City Council - 09/18/2012 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 CITY CENTER
5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher
Wickstrom, Kathy Nelson, and Ron Case
CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George
Esbensen, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah,
Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City
Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
Workshop - Heritage Room H
I. 20-40-15 PROGRAM
Facilities Manager Paul Sticha discussed next steps for the 20-40-15 program. Sticha
distributed a spreadsheet listing potential Phase 4 projects, which were divided into four
categories based on cost and whether or not they can be implemented by staff alone or
require the assistance of a consultant. Sticha said the proposed projects are all at the
concept level, and will be fleshed out once staff has received input from the City Council
on which ones they want to explore.
Sticha said lighting has been converted to LED at some buildings and parking lots. This
program could be accelerated at the Council's direction. Council Member Aho asked if
the LEDs are mostly being used outdoors. Sticha said that is the case. Inside lights have
been switched out with the most efficient fluorescent bulbs available. Sticha said it would
be very costly to convert to LED indoors at this point,but staff will continue to monitor
prices. Council Member Nelson asked if LED lighting is being considered for the
Community Center parking lot. Sticha said LED will be considered when it is time to
replace the current lights. Nelson asked if LED is being considered for the City's ball
fields and stadiums. Mayor Tyra-Lukens said the payback would probably be much
longer since the lights are used less than those in our parking lots.
Capital-intensive projects that could be implemented by City staff include:
• Solar Voltaic Panels
• Electric Vehicles
• Electric Charging Stations
• Small Green Roof at Community Center
• Low E-Rink Ceilings
Sticha estimated payback time on all of these projects was from 4 to 15 years, with the
exception of the green roof(30 to 40 years).
Capital-intensive projects that would require partnering with a consultant include:
0 Water Distribution Geothermal (10 to 18 year payback)
City Council Workshop Minutes
September 18,2012
Page 2
• Solar Hot Water Panels (20 to 30 year payback)
• Waste Oil Heating Plant- Maintenance Facility (10 to 15 year payback)
• Water Plant Geothermal Cooling (Unknown payback time, requires further study)
Projects that would require a consultant and would use CIP or other funding sources
include:
• Conversion of Rink 2 from Freon to Ammonia Refrigerant (No cost recovery because
the floor has already exceeded its theoretical useful life)
• Waste Heat Recovery from Rink Compressors (8 to 14 year payback)
Council Member Butcher suggested looking into whatever system Maple Grove is using
for geothermal cooling, since they have apparently had success with it. She is very
interested in exploring geothermal cooling at the water plant.
Mayor Tyra-Lukens said the low cost projects that can be implemented by City staff
should be done according to the regular maintenance schedule. She also suggested
looking into the following projects in more detail:
• Low E Rink Ceilings
• Waste Oil Heating
• Waste Heat Recovery
• Solar Panel Display
She said it does not make sense to invest much money in City Center until a decision on
the future of the building has been reached.
Nelson said she would like staff to explore purchase of electric vehicles and installation
of a charging station at some point. She said solar panels would make sense in
conjunction with an electric vehicle/charging station set-up.
Aho said he is not enthused about a green roof, since the pay back is so long.
Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer said the opportunity to implement waste
heat recovery from rink compressors arises from the required replacement of Freon with
ammonia in Rink 2.
Open Podium - Council Chamber
II. OPEN PODIUM
A. UHG/Shady Oak Road Project
Stacy Bettison, Jay Jensen and Corinne Lynch shared concerns about
development of UHG's new campus. All three live near the site and are worried
about increased traffic, visual impacts, and the resulting effect on home values.
Bettison said the neighborhood wants to ensure that the project is visually
pleasing. Jensen said there are already bottlenecks on the Crosstown, which will
only get worse when thousands of additional workers begin commuting to the
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September 18,2012
Page 3
UHG site. Lynch said in addition to living near UHG, she is a member of the Nine
Mile Creek Watershed District Board. She is concerned that more of the wetlands
are being removed. Lynch said it would have been nice if more nearby residents
had been informed of the project. Council Member Case said he would like to
discuss the neighborhood's concerns during the regular City Council meeting so it
can become part of the permanent record.
III. ADJOURNMENT