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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-8-26 ENR Minutes-FINALMINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Wednesday, April 8, 2026 6:00 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Saunders-Pearce called a meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission to order at 6:04 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Rebecca Bryan, Commissioner Present Joanne Cryer, Vice-Chairperson Absent Benjamin Guell, Commissioner Present David Lates, Commissioner Present Ted Redmond, Commissioner Absent Wes Saunders-Pearce, Chairperson Present Deborah Schneiderman, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Sustainability Coordinator 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Lates moved to approve the April 9, 2026, agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Guell. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES January 14, February 11, and March 11, 2026. Commissioner Lates moved to approve the January 14, February 11, and March 11, 2026, minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Schneiderman. Ayes - All The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Solid Waste Contract Annual Reviews 2 1) Tennis Sanitation 2025 Recycling Collection Year End Report and 2026 Work Plan 2) Republic Services 2025 Trash and Yard Waste Collection Year End Report and 2026 Work Plan Shann Finwall, Sustainability Coordinator, introduced the recycling and trash yearly reports and work plans. Representatives of Tennis Sanitation, Alexia Hieserich and Willie Tennis, discussed the recycling year end report and work plan. Representatives of Republic Services, Frances Estrella and Beverly Mathiasen, discussed the trash and yard waste year end report and work plan. The Environmental and Natural Resources Commission had the following questions and feedback: • What type of resources are available to improve recycling at multi-family properties? Tennis Sanitation stated that BizRecycling has signs and other resources. They work BizRecycling and the City to help multi-family properties improve recycling. • Are the recycling education tags for single or multi-family properties? Tennis Sanitation stated they are usually placed on the carts at single family homes to identify items in the recycling cart that cannot be recycled or the cart is placed wrong. • Can Tennis Sanitation add a QR code on the education tags that links to a translated version of the information in other languages? Tennis Sanitation reports yes, that is something they are working on. They recently added a translation function to their website. • What are the next steps in the Park Recycling Pilot Program? City staff stated that the new carts are installed and the next step would be an outreach and education campaign to promote recycling in the parks. • Are there any challenges with the collection of food scraps? Republic Services reports that the food scraps program has worked well for trash haulers. Residents simply place durable compostable bags of food scraps in the trash carts. Republic Services tips the trash at the R and E Center. There it is sorted and the durable compostable bags are removed and brought to the site where they are made into compost. • Does Republic Services have any suggestions on increasing food scraps participation? Republic Services reports stated that they will work with the County and City on outreach and education. Mainly through their social media outlets. Commissioner Guell moved to approve the recycling and trash year end reports and work plans. Seconded by Commissioner Lates. Ayes – All The motion passed. 3 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None 8. COMMISSIONER PRESENTATIONS None 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS Shann Finwall, Sustainability Coordinator, updated the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission on the following: a. City Programs and Events 1) Bluebird Monitoring – April 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Wakefield Community Building 2) Spring Clean Up – April 25, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Aldrich Arena 3) Waterfest – May 30, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Phalen Lakeside Activity Center b. November 11, 2026, ENR Commission Meeting – Rescheduled to Monday, November 16 at 6 p.m. due to Veteran’s Day Holiday. c. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Calendar 10. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Pearce-Saunders adjourned the meeting at 7:09 p.m.