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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 04/14/2026Approved Meeting Minutes Eden Prairie Sustainability Commission 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2026 City Center – Heritage Rooms 1&2 8080 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 ATTENDEES Commission Members: Aaron Poock (Chair), Cindy Hoffman (Vice Chair), Tim Conners, Michelle Frost, Daniel Hendrickson, Alexis Junker, Heike Peters, Moussa Ousmane, Carolyn Wieland Student Commission Members: Lillian Beutz, Avni Maheshwari, Ava Muilenburg, Shailee Rana, Paili Rice, Atharva Sarmah, Jhansi Senthilkumar, Syon Shetty, Ipshita Tiwari, Colin Weiher City Staff: Jennifer Fierce - Sustainability Coordinator, Kristin Harley – Recording Secretary MEETING AGENDA I. Call the Meeting to Order Chair Poock called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. All commission members were present. Student representatives Maheshwari and Senthilkumar were absent. II. Approval of Agenda and Other Items of Business MOTION: Hendrickson moved, seconded by Hoffman, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 9-0. III. Minutes A. Sustainability Commission meeting held Tuesday, March 10, 2026 MOTION: Wieland moved, seconded by Ousmane, to approve the minutes of the Sustainability Commission Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Motion carried 9-0. IV. Reports A. Reports from Staff 1. NEW COMMISSIONER WELCOME SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 14, 2026 Heike introduced herself, and the current commission members and student representatives introduced themselves. 2. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Fierce displayed a PowerPoint and explained the bills moving through the legislative process. HF 3555/SF 3873 – Plug in or Balcony Solar Plug in or balcony solar had bipartisan support, which allowed residents to plug into a small solar panel (hung over balcony railings in Europe). This was attractive because it was a more affordable and portable alternative to rooftop solar, not requiring utility involvement. Certification of solar panels would be required. Conners stated there would be a prototype of this at the Eco Expo, as well as solar shingles. Tesla produces these as well. Frost noted coal plants were being shut down across the state. HF 4888/SF 4298 - Data center moratorium A moratorium on data centers was introduced in the last few days to allow the legislature to study the effects of them on energy, water, and the impact on property taxes and jobs. Data centers have existed for a long time but are being built at a larger scale now. There were several data center bills pending at this time. HF 4880/SF 5053 - Solar Consumer Protections These bills would affect how solar companies operate in the state. They would need to be licensed, and specific information would be required in their materials, including language in contracts. Reputable solar companies supported it. HF 4703/SF 4900 AND 1435 - Nuclear Power Study There is presently a moratorium on new nuclear power plant construction in Minnesota. Nuclear waste was a concern. This bill proposed that modular nuclear would be studied, which was smaller and less intensive than traditional plants. Conners noted supporters of this also advocated the use of nuclear energy in general. The House version of the bill was being rewritten. Conners stated the exploration of nuclear power was an important option in meeting sustainability goals. HF 3179/SF 3429 - Building Energy Performance Standards SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 14, 2026 This would require the larger existing building stack to reduce energy use by applying specific GHG reduction requirements. Because large buildings are struggling with vacancies, building owners were not supportive and the legislation might not advance. HF 3945/SF 4126 - GHG Pollution Cost Recovery Program This is like federal superfund sites funding, but specific to greenhouse gas pollution (fining energy and fossil fuel companies). There would be a one-time penalty. Even the authors of the bill have said this will not be passed this year, but the aim was to start a conversation. Similar bills were introduced in Vermont and New York and are being contested. Fierce reminded commissioners that residents can provide comments on specific bills to their legislators. Conners urged the commission members to join relevant groups. Conners added that mining is one of the biggest polluters of water, whereas the deaths due to nuclear power were relatively small. Hoffman added 25 percent of the energy currently produced was due to nuclear power. 3. WATER TREATMENT PLANT GEOTHERMAL PROJECT Fierce displayed an image of Water Treatment Plant, which had been built in 1974 and expanded several times. The current HVAC system is at the end of useful life, and the City had waited to update to implement a geothermal system. It would be completed by the fall of 2026. It would use treated water as a heat sink instead of drilling more wells. This would reduce 636 metric tons of GHG emissions annually. The total cost was about one million less than standard HVAC due to a tax credit. There was an article on this in the Eden Prairie News. This is Eden Prairie’s first geothermal project. 4. SUSTAINABILITY CITIZEN’S ACADEMY PLANNING Fierce displayed a PowerPoint asking for goals, stakeholders, and outcomes. After discussion, the commission united around targeting specific communities (seniors and the Somali community) and tailoring the information to their needs. The members also wished to give out swag. Discussion followed on reaching these multifamily audiences. Hendrickson suggested a field trip to the water treatment plant. Conners suggested using native plantings as an introduction to sustainable methods. Junker suggested a winter sowing jug of native plant seeds, referencing the Homegrown National Park Project. Rice suggested advertising the annual swaps. Hoffman suggested incentives for purchasing balcony solar, such as a certain SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 14, 2026 discount amount toward purchase. Heike stated there would be restrictions for plug-in solar for HOA and multi-family buildings. Hendrikson stated there were Blue Thumb grants for flowerpot gardens. He also suggested recruiting sponsors. Junker suggested enacting a similar allowance for solar in HOA residences for balcony solar in multifamily developments. Discussion followed on plug-in solar. Hendrickson asked for and received confirmation the City had access to interpreters. Fierce stated there is an on-staff community liaison for the Somali community, which may be helpful for outreach. There is not staff for the Spanish-speaking community. Rice stated Eden Prairie High School had a Spanish liaison staff. Peters suggested resident events at buildings. Fierce stated once the commission narrowed down the design for this academy/workshops, the rest would come together. Sarmah suggested online webinars and Hendrickson suggested a bookmobile model. Wieland suggested a different term than an “academy.” Junkers suggested an interest survey. Discussion followed on the concept of the academy. Fierce noted the importance of information and resources being of actual value to participants, and not just an overload of information. Hendrickson suggested having a guest speaker. Peters suggested piggybacking on resident events, if any. Poock urged an easier start, with a simple curriculum. Hoffman urged learning what the audiences wanted, and not to sell them new ideas. Fierce stated she would follow up with staff at the senior center and with the Somali liaison to start discussing options for events. Tiwari announced the upcoming Eco Expo at the Eden Prairie Center. There would be 69 exhibitors, raffle prizes, six EV companies represented, and shingles made from recycled tires. B. Reports from Chair Poock welcomed Peters and thanked everyone for the discussion. C. Reports from Commissioners SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 14, 2026 Hendrickson brought up organic recycling in townhouse community, saying Republic billed him for the receptacle but the State of Minnesota stepped in and reversed the bill. Poock offered to follow up with him. D. Reports from Students V. Upcoming Events A. Eco Expo – Saturday, April 18, Eden Prairie Center, 10 AM to 5 PM B. Spring Recycling Drop Off, Saturday, April 18, Yard Waste Site, 8 AM to Noon C. Board and Commission Banquet – Thursday, May 14, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 6 PM to 8 PM VI. Next Meeting A. Tuesday, May 12, 2026 VII. Adjournment MOTION: Hendrickson moved, seconded by Hoffman, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 9-0. Chair Poock adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m.