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03-21-2012 ECC MIN MEETING MINUTES OF THE ELK RIVER ENERGY CITY COMMISSION HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL • ELK RIVER, MN WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012 Members Present: Vance Zehringer,Tim Steinbeck,Tim Rybak, Dennis Chuba, Ryan Setterholm, Scott Hagen, and Stephen Rohlf Members Absent: John Setala and Bruce Sayler Staff Present: Rebecca Haug, Environmental Administrator Rachel King, Environmental Intern Clay Wilfahrt, Economic Development Assistant Tim Simon, Finance Director Mark Thompson, Streets Superintendent Justin Femrite,City Engineer Others Present: Tom Sagstetter, Elk River Municipal Utilities Pam Anderson, 292 Group I. Call Meeting to Order Chair Zehringer called the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m. IA. Oath of Office • Chair Zehringer administered the Oath of Office to Commissioners Chuba, Hagen&Rohif. 2. Election of Officers Chair Zehringer indicated that he no longer wished to be Chair of the Energy City Commission and suggested the Commission elect Vice Chair Setala as the Chair as they had spoken about this. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CHUBA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ROHLF TO APPOINT VICE CHAIR SETALA AS CHAIR OF THE ENERGY CITY COMMISSION. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZEHRINGER TO APPOINT COMMISSIONER SETTERHOLM AS VICE CHAIR OF THE ENERGY CITY COMMISSION. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. 3. Consider March 21. 2012 ECC Agenda A request was made to add two items under"other": Elk River Clean Up and Books for Earth Drive were added as 6a and 6b. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STEINBECK AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CHUBA TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. 4. Consider January 18. 2012 and February 15. 2012 Minutes • MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ROHLF AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CHUBA TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 18, 2012 AND FEBRUARY 15,2012 MINUTES WITH CHANGES MADE BY COMMISSIONER ZEHRINGER.ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. Page 2 Energy City Commission Minutes March 21,2012 5.1. Presentation by Pam Anderson, 292 Design Group III Ms.Anderson discussed the energy-efficient systems designed for the City's Public Works facility. She indicated that due to some budget constraints, some of the heating and cooling options that had been discussed early on were not feasible. Ms. Anderson handed out a flyer indicating all of the efficient standards for the lighting, HVAC System and other systems. Questions were raised as to why the building is going to be LEED certified. Ms.Anderson stated that the expense and process were not feasible. Question was also asked why a white roof is not being installed. Ms.Anderson stated they have not realized any savings with those. It was indicated that Metal Craft has seen savings. Ms.Anderson also went through some of the non-energy components being utilized such as reusing concrete and asphalt as well as rain gardens and Stormwater infiltration. The site will also be planting natives and not irrigating. Commissioner Hagen asked if any renewables were being used and Ms.Anderson indicated no. 5.2. SWOT Commissioner Zehringer asked that demonstrations be added as a weakness. Commissioner Rohlf indicated that protocol for demonstrations needs to be developed. There was discussion on how MEI and Energy Alley helped in sending people to Elk River and helped with marketing demonstrations and how the ECC needs to figure out how to do this again. It was suggested that hand-out be prepared for each demonstration and the features found at each. Commissioner Zehringer indicated that he typically conducts the Energy City tours but there will need to be others capable to doing them. Mr. Sagstetter indicated that for 2012-2013 ERMU has only budgeted for 50 audits since there are unknowns ill regards to staffing and City budgets. Currently, Project Conserve is the dominate demonstrations. 5.2 a. Mission Statement Discussion followed on the Mission Statement related to the wording of energy or resource efficiency since ECC has expanded beyond natural gas and electric. Commissioner Rybak indicated that this needs to be more of an Economic Development Tool to attract,retain and revamp the program by showing how unique this is to Elk River. Mr. Wilfarht indicated that they do discuss rebates and hand out marketing tools when they meet with potential businesses as well as when they are on BRE visits. Discussion followed about additional ways to work with the Economic Development staff. Vice Chair Setterholm suggested focusing on the website and telling more stories about the projects. Ms. King suggested putting the quarterly newsletters that are going out to the Project Conserve participants on the website and developing one for businesses. Both Commissioner Rohlf and Zehringer indicated that the ECC has not done a good job documenting what's been done and who's toured the City. There was also discussion about the school district not telling the ECC about some of their energy efficient projects for ECC to be discussing. It was determined that more stories need to be told about Energy City and that the Commission needs to think outside the box. 5.2b & c. Speaker Guidelines & Standard ECC presentation & Marketing Plan These items were tabled to the April meeting. 5.3 Project Conserve Update III Staff gave a quick summary on the status of Project Conserve. Page 3 Energy City Commission Minutes March 21,2012 5.4 Business & Energy Expo IIIStaff reminded the Commission of the Business &Energy Expo on Sunday,March 25, 2012 and asked for volunteers to help. 5.5 Energy Related Company Directory This item was tabled to the April meeting. 6. Other Staff handed out a flyer showing the items and prices for the upcoming Clean Up Event at Great River Energy (GRE) as well as the information about the Books for Earth event at Great River Energy. 7. Schedule Next ECC Meeting and Identify Agenda Items The next meeting will be held April 18, 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 March 21, 2012 Minutes • SWOT Analysis Continuation—2012 Plan • Develop guidelines for speakers • Develop standard presentation on Energy City for Unified message • Develop marketing plan for Energy City staff • Recap of the Business & Energy Expo • 8. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 a.m. Minutes prepared by Rebecca Haug (--/---1.---/ CZ Tina Allard City Clerk / /. rj, mr v ;Ian Setterholm Energy City Commission Vice Chair III