City Council - 02/16/2016 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 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
I. 20-40-15 RECAP AND NEXT STEPS
20-40-15 Recap
Fleet Services Supervisor Paul Schlueter and Facilities Manager Paul Sticha presented the final
results of the 20-40-15 program. The program, which was rolled out in 2005, called for the
City to improve energy efficiency in all of its facilities by 20 percent, increase fuel efficiency
of its vehicle fleet by 40 percent and accomplish these goals by the year 2015.
Schlueter said the 20-40-15 fleet services goals included increased use of renewable fuels,
reducing both impacts to the environment and operating costs. Fuel economy increased steadily
from 2005 to 2015, with the exception of a slight dip in 2014. By the end of 2015 annual fuel
economy had increased by 44.4%. The City saved an estimated 304,458 gallons of fuel at an
average cost of$2.50 per gallon, for a net savings of$761,145. Fleets' average MPG went
from 7.93 in 2005 to 11.45 in 2015.
Schlueter said these savings and improvements were achieved by:
• Reducing the fleet size by 20 vehicles
• Replacing 29 gas engine medium and light duty trucks with B20 diesel fuel compliant
engines
• Replacing six vehicles with electric hybrids
• Replacing 32 squad cars with engine cylinder deactivation/management technology
• Replacing 11 full-size 4x4 vehicles with compact utility vehicles
• Implementing a"fuel misers" award program
• Reducing engine horsepower on heavy duty plow trucks
• Making fuel efficiency a primary criteria when selecting vehicles for replacement
Schlueter said staff will continue to work to improve fuel efficiency by right-sizing for optimal
performance, focusing on positive energy conservation behaviors and reviewing
alternative/renewable fuel options.
Sticha said the facilities' goal of achieving a 20% energy improvement in city-owned buildings
was achieved with a final increase of 21.8% at the end of 2015. This increase has resulted in
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February 16, 2016
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reduced energy cost savings of$267,500 annually and reduced energy consumption by 18
billion BTUs over the 10-year period.
These improvements were achieved by:
• Installing more efficient lighting, including LEDs
• Replacing older HVAC equipment
• Installing solar panels at the Community Center
• Installing additional insulation when buildings are reroofed
• Incorporating an ammonia refrigerant system at Community Center Rink 2
Moving forward, energy efficient equipment will be used when older equipment needs to be
replaced. In addition, the Den Road Liquor Store re-roofing project will include additional
insulation and new energy efficient HVAC equipment.
Council Member Case asked Schlueter about the costs involved in achieving the fuel economy
goal. Schlueter said he does not know the specific amount,but the cost of purchasing energy
efficient vehicles has come down significantly since the program began. Council Member
Nelson asked if it is feasible to convert our heavy duty trucks to electric. Schlueter said that
currently these types of vehicles are very expensive and would not be cost effective since the
City does not put on enough on each vehicle to see a payback.
Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked if the solar panels at the Community Center have been successful.
Sticha said they are producing energy, but the installation is fairly small so the savings are not
significant at this point.
Council Member Butcher Wickstrom has if the City has shared our successes with other cities.
Schlueter said that when the program was first implemented, Cliff Cracauer participated in a
consortium that included other cities and partner organizations such as GE Fleet Services.
Council Member Aho asked if there are other significant improvements on the horizon.
Schlueter said staff is looking into installing geothermal equipment at the water plant and
converting additional parks parking lots to LED lighting.
Butcher Wickstrom said Maple Grove has completed a geothermal project, and it appears to be
successful. Sticha said staff looked into incorporating geothermal into Fire Station 4 when it
was designed, but the payback period would have been 40+ years. Sticha said technology and
costs may have changed significantly since then, but geothermal still works best in new
construction. Schlueter said much of the initial cost is in drilling of wells, which is why the
technology might work well at the water plant.
Next Steps
Getschow said the City Council reviewed a list of potential next step initiatives at their 2015
goal setting workshop. Each Council Member identified their top priorities. There was not
consensus about where efforts should be directed at that time.
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February 16, 2016
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Getschow noted the City has participated in the Minnesota Green Step Cities program for the
past five years. The program involves 29 sustainable best practices in five categories: lighting,
buildings and land use, transportation, environmental management, and economic and
community development. Cities are awarded "steps" based on implementation of the 29
practices. Eden Prairie was one of the first communities to achieve the "Step Four"
designation. Step Five is currently being developed by the MPCA and its partner organizations.
Steps 4 & 5 involve metrics, benchmarking and reporting.
Community Development is starting its 10-year revision of the Comprehensive Guide Plan. For
the first time, the plan will include a chapter on sustainability. Great Plains Institute will assist
in creation of this portion of the plan.
Getschow said the Conservation Commission was asked to weigh in on possible next steps.
Although they did not recommend one area of focus, they ranked water and recycling/solid
waste as the top two areas for action.
Getschow said staff is recommending a concept called Sustainable Eden Prairie. Instead of a
long term program with specific goals, the emphasis would be on goals that might change
every year or two, and would include continuation of the metrics, benchmarking and reporting
the City instituted for the Green Step Cities program.
Discussion
Council Member Nelson said she would like to see a new set of 10-year goals, similar to the
20-40-15 program. She said new goals would encourage"big picture striving," and could
include some of the same areas covered by 20-40-15. She said she agrees that water and
energy conservation merit some emphasis.
Council Member Butcher Wickstrom said she likes the idea of keeping the big picture in mind.
She said how the City communicates efforts will be important. She would like residents to be
involved as much as possible. She said she likes the idea of including a sustainability chapter
in the comprehensive plan.
Council Member Case said he sees the advantage of setting goals,but agrees that keeping the
big picture in mind is important as well.
II. OPEN PODIUM
Scheduled Speakers
A. LynMarie Berntson—Berntson spoke in favor of the pollinator-friendly resolution
that is on the City Council agenda this evening.
Unscheduled Speakers
B. Chase Fehr - Fehr said he lives on Lesley Lane in the Birch Island Woods area.
He said he approached staff about designating the area as a railroad quiet zone.
Fehr said he was told by City Engineer Rod Rue that the City is working with a
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February 16, 2016
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consultant on a study to determine if a quiet zone is feasible and what associated
costs would be. Fehr said he has collected signatures of more than 100 people in
his neighborhood who support implementing a quiet zone. Fehr asked where the
issue stands, and whether there is anyone who opposes a quiet zone. Public Works
Director Robert Ellis said staff has received input from the Federal Rail
Administration and T&CW Railroad that indicate they may be supportive of the
idea;however, the City would be responsible for covering the costs, which could
be between $300,000 and $500,000. Ellis said the project is not currently in the
10-year Capital Improvements Plan,but that it could be added if there is
agreement that it makes sense. Ellis noted that the City is currently looking at
adding a pedestrian crossing near Eden Prairie High School, and that would need
to be part of the discussion.
C. Patricia Hauser—Hauser said she represents an organization called Humming for
Bees. She said they are excited about the pollinator-friendly practices Resolution
the City Council will be considering during their regular meeting. She asked if the
resolution is passed, a signed copy be forwarded to Eden Prairie's local
legislators.
III. ADJOURNMENT