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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 11/12/2024APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2024 6:00 P.M., Heritage Rooms 3&4 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 COMMISSION MEMBERS: Akhil Agrawal, Raghava Dwivedi, Evie Elmquist, Gabriel Hernandez, Lucinda Jacobs, Simone Kirkeby, Ishika Nanavati CITY STAFF: Jennifer Fierce, Sustainability Coordinator, Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Commissioner Wieland called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. Commissioner Enninga and Student Commissioners Dwivedi and Nanavati were absent. Chair Poock and Vice Chair Hoffman arrived at 6:10 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS MOTION: Bishop moved, seconded by Nehl to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 8, 2024 MEETING MOTION: Nehl moved, seconded by Bishop to approve the minutes from the October 8, 2024 meeting. Commissioner Wieland abstained. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. 2025 WORK PLAN DRAFT DISCUSSION Fierce explained the annual work plan preparation and approval process, and the structure of the work plan document. She also reminded the Commission of the high-impact actions identified in the latest Climate Action Plan update. Sustainability Commission Minutes November 12, 2024 Page 2 Commissioner Frost inquired about the possibility of providing city incentives to promote fuel switching such as rebates. Fierce explained the current incentives as referenced in the CAP action are federal incentives, not city. She explained the city budget process. Frost asked about gathering information about how other city incentives are set up and exploring as a future possibility. Fierce commented that those cities utilize franchise fees for their rebate programs, and commented on the intention would be to increase Electrify Everything events when federal rebates are available to residents. Commissioner Bishop clarified that the federal rebates will be issued at the state level. Fierce commented that Minnesota’s funding application had been approved but not implemented yet. Commissioner Conners asked about the current incentives, and Fierce commented those are tax credits and not direct rebates. Fierce inquired if the Commission would like to continue to host electric vehicle showcase events in the future. Commissioner Frost commented that more people were interested in talked to her about her electric lawnmower than her car. Commissioner Wieland ask if there is anything new coming out soon in electric vehicles. Commissioner Frost liked the pairing with Electrify Everything. Commissioner Conners stated Electrify Everything has tabled at the EcoExpo the last several years. Fierce commended the number of EV owner volunteers attended the event this year. Commissioner Hoffman suggested moving the event to a more visible location. Commissioners debated the value of having it outside at the Eco Expo. Commissioner Bishop suggested the potential of pairing with other big community events. Commissioner Ousmane asked how to target the event to younger people. Commissioner Hoffman inquired about the feasibility of partnering with other big events due to space. Fierce did not have a good sense at their openness to it at this time. Commissioner Hoffman asked about the city’s previous input towards Home Energy Squad and how to connect that with commercial outreach. Fierce noted that some programs already exist through the Chamber of Commerce but were not well utilized. The Commission discussed how they can be involved in helping climate- focused bills at the State Legislature in 2025. Commissioner Hoffman inquired about the potential of implementing a plastic bag fee. Fierce did not have a sense at this time of the level of support for such a policy. Commissioner Nehl inquired about the potential of implementing large building benchmarking. Fierce responded that the city did consider it, but the State Legislature stepped in and passed a law for statewide Sustainability Commission Minutes November 12, 2024 Page 3 benchmarking requirements for larger commercial buildings in 2022 or 2023. Fierce commented on the requests for compost at Arbor Day and committed to providing that in the future but asked the Commission how they felt about continuing to table at the event as it has been an ongoing challenge to get commitments. Commissioner Conners commented that there are higher impact tabling options available. Commissioner Hoffman commented about how busy April has been in the past. Commissioner Bishop commented on the value of the Eco Expo. The Commission discussed shifts for future Eco Expo tabling. Commissioner Bishop asked about forming a volunteer list for sustainability volunteers. The Commission agreed to end tabling at Arbor Day and participation in the Park Clean Up and focus efforts on tabling at the Eco Expo. Commissioner Frost asked about a citizen’s guide to climate action. Commissioner Nehl discussed a checklist he had worked on and next steps. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR None. C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION • Commissioner Conners noted Eco Expo will be held April 12, 2025. • Commissioner Frost noted Ms. Fierce’s presentation upcoming the next night at Wild Ones Prairie’s Edge’s monthly webinar. VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, December 10, 2024. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Poock moved, seconded by Ousmane to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 8-0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.