Based on the context provided, here is the transcribed town hall meeting with speaker names added. [0:01] **Vice Chair Doolittle**: Good evening and welcome. I'd like to call to order the May 19th, 2025 regular meeting the Oakdale Environmental Management Commission. We'll begin this evening with a roll call of commissioners present. City staff liaison Hannah Dunn will now be taking role. Vice Chair Doolittle present. [0:17] **Hannah Dunn**: Commissioner Brendan present. Commissioner Yang present. Commissioner Lash present. Commissioner Foster-Maker. Commissioner Anderson. Chair Girding. [0:34] **Vice Chair Doolittle**: All right. And not to be redundant, but also join us tonight is city staff liaison Hannah Dunn. Um, next item is to move to our pledge of allegiance. If we could all rise together to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [1:15] **Vice Chair Doolittle**: Okay, moving to the approval of tonight's agenda. Everyone received a copy prior to the meeting, so assuming no amendments or further discussion, I'd like to ask for approval of the agenda for tonight's May 19th EMC meeting. [1:31] **Commissioner Brendan**: So moved. [1:32] **Commissioner Yang**: A second. [1:33] **Vice Chair Doolittle**: All in favor of approving tonight's May 19th EMC meeting agenda, say I. [1:40] **Commissioners**: I. I. [1:42] **Vice Chair Doolittle**: All opposed see. Um motion carries. Okay. Next up, approval of the meeting minutes from our March 17th commission meeting. Minutes were sent prior to tonight's meeting. Any discussion needed for the minutes? Okay. Hearing none, I'd like to ask for a motion to approve the March 17, 2025 EMC meeting minutes. [2:12] **Commissioner Lash**: So moved. [2:14] **Commissioner Brendan**: Second. [2:15] **Vice Chair Doolittle**: Okay. Uh all in favor of approving the minutes from the March 17th, 2025 EMC meeting say I. [2:23] **Commissioners**: I. I. [2:27] **Vice Chair Doolittle**: All oppose. Motion carries. All right. We'll now move to the public and open forum time of tonight's agenda. invite any community members present to the podium. Um I don't see any community members here. So hearing none, we'll close the open form. Uh moving to the next section of the agenda, environmental management commission review. First up, we have a recap of the EcoFair um which we were all present at. I thought it was a very nice event, well attended for the first time and um turn it over to Hannah Dunn for further observations. [3:12] **Hannah Dunn**: Thank you. Um so as you all know Oakdale's first EcoFair was um almost a month ago um and it was a I think a tremendous success. We had 18 vendors present and saw over 100 people attend. There were also family-friendly activities and a food truck available for visitors. Um, I want to thank all of the commissioners for their presence and help on the day of the event. Um, it would not have been possible without all of you. City staff will be attending an upcoming council workshop um to discuss the 2025 EcoFair and determine whether it will be an annual offering. Um, so I'd like to share with them your thoughts and feedback from the event. So, um I'm going to open it up for conversation about what everyone um thought went well at the event and what improvements could be made um at future events if council um is supportive of continuing this. So, feel free—any big things, little things, all feedback is welcome and will be very helpful in planning. [3:57] **Commissioner Lash**: I I thought the weather was great. So, that was that was nice. The uh forum or the the venue um was very well matched with the number of presenters and all that sort of thing. And so I thought that was good. Um I noticed a lot of people were um tying the tree giveaway with the EcoFair. So there's sort of a community of interested people there. Uh that was interesting to see. So, um I given given that uh uh it was the first one we've done in a while, I thought that that went very well. [4:48] **Commissioner Yang**: Yeah, I like that it was um so close to the uh arbor tree giveaway, right? I thought that really helped uh drive engagement, you know. Um, I think the number of people that came through, especially for the first annual one, uh, was really good, right? Um, what I didn't like was the communication cuz apparently one of the flyers was going to come out late that was advertising it. And I know it's not the commissioner's fault or the city of Oakdale, but you know, that's that's just how it goes. Uh sometimes, you know, um I don't think there was anything I didn't like particularly like cuz I don't think anything went wrong except a few vendors didn't show up and I was like what what was up with that? Especially when they made their commitment, right? Um, I think with the electrical vehicle, because I know we were hoping to showcase some of that, it might be more better to see if a few residents are willing to come and, you know, they don't have to drive the vehicles, but they could be there to advocate for them, right? Because usually the drivers of electrical vehicles really like them for one reason or another and that might help sway people more rather than hearing it from a a commercial space that does it. [6:17] **Commissioner Brendan**: Yeah, I thought the number of people that attended was was great. We had a different variety of people that were here to um see all the vendors, right? and be able to point out especially the events that Oakdale was doing uh to support it was great too. Um Tim and I were outside so we didn't really get to see the people once they entered the building. Did people ask them just curious like how they knew about it because you're right a lot of people did come from the tree giveaway and they had a flyer in their packet for the tree care that said to go and they told everybody to go across the street to the fair. So I'm curious if anybody just said, "Oh, I I didn't get a tree. I didn't know about that, but I'm here." You know, if how they found us would be an interesting because if it was 90% the tree giveaway, then we have some work for next year to figure that out, right? [7:02] **Hannah Dunn**: Um I did not have a chance to pull people about how they had heard about about the event. I I do know quite a few of them probably came from the Arbor Day tree giveaway. Um I think I had heard um we advertised it in the Oakdale Update. So I'm hoping that maybe um because some people don't have social media. So that was a printed newsletter that goes to every household. So I'm hoping that um helped to drum up interest if they don't have social media. Um but unfortunately we don't have a good—I don't have a good gauge about exactly how people heard about the event. [7:35] **Commissioner Yang**: So well I want to—I'm sorry. I want to add something there. Uh because I was manning the Oakdale booth, right? So, I didn't ask everybody because you it's hard to talk to everybody, but I did ask a few people how they heard. A lot uh a few people did mention that they came from the Arbor Day, right? Because they were like there's this other event going on the other side. Not in that fashion, but that's why they came over. There were a few people that just lived nearby that saw the sign and knew it was coming and then they came and we had some other concerns that we could, you know, would pass on to the city to look into. Um, I didn't hear anybody say they actually saw it on social media, but I think a lot of it was more like we had the physical advertisement along the roads and stuff and that's what they saw. [8:22] **Hannah Dunn**: Opportunity then. Yeah, I I agree. There's opportunities to expand communications um even get creative and and go outside of our normal social media Oakdale Update newsletter channels. [8:38] **Commissioner Yang**: Yeah, absolutely. [8:39] **Commissioner Lash**: One of the things I was wondering if if it would be uh valuable to be considered next year to to have a um some kind of formal way for people to give feedback, maybe a suggestion box or even a board with post-it notes or something uh that people could ask a question or provide a suggestion or something like that. even ask them how'd you hear about it would be another good one just to solicit any kind of feedback at all. Right. Um so that that was uh something I wish I'd thought of beforehand but but uh lesson learned. Um another one that I was wondering is whether we should consider um or or invite the uh um parks commission to have a booth or something like that. Especially with our—it would have been great this time with the new plans kind of rolling out and stuff, but I'm sure every year there's something to co-sponsor. [9:43] **Hannah Dunn**: True. Yeah. Or co-sponsor. But just something—well, yeah. A lot of people don't have regular interaction with the city and maybe they got a chance to see a couple of different... especially since the parks are being revamped and after the survey this past year and all of that, hopefully people in the city right are familiar with what's going on or at least are interested to know kind of get an update on stuff. That's—that's a fabulous idea. Yeah, because even in a year we'll have adopted the park system plan but it—you know it's an ongoing 20 year guiding vision. So people could still have questions, they can still be there. Um, we could also expand the opportunity for volunteers if the event grows and we need more people to help work and set up. So, um, it's certainly an option to consider. [10:30] **Commissioner Brendan**: Yeah. Do you know how far in advance next year um the tree folks will decide where they're going to do it or if they had a good experience with the fire station and use it again or because I thought—I mean I thought it was a good idea but I wasn't running it. So I don't know if it flowed nicely for the—you know I don't know when tree board meets next. [10:45] **Hannah Dunn**: I'm sure that at their next meeting um which might be in June um they would maybe discuss kind of debrief on the tree giveaway event um but I will—I'll make sure to put on my list to continue to kind of monitor tree board. I I don't know when they first start talking about the tree giveaway but um I'll make sure that the staff liaison our city forester um and I are in communication about um plans as they start evolving for next year. [11:28] **Commissioner Brendan**: Yeah. Because I think it would be important for us to be close so if they go back to this campus that we would maybe do the same thing or something. [11:35] **Hannah Dunn**: Yeah. [11:37] **Commissioner Lash**: Did you get any feedback from the vendors? [11:38] **Hannah Dunn**: I—when I emailed all the vendors um their thank yous for participating, I did solicit feedback from them. A few responded and had some great ideas um for potentially um different time. Um there's uh some vendors attend a lot of these events and um had mentioned that they often start a little bit later than 9. So that could be something to consider if we want to bump it back and have it start a little bit later in the morning. Um so there was lots of great ideas um from a few of them. Some um just said it was a great event, loved it. Um, but there were a few that took the time and provided some really thoughtful comments. [12:26] **Commissioner Brendan**: Any other thoughts, feedback? Yeah, I guess just quick. I thought a lot of the vendors did a good job of having stuff for the children that attended and all the kids that came through our kids event for planting seeds in those uh bags, they all seem to love it and got to pick out their own seeds and stuff. So maybe continue to try to push that towards young families as well. Maybe advertise towards some of the schools in Oakdale. I think getting young kids excited about doing stuff for nature and like planting their seeds outside once they've grown. My kids loved it after we got our bags. So I could see other kids enjoying it as well. So that could potentially be another path for us to look at as well. [13:07] **Hannah Dunn**: Yeah. Yeah. And I I was going to ask cuz you you were at the kids table um if you thought of any other ideas or if if parents had commented, oh, this is a fun activity that um we've seen at other school or events um or if there's organizations that we could partner with that could maybe kind of curate activities um and take just some of the burden off city staff or the recreation department for um coming up with activities. So, I if if you think of any partnerships or organizations, um I would I would love to hear ideas because I think you're you're absolutely right about attracting families and making it a space that parents can come and learn and get materials, but they don't need to find child care and their kid can be entertained and isn't bored out of their mind at this event. So, we absolutely want to make it fun um and inspiring for kids. I mean, if they're activities that are fun, but they're learning something, that's—that's the goal. [14:15] **Commissioner Brendan**: Exactly. And I I didn't get any specific feedback about alternative suggestions, but all the parents just thought it was super cool that the kids could plant their own seeds and, you know, have a grow bag for it. [14:26] **Hannah Dunn**: So, great. I think that was a hit and we should continue it next year. [14:28] **Commissioner Brendan**: So, awesome. [14:29] **Vice Chair Doolittle**: Okay, it's good good discussion, good event. Um, moving on then to new business. We are reviewing chapter six of the city code of ordinances and Hannah will walk through our provided materials. [14:43] **Hannah Dunn**: Yes, thank you. Um, chapter 6, solid waste and environment, was discussed among council members at a recent workshop meeting. Um, so I'm just going to walk through some of the um, purpose and intent of chapter six and then open it up for conversation. Um, so this chapter has three articles. Article one establishes the environmental management commission. Article two creates residential and commercial solid waste requirements and the third article forms solid waste and recycling hauler license regulations. Um, at that recent council workshop, discussion largely focused on article two which is the residential and commercial solid waste requirements. Um, in the memo that you were provided with, there's a summary of um, most of the council um, feedback, but I'll just briefly walk through it again. First, the majority of council was supportive of modifying code language to allow containers to be stored in the front yard setback. Based on current code, containers are prohibited from being stored in the front yard. Staff is proposing language that allows containers to be stored behind or within 5ft of the front plane of your house or garage. Second, there was discussion about the window for residents to put out containers for collection. Staff is proposing that it be extended from—currently it's 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on collection day—and we're proposing to extend it to the night prior to collection through the end of collection day. So just making it a bigger window, a little bit more flexible. And then third, council members discuss whether to require all multifamily buildings to provide recycling for tenants. According to current Minnesota state statute, commercial buildings that are one: located in a metropolitan county; two: contain certain business classifications under the North American industrial classification system (based on state statute, multi-family falls within those the business classifications); and then the third requirement is that they contract for four cubic yards or more per week of solid waste collection. So if you meet those three requirements, you must collect at least three recyclable materials. The current Oakdale City Code language is um a little unclear um and could be interpreted as requiring all multi-family buildings to provide recycling. Um at that recent council workshop, the majority of council was supportive of just aligning with the Minnesota state statute. Um before finalizing and adopting a new ordinance, the city council um just wanted to provide the opportunity for the environmental management commission to review chapter 6 and provide input. The full current chapter 6 was provided in your packet ahead of the meeting so that you had time to review. Um I'll open it up to comments or questions. If you um have any comments or questions on the the summary and the you what the council talked about the workshop um please feel free to give those or ask those questions. Um you're also welcome to provide input on something that um is beyond that that is in chapter six. So looking for any and all comments. [17:40] **Commissioner Brendan**: Well, towards points one and two um about where people store their garbage bins. Uh obviously it's not very enforced. My entire neighborhood they keep them right next to their garage and they—majority of people—put them out at night anyway. So, I feel like the expanding or the opening up of the of the code is kind of a common sense idea and I think that's uh generally I would agree with what they're proposing to change. [18:14] **Commissioner Yang**: Yeah. Yeah. I agree with Commissioner Brendan also. You know, on my street and where I go, everybody puts out their their trash night before. And also, you know, my neighbors are older, too, and they're disabled, so, you know, some of them have longer driveways, too, and it's just easier if it's closer to the curb, right? Um, and I so I do support the um longer time frame to put put out the trash and retrieve them cuz like I've never seen anybody walk out there at, you know, 6:30 or 7:00 before 7:00, right? You know, cuz I'm always like, "What time does the trash service get there anyways, right?" Even if I try to time it, cuz I have a really long drive. There's no way I can make it up there if the trash service starts, right? And the only other comment I really had was when I was reading the regulations, you know, a lot of it specifies that we're trying to match the state and what their uh laws say, but it might be helpful to reference what that statute is, right? Because that's—you know—the state has a lot of statutes and they cover multiple things. We just want to be sure that it's clear. This is the one we're trying to follow. [19:37] **Commissioner Lash**: So I do have a question. When they were talking about the commercial—about the collection and then collecting at um commercial properties—it was mostly towards um multi-family units, right, that were considered commercial, right? [19:54] **Hannah Dunn**: The current code addresses... it's a little—there's some cleaning up of language that that could happen. Um but the code does um address multi-family in one subsection and then um I think they refer to them as businesses or firms or corporations. So they don't say commercial properties. Um but there are multiple sections that are trying to address both properties. Um so we—yeah, this purpose of bringing it to council was we kind of flagged that um—I believe it was biz recycling flagged it in our code—it's just it it's a little unclear and could be kind of misinterpreted or interpreted um multiple ways. So, we were just trying to clean that up and then it was: well, should we just align with state statute um and just to um—if you collect a certain amount of trash at a multifamily then you must provide recycling—but if you're a smaller multi-family that maybe doesn't meet that weekly um waste amount, state statute doesn't require it. So, it was up to us whether we want to be stricter on that. Um, and majority of council was just supportive of aligning with state statute. [21:08] **Commissioner Yang**: Yeah. The one thing I read in here now that I'm thinking about was it was, you know, it did say everybody had to have have some sort of trash collection unless they got the exemption. Right. But it wasn't very... all it said was you had to submit a plan and get it approved, but it wasn't very clear about what the requirements of that plan was. [21:28] **Hannah Dunn**: Yeah, I'm—that might have been intentionally left flexible. I I'm just saying. Yeah. [21:32] **Commissioner Yang**: Yep. And I I totally understand, too. It's just... it might be good to spell that out cuz I know there's not a lot of families that would probably opt out. Right. Right. But I do know, you know, when St. Paul started their uh trash collection service under one, there was a lot of questions because there were families that were asking because they're like, "You know, I produce one bag a week, right? So like is it really worth it to pay for trash service because the price has been going up." [22:05] **Commissioner Brendan**: Well, and when I read this, you know, the trash is one piece, but my—I was focusing on recycle because it was like, yeah, you got to do trash. That's a health issue, right? But the fact that you could live in a multifamily home, you know, where you're all renters, nobody owns the home and the landlord is not providing—or or doesn't allow you—both your families to recycle in a sense. What are you gonna do? You're gonna collect your stuff and like throw it in the neighbors' as you go by. I mean, it's just that's an issue. If the the person that owns a home just legally doesn't have to do it and he or she doesn't want to pay the money to do it because you have to pay for the recycle bins and to have them picked up. So, I mean, that's the part I wasn't crazy about with this—is just like, "Oh yeah, whatever." And I'm thinking, well, you know, we're supposed to be trying to improve recycling then—the rate of recycling and all this. And one of the concerns or the questions always is about apartment buildings and multi-family homes. What um ability do those folks have to actually recycle close to where they live and not—you know—make it a burden on them? So I I wasn't I guess sure that that this—does this just let the landlord sort of out of needing to provide recycling? Is that... [23:20] **Hannah Dunn**: I think legally yes. It's just if you are less than that threshold according to state statute. Um so there is a number though that they provide it. Four cubic yards—which is how much... I don't even because I'm a—my family is a bag a week as well and we pay for you know a huge can—but there's not really an option. [23:38] **Commissioner Brendan**: Right. Right. [23:39] **Hannah Dunn**: But we have a—everything that doesn't go in that bag goes in the recycle bin. [23:41] **Commissioner Brendan**: So it's kind of... Yeah. Yeah. [23:42] **Hannah Dunn**: We're you know I'm the same. like one bag a week too, right? [23:44] **Commissioner Brendan**: Yeah. But how big is four cubic? I mean, and how do you know if you're a landlord? How does somebody figure out how much recycle those folks would have? That's it's just an interesting—I mean, I think—question. [24:01] **Hannah Dunn**: It probably depends on what they are um contracting with the hauler. Like if usually if you're collecting enough trash that you would then elect for a dumpster, I feel like it's kind of the threshold that people use um for... [24:19] **Commissioner Brendan**: Got it. So that's—is that a dumpster size? [24:21] **Hannah Dunn**: I—I believe so. [24:23] **Commissioner Brendan**: Got it. Okay. Okay. Well, hopefully whoever wants recycling gets it. That would be thought. Do we have any idea how many um buildings or this? We don't effect. [24:34] **Hannah Dunn**: Yeah. No. Um I mean we do have a rental licensing program that our code enforcement officer handles. Um, so maybe through his inspections we could start to collect that sort of information, but I'm not sure that we um have that readily available at the moment. But um, BizRecycling is a program through Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy Center. Um, I don't know if they have that sort of information. I know we've worked them with them in the past um, with our grant. We got mailer postcards to send to multi-family and commercial buildings. Um because BizRecycling offers grant money to help people solve some of these um some of these issues with trying to um—one—encourage residents if there is recycling available to recycle properly or um I think it sometimes helps break down the cost barriers if um you need some some grant money to install you know proper screening and the concrete pads. Um so BizRecycling um that's really more of an education sort of—I mean they provide technical assistance—but in terms of um if we align with state statute we can try to work with BizRecycling to reach those multi-family buildings that don't meet that trash collection amount threshold. Um, so that is an option. [26:07] **Commissioner Brendan**: I mean, because when you say multi-family, you could be talking about an eight-whatever apartment building, eight-whatever home apartment building, or you could be talking about a duplex, which is like two two-bedrooms or something. So, very different amounts of of potential recycling in those two places. So, I'd be worried more about the the two-family home, the duplex, where they just need a bin. They don't need a dumpster and they don't probably have a dumpster because it's two families. So yeah, as long as they would be able to have something hopefully, right? [26:33] **Hannah Dunn**: Yeah. I'm not sure how duplexes... I suppose it depends whether they're owner occupied or not. [26:40] **Commissioner Brendan**: That's the point, right? If it's a landlord. [26:42] **Hannah Dunn**: Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. For duplexes, I just I'm not sure if they would classify them as a commercial building or not. I really don't. [26:48] **Commissioner Brendan**: But it says multi-family home which is that's what that is. So that's that's what I'm saying. You've got that which really is like a big house. Mhm. You know they're usually not huge. So it's you know like two bedrooms or something. So you don't have a more than like maybe a a regular residential single family house. But then you've got a huge apartment building. Well that's a whole different animal. So yeah. [27:18] **Commissioner Lash**: Yeah. Four cubic yards. I I imagine that's like a small dumpster. Hopefully the landlords are doing the right thing. I had one question—which actually is not what the council focused on at all—but the um reporting requirements. Are we generally happy with what the trash folks report to us? It it it looks like we require them to submit to Washington County recycling reporting, for example, which I I assume we have access to, but is that generally... are we happy with the data we're getting? Do we think it's inclusive enough? I I wonder if—I I'm sure that they report, for example, in the food scraps thing, but I don't know that that's actually required per this um this proposal. [28:03] **Hannah Dunn**: That's a great question. I think I would have to do a little bit more digging. Um, hauler licensing used to be something my position handled, but that was recently um shifted to the licensing clerk. Um, so I'm no longer closely involved with that, but I can do some digging and kind of see and follow up with you um to see what what kind of reports we have, what's how that's all looking. [28:44] **Commissioner Lash**: Yeah, I—it may be perfectly fine. I just if if we thought that might be lacking, maybe we should put something in here to address that. [28:51] **Hannah Dunn**: Yeah. Yeah. I will look more into it. [29:06] **Vice Chair Doolittle**: Okay. Any um any other discussion? Okay, next we move to other business starting with staff liaison update. [29:10] **Hannah Dunn**: Thank you. Uh first up for my updates is the review of the editorial calendar and then once discussion about communications content is finished. I have a few uh general community development updates. So looking at the editorial calendar, the theme for June is renewable energy and energy efficiency. Um there was a plug today for um home energy squad rebates in the Mayor's Monday Morning Minute. Um then there's also plenty of resources that are—that we've curated in the editorial calendar. So we've got lots to choose from. If commissioners um think that some are especially timely or critical, feel free to share your thoughts with me. Um otherwise I will work with communications to to figure out... um usually we only probably get about one to two um social media posts um per month just because and especially as going into the summer and Summerfest um the social media calendar is very full. Um then for July the theme is going plastic free. In the past we've shared locations in Oakdale where you can take your plastic bags and film for recycling. Um, but if any commissioners have fresh or new ideas for this theme, I'd love your input. And then lastly, the theme for August is miscellaneous. Um, we've intentionally left this blank and flexible for this month. Just, um, if there's something that comes up and is relevant, then we can slot that in. So, um, we just left—we built in some flexibility. Um, as the summer moves on, uh, commissioners can share ideas, um, in our meetings or, um, are you are encouraged to email me. Um, I'll open it up and see if any commissioners have contents or comments or ideas for social media content this summer. [31:04] **Commissioner Yang**: Yeah. The only I can think of, and this came up during the EcoFair cuz people were talking to me and somebody—uh some people—were asking how to dispose of batteries, right, and hazardous material. And I was like, "Well, don't throw it out in your trash. You're supposed to take it to the hazard disposal center," especially the Washington County one, right? Uh but a lot of them weren't clear when they were open and when they were available to take uh certain items. [31:26] **Hannah Dunn**: Yeah, that um Washington County does have a "Battery Hero" campaign. So, they've got materials and we have shared that in the past, but it probably is good to refresh um try to potentially find a way to put it in the Oakdale Update printed newsletter just again to kind of um capture people who don't use social media. So, yeah, that's a great idea. And then we can um remind people where to find the environmental center hours. Those change from summer to winter. Um but yes, that's a great idea. [31:54] **Commissioner Yang**: Yeah. And then for our upcoming—I can't remember the name off the top of my head, but the—the one where Oakdale is going to sponsor the disposal day, right? Yeah. I'm sorry, the date's blanking on me right now. Uh but that's coming up in September. Are—I think one of the questions came up cuz I was really talking to people about that—was were we going to take at least batteries there but not hazardous materials, right? [32:19] **Hannah Dunn**: Um yes the Fall Cleanup is September—sorry couldn't remember the name I'm blanking on the date—it is in September it's a Saturday. Um last year we did not take batteries or hazardous waste and that um is the case again this year. Um it—people—I know the—it can be a bit of a burden if people have to drive to the environmental center. But just for um a number of reasons, we won't be collecting those items. [33:05] **Commissioner Brendan**: Could—Could we have Washington County there collecting them? Even just the batteries. I I appreciate the hazardous waste... we don't want to be doing in the parking lot of wherever. But batteries are usually contained. And you would think maybe if they were there to accept them. Yeah. That would be a real bonus for people who aren't going to drive but have batteries. Everybody doesn't have old paint, but everybody has batteries, right? Um I I can be tempted to just toss them into the trash, I think, when you know... [33:32] **Hannah Dunn**: Yeah, I can revisit it. Um but I—I believe that that was not something that—that we were going to um take and handle. Um Washington County does have one-day collection events throughout the county... there's one in Mahtomedi. So that would potentially for some people in Oakdale be closer than that Woodbury Environmental Center. Um so we can make sure to to share that information. Um make sure that people are aware of those opportunities. [33:59] **Commissioner Lash**: Can't coordinate them having a one day at the same time, same day? [34:03] **Hannah Dunn**: No, unfortunately not. [34:05] **Commissioner Lash**: There's all that synergy. I wonder if they would would they have a brochure or something that we could hand out. [34:10] **Hannah Dunn**: Yep. So last year um during the Fall Cleanup event, I had print outs for people um that if they did come with hazardous waste or batteries or something that we wouldn't accept um we did hand those um sheets to people so that they knew how to properly dispose of those. [34:32] **Commissioner Brendan**: I wonder too um did we ask them to come to our EcoFair, Washington County? [34:41] **Hannah Dunn**: Yeah. Yes, they were there. [34:42] **Commissioner Brendan**: Oh, the whole county. But... [34:44] **Hannah Dunn**: Okay. Yep. So, their tablecloth was mostly the food scraps pickup program, but Hannah Keller from the county did have materials about the environmental center, the disposal directory, biz recycling. Um, so it was kind of a coordinated effort. I had emailed um a number of people at the county and um they were able to kind of pull their content and materials and one person represented it. Um but okay... I actually don't know how to silence my phone. Sorry. Um but just because the food scraps pickup program is... they're really trying to drum up participation. That was um the main—it's like for next year. [35:24] **Commissioner Lash**: I mean they have enough going on. They're the focus of so much that they probably need to be convinced to have more than one person and just handle all of what they do because—I mean, they do a lot. They're the answer to a lot of problems. [35:40] **Hannah Dunn**: Yes, a lot of problems. Yeah, I'll certainly explore that again with them. See, I apologize. No worries. Any other comments about um social media, editorial, calendar communications content? And as always, you are free to—if you know you have an idea—um, send me an email. Okay. Uh, moving on to some other updates. Um, first one is Independent School District 622 recently put new solar arrays on Castle Elementary and Eagle Point Elementary. Um, so they are hosting what they're calling "Power Up" events. Um, at each school, um, they're going to flip the switch on for the arrays. Um, you are welcome to join the event. There will be um one at Castle Elementary. This will take place on Wednesday, May 28th from 4:30 to 5:00 pm. Um and then the event at Eagle Point Elementary School will take place on Thursday, May 29th from 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. I don't have details about exactly—you know, they're pretty short events—but it's just drumming up some excitement about or turning on the the solar arrays, so that's very exciting. Um they were at the EcoFair tabling about um their solar program and all sorts of great sustainability efforts. Um second update is um reminding you that the annual Environment Commission's conference is Tuesday, June 10th, starting at 3 p.m. Um I—I emailed all of the details and registration link early in May. Um if you have any questions, feel free to ask them now or you can email me. The event is free to attend. Um the only thing is commissioners um must arrange their own transportation. It's in Inver Grove Heights. Um and if you do decide to register, please just let me know. Um and then I also emailed early in April about a tour of the Recycling and Energy Center. Um I've received a list of potential dates and times um from R&E staff. So I plan to email a survey out to commissioners that you can fill out with um when you are free and hopefully we can find a time that um everyone who's interested can attend. Um uh the dates that I have are in both June and July. So hopefully that's enough time. Um they're kind of mostly afternoon through early evening. So um I will figure out how to package this up so that we can um get um your availability. And then lastly, I had emailed a while ago asking for commissioners to share their preference for the EMC start time. Um, and whether they'd like to have meetings move to 6 PM or stay at 7 p.m. Based on responses, the majority of commissioners either preferred moving to 6 p.m. or were okay with it. Um, so changing the meeting time requires a policy change that will go through City Council. Um, before we make any official changes, I just wanted to provide an in-person opportunity to revisit it and discuss and kind of come to a final consensus. Um so I'll open it up for discussion. Um unfortunately we have three commission members um not in attendance tonight. So um we can have a conversation. I can report back to them and can try to um eventually come to a final decision. I just um wanted to have an opportunity—an in-person conversation. So if anybody has um thoughts or would like to share share anything um now is the time. [38:55] **Commissioner Lash**: I—I know for my part um I was okay with moving to six, but seven it works fine too. I know in conversations with uh Chairman Girding that he has um—not an impossible scheduling issue—but the six o'clock time makes it more difficult for him and it sounds like he would likely have to skip some meetings if it was at six depending on logistics for him. Um, so for me, since I'm not strong in one camp or the other, I'd rather not threaten a membership of our chairman. Yeah. If if he can't make six every time, I'd be fine staying at seven. [39:35] **Commissioner Yang**: I have no issue with either time as well. So, yeah. Well, my preference is seven and I have no problems moving to six. Um, it's just sometimes I'm not going to say I can't make it, but it just cuts the time to be able to make it to um, city hall, right? But I have no problems with with the time. Although, I can say if—if Commissioner Girding can't make it, I'd rather keep it at seven so we can... [40:09] **Commissioner Brendan**: Yeah, I agree. I originally said that I'd like to move it to six... just makes it a little easier getting the kids to bed. But if our commissioner—or if our chair—is going to be missing, it's not that big of a deal. So, I would prefer to have a full set of people here. So, I'm fine with—if it makes it easier for everybody—I'm fine with seven. [40:30] **Hannah Dunn**: Okay, great. I will revisit it with um the other three. Um and then we'll—when I email hopefully email about the R&E tour—I can send out an official announcement about um the decision. Um we do have a June meeting, so we kind of have to um just kind of come to a—yeah, come to a decision so that people can plan. We all um have busy lives, so just want to make sure that we're giving you enough warning for if there's a change. So, um you'll hear from me hopefully very shortly this week about um the final decision. So, okay, that—that's it for my updates. [41:14] **Vice Chair Doolittle**: Okay, moving on to commissioner updates then. Commissioners—commissioners have anything to share? Okay, sounds like we've uh gotten all our comments out already. Um, Mayor Zabel, our council liaison to the EMC, is not able to be with us here tonight. So, I'll turn it over to Hannah to share any updates she has for him. [41:35] **Hannah Dunn**: Yeah, thank you. So, um, like Vice Chair Doolittle said, Mayor Zabel is unable to join us tonight. Um, however, um, he encourages commissioners if you have any questions or comments, um, do not hesitate to reach out to him via email. So, just wanted to share that. Um, I don't have anything anything else to share beyond that. [41:53] **Vice Chair Doolittle**: Okay, this brings us to the end of the agenda for the evening. Then uh our next meeting is Monday, June 16th. If there's no further discussion, I'd like to call for a motion to adjourn tonight's meeting at the EMC. [42:07] **Commissioner Brendan**: So moved. [42:07] **Commissioner Yang**: Seconded. [42:08] **Vice Chair Doolittle**: All right. All in favor of adjournment say I. [42:11] **Commissioners**: I. I. I. [42:13] **Vice Chair Doolittle**: Opposed. All right. Motion carries. Meeting adjourned. Thank you.