EQC Meeting Date: April 15, 2026
To: Environmental Quality Commission
From: Sara Pabich, Sustainability Coordinator
Title
Staff Update
Body
Action Requested:
The EQC receives an update regarding staff activities.
Summary Report:
This update includes items not included as agenda items for this meeting.
Zoning Code Update:
The City of Northfield is updating its Zoning Code to better meet community needs and align with the 2025 Comprehensive Plan. Residents are encouraged to share their input by completing an online survey <https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/75c0c9c8b572444388caab1468480094> by April 22nd, 2026, as public feedback will help guide the future of the community.
EQC Tabling Events:
Staff emailed the Commission a volunteer sign-up form for tabling opportunities at the Earth Day event and the Riverwalk Market and request that EQC members sign up. Staff also provided a presentation to City Council on April 7 with an update on Earth Day activities. Attached are the Earth Day advertisement flyer, and copies of the flyers the City has ready to share at Earth Day.
Parks
• The Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) continues to have a clear and important role in park-related matters following the City’s decision to sunset the Parks Board in 2026. While the EQC is not intended to replace a parks-focused advisory body or take on operational park planning functions, its duties support providing input where environmental considerations are involved. This includes assessing environmental impacts of park projects, advising on alignment with environmental goals, and recommending approaches that enhance conservation and ecological health within park spaces.
Under Sec. 2-424 of the City Code, the EQC is tasked with advising on environmental impacts, evaluating city activities against environmental policies, and recommending actions to improve environmental quality. Since parks are a key part of the City’s natural systems, it is appropriate-and generally expected-for the EQC to provide feedback on park planning and projects when issues such as habitat, tree canopy, water resources, or sustainability are involved. In short, the EQC does not function as a general parks board, but has and continues to play an important role in helping ensure park decisions reflect the City’s environmental values.
• On April 7, City Council approved the bid packages for three parks: Riverside Park, Dresden Hill and Central Park. The project included maintenance to be able to maintain equipment if feasible and salvage other equipment for re-use working with a local company. Additionally, mulch from projects that will not be used will be integrated with City composting at the site. For more information about the park projects, click here <https://northfield.granicus.com/player/clip/2257?view_id=2&redirect=true>.
Annual Shade Tree Sale
Residents can place a tree order from April 1 until April 23 in the city’s annual shade tree sale. Supplies are limited and orders will be taken on a first-come-first-served basis. The City has 150 trees available in 15 species. Trees come in bare root, #3 containers or #7 containers and are between 5 to 8 feet tall and half inch to one and a quarter inch in trunk diameter. Prices range from $36.95 to $149 per tree.
This year trees will be available to pick up at the Streets and Parks Maintenance Facility May 12 through 15. Planting and tree care instructions will be provided to buyers to help their trees thrive.
If you don’t have room on your property or would like to donate a tree, you may donate a tree to a city park.
If you’re interested in ordering or donating, visit the city website: northfieldmn.gov/TreeSale <https://www.northfieldmn.gov/669/Tree-Sale>
Resources:
• The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has published its 2026 Climate Adaptation and Resilience Cost Study. The purpose of the study is to estimate the scale of investment needed for climate adaptation in Minnesota and to better understand the financial risks of inaction under different future climate scenarios. This summary is being shared for awareness, and a link to the full report <https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/lrcc-mn-1sy26.pdf> is included for those interested in reviewing the findings in more detail.
• Minnesota Housing released its Climate Resilience and Housing Decarbonization Roadmap, a guide outlining climate-focused targets and recommendations for Agency teams and programs. This summary is shared for awareness, and the full Roadmap <https://mnhousing.gov/documents/53610/climate-resilience-housing-decarbonization-roadmap-2026-a11y/view> is available for review.
Alternative Options:
NA
Financial Impacts:
NA
Tentative Timelines:
NA