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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 08/10/2021APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2021 7:00 P.M., Prairie Room 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Aaron Poock (Chair), Priya Senthilkumar (Vice Chair), Jeanne DeSanctis, Debjyoti Dwivedy, Cindy Hoffman, Daniel Katzenberger, Emily Eddy- Theis, Jeff Nobleza 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 was Commissioner Senthilkumar. Commissioner Dwivedy arrived at 7:06 p.m. after the approval of the agenda and of the minutes. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: DeSanctis moved, seconded by Eddy- Theis to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM APRIL 13 MEETING MOTION: Katzenberger moved, seconded by Nobleza to approve the minutes of July 13, 2021 Sustainability Commission. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 with one abstention (Hoffman). IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM AND CONSUMPTION UPDATE Sustainability Commission Minutes August 10, 2021 Page 2 Hassebroek displayed a PowerPoint and updated the commission members on the City’s water programs. Irrigations rebates were close to 2020 numbers, with 105 granted in 2021 and 108 in 2020. There had only been four lawn watering violations in 2020, but there were 122 so far in 2021. Most were residential and consisted of watering during the middle of the day; both were being reported by City staff and by neighbors or other residents. A comparison of 2017 through 2021 precipitation revealed the drought during June and July of 2021. EP was three inches below the norm for this time of year. Water production 2017 through 2021 showed how EP consumed more water produced during June and July of this year. May 2021 was at normal levels, and Hassebroek said she expected an increased consumption during August, but there appeared to be no reduction to the aquifer. Many cities outside of Minneapolis drew their water from the aquifer. 2. SOLAR POWER HOUR 2021 CAMPAIGN Hassebroek stated the Solar Power Hour 2021 Campaign had six Zoom presentations scheduled both next week in August and throughout September. This was the same vendor, True North Solar, that was used last year through the same vetted process. The City would start to promote this program soon. www.growsolar.org/twin-cities 3. SUSTAINABLE EDEN PRAIRIE NOMINATIONS UPDATE Hassebroek stated two applications had been completed (for waste and energy), and others were not yet completed. She urged the commission members to nominate businesses, community organizations or residents if they had ideas. The deadline was September 3. 4. STUDENT COMMISSIONER PROJECT DISCUSSION FOLLOW- UP AND MENTORSHIP ASSIGNMENTS Hassebroek reminded the commission members of the proposal to break students into groups to work on an event or project. Student representatives would begin next month in September, which was also the joint meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission. She stated she would like to set up the mentorships: discussion followed on the mentorship categories. DeSanctis asked if these categories were firm, and Hassebroek replied they were not, but the intent was to tie the mentorships Sustainability Commission Minutes August 10, 2021 Page 3 back to the Climate Action Plan. Hoffmann asked for and received confirmation this would be brought up at the orientation for the student representatives. Hassebroek asked the commission members how to structure regular check-ins. DeSanctis suggested a monthly report. Poock added this should be a third Tuesday of the month check-in, even if only a phone call. Discussion followed on this idea, with commission members agreeing to check in monthly in a manner that worked with each commission members’ two student commission members. Katzenberger suggested and Hoffmann agreed that having two adults per mentor group in a phone or Zoom call was more appropriate. Hassebroek stated she could be cc-ed in an email, and DeSanctis offered to partner with another commission member on either travel or waste. Hassebroek stated she was sure Senthilkumar would also work on waste, so she put DeSanctis down for travel. Hoffmann stated the Open Meeting Law did not apply to student representatives, and Hassebroek offered to double-check but agreed. Poock suggested the students’ passions drive the project. Discussion followed on the structure of the work, which could include research and might not always be measurable. The commission members agreed student representatives’ reports should be a regular agenda item. Hassebroek agreed to discuss this with the student representatives at their orientation and to discuss this at the October meeting, perhaps reserving some time at the end for mentors to meet with their students. 5. COMMUNITY CENTER SOLAR GARDEN PROJECT UPDATE Hassebroek stated the last educational workshop had been held the week before and there were 350 people on the waitlist. The actual subscription process was started. It was a first-come-first-serve process: the faster the agreements were signed the better one’s chance of being in the garden. 60 percent of the subscriptions had to be completed before construction could begin, which Hassebroek did not think would be an obstacle at all. There had been an article on the program in the Sun Sailor. 15 people attended the in-person workshop, with a total of 50 attending both educational events, and hundreds watching the video. 6. CAP IMPLEMENTATION COMMUNITY OUTREACH DISCUSSION (CONTINUED) Hassebroek displayed a PowerPoint and stated the program needed a unique name. Preparations were ongoing, and ideally the Solar Suitability Sustainability Commission Minutes August 10, 2021 Page 4 map piece would be done by the end of the year. She wished to have potential actions identified on the mapping tool as well. Discussion followed on the proposals for residential best practices on one of the slides: onsite solar, fuel switching, electric lawn equipment, recognition of participation in some way, travel alternatives, Katzenberger suggested a ground source heat pump in addition to an air source heat pump under fuel switching. DeSanctis suggested compost bins and rain gardens. Poock suggested water reuse, watering less and organics recycling. However, some citizens composted in their backyard and therefore would not sign up for the service. Discussion followed on a yard sign for recognition, not just a certificate for winners of the Sustainability Awards. Katzenberger suggested something that could go on a mailbox, like the Boy Scout merit badges. DeSanctis suggested bundling errands to reduce trips. Hassebroek also suggested flexible pathways to achieve the best practices. Discussion followed on possibly pairing these actions with the map. Hassebroek replied self-reporting could be an only option for that, and possibly including a field on the permit application. The opt-in option would only show the address, not the owner’s or resident’s name(s). Retroactive data could possibly be pulled from permits but then would have to be entered. This could be discussed further as the commission refined the best practices. Hassebroek urged the commission members to come up with a unique name for the program. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION 1. WATER UPDATE 2. WASTE UPDATE ORGANICS RECYCLING Nobleza reminded the commission members organics recycling was coming up soon. 3. LANDSCAPE/POLLINATOR UPDATE 4. ENERGY UPDATE Sustainability Commission Minutes August 10, 2021 Page 5 Katzenberger stated the Climate Reality Group doing another training of leaders in October. www.ClimateRealityProject.org Hoffmann stated Eden Prairie finally announced their Tesla and she found most comments on the Star Tribune website to be positive. Nobleza stated he had seen negative comments. Discussion followed on ideas for positive responses to criticisms of City programs. D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS V. OTHER BUSINESS VI. UPCOMING EVENTS • Fall Drop-Off Event – Yard Waste Site, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.: September 11, 2021 (appliances, electronics, and possibly furniture) • Citywide Open House – City Center, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.: October 9, 2021 • Organics Workshop – TBD, 6:30 p.m.: October 11, 2021 VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Monday, September 13, 2021, at the Maintenance Facility. An optional tour of the facility will begin at 6:30 p.m. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Nobleza moved, seconded by Katzenberger to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 p.m.