COMO ENVIRONMENT TEAM
The Como Environment Team is empowered to develop plans and opportunities to engage and educate the SE Como community and others around environmental challenges of sustainability, green spaces, people/pollinators/wildlife habitat, clean air and water, and other environmental issues. The Como Environment Team has a long history of leading edge community projects such as the air pollution prevention project, Move In Move Out (our neighborhood recycling project), Solar pilot project, rain barrel building, rain gardens, community gardens, TCE advocacy and urban forestry.
The team is a unique group that covers a wide variety of issues for a specific neighborhood. This group meets every Fourth Tuesday of each month, 6 – 7:30 pm, Van Cleve Park (901 15th Avenue SE). The Como Environment Team may schedule some meetings away from the park but within the neighborhood. Check the EBNP calendar to find this month’s meeting location. Zoom meetings may be scheduled because of weather or health issues.
To join us next month, you can find the most up to date meeting information on the East Bank Calendar.
Co-Chairs: Kathy Knudson and Peggy Booth
Agendas/Minutes
Committee agendas are posted on the EBNP web site prior to the meeting. Minutes are Posted once available after meetings.
Background
Responsibilities
Identify and support potential programs, services, campaigns, or events that can help raise community environmental awareness and educate both our members and the community
Respond to environmental issues within the community
Provide general oversight and support of SE Como community gardens
Sponsor grant applications to support proposed new or old Environment Committee programs
Other Details
Most decisions are made by consensus during meetings. If there is a disagreement, a vote can be taken to resolve
No quorum is required to pass motions or resolutions
The chair or co-chairs are elected by the Como Environment Team and ratified by the EBNP’s Board (or Board president) for an indefinite term length until new chair(s) are elected and ratified.
The Chair(s) conducts the meeting using common sense and courtesy and generally following an agenda; Roberts Rules of Order do not come into play unless there is a need to facilitate a vote.
For communications, unless there are unforeseen events, an agenda is distributed to known members and interested parties, the email list, and scheduled guests before scheduled meetings. Minutes are taken during the meeting and are posted within a reasonable time on the EBNP website (below).
The Como Environment Team reports to the EBNP Board when appropriate, most notably in the matter of organizational expense.. The Community Garden leads report to the Environment Team along with any working groups within the team’s purview.
Contact the Team
Volunteer Guide for 2026
Q: When do you meet? A: Normally the 4th Tuesday of the Month from 6 to 7:30 pm
Q: Where does your group meet? A: Varies. Normally at Van Cleve Park. Currently Feb & March 2026 at Mannings, once during August or September at FairShare Farm, occasionally at CW Lofts, almost always in person
Q: What does your group do for the neighborhoods? A: As a group, we have provided displays and information at the EBNP public meetings. As individuals, we attend those meetings. We promote grants, especially GNF & MWMO. We build volunteer networks. We developed an air quality guide for our outdoor activities that can be used elsewhere. And we hope we provide a good example of caring for the environment and the people in it.
Q: What do volunteers do in your meetings? A: Basically we discuss ongoing and potential projects. We expect and encourage attendees to take part in the discussions. We welcome new ideas. We welcome attendees to take part in any of the projects as they are able. Occasionally we actually take a vote on an item; in that case, only residents or business owners in the SE Como neighborhood are allowed to vote. Anybody can speak to any topic though.
Q: Who can show up to your meetings? A: Anyone can come, no reservations required. No experience needed, but should have interest in some environmental subject. And occasionally we have special speakers.
Q: How many people are in your group right now? A: My current group email for the ET has about 16 people on it that I consider members, but our regular member attendees are closer to 8. There is no cap on attendees, as long as we have room for people, we are good.
Q: What is the time commitment like for volunteers? A: It all depends on what they sign up for. It can vary from just attending meetings to helping with ongoing projects that can take over their life.
Q: Are volunteers expected/able to participate outside of its regular meeting time? A: We hope they participate in outside projects in whatever way works for them. We have a lot of volunteer opportunities in the various gardens we support during the growing season (April through October). Other volunteer opportunities depend on the projects we are working on. We usually develop something special for Earth Day, for the Como Cookout, and this year for the North Star Sustainable Living Festival in October.
Q: Is there anything else that we should know about your group? A: We always welcome new members, visitors, and volunteers.
Want more information? Reach out to one of the co-chairs, peggyanne@usfamily.net or kaknudson@comcast.net.
To get on the garden volunteer lists for the scheduled work sessions, contact Lila Smith at kasmithtc@msn.com
Get this information in PDF/Image/Text Document format here.