Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 02/07/2011

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Environmental Policy Board (EPB) Date: 02/07/2011 Title: 2011 Environmental Expo & Tree Sale Information Item #: 5. 2. Background: At the January meeting, the Board began discussing the 2011 Environmental Expo & Tree Sale event. Members were assigned to various subcommittees to assist with planning and coordination of the event. Four focus areas were initially identified as critical: venue, sponsorship, activities /exhibitors and the EPB booth /display. Only the Board's booth /display was left unassigned at the January meeting. The subcommittees were tasked with working on their assigned focus area during the month and to provide status reports /updates to the Board at subsequent meetings. Observations: Per the discussion at the January meeting, Staff contacted the tree sale vendors to get their feedback on possibly separating the tree sale and expo. Staff also asked for their feedback regarding the current location of the tree sale component of the event (the parking ramp). The vendors were very clear that in their opinion, the tree sale benefits greatly from the environemntal expo and the use of the parking ramp for the tree sale works out wonderfully. In fact, they believe that the tree sale configuration seems to be better now than it has ever been in the past. Considering their feedback, the environmental expo and tree sale will be kept as one event this year and will again be held at the Municipal Center and parking ramp. Regarding a potential keynote speaker, Staff has contacted both Ron Schara Enterprises and Stan Tekiela to inquire about their potential availability for the 2011 event. Unfortunately, neither is available that weekend. Staff has also contacted KARE 11 to inquire about the possibility of either Belinda Jensen or Bobby Jensen being a guest speaker and, as of the writing of this report, have not heard back. So, at present, there is no keynote or guest speaker lined up for the event. Recommendation: After last year's event, a concern was raised that more time /effort should be directed toward the Board's booth /display. Thus, Staff would recommend that the Board appoint a subcommittee to focus on the booth/display. Staff is also requesting that the Board discuss other types of activities that could be offered. Several suggestions have been made such as a petting zoo, portable sawmill demonstrations, and /or lawn tractor races. EPB Action: Based on discussion. However, each of the subcommittees should be prepared to provide a brief update to the full Board regarding the status of their tasks.