Loading...
08-16-2017 Packet Regular Meeting of the Energy City Commission AGENDA Wednesday, August 16, 2017 8:30 a.m. Elk River City Hall 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. CONSIDER AGENDA 4. CONSENT AGENDA Considered to be routine and noncontroversial by the City Council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Councilmember, staff member, or citizen so requests, in which case the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered under the regular agenda. 4.1 Minutes  May 15, 2017 5. GENERAL BUSINESS 5.1 Commission member updates including June 5 City Council Update 5.2 Climate Smart Municipalities update 5.3 University of St Thomas final report regarding Energy City branding 5.4 Electric Vehicle charging station update 5.5 GreenStep SolSmart program 5.6 Solar Picnic Table 5.7 SustainER 2017-2018 plan and guidance for the group 6. NEXT MEETING AGENDA ITEMS (November 15, 2017) 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS 7.1 Commissioner Updates 8. ADJOURNMENT This agenda is available in alternate formats upon a 72 hour advanced notice. Auxiliary aids and services are also available upon a 72 hour advanced notice. Please contact the City Clerk at 763. 635.1000 to make a request. Examples of alternate formats may include: large print, Braille, audio tape, etc. Examples of auxiliary aids may include a sign language interpreter, assistive listening device, etc. Meeting Protocol No sidebar discussions No interruptions State your concern Ensure you understand Don’t take things personally Adhere to time limits Come prepared Ensure all are heard Meeting of the Elk River Energy City Commission Held at the Elk River City Hall Wednesday, February 15, 2017 Members Present: Chair Tom Sagstetter, Vice Chair Denny Chuba, and Commissioners Jason Hoskins, Harley Hanson, Glenn Hauck, Jerry Olson, Matt Herman and Trish Curtis Members Absent: None Staff Present: Amanda Bednar, Environmental Coordinator 1. Call Meeting to Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Energy City Commission was called to order by Sagstetter at 8:30 a.m. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Sagstetter led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Consider Agenda Sagstetter added 3.1 Introductions of new staff member and Herman added item 7.2 GRE Pollinator site update 3.1 Staff introduction of Amanda Bednar, Environmental Coordinator. Bednar has been working for the city approximately two months and has settled in to her position here. She’s working to get caught up on various projects for the Energy City Commission. Moved by Curtis and seconded by Chuba to approve the May 17, 2017 Energy City Commission agenda with the addition of 3.1 and 7.2. 4. Consider Consent Agenda Moved by Curtis and seconded by Hanson to approve the consent agenda. 5.1 Updates to the 10 Year Action Plan The Commission discussed the various updates made to the 10 Year Action Plan by the visionary committee previously. Majority of the members had already seen the edits or been part of the committee to make updates. Some items were removed that were lacking involvement, measurable goals or those that didn’t meet the goals of the Commission. One concern was discussed related to language in Goal 4, D2 2 “residential organics collection” to be used rather than “curb-side” collection to ensure clarification between separate carts which are not used in the city. The group also discussed goals for increasing commercial recycling participation even though it is not required within the Action Plan or city ordinance. Moved by Hoskins and seconded by Herman to approve changes and finalized 10 Year Action Plan. It is scheduled to be presented to City Council at the June 5, 2017 meeting. 5.2 Recycle Coach Update Elk River has launched the Recycle Coach web app to help residents recycle more and recycle properly. The app provides information about their individual recycling and trash schedule, alerts them to change in service and allows them to contact ERMU directly with issues. It also includes a search function for odd items like paint, furniture and electronics. Herman and Hanson suggested created something to go out in ERMU bills with frequent problem items like propane tanks and paint that many residents don’t know how to dispose of properly. City staff will be working with them to create something for residential use. 5.3 FleetCarma Update Sagstetter provided a brief overview of the FleetCarma program which has been in use for a few months. Interesting trends to note included idling time for many city vehicles, roughly 20-40% on average. Idling may be the result of necessary electrical equipment, weather conditions or other staff protocol but is still a concern regarding energy and money wasted in idle. Some information will be updated with more detail and correct units of measure. This information will continue to be tracked and monitored to illustrate trends and highlighting areas for improvement. 5.4 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Update Sagstetter informed the Commission that work is almost complete for the 240V charging station in downtown Elk River. ERMU has an agreement with the HRA for the two parking spots. Payment for charging will be taken via Charge Point cards. Plans for signage are still in the works including a large education sign for the demonstration site. ERMU will provide 100% renewable energy for the charging stations. Sagstetter also provided information about the rebates available to residents interested in installing charging stations at home. Five residential homes are currently participating in the program. 5.5 UST Engineering Design The senior engineering design class presented their final project and were featured in a story by Kare11 for their solar powered picnic table. The Commission discussed possible funding options for the creation of the picnic table and installation of the 3 solar panels and components the group designed. Hanson will be contacting the Chamber of Commerce to discuss options for sponsorship by local businesses for the construction and will report back. 5.6 Ordinance change for ECC members Sagstetter provided a redlined version of the current city ordinance for discussion. Edits included expanding the scope of the group to include other sustainability related topics via the Energy City lens. Discussion also included allowing residents and businesses owners to apply for the Commission and expand beyond energy related businesses. The required landfill representative was removed. Edits will be finalized based on discussion and taken to City Council on June 5, 2017. Motion by Herman and seconded by Chuba to approve the edits. 5.7 New member consideration Anne Anderson of McKinstry has applied to represent ISD 728 and will be going to City Council for review. 5.8 Climate Smart Municipalities Intern Jonas Scholz Jonas is working at the waste water treatment plant for his first month with Elk River and will continue to learn about city regulations and processes moving forward. 5.9 SustainER Update Bednar met with the group twice before the summer break. The group would like to remove the required letter of recommendation for the application process to encourage more students to attend and hopefully join the group in the fall. The Commission was supportive of the change and encouraging the students to focus on projects of interest to them. 6. Next Meeting Agenda Items (August 16, 2018) 6.1 June 5 City Council update 6.2 UST Energy City Branding Discussion 7. Announcements 7.1 None 7.2 GRE Pollinator Update There was some undesirable growth over the winter which has been taken care of this spring. The site should be green in the next few weeks. There is an event scheduled for June 19 to highlight the project and provide more information about the benefits of the pollinator site. 4 7.3 Olson updated the Commission that the Energy City logo is planned to be on the way finding signage. 8. Adjournment There being no further business, motion by Herman to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Chuba. The meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m. Minutes prepared by Amanda Bednar. ___________________ ____________________ Tina Allard, City Clerk Tom Sagstetter, Chair Energy City Commission https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1jDrpRszbY&feature=youtu.be          