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08-19-2009 ECCMINMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER ENERGY CITY COMMISSION HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL ELK RIVER, MN WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2009 Members Present: Vance Zehringer, Denny Chuba, Scott Hagen, Todd Berreman, Martin Gagliardi, Susie Overholser, and Mayor Stephanie Klinzing Members Absent: Stephen Rohlf, Ron Touchette, John Setala, and Bruce Sayler Staff Present: Rebecca Haug, Environmental Administrator Nicola (Nicki) Blake-Bradley, Environmental Technician Others Present: Maureen Griffiths for Jeff Vassar, Waste Management Kelly Chase, CenterPoint Energy Rachel Leonard, Sherburne County The regular meeting of the Energy City Commission was called to order by Chair Zehringer at 1:32 p.m. Prior to beginning the agenda items, Commissioner Berreman introduced Kelly Chase. Ms. Chase may be attending ECC meetings periodically for Commissioner Berreman due to changes with his position and resulting time conflicts. Commissioners and staff introduced themselves and welcomed Ms. Chase. Consider August 19, 2009 ECC Agenda No additions or changes were requested regarding the agenda. MOTION BY MAYOR KLINZING AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OVERHOLSER TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITHOUT CHANGES. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. Consider July 15, 2009 ECC Minutes Two changes were requested of the minutes by Chair Zehringer. Regarding discussion of water savings for Project Conserve members (agenda item #5), he requested the wording be changed from "no water savings" to "some water savings". Regarding information under Elk River Landfill and RRT (agenda item #8), he requested that the number "15%" be changed to "12%" to reflect the change in the amount of energy being required by the city. The amount of energy being produced remains the same, but increased demand from ERMU (due to United Health's energy needs) results in a net decrease in the total amount. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CHUBA AND SECOND BY MS. GRIFFITHS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. 3. Project Conserve Update The participants are still active. The next meetings will be held on September 24th and 26th at City Hall. The participants were surveyed (data will be supplied at a later meeting). At this time, approximately 30% of participants have responded. There is/was an issue with technology which has recently been dealt with. Most are still excited and all that have responded will continue with the program through another heating season since the data from the first one is not complete. Blower door tests were done much later than anticipated originally. Several survey comments made were that participants wanted more time following the blower door tests for education and communication. Chair Zehringer stated the intention was to spend time with each participant, but there was a communication breakdown between ERMU and CenterPoint Energy. Other comments included requests for actual "in-home" assistance with potential changes, costs, and education and one that Energy City should be at every event in the area to get the word out about Project Conserve. Discussion turned to the need for more staff to meet these needs. If the City gets two Green Corps interns, one may be dedicated to Energy City initiatives. Commissioner Berreman questioned whether an agenda has been put together for the next set of meetings yet. He stated that CenterPoint Energy has some new rebate programs rolling out that he might be able to discuss at the meeting. A question was raised as to whether the survey is in pdf format on the website. Discussion followed regarding surveying the community for interest in future Project Conserve participants or as an educational tool. 4. 2010 Energv Expo Update The date has been set for February 27, 2010 from 11 - 3 at the Elk River High School. There is a basketball tournament the evening before the event so staff will not be able to set up the evening before although some materials may be stored in the school ahead of time. Tentative discussion was that Cenaiko will set up early (possibly around 6 a.m.) with exhibitors being allowed into the building at 8 a.m. and Will Steger (keynote) speaking at 11 a.m. in Zabee Theater. Several ideas for changes include having a recycled art contest during the event, poster contests, or carnival games. Northstar rail passes might be an award. A comment had been made that this needs to be a more kid/family friendly event. A compost bin/rain barrel sale might be held in conjunction with the Expo through RAM and possibly subsidized to Elk River residents by them receiving a credit on their utility bill. The City Council approved $10,000 for the budget. Ms. Chase suggested going to the Eco- experience at the State Fair for ideas. Other possible ideas were to have tax credit accountants available for ideas and having Home Depot/Menards demonstrations. Blinky Bonnie will provide food at their expense/benefit. The subcommittee is in the process of developing a list of sponsors. If anyone has ideas, please let Environmental Administrator Haug or Environmental Technician Blake-Bradley know. 5. Elk River Landfill 8~ RRT The landfill proposal was delayed until the September 14 workshop meeting with the City Council and will come back for a final decision on September 21. They may ask for an extension at that time. Environmental Administrator Haug commented that there was an article featuring RRT (and Commissioner Gagliardi) in the publication Finance and Commerce. She passed it around for 2 everyone to review. Commissioner Gagliardi informed the commission that there is a one year contract with Sherburne County (east section) and Anoka County to continue processing waste. GRE has a letter of intent to purchase the Elk River facility. They need a guaranteed amount of 335 tons to purchase the facility. There is a guaranteed amount of 15,000/month now. Tri-county has not committed a lot of waste but will bring some to the facility. Discussion followed that it is not economical to drive to Alexandria with the carbon tax. Tip fees at RRT have been dropped and it is possible that they will be even lower with the GRE contract in place. Commissioner Gagliardi hopes the contracts will be in place by October 1. Commissioner Gagliardi stated that the volume is down approximately 8 - 10% because of the economy. RRT is still removing approximately 7 - 8 tons of non-ferrous materials and approximately 12 tons of ferrous materials daily. They have been receiving less organics though. 6. Wind Turbine Ordinance Nothing has changed with regard to this. It will be brought back when there is a new draft. Staff would like input from the ECC. It is with the attorney's office now. Chair Zehringer questioned whether an agreement from neighbors (for example, 80% of neighbors within a certain radius of the lot) would need to be secured. He added that it is a safety concern from Elk River Municipal Utilities' standpoint. 7. Other Commissioner Leonard went to the National County Community Event (?) and offered a "Comprehensive Approach to Solid Waste Management" as a snapshot of what Sherburne County is doing regarding waste. She handed out the flyer they had put together. She also commented that she felt Sherburne County's system was the most comprehensive. Mayor Klinzing discussed the Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) which Sherburne County and the City of Elk River are hoping to bring to town. A building will be built for them to lease and staff. There is a requirement that this must be a stand alone building. It would be beneficial if it was a LEED certified building. A comment was made that there is land available near the commuter rail area. Mayor Klinzing commented that she feels the process needs to get started. Commissioner Leonard commented that a builder is needed. A concern of the CBOC is how much it will cost them. The decision for where to locate will come down to location and cost. The CBOC wants to lease 30,000 square feet (approximately the same size as Allina). A question was raised as to whether a consortium of builders could come together to build this building... but a comment was made about there being "too many chiefs" if this were the case. 8. The next meeting wilt be held September 16th at City Hall in the Uppertown Conference Room. The expo subcommittee will meet at 12:30 p.m. in the Uppertown Conference Room prior to the meeting. ~. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m. Minutes prepared by Nicola Blake-Bradley. 3 // `__ h l~ ina Allard %ity CL~rk vance Energy