ECC Agenda Packet 8.17.2022-N'�
Ver
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLICIANCE
3. CONSIDER AGENDA
Regular Meeting
of the
Energy City
Commission
AGENDA
4. OATH OF OFFICE (Chair Sagstetter & Commissioner Peterson)
ELKRNEN
EN=RGYCIITtl9Y
IXE GG'/[A 6 EFRfEM b'�"
Wednesday, Aug 17, 2022
8:30 a.m.
Elk River City Hall
5. 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.
5.1 Minutes
■ May 18, 2022
6. GENERAL BUSINESS
6.1 B3 Presentation (Gary Lore, Facilities Maintenance Superintendent)
6.2 Chamber Update (Rydberg)
6.3 Sign Campaign Design
6.4 Sustainability Definition & ECC Talking Points
6.5 Other Commissioner Updates
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Next meeting scheduled for Nov. 16, 2022.
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.
p I I I I I I I f
NATURE
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Elk Meeting of the Elk River
liver ' Energy City Commission
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Members Present: Chair Tom Sagstetter, Commissioners Vern Iverson, Casey Mahon,
Trish Curtis, and Jennifer Wagner
Members Absent: Commissioners Aaron Brixius, Becky Herbert, and Travis Leigh.
Others Present: Mark Peterson, GRE staff; new commissioners Reggie VanLonden,
and Jonny Cappaert.
Staff Present: Suzanne Fischer, Environmental Services/Special Projects Director
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 8:20 a.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Chair Sagstetter led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2.5 Member Introductions
Members introduced themselves for new Commissioners VanLonden and Cappaert.
3. Consider Agenda
Agenda updated to move item 5.2 Commissioner Brixius update to the next meeting
as he was not able to attend the meeting. This item was replaced by a Rotary
Presentation update. Commissioner Steinbeck motioned approval and seconded by
Commissioner Herbert.
4. Consider Minutes
Consider minutes from the April 5, 2022, special meeting. Minutes approved, motion
by Commissioner Wagner, second by Commissioner Iverson
5.1 Review Mission, Vision & Values Statements
Commissioner Herbert provided a brief update about ISD 728 as they continue to
struggle with staffing shortages. She stated they have approximately 100 permanent
positions currently open in the district and are struggling to fill them. School staff
continue to be stretched thin and are dealing with the current conditions as best
possible.
Commissioner Iverson mentioned that the ECC should have a Vision statement.
Education is the key, and some need a chiropractic adjustment in our thinking
because sustainability effects budgets. Commissioner Wagner stated the
commissioner needs to be able to explain `why do we do these things.' I can look
people in the eye at the grocery store and explain why we do this. It is very divided
out there.
Commissioner Mahon stated that this originated over coffee back in Feb. or March.
Two of us were talking about `what is the purpose of this group?' We brainstormed
at the Special Meeting on April 5. Commissioner Mahon walked through the
thinking and suggested the Commission votes on the Mission, Vision, & Value
statements. The fourth is goals and he did not think the group was ready to do that
today.
He continued to state that we have a political makeup in this community, and there
is not anything we can do about that. Our purpose here, is to be an advisory to City
Council. We are not here to be `yes' people. We are here to look at what our purpose
is, and to provide as much expert advice as possible so decisions are made with facts.
The first is our Mission statement. Who we are and why we are here? Vision
statement is what we want to do and how we do it. I could not find a Values
statement for the City of Elk River. After considerable discussion, Commissioner
Curtis motioned to accept the adjusted Mission statement to reflect `vested advocates
supporting' in the statement to read, Vested advocates supporting the City of Elk River zvith
expertise on sustainability and energy initiatives that can improve the quality of life far the greater
community. Commissioner Mahon seconded the motion.
Commissioner Mahon read the proposed Vision Statement — Identifying, educating,
advocating, and supporting individual and community -wide sustainability and energy
initiatives that economically, socially, or environmentally, improve Elk River for
generations to come. Commissioner Herbert motioned to approve the Vision
statement as read, seconded by Commissioner Curtis.
Commissioner Cappaert noted that it is important to have a good definition of
`sustainability' so, as a group, we are all on the same page.
Commissioner Mahon explained that a Value statement is stating what the company
is and what it stands for. The Commission decided that they did not necessarily need
to have a Value statement. Commissioner Wagner suggested the issue be tabled.
Goals were discussed. Commissioners Mahon suggested the group brainstorm.
Goals need to have timelines, be qualitative and quantitative. He gave an example
and suggested each commissioner pen an article penned on different subjects to
publish in the local paper. This helps get visibility, recognition, and would be in
support of our Mission and Vision statements. Another example is that any city
project needs to include a certain dollar amount of environmental and/or
sustainability elements.
Chair Sagstetter emphasized the need to get buy -in and support from Council and
the department Directors. The list of goals was reviewed, and after combining
similar goals, the Commission agreed on the top three. They are: Solar picnic table
installation, Sign Campaign, and to require capital contracts starting in FY23-24,
PJ
to include a dollar amount of energy and/or sustainability features in projects.
5.2 Chamber Member Update
None. Rydberg absent.
5.3 EV Charge Status
Commissioner Sagstetter reported that ERMU is evaluating the replacement of the
DC fast charger at the Coborn's location. ChargePoint will no longer support the
unit after March of 2023. ERMU has reached out and received multiple bids for the
possible replacement of the DC fast charger. Commissioner Sagstetter reported that
ERMU is also looking for bids on a 240-volt level two charger to be installed at the
utility's new field services building.
5.4 Solar Picnic Table Status
Suzanne had sent out RFP notices for the table installation. No one responded. It is
a small project and energy efficient contractors are busy with larger jobs.
Commissioner Cappaert asked if a corporate donation would be an option. The
Commission agreed that would be great and would go to City Council as a
`donation.'
5.5 Chamber Presentation
Chair Sagstetter stated that the Chamber Connections session was well attended and
had good questions about waste disposal, recycling, and overall solid waste
management. There were many excellent questions, and the Chamber participants
were very engaged and supportive of sustainable measures the City and residents are
taking to manage the waste stream. Chair Sagstetter also provided resources on how
to dispose of hazardous waste through different collection services available in the
community.
With no further action, the meeting adjourned at 9:37am.
3
613
8.17.2022
Potential informational signs for ECC projects.
1) Lighting and ice rink retrofit at the new event center. There was a bunch of
technology used in the building and repurposing of the old rink for dry land.
2) Signs for organizations that are cleaning and maintaining storm water ponds
3) The new fire station 3.
4) Electric vehicle charging stations being 100% renewable energy
5) All City operations 100% renewable
6) Compost site behind public works and how much that saves residents
7) LED lights at Lions Park, Pumps at Orono for splash pad
8) Wind Turbine at YAC
9) Solar lights at Woodland Hills Regional Park
10)Solar panels at city hall & educational kiosk at the library
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How does the GreenStep program define sustainability; what's the vision?
Defining the state or condition of sustainability in a city, and the city process of and
accomplishments from moving toward greater sustainability - sustainable development - is best done
by each city. That said, much has been written about sustainability since the 1980s. For an excellent
overview, and a discussion of resilience, see (1) Sustainable Development and Its Discontents
(Dembach & Cheever: 2015). GreenStep suggests, as a starting point, that cities consider the
MPCA's page (2) "What makes a community sustainable?" and the (3) definition and policy language
adopted by the League of Minnesota Cities.
The GreenStep program, being based in a state environmental agency, focuses on environmental
sustainability but clearly weaves in economic and social issues as well. The city performance metrics
of Steps 4 and 5 include a few economic and social sustainability measures but cities are encouraged
to develop measures of their own to fully flesh out measurement in these other two core areas of
sustainability.
The program vision of Minnesota GreenStep Cities is that environmental sustainability becomes the
norm for all Minnesota cities. By norm we mean an accepted standard or way of thinking and doing
things that most people agree with. Norms tend to take hold and spread when 15-20% of the 'target
population' adopt them. Depending on how you categorize the 125+ GreenStep cities - by
geographic region, size cohorts - GreenStep feels we are making a measurable contribution to
making sustainability the norm in Minnesota cities.
(1) Sustainable Development and its Discontents
43 Pages Posted: 23 Jul 2015 Last revised: 29 Jul 2019
Federico Cheever University of Denver Sturm College of Law (deceased)
John C. Dernbach Widener University - Commonwealth Law School
Abstract
Sustainable development (or sustainability) is a decision making fratricwork for maintaining and
achieving human \yell being, both in the present and into the future. The framework requires both
consideration and achievement of environmental protection, social justice, and economic
development. In that framework, environmental protection must be urtegrated into decisions about
social and economic development, and social justice and economic viability must be integrated into
decisions about environmental quality.
First endorsed by the world's nations in 1992, this framework is intended to provide an effective
response to the twin global challenges of growing environmental degradation and widespread
extreme poverty. Sustainability provides a framework for humans to live in harmony with nature,
rather than at nature's expense. It may therefore be one of the most important ideas to come out of
the 20th century. In the last two decades, the framework has become a touchstone in nearly every
economic sector and at every level of government, unleashing an extraordinary range of creativity in
all those realms. Sustainable development is having a significant effect on the practice of law and on
the way in which laws are written and implemented. Understanding the framework is increasingly
important for law makers and lawyers.
As sustainable development (or sustainability) has grown in prominence; its critics have become
more numerous and more vocal. Three major lines of criticism are that the term is "too boring" to
command public attention, "too vague" to provide guidance, and "too late" to address the world's
problems. Critics suggest goals such as abundance, environmental integrity, and resilience. Beginning
with the international agreements that shaped the concept of sustainable development, this Article
provides a functional and historical analysis of the meaning of sustainable development. It then
analyzes and responds to each of these criticisms in turn. While the critics, understood
constructively, suggest ways of strengthening this framework, they do not provide a compelling
alternative. The challenge for lawyers, law makers, and others is to use and improve this framework
to snake better decisions.
(2) What makes a community sustainable?
�IMINNESOTA POLLUTION
CONTROL AGENCY
Sustainability is the commonsense notion that long-term prosperity and ecological health not only
go together, but they also depend on one another. Or put another way, sustainability is about actions
which are ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially just and humane.
Many individuals and organizations throughout the state are working to enhance economic and
community vitality while protecting and restoring the natural environment.
(3) Definition & policy language adopted by the LMC
UM
LMCLEAGUE
MINNESOTA
CITIES
SD-28. Sustainable Development
Issue: Minnesota cities spend significant time and resources planning for growth, development, and
redevelopment that will best serve the future needs of their residents. Numerous factors are
considered as part of that process, but an area of increasing interest involves concepts often
categorized as "sustainable development." Minn. Stat. § 4A.07, Subd. 1(b), defines this term, as it
pertains to local government, to mean "development that maintains or enhances economic
opportunity and community wellbeing while protecting and restoring the natural environment upon
which people and economies depend. Sustainable development meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Cities play a key role in fostering sustainable development and other conservation practices due to
their role in land use planning and zoning, stormwater and wastewater management, and local
economic development. Local governments can take a lead on these issues by choosing to
incorporate aspects of sustainable development into their local operations and facilities. They can
also develop local policies and regulations that support and guide individual and private sustainability
efforts. The ability of a city to affect these changes can, however, be restricted by policies and
requirements imposed by other levels of government.
Sustainable development initiatives can cover a wide range of issues but share the benefit of
lessening the future environmental impacts of communities on the land, air, and water in their area.
Lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands, wildlife habitat, shoreland areas, and other natural resources can be
protected and enhanced in quality through local efforts. Energy efficiency and renewable energy
production reduce the energy demands of a community and the environmental impacts of energy
production. By more efficiently using public infrastructure and minimizing resource consumption,
the costs to .individuals, business, and government can be reduced. New and expanded business and
job opportunities are also generated by the "green" products and services needed to implement
sustainable development initiatives. The ideal result of well -planned 27 sustainability, natural
resources management, and conservation efforts is a city that is more efficient in the use of its
resources and infrastructure, creates fewer environmental problems for future generations to
address, and is a more desirable home for residents and businesses.
Response: The League of Minnesota Cities supports federal, state, and regional efforts to promote
sustainable development where the effectiveness of the proposed practice is supported by sound
science, and if those efforts do not supersede the authority of local governments to determine their
own policies regarding land use and related issues.
Providing technical assistance and financial incentives and streamlining regulations to encourage
local governments and private property owners to engage in sustainable development practices, as
well as assisting in education and information efforts for the building industry and the public, are the
best means to generate successful results. These programs should focus on outcomes, allowing
flexibility in how to best meet those outcomes in different locations and situations. The League
opposes mandates that limit the authority of cities to determine what practices will best meet the
needs of their communities.
The League supports sustainable development efforts that meet the above criteria, including
programs proposed in the following areas:
a) Shifting public resources, services, investments, purchasing power, and procurement toward more
economically and environmentally sustainable outcomes where those solutions are cost effective and
appropriate.
b) Using local land -use planning and zoning to protect and enhance limited natural resources and
reduce the impacts of growth and development on local infrastructure.
c) Promoting efficient and renewable energy sources.
d) Encouraging sustainable building design, construction, and operation strategies focused on
integrated design, energy efficiency, water conservation, stormwater management, waste reduction,
pollution prevention, indoor environmental quality, and the use of low -impact building materials and
products.
e) Supporting sustainable economic development, such as brownfield clean-up, on -site stormwater
management, and sustainable business practices and technologies.
f Assisting and recognizing local governments that take actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
and increase energy efficiency by providing and identifying technical assistance, financial assistance,
4
ECC 8.3.2022
What is an accurate definition of sustainability?
In the broadest sense, sustainability refers to the ability to maintain or support a process continuously over
time. In business and policy contexts, sustainability seeks to prevent the depletion of natural or
physical resources, so that they will remain available for the long term.
ht s: www.investo edia.com investin -for-sustainabilicr-itnfact-5210477
The most often quoted definition comes from the UN World Commission on Environment and
Development: `sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability offuturegenerations to meet their own needs.'htths:I/www.sustain.ucla.edu/what-is-sustainability/
Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well --being depends,
either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the
conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and
future generations. https:/Iwww.el)a.gov.1'sustainabilin,/leam-about-sustainability
Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs. In addition to natural resources, we also need social and economic resources. Sustainability is
not just environmentalism. Embedded in most definitions of sustainability we also find concerns for
social equity and economic development.
htt:ps://www.tncgifl.ca/sustainabihty/files/sustainabilirt-/ what-is-sustainabilidf
a: of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not
depleted or permanently damaged sustainable techniques sustainable agriculture
b: of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods sustainable society
htWs://www.mer-riam-webstet.coin/dictionan,Zsustainable