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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 04/13/2021APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021 7:00 P.M., Virtual Meeting 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Aaron Poock (Chair), Priya Senthilkumar (Vice Chair) Jeanne DeSanctis, Debjyoti Dwivedy, Emily Eddy-Theis, Cindy Hoffman, Daniel Katzenberger, Jeff Nobleza, Bruce Schaepe 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 Poock called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Absent were student representatives Retzlaff, Schlampp, Singhatwadia and Vadhul. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Schaepe moved, seconded by DeSanctis to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 9-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 9 MEETING MOTION: Dwivedy moved, seconded by Schaepe to approve the minutes of February 9, 2021 Sustainability Commission. MOTION CARRIED 9-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. NEW COMMISSIONER WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Hassebroek welcomed Emily Eddy-Theis and Jeff Nobleza, who introduced themselves. Each of the commission members introduced themselves to the new commission members. Sustainability Commission Minutes April 13, 2021 Page 2 2. ENERGY ACTION PLAN UPDATE Hassebroek summarized how the Energy Action Plan was prepared collaboration with Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy Program. Its aim was to develop goals and strategies surrounding energy conservation topic areas: residential use for homeowners and renters, large commercial/industrial buildings, public and non-profit organizations. Main goal was to reduce greenhouse emissions by 30 percent 2025 and by 80 percent by 2050. Short-term goals included 75 percent of household participation in Xcel’s energy efficiency program, and 50 percent of business participation in an abatement/conservation program, public and non-profit organizations reducing energy use by 20 percent and the City to support renewable energy. The school district also set an energy reduction/renewal goal. Since then the Climate Action Plan was enacted. Several other forms of reduction and recycling projects were identified: refrigerator recycling, solar and wind power, solar garden/rooftop options, multifamily and lower-income outreach, outreach to incentivize multiunit property owners, and employ home loan strategies. Also the Chamber of Commerce was a partner for outreach to commercial property owners in Eden Prairie. Hassebroek explained a majority of residential or business properties were in the Xcel service area, but a small part of Eden Prairie was serviced by other utility providers. In 2020, 1,911 households participated in Xcel’s conservation programs, exceeding the target set for that year. In 2019, 2,100 participated, and in 2018, 2,800 participated. Eden Prairie exceeded all targets set for each year a target was set, although there was a decrease in 2020, perhaps due to a reluctance to have a Home Energy Audit visit. Renewable energy programs saw 1,442 households participating by 2020, exceeding the target of 1,100. Eden Prairie residents were engaged in energy conservation and renewable energy use. Goals for commercial properties were focused on efficiency rather than renewables, but the 2020 targets for that were also exceeded: 265 compared to a target of 160. Hassebroek displayed and explained the Energy Action Plan action items: home energy audits, Home Energy Squad, refrigerator recycling, cooling and heating and the Saver Switch, which saw high participation rates. Commercial programs included Xcel’s lighting rebate program. All the data came from Xcel Energy. Efficiency numbers were estimates due to the nature of energy efficiency metrics. Community-wide Eden Prairie was reducing its electricity use. Sustainability Commission Minutes April 13, 2021 Page 3 Hassebroek stated she met with Xcel Energy to get this data and get ideas for future focus areas, which were: a charging program which would install and maintain an EV charger in a homeowner’s garage (assuming proper electrical capacity), a multifamily energy saving program featuring appliance replacement, and potentially a matching rebate program around Xcel’s air source heat pump rebate program, which was not widely known about in the community. Air source heat pumps could not be the sole source of energy for a home in a cold climate like Minnesota but it could be a clean, non-natural gas supplement. Hassebroek added there were some other upcoming programs, including a multifamily EV a car-sharing program. Discussion followed on the advantages and disadvantages on this program. Another future project was a community solar garden on top of the Community Center, which had been delayed. Schaepe suggested also utilizing the public-school roofs. Dwivedy stated the schools were powered by renewable energy including solar, but he was not sure if the roofs could be used for gardens. 3. GREENSTEP CITIES PROGRAM UPDATE Hassebroek stated she had done the metrics reporting for 2020 and Eden Prairie would again be at steps four and five, which would include: lighting, transportation, land use, environment, and economic development. Improvements were in community-wide vehicle miles traveled, an increase in new affordable housing units, generation of renewable energy (solar), and a decrease in greenhouse gases in traveling. Again, Eden Prairie was meeting or exceeding targets. The commission could consider best practices and new ideas in the near future. 4. ORGANICS RECYCLING ORDINANCE OVERVIEW Hassebroek stated this had been in the works for a while, and the first hearing would be held at the City Council meeting the following week. All of the haulers servicing Eden Prairie would be required to offer organics recycling to single-family through four-plex households and multifamily units with their own containers by November 1, 2021. There was no consensus on a required method of collection, which would be left up to each hauler. 5. ZERO WASTE WEBINAR RECAP Hassebroek stated she and DeSanctis participated, and 46-50 people attended, out of 80 who signed up. Aside from Eden Prairie, residents of Minneapolis had greatest number of attendees along with some from Sustainability Commission Minutes April 13, 2021 Page 4 surrounding communities and there were even two international attendees. Hassebroek and DeSanctis commended the content. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR Poock announced the Mayoral Pledge competition was being held through the end of April and he encouraged people to go online and vote. C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION 1. WATER UPDATE 2. WASTE UPDATE 3. LANDSCAPE/POLLINATOR UPDATE 4. ENERGY UPDATE D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS V. OTHER BUSINESS Discussion followed on the upcoming Hennepin County Board vote on their Climate Action Plan. VI. UPCOMING EVENTS • Drop Off Recycling Event – Yard Waste Site: April 17, 2021 – 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (appliances, tires, power equipment, and electronics) • Park Clean Up Day – Riley Creek Park (not Conservation Area): April 24, 2021 – 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. • Arbor Day Walk and Green Fair – Round Lake Park: May 1, 2021 – 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., drive-through event; there might also be a Tree Walk at Staring Lake. VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, May 11, 2021, virtually. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Katzenberger moved, seconded by Schaepe to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 9-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.