HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-11 EEC Meeting PacketDraft Minutes☒
Approved Minutes☐
Approved Date:
Minutes
City Of Edina, Minnesota
Energy and Environment Commission
Edina City Hall, Community Room
December 14, 2017, 6:00 p.m.
I. Call To Order
Vice-chair Jackson called the meeting order.
II. Roll Call
Answering roll call were Fernands, Glahn, Horan, Jackson, Kostuch, Madhok, Satterlee, Seeley, and
Waddick
Late Arrival:
Absent Members: Hoffman, Manser and Shanmugavel
Staff Present: Staff Liaison Tara Brown, and Sharon Allison
III. Approval of Meeting Agenda
Motion made by commissioner Seeley and seconded by commissioner Waddick to approve
the Dec. 14, 2017, meeting agenda. All voted aye. Motion carried.
IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes
Motion made by commissioner Kostuch and seconded by commissioner Waddick to approve
the Nov. 9, 2017, meeting minutes. All voted aye. Motion carried.
V. Community Comment
None.
VI. Reports and Recommendations
A. Resolution to support state legislation for limited liability with salt application
After discussion, the following motion was made:
Motion made by commissioner Waddick and seconded by commissioner Glahn to request
Council to add ‘Review and recommend support of state legislation for limited liability with
salt application’ topic on the 2018 work plan. All voted ayes. Motion carried.
B. 2018 Work Plan
Staff liaison Brown reported the 2018 Work Plan was approved by Council.
C. Comprehensive Plan Discussion
Commissioners reviewed and edited their work from last month (their proposed revisions that will be
submitted to those responsible for writing the 2018 Comprehensive Plan).
Draft Minutes☒
Approved Minutes☐
Approved Date:
VII. Correspondence
A. Working Group Minutes and Updates
• Minutes received from Education and Outreach; not discussed.
Recycling, Solid Waste, and Organics Working Group
Commissioner Seeley and student commissioners Fernands and Madhok gave an update on Project Earth at the
high school - the school district is working on installing solar where feasible on school buildings, within a couple
of years. Some buildings like Concord Elementary could be done sooner. Solar on stick was discussed as an
option but is too expensive.
Residential Green House Gas Reduction Working Group
Commissioner Satterlee said they are working on Home Energy Fair and need to follow up with individuals who
signed up.
Business Energy Efficiency and Conservation Working Group – no update.
Facilities Working Group – no update.
Water Quality Working Group – no update.
VIII. Chair and Member Comments
Vice-chair Jackson said she was invited to speak on lowering greenhouse gas at Rondo Library and asked for
approval to do so. Motion made by commissioner Seeley and seconded by commissioner Satterlee
giving approval for vice-chair Jackson to speak at Rondo Library. All voted ayes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Satterlee reported that Ms. Mindy Ahler stepped down from the Education and Outreach
Working Group. Motion made by commissioner Glahn and seconded by commissioner Seeley
accepting Ms. Ahler’s resignation from the Education and Outreach Working Group. All voted
ayes. Motion carried.
IX. Staff Comments
• Commissioner Shanmugavel will not seek another term making it two open seats to fill on the EEC.
Applications are now open for new commissioners.
• In 2017, $1,500 was allocated to the EEC but none of it was spent because of sponsorship received.
• City Council approved the budget and Work Plan and four of 30 explicitly include Sustainability.
• On Dec. 19, staff will ask the Council to approve an increase in the City’s Conservation and
Sustainability utility franchise fees.
X. Adjournment
Motion by commissioner Glahn to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by Commissioner
Waddick. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Draft Minutes☒
Approved Minutes☐
Approved Date:
J F M A M J J A S O N D # of Mtgs. Attendance %
Meetings/Work Sessions 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12
NAME
Burmeister, Jeff 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 67%
Glahn, William 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12 100%
Hoffman, Howard 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 80%
Horan, Michelle 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12 100%
Jackson, Carolyn 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 92%
Kostuch, Keith 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 92%
Manser, Richard 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 83%
Satterlee, Lauren 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 83%
Seeley, Melissa 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 83%
Shanmugavel, Ramesh 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 70%
Waddick, Louise 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 92%
Fernands, Madeline (s)1 1 1 1 1 100%
Madhok, Gauri (s) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 58%
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION
Date: December 7, 2017
To: Edina City Council
From: Energy and Environment Commission (EEC)
Subject: Reduction of over salting through a state law providing limited liability to private
commercial applicators certified through a voluntary program
Action
Requested: EEC request the Council pass the attached the resolution.
Situation:
Monitoring of Minnesota lakes, wetlands, streams and groundwater shows chloride accumulating
in urban areas across the state. Once in the water, chloride becomes a permanent pollutant and
continues to accumulate, with no feasible way to remove it. Chloride affects groundwater and
drinking water supplies, vehicles, infrastructure, soil and plants, and pets and wildlife. Especially
vulnerable are native Minnesota fish and invertebrates. Winter road deicers are the primary
source of chloride pollution. The chloride is carried by runoff directly into Minnesota’s waters.
Both Nine Mile and Minnehaha Creeks in Edina exceed United States Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) recommended water quality criteria for chloride, which was adopted by
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The standard for acute short-term exposure of
860 mg/L and chronic long-term exposure of 230 mg/L (TCMA Chloride Management Plan 2016)
Just one teaspoon of salt will permanently pollute five gallons of water.
Overuse of road salt, the extra amount that is applied to ‘assure’ public safety, is leading directly
to elevated chloride levels. According to MPCA, 365,000 tons of road salts are applied annually
in the Twin Cities (Asleson 2017). 78% of salt applied is retained in local surface water and
groundwater (Stefan et al. 2008)
Public entities, like cities, have been making progress toward reducing over salting. They have
long trained maintenance staff on proper us of salt. Many have adopted and implemented
chloride-management policies and best practices. As a general matter, public road authorities are
already statutorily protected from liability for snow and ice conditions on roads and sidewalks.
The challenge lies with the private commercial applicators, the companies businesses and
residents contract with to clear snow and keep their walkways, driveways and parking lots safe.
Private commercial applicators understandably over apply salt and are reluctant to reduce the
amount of salt applied out of concern over liability for property damage and injuries resulting
from accidents caused by snow and ice on sidewalks and other impervious surfaces. There is
little incentive to attend trainings or implement practices that cannot practically be introduced in
Page 2
their marketplace for fear of increased liability. Amount of road salts attributable to private
commercial applicators vary between 5% or 45% (Asleson 2017).
Background:
Prior to the early 1990’s, winter professionals primarily used sand and plowing to achieve public
safety. Since then, gradually more and more de-icing products have been used resulting in
accumulating chloride.
• 1998 Shingle Creek first water body listed as exceeding chloride standards (Asleson
2017).
• 2001 Fortin Consulting and Freshwater Society host first Road Salt Symposium (Asleson
2017).
• 2004 Nine Mile Creek listed as exceeding chloride standards. (TCMA Chloride TDML
Study)
• 2005, MPCA established a voluntary pilot educational Smart Salting program (Asleson
2017).
• 2008 Minnehaha Creek listed as exceeding chloride standards (TCMA Chloride TDML
Study)
• 2016, 39 water bodies in the Twin Cities metro area, and 47 statewide were listed by
MPCA as impaired for chloride (Asleson 2017).
• A recent MPCA study found that 30% of monitoring wells tested in shallow sand and
gravel aquifers in the Twin Cities metro area exceed the state chronic standard. One
third of wells across the state are showing increased chloride. (Asleson 2017).
• From1985-2014, there has been an 81% increase in chloride at Hastings Dam on the
Mississippi River (State of the River Report 2016).
In 2016 a bill was introduced by Representative Alice Hausman in the Minnesota House
(HF1016) that would provide limited liability protection to private commercial applicators. The
MPCA would provide statewide training. Private commercial applicators that undergo training,
earn and keep a current certification and establish they are following best practices on a
property through written records quality for limited liability in accidents relating to salt
application for themselves and the business or individuals that hire them. This program is
voluntary.
Assessment:
Providing limited liability for private commercial applicators is good for business, clean water and
public safety.
Data from MPCA shows that applicators that go through training make changes resulting in 30-
60% less salt use (Asleson 2017).
Page 3
Locally, two outstanding examples of change after attending MPCA Smart Salt Training are Edina
Public Schools Buildings & Grounds and Park Nicollet. Both have reduced salt usage without
compromising public safety.
• At Edina High School alone, the Edina Public Schools Buildings & Grounds crews
reduced salt usage from per event from 500-1000# to 0-150# per event. See
attachment.
• Park Nicollet’s 36 clinics reduced their salt usage by 45% in 2013-14 and an additional
28% in 2015-16. Landscape damage from salt was reduced 75%. They plan another 10%
reduction in 2016-17.
We believe and have been told by City staff that having both private commercial applicators and
City of Edina applicators using best practice and working to reduce salt usage will help the City
meet it’s MS4 guidelines.
Recommendation:
ECC recommends that Edina City Council adopt the attached resolution.
References
Asleson, B. (2017) Chloride Pollution: Sources and Strategies [PowerPoint slides] Clean Water
Council Policy Committee. MPCA, St. Paul, MN. 18 August 2017.
Edina Public Schools Salt Story, Attached Document
Stefan, H. , Novotny, E., Sander , A., and Mohseni , O . 2008. Study of Environmental Effects of
Deicing Salt on Water Quality in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota. Minnesota
Department of Transportation. Report No. MN/RC 2008 - 42.
State of the River Report 2016, Friends of the Mississippi River and National Park Service
Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (TCMA) Chloride Management Plan 2016, Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency
Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (TCMA) TDML Study 2016, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
RESOLUTION
Watershed DistrictCity of Edina supports for state law that provides limited
liability to commercial salt applicators that are certified through an established
voluntary salt applicator certification program.
WHEREAS chloride contamination of water resources has been found in urban
areas around the state;
WHEREAS the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has listed 39 waterbodies in
the Twin Cities metro area as impaired for chloride and has completed Total
Maximum Daily Load(TMDL) studies on Nine Mile Creek and Shingle Creek and is
currently developing TMDLs for the remaining impaired waterbodies through a
metro-wide TMDL study; and
WHEREAS the TMDL studies have indicated that the largest chloride source to our lakes
and streams is through the application of chloride compounds on roads, parking
lots, sidewalks and other hard surfaces for winter maintenance practices; and
WHEREAS liability for property damage or personal injury as a result of snow or ice is
one of the main reasons over-salting occurs and many private commercial
contractors and property owners are reluctant to implement salt-reduction
practices for fear of increased liability; and
WHEREAS the MPCA currently oversees a voluntary Smart Salting Certification Program
that provides training to public and commercial salt applicators, private property
owners and managers and others on how to maintain safe surfaces using salt
efficiently;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Minnesota Association of Watershed
DistrictCity of Edinas supports passage and enactment of state law that provides a
limited liability exemption to commercial salt applicators and property owners
using salt applicators who are certified through the established salt applicator
certification program who follow best management practices.
Edina Public Schools/April 2017
Source: Tim Myre, Building & Grounds
Over the last three years the new management team at Edina Public Schools (EPS)
Building & Grounds has dramatically reduced winter salt usage on their sidewalks
while maintaining a safe environment for the thousands of students, staff and guests
who walk in and out of their properties each winter.
Supervisor Tim Myre says when he first arrived three years ago the district was using
multiple 50lb bags of salt per storm event just on their sidewalks. The high school
alone was using 500 - 1,000+ pounds per event. Now district-wide per event salt usage
is measured in the 10’s to 100’s of pounds and the high school uses zero to 150 pounds
per event.
The change all started when Building and Grounds staff began attending the
MPCA Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Training. Myre credits the
training for expanding his crew's awareness of how to effectively manage salt
applications before, during and after storm events through equipment calibration and
proper timing. They learned that salting during a storm is actually counterproductive
because it creates slush, which can refreeze, creating more ice. Now pretreatment
along with sweeping are used before and during storms. Salting, if necessary, is
reserved for after the event. The School District has purchased some new snow
removal machinery that has greatly improved how much snow is left after sweeping,
reducing the amount of salt needed.
“At first many employees had varying ideas about how to solve snow and ice
problems on the grounds, but once they attended the training, everyone got on the
same page. Now it’s clear we can be safe and use a lot less (salt)”, says Myre.
The experience has been so positive that new department employees now routinely
attend salt training. In 2017 management committed to begin sending employees to
the new MPCA Turf Grass Maintenance with Reduced Environmental
Impacts Training and are looking forward to complimentary their success in the
winter season with new best practices during the growing seasons.
Original Contact: Tim Myre, District Grounds Supervisor, Edina Public Schools ISD 273
Current Contact: Brent Kaley, Grounds Keeper
C 612-7105229
Brent.kaley@edinaschools.org
Notes: Pallet of salt is 2500# or 50 bags
They cost $350-$400
RESOLUTION
Watershed District support for state law that provides limited liability to
commercial salt applicators that are certified through an established voluntary
salt applicator certification program.
WHEREAS chloride contamination of water resources has been found in urban
areas around the state;
WHEREAS the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has listed 39 waterbodies in the
Twin Cities metro area as impaired for chloride and has completed Total
Maximum Daily Load studies on Nine Mile Creek and Shingle Creek and is
currently developing TMDLs for the remaining impaired waterbodies through a
metro-wide TMDL study; and
WHEREAS the TMDL studies have indicated that the largest chloride source to our lakes
and streams is through the application of chloride compounds on roads, parking
lots, sidewalks and other hard surfaces for winter maintenance practices; and
WHEREAS liability for property damage or personal injury as a result of snow or ice is
one of the main reasons over-salting occurs and many private commercial
contractors and property owners are reluctant to implement salt-reduction
practices for fear of increased liability; and
WHEREAS the MPCA currently oversees a voluntary Smart Salting Certification Program
that provides training to public and commercial salt applicators, private property
owners and managers and others on how to maintain safe surfaces using salt
efficiently;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Minnesota Association of Watershed
Districts supports passage and enactment of state law that provides a limited
liability exemption to commercial salt applicators and property owners using salt
applicators who are certified through the established salt applicator certification
program who follow best management practices.
Meetings and Events
Day Date Event Time Location
Thurs Jan 11 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room
Thurs Feb 8 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room
Mon March 5 Volunteer Recognition TBD Braemar Golf Course
Thurs Mar 8 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room
Wed Mar 28 Commission Comp Plan
Presentations 5:30 pm Council Chambers
Thurs April 12 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room
Mon April 23 BC Member Annual Reception TBD Braemar Golf Course
Thurs May 11 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room
Tues May 15 Work Session w/ City Council 5:30 pm Community Room
Thurs June 14 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room
Thurs July 12 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room
Thurs August 9 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room
Thurs Sept 13 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room
Thurs Oct 11 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room
Thurs Nov 8 Regular Meeting 6:00 pm Community Room
Thurs Dec 13 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room
Attendance at Regular Meetings and Rescheduled Regular Meetings are counted towards attendance policy.
Chair and Vice Chair specific meetings
TBD Chair and Vice Chair Annual Meeting
Tues Oct 2 Chair Only - 2018 Work Plan Review w/ Council 5:30 pm Community Room
Roster
Name Email
Glahn, Bill billglahn@aol.com
Fernands, Maddy maddyfernands@gmail.com
Hoffman, Howard howard.hoffman@gmail.com
Horan, Michelle mhoran00@gmail.com
Jackson, Carolyn
(Vice Chair) bjandcj@aol.com
Kostuch, Keith kostuch.eec@gmail.com
Madhok, Gauri gaurim18720@isd273.org
Manser, Richard
(Chair) richardmanser@icloud.com
Satterlee, Lauren lauren.mpls.mn@gmail.com
Seeley, Melissa msee10@me.com
Waddick, Louann lawaddick@gmail.com
Brown, Tara (Liaison) tbrown@edinamn.gov
Allison, Sharon (Executive Assistant) sallison@edinamn.gov
Approved by City Council 2017.12.05
Revised by City Council 2018.01.03
Commission: Energy and Environment Commission
2018 Annual Work Plan Proposal
Initiative # 1 Council Charge (Proposed Charge Completed by CM)
☐ 1 (Study & Report) ☒ 2 (Review & Comment)
☐ 3 (Review & Recommend) ☐ 4 (Review &
Decide)
Target
Completion
Date
Budget Required
(Staff Liaison)
Staff Support Required
(Staff Liaison)
Initiative Type
☐ New Initiative ☒ Continued Initiative ☐ Ongoing Responsibility December
2018
☐ Funds available
Funds are available for this project.
☒ Staff Liaison: Hrs___50______
☐ CTS (including Video)
☒ Other Staff: Hrs____10______
Assist as requested with the development of the City’s new Comprehensive
Guide Plan.
☒ Funds not available
There are not funds available for this
project (explain impact of Council
approving initiative in liaison
comments).
Progress Report: Click here to enter text.
Initiative # 2 Council Charge (Proposed Charge Completed by CM)
☐ 1 (Study & Report) ☒ 2 (Review & Comment)
☐ 3 (Review & Recommend) ☐ 4 (Review &
Decide)
Target
Completion
Date
Budget Required
(Staff Liaison)
Staff Support Required
(Staff Liaison)
Initiative Type
☐ New Initiative ☒ Continued Initiative ☐ Ongoing Responsibility June 2018 ☒ Funds available
Funds are available for this project.
☒ Staff Liaison: Hrs____40______
☒ CTS (including Video)
☐ Other Staff: Hrs_____________
Review and comment on the PiE staff report. ☐ Funds not available
There are not funds available for this
project (explain impact of Council
approving initiative in liaison
comments).
Progress Report: Click here to enter text.
Approved by City Council 2017.12.05
Revised by City Council 2018.01.03
Initiative # 3 Council Charge (Proposed Charge Completed by CM)
☐ 1 (Study & Report) ☐ 2 (Review & Comment)
☐ 3 (Review & Recommend) ☒ 4 (Review &
Decide)
Target
Completion
Date
Budget Required
(Staff Liaison)
Staff Support Required
(Staff Liaison)
Initiative Type
☐ New Initiative ☒ Continued Initiative ☐ Ongoing Responsibility
TBD ☒ Funds available
Funds are available for this project.
☒ Staff Liaison: Hrs__50____
☒ CTS (including Video)
☐ Other Staff: Hrs_____________
Coordinate up to two annual community outreach and education events to
increase community awareness and actions regarding environment /
sustainability / resiliency.
☐ Funds not available
There are not funds available for this
project (explain impact of Council
approving initiative in liaison
comments).
Progress Report: Click here to enter text.
Initiative # 4 Council Charge (Proposed Charge Completed by CM)
☐ 1 (Study & Report) ☒ 2 (Review & Comment)
☐ 3 (Review & Recommend) ☐ 4 (Review &
Decide)
Target
Completion
Date
Budget Required
(Staff Liaison)
Staff Support Required
(Staff Liaison)
Initiative Type
☐ New Initiative ☒ Continued Initiative ☐ Ongoing Responsibility
TBD ☐ Funds available
Funds are available for this project.
☒ Staff Liaison: Hrs___30_____
☐ CTS (including Video)
☒ Other Staff: Hrs____220__
Review and comment on policy options for residential organics recycling. ☐ Funds not available
There are not funds available for this
project (explain impact of Council
approving initiative in liaison
comments).
Progress Report: Click here to enter text.
Approved by City Council 2017.12.05
Revised by City Council 2018.01.03
Initiative # 5 Council Charge (Proposed Charge Completed by CM)
☐ 1 (Study & Report) ☒ 2 (Review & Comment)
☐ 3 (Review & Recommend) ☐ 4 (Review &
Decide)
Target
Completion
Date
Budget Required
(Staff Liaison)
Staff Support Required
(Staff Liaison)
Initiative Type
☒ New Initiative ☐ Continued Initiative ☐ Ongoing Responsibility
October
and
December
2018
☒ Funds available
Funds are available for this project.
☒ Staff Liaison: Hrs___3___
☐ CTS (including Video)
☒ Other Staff: Hrs__12_____
Review and comment on proposed groundwater conservation policy. ☐ Funds not available
There are not funds available for this
project (explain impact of Council
approving initiative in liaison
comments).
Progress Report: Click here to enter text.
Initiative # 6 Council Charge (Proposed Charge Completed by CM)
☐ 1 (Study & Report) ☐ 2 (Review & Comment)
☒ 3 (Review & Recommend) ☐ 4 (Review &
Decide)
Target
Completion
Date
Budget Required
(Staff Liaison)
Staff Support Required
(Staff Liaison)
Initiative Type
☒ New Initiative ☐ Continued Initiative ☐ Ongoing Responsibility
March
2018
☐ Funds available
Funds are available for this project.
☒ Staff Liaison: Hrs___6___
☐ CTS (including Video)
☒ Other Staff: Hrs__10_____
Review and recommend on city resolution regarding state bill on limited
liability to salt applicators that are certified.
☒ Funds not available
There are not funds available for this
project (explain impact of Council
approving initiative in liaison
comments).
Progress Report: Click here to enter text.
Parking Lot: (These items have been considered by the BC, but not proposed as part of this year’s work plan. If the BC decides they would like to
work on them in the current year, it would need to be approved by Council.)
1. Review and comment on environmental action plan
2. Review and report on solid waste collection policies in neighboring communities
3. Anticipate and identify emerging topics of interest that should be addressed by EEC
4. Review and comment on city staff annual report on green procurement as specified on green step city’s resolutions.
Approved by City Council 2017.12.05
Revised by City Council 2018.01.03
Proposed Month for Joint Work Session (one time per year, up to 60
minutes):
☐ Mar ☐ April ☒ May ☐ June ☐ July ☐ Aug ☐ Sept ☐ Oct ☐
Nov
Council Comments:
BBE working Group meeting 12/5/17
In attendance:
Paul Hussian
Carolyn Jackson
Michelle Horan
Review of January Event at Centennial Lakes
-For all tenants
-Set up as a contest to see which tenant can lower their energy usage the most i.e.
shutting of coffee makers turning off lights and computers
-Tara is working with the property manager
-Will get feedback from tenants to see how easy convenient or not it was to make
these energy savings.
-The meeting will be set up by the property manager and we will be presenting.
Tara and Carolyn went to a PiE update meeting. Cities from all over that are participating in PiE
attended. Bottom line is that it is hard to get businesses to hop on board. Getting six businesses was a
high number.
One strategy was to reach out to congregations
PiE Webinar Carolyn and Michelle are signed up Paul is interested in attending will get link from
Carolyn
Tara and Carolyn to update meeting with PiE with cities from all over. Take away - cities are happy if
they could get 6 business on board.
Talked about reaching out to parishes as part of residential outreach not as business. create contests
between parishes and their parishioners. Have prize be a home energy squad visit.
Galleria is managed by Heinz (sp?) Property Management. they have made big commitments to
sustainability. Paul will contact the Galleria.
BEEC should put together a report highlighting businesses tha t are taking energy reduction/sustainability
actions.
Frauenshuh
Galleria
others?
A lot comes back to benchmarking. We need a way to know what buildings are doing.
Do you include apartment buildings?
We need to address density and the effect it has on energy use in the city.
In the desire to create ore density how does that affect the cities carbon footprint? Uf we add
mnore what is the argument to make regarding the CO2 footprint? What are the environmental trade offs
for increased density?
What factors go in to the current carbon footprint?
1. electricity
2. carbon emission
3. garbage
Some energy savings will automatically come from Xcel changing their energy mis. We wio need
companies and individuals to reduce more.
What’s needed - creating new data systems that can give overall changes in real time. What can cities
offer businesses? Data and Data management.
Make recommendation for BEEC to investigate real time data on facilities on their energy use; when
their energy peeks, what is their mix of energy - gas /electric.
Other ideas brought up in meeting:
The internet of things idea
Give to get. Calculations of impact and offsets. What are the offsets available including but not
limited to green house gases?
Creat list of what the City is already doing.
Speak with Lauren Satterlee about focusing on education on waste education as
another means to reduce the carbon footprint?
Coming towards the end of PiE. Create a report that will include:
1. Stories of what busnesses are doing.
2. Data on what the City is doing to be shared with the public.
3. Tool kit that BEEC created for builders when applying for fpermits
4. The Centennial lakes tenant Energy competition
5. Business and residential overlap i.e. congregations.
BEEC Minutes January 2, 2018
Attendance:
Carolyn Jackson
Paul Hussian
On phone: Michelle Horan
Carolyn emailed documents from Tara for the January Centennial Lakes event. Included is a check list to
save Energy at work and an Inventory of Office Energy Users.
Paul and Michelle attended the PiE webinar. Highlighted best practices which included public
commitment - have employees write down two actions they will take, Social norming - taking photos of
people taking action and posting them, feedback and prompts.
Michelle will put together a document for each tenant that will include
1. Tenant Name
2. Team Name (optional)
3. Team Captain
4. Three actions tenant can take to reduce energy and waste
4. Employees name and two actions can take
Include document with post it notes to be used as reminders on appliances or light switches.
Encourage positive feedback
Post sign up document in common area where “team members” can check off when
they take action.
Social media - take photos of “team members” taking action and post them.
Takes three month to create a habit.
How are we measuring success? Tara will be speaking with Centennial Lakes to figure out ways to track
effects of actions taken to figure out a winner of the wild tickets.
Paul spoke with Wendy from Galleria who gave him another person to contact - Tony. Tony got back to
him and said they have a number of programs they are doing. They updated cooling and heating
infrastructure. Tony will write up a list of things the tenants are doing and send it to Paul. Tony was very
accommodating. Paul will send on the information he receives from Tony.
Carolyn went to a meeting with the sustainability coordinator for St. Louis Park. Talk about how to
create a climate action plan. Learned that there are a lot of tools out there, lots of building codes that can
be changed.
Changes are made with social pressure and political will.
To move the needle on energy usage you need to adopt stricter building codes.
Edina has a lot of businesses that are doing the right thing. We need to highlight these business. We need
to revisit the rewards program in Marshal. Try to schedule a call with Tom Huff.
Carolyn recommended that Paul Hussian apply to the EEC.
What is the future of the BEEC working group?
Continue to meet.
Work on telling the stories of businesses doing the right thing.
Possibly work on a rewards program for businesses.
Carolyn will check with Peter Listka to see if he wants to continue on the working group. Mike has been
out of town but she thinks he still want to be a part of WG
Minutes
Education and Outreach Working Group Energy & Environment Commission
Edina City Hall, Mayor’s Conference Room
I. Call To Order: December 7, 2017 at 7:15 pm
II. Attendees: Lauren Satterlee, Paul Thompson, Bob Gubrud, Jeff Lundgren
III. Agenda approved
IV. Minutes from last meeting approved unanimously
V. Topics Discussed
a. Home Energy Fair
i. Discussed vendor/exhibitor survey results, 4 received back,
generally positive
1. Lauren will ask primary EOWG contacts for each exhibitor to
send a reminder to exhibitors who haven’t responded.
ii. Discussed participant survey results, 22 received back, also
generally positive, themes include:
1. Nice to have speaker presenting
2. Make sure booths are adequately manned
3. Generally good feedback on the location/facilities
4. Word of mouth, Next Door and Sun Current article were the
best publicity
iii. Discussed considerations for future events:
1. Draw – what would get more people there? Discussed types
of exhibitors and speakers.
a. Consider going to a local home show on our own
time, and approach exhibitors to invite them to
participate in the Edina Fair.
b. Didn’t see many posters around town.
c. SunCurrent article was right before the event, maybe
additional earlier on.
2. Possibly expand beyond energy, conservation more
generally
a. Leverage success metrics and bigger name speakers
to attract other exhibitors in topic areas mentioned by
attendees on survey: “wind energy, geothermal, smart
homes, and vehicle to grid technology” + exhibitors
invited who weren’t able to attend like smart home
technology companies.
3. What is the best time of year to host the event?
iv. Participant follow-up – Tara to send out scripts for 70 follow-up calls
to all active EOWG members. We could also ask when calling:
1. Could ask if have attended previous Forums?
2. Want to ask them to help invite friends next year, to
volunteer next year? If so, ask them about skillsets.
3. Would you be willing to share your energy savings?
VI. Adjournment: 8:45pm
VII. Next Meeting: January 4, 2018