural Advisory Committee, Columbia Heights School District, SACA, and places of worship were
identified as potential stakeholders along with homeowners, landlords, and businessowners. The
Sustainability Commission involvement in promotional and marketing material was discussed.
6. Sustainable Collaborations Sub-Committee Update and Sustainability Commission Newsletter
Submission
The City e-newsletter was discussed with a deadline of June 27, 2024 for submissions for the July
edition to be received by. The fall newsletter was mentioned and has a deadline of July 22, 2024.
NEW BUUSINESS
7. Deeproot Green Infrastructure Presentation by Nicole Peterson
Urban Foresty Specialist, Liam Genter introduced former Parks and Recreation Commissioner and
licensed landscape architect Nicole Peterson to discuss the important of soil volume in fully
developed cities and present on behalf of her employer, Deeproot, in relation to their Silva Cell
product, which is designed to accommodate health, mature tree growth by allowing for greater
amounts of space beneath pavement. Examples of these products in other cities were
demonstrated including at the City of Shakopee, MN.
8. Xcel Energy Upper Midwest Energy Plan Public Meeting and Comment Period (Midwest Energy
Plan | Xcel Energy)
Commissioner Kurek informed the Commission and staff of Xcel Energy’s clean energy plan for the
Upper Midwest and encouraged people to participate in the public engagement in-person or
virtually as well as a discussed submitting written comments.
9. Round Robin
Future City events such as the Arts and Info Fair and the Jamboree were discussed as potential
opportunities for tabling if interested or desired.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Ahmadvand, seconded by LaPlante to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 p.m. Motion passed
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Boucher,
City Planner
6
Item 2.