01-18-2012 ECC MIN MEETING MINUTES OF THE ELK RIVER
ENERGY CITY COMMISSION
HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL
• ELK RIVER, MN
WEDNESDAY,January 18, 2012
Members Present: John Setala,Ryan Setterholm,Tim Steinbeck, Scott Hagen,Vance Zehringer, and Tim
Rybak, Matt Westgaard, Stephen Rohlf, and Bruce Sayler
Members Absent: Dennis Chuba
Staff Present: Rebecca Haug, Environmental Administrator
Rachel King, Environmental Intern
Clay Wilfahrt, Economic Development Assistant
Annie Deckert, Economic Development Director
Others Present: Tom Sagstetter,Elk River Municipal Utilities
Mark Rathbun, Great River Energy
1. Call Meeting to Order
Chair Zehringer called the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m. and welcomed Rachel King,Environmental Intern and
Mark Rathbun, GRE facilitator and then there were introductions of the commissioners.
2. Consider January 18. 2012 ECC Agenda
• MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SAYLER AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SETALA TO
APPROVE THE AGENDA AS SUBMITTED.ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
3. Consider December 21, 2011 Minutes
MOTION BY COMMSSIONER STEINBECK AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SETTERHOLM
TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 21, 2011 MINUTES WITH CHANGES MADE BY CHAIR
ZEHRINGER. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
4. SWOT ANALYSIS
Mark Rathbun, GRE facilitator discussed the ground rules and the meeting objectives. The ECC then did an
ice breaker in which each person explained how the current non-winter has affected them. Ms. Haug then
requested that the ECC review the mission, vision and goals with tasks hand-out to discuss possible revisions
and updates. Commissioner Rohlf then discussed how the mission was lacking information regarding energy
technologies making economic sense. The Commission then discussed changing the mission to the purpose
from the City Code. The Commission then broke into four different groups where they focused on strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the Energy City program. The groups then joined together to look at
each focus and determine key elements of each. The key elements from the SWOT were:
Strengths:
• Commission lead by dedicated and knowledgeable personnel
• Elk River is a recognized leader through Energy City
• • Project Conserve,Energy Expo,Awards
• Environmental Learning Center
• Cross-section of demos
• Good public/private partnerships
Page 2
Energy City Commission Minutes
January 18,2012
• EDA tools (micro loans, etc.) •
Weaknesses:
• Clarity of purpose
o What is our focus? (define value to community)
• Visibility/promotion- single communication person
• Lack of SMART goals and accountability
• Relationship and partnership w/council, school, community organizations
• Communication between departments, CC,businesses, residents
• Diversify ECC (more residents, non-energy related businesses)
• Lack of unanimous support from City Council
Opportunities:
• Develop resource mgmt. education/resources
o Schools
o Businesses
o Residential
o EDA
• Increase project conserve participants
• Improve/expand partnerships to leverage shared resources,identify funding opp's
• Increase awareness of ECC through reports,links,case studies that educate and other can use
o Different medias •
• Website
• Video (YouTube)
• Utilization of"Powered by Nature"
Threats:
• Funding/economics
• Focus (broad vs. narrow)
• City's brand
• Leadership
• Competition
Parking Lot of Ideas:
• "PACE" (Property, assessed, clean, energy) financing/bonding
• CERTS (clean energy resource teams) leverage funding and expertise in regional areas
The Commissioners were asked to think about this information and bring back ideas of ways to refine and prioritize
at the February meeting.
5. Other
No other topics were discussed. •
6. Schedule Next ECC Meeting and Identify Agenda Items
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Energy City Commission Minutes
January 18,2012
The next meeting will be held February 15, 2012 at the Elk River City Hall in the Upper Town Conference
• Room from 8:30 a.m. —noon. Items for the agenda include:
• Approval of January 18, 2012 Minutes
• SWOT Analysis Continuation
Elections for officers will be held in March.
7. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Rebecca Haug
L-7/ OF
Tina Allard
City Clerk
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Vance Zehring -
Energy City Commission Chair
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