Sustainable Eagan Advisory Commission Meeting - April 14, 2026: Climate Action Plan Progress and Commissioner Farewells
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Sustainable Eagan Advisory Commission Meeting - April 14, 2026
The Sustainable Eagan Advisory Commission (SEAC) met on April 14, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Eagan Municipal Center. The main agenda items included approval of prior meeting minutes, a detailed presentation on the Climate Action Plan (CAP) progress for the 2026–2027 work plan, round-table farewells to outgoing commissioners, and staff reports on upcoming events and program updates. No public comments were received, and no old or new business was discussed.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved by a unanimous voice vote following a motion and second.
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the February 10, 2026, meeting were approved by a unanimous voice vote following a motion and second.
Discussion Items
- Climate Action Plan Progress Presentation: Sustainability Manager Gillian Catano presented an update on the CAP’s first phase (2026–2027). The CAP is a 10-year plan aiming for a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 and alignment with Minnesota’s net-zero goal by 2050. The plan contains eight sectors with 31 specific actions in phase one. Progress highlights by sector:
- Buildings & Energy: Over 80% of actions in progress or implemented. Eagan has 402 on-site renewable energy sites and ~650 accounts purchasing renewable energy. A home energy audit decision tree was developed with all four Eagan utilities. A 2026 interactive CAP webpage is in development. Municipal energy use saw a slight increase (roughly flat) from 2024–2025, with a 10% decrease in electricity and 14% decrease in natural gas use from previous baselines.
- Economy: 50% of actions in progress. In 2025, over 36,000 sustainability engagements were recorded. A printed CAP resident guide is under development.
- Green Space & Ecosystems: 100% of actions in progress. Tree canopy cover decreased ~3.5% from 2024–2025. Urban tree canopy assessment and forestry management plan are scheduled. Native prairie conversion and educational signage are advancing; a new managed landscaping permit for native plants now exists.
- Health & Safety: 100% of actions in progress. Resilience conversations for climate-vulnerable populations are being planned; emergency response plans are expanding to include climate risks (flood, heat, wildfire). New sustainability criteria are being incorporated into the Capital Improvement Plan process.
- Transportation: Just over 85% of actions in progress. Target: reduce vehicle miles traveled by 2.5%. Walking and biking network projects are approved for 2026. Safe Routes to School analysis is underway. Electric vehicle registrations were ~2% in 2024 (target is 15% by 2035). Municipal fleet has 10 EVs (~12% of non-emergency vehicles); a fleet transition study is complete and will be presented to City Council in May.
- Waste & Water: 100% of actions in progress. Solid waste reduction target is 2.5% decrease by 2035. Dakota County is studying curbside organics collection (state mandate for cities over 5,000 by 2030). Current organics diversion rate is 30% (target 36%). Water conservation messages are being added to utility bills.
- Food & Agriculture: No actions in the current work plan.
- Commissioner comment: The tree canopy decline may be partly due to emerald ash borer; staff will follow up.
- Round Table: Several commissioners whose terms were ending (Commissioners Robichot, Patrick, Visaka, Hook, and Nicolai—absent) expressed gratitude and reflected on accomplishments including adoption of the CAP and creation of the Sustainable Eagan Academy.
- Staff Reports: Gillian Catano presented thank-you remarks for each outgoing commissioner, highlighting their individual contributions (e.g., Commissioner Robichot’s six years of leadership on sustainability tracking tools; Commissioner Patrick’s launch of the Sustainable Eagan Academy; Commissioner Visaka’s personal sustainable living; Commissioner Hook’s work on the Reasonable Bag program). Staff also announced upcoming Earth Day events (April 18 at Blackhawk Park), the one-year CAP celebration (April 23 at Wescott Library), and a new partnership with Excel Energy’s Partner in Energy program for free energy planning assistance. The city’s annual Green Steps and Gold Leaf reporting was submitted.
Key Outcomes
- The agenda and February 10, 2026 minutes were approved unanimously.
- No formal votes were taken on the CAP presentation or staff updates; the information was received for planning and future decision-making.
- Five commissioners completed their terms and were thanked by the commission and staff; their departure was acknowledged.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome everyone to the April 14th, twenty twenty-six meeting of the Sustainable Eagan Advisory Commission. Stand for the pledge. Do we have a motion to approve? So moved. And a second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed. Next on the agenda is the approval of the minutes from our February 10th meeting. Do we have a motion to approve? I move we approve. And a second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed. Next item is visitors to be heard. I see none. Moving on, we have a presentation tonight from our sustainability coordinator. Excellent. Thank you, members of the commission. Tonight I am going to be presenting to the commission. An update on our climate action plan progress. We can expect to have updates every spring and fall to the commission. Although periodic updates on progress will be presented to the commission throughout. I'll remind you almost a year ago today. And this plan is a 10-year-long plan looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 55% by 2035. And this is in hopes of being in line with the state of Minnesota's climate action framework goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This plan is a very robust plan. It has eight different sectors. To implement this plan over the next 10 years, we're looking to implement staff is looking to implement this plan in two-year phases. And this year we are in phase one for 2026 and 2027. This year, our um implementation team staff is looking to build internal capacity, launch foundational programs, engage the community around the climate action plan goals, and prepare for the scaling up that's needed in phase two and beyond. In that first phase, we have actions across almost every sector of the climate action plan. You'll see here how those actions are outlined outlined. There's 31 of them. So at a high level to present progress to date. Staff have been very busy at work to get this plan on the ground and to initiate the work. Uh in with all the actions together. So in buildings and energy. When we look at the actions that we are currently as staff working on, just over 80% of those actions are either in progress or already implemented. For the economy sector, 50% of the actions in the work plant are in progress. For green space, 100% of the actions are either implemented or in progress. The same goes for health. 100% of the actions are implemented. I'm sorry, are in progress. And for transportation, just over 85% of the actions are in progress. And to conclude, for waste and water, 100% of the actions are in progress. And again, for food and agriculture, we just don't have any actions currently in the work plan. So in summary, uh at a high level, um our staff group has been really busy at work to make sure the climate action plan is top of mind.
openpublica.com