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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 03/12/2024APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 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 7:01 p.m. Absent were commission members Nehl, Ousmane and Enninga and student members Brazil, Ehler, Gunturi, Gurumurthy, Hepper, Khanikar, Narayanan, and Tumu. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS MOTION: Bishop moved, seconded by Hoffman to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MARCH 8, 2022 MEETING MOTION: Wieland moved, seconded by Conners to approve the minutes from the February 13, 2024 meeting with the correction to mark Dowdal-Osborn present. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. EV SMART CERTIFICATION Fierce displayed a PowerPoint and summarized the EV Smart Certification process. Minnesota was a pilot state for EV readiness programs for local Sustainability Commission Minutes March 12, 2024 Page 2 governments, which provided technical assistance plus best practice implementation. There were six rating categories: planning, regulation, utility engagement, education and incentives, government operations, and shared mobility. Eden Prairie would receive Bronze Designation in April, and there would be a ceremony at City Hall. Eden Prairie had 170 points, and 200 were needed for Gold Designation. The U.S. Department of Energy was turning this into a national program, which might bright some changes, including to the name. Discussion followed on the number of EV vehicles in Eden Prairie. Fierce offered to pull those numbers. 2. RENEWABLE ENERGY PROMOTION FINALIZATION Fierce presented the previous discussion items and current options and asked for feedback. Previous discussion items: • Expand from green power purchase to promotion of all renewable options (Green Power Purchasing, on-site solar, community solar garden). • Focus on residential challenge first, look at mailed info for small businesses in the future. • Promote residential challenge starting in April at various events. Challenge structure alternatives: • Street/block • Church groups • Student groups • Community organizations The three renewable energy pathways were green power purchasing, onsite solar, and community solar. Discussion followed on whether already completed items would count. The community solar garden ribbon-cutting would be held in early June. Frost asked for and received confirmation the public was invited to the ribbon-cutting; she suggested using this for publicity. Discussion followed on metrics. Fierce suggested a menu of potential pledge options, with citizens choosing one. The timeframe for the challenge would be over the summer. Fierce stated a webpage had been built and there would be handout materials. Discussion followed on length, goal and metrics. Hoffmann stated a commitment was difficult due to everyone being in a different place energy- Sustainability Commission Minutes March 12, 2024 Page 3 wise, unless they could commit to try, or commit to investigate, et cetera. Fierce acknowledges some tasks were simpler than others. She suggested structuring the challenge toward taking some steps toward renewable energy. Conners suggested a tiered approach. Discussion followed on the structure of a pledge. Solar United Neighbors: • Group buy opportunity, discounted group rate • Registration closes May 31 • Currently reviewing proposals from contractors • Co-sponsored by Coon Rapids, Minneapolis, MRES, Two Rivers Land Trust, and Eden Prairie Fierce played a promotional video for this program. 3. ARBOR DAY EVENT PLANNING FINALIZATION Fierce went through the list of activities where commission assistance would be needed: compost giveaway, commission booth, garden tool swap, clothing swap from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the high school, and giveaways of promotional items such as bags, utensils, and water bottles. Cain offered to collaborate with the National Honor Society. The event would be held Saturday, April 27. 4. EYE ON WATER APP INTRODUCTION Fierce stated the meeting next month would be at the water treatment plant and encouraged commissioner to download and become familiar with the app prior to the meeting. B. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION Conners reminded the commission the Eco Expo would be held April 20, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There would be one community solar provider. Ehler asked for volunteers for the photo booth. C. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS Osborn said the next step was to handle any clothes left over from the clothing swap. VI. UPCOMING EVENTS Tuesday, March 19, Woodland Invaders Teachout Monday, April 1, Turf Alternatives Saturday, April 13th, Citywide Park Cleanup 8 AM to 10 AM @ Park TBD Saturday, April 20th, Eco Expo, 10 AM to 6 P @ Eden Prairie Center Saturday, April 27th, Arbor Day Event, 10 AM to 1 PM @ Round Lake Park Sustainability Commission Minutes March 12, 2024 Page 4 VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at the Eden Prairie Water Treatment Plant, 14100 Technology Drive. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Bishop moved, seconded by Frost to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.