East Calhoun Comm. Organization (ECCO)

NRP Plan-Environmental

ENVIRONMENT PROPOSAL
Contact:Renee Gust (824-1918), Email: Rgust777@aol.com

Goal 1: Improve the quality of the environment in the East Calhoun neighborhood.

Objective 1: Create opportunities for residents to actively improve their environment.

Strategy 1: Form an on-going ECCO Environment Committee.

Strategy Description: The ECCO Environment Committee will promote the following items:
 Work with city, county and/or state agencies to improve storm water management (i.e. subterranean holding ponds).
 Promote and coordinate volunteer efforts to reduce litter, waste and other pollutants on the shoreline of Lake Calhoun.
 Work with the police and fire department to reduce the noise from emergency vehicles and boom cars.
 Sponsor “Green lawn/Garden Care” workshops that educate East Calhoun residents about non-water polluting methods of lawn and garden care.
 Establish a “Celebrate the Lakes” public event to promote environmental education.
 Stencil catch basins to inform residents of storm water drainage into city lakes.

Participants: ECCO Board, ECCO Environment Committee, East Calhoun residents, Appropriate city, county and/or state agencies.

Resources: Environment Committee cost included in Implementation proposal.


Objective 2: Promote environmental education to residents of East Calhoun.

Strategy 1: Support the NRP Multi-Neighborhood Clean Water Task Force by providing funds to
cover the cost of producing the environmental education book and video to be distributed to all residents of participating neighborhoods.

Participants: ECCO Board, ECCO Environment Committee, NRP Multi-Neighborhood Clean Water Task Force

Year 1998 1999 Total
Resources: $9,800 $0 $9,800


Objective 3: Improve the lake shore and water quality of Lake Calhoun and the surrounding chain of
lakes.

Strategy 1: Provide the Minneapolis Park Board with funds to:
 Install watershed signs within East Calhoun to inform residents about the drainage of storm sewers in Lake Calhoun.
 Participate in hillside planting to control erosion on the East Calhoun Parkway hillside for chain of lakes watershed management.

Participants: ECCO Board, ECCO Environment Committee, NRP Implementation Committee,
Minneapolis Park Board

Year 1998 1999 Total
Resources: $1,750 $1,750 Watershed signs

Strategy 2: “Participate in East Calhoun Parkway lake shore planting for chain-of-lakes watershed management.”

Year 1998 1999 Total
Resources: 10,000 10,000


Objective 4: Improve the air quality in East Calhoun by promoting non-polluting forms of
transportation.

Strategy 1: Support efforts to improve bicycle access within East Calhoun and to other areas of the
city by adding bike lanes, bike racks and other bicycle friendly improvements.

Participants: ECCO Board, ECCO Environment Committee, ECCO NRP Implementation Coordinator, Public Works, Park Board

Year 1998 1999 Total
Resources: $30,850 $30,850

Objective 5: Enhance and expand the green space in East Calhoun by involving East Calhoun residents.

Strategy 1: Create and promote community gardens in East Calhoun.

Strategy Description: Create a matching gift fund to reimburse residents for the cost of tree treatments preventing Dutch Elm Disease blighting influences or to purchase replacement trees for East Calhoun homeowners. Provide funds for a one-time 1:1 match up to $40 per property for tree treatments or tree purchases.

Participants: ECCO Board, ECCO NRP Implementation Committee, ECCO Environment Committee, NRP Implementation Coordinator

Year 1999 2000 Total
Resources: $1,125 $1,125 Community Gardens
$2,250 $2,250 $4,500 Tree Matching Fund