City Council - 08/21/2018 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY,AUGUST 21, 2018 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, Kathy Nelson,
and Ron Case
CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief James DeMann, 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 Katie O'Connor
Workshop - Heritage Rooms I and H(5:30)
I. SUSTAINABLE EDEN PRAIRIE
Public Works Director Ellis introduced Carol Lundgren, Sustainability Specialist, who
presented an overview of Sustainable Eden Prairie (EP) goals and progress. Sustainable EP
was implemented throughout Departments and Divisions a year ago. It is an ongoing effort
focusing on education and implementation of sustainable practices.
Lundgren stated the Sustainable EP webpage has had a 34-35 percent increase in website
traffic from the last year. City Manager Getschow added since implementation, the City has
been promoting Sustainable EP and the webpage. Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked what the
difference is between page views and visits. Getschow responded a page view is a visit to a
page on a website. A visit is a sequence of consecutive page views without a 30 minute
break.
Lundgren provided statistics on the reach that each media platform has when information is
distributed. The statistics are limited to the viewers that have received the information and
does not include how many people the information has been shared with. Tyra-Lukens
inquired if there are 11,496 Eden Prairie residents on Nextdoor. Lundgren replied yes.
Lundgren stated the Sustainable EP Tour is on its second year. The program is an opportunity
for residents to see the projects the City has been working on. There were 32 total
participants in 2018 and 25 participants in 2017. Currently, the Sustainable EP Awards
nomination period is open through August. Last year the City recognized five award
recipients who have made a notable contribution to the community in sustainability.
Lundgren stated additional educational materials and classes, specifically those geared
towards youth, are located at the Outdoor Center and in the Environmental Learning Center
at the Water Treatment Plant(WTP). Tyra-Lukens inquired how many classes and students
visit the Water Treatment Plant every year. Lundgren replied in 2018 there have been 31
classes and 886 students that have visited the WTP this year. There have been 26 classes and
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August 21, 2018
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186 students that have visited the Outdoor Center classes thus far in 2018. The City started
an assistance program for transportation for Eden Prairie Schools to visit the WTP.
Lundgren provided an overview of the Energy Action Plan, implemented October 2017.
Goals are to reduce energy related greenhouse gas emission below the 2015 base line 30
percent by 2025 and achieve an 80 percent reduction by 2050 and have 75 percent of
households participate by 2025. To work towards this goal, the City promotes Home Energy
Squad (HES) visits, conducts energy challenges, provides educational materials, and works
with Housing and Community Services (HCS) Division to have materials translated. The
goal by 2025 is a 25 percent reduction in energy use in the public, nonprofit, and service
organizations. The goal is 50 percent of the largest commercial and industrial energy users
will participate in programs. Staff are working with HCS, the Conservation Commission
(CC), and Building Inspections to help assist in reaching these goals.
Tyra-Lukens inquired how many HES visits have been completed. Lundgren replied HES
completed 207 visits with an additional 28 scheduled throughout the remainder of the year.
Council Member Aho asked what the City's capacity is to provide those visits. Lundgren
stated visits typically do not take place for a few months. She is unsure of how many visits
they conduct in a day. HES is serving the entire Twin Cities and conducts an energy audit
and implements energy saving items.
Lundgren presented energy goal progress in comparison to the baseline year 2016. Case
inquired if this data relates to the goal of having 75 percent of households participating in
these programs by 2025. Lundgren responded yes. Aho inquired if the HES visits are no
longer subsidized. Lundgren replied yes. Nelson noted residents that are not represented in
the data may also be implementing energy saving practices that we are unaware of. Getschow
noted HES visits are up drastically in the last two years. The entire program is a little less
than halfway to meeting the baseline numbers for participation.
Lundgren presented data on the greenhouse gas emissions that have been avoided and the
cost savings is $943,386. Facilities has been working with a company for solar installation
and subscription on City buildings. There will be a community solar garden at the
Community Center. Residents who are Xcel Energy customers will have a chance to
subscribe while it is available. Nelson inquired if there will be spots reserved for low-income
families. Getschow replied after rulings at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) the benefit
is less than it was for kilowatt hour(kWh) credits. Council does have the ability to designate
spots for low-income families. Tyra-Lukens inquired if the delay is only in the subscription
program. Getschow replied yes, the solar arrays on City buildings would be built soon after
approval but there is a backlog of work for the subscription program.
Case asked how many kWhs the solar arrays are anticipated to produce. Getschow responded
close to 100 percent of the municipal energy would be renewable. Lundgren stated the City
will participate in an off-site solar garden subscription through Xcel Energy as well. It is
estimated the solar project will save the City over$100,000 the first year and $4.9 million
over the next 25 years. Getschow added these estimates are without any City dollars.
Ellis stated the City has reached out to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) about
utilizing the landfill site for solar. They have determined this is likely one of the best
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August 21, 2018
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locations in the state for landfill solar installation. There are still some considerations that
would need to be reviewed before the project could start. Outreach with nearby neighbors
would need to happen prior to the project moving forward. Aho inquired if MPCA is still are
capturing the gas. Ellis replied yes.
Lundgren presented additional programs. SolSmart designation is a free US Department of
Energy program. They have advisors that help guide the City through the designation
program and the installation of solar. The more goals you meet, the higher the designation
the City receives.
The City currently has eight electric vehicles in our fleet. The City would likely have to wait
for costs to decrease before investing more, specifically in duty vehicles. Ellis added in 2020
Ford is expected to release a F150 electric vehicle, which would be ideal for duty vehicles.
Aho inquired which vehicles are electric and the cost to maintain. Ellis stated the City has a
Prius, a few Volts and several hybrids. Little maintenance is required, but the City has not
had the vehicles for long. Replacing the battery would be costly,but the City would trade in
at 100,000 miles. Nelson inquired how long they are expected to last. Ellis stated the City has
had the vehicles for about three years,but he expects to have them for longer. Lundgren
stated Fleets Manager Schlueter is working on a grant for two electric vehicle charging
stations at the Community Center. The grant is funded by the Volkswagen Diesel settlement
with MPCA. If awarded, they would be installed in spring of 2019. Ellis added this would
have a feature to charge for usage to encourage vehicle turn over. Nelson inquired if the pay
station includes a time limit. Ellis stated he does not believe it does.
Lundgren stated Eden Prairie is a pilot city in Hennepin County's energy benchmarking
program. This program provides transparency and creates demand for energy efficiency.
Edina and St. Louis Park plan to make this program mandatory for businesses over 25,000
square feet if implemented. Nelson added further discussion needs to be had to encourage 75
percent of businesses to cut their energy usage. Aho added it should not be mandatory,but
the City should consider incentives for participation. Ellis added Saint Paul made this
program voluntary. Tyra-Lukens stated she would like it to be mandatory for businesses.
Lundgren stated the City continues to convert turf grass into native landscaping. Since 2014,
15.5 acres have been converted. Nelson inquired if the City is adding milkweed for monarch
butterflies. Lotthammer noted milkweed is present. Ellis noted much of the park land has
been converted and the City is considering implementing native landscaping in outlots.
Lundgren presented restoration plans for lower Riley Creek Conservation Area. The plan is
to stabilize the bank, eliminate and prevent the spread of buckthorn, and provide a new
bridge and trail connection. The estimated cost of the project is $1.5 million. Riley Purgatory
Bluff Creek Watershed district is the primary funder and Lower Minnesota Watershed
District is contributing $150,000. The City is also contributing $150,000 in addition to
building a bridge, creating trail connections, and providing 50 percent of the cost of storm
sewer improvements.
Lundgren stated the recommended residential water usage is 65 gallons per resident per day.
Ellis stated upgrading to more efficient appliances is the most practical way to decrease water
usage, and Eden Prairie offers rebates. Lundgren provided an overview of the water reuse
project at Fire Station 2 and smart irrigation system with sensors at Miller Park fields 9-13.
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Lundgren presented the countywide waste goals. Most notable, the waste-to-energy has a six
percent increase. More waste is being burned than brought to the landfills. Metals are being
recycled from the burned waste. Additionally the 2018 Clean-up Day was successful with
175.3 tons recycled. Ellis stated haulers less likely to bid on citywide clean-up days unless
it's written in a city hauler contract. This created incentive to have a yard waste drop off site.
Nelson inquired when the City plans to have the yard waste drop off site available. Ellis
responded it would most likely be open in 2020.
Lundgren stated residents are recycling 670 pounds per household. Recycling numbers in
Hennepin County are staying stable. The County is looking into requiring organics recycling
either via curbside pick-up or creating drop-off sites. Ellis stated the City is looking into
making a requirement for residential haulers to offer organics recycling at no additional cost.
Nelson added she receives many inquiries if the City would consider providing recycling
every week and refuse every other week.
Lundgren stated the City is offering residents an opportunity to be involved in Wind Source
through Xcel Energy. Residents who register could win an HES visit or a smart thermostat.
At the Citywide Open House there will be many resources and representatives available to
discuss sustalnability topics.
Open Podium - Council Chamber (6:30)
II. OPEN PODIUM
III. ADJOURNMENT