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Environmental Quality Commission
Meetings
Third Wednesday of each month
7:00 p.m.
City Hall
Council Chambers
801 Washington St.
Northfield, MN 55057
Agendas and minutes
Members
Name | Title | Term expiration |
---|---|---|
Bruce Anderson | Chair | December 31, 2022 |
Daniel Jones | Member | December 31, 2023 |
Evan Pak | Member | December 31, 2021 |
Janet Petri | Member | December 31, 2021 |
Mateo Trujillo | Member | December 31, 2023 |
Mika Turner | Member | December 31, 2022 |
Michael Zenner | Vice Chair | December 31, 2022 |
Nicholas Boehning | Youth Voting Member | 2020-2021 School Year |
Lucy Menssen | Youth Non-Voting Member | 2020-2021 School Year |
Liaisons
Name | Title | Phone number |
---|---|---|
Beth Kallestad | Program Coordinator | 507-645-3074 |
Cindy Stock | Clerical Liaison | 507-645-3020 |
Vacant | Council liaison (ex officio) | Not available |
Overview
The City of Northfield Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) advises on matters concerning environmental quality and natural resources, including the implementation of the environmental policy enacted by ordinance.
Membership requirements
The commission consists of seven members appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. Each member serves a three-year term. There is a consecutive three-term limit. Members do not receive monetary compensation.
Applying
-
Apply for a board, commission, or task force
Applications are also available at:
City Hall
801 Washington Street
Northfield, MN 55057Northfield Public Library
210 Washington Street
Northfield, MN 55057
Despite having to pause a few meetings due to the pandemic, in 2020 the commission worked on a variety of projects and efforts with an overall theme of supporting the newly adopted Climate Action Plan (CAP). As the Climate Action Plan Advisory Board dissolved after the plan was adopted, the commission took on the role of oversight for implementation of the plan. Each of the six commission members served in a connecting role with residents and volunteers who are working on projects in the following six areas:
- Energy
- Land Use/Urban Forest
- Transportation
- Materials & Waste
- Food
- Water
Accomplishments
- Updated the city’s noxious weed ordinance to address invasive plants
- Supported the Carbon Reduction Fund to assist with implementation of the Climate Action Plan
- Supported resolution of federal carbon fee legislation (will go to City Council in early 2021)
Projects working on next year
- Updating city’s Dark Sky policy to address blue-rich light and sending recommendations to the Planning Commission
- Developing a zero-waste plan, beginning with a plan for single-use plastics
- Collaborating with Planning Commission and city staff on creating a single “approved tree list”
2019 accomplishments
- Researched and developed draft ordinances around the topics of Dark Skies and adding an invasive species component to the noxious weed ordinance
- Reviewed and learned about the city’s Land Development Code, Waste Water Treatment Plant upgrades and energy use, and city water usage. This last item also has social justice implications as the group learned that water is sometimes left running in some manufactured homes due to pipe freezing concerns. This has led to work with Growing Up Healthy and efforts to provide weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades in some manufactured homes
- Reviewed the city’s waste and recycling contract with DSI
- Considered ways to manage our urban forest
Climate Action Plan
The biggest item the Environmental Quality Commission worked on in 2019 was the Climate Action Plan.
- Led by the Climate Action Plan Advisory Board, a group of nine residents who assisted staff and a consultant
- Participated in many meetings, draft review and recommended the final document to City Council
- In 2020, Environmental Quality Commission will be the lead city group to monitor progress on the Climate Action Plan