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Sustainability Commission forms three subcommittees to boost outreach and events in 2026
Summary
The Minnetonka Sustainability Commission approved three small volunteer subcommittees—Everything Electric exhibits, Reuse Swap events, and Education/On‑site Tours—to plan outreach activities in 2026 and recorded preliminary volunteer assignments and a draft calendar of events.
At its Jan. 20, 2026 meeting the Minnetonka Sustainability Commission agreed to form three small subcommittees to accelerate outreach and event planning tied to the 2026 work plan.
Staff described the subcommittees’ purpose as enabling more commissioner involvement outside regular meetings and to help plan two Everything Electric exhibits, two reuse‑swap events (Earth Day and a winter clothing swap), and at least two educational on‑site tours. "The purpose of it is to just essentially provide more activities outside of meetings for commissioners," Miss Southerntherland said, describing a staff expectation of two commissioners per subcommittee plus staff support.
Logistics and quorum: staff emphasized that subcommittees are ad‑hoc groups of fewer than a quorum so they do not require open‑meeting postings; if a group needed more members, the item would instead be scheduled on a regular public agenda. Staff proposed roughly an hour‑and‑a‑half meeting cadence for planning sessions and suggested in‑person meetings as the preferred format while allowing virtual participation where necessary.
Assignments and schedule: commissioners volunteered and staff recorded preliminary assignments: Everything Electric — Michael and Diane (Brian as fill‑in); Reuse Swap — Ashley and Ellen; Tours — Dave and Brian (Matt as an additional option). Staff also presented a calendar mapping work‑plan items to quarters and to specific outreach events (farmers markets, Summerfest, Council award date April 20); subcommittees will meet ahead of events (March/May/September timing noted) to handle pre‑ and post‑event needs.
What happens next: staff will finalize subcommittee meeting times, post optional volunteer signup opportunities and outreach tasks, and bring regular progress updates to the commission. The commission did not take formal votes on program policy at the meeting; it established the subcommittees and collected volunteer commitments to support 2026 outreach and CAP implementation.
The next regular Sustainability Commission meeting is March 17, 2026, when the commission will review award applications and continue CAP implementation oversight.
