5.2. SR 06-13-2005
Item 5.2.
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Mayor & City Council
FROM:
Stephen Rohlf, Building & Environmental Administrator
DATE:
June 13, 2005
S1(
SUBJECT:
Creation of an Energy City Commission
The City of Elk River applied to the Minnesota Environmental Initiative (MEI)
in 1996 to be a program of Energy Alley (organization under MEI). The City
was chosen from a group of communities to become Energy City and has
since developed a partnership between government and business to
promote energy efficiency and the renewable energy industry through
demonstrations and consumer education.
Recently the city was informed by MEI that Energy Alley may not exist in
the near future. This will change the Energy City's relationship with ME!.
The Action Committee for Energy (ACE) is the local committee that runs
Energy City. They discussed this at their March 23, 2005 meeting. ACE felt
that Energy City is still a very strong viable organization that is not only
making a significant contribution to the environment on energy issues, but
is also helping promote the image of the City of Elk River. Numerous major
companies focus on Elk River regarding energy issues through Energy City.
Because a tie to MEI in the future is douptful, ACE is recommending
Energy City becomes a city commission to validate its existence. City
staff currently does the majority of the work, such as sending out packets,
taking minutes, advertising events, webSite changes, etc. It makes sense
to have Energy City be a city run progrdlm. ACE is also recommending
the city seek the designation of "Energy City" through legislation or
possibly a gubernatorial designation. THis would give the City an identity
and could help with Economic Develo~ment.
ACE will be at the Council workshop meeting to discuss the opportunities
facing the City of Elk River and Energy City in the future.