09-19-2012 ECC MIN • MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER
ENERGY CITIY COMMISSION
HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012
Members Present: Chair Setala,Commissioners Dennis Chuba,Bruce Sayler,Ryan Setterholm,
Tim Steinbeck,Matt Westgaard and Vance Zehringer
Members Absent: Scott Hagen,Stephen Rohlf,Tim Rybak
Staff Present: Environmental Administrator Rebecca Haug,Assistant Director of
Economic Development Clay Wilfahrt,Environmental Assistant Rachel
King,ERMU Representatives Tom Sagsetter,Troy Adams,Recording
Secretary Lisa Kelleher
1. Call Meeting To Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Energy City
Commission was called to order at 8:37a.m. by Chair Setala.
2. Consider September 19,2012,Energy City Commission Agenda
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER WESTGAAARD AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER STEINBECK TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
3. Minutes
• MOVED BY COMMISSIONER WESTGAARD AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER CHUBA TO APPROVE THE JUNE 20,2012 MINUTES WITH
THE CHANGE OF COMMISSIONER RYBAK ARRIVING AT 9:26 A.M.
INSTEAD OF COMMISSIONER SETTERHOLM. MOTION CARRIED .
4.1 Guest Speaker—Daryl Stang—operates the St. Cloud Hydro Dam
The St. Cloud Hydro Dam went online June 1988. The dam only employees 2 full-time
employees and 1 part-time. It takes very little staff to make the dam run. The average
output is 48 million kilowatts per year. The dam is owned by the city and it generates up to
$2.5 million of revenue per year. The plant gets heated by the generators used for running
the dam. The original cost to build this plant back in 1988 was $21 million. All the cleaning
and maintaining of the dam is done by staff. Over the past 20 years,there has been little
wear on the turbines. Major maintenance includes cleaning out the trash racks in spring and
fall. All of the equipment was custom built. Every 5 years the equipment is thoroughly
inspected but there have been no issues in the past 20 years. It is anticipated that the
equipment will last 50 years before needing a major overhaul. There are 55 gates across the
top of the dam. In the winter,ice causes problems as the hinges rust out and the gates fall
off. This is the 6th Hydro Plant on the river. The City budgets $400,000/year with a
majority of that going for insurance and licensing as the operating costs are about 1/3 of the
budget. In the beginning flushing was done with river water,it was determined that the river
water was causing the seals to deteriorate in 3 years so they switched to using city water and
now seals last 13 years. Mr. Stang worked with a local company to make the seals and now
pays $3,000 versus having them shipped from Germany. This has saved the City a lot of
money.
• The dam is licensed through FERC. There are different requirements for each site and the
requirements are dependent upon how many people are below the dam. They are also
Energy City Commission Minutes Page 2
September 19,2012
licensed through the DNR but not through the ACOE. A diver comes every year to inspect •
trash racks and sediment build up. It has taken the city 25 years to pay off the loans for the
$21 million investment in the plant. The city is currently working on a new contract as the
existing one through Xcel is about to expire. The City also receives an Energy Credit of
$50,000 and they are not interested in selling the plant.
4.2 Energy City Budget Updates
Commissioner Haug explained the cost savings in the proposed 2013 budget. A lot of the
savings comes from not having the Energy Expo and some savings from not having to print
out packets. Commissioner Westgaard explained that the council seems to be more
supportive of the Energy City efforts.
4.3 Energy Awareness Week Discussion
Staff informed the Commission that they have been working on a proclamation declaring the
month of October as "Energy Awareness Month". The main event for this will be the 10
year Anniversary Celebration of the Landfill Gas to Electric Project at the Environmental
Learning Center at the Elk River Landfill. Ms.King discussed the idea of having a poster
contest for residents and that the winning poster would be displayed on the Big Belly
Garbage and Recycling Containers. Commissioner Steinbeck made a recommendation to
put an ad in the paper so others are aware of the Energy Awareness month. Ms. King
showed an example of the poster she had put together for Energy Awareness Month. An
idea for the logo for the poster contest is "You have the Power".
4.4 Demonstration Criteria Discussion
Commissioner Haug asked for ideas for the Demonstration Criteria,refocusing on what
makes a demo site for the city. Commissioner Setterholm gave the idea of pointing out •
interesting things on the website so that people will see them and be interested. There was
discussion about having energy producing and energy conserving demonstrations. There
was also discussion about having different involvement levels as to whether the site would
be open for physical or virtual tours. Staff will work on a standardized template. Years will
also be added to the demonstrations so the public will know that for example in 2009, this
site showed the leading edge technology for something. There was also discussion about
what new and different things the commission would like to see added.
4.5 Energy City Website
Commissioner Wilfahrt explained the website is in the process of finishing the design
content. Commissioner Setala recommended that we highlight a resident for what they have
been doing for energy city.
4.6 Project Conserve Phase IV Discussion
The final meetings for Phase III were scheduled for September 18,20 and 22. The results
are a little discouraging. The highest water saver was $16. Phase IV applications are
available and were sent out to customers who qualify for assistance.
4.7 Energy City Business Education Event
Staff reported that the August event had to be canceled and the next event is scheduled for
October 24th,2012 at the Elk River library. The event will target restaurants and be titled
Fats, Oils,and Grease. A speaker from a grease recycler will be coming for this event.
4.8 Cancel October 17.2012 Meeting or Reschedule
The October meeting will be canceled. Next meeting will be the regular scheduled meeting •
on November 21,2012.
Energy City Commission Minutes Page 3
September 19,2012
• 5. Other
Commissioner Chuba mentioned the Little Solar House display at their office and that it is
available as a demonstration and would be good to use as part of Energy Awareness Month.
6. Schedule Next ECC Meeting and Identify Agenda Items
The next meeting will be held November 21,2012 at the Elk River City Hall in the Upper
Town Conference Room at 8:30 a.m. Items for the agenda include:
• Approval of the August 15,2012 Minutes
• Approval of the September 19,2012 Minutes
• Recap on Energy Awareness Month
• Business Event
• Website
8. Adjournment
There being no further business,Chair Setterholm adjourned the meeting of the Elk River
City Council at 10:30 a.m.
Minutes Prepared by Lisa Kelleher.
I ,`
ohn Setal., Chair
Tina Allard,City Clerk
•