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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 12/14/2021APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 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: Abi Rajasekaran, Amoligha Timma, Anna Maristela, Augie Stukenborg, Julia Harris, Muthu Meenakshisundaram I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Poock called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Absent were Commissioners Dwivedy and Nobleza and student member Harris. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Katzenberger 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 DeSanctis to approve the minutes of November 19, 2021 Sustainability Commission. 6-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. 2022 WORK PLAN Hassebroek distributed the Sustainability Commission Overview and summarized the 2022 Work Plan. She went through the 2021 accomplishments and displayed the Work Plan, which was organized by a Sustainability Commission Minutes December 14, 2021 Page 2 description of the action, how it tied to the relevant Climate Action Plan Action and/or Goal, and the probable time frame. She announced Eden Prairie was formally accepted into the cohort for the Electrify Program along with Minneapolis, Edina, and Saint Louis Park. Poock asked if Multi-family EV Charging would be required as a part of a new City Code. Hassebroek replied it is strongly recommended to new developments already, but Eden Prairie was exploring pathways to require it. DeSanctis asked if this applied to just Eden Prairie or to the state of Minnesota. Hassebroek replied it would only apply to Eden Prairie at this time. There were some areas where cities could not exceed the state building code. Meenakshisundaram asked if there was demand for this from multifamily unit residents. Hassebroek replied there have been some inquiries. 80 percent of charging happens at home and this is a challenge for rental units. Katzenberger asked if it was possible to get certain restrictive state building regulations changed, and Hassebroek replied it can be possible. Last year Eden Prairie and other cities pushed the state legislature to bump up the adoption schedule of the commercial energy code, though it did not pass. Hassebroek suggested hosting an EV Ride and Drive as an opportunity to check out an electric vehicle without pressure, perhaps on Arbor Day or as a standalone event. Hoffman asked if different brands would be highlighted. Hassebroek replied there would be, since groups of enthusiastic owners held different shows around the Twin Cities. There would be four different kinds of EVs just at Eden Prairie. Katzenberger mentioned an EV truck manufacturer startup named Zeus. Hassebroek stated the GreenStep Cities metrics would be updated in February or March of 2022. She would pull together the necessary information on best practices for discussion in the new year. Meenakshisundaram asked what “support[ing] efforts at the State Legislature” looked like. Hassebroek replied these could include efforts to improve the energy code or other relevant legislation. Some examples were letters of support for bills and the potential for testifying on the impact of legislation. Meenakshisundaram offered to testify if there were any opportunities in the future. Hassebroek reminded the commission members to contact her if they had any other ideas for the Work Plan. Sustainability Commission Minutes December 14, 2021 Page 3 Katzenberger asked if the yard waste center could have clearer signage. Eddy-Theis agreed. She added there has been an uptick in home improvement and suggested an effort to educate the public about disposal of construction materials. Senthilkumar suggested the commission tailor its own local education specific to Eden Prairie. Eddy-Theis concurred. Hassebroek suggested more trainings like the organics workshop. Senthilkumar recommended having information on the public website. Discussion followed on various other topic ideas. Poock stated the yard waste recycling site would be a good location for public education and asked if the City had any metrics on drop-offs. Hassebroek replied the City was indeed tracking this and while she did not have specific numbers currently, it seemed to be successful, and she expected an annual report at the end of the year. Poock added the residents who dropped off yard waste would be a good audience for education, such as organics recycling (kitchen waste). The Carver County site offered brochures and education efforts. Eddy-Theis suggested signage in parks as well. There would also be metrics in February as to how many residents signed up for organics recycling. Also, there was a shortage of waste drivers at the moment. Hoffman reminded the commission members of the commission’s earlier discussion about holding “zero waste” events, such as the Fourth of July, which were sidelined by the Covid pandemic. Hassebroek stated she could get more information from staff about this. Katzenberger suggested a “freecycle” event, like a rummage sale except everything was free. Poock added curbside recycling had in some communities turned into a dumpster-diving opportunity. Discussion followed on a citywide garage sale. Katzenberger, as steering committee member, announced the Metrowide commission meetings would resume in 2022. He added Hennepin County had its own staff who would coordinate efforts between the county and all the cities. Hoffman recommended attending the Metrowide commission meetings. Hassebroek announced the Home and Garden event would resume and be held March 12. The Arbor Day event would also be held in 2022, and the student representatives displays/presentations would be held on April 30, 2022. The citywide park clean up would be held in early spring at Riley Park, the Citywide Open House would be held annually in autumn, and the Sustainability Awards would be held in autumn. Katzenberger suggested another tour. Hassebroek suggested perhaps the Cargill Foundation building for summer of 2022. She added she researched the possibility of touring the organics processing center in Shakopee, but it would have to happen on a weekday. Discussion followed on a possible date for the tour Sustainability Commission Minutes December 14, 2021 Page 4 during a school break for the student commission members. Hassebroek offered to research the idea. 2. ReACT EDEN PRAIRIE UPDATE Hassebroek displayed the homeowner form and stated the mapping side of this project would be handled by the IT Department. She added she discussed with IT staff how the data from the surveys would be input. IT Department staff wished the commission members to identify which best practices (ten or less) were important to include, since the list was extensive. Discussion followed on this. Senthilkumar asked if the map’s information revealed individual information. Hassebroek replied only the address would be displayed. She displayed the existing map and its options. [Hoffman left at 8:08 p.m.] The commission members decided the map would focus on: • Home Energy Squad Visits • Green Power Purchase participation • Fuel Switching – Heat Pumps • EV or Transit • On-site Solar • Organics recycling • Native planting/no-mow/raingarden DeSanctis urged education surrounding eliminating the traditional lawn. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR Poock announced Eden Prairie Liquor store takes and recycles broken light strings. C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION 1. WATER UPDATE 2. WASTE UPDATE ORGANICS RECYCLING 3. LANDSCAPE/POLLINATOR UPDATE 4. ENERGY UPDATE Sustainability Commission Minutes December 14, 2021 Page 5 Katzenberger announced the Environmental Initiative was hosting Local Leadership Local Action Climate Change Conversation this Thursday. He had been asked to attend and indigenous residents from northern Minnesota would also attend. D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS Timma announced the sustainability article was published in the school newspaper. Senthilkumar added she saw the group picture. V. OTHER BUSINESS VI. UPCOMING EVENTS Sustainability Commission 2021 Annual Report and 2022 Work Plan Presentation to City Council: February 8, 2022 – 6:00 PM in Heritage Rooms 1&2 VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Monday, January 11, 2022, in the Heritage Rooms 1&2. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Katzenberg moved, seconded by DeSanctis to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m.