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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 11/10/2020APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2020 7:00 P.M., Virtual Meeting 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Cindy Hoffman (Chair), Aaron Poock (Vice Chair), Jeanne DeSanctis, Debjyoti Dwivedy, Daniel Katzenberger, JoAnn McGuire, Bruce Schaepe, Priya Senthilkumar CITY STAFF: Jennifer Hassebroek, Sustainability Coordinator, Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT MEMBERS: Ellianne Retzlaff, Amanda Schlampp Anisha Singhatwadia, Pranav Vadhul I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Hoffman called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Absent were Commissioners Poock, Senthilkumar and Dwivedy, and student representative Retzlaff and Vadhul. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: McGuire moved, seconded by DeSanctis to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM JUNE 10 MEETING MOTION: McGuire moved, seconded by Katzenberger to approve the minutes of October 13, 2020 Sustainability Commission. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. BETTER BUILDINGS MINNESOTA Hassebroek stated this program, also known as a “stretch energy” or “advanced energy code,” has been proposed in the Legislature to allow cities to adopt a voluntary appendix to the state Energy Code with a more stringent energy requirement than the one currently adopted by the State Sustainability Commission Minutes November 10, 2020 Page 2 of Minnesota. This would give cities more tools to cut greenhouses gases in building stock. The State of MN is currently not on track to meet its own energy goals, and alternate strategies are needed according to a state study done in 2016. Xcel Energy is also attempting to make its electricity carbon-free by 2050. Cities are currently not allowed to have standards higher than the state building codes. If the state grants authority for cities to move beyond the current code, it would likely be by utilizing the SP2030 Energy Standard. This is currently a requirement for any public building project utilizing state bonding funds. Eden Prairie first pushed for the ability to adopt a stronger requirement in 2020 but it was not passed, so in 2021 a number of metropolitan cities are planning to support this program again with the support of the League of Minnesota Cities. This stretch code would be only applied to new buildings or substantially renovated buildings above a certain size threshold. Discussion followed on how the implementation of this optional requirement to new buildings could achieve a net zero result. Hassebroek would keep the commission updated on the progress of this option. 2. CLIMATE ACTION PLAN UPDATE Hassebroek stated the Plan had its first data update since the adoption in March 2020. The Plan was being updated to include 2018 and 2019 data charts, and Hassebroek was still working on this. She expected to have this completed this week. Community-wide emissions had stayed relatively flat overall, and electricity use decreased, especially in the commercial/industrial sector. Natural gas use and emissions had increased since 2017, especially in the residential sector. Not all of this could be accounted for by weather. Population and job growth had been lower than predicted and could account for below-BAU travel and waste numbers. VMT (vehicle miles traveled) per capita remained relatively flat, with emissions per VMT continuing to decrease. Waste per capita stayed relatively flat, and waste emissions decreased slightly in 2019 due to changes in processing. This data was taken from many sources and follows national protocol for reporting. The City of Eden Prairie received data from haulers of waste. Different emissions and sectors had certain protocols and standards for metrics to guard against double-counting. Hassebroek displayed some of the updated graphs and charts regarding emissions in Eden Prairie and offered to send the link to these with the updated Climate Action Plan. Sustainability Commission Minutes November 10, 2020 Page 3 3. CURBSIDE AND DROP OFF RECYCLING EVENTS RESULTS Hassebroek stated there were 147 curbside pickups for a total of 612 items. The event deadlines were extended and staff was pleased with the amount of participation. There was a mix of appliances, electronics, furniture and tires. The electronics-only drop off netted around 5.3 tons, or 66 percent of what came in during the summer event. The lines of cars moved very quickly and the events were a success. Hoffman asked if this was a good alternative to the June curbside pickup event, and Hassebroek replied it could be, although there also needed to be some form of trash pickup as well. She suggested perhaps separating a trash day event from a recycling day event. McGuire asked what the advantage these events had over her calling a recycler herself, for example, to pick up items instead of going to a drop off event. Hassebroek replied some residents would prefer to do that for time savings and convenience, but the group events could be cheaper for residents. No residents complained about the lines, which kept moving. It also depended upon the hauler used; some subcontracted while others did not. 4. WATER EFFICIENCY GRANT UPDATE Hassebroek stated the City received 97 residential irrigation rebates, with just shy of $16,000 coming back from the Metropolitan Council in grant funding. There was steady participation in the program and this year was on par with other years. 5. EV POLICE FLEET VEHICLE UPDATE Hassebroek stated the City Council approved the purchase of the Tesla Fleet cruiser and delivery was expected in first quarter of 2021. It would be a fully functional, all electric police cruiser. Unfortunately, the F-250 hybrid conversion was not able to be completed. Ford had changed some dimensions making the hybrid module incompatible, and the City decided not to wait for a redesign from the 3rd party vendor. The contract was canceled. However something comparable could be found in the future. 6. AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION MN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD 2020 Sustainability Commission Minutes November 10, 2020 Page 4 Hassebroek announced “Sustainable Eden Prairie” was awarded the Environmental Stewardship Award for 2020 from the American Public Works Association. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION 1. WATER UPDATE 2. WASTE UPDATE 3. LANDSCAPE/POLLINATOR UPDATE 4. ENERGY UPDATE D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS V. OTHER BUSINESS Hassebroek reminded the commission members to start thinking about the work plan for 2021. Hoffman stated the students presented the Sustainability Awards at the City Council meeting in October. Discussion followed on the event. VI. UPCOMING EVENTS VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, December 8, 2020, virtually. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: McGuire moved, seconded by Schaepe to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m.