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10-20-2010 ECC MINMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER ENERGY CITY COMMISSION HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL ELK RIVER, MN WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2010 Members Present: Tim Steinbeck, Mayor Stephanie Klinzing, Ron Touchette, Stephen Rohtf, John Setala, Vance Zehringer, Denny Chuba Members Absent: Susie Overholser, Scott Hagen, and Bruce Sayler Staff Present: Rebecca Haug, Environmental Administrator Nicola Blake-Bradley, Environmental Technician Annie Deckert, Economic Development Assistant Ross Pomeroy, GreenCorps, City of Elk River Others Present: Ryan Setterholm, Center Point Energy Rachel Leonard, Sherburne County Commissioner Call Meeting to Order The regular meeting of the Energy City Commission was called to order by Chair Zehringer at 1:33 o.m. Consider October 20. 2010 ECC Agenda A request was made by Economic Development Asssistant Deckert to move agenda item numbers 8 & 9 to be discussed immediately following the minutes. Environmental Technician Blake-Bradley requested the addition of Other items Bright Ideas Update and Chair Zehringer requested the addition of an Energy City Tour Update. MOTION BY MAYOR KLINZING AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CHUBA TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH CHANGES. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. 3. Consider September 15. 2010 ECC Minutes Before discussing the September minutes, Environmental Technician Blake-Bradley requested that the Commission approve changes to previously approved minutes of March and May, 2010 in which Rachel Leonard was listed as a commissioner inadvertently. Her commission expired on February 28, 2010 so she should be listed under "Others Present". MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STEINBECK AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SETALA TO APPROVE THE MINUTES WITH STATED CHANGES. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. Discussion of September 15, 2010 minutes followed. Economic Development Assistant Deckert requested a change to item number 6. The correction is that the speaker's name was Kerry Nichols rather than Kelly Nichols. Rachel Leonard's name will also be taken off the minutes as she was not present and is not a current commissioner for the Energy City Commission. Discussion turned to getting Rachel a new application to the commission and Commissioner Rohlfs position since he is no longer on the Chamber Board. Commissioner Rohlf may still represent the Chamber with the approval from the Chamber. Both were encouraged to remain as commissioners in the future. MOTION BY MAYOR KLINZING AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ROHLF TO APPROVE THE MINUTES WITH STATED CHANGES. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. 8. Enercty City High Fives Energy City High Fives is a new recognition program developed by the Economic Development Authority and Energy City Commission for businesses that participate in events such as Business Recycling Program events, Energy Expo, etc. Environmental Administrator Haug stated that we're working on enhancing the program with different levels of High Fives for recognition. The High Five will be able to be displayed and will give attention to sustainability and likely increase sales, etc. Annie Deckert, Economic Development Assistant has developed the High Fives for Energy City. Commissioner Rohlf commented that the more businesses with the High Fives displayed will get the word out. That is the ultimate goal. Ross Pomeroy, Greencorps member, was introduced by Environmental Administrator Haug to the commission. Each commissioner introduced him or herself to Ross and welcomed him to Energy City. 9. Website Update Economic Development Assistant Deckert announced she is working with Ross to update the Energy City website to make it less busy, easier to navigate, adding the Energy City High Fives, and including more information on the business and technical assistance. The EDA also did a business finance tool kit and added an insert for Energy City outlining the free design and technical assistance. It will be used during meetings with prospects and business retention and expansion visits. The EDA will be exhibiting at the MN CAR (Minnesota Association of Realtors) expo on October 27th and will be highlighting the tech assistance. The expo is typically attended by 600 - 700 people. 4. Enernv Exao Update Environmental Administrator Haug informed the commission that we're waiting on final confirmation of keynote speaker Ron Schara (and his dog, Raven). The Subcommittee had agreed to spend between $1500 - $2500. If Ron Schara declines, staff will approach Sven Sundgaard or Don Shelby. Exhibitor and sponsorship letters will be sent soon. Staff is hoping to work with the Area Arts Alliance & River's Edge for the recycled materials art contest to showcase the entries and increase traffic downtown. Staff sent "Save the Date" postcards and heard from some vendors already. BOB FM gave an excellent deal on advertising. One change to exhibitors is that existing exhibitors can get a 10% discount for recruiting a new exhibitor to the event. We're hoping to have a Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf (all electric vehicles) to show. Also, staff is working closely with ECFE to focus upon children and families more. Chair Zehringer commented that it would be nice to have the company that converted the GRE Prius to electric. Commissioner Steinbeck may get the contact information to staff to invite. 5. Proiect Conserve Phase II Update The first orientation meetings have been held on how to save electricity. The next meetings will be held October 30tH (9- 17 a.m.) November 15t (3-5 p.m.) and November 4m (s:so-s:so a.m.) The focus for the second meeting will be energy auditing and winterizing the home. The meetings will be held at the High School Little Theater on the 30tH and the 4tH. All commissioners are invited to attend. So far, 306 households are participating. Chair Zehringer discussed SOPR -Save Our Precious Resources teams. Mini groups set up to compete against one another for the most conservation and savings. The teams consist of three team members and a coach. The winning team (4 families) will get a trip to a Minnesota resort for a weekend from ERMU as an incentive to participate and recruit. It's not too late to sign up. Meetings are being made available on DVD or online. They can be checked out to be watched. Key words are placed throughout the program for those getting "credit" by watching rather than attending. The cost of the audits is reduced by program attendance or watching the DVD or online. A make-up session will be held as well, next Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at City Hall. 6. Business Recvcling Event Ross informed the commission that the City of Elk River held an event at Great River Energy on September 30tH from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. to launch the new Business Recycling Program. Approximately 25 people attended to hear local business owner, Jack Mowry (Metalcraft) speak as well as Kerry Nichols (Communication Systems, Inc) from Minnetonka on green initiatives they have implemented in their businesses saving them tens of thousands of dollars. Metalcraft received $90,000 in rebates for the new building (the bulk in the HVAC system). It was received positively. Utilities also presented the programs they have available. Staff hopes to offer events quarterly with the next one being at the end of January. A survey will be sent to attendees. The Star News had a nice article on it. 7. Green Step Cities Ross reported that Green Step Cities is a program through the MPCA which is just starting up. They had a pilot project last year with five cities incorporating up to 28 Best Management Practices (BMPs) with many different actions under each BMP. For cities that accomplish BMP practices toward sustainability, they will receive recognition through the program and League of MN Cities. The MPCA is looking for partners to be able to give grants and awards to the participants. The program was based off of Elk River so Ross was encouraged to get Elk River in the program. The City Council has passed a resolution to become a Green Step City. There are different levels of status so Elk River may be at the top level once the paperwork is submitted (after the meeting). Commissioner Touchette asked how many are in the program. Five are in it already with 20 more entering. Elk River may jump to the lead once the documentation is taken care of. 10.Coal Creek Station Presentation Chair Zehringer recently toured the Coal Creek Station in Underwood, ND. He put together a slide show presentation discussed details of the station which burns lignite coal for energy which is sent via direct current so that fewer conductors and towers are needed and the percentage of line loss is lowered. Commissioner Steinbeck added information as the presentation progressed regarding efficiency, ethanol production at the site, and wind energy capacity, etc. 11.ERMU Programs for Businesses Chair Zehringer discussed the commercial rebates offered by ERMU. He stated the largest change is that ERMU is footing the entire "bill" for the rebate program. GRE is no longer able to offer the program. There are forms for each aspect of the program (i.e. LED lighting, etc.). The lighting rebates may reduce the cost of the lights to .35/watt. With the CIP program, the rebates still need to be reported, but the difference is now that the Utility must conserve 1.5% per year to 2050. 11a. Bright Ideas Update Environmental Technician Blake-Bradley informed the commission that Project Conserve was nominated for an Innovations in Government Award through the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School. There were 600 applicants from around the country. Although Project Conserve did not progress to the semi-final round of selections, it was chosen as one of 173 Bright Ideas from 43 states and the District of Columbia. Project Conserve was one of four projects in Minnesota chosen as a Bright Idea. Bright Ideas are showcased on an online marketplace of ideas and examples of government innovation so that others may learn from and incorporate appealing practices in their own communities. The Ash Center envisions that Bright Ideas projects have the potential to become future Innovations in American Government Winners. 11b. Energy City Tour Chair Zehringer discussed an upcoming Energy City tour to be held on October 21st. It will be a small group with representatives from all over, including countries such as Argentina and Egypt. The tour is scheduled from 10 - 4 and will include the wind turbine, Environmental Learning Center, Haubenschild Farm, and GRE's resource recovery facility and generation plant. Ross will accompany Vance for the tour. 12. Schedule Next ECC Meeting and Identify Agenda Items The next meeting will be held November 17, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at the Elk River City Hall in the Uppertown Conference Room. Items for the agenda include discussion of Membership for the Chamber of Commerce (Commissioner Rohlf), Rachel Leonard, and Ryan Setterholm. Project Conserve, Energy Expo, Green Step Cities, City Building upgrades, and an Energy Policy. 13. Adjournment Barring no further topics for discussion, Chair Zehringer adjourned the meeting at 2:38 p.m. Minutes pre ed by Nicki -Bradley. Tina Allard City Clerk s ~/12Lc- / Vance Zehrin r Energy City ommissi n Chair 4