Loading...
4.1 ECC DRAFT MINUTES 05-19-2021Meeting of the Elk River Energy City Commission Held at the Elk River City Hall virtual Zoom meeting Wednesday, February 17, 2021 Members Present: Chair Tom Sagstetter, CommissionersAaron Brixius, Trish Curtis, Becky Herbert, Vern Iverson, Alec Plaisted, Tim Steinbeck and Jennifer Wagner Members Absent: Commissioners Henry Griner and Harley Hanson Staff Present: Amanda Erickson, Environmental Coordinator & Colleen Eddy, Economic Development Specialist Others Present: Casey Mahon & Travis Leigh (Commission members beginning in March 2021) Mike Kavanaugh (Elk River Landfill District Manager, possible Chamber Commission member) Debbi Rydberg (Elk River Chamber of Commerce) 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 Chair Sagstetter at 8:02 a.m. via virtual meeting. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Chair Sagstetter led the Pledge of Allegiance virtually. 3. Consider Agenda No changes were made to the agenda and it was approved, motion by Commissioner Steinbeck, second by Commissioner Herbert. 4. Consider Minutes Consider minutes from the November 18, 2020 meetings. Minutes approved, motion by Commissioner Curtis, second by Commissioner Herbert. 5.1 Member updates/introductions City Council recently appointed two new members to the Energy City Commission, who will both begin their terms in March 2021. They observed the meeting and introduced themselves to the other commission members. Travis Leigh will be a residential commission member and is a new resident to Elk River. Commissioner Leigh works in the Information Technology field and looking to get more involved with the city. Casey Mahonis the commission’s other new residential member. Commissioner Mahon has lived in Elk River for over 12 yearsand is retired from public education and specifically public relations. He had applied for a different commission but agreed to serve on Energy City and the council felt he would be a good fit. The commission members and others in the meeting introduced themselves briefly as well. 5.2 Council update from February 16 meeting Commissioners Curtis, Herbert, Steinbeck andSagstetter were present at the City Council work session on February 16 to provide an update to Council about priorities and accomplishments of the Commissionand to get feedback from the council about their priorities for the commission. Historically, the Energy City Commission started with the Energy City designation and focus on residential programs and education specific to energy conservation. The commission and mission have since transitioned to include sustainability in a broader sense, which includes solar, electric vehicles, social cost of carbonand more. The goal in discussing the social cost of carbon was to educate our city leaders about what it is and what its purpose could be in decision making. This would provide value for carbon reduction activities and could include renewable energy, greenhouse gas reduction goals and other outcomes. This would allow for carbon reduction to be monetized for specific projects. The meeting and discussion with council did provide some guidance about where the commission is currently and future steps. There was discussion about education and information sharing with residents and local businesses. The commission discussed the opportunity to brand the city and Energy City further. This could be beneficial to economic development activities by creating a stronger sense of Energy City to associate with Elk River. Education continues to be a key role for the Energy City Commission with residents, businesses, and students. Commission Herbert elaborated that it is important to think about the non-science thinker and educate them as well. Sustainability and individual decisions can benefit the environment but also individual pocketbooks. Specific to school students, there are new state education standards coming soon which will have updates for next generation science standards. It is important for the commission to remember the importance of educating at all levels. The City Council also discussed the possibility of the ECC doing a survey or outreach of some sort to residents to determine what their priorities are related to sustainability topics – both for their own lives and for the city overall. Commissioner Steinbeck shared that the concept of Energy City has changed significantly, especially with the changes at GRE’s Power Plant in Elk River. Now 2 the focus is much more all-inclusive and not focused on a single power generating site in the city. This is another opportunity to shift the focus to larger topics, different conversations, and climate change as a big picture. Elk River and the ECC could be a great voice in a larger conversation, adopting this new languagetotalk about Energy City. 5.3Solar Picnic Table next steps Chair Sagstetter provided a brief update on the Solar Picnic Table. It will be presented to the Park and Rec Commission during their March 10 meeting to confirm the location and plans for the table. The commission discussed ways to involve students/Eagle Scouts during the construction. We are hopeful the concrete slab location will be approved and completed this year and funding will be allocated for construction in 2022. 5.4 LORE project update The Lake Orono Restoration and Enhancement (LORE) project is under way and making good progress now that the weather is colder. New Look Contracting is hauling material from the lake and adding shoreline restoration in a few locations. The overall project will remove 125,000 cubic yards of sediment from the lake and significantly improve recreation and navigation. The project will continue over the next few weeks with most of the dredged material removed within the next two weeks. Part of the plans include a larger, deeper catch basin area that will keep sediment from entering the rest of the lake and help extend the life of this dredging project. 5.5 ERMU solar information ERMU added eight new solar systems in 2020, which is the highest amount for any one single year. Solar generation in the city totals 135,000 kWh generated by residential customers.City Hall’s small solar array produced 7.502 kWh in 2020. Other renewable energy in the city includes the wind turbine which generated 765,00 kWh and Elk River Landfill which generated about 24 million kWh. Production of renewable energy is good in Elk River and itcontinues to grow. The interest in solar this year is likely due to expiring tax credits at the end of 2020. The commission then discussed options for solar on closed landfills, specificallyfor Waste Management’s facility in Elk River which Mike Kavanagh manages. Commissioner Brixius shared his knowledge about new technology that could be a good fit for closed landfills or other similar sites. Other members of the commission may connect on this further to discuss options and benefits of this technology. 5.6 Clean Energy Choice recognition program ERMU is working to recognize those who participate in the Clean Energy Choice program. They currently have 318 customers (three commercial accounts) opting to participate in this program. They are now working on a recognition program to share 3 how much greenhouse gas emissions each household or business is saving, which will be communicated in miles driven, trees planted, and pounds of coals not burned. This perspective will help them to better understand the environmental benefit they are providing to the community. The commission discussed how to share this information with the public, perhaps coinciding with Earth Day and possibly contactingthe Star News once more information is finalized. More to come on this in the future. 6. Next Meeting Agenda Items (Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 8:00 a.m.) Commissioner Iverson would like to discuss the tree removal planned for along Highway 10 as part of MnDOT’s reconstruction project. Ms. Erickson will get more information on this. Councilmember Wagner suggested a joint meeting with the Park & Rec Commission at a later date. The next meeting will hopefully be hosted outside at a safe distance, weather permitting. 7. Announcements Commissioner Iverson shared information about electric vehicle use for his family and the CO2 and cost savings they have observed. His family also utilized ERMU’s rebate program for at home charging. 8. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned by motion from Commissioner Curtis, second by Commissioner Herbert second at 9:20 a.m. Minutes prepared by Amanda Erickson. ___________________ ____________________ Tina Allard, City Clerk Tom Sagstetter, Chair Energy City Commission 4