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07-15-2009 ECC MINMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER ENERGY CITY COMMISSION HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL ELK RIVER, MN WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2009 Members Present: Susie Overholser, Ron Touchette, Denny Chuba, John Setala, Vance Zehringer, Jeff Vassar, Bruce Sayler, and Martin Gagliardi Members Absent: Stephen Rohlf, Mayor Stephanie Klinzing, Todd Berreman, and Scott Hagen Staff Present: Rebecca Haug, Environmental Administrator Nicola (Nicki) Blake-Bradley, Environmental Technician Others Present: Monte Niemi, First State Tire Deb Christoffer, First State Tire Ed Youngquist, Riverside Companies The regular meeting of the Energy City Commission was called to order by Chair Zehringer at 1:33 p. m. Consider July 15, 2009 ECC Agenda Several additions were made to the agenda by Environmental Administrator Haug under "Other": Proposed wind turbine ordinance, a hospital update from the Mayor, and an update on the North Star Launch from Commissioner Rohlf. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SAYLER AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TOUCHETTE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH CHANGES. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. 2. Consider Mav 20, 2009 ECC Minutes No changes were requested of the minutes. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CHUBA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SETALA TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. 3. Presentation by First State Tire -Recycled Tire Aggreaate CEO Monte Niemi presented the concept of using recycled tire aggregate (RTA) as a fill material which could be used in conjunction with stormwater attenuation, road stabilization, and geothermal systems in Minnesota. According to Mr. Niemi, only 30% of tires are able to be retreaded and reused. He stated that RTA has eight times the insulating value of soil, it provides superior drainage, is generally cheaper than soil fill materials, and doesn't wick moisture. He gave several examples of how the RTA has been used in Minnesota. RTA may be implemented at the new Spectrum High School site, which hopes to be the next Energy City Demonstration site. 4. Presentation by Bruce Sayler, Connexus _Energy -Positive Enerav Proaram Commissioner Sayler discussed a home energy report (and handed out an example) which Connexus has implemented in response to the State mandate on energy companies. The question being asked was whether consumer education makes a difference. He stated that they used 40,000 households in a test group and the same number in a control group. They studied whether three statements (sent individually) would result in behavior modification. The statements were: "Save energy and save money", "Save energy and save the environment", and "Save energy... it's the right thing to do (for citizenship). There was no drop in consumption following any of the statements. However, once they compared the customer to 100 similar household sizes, there was a 6% drop in energy usage. The household information was taken from Assessor records for comparisons and customers were told whether they were doing great, good, or below average as well as how much more energy they used in comparison to neighbors if that was the case. Many calls were received and viewed as an opportunity to have open discussion with customers on ways to save energy. Only 246 households out of 40,000 (.6%) have opted out of the program. The estimated savings from implementing this program is 6 million KWH per year. Commissioner Touchette left the meeting at 2:38 p. m. 5. 2010 Eneray Expo Update Environmental Administrator Haug discussed the latest developments with regard to the Expo. The date has been moved up to February 27th and will be a shortened day (10 a.m. - 2 p.m. as opposed to 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) It will (hopefully) be held at the EIk River High School and Polar Explorer, Will Steger will be the keynote speaker (thanks to Commissioner Setala). Mr. Steger has graciously given Energy City a 50% discount on his speaking fee. The Zabee Theater will hold approximately 600 people. It's hoped that with a more central location, prior to other expos, that there will be a better turn out than the 2009 expo. Environmental Administrator Haug will be requesting $10,000 for the ECC budget for this event. She has yet to deliver the 2009 report to the City Council. She is proposing to use leftover funds from the 2009 Expo to pay for Mr. Steger's speaking fees. She added that there will be a LOT of additional advertising for the event. Other possible changes to the event include doing a "Luscious Landfill" demonstration with kids (they create a candy landfill), having solar displays or photovoltaic examples, accounting firms to discuss tax credits, and bikes from the State Fair. There will be no bus tours due to the date and possible weather constraints. Local food establishments will be asked to provide coffee and food at their cost/benefit. No "expo bucks" will be used this year since it was a problem at the last one (exhibitors were handing them out to the public). Proiect Conserve Update -How can you help us assure Proiect Conserve is a success Chair Zehringer posed the question of how to get the community to be involved with Project Conserve. Thirty-five families are involved in the project currently and there has been a deterioration in attendance at the workshops. The third workshop was held on June 4th and 6th but wasn't well attended. The next workshops are set for September 24th and 26th. A suggestion was made to hold a meeting at a Project Conserve home to see what they have done toward the goals. Discussion followed regarding average savings. All participants are saving electricity, but there have been few water savings. One family (the Harveys) is doing an excellent job in this program. Environmental Administrator Haug is putting together a survey for the participants. Chair Zehringer asked for ideas for the "carrot" to attach value to the meetings. A suggestion was made to make each workshop "themed" to the areas that we want focused upon (i.e. make the first one centered upon electric/gas and heat/insulation if it's held in the Fall, winter on garbage, with the 2 spring centered upon water, and summer on gasoline/transportation) with "freebies" for each session specific to the topic so that participants don't get all the "carrots" at once. A comment was made that because of this being a first experience for the staff, a lot has been learned so the next set of participants will potentially benefit even more. For example, the blower door tests may need to be done at the end rather than at the beginning of the program. Environmental Administrator Haug made a presentation to the League of MN Cities because Project Conserve won an award in the area of sustainability. Environmental Technician Blake- Bradley retrieved the award from the office and passed the award around for all the commissioners' review. At the next workshop session, the participants will be asked to continue for another heating season since the blower door tests were not able to be done until midway through the heating season. District Energy Update Environmental Administrator Haug stated there isn't much to discuss. GRE is working on a grant and she's not sure if it's been submitted yet, but it's due within the next couple of days. The City sent a letter of support. Chair Zehringer and the Mayor signed the letter for the ECC and the City, respectively. GRE is having a problem with easements. The City will make an effort to assist with this. When asked if he'd heard anything about this, Commissioner Setala said that he had not heard of any developments. Commissioner Sayler questioned whether he could get a copy of the presentation. Environmental Administrator Haug stated she would get a copy to him. d. Elk River Landfill &RRT The Elk River Landfill expansion/comprehensive plan amendment and zone change request has been postponed until August 17~h. It's still in the public hearing phase. Hennepin County has pulled out of the agreement to send waste to RRT for processing. RRT (Resource Recovery Technologies) has a one year contract with GRE (Great River Energy) to continue processing waste into refuse derived fuel (RDF). GRE has offered to purchase that portion of RRT if the waste (180 tons daily) is guaranteed. Becker is against tire ash disposal. Discussion followed regarding tip fees being an issue. The tip fee covers charges paid to the burners (in this case, GRE) to use RDF. The fee paid to burn RDF is the difference between the cost of burning coal and that of RDF. Chair Zehringer commented that it doesn't sound good for a land use amendment and re-zone for the landfill. If the landfill were to expand, more methane burners could be installed which could supply approximately 30 - 35% of the energy needs of Elk River (currently methane burning is producing enough energy for approximately 12% of Elk River's needs. A reduction from 15% is due to increased demand from United Health). The Energy City Commission has not taken a stand regarding the request by the landfill. If the landfill does not get the expansion request approved, it could close as early as 2012. The City does receive a host fee which would end at closure. .~. Green Corps Intern Opportunity Americorps and the MPCA have approached green cities to see if there is interest in hosting interns which they would pay for, but the cities would give experience to for one year. Elk River was asked if interested. The City will be asking for two interns. One would work with ERMU and the ECC and the other would work with the City's recycling programs. The one working for the ECC could focus upon marketing, the Energy Expo, Project Conserve, and working with the School District. 10. Other Wind Turbine Ordinance: Planning staff is working on writing an ordinance. There is a business coming that would be interested in having a turbine. Currently, wind turbines are only allowed in the Ag zoning districts under a conditional use permit. Discussion followed regarding the turbine that GRE has in Maple Grove. A comment was made that it's under a temporary permit and GRE may have to remove the turbine at some point in the future. Potential "negatives" of wind turbines to be addressed are noise, aesthetics, and the fact that this is not a good wind regime area. Environmental Administrator Haug will get information regarding the Planning Commission/City Council to Chair Zehringer. Hospital update: Environmental Administrator Haug stated that the Mayor has informed her a Veteran's Hospital may be coming to Elk River. The Mayor would like to discuss how the ECC could help with this project. This item may be continued to the next meeting. Northstar Launch: Commissioner Rohlf was to give an update. Since he was not present, this will not be discussed. 11 The next meeting will be held August 19`" 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. Commissioner Gagliardi may not be at the next meeting. 12. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m. Minutes prepare~,by Nicola Blake-Bradley. // ~ Tina Allard City Clerk 0 Vance Zehrin r Energy City ommis ' n Chair 4