HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-04-08 PacketMinutes of the Regular Meeting of the
Energy and Environment Commission
Edina City Hall Community Room
Thursday, April 8, 2010, 5:30 P.M.
Members In Attendance and Roll Call: Dianne Plunkett Latham, Bill Sierks, M. Germana
Paterlini, Jeannie Hanson, Michael Platteter, Paul Thompson, Julie Risser, Surya Iyer, Hailey
Lee
Staff Present: Heather Worthington, Jane Timm
1. Welcome
Meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chair Latham.
2. Discussion and Approval of Agenda.
Commissioner Thompson made a motion to approve the meeting agenda with
amendments. Commissioner Risser seconded. Motion carried.
3. Approval of the March 11, 2010 Meeting Minutes.
Commissioner Thompson made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 11,
2010 meeting. Commissioner Paterlini seconded. Motion carried.
4. Community Comment
Bob Gubrud of the Education and Outreach Working Group gave the commission
information about a workshop on April 20 in Apple Valley. Mr. Gubrud and Commissioner
Thompson agreed to attend the workshop and report at the May EEC meeting.
5. Staff Report
Assistant City Manager, Heather Worthington talked about two GreenStep meetings she
attended, one with Kristina Smitten and one with the Pilot group.
Ms Worthington asked the commission to give an update at the May EEC meeting regarding
the one page reports required for the GreenStep Pilot.
Ms Worthington asked the commissioners to look at the Pilot Within A Pilot — LHB Corporation
that was in the packet. She asked to have this item put on the agenda in May for discussion.
Ms. Worthington gave a report on a meeting with Xcel Energy and Centerpoint
representatives.
Commissioner Platteter made a motion to promote the Xcel and Centerpoint "Energy
Squad" program. Commissioner Iyer seconded. Motion carried.
6. GreenStep Cities Assignments
At this time there was a discussion about the GreenStep assignments.
Commission Paterlini made a recommendation to get the most current draft of the required
steps of the GreenStep Cities Pilot Program from Ms. Worthington.
The commission discussed the proposed purchasing policy.
Commissioner Iyer made a motion to approve the environmental purchasing policy
with some small editorial changes. Commissioner Risser seconded. Motion carried.
Chair Latham asked the commission to create a task force to review the turf management
policy.
Commissioner Sierks made a motion to create a task force to review the City of Edina's
Turf Management Policy. The members of the task force would include Energy and
Environment Commissioner (Paterlini), Park Board Commissioner, Community Health
Commissioner, Edina Staff, Sherry Engelman and Vince Cockriel. Commissioner Iyer
seconded. Motion carried.
Commissioner Sierks gave an update on a local government energy financing law that was
passed April 1, 2010.
Chair Latham explained to the commission a concept to have artists design recycling bins and
place around the city.
Commissioner Risser made a motion to establish a Recycling Bin Task Force
consisting of a Recycling and Solid Waste Work Group member and Public Art
member. Staff members would include Solvei Wilmot and a staff person from the Art
Center. Commissioner Thompson seconded. Motion carried.
7. Chair Report
Chair Latham asked the commission to discuss the possibility of meeting with the sister
cities involved in the GreenStep Pilot Program.
Chair Latham asked the commission to make a motion and approve the Alternatvie Energy
Working Group members.
Commissioner Thompson made a motion to approve the Alternative Energy Working
Group members. Members included, Jeannie Hanson, Richard Griffith, Bob Gubrud,
Richard Oriani, Greg Nelson, Ron Rich, and Renee DiVicino. Commissioner Sierks
seconded. Motion carried.
Chair Latham requested a motion to approve member Bob Genovese to the Education and
Outreach working Group.
Commissioner Thompson made a motion to approve the new Education & Outreach
Working Group member, Bob Genovese. Commissioner Risser seconded. Motion
carried.
The commission discussed the two openings on the Energy and Environment
Commission.
Chair Latham reminded the commissioners of the tentative date of June 15, 2010 for a
work session with City Council.
Chair Latham asked the commissioners for their opinion regarding changing the November
11, 2010 meeting to November 18, 2010. All commissioners were in agreement.
Chair Latham was asked to check with Assistant City Manager, Heather Worthington about
business cards for commissioners.
8. Education and Outreach Working Group Report
Commissioner Thompson gave a report on the Report to the Community on March 23,
2010.
Commissioner Thompson gave the commissioners information on the EEC/Bike Edina
Task Force bike ride from Braemar Golf Course to Quality Bikes. The tentative date was
either May 20 or May 27.
Commissioner Thompson gave the commissioners information on the Bike Rodeo, April
17, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Highlands School.
Commissioner Thompson requested the commission to approve the expenses from the
Report to the Community in March 2010.
Commissioner Paterlini made a motion to approve expenses submitted by
Commissioner Thompson from the March 23, 2010 Report to the Community for
$65.90. Commissioner Risser seconded. Motion carried.
9. Adjournment
Commissioner Sierks made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Iyer seconded.
Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. The next meeting will be the
regularly scheduled meeting at 7:00 p.m. May 13, 2010 at Edina City Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane M. Timm, Deputy City Clerk
EDINA PUBLIC MEETING PROCEDURES
During "Public Hearings, " the Chair will ask for public testimony after City staff members make their presentations. If you wish to
testify on the topic, you are welcome to do so as long as your testimony is relevant to the discussion. To ensure fairness to all speakers
and to allow the efficient conduct of a public hearing, speakers must observe the following guidelines:
• Individuals must limit their testimony to three minutes. The Chair may mods times, as deemed necessary.
• Try not to repeat remarks or points of view made by prior speakers and limit testimony to the matter under consideration.
• In order to maintain a respectful environment for all those in attendance, the use of signs, clapping, cheering or booing or any other
form of verbal or nonverbal communication is not allowed.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION
AGENDA FOR MEETING
May 13,2010,7:00 PM — 9:00 PM — Community Room, Edina City Hall
1. Welcome, Call to Order and Roll Call (2 min) — Chair comment on revised public meeting procedures above
2. Approval of Agenda and Topic Time Allocation (5 min)
3. Approval of March 4 minutes (3 min)
4. Community Comment (10 min)
Chair Report (10 min) Welcome new Commissioners; Amended Student Ordinance; City Manager Search
Process (7:00 May 19 City Mgr Input by residents); April 26 panel discussion at Golden Valley City Hall; NEMO
workshop — When after July 12? ; Policy needed on Working Group meeting locations; For information on
progress of the 3 Rivers Trail see http://www.threeriversparks.org/news/construction/planning-for-nine-mile-
creek-regional-trail-in-edina.aspx.
Education Outreach Working Group Report — Paul (10 Min)
Report on April 20 Roundtable; 3`h of July Parade Plans
Sun Current Article Schedule — Jim Jones Commercial Recycling; Julie Mellum `Scented Laundry Fresheners',
Volunteer Recruitment for WG's
West Metro Roundtable - Tuesday May 4, St. Louis Park Recreation Center 3700 Monterey Drive, SLP
55416 east of Hwy 100 on West 36th St. Co-sponsored by the City of St. Louis Park
North Metro Roundtable - Thursday May 13, Fridley City Hall 6431 University Ave., N.E. Fridley, MN
55432 a mile north of 694 on University. Co-sponsored by the City of Fridley
East Metro Roundtable - Monday May 17, Boutwell's Landing 5600 Norwich Parkway, Oak Park Heights,
MN 55082 —just north of Hwy 36
7. Residential Energy Project — Bill Sierks, Michael Platteter, Paul Thompson
8. Staff Report (10 min) — May USGBC Conference (City sending Heather Worthington); Public Work Site Small
Area Guide Process update; Business Cards (Jane to bring sample of a blank card), GreenSteps update; LHB
Corp. recommendation; Product Stewardship Resolution Status.
9. GreenStep — Commissioners would like a meeting with their GreenStep counterparts — When? (5 min); See
revised Air Quality step in packet.
10. Green Step Pilot 1 p. Reports http://www.ci,edina_mn.us/pdfs/best%20practices%20green%20step%20cities.pdf
# 17 Storm Water Management — Heather (10 min)
#15 Purchasing (Propose rename from Policy to Guidelines) — Substep 1 & 9 Germana; #2 Jeannie (10 min)
# 16 Urban Forests — Dianne (10 min)
#23 Benchmarks & Community Engagement — Sub Step 1 & 2 Germana; Sub Step 4 Paul (10 min)
#24 Green Business Development — Sub Step 2 & 4 Dianne; Bill to select a long term goal (10 min)
#25 Renewable Energy — Jeannie (10 min) except Sub Step 2, which is Bill
# 18 Green Infrastructure — Dianne (10 min)
11. Future Meeting (s) — June 10, 2010; Tentative June 15 City Council Work Session; Nov. 11 meeting has been
moved to Nov. 18 in Mayor's Conference Rm
Best Practice: #16 Urban Forest
Description: Increase city tree and plant cover.
Current Practice: The City of Edina has received the Tree City USA designation in the past, but let it lapse. It
should not be difficult to get recertified as a Tree City USA. The City of Edina, has no tree preservation
ordinance. The City of Edina has landscaping performance standards in 850.10, but they do not require any tree
cover in parking lots.
Best Practice as it applies to Edina:
The Urban Forest Task Force (UFTF) recommended undertaking the following two sub steps:
#1 Qualify as a Tree City USA. City Forester Tom Horwath will draft the application for 2011.
#6 At least two practices must be chosen. The UFTF recommends the following:
a. Enact Ordinances to protect trees in the development process and to enhance the urban forest The UFTF
has drafted an Edina Tree Preservation Ordinance (ETPO) based on the unsuccessful ETPO ordinance
proposed in Edina in 2002.
b. Adopt Landscaping performance standards that specify tree cover and other vegetation to be used in
parking areas, maintenance yards and in other areas of mostly impervious surface An amendment is
proposed to 850.10 subdivision 1 (0) to require 25% parking lot canopy in 10 years.
Barriers to implementation: The 2002 EPTO, on which the proposed amendments are based, was defeated. Concerns
expressed by the Planning Commission and the City Council in 2002 included the increased involvement of the City
Forester, who, as a part-time employee, could not comply with additional duties, as well as concern for making the
entire city a tree preservation zone, which subjects residents to a tree removal permit requirement each time they
wish to relandscape. The proposed ETPO does not involve City Forester time and applies only to public property or
to private property where the level of development requires that the project come before the Planning Commission
for approval.
Step Effectiveness — No comments.
Implementation schedule:
1) Achieve Tree City USA certification by 2011.
2) Ordinance revisions to be implemented in 2011.
GreenStep City Best Practice # 23
final draft for comment through May 2010 —
www.MnGreenSteps.org
❖ Local Air Quality: Prevent generation of local air contaminants.
Optional for all cities
Category: Environmental Management
Summary
Through implementation of GreenStep City land use and transportation best practices, cities can shape physical
development patterns and the actions of community members such that vehicle miles traveled are decreased, and
thus air pollution from vehicles is decreased. Air pollution from other sources - businesses and local power plants —
can be cut through implementation of actions in the GreenStep business assistance and renewable energy best
practices.
In addition to these actions, cities can take additional measures to support the actions of community members that
result in lower outdoor and indoor air pollution, improved public health and decreased health care costs. Several of
these actions have cities conducting, or assisting others to conduct, education campaigns tied to making it
easier/cheaper for citizens and businesses to adopt behaviors or equipment that prevent or reduce the generation of
air pollutants.
Best Practice Actions
➢ Category A and B cities must complete at least one of the following actions if they choose to implement this
best practice.
➢ Category C cities must complete at least two actions if they choose to implement this action.
(1) Conduct an education/financial assistance campaign around one of the following issues:
a. Indoor wood burning behavior, to ensure that wood burning is only done with seasoned wood and in
a manner that doesn't impact negatively on neighbors.
b. Indoor wood burning technology, to result in community members upgrading from inefficient/more
polluting fireplaces and wood stoves to natural gas stoves and fireplaces or the most efficient
certified wood stoves.
c. Smoker cars - older model/high polluting vehicles, to result in repairs spurred by repair vouchers.
(2) Regulate outdoor wood burning, using model ordinance language, performance standards and bans as
appropriate, for at least one of the following:
a. Recreational burninc.
b. Outdoor wood boilers.
(3) Conduct one or more education/behavior change campaigns on the topics below and document:
a. Decreased vehicle idling in specific locales or by specific fleets.
b. Increased sales by retail stores of low and no-VOC household products.
c. Replacement ofag soline-powered equipment with lower polluting equipment.
(4) Document the participation of at least 3 larger businesses/fleets in at least one of the following:
a. Clean Air Minnesota's Proiect GreenFleet.
b. U.S. EPA's SmartWay Transport program.
c. Installation of auxiliary power units that reduce truck and bus idling.
(5) Install at least two public charging stations for plug-in hybrid and full electric vehicles.
See related best practices Renewable Energy for community -scale biomass energy plants and Efficient City Fleets.
GreenStep Advisor
• Lisa Herschberger, Analysis & Outcomes Division, MN Pollution Control Agency: 651/757-2432,
Lisa.Ilerschber er ,state.mn.us
Implementation Resources
(tied to the relevant action by number)
(1 a) A very important attribute of seasoned wood is that it contains less than 20% moisture.
(la and b) MPCA resources on residential wood burning and U.S EPA Burn Wise resources provide specific
information detailing cleaner burning practices and public awareness toolkits that can be customized for
Minnesota: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/woodsmoke/index.html and http://www.epa.gov/burnwise
(1 a and b and 2a and 2b) EPA Strategies for Reducing Residential Wood Smoke includes information on education
and outreach tools, regulatory options and examples, wood stove and fireplace change -outs, funding options,
hydronic heaters (includes outdoor wood boilers) and fireplace programs, and emissions and air quality
improvements: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/tl/memoranda/strategies-doc-8-11-09.pdf
(1 a and b) Information on medical hazards of exposure to wood smoke and other fine particulate pollution from the
EPA - How Smoke From Fires Can Affect Your Health:
http://www.epa.gov/airnow/smoke/Smoke2003final.pdf and Particle Pollution and Your Health:
http://www.epa.gov/aimow/particle/pm-color.pdf
(1 b) The wood stove appliance standards from Washington State are recommended:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/indoor woodsmoke/wood smoke page., htm
(lb) Current U.S. EPA -certified wood stoves and cleaner burning fireplaces are more polluting than those falling
under Washington State standards, but these EPA standards will be upgraded in the next few years:
http://www,epa.gov/Compliance/resources/publications/monitoring/caa/woodstoves/certifiedwood.pdf and
http://www.epa.gov/bumwise/fireplacelist.html
(lc) See the Valley Clean Air Now (CAN) Tune In & Tune Up 2007 Program from Arvin, California:
http://www.valley-can.org
(2a) Model open burning ordinance developed by the League of Minnesota Cities: http://www.Imc.org search for:
open burning
(2b) A number of urbanized cities have placed a ban on use of these wood burners (Savage, Burnsville, Stillwater).
Other cities have adopted performance standards — such as the U.S. EPA white tag performance standard
(below), moratoriums, restrictions on warm season usage, and/or permitting, setback and stack height
requirements. U.S. EPA maintains a list of the hydronic heaters (including outdoor wood boilers) with
measured emission rates meeting the Phase 11 (white tag) ,emission limit of less than 0.32 lbs. of fine particles
(PM 2.5 (particulate matter sized 2.5 microns or less) per million BTU output (i.e., useful heat):
http://www.epa.gov/bumwise/owhhlist,html The white tag attached to all qualified units is shown here:
http://www.epa.gov/bumwise/pdfs/poster.pdf
(3a) MPCA anti -idling resources, including model policies and educational materials:
http://www.pea.state.mn.us/air/cleandiesel.html
(3b) Indoor air quality resources: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/mnenvironment/fa112008/indoorair.html
and http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/air/index.htm
(3c) Lower -polluting equipment includes rechargeable electric or push lawn mowers, 4 -stroke engines for
professional lawn maintenance, and electric or 4 -stroke gasoline boat motors.
(3c) Lawn mower sharing campaign: http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/res detail.cfm'?id=4264
(4a) Project GreenFleet, a collaborative effort lead by Minnesota Environmental Initiative, with business,
government agencies and non-profit organizations, to improve air quality and protect public health by reducing
emissions from Minnesota's school buses and other diesel vehicles: http://www.projectgreenfleet.org
(4b) U.S. EPA's SmartWay Transport program: http://www.epa.gov/smartwa //
(4c) MPCA financing for auxiliary power units:
http://www.oca.state.mn.us/projzrams/sbomb loan. html#evaluation
(5) For resources on public charging stations, contact Fran Crotty, Prevention and Assistance Division, MN
Pollution Control Agency: 651/757-2297, fran.crotty(,pca.state.mn.us
Benefits
• EPA-certified wood stoves are much cleaner than uncertified stoves and fireplaces. However, they still create
roughly 150 times more harmful fine particles than a gas furnace.
• Outdoor wood boilers can emit 1,000 times more pollution than traditional indoor gas and oil furnaces and
warrant attention if they emit more than EPA's Phase Il fine particle emission standards and/or they aren't
located far from the property line. Problematic situations are more likely in more densely populated areas.
• Residential wood smoke contains fine particles and toxic air pollutants (e.g., benzene and formaldehyde). Each
year, smoke from wood stoves and fireplaces contributes over 420,000 tons of fine particles throughout the
country. Nationally, residential wood combustion accounts for 44 percent of total stationary and mobile
polycyclic organic matter (POM) emissions and 62 percent of the 7-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH),
which are probable human carcinogens. There is also public concern about the use of older technology
hydronic heaters (also known as outdoor wood boilers) and their growing use, particularly in the Northeast and
Midwest. The health benefits associated with reducing fine particle emissions, including wood smoke, are
significant. If all of the old wood stoves in the U.S. were changed out to cleaner burning hearth appliances,
EPA estimates that at least $35 billion in health benefits per year could be realized. Eliminating these
emissions could help avoid thousands of premature deaths, non-fatal heart attacks, chronic bronchitis and
asthma attacks for example. (Excerpt from EPA Strategies for Reducing Residential Wood Smoke:
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/tl/memoranda/strategies-doc-8-11-09.pdf )
• Vehicles with diesel engines represent only 10% of traffic on Minnesota roads, but contribute a significant
amount of the air pollution generated by vehicles in the state, making improvements to them a high payoff
investment.
• Air pollution levels in homes are often two to five times higher than outdoors, according to EPA studies. Many
years of attention to indoor smoking has improved indoor air quality, but now widely available non-toxic
paints, cleaners, furnishings and other home products make furtherimprovements possible.
• Benefits of four-stroke boat engines: http://www.smalIoutboards.com/4Stroke.htm
Connection to State Policy
• While Minnesota cities have overall air pollution levels that typically fall under state/national standards, local
air quality can be compromised by a variety of specific conditions, which cities can address by targeted actions.
www. MnGreenSteps. org
Best Practice: #18 Green Infrastructure
Description: Use parks and trails to enhance the city's green infrastructure.
Current Practice: The city of Edina has no policy on low maintenance native landscaping. The 1995 Edina Turf
Management Plan was last updated in 2001. Well # 14 is used to irrigate the City of Edina's Braemar Golf Course, which
is also certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Edina has community involvement in land restoration and
stewardship in the form of community initiated buckthorn busts. When a group volunteers to remove buckthorn, the City
Forester gives them a presentation on how to do it. The City provides the roundup and tools such as weed wrenches and
hand saws. The City hauls the buckthorn to the city brush dump at Braemar Arena. From there the City of St Paul District
Energy comes to chip it up and, for a low fee, haul it to St Paul to be burned for energy.
Best Practice as it applies to Edina: The Urban Forest Task Force (UFTF) recommended undertaking the following
three sub steps:
#6 Park Management Standards of:
a) Low Maintenance native landscaping - UFTF recommends Park Board institute the following policies:
1) 50% Minnesota native plantings for new plantings in city parks excluding Edinborough & Arneson Park
2) A policy similar to Minneapolis with a list of plants NOT recommended for planting in Edina Parks. This
includes those on the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture's noxious weed list, or which are invasive and
destructive to native plant communities, as well as those which have chronic insect/disease pest
problems that would result in higher maintenance costs and/or early mortality rates.
b) Organic or Integrated Pest Management - A Task Force to update the Turf Management Plan (TMP) was
established at the 4-8-10 EEC meeting. Germana Paterlini will represent EEC, Ellen Jones will represent
Park Board and Vince Cockriel will represent city staff. The Community Health Commission will put it on
its 5-18-10 agenda requesting a volunteer commissioner to also participate. New organic practices and
products have become available since 2001 and need to be evaluated and incorporated into the TMP. The
TMP's List of noxious weeds also needs to be updated to comply with state statute, as well as provision
made for woody invasive control with appropriate chemicals.
c) Sources of Non potable water for irrigation - City well #14 was taken out of service in approximately 2006
due to elevated Radium 226 levels and was repurposed to irrigate Braemar Golf Course.
#7 Certify Golf Courses for Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary - Complete for Braemar. In 2009 the EEC
recommended to the Park Board that city parks be certified as Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries as well. This is
especially applicable to Bredesen Park, which is Edina's passive nature center.
#9 Develop a program that involves community in land restoration and stewardship - A program exists but needs
to be expanded. Maintenance after noxious weed removal must be funded and institutionalized.
Barriers to implementation: Community land restoration is hampered by insufficient funding for removal and
subsequent maintenance, lack of a full-time City Forester, and insufficient numbers of volunteers to deal with Edina's
600 acre parkland noxious weed infestation.
Step Effectiveness - No comments.
Implementation schedule: Turf Management Plan update and the Low Maintenance Native Landscaping policy
implementation in 2011.
Best Practice: #24 Green Business Development
Description: Economic and Community Development
Current Practice:
Best Practice as it applies to Edina:
The Recycling and Solid Waste Working Group recommended undertaking the following two sub steps:
#2 Invite Assistance providerssuch as Minnesota Waste Wise/Minnesota Energy Smart, the Minnesota
Technical Assistance Program and utility assistance providers, to conduct personalized energy,
environmental sustainability, and waste audits with at least 5 businesses.
MPCA is offering assistance to 10 businesses under GreenStep #22 Solid Waste in the form of providing
sample contracts for hauling to assist commercial businesses to modify existing, or create new resource
management contracts with waste haulers to manage recyclables, compostibles and hazardous materials. The
RSW WG will work with local trade associations and give educational presentations on recycling as well as
aiding them with an Easy Office Recycling program.
#4 Support the creation of a value-added business utilizing local waste -products such as wood from trees
felled by storms, disease, insects and development.
St. Paul District Energy picks up and chips the wood from the Edina brush dump at Braemar and hauls it
to St. Paul District Energy's plant at a cost to Edina far less than hauling the brush to a brush dump in
Hastings, as was previously done. The chips are used to fuel St. Paul's District Energy's plant.
Barriers to implementation: Identifying 10 commercial businesses who would like to start a commercial recycling
program.
Step Effectiveness — No comments.
Implementation schedule: One year.
5-3-10
EDINA ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION
SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
The Edina Energy and Environment Commission has four working groups for which it is
seeking volunteers. (1) Recycling and Solid Waste; (2) Education and Outreach; (3) Air
and Water Quality; and (4) Alternative Energy, which has several areas of focus
including wind and solar power.
The Commission invites Edina residents, including high school students, to join in
working to make our city a model of sustainability. If you would like to volunteer to
work on these important topics, please email edinamailnci. edina. mn. us, or call 952-927-
8861 between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or write to
Energy/Environment Commission, Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50`h Street, Edina, MN,
55424. Please indicate which of the above topic(s) are of greatest interest to you.
Indicate them in your order of preference. In addition, tell us a little about what your
background would offer to the working group(s) of your choice.
Jane Timm
From: Gordon Hughes
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 10:13 AM
To: Jane Timm; John Keprios
Subject: FW: Date Change Local Leader Workshop on the Water
Importance: High
See the new date for this.
From: Julie Westerlund[mailto:JWesterlund@minnehahacreek.org]
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 9:41 AM
To: Julie Westerlund
Cc: John Bilotta
Subject: Date Change Local Leader Workshop on the Water
Importance: High
DATE CHANGE: Community Leaders: We discovered our original choice of dates conflicts with the League of Minnesota
Cities Annual Conference and have rescheduled our workshop on the water. We apologize for any inconvenience this
may have caused. We also apologize for any other scheduling conflicts: we realize some organizations meet on this date
— it's impossible to find a date on which everyone is free.
The new date is Wednesday, July 14.
STAFF: please pass this message along to your community leaders. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Julie Westerlund
Dear Community Leader —
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District cordially invites you to a workshop on the water for local elected and appointed
officials, citizen group leaders, and citizen advisors:
"Shorelines and Stormwater: Addressing Impaired Waters and Protecting our Lakes and Creeks"
Wednesday, june 23 July 14, evening
Queen of Excelsior, Lake Minnetonka
Please mark your calendar for the evening of Sane 23July 14! You will be receiving an invitation, including workshop
details and registration information in the next couple weeks. Meanwhile, contact me if you have any questions.
Julie Westerlund
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
Education and Communications Manager
952.471.0590 x209
www. minnehahacreek.ora
18202 Minnetonka Blvd, Deephaven, MN 55391
MINNEHAHA CREEK
a' WATERSHED DISTRICT
OVAIITY Of wATlt, OVAUTY Of Uff
GreenStep Cities - http://www.ci.edina.mn.us/pdfs/best%20practices%20green%20step%20cities.pdf
Proposed Assignments
May 11, 2010 - Draft
Required Steps
GrnStep# Reporting Month Responsible Commissioner/Staff
1. June Public Buildingsghting - #1 & 2 are required plus 1 additional
#1 B3 data base — Required - Complete Heather
#2 Building Audit - Required (Long Term Goal) Michael/Germana/Heather
#6 Internal Loan Fund - Complete Heather
2. June Efficient Private Existing Buildings & Lighting_ 5 votes (2 must be selected from #1-9)
#2 Work with local utility, tailor a utility conservation improvement pgm (CIP) for your city. Bill/Michael
#3 Promote residential energy efficiency programs in city mailings/newsletter — Paul, Bob & EO WG
#5 Watering Ordinance, Conservation Rate Structure — Complete — Heather
6. April — Pilot Rept Complete Comp Plan - #1, #2, #4 are required — Complete - Heather
11. June Complete Streets — #1 plus 2 additional sub steps are required — On 3-27-10
Referred to Transportation Commission (Geoff Workinger & Jennifer Janovy) & Bike Task Force
(Kirk Johnson & Alice Hulbert)
#1 Complete Street Policy — Complete for arterials but could be expanded to side streets
#5 Traffic Calming measures on at least 1 street redevelopment project — Complete but expand
#6 Service Standards for street types including ped & bike performance goals —Complete but expand
15. May Purchasing - #1 & #2 are required plus 1 additional sub step
#1 Purchasing Policy —Complete Germana
#2 Purchase 15% renewable energy by 2015 —Jeannie & Alternative Energy WG
#9 Policy decreasing toxic & hazardous chemicals - Germana
16. May Urban Forests — 2 Sub Steps are Required — Dianne, Jeannie & UFTF
#1 Qualify as Tree City USA — City Forester Tom Horwath to apply for 2011
#6 Choose two:
Enact ordinances to protect trees during the development process
Adopt Landscaping performance standards for parking lots and other mostly impervious surface
17. May Efficient Stormwater Management - At least one sub step
#2 Adopt by ordinance - Complete Heather
Narrower streets allowing 24 ft roads
1.5" rainfall on-site infiltration design requirement
23. May Benchmarks and Community Engagement
#1 Carbon Benchmark - Complete Germana
#2 City Measurement Reporting - Required Germana
#4 Community Education Paul, Bob & Education Working Group
24. May Green Business Development — Requires at least 1 sub step — Dianne & RS W WG
#2 Invite Assistance providers such as Minnesota Waste Wise... to conduct personalized energy,
environmental sustainability, and waste audits with at least 5 businesses.
#4 Support businesses using local waste products — Complete - City brush currently goes to St. Paul
District Energy Bill to select a step for a long term project.
EEC's 8 Top Optional GreenSteps (at least 7 must be Completed)
GrnStep# Reporting Month Responsible Commissioner/Staff
25. June Renewable Energy: 6 votes — At least one sub step is required
Jeannie & Alternative Energy Working Group
#2 Install renewable capacity on at least one city -owned building, street light, speed display or
chargeable message sign - Bill Sierks and Greg Nelson are working on getting a grant to install solar
panels on a school.
#?? Bill to recommend how new MNStat 1216C.4361 (Gov't Energy Financing Law) can be applied.
19. June Surface Water Quality: 4 votes — Susan, Julie, Dianne AWQ WG WG, 9MCWD
3. June New Green Buildings: 3 votes (not on EEC Policy & Project Initiatives)
Select 1 public sub step from #1-#3
#2 Build renewable energy into 1 city Bldg — Heather — (Complete) Public Wks Geothermal
Select 1 private sub step from #448 — Michael
22. April Pilot Rept Complete - Solid Waste: 2 votes Dianne & RSW WG
#1 or #2 is required plus one of #5 - #10
#1 Percentage reduction goals from city operations in at least 3 areas — Areas chosen are: 1) Parks 2)
Junk mail 3) Toxicity reduction of cleaning supplies.
#6 Bring MPCA to help 10 commercial businesses modify existing or create new resource
management contracts with waste haulers to manage recyclables, compostibles and Hazardous
materials — Dianne and Jim Jones — Arrange Chamber of Commerce presentation on GreenStep
Cities and the Easy Office Recycling PowerPoint programs. Dianne and Mary Brindle are working
on a similar Rotary presentation.
#8 Organized Hauling — Dianne, Surya & RSW WG (long term goal) Invite MPCA's Peder Sandhei
to give PowerPoint presentation to City Council Work Session & work towards amending MN Stat
115A.94.
18. May Green Infrastructure: 2 votes (not on EEC Policy & Project Initiatives) Choose 3 sub
steps Dianne, Jeannie & Urban Forest Task Force
#6 Park Management Standards of:
a) Low Maintenance native landscaping
b) Organic or Integrated Pest Management — Germana and Edina Turf Management Plan
c) Sources of Non potable water for irrigation —Complete - Braemar uses retired well #14
#7 Certify golf courses for Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary — Complete
#9 Develop a program that involves community in land restoration and stewardship
8. July Efficient & Healthy Development Patterns: 2 votes (not on EEC Policy & Project
Initiatives) — Choose at least two Julie and Michael
#xx June Local Air Quality Susan, Dianne, Julie and AWQ WG
Recommendation:
1. Each selected step and sub step has a Champion to implement it. Every Commissioner should volunteer
for at least 2 steps/sub steps and draft the report for at least 1 step or sub step using the template provided
by Heather to report your step. Each report will include recommendations and establish an implementation
schedule.
2. June - The report will be discussed at a City Council Work Session, tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, June
15 at 5:00 in the Community Rm.
3. July - Lay groundwork for the next step in the process, which will likely be that the City become a formal Green
Steps community. Meet with counterpart GreenStep city commissioners. Counterpart staff have already met.
4. August- Prioritize implementation schedule, conducting demos for staff, and getting the buy -in needed for
Council approval.
2
Best Practice: # 15 Purchasing
Description: Adopt an environmentally preferable purchasing policy.
Current Practice: The existing Purchasing Policy of the City of Edina does not recommend purchasing based
on the selection of goods and services that have minimal impact on the environment.
Best Practice as it applies to Edina:
The Energy and Environment Commission of the City of Edina approved a newly drafted Environmental
Purchasing Policy at its April 8, 2010 meeting. This Policy will be recommended to the Edina City Council for
approval.
The Environmental Purchasing Policy includes several of the substeps of this Best Practice:
Substep #1: Purchase of Green Star Appliances and use of paper containing 30% post -consumer recycled paper.
Substep #4: Purchase of Water Sense -certified products.
Substep #7: Set standards for the purchase of used, remanufactured, and refurbished products.
Substep 49: Adopt policies that decrease use of toxic and hazardous chemicals.
Barriers to implementation:
1) Creation of a Purchasing Task Force: the policy recommends formation of a task force among city
employees from various city departments. The Task Force must show commitment and leadership to
effectively transform and, if necessary abandon, current purchasing practices.
2) Education and information sharing: city staff must keep up to date on the environmental effect of
purchased products and effectively communicate this information among the various departments.
Step Effectiveness — Best Practice 415 should be required. A city with an Environmental Purchasing Policy
shows leadership and good management practices.
Implementation schedule:
1) Approval of the Environmental Purchasing Policy by City Council — 4 months
2) Creation of Purchasing Task Force — 6 months
3) Creation of an implementation strategy by the Purchasing Task Force — 6 months to 1 year
4) Implementation of purchasing recommendations — 1 year or longer. It will be based on continuous
improvement best practices.
Best Practice: #23 Benchmarks and Community Involvement
Description: Adopt outcome measures for Green Steps and other sustainability efforts, engaging community
members in ongoing education and discussion.
Current Practice: The City of Edina has benchmarked its carbon emission footprint. As a member of ICLEI,
the City of Edina completed Milestone 1 for the year 2007: inventory of carbon emissions generated by city
operations, such as buildings, water pumps, city fleet, etc. Aggregate data were also collected for city-wide
residential, commercial and industrial emissions.
The Energy and Environment Commission has a very active Education and Outreach group that organizes
several community events throughout the year. Commission members regularly publish articles on the local Sun
Current newspaper and About Town, the official publication of the City of Edina. The results from the carbon
emission inventory were used in a pilot project with the Carbon Disclosure Project and published on their
website in 2009 (www.cdproject.net).
Best Practice as it applies to Edina:
Substep #1: The City of Edina reported the results of the carbon emission audit on its website, in an article in
About Town, and in the pilot report with the Carbon Disclosure Project.
Substep #3: The City of Edina continuously engage members of the public through the various activities
organized by the Education and Outreach Working Group of the Energy and Environment Commission.
Substep #4: The City of Edina organized a Natural Step workshop for City Staff and residents at large.
Substep #5: The Energy and Environment Commission works with energy utilities to organize energy audits for
residents (I need details here...)
Barriers to implementation:
1) Technology Infrastructure: the City must invest in technology tools if it wants to effectively monitor
emission and implement carbon abatement strategies that are quantifiable and financially sound.
2) Education: What is the barrier?
Step Effectiveness — Best Practice #23 should be required. Carbon benchmarking is the most important
indicator of the effectiveness of the Green Step program in abating carbon emissions. Education:
Implementation schedule:
1) Implementation of Technology Infrastructure — 1 year
2) Completion of ICLEI Milestone 2 and 3 — 1 to 2 years
3) Implementation of ICLEI Milestone 4: 2+ years
4) Education...
Best Practice: Storm Water Management
Description: Efficient storm water management, prevention of storm water runoff
Current Practice:
o Require 1 inch rainfall on-site rainwater infiltration design requirement for
construction sites
o Nine Mile Creek and Minnehaha Creek Watershed Districts supersede City's storm
water management authority
o Aggressive street sweeping program
Best Practice as it applies to Edina:
Edina is a municipal jurisdiction within the 9 Mile Creek Watershed District, and the Minnehaha
Watershed District. These two entities set standards and make rules pertaining to storm water
management. Edina has voluntarily adopted the current practices listed above, and continues
to explore other options for effective storm water management, including an impervious
surface ordinance, use of permeable pavers where applicable, and education with residents
about water usage and runoff.
Barriers to implementation:
There are very few barriers to additional implementation of new strategies. The city works
closely with the two watershed districts to accomplish a common set of goals.
Implementation schedule:
The current practices are fully implemented. As new practices are recommended, they should
be fairly straightforward to implement on a timely basis.
Step Effectiveness:
This step is very effective; however, it would appear that current practices satisfy the
requirements of the step. Staff would recommend that the EEC eliminate this step from the
final roster of best practices.
EEC Staff Report
May 13, 2010
Submitted by Heather Worthington, Staff Liaison
Green Steps
Work continues on the draft report. We have reserved July 6th at 5:00 p.m. as the joint work session for the
EEC and City Council.
At the joint meeting, I believe we've discussed presenting the final report, and making recommendations on
the following items:
• Continuation of the Green Step program
• Use of funds to cover Green Step projects
• Specific recommendations (i.e. Purchasing Policy, etc...)
Green Step "Pilot within a Pilot"
As part of the GS Cities initiative, we have the potential to work with a consultant, Michael Orange, to
establish the citywide (not just city -owned facilities) carbon footprint, and consistent with ICLEI's Local
Government Operations Protocol. I believe that this information will also allow us to establish our Milestone
Two goals (which Commissioner Paterlini and I have been working on). Michael is a retired planner for the
City of Minneapolis, and was the city's point person on measuring all of the carbon emissions for Minneapolis.
He is very familiar with the ICLEI CACP software, and has used it to measure emissions and construct datasets
for other communities. We think we can accomplish most of this work for around $5,000. 1 would ask that
you consider this at tonight's meeting, and make a recommendation to the City Council so that we can enter
into a contract with Michael to get started on the next phase of our measurement activities.
June Meeting
I will be out of town for the June meeting of the Commission. Jane will be available for that meeting, and I'm
available until June 81h if you need any assistance prior to the meeting.
Xcel and Centerpoint Partnership
1 am pleased to let you know that our partnership with Xcel and Centerpoint on the Home Energy Squads and
energy efficiency work continues to expand and grow. We are exploring residential programs that can expand
energy efficiency work already begun by the EEC, and also working on a joint utility/city project to do
neighborhood organizing around energy efficiency issues such as weatherization, programmable thermostats,
and inefficient appliances. The Morningside neighborhood will be the pilot area for the project, which we
hope to expand into Highlands this fall. We are working with the two utilities to link to their programs on our
website, and we will do a water bill stuffer in the next water utility billing cycle in August.
Sun Newspaper/Edina Sun Current
Katie Mintz
Community Editor
457 words
"No scents" make good sense
Fragrances are everywhere in our world. They are so pervasive that we take them for granted,
unaware of the hidden hazards that lurk in the chemicals they disperse into the air. Most
fragranced products, in fact, contain carcinogenic and hormone -disrupting chemicals that are
implicated in a host of health and environmental problems.
According to a University of Washington study by Dr. Anne Steinemann and Lance Wallace, a
former EPA scientist, "Fumes that waft from top selling air fresheners and laundry products
contain dozens of chemicals, including several classified as toxic or hazardous." They added that
"Up to 30 percent of people are sensitive to perfumes and other fragrances." I'1 That is a
significant number of people in every community. Unborn children, not included in that 30
percent, are also at risk for reproductive birth defects [21 and other environmentally induced
diseases when exposed to fragrance chemicals prenatally.
The National Academy of Sciences reports that 95% of the chemicals used in today's fragrances
today are petroleum-based synthetic compounds, including toxins that can cause asthma attacks,
cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, and allergic reactions. [31 Most vulnerable
are children, anyone with asthma, the elderly and others with heart or lung conditions. Fragrance
chemicals are also implicated in infertility, premature puberty, and Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome.
How can it be that the public is regularly exposed to these toxins without their consent or
knowledge of harm? It is because the fragrance industry is unregulated and does not have to
disclose what is in their products. Words such as "non-toxic, green, natural, organic,
biodegradable, and safe" mean nothing if the word "fragrance" is listed on the ingredient list.
Green cleaning products, for example, are not really "green" if they contain petroleum -desired
fragrance chemicals, despite manufacturers' claims. Even essential oil-based fragrances contain
I'J The Human Ecologist, Spring 2009, "Fragranced products may contain undisclosed hazards",
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&p,fns=l &ie=UTF-
8&rlz=IT4SKPB enUS232US238&q=fragranced+consumer+products+maay+contain+undisclosed+hazards
121 http://health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/893/62, Health News, "Widespread chemical Harms Male
Genital Development", May 27, 2005.
(31 Medical News Today, 23 Dec. 2006, "Chemical Sensitivities and Perfume,
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9682.php
strong respiratory irritants called "terpenes," that are organically derived solvents like turpentine,
and capable of causing asthma attacks.
Fragrance chemicals also affect storm water, wastewater, lakes, streams and aquatic life. [4]
Many are "bioaccumulative", meaning that they build up and do not break down in the
environment, leaving a legacy of health problems now and for future generations.
Fragrances and strong odors of any kind are a trigger to most asthmatics, according to the
American Lung Association, "Perfumes can trigger an asthma attack." (Search
www.lungusa.org .) Fragrance was even voted the number one allergen of the year by the
American Dermatitis Society in 2007. l51
In striving to become a more sustainable community, Edina citizens are encouraged to consider
the health benefits of switching to unscented laundry and personal care products. Fragrance free
items usually do not cost more than their fragrant counterparts, and are available at most whole
food stores, some drugstores and at Target. You can also order them online or find recipes to
make your own cleaning products. See www.takebacktheair.com for more information.
By Julie Mellum
Member, Edina Energy and Environment Commission
Air and Water Quality Working Group
[4)water. washington. edu/Outreach/FactSheets/hiddenhazards. pdf TheWater Center Fact Sheet, February
2009, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, "Hidden Hazards in Fragranced consumer Products"
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&gfns=l &ie=UTF-
8&riz=1T4SKPB enUS232tJS238&q=fragranced+consumer+products+maay+contain+undisclosed+hazards
[5] http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/559985 3, Fragrance Voted the Number One Allergen of the Year