--- title: Sustainability Commission - August 27, 2026 ## author: Justin LaRue date: D:20210914194400Z --- ## Richfield Sustainability Commission Minutes August 27, 2026 ## Richfield Municipal Center ## Heredia Conference Room ## 6700 Portland Avenue South 1. ## Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Commission Chair Danner at 7:02 in the Heredia Conference Room. Members Present: Chris Danner, Katy Boone, Amanda Kueper, Rose Thompson, Ray Sookchain, ## Alexa Wozniak, Katrina DeVore ## Members Absent: Craig Heinen, Margaux Meyer (CSC) ## Staff Present: Rachel Lindholm, Zach McCarty ## Guest Presenters: None 2. Approval of the Agenda MOTION: made by Boone, seconded by Kueper to approve the agenda. ## Voting Aye: Danner, Boone, Kueper, Thompson, Sookchain ## Voting Nay: None Motion carried: 5 - 0 3. ## Approval of Minutes MOTION: made by Boone, seconded by Kueper to approve the meeting minutes from June 25, 2026. ## Voting Aye: Danner, Boone, Kueper, Thompson, Sookchain ## Voting Nay: None Motion carried: 5 - 0 a. ## Minutes 4. ## Open Forum a. Participants can share their comments in person, by voicemail, or email, and may also request to participate virtually. For more information on submitting comments, refer to the Sustainability Commission Agenda and Minutes page on the City's Website. 5. ## Reports/Recommendations a. ## Solid Waste: •Event recaps: UWHM waste, Furniture donation, Employee clothing swap •Organized collection survey •Volunteers needed for Penn Fest recycling - September 20th •Future events: oFood waste cooking workshops- September 13 and 27 oWinter clothing swap- September 26 ## DRAFT o Pumpkin smash- November 7 o Repair fair- February 2027 o Building materials swap- April 2027 McCarty reported on successful past events including increasing the reusable cups at the UWHM, the furniture donation event at Donaldson Park, and the internal clothing swap for city staff. All events will continue in the future. McCarty also shared information on the future organized collection process and commissioners discussed the public survey that will be shared in the next few months to obtain resident feedback. Volunteers needed for Penn Fest which will have recycling for the first time. Send email to McCarty if interested. b. ## Sustainability: Tree plantings, Energy Efficiency/PiE project, Home Tour volunteering Lindholm gave an update on tree plantings at Veterans and Taft Parks this fall through events held by Tree Trust and partner organizations. Staff have started an energy efficiency project with CERTs, HES, and Woodlawn Terrace to increase resources for homeowners there. Richfield home tour on October 3 is looking for volunteers (commissioners were already emailed). Lindholm requested that commissioners disclose use of AI in any work or projects for the Commission. 6. ## Other Business Danner is helping institute recycling at Toast to Richfield event on October 8 - looking for some help, email him or Lindholm if interested. Wozniak asked for input on what may be good prizes for sustainability trivia event at winter clothing swap event. a. ## Commissioner Park Clean-up Recap (Sookchain) Sookchain recapped the trash clean-up event at Washington Park. Commissioners from several commissions and other community members attended and cleaned the whole park. Sookchain will monitor the park to see when another clean-up is needed. b. ## RPS Tree Inventory and Assessment Report (Kueper) Kueper presented on the tree inventory and assessment of Richfield Public Schools tree canopy, benefits of trees and increased tree canopy, areas of opportunity, and the map of data. The map is accessible on the City website on the Sustainability Commission's page. Kueper will continue to update the commission as she has more meetings with the district about this project. c. EAB letter to Council (Kueper) Kueper presented a draft letter to City Council to promote future treatment of boulevard Ash trees to preserve canopy. Motion from Boone to submit letter to Council with addition of cost estimate for homeowners to treat a boulevard tree, DeVore seconded, approved by all. 7. ## Committee Reports a. ## CSC Report (Meyer) Meyer was absent.Lindholm shared that the ice arena lobby is under construction. Wood Lake Nature Center is on schedule to open mid-November. ## DRAFT 8. ## Next Meeting a. Thursday, September 24th, 2026 ## 7 P.M. - City Hall, Heredia Room 9. ## Adjournment MOTION TO ADJOURN: made by Thompson, seconded by Danner to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 P.M. ## Voting Aye: Danner, Boone, Wozniak, Kueper, DeVore, Sookchain, Thompson ## Voting Nay: None Motion carried: 7 - 0 ## DRAFT