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04-21-2010 ECC MINMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER ENERGY CITY COMMISSION HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL ELK RIVER, MN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2010 Members Present: Denny Chuba, Ron Touchette, Scott Hagen, Mayor Stephanie Klinzing, Stephen Rohlf, Tim Steinbeck, and Vance Zehringer Members Absent: Susie Overholser, Bruce Sayler (excused), John Setala (excused), Jeff Vassar (excused) Staff Present: Rebecca Haug, Environmental Administrator Nicola Blake-Bradley, Environmental Technician Others Present: Maureen Griffiths, Waste Management Todd Berreman, CenterPoint Energy Ryan Setterholm, CenterPoint Energy 1. Call Meeting to Order The regular meeting of the Energy City Commission was called to order by Chair Zehringer at 1:33 p.m. Consider April 21.2010 ECC Agenda Commissioner Touchette requested that item #6 be removed from the agenda. Environmental Administrator Haug requested that item #9 be tabled to the May meeting. Mayor Klinzing requested that item #7 be removed from the agenda. Chair Zehringer stated that he wants to wait on item #8 as well. Environmental Administrator Haug added updates under "Other" regarding speaking engagements for Energy City, Northstar Rail, ECONAR. Commissioner Touchette questioned whether the mission statement is ready to be talked about? Environmental Administrator Haug felt the commission should go ahead with discussion. Chair Zehringer added an update on tours under "Other". Mr. Berremen requested the opportunity to introduce Ryan Setterholm (new with Centerpoint) Ryan was introduced as a possible new commissioner for the Energy City Commission representing CenterPoint Energy. Mr. Berreman stated that CenterPoint Energy would like to keep an active seat and continue to work with the City of Elk River as a partner. Ryan introduced himself. This was followed by introductions of the Commissioners. 3. Consider March 17. 2010 ECC Minute MOTION BY MAYOR KLINZING AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TOUCHETTE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES WITH NO CHANGES. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. 4. OES Grant Updates - Project Conserve Revolving Loan and Ice Arena 1 Environmental Administrator Haug stated there is good and bad news regarding grants. Project Conserve and the Ice arena were approved, however the EDA's (Economic Development Authority) revolving loan program was not funded. More information is needed for the Project Conserve grant but should be done soon. The Arena is taking a bit longer. Because the EDA didn't get the revolving loan grant, no upgrades will be possible through this venue at this time. Project Conserve received $50,000 for Phase II and the Arena received $87,000 for upgrading lighting in both buildings (stimulus grant). ERMU (Elk River Municipal Utilities) has rebates for upgrading lighting... the Arena's project would possibly qualify for around $10,000 ($9,000 - $14,000). 5. Mission Statement and Goals Environmental Administrator Haug stated the Energy City Commission is scheduled to go to City Council on May 10th. Unfortunately, she, Commissioner Touchette and Commissioner Rohlf have had no time to discuss this further at the staff/commissioner level. There are differences of opinion regarding where the commission is at. However, this meeting with the Council has postponed several times already. She added that the Energy City Commission does have and expiration date (December, 2010). Chair Zehringer commented there were copious notes from the last discussion and asked if there is any further discussion. Commissioner Rohlf stated his opinion that the statement and goals don't have to be finalized, since the commission wants the Council's ideas. The statement and goals may not be polished, but he felt there is enough to go to the May meeting. Mayor Klinzing stated that sounds good and it will give the council more understanding if it's discussed. They can give their opinions. Commissioner Rohlf commented upon the difference of opinion regarding whether the Commission sticks to energy or broadens to "green" adding that he comes down on the side of energy. He added that a difference of opinion is okay; the Commission is answerable to the City Council. A comment was made that seeking direction is a good thing. Environmental Administrator Haug commented on showing the connection for recycling saving energy (and why the technology or recycling is being promoted). Commissioner Touchette added that clear direction was received from the last meeting to include the green concept as it relates to energy considerations. Chair Zehringer stated this is not hard to do as far as green is concerned. Discussion followed that demonstrations need to make economic sense with further discussion of the photovoltaic demonstration as an example. A question was raised as to how the commission defined promotion? Commissioner Touchette commented that that the Commission will identify and promote those items that work. Two versions of the mission statement and goals have yet to be "blended". He added that this can be discussed in front of the council. The meeting is May 10th at 7:30 p.m. after the FAST meeting (a special meeting notice will be done by Chair Zehringer). Having as many Commissioners as possible at the meeting would be very helpful. A question was raised regarding benefits to the partners for being part of Energy City. A concern is that the partners get forgotten for the sake of the City. Mayor Klinzing recognized the benefits tc the City, but stated that the partners need to identify what the benefits are for each of the partners individually since they are likely different for each partner. Environmental Administrator Haug stated that she gets asked at speaking engagements "What is this partnership situation?" She explained that the partner businesses look better for working with the City as a partner for sharing their expertise in the program. Commissioner Touchette commented this is included in the paperwork. The landfill decision was discussed. Mayor Klinzing commented that it was a land use decision, not involving the (excellent) working relationship with the landfill or the partnership regarding Energy City. Commissioner Rohlf commented he is representing the Chamber of Commerce with some comments. Regarding "benefits for partners", Chair Zehringer discussed the idea of creating plaques for Energy City Partners to post at businesses. Discussion followed. The commission generally liked the idea. Ms. Griffiths questioned the outline and original mission statement. Environmental Administrator Haug commented that it was worked upon. Ms. Griffiths questioned what the original statement was. Mayor Klinzing and Commissioner Rohlf thought it was originally developed through the MEI (MN Environmental Initiative). Ms. Griffiths asked whether creating energy was involved in the original vision statement. It was not included because it was strictly demonstrations when Energy City started. Commissioner Rohlf added that the Commission had a protocol for demonstration sites. A Commissioner mentored the project and endorsed if it worked. Commissioner Touchette questioned what have other Energy Cities have done. The answer provided is nothing since we're the only Energy City. Mayor Klinzing clarified the legislature's decision and discussed the trademarks. Commissioner Touchette stated he will merge the two documents into one and it will be taken to the City Council for direction, then polished by the end of the month. He asked to move the Energy City portion to the beginning of the worksession, but that is not possible as the FAST (Focused Area Study) is first. 6. CBAC Updates Removed from this meeting under Agenda changes. 7. Water Conservation At The Source - Mavor Klinzinp Removed from this meeting under Agenda changes. 8. Bloom Fuel Cell Discussion Removed from this meeting under Agenda changes. 9. MN Greenstep Cities Discussion Removed from this meeting under Agenda changes. 10. Roundtable Discussion Commissioner Setala is not present. Chair Zehringer questioned whether anyone had something to discuss. Commissioner Touchette shared that Best Buy will be selling electric cars. A comment was made that KIA will be having a Grand Opening that starts on Wednesday, May 19 and ends on the 22nd. The ribbon cutting was discussed. The Energy City Commission is meeting on May 19 so a question was raised whether is could be at Elk River Ford? The ribbon cutting will be at 4:00 p.m. with "business after hours" at the Chamber of Commerce. Switching meeting locations was discussed at last meeting. Environmental Administrator Haug stated it would be a special meeting; the commission can't talk about new agenda items under "other" (can't add items). This needs to be discussed with the Council (whether it can be a traveling meeting without being a "special" meeting). MOTION BY COMMISSIONER TOUCHETTE AND SECOND BY MAYOR KLINZING TO HAVE THE NEXT ENERGY CITY MEETING AT ELK RIVER FORD AT 3:00 P.M. FOR ONE HOUR. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. Chair Zehringer added that the meeting may possibly travel to the Environmental Learning Center in June. 11.Other 11.1 Tours: Chair Zehringer stated that tours regularly come from the State Department and MN International Center (the next group comes Monday). He sent around the bios of the tour attendees coming; all from Central and South America and Dominican Republic. There will be two interpreters and 19 individuals. He added that the Haubenschild's farm demonstration site, burning 60% methane from anaerobic digester (creating enough energy for their home and 70 other homes) is down [non-functional] at the moment for the same reason the landfill has issues. The engines are having problems with Hydrogen Sulfide gas coming from sheetrock waste. The gas combines with water to create sulfuric acid and rapidly breaks down valves, etc. Demolition debris cells at the landfill may be removed from the system. Dennis Haubenschild started using gypsum bedding which is getting into the manure and creating similar problems. All the bacteria in the digester were killed and the acid is causing engine problems. Chair Zehringer added that the Methane Plant is doing great, but could be doing better if the Hydrogen Sulfide gas was gone. Using a fuel cell was questioned. The Haubenschilds have one but it has never worked right. Anything other than pure fuel (i.e. natural gas) needs to be conditioned first and "front end costs" can be more than the fuel and fuel cell, etc. The next Energy City tour is mainly scientists and journalists. Chair Zehringer had a bunch of boy scouts from Elk River last week. He also had a family that wanted a tour but he declined due to the timing. Environmental Administrator Haug commented that an age requirement has been added (as a recommendation) because really young children don't work out as well. Chair Zehringer added that he always meets tours at the wind turbine and has them follow the tour leader to the Learning Center. International tours go on expanded tours and multiple sites. 11.2 Updates: Environmental Administrator Haug stated that she will be speaking regarding Energy City next Wednesday in St. Cloud for "Funding Sustainability". She doesn't have a lot of time to talk, but other cities want to network and learn about what Elk River is doing to expand their efforts. Cathy Mehelich (Economic Development Director) and Environmental Administrator Haug will be exhibiting Energy City at the "Greening the Heartland Conference" (national conference) and are working with the marketing firm that works with the EDA. She added that a Swedish company which had toured Energy City a while ago is looking fora "home" for their manufacturing company that makes parts for geothermal heat pumps. She is hoping to help find a way to get them to locate here. Environmental Administrator Haug and Chair Zehringer will be speaking at the EDAM (Economic Development Association of MN) conference on June 17th at Madden's in Brainerd. She stated that this means others are showing interest in Elk River and it's a good opportunity for marketing Elk River. Mayor Klinzing commented that several thousand people will attend the Greening the Heartland conference. 11.3 Metro Transit: Northstar is offering deals for taking the train to Twins' games. Environmental Administrator Haug also handed out the seed packs that were sent out by Economic Development department. 11.4 ECONAR: Environmental Administrator Haug discussed a link she sent out regarding an ECONAR retirement party for Del Overholser at the Elk River Country Club on April 30th from 4 - 6 p.m. (Friday). Everyone is invited. Environmental Administrator Haug will a-mail everyone per the Mayor's request. 11.5 Regarding Item #11.3: Mayor Klinzing stated that there were many questions at the Energy Expo regarding the Twins games that go late (i.e. if people go on the train, what happens?) The people will get back on the train or a bus. They are guaranteed to get back. Commissioner Chuba stated he went down for a game and it's a fabulous stadium. Northstar is the closest and most convenient way to get to a Twins' game. The Parks and Recreation Department will be having a trip to go down to the Mall of America and spend a couple of hours then come back to learn how to use the train. The first trip is filled up already. It's a way of getting to "know the ropes" with help. Environmental Administrator Haug will a-mail everyone on that as well per a request. 12. Schedule Next ECC Meeting and Identify Agenda Items The next meeting will be held May 19, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. at Elk River Ford. Environmental Administrator Haug questioned whether it will be feasible for all the items at Elk River Ford since there will only be an hour for meeting with a recap of the items from City Council meeting included. A question was raised whether there will be a tour. Commissioner Rohlf stated there could be one but the commission probably won't have time. Potential topics include grants update, Green Cities (MPCA), CBAC update, Water Conservation at the Source (Mayor), Bloom Fuel Cell, Smart Grid presentation (Commissioner Sayler). 13. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m. Minutes,prepared b is Blake-Bradley. `// i ~/ Tina Allard City Clerk 0 Vance Zehrin r Energy Cit ommiss n Chair