HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-05-13 PacketMinutes of the Regular Meeting of the
Energy and Environment Commission
Edina City Hall Community Room
Thursday, May 13, 2010, 7:00 P.M.
1. Welcome, Call to Order and Roll Call (2 min) —Chair comment on revised public meeting
procedures above
Chair Latham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Latham, Paterlini, Piatteter, Thompson, Gubrud, Tucker, Lee (7:20), Sierks
(7:40), Risser (7:50)
Staff: Worthington (7:10)
Absent: Hanson, Iyer
2. Approval of Agenda and Topic Time Allocation (5 min)
The agenda was approved as written, with one addition, "Selection of Working Group
Chairs" as the final item.
3. Approval of March 4 minutes (3 min)
The March 4th minutes were approved.
4. Community Comment (10 min)
There was no one present for community comment.
5. 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
Chair Latham reported on the NEMO workshop, and the Commission decided to
pursue that in September, either the week of the 201h or 271h. Commissioners will
check calendars and confirm the date/time in June.
Chair Latham presented the policy on working group meeting locations.
Commissioner Paterlini made a motion that working groups are required to meet in
city -owned facilities, and that meetings will be posted by city staff; seconded by
Gubrud. Unanimous approval.
6. 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
Commissioner Thompson reported that the EOWG has applied to be a part of the July
3rd parade. They are working with Jennifer Bennerotte on the Home Energy Squad
Flyer for the Morningside/Highlands neighborhoods, and will seek endorsement by
the City Council at their June 8th meeting. He also reported on the annual Bike Ride
with the Mayor, May 27th at 4:45 p.m. at Bush Lake Park. Riders will meet in the
parking lot at the lake, and then ride to Quality Bicycle for a tour of the facility.
Commissioner Thompson also reminded commissioners to try to attend the next East
Metro Roundtable, May 17th in Oak Park Heights. He also told the EEC that he will be
attending a Project Earth meeting at EHS next week to identify youth commissioners
to replace Hailey Lee, whose last meeting is the May meeting. Commissioners
recognized Commissioner Lee with applause and appreciation for her service. She will
be attending Wellesley College next year.
Chair Latham asked if there was a motion to support the Sun Current article for
recruiting new members for the working groups. Motion by Gubrud, seconded by
Tucker, to approve article for EEC volunteers. Unanimous approval.
Chair Latham then asked if there was a motion of support for Julie Melium's article on
fragrance. Several commissioners expressed discomfort with the advocacy tone of the
article, and a concern that it did not follow their general policy of a focus on educating
the reader, rather than advocating for a specific outcome or position. Commissioner
Platteter made a motion that the article not be endorsed, as it is written as an
opinion; seconded by Commissioner Sierks. Unanimous approval. Commissioner
Latham suggested that the Policy and Project Working Group come up with guidelines
for future articles.
7. Residential Energy Project — Bill Sierks, Michael Platteter, Paul Thompson
Commissioner Platteter reported that the meetings with Xcel Energy and Centerpoint
Energy are continuing, and that he hopes to have Council endorsement for the
neighborhood outreach program, and flyers by the June 8th Council meeting. He
clarified that while the program will be available citywide, it will be focused initially
on the Morningside and Highlands neighborhoods because those areas already have
organizations in place to assist with outreach.
Commissioner Platteter also reported on the Small Area Guide Plan Process at the
request of Chair Latham. He explained that the month-long process had been very
fruitful, and that the Community Advisory Team and Design Team had developed a set
of guiding principles, as well as a vision for the area. Commissioner Risser asked if the
Design Team architects had been identified by their employer. Worthington explained
that neither the Community Advisory Team or Design Team members had been
identified by their employers, as they were resident volunteers. Commissioner Risser
asked if that information was available, and Worthington said she would e-mail it to
her.
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.
Worthington reported on the Green Steps "Pilot within a Pilot" program, and
informed the EEC that the cost of the pilot came in at $15-$16,000, so she would not
be recommending it at this point. Commissioner Paterlini asked what the pilot would
encompass, and Worthington responded that it would be citywide, and community-
wide data. Paterlini mentioned that much of that work had already been done, and
that the other software products available may be a good alternative to additional
consultant work. Worthington also confirmed that she will be attending the USGBC
Conference May 19-21.
9. GreenStep — Commissioners would like a meeting with their GreenStep counterparts —
When? (5 min); See revised Air Quality step in packet.
Worthington reported that she will inquire with Kristina Smitten about the possibility
of hosting a meeting with the other Green Step Cities. She will follow up with the EEC
in June.
10. Green Step Pilot 1 p. Reports
Efficient and Healthy Development Patterns—dropped
BP 15 Commissioner Paterlini presented her report. She asked that the Commission
endorse Substeps 1 and 9, plus one additional step chosen by Green Steps Program.
BP 15.2 Commissioner Paterlini recommended that this step should be moved to #25,
Renewable Energy. Commissioners discussed the placement of a ground -source heat
pump system in this category, and clarified that technically, what the City has installed
is a ground source heat pump system—not geothermal. Geothermal is more correctly
a conservation strategy as it does not generate energy. Wind, solar and other
methods are renewable, as they generate energy, and do not use energy for that
generation. Commissioner Risser recommended that the EEC determine the payback
on the ground source heat pump at Public Works, and then replace that with a carbon
offset of some kind after the payback. Commissioner Sierks mentioned that
greenhouse gas measurements include community emissions, not just city -owned
facilities --so the EEC should also look at energy efficiency. He cited Windsource (Xcel)
as a good program.
BP 16 Chair Latham reported that the Urban Forest Task Force has been meeting and
has developed the following substeps for the goal:
Tree City designation
Changing the local ordinance with regard to tree preservation
Establishing landscaping standards
The UFTF will present the full policy at a future EEC meeting.
BP 17 Worthington presented her report on the Storm Water Management issue.
She recommended that since the City is part of two Watershed Districts that have
jurisdiction over storm water, that the best practice be eliminated.
BP 18 Green Infrastructure—Commissioner Latham presented – The following steps
were selected: Na Low Maintenance Naive Landscaping; #6b Organic or Integrated
Pest Management for which Commissioner Paterlini will chair a task force to update
the Turf Management Plan; #6c Sources of non potable water for irrigation; #7 Certify
Golf Courses for Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary – Worthington confirmed that Fred
Richards golf course was already certified as well as Braemar; #9 Community program
for land restoration and stewardsharp.
BP 23 Commissioner Paterlini presented Benchmarks and Community Engagement.
She suggested that the City pursue ICLEI Milestone 1 and 2 as part of this step. She
also noted a conflict in that substep 2 conflicts with BP 23, so that substep should be
moved to BP 2. Substep 5 should also be moved to BP 2. Commissioner Paterlini will
make the changes and re -send the report. She also noted that substep 2 is too
Involved, and should be trimmed.
BP 24 Green Business Development: Commissioner Sierks noted that a long-term goal
has yet to be chosen, and recommended working with the Edina Chamber of
Commerce to encourage use of the EnergySmart program sponsored by the Minnesota
Chamber of Commerce to get Edina businesses to focus on energy efficiency.
BP 25 Commissioners discussed the possibility of solar panels, wind, a 20 Kwh solar
array, and the possibility of utilizing federal stimulus dollars for installation. .Ideally
the project would include one city -owned facility, and one school -owned facility.
Worthington will work with the school district to find out if they will partner with the
city on this project.
11. Future Meeting (s) —June 10, 2010; The tentative June 15 City Council Work Session was
changed to July 6; Nov. 11 meeting has been moved to Nov. 18 in Mayor's Conference
Rm
12. Commission Working Group Chair appointments
Chair Latham made the following recommendations to the EEC for working group
chairs:
Education and Outreach: Gubrud and Thompson
Recycling and Solid Waste: Latham
Air and Water Quality: Tucker
Alternative Energy: Iyer
Motion by Paterlini to accept slate, seconded by Thompson. Commissioner Sierks
expressed his discomfort with appointing Commissioner Iyer as the Chair without
consultation with Commissioner Hanson. He expressed a desire to see Commissioner
Hanson co-chair the committee with Commissioner Iyer. 2 ayes, 7 nays, motion failed.
Commissioner Platteter expressed a desire to vote on each appointment separately.
The following motions were made:
EOWG Paterlini, Tucker seconded. Unanimous approval
RSWG Gubrud, Thompson seconded. Unanimous approval
AWQWG Gubrud, Thompson seconded. Unanimous approval
Alt. Energy Risser, Paterlini seconded. After extensive discussion amongst the
Commissioners, Risser withdrew the motion, and suggested that it be laid over to the
June meeting. Chair Latham will discuss the co-chair recommendation with
Commissioner Hanson and Commissioner Iyer. The Commissioners had consensus on
this point.
Meeting adjourned at 9;30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Heather Worthington, Staff Liaison
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
testi 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:
• Indh4duals must limit their testimony to three minutes. The Chair may modify times, as deemed necessary.
• Try not to repeat remarks or points of view made byprior speakers and limit testimony to the matter under consideration.
• In order to maintain a respectful environment for all those in attendance, the use ofsigns, clapping, cheering or booing or any other
form of verbal or nomerbal communication is not allowed
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION
AGENDA FOR MEETING
June 10, 2010,7:00 PM — 9:00 PM — Community Room, Edina City Hall
I . 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 (2 min)
3. Approval of May 13 minutes (3 min)
4. Community Comment (10 min) Intern report of Elizabeth Templin
5. Chair Report (5 min) NEMO workshop for late September
6. Policy & Project Report — Michael — (5 min) Policy on EEC endorsement for Edina Sun Current articles (5 Min)
7. Education Outreach Working Group Report — Paul/Bob (10 Min) P of July Parade Plans; Sun Current Article
Schedule — Jim Jones Commercial Recycling article status; Energy Champions (should this program be
dropped?); Volunteer Recruitment article for WG's sent 5-14-10
8. Residential Energy Project (Energy Squad) — (5 min) Bill Sierks, Michael Platteter, Paul Thompson
9. Staff Report (5 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), Product Stewardship
Resolution Status.
10. GreenStep — Commissioners would like a meeting with their GreenStep counterparts — When? (2 min)
11. GreenStep Pilot within a Pilot Proposal - Gennana/Bill (10 min)
12. Green Step Pilot 1 p. Reports http:.•'/www.ei.edina.mn.us/pdfsibest%20practices%20green%20step%20cities.pdf
#1 Public Buildings & Lighting — (5 min) Sub steps #1 B3 data base Heather; #2 Building Audit -
Required (Long Term Goal) Michael/Germana/Heather; #6 Internal Loan Fund — Heather
92 Private Existing Buildings & Li ting — (10 min) Sub steps #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 - Heather
#11 Complete Streets — (5 min) Sub step 41 plus 2 additional sub steps are required — On 5-20-10 DP
Latham gave GreenStep Cities presentation to Transportation Commission
#19 Surface Water Quality—(10 min) Susan, Julie, Dianne AWQWG—Update after 9MCWD 6-8-10 mtg
#3 New Green Buildings — (5 min) — Consider dropping - Michael
423 Local Air Quality — (10 min) Susan, Dianne, Julie and AWQWG-Update after 6-8-10 meeting
425 Renewable Energy — (10 min) ,Jeannie, Surya and AEWG — 3 pages need to be revised to 1 page
13. Appointment of Alternative Energy Working Group Co -Chairs — (5 min) Surya Iyer & Jeannie Hanson
14, Future Meetings — ( l min) Tues., July 6 - City Council Work Session on Green Steps at 5:00 Community Rm
Thurs., July 8 - Regular Meeting 7:00 Community Rm
Nov. l l Regular Meeting has been moved to Thurs., Nov. 18 at 7:00 in Mayor's Conference Rm
GreenStep Cities - http•//www ci edina mn us/pdfs/best%20practices%20green%20step%20cities pdf
Assignments
June 4, 2010 - Draft
8 Required Steps
GrnStep# Reporting Month Responsible Commissioner/Staff
1. June Public Buildings & Lighting - #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 & Lightina: 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 — 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). GreenStep Cities PowerPoint program given for Transportation Commission on 5-
20-10 by DP Latham.
#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 perfonnance goals —Complete but expand
15. May Purchasing - #1 & #2 are required plus 1 additional sub step
#1 Purchasing Policy —Complete Germana
42 Purchase 15% renewable energy by 2015 — Jeannie & Alternative Energy WG (Move to BP #25)
#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
23. May Benchmarks and Community Engagement
#I Carbon Benchmark - Complete Germana
42 City Measurement Reporting - Required Germana
#4 Community Education Paul, Bob & Education Working Group
24, May Green Business Developing nt — At least 1 sub step _ Dianne, Bill & RSW WG
#2 Invite Assistance providers such as Minnesota Waste Wise, EnergySmart 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
EEC's 6 Top Optional GreenSteps
GrnStep# Reporting Month Responsible Commissioner/Staff
25. May Renewable Energy: 6 votes — At least one sub step is required
Surya, 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 the city Public Works building and possibly a school.
Bill to recommend how new MN Stat 1216C.4361 (Gov't Energy Financing Law) can be applied.
19. .lune Surface Water Quality: 4 votes — Susan, Julie, Dianne AWQ WG, 9MCWD
3. June New Green Buildings: 3 votes (Not on EEC Policy & Project Initiatives —
Consider dropping)
One public sub step required - #2 Build renewable energy into I city Bldg — Heather — Public Wks —
Solar and ground source heating/cooling; Select 1 private sub step from #4 through 48 — Michael
22, April Solid Waste: 2 votes Dianne & RSW WG
#1 or #2 is required plus one of #5 410
#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
#xx June Local Air Quality 4 votes 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. July 6 - The report will be discussed at a City Council Work Session, 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 — When? Counterpart staff have already
met.
4. August- Prioritize implementation schedule, conducting demos for staff, and getting the buy -in needed for
Council approval.
q
Worlding Groups, Task Forces and Projects
Project & Policy Group — Bill Sierks and Michael Platteter
Recycling & Solid Waste Working Group (RSW WG) — Chair DP Latham- Members Susan Tucker, Laura Benson,
Michelle Horan, Jim Jones, Tim Rudnicki, Melissa Seeley & Solvei Wilmot (Staff)
Education Outreach Working Group (EO WG) — Co -Chairs Paul Thompson and Bob Gubrud - Members Wendy Morris,
Bob Genovese
Alternative Energy Working Group (AE WG)— Co Chairs Surya Iyer and Jeannie Hanson - Members Richard Griffith, Bob
Gubrud, Richard Oriani, Greg Nelson, Ron Rich, Renee DiVicino
Air and Water Quality Working Group (AWQ WG) — Chair Susan Tucker — Members - Julie Risser, DP Latham, Julie
Mellum, Ryan Wilson
Urban Forest Task Force (UF TF) — Chair DP Latham — Members - Jeannie Hanson, Joseph Hulbert (Pk Bd), Michael
Schroeder (Planning Commission) & City Forester Tom Horwath (Staff)
Turf Management Plan Task Force (TMP TF) — Chair Germana Paterlini (EEC) — Members - Ellen Jones (Pk Bd), Mary
Jo Kingston (Community health), Vince Cockriel (Staff); Ex Officio DP Latham and John Keprios
Edina Residential Energy Task Force (Energy Squad) — Chair Bill Sierks -- Members - Michael Platteter, Paul Thompson
and Heather Worthington (Staff)
Art Recycling Container Task Force (ARC TF) — Chair Michelle Horan (RSW WG) — Members - Melissa Seeley (RSW
WG), Solvei Wilmot (Staff), Nicolle Mills-Novoa (Edina Art Center Instructor), Amy Kerber (Edina Public Art
Committee) and Julie Wohlford (Edina resident and Event Planner); Ex Officio member DP Latham.
250 Third Avenue North, Ste 450
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
612-338-2029
Fax 612 338-2088
www.LHBcorp.com
April 1, 2010
Revised April 20, 2010
PILOT WITHIN A PILOT — GREENSTEP CITIES PROJECT
MEASURING ACTUAL CONSUMPTION
OVERVIEW
The GreenStep Cities program has begun and the leaders of five prominent Minnesota
cities have stepped up to serve as Pilot Cities for the program—Edina, Bloomington,
Saint Louis Park, Falcon Heights, and Victoria. These cities and their leaders have a
reputation for environmental progressivity and a strong desire to continue to improve. An
important next step is to measure actual performance and this is exactly where the Pilot
within a Pilot GreenStep Cities Project (Project) steps up too.
Goals of the Project: The goals of the Project are threefold:
• The five Pilot Cities will estimate the energy value and greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions associated with citywide energy consumption by people who live, work,
learn, travel, and play within each city's geographical boundaries. The analysis
will cover two prior years (2008 and 2009) and then continue measuring for at
least two years going forward (2010 and 2011).
• Analysis of the experiences of the five Pilot Cities will determine the feasibility of
collecting this data for all GreenStep cities.
The data must be transparent and able to be replicated, updated, and compared
with other similar baseline assessments.
Reasons for the Project: There are several reasons to go to this next level of
participation. Most current environmental initiatives fall under the categories of adopting
good intentions (plans and guidelines), predicting outcomes (modeling), and
implementing strategies (best practices). The Project will involve measuring actual
citywide outcomes. This will benefit the Pilot Cities because the resulting analyses will:
+ Deepen the understanding of opportunities to save energy and money, mitigate
climate change, and manage risk in the face of future GHG emission regulations
and oil insecurity.
• Assist in promoting public understanding of the cities' effects on climate change
and increasing awareness of activities that can reduce carbon footprints.
0 Inform subsequent analyses, plans, and policy decisions by the cities and others.
Pilot within a Pilot — GreenStep Cities Project
Page 2
April 1, 2010
• Serve as a model for other GreenStep cities.
The Project will require measurement of electricity, natural gas, and water consumption
and the associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This is not as easy as it may seem
since the metrics, the infrastructure, and all of the support systems were designed to
collect revenue for the providers, not to measure cumulative usage. It will take the full
cooperation of local and private utilities, as well as the cities and their staffs to assist the
consultant team. The analysis should also include the GHG emissions associated with
transportation (including vehicles, rail, and each city's proportional share of airport -
related emissions), solid waste management, and stormwater management. These metrics
are even more difficult and will require cooperation of the state Department of
Transportation, the Metropolitan Council, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, the
railroads, and the various waste managers serving the cities.
SCOPE OF WORK
Participating cities will need to pay a fee to cover the cost of the consultant team. This fee
will cover the following:
• Establish the feasibility of this approach.
• Collect the last two years of data for benchmarking.
• Establish a process for collecting data for the next two years.
• Evaluate the specific best management practices (BMP) selected by each city and
correlate them to the outcomes being measured.
• Produce a final report that measures each metric individually (i.e, kBTUs, gallons,
vehicle miles traveled, etc.) as well as in total dollars and tons of carbon. The
report will include data on a per -capita basis as well.
If a city elects, the consultant team can assist with the collection and analysis of the
energy and GHG emissions associated with city buildings and operations for an additional
fee.
PROJECT TEAM
LHB, Inc., working with J. Michael Orange Environmental Consulting, will conduct the
work. Michael is a former city planner for the City of Minneapolis who has conducted
similar studies for the cities of Minneapolis and Falcon Heights, LHB, Inc. is the state's
leading firm in sustainable design and energy efficiency. Each city will need to designate
a primary staff contact to help with data collection.
FEE
The fee for this work will vary by city. We propose a fixed fee that will be paid to UI L
LHB will have an agreement with ULI and each city will have an agreement with ULI. In
order to produce results that meet the third goal listed above (transparent and able to be
replicated, updated, and compared with other similar baseline assessments), it's important
to use the internationally accepted measurement protocol. The organization that has
produced this measurement tool, in collaboration with a wide variety of other
international organizations including The Climate Institute, is the International Council on
Pilot within a Pilot — GreenStep Cities Project
Page 3
April 1, 2010
Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). ICLEI makes the tool available (along with
many other services) free of charge to its member cities. For each city ICLEII costs will
range from $600 to $1,200.
The chart below indicates each City's cost (fee to ULI), consultant's match and total cost
or value of the project.
SCHEDULE
We estimate the data collection phase for each city to take approximately 4-6 weeks. This
schedule may vary, based upon the number of cities who elect to participate and the
ability of the utilities to provide data in a timely manner. We are prepared to being this
process on May 1, 2010. Please contact Caren Dewar at ULI with a notice to proceed no
later than that date. An initial payment (50% of the total) will be due to ULI by .lune 1,
2010 and the final payment will be due at the time of the report, no later than October 1,
2010. Contact Rick Carter with any questions.
It is important to note that this is very unique and different than what most cities in the
country have done in terms of "carbon footprinting" to date. Rather than just collecting
data for the city's own impact (i,e. city buildings, fleets, etc.), this study intends to
measure the actual impact of most carbon producing activities within the city's
boundaries.
LHB
RICK CARTER, AIA, LEED AP
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT.
LHB File No. 100169.PD; F102
MAIOProj\100169\100 Financial\102 Agreements\100169AGO40110 Greenstep Cities RMSI D 042010, Doc
The fee for the City of Falcon Heights is to complete the City's current assessment to be comparable to
those to be developed for the other Pilot Cities. The City of Edina is already a member of ICLEI. For U.S.
cities, ICLEI membership is based on city population.
City's
Cost
Consultant
Team Match
Total
Cost
Falcon Heights
$1,800
$600
$2,400
Victoria
$5,400
$1,800
$7,200
Edina
$7,000
$2,500
$9,500
St. Louis Park
$7,000
$2,500
$9,500
Bloomington
$8,000
$3,000 1
$11,000
SCHEDULE
We estimate the data collection phase for each city to take approximately 4-6 weeks. This
schedule may vary, based upon the number of cities who elect to participate and the
ability of the utilities to provide data in a timely manner. We are prepared to being this
process on May 1, 2010. Please contact Caren Dewar at ULI with a notice to proceed no
later than that date. An initial payment (50% of the total) will be due to ULI by .lune 1,
2010 and the final payment will be due at the time of the report, no later than October 1,
2010. Contact Rick Carter with any questions.
It is important to note that this is very unique and different than what most cities in the
country have done in terms of "carbon footprinting" to date. Rather than just collecting
data for the city's own impact (i,e. city buildings, fleets, etc.), this study intends to
measure the actual impact of most carbon producing activities within the city's
boundaries.
LHB
RICK CARTER, AIA, LEED AP
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT.
LHB File No. 100169.PD; F102
MAIOProj\100169\100 Financial\102 Agreements\100169AGO40110 Greenstep Cities RMSI D 042010, Doc
The fee for the City of Falcon Heights is to complete the City's current assessment to be comparable to
those to be developed for the other Pilot Cities. The City of Edina is already a member of ICLEI. For U.S.
cities, ICLEI membership is based on city population.
Best Practice: #1 Efficient Existing Public Buildings
Description: Work with utilities and others to assess and finance energy and sustainability improvements of
existing public structures.
Current Practice: The 133 database of city building data is complete and is currently being updated with the utility data.
City buildings have not had full energy audits, nor have they been ranked for energy performance. The City has a five-
year Capital Improvement Plan that can be utilized to fund building improvements internally. This may be
augmented by grants or other revenue sources specific to projects.
Best Practice as it applies to Edina:
Substep #1: Enter yearly public building data into the Minnesota B3 database and rank buildings in regard to
energy performance. The City will have utility data on its buildings over 5,000 square feet in the 133 Database
by July 2010; other buildings can be added to the database as needed.
Substep #2: Audit all buildings in the bottom third of energy performance ranking and implement all energy
efficiency opportunities with a payback under 5 years. City buildings will need energy audits completed, either
through a utility sponsored program or an independent third party.
Substep #6: Internal Loan Fund — Complete.
Barriers to implementation:
1) Human and financial resources needed for conducting the initial audit and continuously monitoring
energy consumption.
2) The financial resources to implement the energy efficiency opportunities identified by the audits.
Step Effectiveness — Buildings make up 60% of carbon emissions by the City. Best Practice #I is essential to
curb carbon emissions in a meaningful way. However, implementation of the substeps, such as the Audit
requirement, may incur substantial organizational and financial barriers. Staff will work with Xcel and
Centerpoint Energy to determine cost of audits and establish a budget for the implementation of this step.
Implementation schedule:
This step can be implemented in phases over a two-year period, beginning in September, 2010, and ending
in September 2013.
Best Practice: #2 Efficient Existing Private Buildings
Description: Increase Energy Efficiency in Private Buildings and Lighting
Current Practice: The city does not have a specific energy efficiency program for private buildings. Edina has a watering
ordinance as well as a two tier conservation rate structure.
Best Practice as it applies to Edina:
#2 Working with a local utility, tailor a utility conservation improvement program (CIP) for your city.
43 Promote residential energy efficiency programs in city mailings/newsletters.
To implement sub step #2 and #3, a project team consisting of City staff (Worthington), EEC members
(Thompson, Platteter, Sirkes), CEE, Xcel, and Centerpoint has been established. The message in the city mailing
is being developed by Platteter and Worthington with content from Xcel and Centerpoint and distributed through
the Education Outreach Working Group's efforts. There will be close coordination on educational efforts like the
3rd of July parade.
#5 Implement a robust watering ordinance and conservation rate structure — This sub step is complete.
Barriers to implementation: Finding sufficient volunteers to champion the residential project rollout, especially in
Highlands. Financial barriers for project implementation, mailings, flyers, etc, etc.
Step Effectiveness — No Comments
Implementation schedule: Multi -phase plan that begins in May 2010:
1. Spring 2010
a. Focus on Saver Switch and Appliance Rebates (refrigerator recycling) and the Horne Energy Squad
(HES) program
b. Door hanger project in Morningside.
c. Use liquor stores and Warner-Stellian to promote refrigerator recycling
Spring 2010 and ongoing -- Look for opportunities to promote city-wide:
d. Cable TV / PSA promotion
e. Magnets and/or buttons
f. City will create internet links to utility programs
g. Third of July Parade: possibly distribute information & buttons/magnets
Fall 2010 (Beginning mid to late August, continuing through October/November)
a. A flyer in the city utility bill, developed by the city and approved by Centerpoint and Xcel, that
emphasizes home audits, Home Energy Squad (HES), appliance rebate, and saving energy as the heating
season approaches.
b. Door hangers with the same themes will be distributed (Morningside, Highland, other neighborhoods?)
c. Develop and include `testimonials' for neighborhood HES meetings
d. Develop competition for energy savings — City council v. EEC v. Edina Go Green (EGG) Publicize
quarterly to encourage community interest
e. Highland neighborhood/school outreach program
Edina Day of Service --- 10/9/2010
a. Have a major focus on energy — home audits, HES,
Coordination with School District
a. Fall 2010-- Energy challenge between EFIS schools?
b. PSA energy announcements at football games?
c. Coordinate with EHS on Edina Day of Service energy projects
Best Practice: #11 Complete Streets
Description: Increase safety and mobility options for bikes, pedestrians and all vehicles, as well as creating
more inviting public spaces and increased economic viability of businesses, while reducing maintenance costs,
reducing stormwater management, plus reducing emergency response times.
Current Practice: The City of Edina has a complete street plan for arterial streets only. The Edina Bike Task
Force has a bike plan, which is not fully implemented. Traffic calming measures such as sidewalks have been
implemented on some streets, but the vast majority of streets do not have sidewalks. Traffic calming measures
such as bike lanes have been implemented on a few streets, but the vast majority of streets do not have bike
lanes.
Best Practice as it applies to Edina:
#1 Complete Street Policy — Complete for arterials but could be expanded to side streets
#S Traffic Calming measures on at least I street redevelopment project — Could be expanded beyond the
proposed bike lanes for the current West 70`h project. For example, add a sidewalk and bike lane
along Valley View between McCauley and Creek Valley School, given that this segment of Valley
View is scheduled for resurfacing in the near future.
#6 Adopt level of service standards for street types that include pedestrian and bike performance goals —
Need to implement more of the Edina Bike Task Force's bike plan.
Barriers to implementation: Cost of street reconstruction.
Opposition to sidewalks due to;
1) The costs assessed to residents along the sidewalk
2) The requirement that the homeowner adjacent to the sidewalk is required to shovel it during the winter
3) Reduction of privacy
Step Effectiveness — No comments.
Implementation schedule: Chair Latham gave a PowerPoint program on the GreenStep Cities program to the
Transportation Commission on May 20, 2010 with emphasis on the Complete Street BP #11. The
Transportation Commission informally expressed an interest in participating and awaits City Council approval
for becoming a GreenStep City, after which the Transportation Commission could formally begin working with
staff to make a determination as to which sub steps to undertake thereby enabling Edina to participate at more
than the above minimum required level.
Best Practice: #19 Surface Water Quality
Description: Improve local surface water quality
Current Practice: The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District (9MCWD) has jurisdiction over surface water
quality in Edina with the exception of northeast Edina where the Minnehaha Watershed District (MWD) has
jurisdiction. MWD has had a project to improve water quality in Pamela Lake. Macroinvertebrate testing is
being done by authority of the MWD at Minnehaha Creek in Utley Park in Edina, as well as 4 other sites
along Minnehaha creek. Water is currently being tested in Edina by 9MCWD at Cornelia, Mirror,
Arrowhead and Indian Head Lakes and is also being tested by the Conservation League of Edina (CLE) at
Lake Harvey, Pamela Lake, and Lake Edina. (List of lakes in testing needs to be verified and updated)
Best Practice as it applies to Edina:
#3 Adopt measurable lake, stream and wetland health indicators or improvement targets, work with private
and non-profit organizations to support citizen education efforts and involve stakeholders in actions
to attain the targets, and annually report successes and failures. Targets may include measures such as
trophic state, pollutant levels, health measures, water levels, and recreational carrying capacity.
Barriers to implementation: Difficult to find volunteers for water quality testing. Public opposition to ordinance
revisions that protect water quality when their perception of aesthetics is compromised, or when convenience is
compromised.
Step Effectiveness — For cities that are part of a watershed district, this step needs to be augmented with
activities that cities can undertake apart from, and/or jointly with watershed districts. For example:
1) Establish volunteer water quality testing programs through organizations such as the Metropolitan Council's
Citizen -Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP) or the Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP).
2) Regulate activities degrading water quality using model ordinance language, performance standards, or bans,
as appropriate, for at least one of the following:
a) Coal -tar usage
b) mowing down to shorelines — vegetation buffers
c) chemicals such fluridone to control duckweed
d) lawn chemicals
Implementation schedule: To be determined after June 8 meeting with 9MCWD.
Best Practice: 15 #2
Description: Replace 15% of city electricity usage with wind energy.
Current Practice: Secure best price through existing Xcel discounts, with coal as primary
originating energy.
Best Practice as it applies to Edina:
The Alternative Energies Working Group voted unanimously to seek approval from the EEC and
then that of the City Council to ask the city to purchase Windsource energy from Xcel to achieve
the above Best Practice. The cost appears to be approximately $51,060/year.
While this goal is being met, we will also investigate the following additional approaches to
increasing "city wind" to boost the 15% from a "nice breeze" to closer to "tornado" force:
(1) Investigate the installation and operation of a wind turbine on the Minnesota prairie, sized 2-
6 MW.
(2) Investigate the possibility of Edina engaging in "retail wheeling," the term used for an entity
not a (monopoly) utility that creates and uses its own wind energy generated on property
outside the city.
(3) Investigate the reasons that municipalities have not been joining the Minnesota Municipal
Utilities Association for many years and whether that group could be stretched in both
mandate and membership to allow for a city -owned turbine on the Minnesota prairie.
(4) Assemble more information on how the state of Iowa went from 5% to 20% wind energy in
40 months.
Barriers to implementation:
(1) Income to total $51,060/year may not be realized from measurable electric bill savings
based on the geothermal ground source heat pump energy at the new city facility, as
suggested in order to achieve the 15% goal. [This information was given to me informally.
I've seen nothing in writing on it.]
(2) Other paths towards the use of greater wind energy (beyond the 15%) may prove too
cumbersome or inadvisable.
Step Effectiveness – Best Practice 15 #2 should be required. Edina should be the next "Windy
City."
Implementation Schedule:
(1) Construction and full operation of the ground source heat pump—X months.
(2) Monitoring/estimation of electricity savings from above -6 additional months.
(3) Purchasing of Windsource credits from Xcel-1 additional month.
Best Practice: 25 #2
Description: Seek to install a 20 KW photovoltaic solar system on a city building or city school
building.
Current Practice: The City of Edina does not now have solar arrays on such buildings.
Best Practice as it applies to Edina:
The Alternative Energies Working Group in coordination with non -WG member/Commissioner Bill
Sierks voted unanimously to look for the upcoming announcement of a new grant opportunity in
this arena, apply for it, and provide a significant part of the match (in-kind, dozens of hours of on-
site solar analysis, planning, and construction by WG member Greg Nelson).
As a first endeavor, we will assess the appropriateness to the grant and to its implementation of such
buildings as the Braemar golf dome, the community center, the public works building, and an Edina
school in which the need for re -roofing is on the horizon. The angle, orientation, and condition of
the roof needs to be advantageous for exploiting solar energy.
As of now, we estimate that with the grant and our in-kind contribution of expertise and labor, the
city can purchase a $200,000 system for approximately $16,000 of matching funds from the city or
its private citizens. Commissioner Sierks has already made beginning inquiries as to how this
amount might be raised.
Barriers to implementation:
(1) The grant may not become available, even though it looks likely now.
(2) We may not be able to raise the funds for the cash portion of the match (whose terms are
likely to require a 40% match, which exceeds the expertise/labor/supplies to be contributed
by our WG member).
(3) Even if the grant becomes available, we may not get it.
Step Effectiveness – Best Practice 25 #2 should be required. Minnesota is a surprisingly good place
for solar energy though a payback time tends to be a bit longer than that for wind.
Implementation Schedule:
(1) Grant becomes available and application is completed -6-8 months (est.).
(2) Grant decision is favorable and analysis of several buildings is completed additional
months.
(3) Installation is completed -6 additional months.