Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 03/05/2012

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Environmental Policy Board (EPB) 5. 1. Meeting Date: 03/05/2012 By: Chris Anderson, Community Development Title: Environmental Expo Event Background: Invitations have been sent thus far to fourteen (14) organizations to participate in the expo event. Of those, four (4) have submitted the registration form and committing to the event. Staff has also had correspondence with several others that were contacted who have expressed an interest or willingness to participate in the event but have not yet submitted the requisite paperwork. The Tree Sale information is available through the City's website now and includes eight (8) species (Paper Birch, Blue Beech, Skyline Honeylocust, Adams Crabapple, Red Jewel Crabapple, Showy Mountain Ash, American Plum, and American Basswood). All trees are of the bareroot variety and range in size from four (4) feet to roughly eight (8) feet in height. There will not be trees available for purchase the day of the event, all sales must be pre -ordered. Especially with the reduced number of sitting members currently, it may be worthwhile to discuss 'shifts' to staff the Board's booth at the event. Along those same lines, this would be a good time to finalize details for the Board's booth so that the necessary information and materials can be gathered prior to the event. There had previously been some discussion about recycling factoids and invasive species. Attached to this case are some examples of various recycling facts that could be converted into an interactive display. The same could possibly be done with various invasive species found in Ramsey (identification and concerns with them). These are just possible considerations for the Board. Ramsey Elementary School has agreed to again have their students participate in a coloring contest. Staff will be putting together the necessary information and distributing it to the school later this week (or early part of next week). Typically, there is no specific theme for the contest other than a general theme of nature and the environment. Considering that students ranging from kindergarten to 5th grade participate, a more general theme seems appropriate. But, Staff is open to suggestions from the Board regarding a more specific theme if so desired. Information regarding the bird walk component was included in the March/April issue of the Ramsey Resident newsletter. However, the build and grow hands-on activity with Lowe's was not because it was unclear, at the time articles were due, whether that was going to come to fruition or not. Staff is still looking for volunteers that can assist with concessions (had offered it to the Cheerful Chuggers 4-H group but they didn't have enough people to make it work). Also, Staff is still seeking volunteers to assist with the tree sale pick-ups. Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Board determine who will be staffing the booth and what times, as well as finalizing details for display information for the booth so that it can be assembled in advance. EPB Action: Based on discussion. Attachments