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Home My WebLink About2020-02-13 EEC Meeting PacketAgenda Energy and Environment Commission City Of Edina, Minnesota Edina City Hall, Community Room Thursday, February 13, 2020 7:00 PM I.Call To Order II.Roll Call III.Approval Of Meeting Agenda IV.Approval Of Meeting Minutes A.Minutes: Energy and Environment Commission, Jan 29, 2020 V.Special Recognitions And Presentations A.Salt Resistant Grass Test in Highlands, Dom Christensen VI.Community Comment During "Community Comment," the Board/Commission will invite residents to share relevant issues or concerns. Individuals must limit their comments to three minutes. The Chair may limit the number of speakers on the same issue in the interest of time and topic. Generally speaking, items that are elsewhere on tonight's agenda may not be addressed during Community Comment. Individuals should not expect the Chair or Board/Commission Members to respond to their comments tonight. Instead, the Board/Commission might refer the matter to sta% for consideration at a future meeting. VII.Reports/Recommendations A.Appoint Chair and Vice Chair VIII.Correspondence And Petitions A.Working Group Minutes IX.Chair And Member Comments A.Thank you to departing member X.Sta/ Comments A.Climate Action Plan Update B.Pollinator Update XI.Calendar Of Events A.2020 Calendar XII.Adjournment The City of Edina wants all residents to be comfortable being part of the public process. If you need assistance in the way of hearing ampli4cation, an interpreter, large-print documents or something else, please call 952-927-8861 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Date: February 13, 2020 Agenda Item #: IV.A. To:Energy and Environment Commission Item Type: Minutes From:Casey Casella, City Management Fellow Item Activity: Subject:Minutes: Energy and Environment Commission, Jan 29, 2020 Action CITY OF EDINA 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 www.edinamn.gov ACTION REQUESTED: Motion to approve the Jan 29, 2020 Minutes for the Energy and Environment Commission. INTRODUCTION: Receive the Energy and Environment Commission Minutes of Jan 29, 2020. ATTACHMENTS: Description Minutes: Jan 29, 2020 Draft Minutes☒ Approved Minutes☐ Approved Date: Minutes City Of Edina, Minnesota Energy and Environment Commission Edina City Hall Community Room Thursday, January 29, 2019, 7:00 PM I. Call To Order Chair Jackson called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering Roll Call were Chair Jackson, Commissioners Horan, Seeley, Lanzas, Satterlee, Glahn, Martinez, and Maynor Absent: Manser, Hussian, Seeley Staff Present: Liaison Brown, Casey Casella III. Approval Of Meeting Agenda Motion made by Horan to approve the January 29, 2020 meeting agenda. Motion seconded by Lanzas. Motion carried. IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes Motion made by Horan to approve the November 7, 2019 minutes. Motion seconded by Lanzas. Motion carried. V. Special Recognitions and Presentations None. VI. Community Comment None. VII. Reports/Recommendation A. 2020 Work Plan a. Liaison Brown reviewed each of the 6 initiatives for 2020 B. Initiative 6: Panel for Event a. Students are planning an event April 25. It had potential to correspond. Detailed shared were: i. Climate summit panel 1. Climate change experts (science) 2. Elected officials (policy) ii. Student led workshops b. Initiative #6 event is April 20 i. Commissioners recommended Commissioner Seeley to lead and Lanzas to support Initiative #6 Draft Minutes☒ Approved Minutes☐ Approved Date: ii. Commissioners watched the documentary trailer “Just Eat It” iii. Commission brainstormed ideas for panelist at the event. Ideas will be sent out via email. Liaison Brown will email the ideas and commissioners will respond with top choices within the week. C. Resolution of Support Liaison Brown reviewed a resolution of support for energy performance standards. Questions from the Commission: • What is the opposition to stretch codes? o Labor (slowing development and increase costs) o Utilities (meeting Conservation and Improvement Projects [CIP]) • What is utilities’ CIP spending in Edina? o Do not have exact numbers. Conservation projects tracked during the PIE projects were lighting efficiency and energy design assistance programs Feedback from the Commission about the resolution: • Support for the resolution • Feeling it was necessary to meet climate goals • Like uniformity of the resolution • Suggestion to add energy saving potential (more to build but less to operate) • Having different building codes in jurisdictions is a nonstarter • This would create a 3rd layer of inconsistency within the building code of cities • Embedded carbon: not counting the full lifecycle of the building (construction materials) • Hurts competitiveness of the state • Political party support of this issue o Not universal support for this o A democrat in the House and republican in the senate are authors on the bill IX. Chair and Member Comments A. Human Services Task Force a. Commissioner Lanzas served on the Task Force this year b. The Task Force proposal for funding was approved by City Council in December c. The Task Force received 9 applications and funded 8 d. The Task Force established guidelines for future task forces e. Mission of Task Force: To distribute funds for nonprofits providing basic human needs to Edina residents B. Joint Energy and Environment Event a. Chair Jackson is planning this joint event b. They should have a date soon C. Student Update a. Planning for Climate Summit on April 25 Draft Minutes☒ Approved Minutes☐ Approved Date: b. Commissioners attended the Alliance for Sustainability event. Key points were: i. Cooperation between commissions on issues ii. Edina is involved in many issues and accomplishing many things iii. Tara is working with Excel to educate residents about integrated resource plans X. Staff Comments A. Flood Risk Reduction Task Force a. The Task Force is meeting to establish values b. The Task Force is almost done with the work B. Climate Mayors Steering Committee a. Commission should look at email attached in packet b. Mayor Hovland is representing the mid-size cities C. Applications open for Edina Commissions a. Applications close Jan 31 b. Thank you to Commissioner Lanzas for participating in a public announcement promoting applications D. Curbside Organics a. Organics coordinator starting next week E. Climate Action Planning a. Working on gathering data and community engagement strategy plan b. Chair Jackson requested public information about the CAP timeline F. Initiative 3: Large Building Benchmarking a. Kicked off the program with large buildings b. Liaison Brown will follow up with timeline on city data publication G. Pollinator Update a. Staff Jessica and Tom gave Liaison Brown staff edits to the resolution b. Liaison Brown will prepare a staff report to pair with the advisory communication to go to City Council in February. H. Adopt a Storm Drain a. Liaison Brown shared facts about the program: i. 65 participates ii. 400 pounds of debris collected I. Wood Smoke Education a. GreenCorps Member is working on education program about wood smoke b. Member wants to pilot the program with city commissioners i. Chair Jackson, Commission Horan volunteered c. Member would like to present to the EEC in June J. Calendar of Meetings a. Regular meetings are 2nd Thursday of the month b. April is 1st meeting of the month XII. Adjournment Motion made by Glahn to adjourn the January 29, 2020 meeting at 8:20 p.m. Motion seconded by Lanzas. Motion carried. Draft Minutes☒ Approved Minutes☐ Approved Date: Respectfully submitted, Casey Casella City Management Fellow Date: February 13, 2020 Agenda Item #: V.A. To:Energy and Environment Commission Item Type: Other From:Dom Christensen, U of M Graduate Student Item Activity: Subject:Salt Resistant Grass Test in Highlands, Dom Christensen Information CITY OF EDINA 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 www.edinamn.gov ACTION REQUESTED: INTRODUCTION: Dom Christensen, a graduate student at the U of M, is conducting the research and he is well-qualified to speak more about the topic with the Energy Environment Commission. Additionally, you can learn more about our roadside turf research here on our turfgrass website. ATTACHMENTS: Description Salt Resistant Grass Test in Highlands 1 •600,000 acres in Minnesota dedicated to right-of-way •1% of the area of Minnesota 200,000 acres 2 100,000 applicable acres 200,000 acres 3 n=88 4SeedSod LRRB Contractor Survey, 2019 Photo credit: Dwayne Stenlund, MnDOT “We have a lot of problems with sod dying off the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year following construction. Would like to know best practices for preventing this. We are considering going to amended topsoil for all turf establishment, whether it be seed or sod” -Contractor 5LRRB Contractor Survey, 2019 “[We have more issues when] snow and salt gets piled on the boulevard, killing the turf in those areas…It seems the only thing that works is to plan in your operating budget to replace sod as warranted on an annual basis…”-Contractor 6LRRB Contractor Survey, 2019 Policy NPDES/SDS Minnesota Construction Stormwater Permit Section 13.2: “Vegetative cover must consist of a uniform perennial vegetation with a density of 70 percent of its expected final growth” [Minn. R. 7090] 7 It is expensive to reestablish roadside vegetation •Seed: $150 to $530 per acre •Sod: $20,000 per acre •Does not factor labor, regrading, installation, and irrigation 8Photo credit: Matt CavanaughRegional Roadside Turfgrass Testing Program, 2019 What are some functions for roadside vegetation? 9 10 11 Good visibility for drivers is an important safety consideration 12 What functions should our roadside vegetation serve? •Environmental: •Reduce soil erosion •Filter runoff pollutants (Deletic and Fletcher, 2006; Barrett et al., 1998) •Enhance groundwater recharge •Elevate carbon sequestration rates 13 What functions should our roadside vegetation serve? •Environmental: •Reduce soil erosion •Filter runoff pollutants (Deletic and Fletcher, 2006; Barrett et al., 1998) •Enhance groundwater recharge •Elevate carbon sequestration rates •Social: (Beard and Green, 1994) •Maintain good visibility for commuters •Improved property values •Enhance aesthetics 14 Roadsides are low-maintenance areas 15 Roadsides are low-maintenance areas •Less mowing •No fertilizer beyond starter •No supplemental irrigation •Persistence •Tolerant of sandy soils 16 Roadsides are low-maintenance areas •Less mowing •No fertilizer beyond starter •No supplemental irrigation •Persistence •Tolerant of sandy soils •Competitive •Little/no herbicide usage 17 What turfgrass mixtures are currently recommended for roadsides? •Seed: •25-131 -> Low-maintenance turfgrass mixture (16% KBG) •25-141 -> Mesic roadside turfgrass mixture (27% KBG) •25-151 -> High-maintenance turfgrass mixture (75% KBG) •MNST-12 -> Salt tolerant mixture (20% KBG) 18 What turfgrass mixtures are currently recommended for roadsides? •Seed: •25-131 -> Low-maintenance turfgrass mixture (16% KBG) •25-141 -> Mesic roadside turfgrass mixture (27% KBG) •25-151 -> High-maintenance turfgrass mixture (75% KBG) •MNST-12 -> Salt tolerant mixture (20% KBG) •Sod •Nearly always 100% Kentucky bluegrass •All statewide mixtures 19 Objective 1.) Test a set of turfgrass mixtures and current recommended DOT mixtures at sites throughout Minnesota to determine optimal regional mixtures 20 Experimental Design -Objective 1 •6 species •One cultivar per species •14 locations •7 installed Fall 2018 & 7 installed Fall 2019 •40 treatments •Monocultures, mixtures, and 4 DOT check mixtures •Each individual plot is 25 ft2 21 Where should we test these species and mixtures? 22 23 Materials and Methods •Germination tests •Kill existing vegetation •Tillage •Seed •Futerra F4 Netless blanket •Hold seed in place and reduce soil erosion •Temporary modular irrigation system •0.85 cm of water per day total amongst two intervals per 1.83 m width and length of site ~192 m •Starter fertilizer 24 Planting Date 25 Location Install date Grand Rapids Aug-31-2018 Brainerd Sep-12-2018 East Grand Forks Sep-13-2018 Fergus Falls Sep-14-2018 Roseville Sep-15-2018 Marshall Sep-17-2018 Chatfield Sep-18-2018 Planting Date 26 Location Install date Grand Rapids Aug-31-2018 Brainerd Sep-12-2018 East Grand Forks Sep-13-2018 Fergus Falls Sep-14-2018 Roseville Sep-15-2018 Marshall Sep-17-2018 Chatfield Sep-18-2018 Location Install date Bemidji Aug-26-2019 International Falls Aug-28-2019 Edina Aug-30-2019 Worthington Sep-4-2019 Duluth Sep-6-2019 Willmar Sep-11-2019 St. Cloud Sep-18-2019 Edina update •66.4 % mean location grass coverage 27Nov. 20, 2019 28 29 Research Implications 30 Can we find regional optimal mixtures? 31 What environmental factors are the main drivers in species coverage? 32 Acknowledgements Advisors: •Dr. Eric Watkins •Dr. Jake Jungers Other Committee Member •Dr. Josh Friell Post-Docs: •Dr. Dominic Petrella •Dr. Garett Heineck •Dr. Dan Sandor Other Scientists: •Andrew Hollman •Dr. Florence Sessoms •Kris Moncada •Dr. Jon Trappe Graduate Students: •Michael Laskowski •Nicole Mihelich •Yinjie Qiu •Ryan Schwab Other members of the turf lab group Employees: •Shawn Flynn •MAST students Funding: •Local road research board/MnDOT 33 Questions? 34 Dom Christensen chri3393@umn.edu Date: February 13, 2020 Agenda Item #: VII.A. To:Energy and Environment Commission Item Type: From: Item Activity: Subject:Appoint Chair and Vice Chair CITY OF EDINA 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 www.edinamn.gov ACTION REQUESTED: INTRODUCTION: Date: February 13, 2020 Agenda Item #: VIII.A. To:Energy and Environment Commission Item Type: Correspondence From:Casey Casella, City Management Fellow Item Activity: Subject:Working Group Minutes Information CITY OF EDINA 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 www.edinamn.gov ACTION REQUESTED: None. INTRODUCTION: Receive minutes from BEWG. ATTACHMENTS: Description BEWG Minutes, Jan 12, 2020 BEWG meeting 1/21/20 Attendees: Michelle Horan Carolyn Jackson Nate Krosshell Nate created a hand out with information about the GRBP along with the application. He visited the following businesses: • Holiday gas station on Vernon. They were intrigued and would look into the application. • Grab a Green • Woullets - although they are a Minneapolis business Have available for businesses, when discussing GBRP, information from Edina haulers that explain what can and cannot be recycled. Also update and have available for businesses the office energy efficiency handout Confirm whether Edina restaurants were informed, through Solvei, about the GBRP. Noodles applied for GBRP but did not qualify. Michelle found actions they could take to get them to the minimum, but has not been able not reach the contact person. Ask Tara: 1. If it is possible for another follow up article on the GBRP in About Town. The current issue contained a nice article on the program but focused mainly on solid waste. We want to make sure that businesses realizes the GBRP is about more than waste. 2. If we can connect back with Centennial Lakes to present the GBRP. Carolyn is on the Community Foundation Board. The Foundation would like to continue to put on the CEO Round table that was done in conjunction with the Edina Chamber, however, the Chamber has pulled out. She is hoping that, in conjunction with the Morningside Rotary, they could put on the event and ask Doug Baker , (CEO EcoLab) and Dave MacLennen, CEO Cargill, to be speakers. Michelle has a call with Sara Swenson, May Term Coordinator at the high school, about possible ways to connect seniors and the GBRP for a May Term project. Carolyn will send out the document created for builders when they apply for their permits. Date: February 13, 2020 Agenda Item #: IX.A. To:Energy and Environment Commission Item Type: From:Carolyn Jackson, Chair Item Activity: Subject:Thank you to departing member CITY OF EDINA 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 www.edinamn.gov ACTION REQUESTED: INTRODUCTION: Tonight is Commissioner Glahn's last meeting of his term. Date: February 13, 2020 Agenda Item #: X.A. To:Energy and Environment Commission Item Type: From:Tara Brown, Sustainability Manager Item Activity: Subject:Climate Action Plan Update CITY OF EDINA 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 www.edinamn.gov ACTION REQUESTED: INTRODUCTION: Update of timeline of Climate Action P lan. Date: February 13, 2020 Agenda Item #: X.B. To:Energy and Environment Commission Item Type: From:Tara Brown, Sustainability Manager Item Activity: Subject:Pollinator Update CITY OF EDINA 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 www.edinamn.gov ACTION REQUESTED: INTRODUCTION: Update on the Pollinator resolution to City Council. Date: February 13, 2020 Agenda Item #: XI.A. To:Energy and Environment Commission Item Type: From: Item Activity: Subject:2020 Calendar CITY OF EDINA 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 www.edinamn.gov ACTION REQUESTED: INTRODUCTION: ATTACHMENTS: Description 2020 EEC Meeting and Roster List 2020 EEC Initiative Calendar 2020 Meetings and Events Day Date Event Time Location Wed Jan 29 Joint Presentation to Planning Commission and EEC 6:00 pm Community Room Wed Jan 29* Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room Thurs Feb 13 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room Thurs Mar 12 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room Mon Mar 30 Volunteer Recognition 6:00 pm Braemar Golf Course Thurs April 2* Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room Mon April 20 Food Waste Screening and Panel 7:00 pm Edina Community Ed Tues April 30 BC Member Annual Reception 6:00 pm Braemar Golf Course Thurs May 14 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room Thurs June 11 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room Thurs July 9 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room Thurs August 13 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room Thurs Sept 10 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room Tues Sept 15 Work Session w/ City Council 5:30 pm Community Room Thurs Oct 8 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room Thurs Nov 12 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room Thurs Dec 10 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Community Room Attendance at Regular Meetings and Rescheduled Regular Meetings are counted towards attendance policy. *Note: Meeting date is different than the common recurrence Chair and Vice Chair specific meetings Tues TBD Chair and Vice Chair Annual Meeting 5:00 pm Braemar Golf Course Tues Oct 6 2020 Work Plan Review w/ Council (Chair only) 5:30 pm Community Room Roster Name Email Glahn, Bill billglahn@aol.com Horan, Michelle mhoran00@gmail.com Hussian, Paul pahussian@hotmail.com Jackson, Carolyn (Chair) bjandcj@aol.com Lanzas, Bayardo blanzas@artaxstudio.com Manser, Richard richardmanser@icloud.com Martinez, Ana anam22696@isd273.org Maynor, Chloe chloem20475@isd273.org Satterlee, Lauren (Vice Chair) lauren.mpls.mn@gmail.com Seeley, Melissa msee10@me.com Brown, Tara (Liaison) tbrown@edinamn.gov Casella, Casey (City Fellow) ccasella@edinamn.gov Bike Rack Ideas • Increase street sweeping, water quality improvements, and conservation actions • Education and outreach events • Enhanced tree ordinance • City owned building energy efficiency • Partnering with other cities on resident outreach and congregation outreach • Citywide waste collection day • To-go packaging and plastic bag ordinances • Develop a program with realtors to give sellers the opportunity to showcase environmental improvement to their home 2020 EEC Work Plan Timeline and Event Calendar Events Items of Focus Presentations Initiative (I)1: Climate Action Plan I2: Recycling & Organics Education I3: Business Recognition Program I4: Co-chair “ Sharing Values, Sharing” Communities Event I5: Feedback on PARCs Initiative 4 I6: Co-Lead Edina Community Education Cmsr Lead CJ LS BL CM MH PH AM JAN - EEC meeting (1/29) - 6pm Passive Homes (Mike Woosley) FEB - EEC meeting (2/13) Vote on Chair - Salt Resistant Grass (Dom Christensen) MAR - EEC meeting (3/12) Planning EPS Event - 2019 efficiency reporting APR - EEC meeting (4/2) - EPS Comm Educ Event (4/20) MAY - EEC meeting (5/14) - Fourth of July Prep - Annual Water Resources Report Working document to review JUNE - EEC meeting (6/11) -Wood Smoke education JULY - EEC meeting (7/14) Fourth of July Parade AUG - EEC meeting (8/13) - Work plan discussion -Strategy offsite SEP - EEC meeting (9/10) - EEC work session (9/15) - Work Plan due - Open Streets - Work Plan approval OCT - EEC meeting (10/8) -Chair present Work Plan to Council NOV - EEC meeting (11/12) - May Term Opportunities for Student DEC - EEC meeting (12/10) Additional Speakers or items to cover in the year: • Master Gardeners – Jon Scoll • Green shaded area denotes staff availability