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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSustainability Commission - 02/14/2023APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023 7:00 P.M., Heritage Rooms 1&2 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Aaron Poock (Chair), Emily Eddy-Theis (Vice Chair), Laura Bishop, Tim Conners, Gretchen Enninga, Cindy Hoffman, Daniel Katzenberger, 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 7:04 p.m. Absent were Commissioners Conners and Enninga, and student representative Dhiman. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS MOTION: Eddy-Theis moved, seconded by Katzenberger to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MARCH 8, 2022 MEETING MOTION: Katzenberger moved, seconded by Hoffman to approve the minutes from the January 10, 2023 meeting. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. IV. REPORTS A. REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. RESIDENT LEARNING SESSIONS PLANNING Fierce displayed an editable PowerPoint and explained the proposals. The qualitative goals were to encourage Eden Prairie residents to take steps to reduce emissions; provide residents a visible presence for help; cover a variety of topics to meet residents where they were with their interests; build the commission’s connection to community; provide skills and Sustainability Commission Minutes February 14, 2023 Page 2 knowledge; and ensure outreach connected with a diverse cross-section of residents. Quantitative goals strove for 10 participants if the event was in person and 20 if online, with the number raised if it was tied to another event. 75 attendees was the stretch goal to match last year’s student presentations. [Wieland arrived at 7:10 p.m.] Topic suggestions included: • Sustainability 101 • Solar • Recycling and Organics • Pollinator Friendly Plantings • Energy Assistance Other planned events included two planned Electrify Everything Minnesota (EEMN) workshops and another EV Ride and Drive event. EEMN would cover weatherization and efficiency. Fierce planned to come to the March meeting with a schedule of dates. Discussion followed on the specifics of the Sustainability 101 session: title, primary audience, partners, existing knowledge level, supports, et cetera. Hoffman noted the title was quite broad. Bishop suggested it was a “What Does It Mean to Be Green” basic training with tips and would inform the community what the city does. She gave the example of the Wayzata High School students who collected recyclables from senior living centers. Hoffman agreed the training needed to tie into other, larger events. Katzenberger agreed and suggested an “Introduction to Sustainability” with reasons why and information about City programs. If not tied to another event the training would at least be held at a location accessible by public transit. Hoffman suggested partnering with a “pop up” summer event that would target multi-family and senior complexes. Katzenberger stated he received a lot of practical questions regarding home improvement and economic advantages of sustainable improvements. Poock suggested partnering with school club fairs. Fierce asked similar questions around the solar education presentation. She suggested small business owners were a more likely audience than large corporations, and most questions would likely center around rebates, tax credits and financing. Katzenberger replied partnering with the Chamber of Commerce to target businesses. Bishop agreed, and added religious congregations were also potential partners, and perhaps early adopters. Discussion followed on other early adopters in business and elsewhere. The commission members decided to focus on a partnership Sustainability Commission Minutes February 14, 2023 Page 3 with the Chamber of Commerce, perhaps in a broader sense than just the solar presentation. Discussion followed on a possible speaker. Mark Weber of the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society was a possible speaker. Most of the schools in Eden Prairie utilized solar energy, as did Pax Christi Church. Hoffmann asked who could be a resource for the tax incentives and rebates information, for without this information, the commission might wish to focus on residents as an audience. Fierce replied Weber might have this information; she offered to explore this and other past speakers. Katzenberger added he could speak as well. For Recycling and Organics, Fierce noted past events were well attended. She suggested senior and multi-family units. Wieland stated she had taught a class on this subject entitled “Sustainability Simplified” that was a basic level introduction to organics recycling and composting which included kits to take home. She added she had done a separate reuse presentation, and this was perhaps a more advanced presentation than the one the commission was aiming for. Little suggested an idea to encourage small businesses to differentiate between recycling and garbage bins, since many were similar in appearance. Poock agreed but stated it could be an obstacle to businesses, who often provided bins whose contents frequently all unfortunately went into garbage. Bishop asked if it was possible to target landlords. Fierce replied it was but getting them to attend was the question. Poock stated this would be an introductory-level training and the impact would be residential. Katzenberger stated the public was willing to “do something” due to greater environmental literacy but needed specifics. Fierce agreed this subject had already been covered as a resident-focused training program. Poock encouraged the subject of reuse be incorporated. Discussion followed on new multi-family units being built in Eden Prairie. Wieland volunteered to explore an educational program targeting them. Hoffman asked for and received confirmation the Fourth of July was now a waste-free event. Pollinator Friendly Plantings Fierce stated this was probably oriented toward homeowners who were already interested in gardening. The Wild Ones were active in Eden Prairie already and would make a good partner in this, and many City properties had been converted into pollinators. Katzenberger suggested offering pollinator kits along with trees during the annual tree sale. Hoffman stated the Wild Ones had their tours scheduled. Fierce suggested potentially partnering with them. Discussion followed on locally owned beehives. Eddy-Theis suggested Picha Farms as a partner, which had an annual plant sale. Sustainability Commission Minutes February 14, 2023 Page 4 Energy Assistance Fierce stated there were many programs out there for utility bill assistance that were complicated and not very accessible to many residents, so this was an equity subject. She suggested an assistance workshop timed with the upcoming winter utility bill/policy changes (payment plans, assistance paying bills, weatherization assistance for lower-income households, et cetera). Working with a local food shelf may be one avenue to connect with residents who need utility assistance. Katzenberger agreed with pairing with a food shelf and asked how the IRA could apply in this subject area. Fierce replied that the tax rebates were not quite ready. It was possible to have an event without the IRA due to the amount of information available. Seniors were another group who were less likely to apply for these programs. Eddy-Theis suggested partnering with the Prop Shop. 2. 100 PERCENT CLEAN ELECTRICITY BILL UPDATE Fierce displayed a PowerPoint and stated the 100 Percent Clean Electricity Bill had been passed. In Minnesota now, utilities had to provide entirely carbon-free electricity by 2040, 80 percent carbon-free by 2030 for investor-owned utilities, 90 percent carbon-free by 2035. There would be flexibility in how this standard is met—ownership, carbon-free credits, et cetera. The PUC could consider deviations based on cost or reliability issues. The bill did not call out specific technologies, just stated that it be carbon free, to allow for innovations. Hoffman stated the community needed education around this legislation, which went back to the resident learning sessions. B. REPORTS FROM CHAIR CITY COUNCIL WORK PLAN PRESENTATION RECAP Poock stated he presented, and the City Council and Mayor expressed their thanks to the commission members and student representatives for its accomplishments and proposed 2023 Work Plan. The Mayor and Council had examined the Plan and had suggestions that it had sent to Fierce. Poock stated he wished to focus on how only six percent of Eden Prairie residents participated in energy programs through Xcel Energy. He also asked the commission to keep in mind there were residents who did not use the internet and to provide information on the different ways to sign up for these programs. One resident asked a question, which was the first time in 15 years this had happened at one of these presentations, and Poock hoped for more such resident participation. Sustainability Commission Minutes February 14, 2023 Page 5 C. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION Eddy-Theis announced this was her final meeting. D. REPORTS FROM STUDENTS Little announced he had seen on the news that Minnesota tied its vehicle standards to California standards. Little announce Eden Prairie High School introduced compost bins in one lunchroom, but they were nondescript and did not use liners. It also had a lid with a sign saying “organic” and it appeared to be unused. Hennepin County had previously assisted students with labeling. Discussion followed on the intentions of the school administration. V. OTHER BUSINESS VI. UPCOMING EVENTS March 11, 2023 – Everything Spring Expo, Grace Church, 9 AM to 3 PM April 15, 2023 – Park Clean Up Day, TBD April 22, 2023 – Eden Prairie AM Rotary Eco Expo, Eden Prairie Mall, 10 AM to 8 PM April 29, 2023 – Arbor Day and Green Fair Event, Staring Lake Park, 10 AM to 1 PM VII. NEXT MEETING The next Sustainability Commission meeting will be held Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in the Heritage Rooms 1&2. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Bishop moved, seconded by Hoffman to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 p.m.