11-21-2007 ECC MIN • SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER
ENERGY CITY COMMISSION
HELD AT CONNEXUS ENERGY
RAMSEY,MN
WEDNESDAY,NOVEMBER 21,2007
Members Present: Ed Stoutenburg IV,Commissioner Rachel Leonard,Sharon Kampa,Dennis Chuba,
Mayor Stephanie Klinzing,Todd Berreman,Chair Vance Zehringer,Brian Burandt,
Bryan Adams,
Members Absent: Susie Overholser,Maureen Griffiths,Deb Walters,Greg Padden,Stephen Rohlf, Jeff
Gongoll,and Alternate Arne Engstrom
Staff Present: Rebecca Haug,Environmental Administrator
Nicola(Nicki) Blake-Bradley,Enviror f Technician
Others Present: Tom Newman,MPCA Site Rem4 ion ,
The special meeting of the Energy City Commission(ECC)W''''',4eilled to order at 1:34 p.m. by Chair Vance
Zehringer.
1. Consider November 21,2007 ECC Agenda .. .
The agenda was approved as presented since no items could be addea condition of a special
• meeting).
2. Consider October 17 2�(' ECC Minutes
MOTION BY OR KkG AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LEONARD TO
APPROVE TRWNU 1'ES�'�=PRESENTED.ALL IN FAVOR.MOTION CARRIED.
s
3. Energy Expo Updat�4y
Environmental Admires HrRebecca gsaire an update (which was reflected in the staff memo
in the packet).There will b 14ceynote speaker due to availability and cost of bringing in people with
name recognition.The only co i �sioner present that disliked not having a keynote was Chair
Zehringer.The other commissio agreed that this year was cost prohibitive for a keynote.The
focus will be on Spectrum High Sc of students with the 11th grade students participating in an
"Energy Innovations"Science Fair. 15 submissions will be judged by the ECC commissioners.The
ninth and tenth grade students will participate in a short film competition concerning what energy
conservation means to them. Out of 90 submissions,the top 10 will be presented at the awards with
the top three receiving awards.We plan to call it the"Energy Ennies".The Lion's Club will cater for
the event.
Mayor Klinzing commented on her hope that the car dealers will participate with hybrids.
Environmental Administrator Haug stated that Elk River Ford will be present as well as the MN Corn
Growers Association. Commissioner Leonard questioned whether Amy Klobuchar would be a good
choice for a keynote. Concerns were raised regarding whether a politician should be the keynote.This
may be discussed in more detail at the December 11th subcommittee meeting.
• The only speaker presentation will be from Utilities. Commissioners Burandt,Zehringer,and
Berreman will be presenting the public with ideas for conservation and what the utilities can do for
them.Discussion followed regarding whether time should be allocated for the politicians since it is an
Energy City Commission Minutes Page 2
November 21,2007
election year.A suggestion was made to have an Energy Forum in the Fall before elections for the •
politicians to weigh in on their stance toward conservation.Mayor Klinzing volunteered to moderate
the event.
4. Commissioner Reappointments
Several commissioners have missed a lot of meetings and some have their commitments ending.
Environmental Administrator Haug stated that three unexcused absences in a row will be cause for removal
from the commission.Discussion regarding various positions occurred.Mayor Klinzing felt it is important to
have the school board member. Commissioner Leonard requested that Commissioner Engstrom be placed as
the regular commissioner and that she take the alternate role. She stated,,0*she feels it would be fair to him
since he enjoys the commission as well Commissioners Berreman an Ci ''' are nearing the end of their
commitments. Commissioner Berreman will stay on,but Commiss Ot er Kampa will be leaving.She will be
sure to recommend someone for her position. Questions were ra "F, erning the status of Commissioners
Rohlf and Padden.
A comment was made that the time of the meeting and date (3rd Wednesday - month at 1:30)may be a
bad time for the commissioners who have had a lot of absences.Environmenta , ��d�' 'strator Haug stated
that she had no complaints regarding the date and time when she questioned the c." '.n prior to going
to the City Council for approval to set it at the current date and time.
4
5. Andover Landfill Presentation
Tom Newman,from the MPCA Clos(' . Landfill program(Site Remediation) gave a presentation on
the State's closed landfill program. He . .;. cussed the installation of Sterling engines at the
Andover Landfill. g`
There are 112 permitted landfills in the Stale of I e cu, ently 21 MSW(municipal solid
waste) landfills. Mr.Newman's work mvoly .s closure's r construction activities,groundwater
pump and treat systems,erosion control, and l.m dfill gas extction.He stated the Landfill Cleanup
Act was enacted in 1994,but the active gas extr .tion was a result of(or reaction to) the Kyoto
Protocol in 1997.Demolition debris landfills are'•®t the closed landfill program.
Active gas extraction works to control landfill gas Migration,reduce greenhouse gas emission,reduce
explo .. e:.s and remove VOC's to reduce groundwater contamination.The EPA states that
75 � ti' land`s aptured.
.4t
ane is approx m _ 40%of the landfill gases emitted. It is of special concern because it has 21 —
4,"0 the heat reten:, capability of carbon dioxide.Methane emissions in the US are the
equi 000 fof 260 million;o." els of oil.
In 2006,y1St eed land I with active gas extraction removed more than 28 million pounds of
methane. Pro*i: 0. 0.1= s at landfill closure and then steadily declines. Sterling engines work on poor
quality landfill ' ; & low concentrations of methane (30 cubic feet per minute).They are quiet and
have no fuel co sression.They are also 80% efficient. Four engines were installed and started in
April,2007 at the Andover landfill.
6. Schedule next ECC Meeting
The next ECC meeting will be held on December 19,2007 at Elk River City Hall. Anyone with additions to
the agenda is asked to submit them to Rebecca as soon as possible.
7. Adjournment •
The meeting was adjourned at 2:59 p.m. to tour the Andover landfill engine room.
Respectfully submitted by,
Nicola Blake-Bradley
Environmental Technician