6.1. SR 07-19-2010REQUEST FOR ACTION
To Item Number
Ci Council 6.1.
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
oint Meetin ul 19, 2010 Rebecca Hau ,Environmental Admin
Item Description Reviewed by
Amendment to Elk River Energy City Commission Ordinance Lori ohnson, Ci Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Staff is recommending the Council amend the Energy City Commission ordinance by removing the
language related to the December 31, 2010 expiration.
Bacl~ground/Discussion
The Energy City Commission (ECC) has been in effect since 2005. Since that time, the ECC has been
part of several notable Energy City accomplishments and demonstrations. When the commission was
formed, there was discussion about setting an expiration date. A date was set for December 31, 2010
unless evaluation by the City Council decides it is in the best interest of the city to maintain the
Commission.
The ECC recently updated its Mission Statement and Goals which are attached for your review. The
commission is currently working on expanding Phase II of Project Conserve, planning the 2011 Energy
Expo, and partnering with the City's Economic Development Division to help in the recruitment of
energy-technology related businesses and energy efficiency improvements to existing businesses. A
Business Recycling Event has been planned for September 30, 2010 through this partnership.
Financial Impact
An annual budget of approximately $51,000
Attachments
^ Ordinance Amendment
^ 2010 Mission Statement and Goals
ActlOn Motion by Second by Vote
Follow Up
C:\Documents and Settings\XPMUser\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK6G\Action Requested-ord amend.doc
ORDINANCE 10- _
CITY OF ELK RIVER
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER DELETING
SECTION 2-357, "COMMISSION EVALUATION" OF THE ELK RIVER,
MINNESOTA, CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as follows:
Section 1. Section 2-357 titled, Commission Evaluation, of the City of Elk River
Code of Ordinances shall be deleted:
Section 2. That this ordinance shall take effect upon publication as provided by
law.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this 19th day of
July, Zo1o.
Stephanie K]inzing, Mayor
ATTEST:
Tina Allard, City Clerk
S:\Public Bodies\Council\Ordinances\2010\Energy City.DOC
MISSION STATEMENT
Collaboration between the City of Elk River, government agencies, and businesses to promote the Elk
River community, energy efficiency, recycling, green resources and renewable energy initiatives through
active encouragement, demonstrations and education.
ENERGY CITY Vision
Identify and inform regarding energy related options, opportunities and emerging technologies,
recognizing potential energy and resource conservation methods or possibilities, and encouraging those
that show potential for a reasonable current or future environmental and/or economic benefit to the
community.
Policy Recommendation:
The City of Elk River should proactively take advantage of the opportunities that arise from the
designation and status of ENERGY CITY, accomplished by the following goals and tasks:
ENERGY CITY Designation Opportunity Goals & Tasks
1. Identify ways to promote a positive image of Elk River and encourage economic interest
and growth
Task: Community Energy Expositions
Task: Develop innovative energy saving programs and incentives (energy loan program)
as an Economic Development tool
Task: Collaborate with City staff, Council, Planning Commission, Housing
Redevelopment and Economic Development Authorities to investigate and evaluate
possible energy themed or related development or redevelopment districts within
Elk River such as the Gateway and gravel pit future development areas.
Task: Encourage promotion and media coverage of open houses, demonstration sites and
ENERGY CITY partners
Task: Promote and encourage resource and conservation efforts that result in positive
measurable environmental and economic impacts on energy use and energy
produced resources.
Task: Promote City-wide Source Separated Organics (SSO) and Recycling program
through the identification of energy savings and impact.
Task: Demonstrate the tangible benefits to the community derived from the initiatives of
ENERGY CITY and its partners, specifically environmental and economic benefits
to the City's residents and businesses
2. Educate producers and consumers on energy issues, options and opportunities;
specifically including possible impact on the economy as well as the environment starting
within the Elk River community.
Task: Community Energy Expositions
Task: Project Conserve, residential and, in the future, commercial
Task: Advance the tourism of Energy City demonstration sites
Task: Encourage the use of the Environmental Learning Center
Task: Collaborate with Elk River area schools, the School District and other area youth
associations in ENERGY CITY and its vision, utilizing demonstration sites and
education/research opportunities.
Task: Seek publication regarding demonstration sites in technical journals, Internet
networking sites and other public and private media
Task: Promote and sponsor public and private forum exhibits by partnering with the Elk
River Economic Development Authority (EDA)
Task: Proactively and willfully develop and utilize ENERGY CITY status as a unique
and valuable Economic Development marketing tool
3. Capitalize on ENERGY CITY status, globally
Task: Continue to work with the MN International Center and the US State Department
give tours to groups from all over the world
Task: Encourage partners to identify with Energy City (websites, social media,
presentations, literature, and networking)
4. Encourage and assist when possible in the development and use of renewable energy and
energy efficient technologies
Task: Recognize, on an ongoing basis, existing energy technology demonstration sites as
well as continue to recruit and encourage new demonstration sites.
Task: Develop innovative energy saving programs and incentives (energy loan program)
Task: Encourage energy-efficient technologies in all new construction (building and
development)
Task: Review and make, when possible, specific energy related recommendations on
significant construction projects
Task: Seek publication regarding demonstration sites in technical journals and other
media
Task: Develop and implement an ECC component opportunity to be utilized on any city
owned or assisted construction or renovation project or to be offered to any private
construction or renovation project as part of the permit process
Task: Partner with area utilities (Elk River Municipal Utilities, Connexus Energy, and
Centerpoint Energy) to enable area residential and commercial building owners to
participate in utility sponsored energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.
Diversify Elk River's energy base and recognize a continuing goal of decreasing Elk
River's overall energy use and energy dependence from non-renewable sources
Task: Research and examine when possible the feasibility of current and emerging energy
technologies, such as: hydro, wind, fuel cells, landfill gas, animal waste to electric,
geothermal, etc.
Task: Project Conserve, residential and expanded to the commercial sector
Task: Actively partner with ENERGY CITY participants such as ERMU, Connexus and
GRE as well as other area businesses to reduce the community's per capita energy
usage and/or use more wisely
Inventory of demonstration sites opportunities and businesses
Speakers bureau
Technical assistance
Promoting new technologies
ENERGY CITY accomplishments and demonstrations include
1. GRE's RDF fueled Elk River Energy Recovery Station electric generating plant.
a. Converted to utilize numerous different fuels since 1950!
b. Currently produces renewable energy from the conversion of the community's waste
products.
2. Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) Processing Plant.
a. Located in ENERGY CITY since 1989
b. Recovers ferrous aluminum & provides a renewable power plant fuel.
3. First city to convert completely to LED traffic lights.
4. Commercial and residential use of geothermal heat pumps
5. Energy Houses I (1997), II (2000), and III (2005)
a. Energy House. I, Gold Medal winner at the National Home Builders Association's
convention in 1998
b. Energy House III, Building Excellence Award at the Structural Insulated Panel Association
Convention and Governor's MN GREAT Award, 2006.
6. The utility-scale wind generator constructed in 2001
7. Landfill Gas-to-Electricity Facility
a. Original plant received the US Environmental Protection Agency's Landfill Methane
Outreach Program's project of the year award in 1998
b. Expanded and much larger Landfill Gas-to-Electricity Power plant received the
Governor's MN GREAT Award in 2006.
8. Sustainable Buildings Project
a. As an Energy City Partner, Elk River Area School District was selected as the pilot for the
Sustainable Schools Project. Producing a statewide impact on how schools are built and
run, and gaining national recognition.
9. Twin Lakes Elementary Gold LEED Certified school building in 2006. Other Elk River Area
School District buildings are also sustainable or LEED certified (Rogers High School in 2002 and
Westwood Elementary in Zimmerman in 2004).
10. Federally and State Trademarked in 2007
11. Annual Community Energy Expositions since 2007 focusing on energy conservation education
12. Elk River Library Gold LEED Certified library building.
13. Photovoltaic (Whole-House) Demo In Residential Applications.
14. Supported construction of a Peaking Plant at the GRE Elk River Campus
15. Elk River Project Conserve
a. 2009 League of MN Cities Award for Sustainability and Energy Use
b. 2009 Recycling Association of MN Green Project of the Year Award
c. Awarded 2010 MN Dept of Commerce Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block
Grant (EECBG)