8 years of connecting volunteer city commissioners
Throughout Minnesota, there are hundreds of environment, sustainability, energy, natural resource, and parks & recreation commissions, but only one conference that connects these volunteer commissioners to network and learn from experts and each other. Since 2017 Conservation Minnesota has been co-hosting the Environment Commissions Conference.
This year’s conference, in partnership with GreenStep Cities & Tribal Nations, hosted commissioners from Anoka, Duluth, Bemidji, Champlin, Elk River, Faribault, Hutchinson, Lake City, Northfield, Wayzata, and more.
The conference featured a presentation from PeggySue Imihy, Special Projects & Initiatives Manager at the City of Hopkins, located in the western suburbs of Minneapolis (population 19,079). She highlighted the work done to map out heat vulnerabilities within the city to better prepare for our changing climate and help guide future development. This innovative project was one of three winners of Conservation Minnesota’s 2023 Blazing Star Award.
We were also joined by a panel of experts lead by Ampact’s Dylan Kelly, Director of Climate Programs, and representatives from the cities of Eagle Lake and Minnetonka to talk about how they’re working with Climate Impact Corps members to take tree inventory, plant trees, and work with the public to educate them about emerald ash borer and other common tree diseases.
We look forward to continuing this work to make sure that volunteer commissioners have ample opportunities to network and learn from experts about ways that they can better their communities.