02-09-2004 CC MIN - SPECIALSPECIAL MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT THE ELK RIVER HIGH SCHOOL LITTLE THEATER
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2004
~v[embers Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Also Present:
Mayor Iadinzing, Councilmembers Dietz, Kuester, Modn, and Tveite
None
Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich, Assistant
Director of Economic Development Heidi Steinmetz, Finance Director
Lori Johnson, Building and Environmental Administrator Steve Rohlf, and
City Clerk Joan Schmidt
Economic Development Authority (EDA) Members: President Gongoll
Action Committee for Energy (ACE) Members: Bill Poppert, Technology
North; Bryan Adams, Elk River Municipal Utilities; Ron Bratlie, Elk River
School District; Ed Stoutenberg, NRG; Deb Dehn, Elk River Landf'fll
Call Meeting To Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the special meeting of the Elk River City Council
was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Iadinzing.
Joint Meeting with Action Committee for Energy (ACE) and Economic Development
Authority (EDA) Regarding Elk River Energy City Program
Bill Poppert discussed the Energy City accomplishments explaining that Elk River has an
energy effxciency renewable energy industry. This is renewable energy that does not take
phosphorus fuel. Currently the utility buildings are using it and the City also has rene~vable
lights. Minnesota continues to be the leader in this industry. The Trade Association had
looked for geographic locations, and Elk River through Energy Alley, became Energy City.
Elk River has a great number of utilities in this geographical area, a long history, and the
electrification programs, had the ~-ucst power plant (which no longer exists), has the RDF
Plant, etc. This is a very live and growing industry that is also doing what is environmentally
correct.
Through a PowerPoint presentation, Bryan Adams illustrated the various activities that have
been undertaken through this program over the past seven years. This involvement has
included giving tours, showcasing GeoSource heat pumps, using RDF to produce electricity
from garbage, use of LED signal lights (MnDOT project) reducing electric consumption by
80% - 90%, gu:st to have energy homes in 1998, use of cow manure turned into electricity to
sustain 50 homes, sustainable buildings, the use of wind power for 80 homes, the use of
land£fll gas to turn into electrical source for 50 homes, the Environmental Learning Center
as an education model for other communities and educating and raising awareness of energy
efficiency in Elk River.
NLr. Poppert stated that there is no city the same size of Elk River that has this 'kind of
technology and that Elk River is years ahead of other cities. Mr. Jacobs stated that we use
City Comxcil Minutes Page 2
February 9, 2004
fuel cells through Cymbet's battery technology that will be very important and in demand in
a fe~v years.
Mayor [Clinzing stated that ACE is a ~vay to market the City, and that Russian engineers had
come to visit and form partnerships. She stated this is a way in which the government,
businesses, and environment have all pulled together. She stated that she ~vanted the EDA
to know that the Energy City is here and happy to participate.
3. Adjournment
The special meeting of the City Council adjourned at 6:58 p.m.
joan 5chrmdt
City Clerk