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Home My WebLink About2024-09-12 EEC Meeting Packet Meeting location: Edina City Hall Community Room 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN Energy & Environment Commission Meeting Agenda Thursday, September 12, 2024 Accessibility Support: 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 amplification, an interpreter, large-print documents or something else, please call 952-927-8861 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Meeting Agenda 4. Approval of Meeting Minutes 4.1. Minutes from August 8, 2024 Meeting 5. Special Recognitions and Presentations 6. Community Comment During "Community Comment," the Board/Commission will invite residents to share issues or concerns that are not scheduled for a future public hearing. Items that are on tonight's agenda may not be addressed during Community Comment. 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. 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 staff for consideration at a future meeting. 7. Reports/Recommendations 7.1. 2025 Work Plan 7.2. Sun Current Letter Promoting Electric Vehicle Event 7.3. EEC Social Media Takeover 8. Chair and Member Comments 9. Staff Comments Page 1 of 15 10. Adjournment Page 2 of 15 BOARD & COMMISSION ITEM REPORT Date: September 12, 2024 Item Activity: Action Meeting: Energy & Environment Commission Agenda Number: 4.1 Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager Item Type: Minutes Department: Engineering Item Title: Minutes from August 8, 2024 Meeting Action Requested: Approve minutes. Information/Background: Approve minutes from August 8, 2024 meeting. Supporting Documentation: 1. August 8, 2024 EEC Minutes Page 3 of 15 MINUTES OF THE ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION 7:00 PM THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2024 Meeting location: Edina City Hall Community Room 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 1. Call to Order Vice-Chair Haugen called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. then shared the procedure for public hearing and community comment. 2. Roll Call Answering roll call were Commissioners Haugen, Weber, Walker, Bartholomew, Tessman, Schima, Martinez-Salgado, and student Commissioner Langsweirdt. Absent were Commissioners Lukens, Dakane, and student Commissioner Pugh. 3. Approval of Meeting Agenda Martinez-Salgado made a motion, seconded by Tessman, to Approve Meeting Agenda. Motion Carried. 4. Approval of Meeting Minutes 4.1. Minutes: June 13, 2024 Martinez-Salgado made a motion, seconded by Tessman, to Approve June 13, 2024 Meeting Minutes. Motion Carried. 5. Special Recognitions and Presentations 5.1. Planning Commission Parking Work Plan Presentation Planning Commissioners Alkire and Hahneman presented their work plan project related to parking in Edina. They shared existing Edina plans that include parking strategies and the associated themes and opportunities across plans. EEC provided initial feedback, including approaching this in a systemic way to ensure multi-modal transportation options. EEC will get an opportunity to comment again on the final deliverable of this work plan project. 6. Community Comment No community comment was received. 7. Reports/Recommendations Page 4 of 15 7.1. 2025 Work Plan Development EEC discussed their 2025 work plan and the draft plan provided in the packet. The Chair and Vice-Chair will incorporate feedback received into the draft plan. The EEC will take action at their September meeting to approve the draft plan before it goes to City Council. 8. Chair and Member Comments • EEC members attended a tour of the Waste Management material recovery facility and asked for data to understand Edina and peer community stats about contamination. • The community garden work plan item is underway and EEC work plan leads met with the PARC leads. • The EV Showcase Event is Saturday, October 5 at City Hall parking lot. Commissioners asked for a city communications plan to boost and promote the event. 9. Staff Comments • City Hall's new solar PV system installation is underway. • Edina's Sustainability Division was awarded an MPCA Local Climate Action Implementation grant to help fund the bio-diesel conversion project. • Almost 90% of the Climate Action Fund dollars have been allocated. • A GreenCorps Member will start in September to support waste and energy education. 10. Adjournment Schima made a motion, seconded by Walker, to Adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m. Page 5 of 15 BOARD & COMMISSION ITEM REPORT Date: September 12, 2024 Item Activity: Action Meeting: Energy & Environment Commission Agenda Number: 7.1 Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager Item Type: Report & Recommendation Department: Engineering Item Title: 2025 Work Plan Action Requested: Approve 2025 Work Plan. Information/Background: The EEC will review and approve its 2025 Work Plan. The approved work plan will be presented by the Chair at the October 1 City Council work session. The attached draft is an updated version from the August 8 EEC meeting discussion. Supporting Documentation: 1. 2025 Work Plan Draft for EEC Page 6 of 15 Page 1 of 4 Energy and Environment Commission 2025 Proposed Work Plan 1 Initiative Type: Project Target Completion Date: Q4 Lead(s): Tom Tessman, Hilda Martinez, Brooke Bartholomew Initiative Title: Climate Action Plan Midpoint Prioritization Initiative Description: Participate in mid-point Climate Action Plan review and prioritization with Sustainability Division. EEC Work Plan Leads will work directly with the Sustainability Division to review strategy progress and discuss how EEC can support and lead remaining strategies. The full EEC will participate toward end of process to review and recommend prioritized 2026-2030 strategies to Council. This project supports CAP Action CC 1-6. Deliverable: EEC input on Staff-led CAP midpoint prioritization. Council Charge: ☐ 1: Study & Report ☐ 2: Review & Comment ☒ 3: Review & Recommend ☐ 4: Review & Decide Budget Required (completed by staff): No budget required beyond staff time. Staff Support Required (completed by staff): No additional support for EEC engagement beyond Sustainability Manager required. Liaison Comments: Staff supports EEC engagement to provide additional perspective on CAP strategies as part of their charge to support Climate Action Plan implementation. City Manager Comments: 2 Initiative Type: Ongoing Target Completion Date: Q4 Lead(s): Cory Lukens, John Haugen Initiative Title: Continue “Evergreen” Annual EEC initiatives Initiative Description: Continuation of existing annual EEC initiatives—Green Business Outreach Program (GBOP), Tree Recognition Campaign (TRC) and Electric Vehicle Showcase Event— and ongoing participation in and promotion of annual City events and programs, such as buckthorn removal. EEC Chair and Vice-chair will create a list of annual initiatives with EEC commissioners assigned. These initiatives support CAP Action CE 1-4 (GBOP), CAP Strategy GS 1 (TRC), and CAP Strategy TL 4 (EV Event). Deliverable: List of annual initiatives with EEC lead assignments. Delivery of annual initiatives. Council Charge: ☐ 1: Study & Report ☐ 2: Review & Comment ☐ 3: Review & Recommend ☒ 4: Review & Decide Budget Required (completed by staff): Limited CAS funds are available to support paid media outreach for EEC initiatives. Budget will be consistent with previous year’s CAS fund expenditures to support Chamber and Edina Magazine ads, boosted social media posts, and printing and postage costs. Staff Support Required (completed by staff): Communications staff time to support owned media outreach (e.g., Edition Edina, Socials, Press Releases) and facilitate budgeted paid media outreach at direction of Sustainability Manager. Sustainability Manager staff time to coordinate communications plan and facilitate discussions with Facilities, Streets, and Police Staff for EV Event if hosted at City Hall Parking Lot again. Liaison Comments: Staff is supportive as EEC remains committed to its ongoing initiatives to recognize businesses, promote EVs and recognize trees. Budget will be consistent with previous year’s CAS expenditures for EEC events. EEC should use January meeting to list existing initiatives, timing of each initiative, and assign leads to inform outreach plans and timing so staff can allocate resources appropriately. City Manager Comments: = commission = staff Page 7 of 15 Page 2 of 4 3 Initiative Type: Event Target Completion Date: Q2 Lead(s): Student Commissioners, John Haugen Initiative Title: Edina Schools Engagement Initiative Description: Student commissioners will be assigned a work plan item to lead as part of their work on EEC with support from EEC commissioners. The projects will include engagement with Edina Schools, including students, teachers, administration, and parents. In addition, student commissioners will build off the success of the social media account takeover of last year by facilitating a student take over on sustainability topics related to drive awareness and engagement with the Edina Climate Action Plan (CAP). Topics will be pre-approved by the EEC and Sustainability manager, while students are charged with the content, format, and approach. Possible topic areas include organizing a “bike school bus” or “bike train” event to promote safe biking to school and hosting an anti-idling campaign to reduce idling emissions in school parking lots. This item supports CAP Action CC 2-5 with potential to support several more CAP actions depending on the topic chosen by students. Deliverable: Event and social takeover. Council Charge: ☐ 1: Study & Report ☐ 2: Review & Comment ☐ 3: Review & Recommend ☐ 4: Review & Decide ☒ 5: Event Budget Required (completed by staff): No funding required beyond staff time. Staff Support Required (completed by staff): Coordination with Communications Staff on Social Takeover logistics. Support from Sustainability Manager to facilitate connection and review topics. Liaison Comments: Staff is supportive of additional engagement with Edina Schools. EEC nonstudent work plan lead will need to ensure engagement is ongoing and student commissioners feel supported to accomplish work before school year ends. City Manager Comments: 4 Initiative Type: Project Target Completion Date: Q1-Q2 Lead(s): LeeAnn Weber, Tom Tessman Initiative Title: Extreme Heat and Resiliency Hubs Initiative Description: Use existing data and reports from Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, Climate Action Plan, and other industry experts to understand extreme heat risks in Edina. Study what other cities are doing and the best practice strategies to combat extreme heat, including existing city policies that support combating extreme heat. Compile list of best practice strategies to be considered as part of midpoint Climate Action Plan update. This project supports several CAP Actions that address extreme heat (TL 3-4, BE 1-9, GS 3-2. GS 3-6, HS 2-1, HS 2-4, HS 4-3). Deliverable: Report on extreme heat in Edina and best practice strategies. Council Charge: ☒ 1: Study & Report ☐ 2: Review & Comment ☐ 3: Review & Recommend ☐ 4: Review & Decide Budget Required (completed by staff): No funding required beyond staff time. Staff Support Required (completed by staff): No additional support beyond Sustainability Manager required. Liaison Comments: Staff is supportive. Deliverable will support achieving CAP health and safety goals to align strategies across multiple focus areas in the CAP that talk about extreme heat. This work will inform regional collaboration with Hennepin County’s and Metropolitan Council’s extreme heat work. Staff plan to use deliverable to provide actionable next steps for City Staff and EEC to be included in the CAP midpoint prioritization (Work Plan Item 1). City Manager Comments: Page 8 of 15 Page 3 of 4 5 Initiative Type: Project Target Completion Date: Q1-Q2 Lead(s): Brooke Bartholomew, Eric Walker Initiative Title: Food Security Assessment and Local Food Production Initiative Description: Conduct a “Food Security Assessment” to determine food insecurity conditions within Edina using existing data and reports across multiple sources, and by collaborating with others, such as the Human Services Task Force. Study what other cities are doing and the best practice strategies to increase food security, including increasing local food production and access, and increasing opportunities for food rescue. Compile list of strategy recommendations to be considered as part of midpoint Climate Action Plan update. This project supports CAP Action LF 2-1 and CAP Strategy LF 1. Deliverable: Food Security Assessment Report Council Charge: ☒ 1: Study & Report ☐ 2: Review & Comment ☐ 3: Review & Recommend ☐ 4: Review & Decide Budget Required (completed by staff): No funding required beyond staff time. Staff Support Required (completed by staff): Sustainability Specialist will support this work plan item by connecting work plan leads to resources and best practices for food security assessments. Sustainability Manager will provide support in their capacity as staff liaison. Liaison Comments: Staff is supportive. Deliverable will support achieving CAP local food and agriculture goals. Staff plan to use deliverable to provide actionable next steps for City Staff and EEC to be included in the CAP midpoint prioritization (Work Plan Item 1). Deliverable will also inform future grant applications for the State of Minnesota’s CPRG program on food security. City Manager Comments: 6 Initiative Type: Project Target Completion Date: Q2-Q3 Lead(s): Stephen Schima Initiative Title: Multifamily Organics Policy Initiative Description: Research policy levers and requirements to require all multi-family homes in Edina to provide organics recycling. Report will include exploring legality of requiring organics recycling and feasibility to implement a policy like this. Work will align with Hennepin County’s zero-waste goals and plans. This project supports CAP Actions that address waste including equity (WM 1, WM 1-3). Deliverable: Multifamily Organics Policy Report. Council Charge: ☒ 1: Study & Report ☐ 2: Review & Comment ☐ 3: Review & Recommend ☐ 4: Review & Decide Budget Required (completed by staff): No funding required beyond staff time. Staff Support Required (completed by staff): The Organics Recycling Coordinator will support this work plan item by connecting work plan leads to County resources and contacts as needed. Liaison Comments: Staff is supportive. Deliverable will support achieving CAP waste reduction goals. Staff plan to use deliverable to provide actionable next steps for City Staff and EEC to be included in the CAP midpoint prioritization (Work Plan Item 1). City Manager Comments: 7 Initiative Type: Project Target Completion Date: Q4 Lead(s): All Initiative Title: City Code Update—Article III. Boards, Committees and Commissions, Division 3. Energy and Environment Commission Initiative Description: In preparation for the comprehensive plan update, Administration will propose updates to city code. Deliverable: Each commission will be asked to review and comment on the proposed changes. Council Charge: ☐ 1: Study & Report ☒ 2: Review & Comment ☐ 3: Review & Recommend ☐ 4: Review & Decide Budget Required (completed by staff): None. Staff Support Required (completed by staff): Liaisons will work with the Administration Department on updated each commission’s section of the city code. Liaison Comments: Work plan initiative will be added to all 2025 commission work plans. City Manager Comments: Page 9 of 15 Page 4 of 4 Parking Lot • Create a neighborhood-based campaign to increase organics recycling participation and regular recycling compliance. EEC to help recruit neighborhood captains and participants. Utilize incentives and create strategic messaging to target neighborhoods with currently low participation. This project supports several CAP actions that address waste (WM 1-3). • Research best practices for municipal waste diversion in municipal facility construction and demolition (WM 3- 2). • Research and develop an emergency preparedness toolkit or guide for residents (HS 2-5). • Study and report on solutions for increasing EV charging in existing multifamily and commercial parking structures, including identifying city programs and incentives to reduce upfront costs for existing buildings. (TL) Page 10 of 15 BOARD & COMMISSION ITEM REPORT Date: September 12, 2024 Item Activity: Action Meeting: Energy & Environment Commission Agenda Number: 7.2 Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager Item Type: Report & Recommendation Department: Engineering Item Title: Sun Current Letter Promoting Electric Vehicle Event Action Requested: Approve letter to submit to Sun Current. Information/Background: EEC will host an Electric Vehicle Event on Saturday, October 5, 2024. As part of the communications plan, Commissioner Tessman drafted a letter to the Sun Current about the benefits of owning an electric vehicle and promoting the October 5 event. Letters to the editor or opinion articles submitted on behalf of an Edina commission must be approved by the commission at a regular meeting through formal action. If approved, the letter is submitted to the paper by Edina's Communications team on behalf of the commission. Commissioner Tessman requests the EEC review and approve the draft letter to be submitted to the Sun Current. Supporting Documentation: 1. Draft Letter to the Editor EEC review Page 11 of 15 Headline: Today’s Electric Vehicles -- Great for the Environment and So Much More Subhead: Join the drive clean movement; attend Edina’s Electric Vehicle Showcase Event on Saturday, October 5. Edina drivers need to switch from gas-powered engines to electric vehicles now! Electric vehicles (EV) don’t produce tailpipe pollution, which harms the health of our climate and our families. Switching to EVs will improve health outcomes and will help achieve the goals of Edina’s Climate Action Plan (adopted December 2021). Did you know that Edina’s Climate Action Plan calls for a reduction in Greenhouse Gases (GHG) by 45% by 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050? Transportation, traditional vehicles in particular, is the leading source and producer of GHG emissions in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT). Switching to electrical vehicles is the “single greatest change Edina residents can make to help the City meet its Climate Action Plan goals,” according to Jukka Kukkonen, Chief EV Educator and strategist of Shift2Electric. In 2021, the electric vehicle market share in Edina was about 10%. Our goal is to increase electric vehicles to 25% of the market by 2030. Clean transportation like EVs can play a significant role in GHG reduction. For every 1% of vehicles switched from internal combustible engines (ICE) to electric, 2750 metric tons of the carbon dioxide (CO2), a significant percentage of GHG, can be eliminated annually. The benefits of going electric, however, are much more than being a climate solution. Recent research shows that clean transportation can also improve people’s health. Yes, switching to electric vehicles has another important benefit – cleaner air. Reducing air pollution can save lives, according to Susan Anenberg, director the Climate and Health Institute at George Washington University: “If we make a widespread transition to EVs, we can expect reduced premature mortality and improved asthma outcomes.” A report by the National Institutes of Health (2023) concurs that switching to “EVs will reduce air pollutants that contribute to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer and other illnesses.” And, more recently, the American Lung Association reports that adoption of EVs “would prevent 2.79 million pediatric asthma attacks and millions of other respiratory symptoms and save hundreds of infant lives by 2050.” I encourage Edina residents to learn about the benefits of electric vehicle technology, performance, and maintenance. Attend Edina’s Electric Vehicle Showcase Event on October 5th. Talk directly with EV owners who will present a great line up of electric vehicles, including Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevy, Ford, Kia, Rivian, Telsa and more! Key Cadillac and Golden Valley Tesla will be there with EV vehicles for test drives. The University of Minnesota will feature their solar-powered vehicle that they’ve been racing for more than 25 years. And Xcel Energy and Drive Electric will be on hand to share information about rebates, incentives and charging technology. Join the Energy and Environment Commission at the City Hall parking lot for its first annual Edina Electric Vehicle Showcase. Stop by anytime between 11 am and 2 pm. Bring the family to this fun and educational event. It’s free and will feature live music and the El Taquito Taco food truck! Tom Tessman Edina Resident Member, Edina Energy & Environment Commission Page 12 of 15 BOARD & COMMISSION ITEM REPORT Date: September 12, 2024 Item Activity: Discussion Meeting: Energy & Environment Commission Agenda Number: 7.3 Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager Item Type: Report & Recommendation Department: Engineering Item Title: EEC Social Media Takeover Action Requested: Discuss EEC social takeover opportunity. Information/Background: EEC Student Commissioners did a "social media takeover" in 2023 to promote sustainable actions and events. EEC is invited to do this again to promote its events and other topics of interest. Edina Communications provided a report of the impact of the 2023 takeover, including metrics of the reach and engagement on the posts. Two of the three posts were in the top six for highest "likes" and "reach" for the last 30 days at time of posting. Supporting Documentation: 1. EEC Social Media Takeover Results, 2023 Page 13 of 15 Instagram Takeover Results Who: Energy & Environment Student Commissioners When: Feb. 26, 2023 Where: @edinamn Report Date: March 2, 2023 Report Page 1 LIKES AND REACH Two of the three posts are in the top six for highest “Likes” and “Reach” for the last 30 days The Community Clothing Swap post has 98 likes and reached 2,382 accounts The Organics post has 84 likes and reached 2,009 accounts WHAT WAS POSTED THREE Story Topics • Student Biographies • No Mow May • Sustainability Resources + THREE Posts • Climate Action Fund • Organics Update • Community Clothing Swap = SIX total topics covered ACCOUNT ANALYTICS Our reach, engagement and follower count increased the week of the takeover from the week prior REACH 2,382 (31 of these were Non-Followers) ENGAGEMENT 98 Likes; 5 Comments; 26 Shares; 16 Saves Community Clothing Swap Post Page 14 of 15 Instagram Takeover Results Who: Energy & Environment Student Commissioners When: Feb. 26, 2023 Where: @edinamn Report Date: March 2, 2023 Report Page 2 REACH 2,009 (21 of these were Non-Followers) ENGAGEMENT 84 Likes; 5 Comments; 8 Shares; 2 Saves Organics Update Post REACH 1,258 (24 of these were Non-Followers) ENGAGEMENT 32 Likes; 1 Comment; 11 Shares; 3 Saves Climate Action Fund Post Instagram Stories REACH The Instagram stories had an average of 882 views per slide POLL The No Mow May poll received about 100 votes Of these votes, 51% said they were planning to participate this year, 22% said maybe and 27% said no HIGHLIGHT BUTTON A “Sustainability” highlight button has been added to our Instagram account and includes some of the stories from the takeover Page 15 of 15