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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 03-17 CONCMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA • REGULAR SESSION MARCH 17, 1977 CITY HALL Call to Order The Brooklyn Center Conservation Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairman Vetter at 7:46 p.m. Roll Call Chairman Vetter, Commissioners Dorff, Winkelman and Livingston. Also present were Administrative Assistants Brad Hoffman and Ronald Warren. Report on Winter Hike Chairman Vetter reported that the winter hike through Palmer Lake was held on February 27 and that approximately nine children and eleven adults participated. She stated that refreshments were served at the West Palmer Lake Park shelter building for those participating in the hike and that Mr. Dick Peterson had shown a conservation movie entitled "Symphony of the Seasons". Chairman Vetter reported that the next hike would be the bird hike to be held on Saturday, May 7, 1977 to begin • at 6:45 a.m. She explained that the bird hike would be held in the Environmental Preserve. Commissioner Dorff suggested that in the future a card or a brief note be sent to Conservation Commission member,. before such events to serve as a reminder. Chairman Vetter stated that the Commission will be using the Park and Recreation Department brochures for announc- ing such events and added that a reminder note to Conser- vation Commission members would be beneficial. She further stated that Gene Hagel, Director of Parks and Recreation, has informed her that the Community Center could be used if the Commission desires to hike up Shingle Creek to Palmer Lake Park. She reported that she would follow up on this idea. Commission Membership The Secretary reported that he had received an application for the Conservation Commission from Mr. Max Gilbert and has also sent applications to Mr. Jim Staggers and Mr. Bernie Wesloh. Chairman Vetter reported that she had received an application from Mr. Bill Heer. A brief • discussion ensued relative to the applications with Chairman Vetter explaining that she and Councilman Britts would be interviewing persons making application for -1- 3-17-77 the Conservation Commission and that a recommendation would be forwarded to Mayor-Cohen for his consideration. Commissioner Winkelman stated that there seems to be an increased interest in the Conservation Commission as indicated by the number of applications made. She suggested the possibility of developing a task force, similar to the Environmental Preserve Task Force, to comment on and make suggestions regarding plans for the Palmer Lake area. She pointed out that perhaps per- sons making application for the Conservation Commission but not being appointed could be the nucleus for such a task force. The Secretary stated that the Park and Rec- reation Commission is reviewing Palmer Lake in conjuction with its overall comprehensive plan for all City parks. He suggested that the Commission work closely with the Park and Recreation Commission and make its suggestions regarding Palmer Lake to that body. Commissioner Winkelman stated that if the task force idea is acceptable, perhaps a member of the Park and Recreation Commission could also serve on that task force. Following further discussion there was a motion by Com- missioner Winkelman and seconded by Commissioner Dorff to consider the possibility of developing a task force to study the Palmer Lake area. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Winkelman stated that the Commission would soon receive a report from the Environmental Preserve Task Force relating to the environmental preserve and the new duck pond in the preserve which was dug out after the recent fire. She explained that the report from the Task Force should be available by the April meeting. Chairman Vetter reported that the annual Pride in Your City campaign is scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 30, 1977. She explained that she intends to contact Commis- sioner Jensen regarding her availability to coordinate the Pride in Your City campaign. She briefly reviewed a letter that was sent out during last year's campaign and reviewed the various projects that were undertaken. Commissioner Dorff stated that he would like to see more involvement on the part of some of the civic and political groups in Brooklyn Center in the Pride in Your City cam- paign. He pointed out that in the past girl scout troops and boy scout troops were primarily the groups that have participated in Pride in Your City. He suggested that per- haps various clean up and planting projects could be assigned to some of the local civic and political groups such as the Jaycees, the Lions Club, the Citizens for Better Government, the local Democratic Club and the Pride in Your City Campaign • • 3-17-77 -2- local Independent Republican Club in an effort to involve more civic groups and concerned citizens in the effort. He also suggested that perhaps the Pride in Your City campaign could be extended longer than just the one week period used in the past and that possibly each one of the Conservation Commission members could work individually with these groups to coordinate the effort and complete a specific clean up or planting project. A brief discussion ensued relative to Commissioner Dorff's suggestions with it being the concensus of the Commis- sion to attempt to involve local civic and political groups in the Pride in Your City campaign. Housing Commission Home The Secretary introduced the next item of business on Renovation Workshop the agenda, that of a brief review of the Housing Com- mission's planned Home Renovation Workshop. He stated that the Housing Commission and Northern States Power Company with the cooperation of Brooklyn Center Community Education is sponsoring a home renovation workshop to be conducted on four consecutive Wednesdays beginning March 30, 1977 and ending April 20, 1977. He explained that the purpose of the workshop is to provide home owners in Brooklyn Center and the north sub- urban area with the opportunity to become aware of how to renovate or make minor repairs to their homes through practical demonstrations and presentations in a workshop environment. He stated that the Housing Commission has asked members of various advisory commissions to serve as hosts and hostesses for one of the four sessions to be held. He stated that the Conservation Commission has been asked to be the hosts and hostesses for the April 6, 1977 session and inquired of the Conservation Commission if they would be available to serve in that capacity on that evening. Chairman Vetter, Commissioners Livingston, Winkelman and Dorff all responded that they would serve as hosts and hostesses for the April 6 workshop. Chairman Vetter stated that she would contact Commissioners Price and Jensen regarding their avail- ability. Kaleidoscope Chairman Vetter next reported on the Conservation Commission's plans for Kaleidoscope. She stated that Commissioner Price has informed her that he would be unable to obtain the film "Energy in Prospective" viewed by the Commission a,t the February 17 meeting. She explained that Commissioner Price also stated that he will make arrangements to have some type of film available for the Conservation Commission to use at Kaleidoscope. She also reported that the Commission's booth will have the winning posters from the Jaycee content on energy conservation and that Commissioner Livingston will be -3- 3-17-77 responsible for coordinating the displays in the booth. She reported that there would be information available on the Pride in Your City campaign, the Commission's planned May 7 bird hike, information on Brooklyn Recycling and also information available on the loca- tion of oil depositories in Brooklyn Center. Commissioner Dorff stated that he had contacted Marcia Battles, of the Minnesota Energy Agency, regarding aerial thermo photographs that were recently taken of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. He stated that Ms. Battles had informed him that only Minneapolis and St. Paul were photographed and that no suburbs were contained in the pictures. Commissioner Dorff reported that he thought it might be beneficial to have such photographs available at Kaleidoscope but, because the photographs do not depict the Brooklyn Center or immediate surrounding area, it would not be bene- ficial to present such pictures at Kaleidoscope. He added that the Minnesota Energy Agency plans to have a display booth at Kaleidoscope and also present various energy related demonstrations. Further discussion ensued relative to the Conservation Commission's plans for Kaleidoscope with Chairman Vetter stating that a schedule for staffing the Commis- sion's Kaleidoscope booth would be determined at an • upcoming Commission meeting. Commissioner Dorff left the meeting at 9:05 p.m. Chairman Vetter reported that she has been informed that Energy and the Environ- Dr. Richard Meierotto, St. Thomas College, is willing ment Workshop to put on an energy and the environment workship making use of an energy-environment simulator. She explained that the workshop involves role playing in a game situation with the participants making decisions relating to the use of energy resources, the environment, and quality of life. She further explained that the workshop can be conducted for 20 to 30 people and could be put on at a convenient location. She inquired of the Commission if they would be interested in participating in such a workshop. She added that it. is possible that the League of Women Voters might be willing to cooperate with the Conservation Commission in putting on such a workshop. Following a brief discussion it was the consensus of the Commission that the Chairman and the Secretary pursue the possibility of conducting such a workshop in Brooklyn • Center. The Brooklyn Center Conservation Commission recessed Recess at 9:15 p.m. and resumed at 9:25 p.m. 3-17-77 -4- Other Business Following the recess the Conservation Commission further discussed the Commission's Kaleidoscope plans and the possibility of conducting one or two small energy con- serving demonstrations. Chairman Vetter requested the Secretary to invite Council- man Gene Lhotka, who is the new City Councilman, to the May Conservation Commission meeting for the purpose of having the opportunity to meet the new Councilman. The Conservation Commission further discussed plans for the Pride in Your City campaign and reviewed a map of the City designating particular Commission members to be responsible for clean up in certain designated areas within the City. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Winkelman and seconded by Commissioner Livingston to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The Brooklyn Center Conservation Commission adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Chairman 0 -5- 3-17-77