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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 05/13/2024APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2024 7:00 P.M., Heritage Rooms 1&2 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Aaron Poock (Chair), Laura Bishop, Tim Conners, Gretchen Enninga, Cindy Hoffman, Moussa Ousmane, Carolyn Wieland, Michelle Frost, Jim Nehl STUDENT MEMBERS: Rylee Brazil, Sophie Cain, Lucy Dowdal-Osborn, Alyssa Ehler, Lalitha Gunturi, Roshan Gurumurthy, Isaac Hepper, Sabreen Khanikar, Pranav Narayanan, Kate Ropchak, Lilli Timpe, Keerti Tumu CITY STAFF: Jennifer Fierce, Sustainability Coordinator, Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Poock called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Commissioners Hoffman and Ousmane were absent. Student Commissioners Brazil, Cain, Gunturi, Gurumurthy, Hepper, Khanikar, and Tumu were also absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS MOTION: Conners moved, seconded by Nehl to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MARCH 8, 2022 MEETING MOTION: Bishop moved, seconded by Enninga to approve the minutes from the April 9, 2024 meeting. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. GREENSTEP CITIES AWARD 2023 Fierce summarized the award, saying that Eden Prairie had retained step five status. The data showed a slight dip in energy use across all city Sustainability Commission Minutes May 13, 2024 Page 2 facilities. There was increased mileage per gallon across all diesel fleet. There was also an increased number of fleet EVs and public charging stations, both public and private. Eden Prairie’s stormwater assessment processes had improved due to its having addressing salt (via the salt smart program). The loss in drinking water decreased from 6.6 percent to 4.1 percent. There was an increase in renewable energy installation and production, and renewable purchases for City operations increased by 221 MWh. Conners asked what the plan was for EV purchases by the City. Fierce replied Eden Prairie is open to any electric vehicle that fit the City’s needs but was hampered by production rather than willingness to purchase more. Several of the city’s existing EV’s had a long lead up in production, and then once purchased and delivered they had to be outfitted (especially police vehicles). Fierce was hopeful this would become easier in the future. Three Chevy Blazers had been purchased for the police department that were pursuit-rated and they would arrive by the end of the year, but then had to be outfitted and marked. There are only a handful of companies in the state that do upfitting work and all were backlogged. Fierce added the Police Department is excited about the potential for the Blazer. The EV’s are replacing the current gas-powered vehicles, not in addition. The Mustang is used for investigations, as it could not be outfitted with the appropriate electronics needed with the existing battery capability. EYE ON WATER PROMOTION Fierce displayed the updated sign-up numbers and asked for feedback on the promotion plan. The stretch goal was 45 percent. Discussion followed on leak notices. Poock asked if an individualized QR code was possible. Fierce replied a generalized note was possible, but not with direct account info. Wieland suggested promoting the service and app when tabling Eden Prairie events, perhaps with a banner and/or short videos. Fierce stated the company itself promotional video, but the commission could create other promotional materials such as a banner. Nehl asked about communications numbers for city promotions. Fierce responded 4,000 had signed up to the Sustainable Eden Prairie email list, and 3,300 had subscribed to the City Manager reports. Discussion followed on the commission creating its own video. Topics of focus were targeting long showers (especially when college students come Sustainability Commission Minutes May 13, 2024 Page 3 home for the summer), leaks, and toilet/faucet running/problems. Fierce suggested focusing on residents getting the app and/or on communicating the app’s benefits. Nehl suggested a gift certificate. Conners stated the Eden Prairie News had increased circulation 47 percent from 22 to 23, with 2,800 subscribers. Fierce stated she would contact the Communications Department regarding promotions. EARTH MONTH EVENT RECAPS Turf Alternatives/Resilient Yards Webinar Fierce stated the online Resilient Yards workshop had been held on April 1, 2024. Forty people had signed up, and there had been 22 attendees, which was typical. Park Clean-Up Poock stated he, Frost and Fierce cleaned up at Crestwood Park and he also saw neighbors picking up while exercising or walking dogs. Eco Expo Conners announced there were 53 exhibitors (compared to 35 in 2023) and 1,450 children in attendance (compared to 750 in 2024). Wieland stated this year had a better location. Although a count is hard to do in the exhibit hall, they believe more than 3,000 people visited. Conners added this year saw better marketing, with KARE 11 airing four spots, and WCCO and FOX 9 publicizing the event. Eastville High School in Apple Valley had reported on it, and Eden Prairie News had featured an article. Conners asked for ideas to grow this event for next year. Conners stated Ropchak had done a wonderful job keeping the website current, setting up the photo booth, and filling in where needed. Arbor Day Frost stated it was a cold day for the event, but it was successful. Fierce stated the quality of items garden tool swap this year was not as good as in 2023. There had been 33 pounds donated total, but under 15 were taken. The rest Fierce took home and placed online. A lot of plastic pots for plants had been contributed, and Chanhassen had held a tool swap the same day. She received a lot of questions requesting free compost. Clothing Swap Fierce displayed the presentation on the community clothing swap and Wieland, Dowdal-Osborn, and Timpe narrated. They suggested an earlier drop off for clothes next year, perhaps at a library or school prior to the event. The sorting process was time-consuming and perhaps should be done by having contributors set out their own items in addition to the Sustainability Commission Minutes May 13, 2024 Page 4 volunteers who helped. More volunteers at the beginning of the event would also help. Wieland commended the student’s commitment to running a great event. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR Poock thanked the student representatives on this final commission meeting for them. C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION Wieland stated the West Metro Asian fair needed volunteers to help staffing sustainability stations such as composting and trash on June 1 in Plymouth. She added four people showed up to her and Nehl’s presentation at St. Andrew’s Church but had great conversation around recycling. Nehl stated he had worked on a checklist for commission use and distributed an example. Wieland stated there would be the Cooperative Energy Futures Annual Meeting at the Community Center on June 8 to give a tour of solar panels. D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS V. OTHER BUSINESS Poock and Fierce acknowledged the student representatives’ hard work this past school year. VI. UPCOMING EVENTS May 1-31 - Curbside Recycling Pickup Thursday, May 16 - Board and Commission Banquet, Garden Room VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in the Heritage Rooms 1&2. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Sustainability Commission Minutes May 13, 2024 Page 5 MOTION: Enninga moved, seconded by Bishop to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:27 p.m.