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05-21-2008 ECC MIN 0 MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER ENERGY CITY COMMISSION HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL ELK RIVER, MN WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2008 Members Present: Bryan Adams, Denny Chuba, Vance Zehringer, Susie Overholser, Jeff Gongoll, John Setala, Mayor Stephanie Klinzing, Brian Burandt, Maureen Griffiths for Deb Walters Members Absent: Ed Stoutenburg IV, Stephen Rohlf, Todd Berreman Others Present: Peter Gruel of SacTec Staff Present: Nicola(Nicki) Blake-Bradley, Ezwzronmental Technician Lisa Kelleher, Permit Techniciiii The regular meeting of the Energy City Commission was called to brder by Chair Zehringer at 1:35 p.m. 6,. 1. Approve May 21,2008 ECC Agenda • Environmental Technician Blake-Bradley added other items to the agenda, Voss Lighting and Federal Trademark Update. Commissioners Gongoll and Burand added to the other item as well. MOTION BY MAYOR KLINZING AND SECOND BY CHAIR ZEHRINGER TO APPROVE AGENDA W11 3 HANGES. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED. yr shy 2. Consider April 9,2008 ECC Minutes MOTION BY COMMI NER GflNGOLL AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SETALA TO APPROVEIHE MIN` iT/RS 4S SUBMITTED WITH NO CHANGES. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED 3. Presentation by Peter Gruel of SacTec Dr. Peter Gruel was present to dis6uss the Mcgyan process, which is able to use all available lipid(fatty) feedstocks to create biodiesel. Dr. Gruel discussed the chemical reaction as well as the technology behind the process and stated that the catalyst (metal oxides) is the key to the process. This system is water independent and nearly waste free! Ninety percent of the cost for production is in feedstock with the remaining ten percent in production. A 2,000 square foot facility can produce three million gallons of biodiesel per year. Utilities are very interested in this technology due to possible carbon sequestration in algae (which has a high fatty acid content... making it ideal as a feedstock). 4. Energy Expo Follow Up Discussion • Many people attended the exhibits and children's shows again. Environmental Technician Blake-Bradley informed us of the tours that were held at the Expo. The RDF Plant had a total of 37 people who toured and the Landfill had a total of 51 who took that tour. GRE's tour had to be canceled due to a turbine being down for maintenance. The Spectrum High School contests were well attended and Spectrum would likely be interested in continuing their Energy City Commission Minutes Page 2 May 21,2008 interaction with Energy City (and the Expo). Chair Zehringer asked the commission for • feedback and if we should plan for next year to do Energy Expo number three. Commissioner Gongoll commented that perhaps the presentation and planning materials could be incorporated into the static booths. He felt having the displays all in one area was a success, however, it was a bit cramped and hard to get around when many people were in attendance. A comment was made that the lunch area was very cramped. Mayor Klinzing recommended the next Energy Expo be held at the new YMCA. A question was raised as to whether there is a location large enough to hold all the exhibitors. The YMCA has a gymnasium which would possibly work as long as a floor mat is put down. Chair Zehringer stated that getting a count of how many actually attend the Expo is something we need to work:on trying to achieve. MOTION BY MAYOR KLINZING AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SECONDED BY COMMISSIONERS GRIFFITHS AND CHUBA TO HOLD ,:l' _NEXT ENERGY EXPO AT THE NEW YMCA IF POSSIBLE. ALL IN FAVOR MOTION:CARRIED. Project Conserve was discussed. Two people signed up as interested lvac Klinzing questioned what the participants get as an incentive to participate. Chair ZVew ger responded that an energy audit and CFL's would be distributed as well as open channels communication. More advertising and effort needs to be put into getting the word out since no one attended the presentation at the expo. Perhaps the paper would do a story on that. Commissioner Adams commented that the small group (subcommittee) needs to do some "homework". 11)MOTION BY MAYOR KLINZING AND SECN.D.13Y COMMISSIONER ADAMS TO RECONVENE THE ORIGINAL SUBCOMMITTEE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PROJECT CONSERVE. ALL IN FAVOR.MdTION CAT RIED. Chair Zehringer invited anyone who is interested to be part of the subcommittee. 5. Energy House IV Discussion Chair Zehrngnounced that the builder for the next energy house had backed out CompitIssioner Cl said he may consider building an Energy House and needs to discuss this' ith his partner before he makes a decision. Questions he raised would be how long it vvoi be a demonstratiosite and where it would be located. A comment was made that locationijame a"non-issue"regarding the Energy House III. (Commissioner Chuba interjected'Oomment thane SNBA is back in action). Mayor Klinzing questioned using the Pinewood lots by the golfourse which are owned by the City. Chair Zehringer requested that It the Mayor cheek*?those lots and discuss that at the next meeting. Mayor Klinzing stated F S that she would look fo the topic. Discussion of an Energy House development followed as well as thoughts or townhouses. Commissioner Chuba commented that salability increases in ten years if energy costs are down for townhouses. He discussed the importance of energy conservation for the elderly. 6. LED Lighting Update Chair Zehringer noted that an LED street light has been installed on the Elk River bridge (on • Mississippi Road) and encouraged commissioners to take a look at it and provide feedback to ERMU(or the Commission). He also discussed Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) and showed a brief video from the internet(ecogeek.org)regarding the potential. He Energy City Commission Minutes Page 3 May 21,2008 . recommended that people interested in the technology look up electronics.howstuffworks.com/OLED. 7. Other Environmental Technician Blake-Bradley informed the commission that Voss Lighting is hosting the Philips Lighting Road Show"Lighting, Legislation, Going Green& What It Means To Me" on June 3r in Roseville. There are two sessions available. The first session is from 8:00— 11:30 and covers "Advanced Lighting". The second is from 11•30—3:30 and covers "Lighting 101" (CRI,Kelvin, Return on Investment and Understanding lamp types, application, and function). RSVP deadline is May 27th. There is room to attend if anyone is interested. Chair Zehringer expressed interest and Commissioner Adams stated he may attend as well. Environmental Technician Blake-Bradley informed the commission that the Federal Trademark has been received and showed the commissioners the actual trademark document. Two other filings have to be made now The first is within the fifth to sixth year(deadline April 22, 2014) that the trademark is continually being used and the second is within the ninth to tenth year(deadline April 22, 2018) for renrraland use The registration mark(the R inside a circle) can be placed on our trademark nowt Discusior followed regarding whether the ECC should pay for international trademark infriri ern. nt monitoring, which staff recommended against. Commissioner Overholser commence that if someone tries to trademark the symbol, whether it's international or not, thOowner will be informed. General consensus was to refrain from incurring that cost. a> Commissioners Gongoll and Burandt verbally tendered their resignation from the Energy City Commission. Commissiot Gongoll has accepted a position with the City of Elk River so he will continue to be active with Energy City, but not as a voting member. Commissioner Burandt has accepted a position,with another firm and will be leaving Connexus Energy. Chair Zehringer questioned whether dOnnexus will continue being a partner and send another representative. Commis' er$ dt was uncertain but hopeful. Both commissioners were thanked for their service awl will be mr4d has voting members). 8. Schedule Next ECC Meeting a Identify Agenda Items The next ECC meeting will be held{at Elk River City Hall on Wednesday June 18, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. in the Uppertown Confefence Room. Agenda items will include standard agenda, minutes, and Energy House IV Discussion. 9. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 3:15pm Respectfuly submitted by: • Lisa Kelleher and Nicki Blake-Bradley