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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 07/12/2022APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2022 7:00 P.M., Heritage Rooms 1 & 2 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Aaron Poock (Chair), Emily Eddy-Theis (Vice Chair), Laura Bishop, Tim Conners, Gretchen Enninga, Cindy Hoffman, Daniel Katzenberger, Jeff Nobleza, Carolyn Wieland CITY STAFF: Jennifer Hassebroek, Sustainability Coordinator, Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Poock called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Absent were Commissioners Bishop, Hoffman, and Nobleza. Fleet Services Division Manager Gerald (Jerry) Byington joined the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS MOTION: Katzenberger moved, seconded by Enninga to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MARCH 8, 2022 MEETING MOTION: Enninga moved, seconded by Wieland to approve the minutes of June 14, 2022 Sustainability Commission. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. FLEET EV UPDATE Hassebroek introduced Byington who passed out a handout and gave a presentation on the new EV fleet. The Class-Five EV vehicle scheduled to be delivered in July was pushed back due to supply chain issues. It would have a 300-mile range and would be used as the refuse truck for the Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department, replacing an Isuzu. Sustainability Commission Minutes July 12, 2022 Page 2 The City’s new Tesla was only one among two in the nation that were used for patrol. The new Ford Mustang would also be a patrol vehicle. There were some hybrids already in service. Four Chevrolet Bolts were ordered, but supply chain issues also delayed their arrival and he expected them around September. They would service Inspections and Engineering. Two electric vans were planned for the Facilities Department. These had a 200-mile range. He was researching more Mustang Mach-Es and had purchased two Ford Lightings, also coming in September. One would service the Parks Department and the other the Police CSO. More Bolts were also planned. He was also exploring EV small motors, such as lawn mowers and a hybrid street sweeper. The total number of vehicles in the fleet was approximately 300. EV firetrucks and plows could be a possibility in the future—the range was short at present, but the technology was evolving. Competition was also increasing, with other vendors offering vehicles. EV stations would offer a variety of voltages: a DC charger at the maintenance facility, and various Class-Two chargers. Conners asked how many of the 300 vehicles could be converted, and Byington replied he was investigating this; it depended on supply, but as many as could be converted he wished to convert them. Hassebroek added Eden Prairie was ahead of other cities in terms of ordering light duty EV vehicles. The conversion process takes time and depended on the replacement cycle for existing vehicles. Enninga asked if certain vehicles were replacing sooner in order to save costs. Byington replied some Inspector’s vehicles would be replaced or utilized less. The supply chains for EV vehicles were actually better than for gas-powered vehicles. He added he was passionate on this issue and owned two Bolts. Wieland asked how Eden Prairie compared in this effort compared to other cities, and Byington replied Eden Prairie was on the leading edge. Byington added the Tesla outperformed every other police vehicle in the fleet. Poock urged making information on the cost savings available to public, and Hassebroek agreed the EV page on the website should be updated. She added there had been an article this day in the Star Tribune on the fuel costs for cities. Byington added hybrid vehicles also performed very well in terms of fuel use and maintenance. There was a learning curve with the EVs. The purchase of hybrids versus full EVs depended on availability. Sustainability Commission Minutes July 12, 2022 Page 3 Hassebroek said existing public charging stations would stay, and all new EV chargers would be for the fleet vehicles. Byington displayed one of key fob cards for charging. Hassebroek stated the City tracked these cards as with gas-fueled vehicle cards. Byington stated the mile per gallon comparison with the EV kilowatt hour revealed the EV vehicles were much cheaper to recharge than to fill a gas tank of a conventional vehicle. The fleet would charge overnight when they were not being (or less likely to be) used. All of the EV vehicles purchased had been painstakingly researched beforehand. Discussion followed on the types of chargers. 2. EV RIDE AND DRIVE EVENT PLANNING Hassebroek stated the September Conservation Commission September meeting was rescheduled to Wednesday, September 14, so the Ride and Drive Event would be held on Monday September 19, 4:00 -7:00 p.m. Partners in Energy was a possible partner in this. They had offered to help with planning and have a booth. She needed the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department to agree to date then would work with vendors. 3. RECYCLING AND ORGANICS EDUCATION Hassebroek summarized the original discussion from May. The main question was whether to hold an online versus an in-person event. Possible topics were difficult-to-dispose items or a zero-waste event. The Fix-It Clinic would be held in December. She asked for input on in- person/online training and topics. Conners suggested one of each and Hassebroek agreed. Discussion followed on holding an in-person event that could also be streamed. Hassebroek stated Council Chambers would work better for this than the Sustainability Commission meeting room. Discussion followed on possible sites: Eden Prairie Library, the Eden Prairie Community Center, a senior center, or rented rooms at the Eden Prairie Mall. The consensus was that fall was preferable to summer. Hassebroek added an event in October or November would allow the student representatives to participate. Poock suggested a date before Halloween, so that pumpkins could be a part of the conversation. 4. STUDENT COMMISSIONER PROJECT DISCUSSION Hassebroek stated seven students would be joining in September. In the past year the commission had divided them into three groups of two to pursue independent research for a project. She asked for thoughts of the past year or any suggested changes the commission members wished to make. Sustainability Commission Minutes July 12, 2022 Page 4 Poock noted the student representatives would attend seven meetings, so he suggested having them choose in September their month among these seven to present. A five-minute presentation would suffice. They would also be asked to help with events. Eddy-Theis noted that even speaking to this group alone was a project. Hassebroek stated two previous students had actually planned and held a webinar. Discussion followed on the difficulty of students jugging schedules with school and activity commitments. Wieland suggested asking what the students expected to get out of this involvement. Hassebroek replied the intent was to engage students more, aside from attending meetings, and to pique their curiosity. Poock stated there were multiple events offered throughout the year than represented an opportunity for students and the commission could ask them to attend and volunteer at one at minimum. He reminded the commission to cc Hassebroek on emails and/or meet with students after Sustainability Commission meetings with her or another commission member present. Hassebroek suggested one or two commission members stick around after meetings to talk with students. The intent was not to have them prepare for hours but to complete a short project. It was also a resume-builder. It could even be attending and presenting on a City Council meeting. Poock offered to stay after the meeting any month to guide student representatives. He suggested asking what made the students join the commission. Katzenberger suggested leaving the students to pursue their particular passion: activism, government, entrepreneurship, observation. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR Poock stated the Fourth of July Hometown Celebration event was a success. The water stations had great signage, there were composting and recycling stations, and it was the first year composting was featured. The Police Tesla had been on display. Wieland stated today was the deadline to register for the Hennepin County Zero Waste Challenge. C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION 1. WATER UPDATE 2. WASTE UPDATE 3. LANDSCAPE/POLLINATOR UPDATE 4. ENERGY UPDATE Sustainability Commission Minutes July 12, 2022 Page 5 D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS V. OTHER BUSINESS VI. UPCOMING EVENTS VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Wednesday, August 10, 2022, in the Heritage Rooms 1&2. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Enninga is moved, seconded by Eddy-Theis to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 p.m.