12-14-2005 ECC MIN MEETING OF THE ENERGY CITY COMMISSION
• DECEMBER 14,2005 ELK RIVER CITY HALL
Members Present: Rachel Leonard-Sherburne County Commissioner,Bryan Adams-
ERMU,Vance Zehringer-ERMU Consultant, Ed Stoutenburg-
NRG, Arne Hendrickson-CenterPoint Energy,Ron Bratlie-ISD
728, Deb Walters-ER Landfill, Susie Overholser-ECONAR
Energy Systems Corp.,Jeff Gongoll-ER Chamber of
Commerce/ER EDA
Members Absent: Sharon Kampa-NW Builders Association, Stephanie Klinzing,
Gary Connett-GRE
Staff Present: Heidi Steinmetz,Rebecca Haug,Mara Anderson
Others Present: Stephen Rohlf—Elk River Ford Expansion
1. Consider December 14, 2005 Agenda
Addition of by-laws discussion to Other and Chair Zehringer to give solar
presentation.
2. Consider November 16, 2005 Energy City Commission Minutes
Minutes were approved.
3. Westwood Elementary School Video and Update on Elk River East
Commissioner Bratlie played a short program that will air on PBS highlighting
the LEED certified Westwood Elementary School. He went on to say that the
school district is always looking for local products or industries to help lower the
energy cost. The East Elk River School is still an option for the Energy City
sponsored Energy Issues Conference to be held in 2006.
4. Elk River Ford Demonstration Options Discussion
Stephen Rohlf from Elk River Ford asked the Commission for ideas to make the
ERF expansion energy efficient. He offered the new space to ECC to demonstrate
the pertinent technologies. Several suggestions were made and Mr. Rohlf said he
would come back after discussing the ideas with the project architect.
5. Website Consultant Interviews
Heidi,Rebecca,and Chair Zehringer interviewed four different firms for the
redesign of the Energy City website. They will accept responses to the Request
for Proposal and update ECC at 1/17/06 meeting.
6. Incentive Programs for New Businesses
Mara researched existing financial incentives for energy efficient or renewable
resource technology and found that most of the incentives came from either the
federal or state level leaving few direct marketing tools to Local Government
Units or City Commissions. Examples of other state and city programs were
provided in the packets to give commissioners an idea of what they could possibly •
work for.
7. Energy City Designation
Since Mayor Klinzing was absent,this item was postponed until January meeting.
8. Energy Issues Conference
East Elk River is still a possible location. The commission agreed to a sub-
committee to work on targeting an audience, securing speakers, and date and
time. That sub-committee includes Commissioners Hendrickson, Gongoll,
Bratlie,Zehringer, and Mara as a staff member plus Chair Zehringer thought
Commissioner Kampa might be interested as well. The Energy Conference sub-
committee will meet January 5th at City Hall to begin the project.
9. Energy House III Update
Chair Zerhringer said the shingle installation may be completed today. The
shingles are made of recycled steel and said to last the life of the house or 100
years. Some confusion about the supply and return ventilation systems made for
scratching the original plan of the system, and a less efficient, more traditional
technology will have to suffice. ERMU will be installing the security system and
the NWSB are planning a springtime housewarming.
10. Other
Rebecca said that a clarification in the by-law would be necessary,requiring the
commission to agree to four dates that they would meet. Additional meetings
may be scheduled as the commission deems necessary, and meetings may also be
cancelled.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GONGOLL TO MEET QUARTERLY
THE 3RD WEDNESDAY OF JANUARY,APRIL,JULY,AND OCTOBER.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HENDRICKSON. MOTION PASSED.
Chair Zehringer presented the photovoltaic array demonstration at the Elk River
Landfill and determined with available rebates this technology is a reasonable
alternative. Commissioner Bratlie said he might consider solar panels on a future
project with ISD 728 for demonstration purposes if nothing else.
11. Schedule Next Energy City Commission Meeting
Next scheduled meeting is January 17, 2006, 1:00 p.m. Elk River City Hall.
12. Adjourn
Respectfully submitted,
Mara Anderson
Environmental Assistant •