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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 03/14/2023APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2023 7:00 P.M., Heritage Rooms 1&2 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Aaron Poock (Chair), Laura Bishop, Tim Conners, Gretchen Enninga, Cindy Hoffman, Carolyn Wieland STUDENT MEMBERS: Tanvi Bhujle, Mia Cain, Palak Dhiman, Maura Fitzgerald, Tyler Little, Taylor Oliver, Suchita Sah CITY STAFF: Jennifer Fierce, Sustainability Coordinator, Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Poock called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Absent was student representative Dhiman. Commissioners Eddy-Theis and Katzenberger have resigned. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS MOTION: Hoffman moved, seconded by Conners to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MARCH 8, 2022 MEETING MOTION: Conners moved, seconded by Wieland to approve the minutes from the February 14, 2023 meeting. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. 2022 GREENSTEP CITIES METRICS OVERVIEW Fierce displayed a PowerPoint and explained she had updated the GreenStep metrics. City owned and private solar generation sites cumulative over time: Sustainability Commission Minutes March 14, 2023 Page 2 In 2018 there were 94 sites. In 2019 these had increased to 113 sites. In 2020 there were 136 sites and in 2021, 385 sites. Generation at City owned and private solar generation sites: In 2018 generation was at 1,088 KW size. In 2019 it had increased to 1,637 KW size. In 2020 it was at 1,792 KW size and in 2021, 17,780 KW size. Purchase in green power purchase programs showed the following numbers: 1,059 in 2018, 1,249 in 2019, 1,405 in 2020, and 1,522 in 2021. Solar production at all City facilities was at 81,391 KWh in 2018, 880,969 KWh in 2019, 1,015,707 KWh in 2021 and 956,561 KWh in 2022. Community solar garden purchases for City operations showed the following numbers: 620,426 KWh in 2020, 2,755,690 in 2021, and 2,526,127 in 2022. EV registrations and public charging stations: In 2018 there had been171 registrations and zero public EV charging stations. In 2019 there were 315 registrations and 14 public EV charging stations. In 2020 there were 418 registrations and 14 public EV charging stations. In 2021 there were 588 registrations and 18 public EV charging stations. In 2022 there were 753 registrations and 23 public EV charging stations. Curbside recycling tonnage between 2007 and 2022showed high levels in 2007, 2011-2012, and 2020-2021, but was variable. Irrigation rebates showed the following numbers: In 2018, 61 rebates for a total of $6,003. In 2019, 101 rebates for a total of $16,384. In 2020, 114 for a total of $11,839. In 2021, 108 for a total of $13,444. In 2022, 77 for a total of $9,251. 2. RESIDENT LEARNING SESSIONS PLANNING UPDATE Fierce displayed a PowerPoint detailing the ideas for the sessions. The concept called for an entry-level sustainable living information session with a potential tie-in to other larger events, perhaps PeopleFest. The 2023 date for the main celebration was still TBD, whereas last year it was held July 31. Discussion followed on having an information booth versus Sustainability Commission Minutes March 14, 2023 Page 3 giving a presentation. Wieland offered her presentation at any time, although it might not work with this particular event. Fierce stated she liked the idea of using PeopleFest as a platform to advertise the learning session and offered to look into this more. The solar session would have a small business focus and a possible partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and/or Xcel Energy. Fierce stated the Chamber was interested in energy efficiency and solar solutions. Pollinator Friendly plantings: Fierce pulled up the Blue Thumb website to display their Resilient Yards workshops, which came in two parts: an always ready online learning and a Zoom meeting with landscape designers. These had been held in Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, and a few other cities. The City of Eden Prairie contacted with them for a Resilient Shoreline workshop. The City would have to pay Metro Blooms for this but it would be an out-of-the- box solution. Fierce offered to look further into this. Recycling and Organics: Fierce stated she had not been able to work on this yet. Energy Assistance: Fierce noted there were many climate bills going through the State Legislature. She had a tracking list and offered to forward the document to the commission members. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR Poock stated he had attended the Everything Spring Expo which featured a solar boat regatta and speakers from the Wild Ones. Xcel Energy offered LED bulbs. It had been a busy event. C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION 1. WATER UPDATE 2. WASTE UPDATE Wieland announced the City of Bloomington was offering curbside bulk item pickup. Edina offered an adult clothing swap and fashion show on April 20 and was looking for volunteers and models (of secondhand clothing). There would also be a sneaker drive. Information was available on the City of Edina website. Sustainability Commission Minutes March 14, 2023 Page 4 Wieland also stated St. Louis Park had passed a sustainable packaging ordinance for food. The aim was to educate rather than fine, and the City was aiming for citywide compliance. Conners stated the Eco Expo at the Eden Prairie Center still had room for exhibitors. It was also seeking volunteers for setup and tear down on April 22, Earth Day. 3. LANDSCAPE/POLLINATOR UPDATE 4. ENERGY UPDATE D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS Little stated the Tree Huggers were forming an Energy Committee for the school. The students would work on more waste issues, and there was a goal to electrify the bus fleet. He asked how to enforce only EVs park at EV charging stations at the Community Center. Fierce replied staff had been talking about setting up some ordinance or ticketing system. Conners commended the students for their efforts. Discussion followed on efforts to work with the school on waste issues. V. OTHER BUSINESS VI. UPCOMING EVENTS • April 15/16, 2023 – Park Clean Up Day, TBD, 8 AM to 2 PM • April 22, 2023 – EP AM Rotary Eco Expo, Eden Prairie Mall, 10 AM to 6 PM • April 29, 2023 – Arbor Day and Green Fair Event, Staring Lake Park, 10 AM to 1 PM • May 6, 2023 – Spring Recycling Drop-Off Event, Yard Waste Site, 8 AM to 12 PM • May 15, 2023 – Electrify Everything MN Workshop, Community Center, 6 PM to 8 PM VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in the Heritage Rooms 1&2. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Enninga moved, seconded by Hoffman to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m.