HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-12 EEC Packet (Board Portal)
Energy & Environment Commission Meeting
Agenda
March 12, 2026, 7:00 PM
Edina City Hall, Community Room, 4801 W. 50th St.
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. February 12, 2026 Meeting Minutes
5. Special Recognitions and Presentations
5.1. Presentation on Edina Bike & Pedestrian Facilities
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. Transportation Commission Advisory Communication
7.2. Extreme Heat Advisory Communication
7.3. 2026-2027 Work Plan Updates
Page 1 of 33
8. Chair and Member Comments
9. Staff Comments
10. Adjournment
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Item Report
March 12, 2026
Energy & Environment Commission
Item Number: 4.1 Department: Public Works
Item Activity: Action Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager
Item Title: February 12, 2026 Meeting Minutes
Action Requested:
Approve meeting minutes.
Information/Background:
Review and approve February 12, 2026 Meeting Minutes.
Supporting Documentation:
Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL)
and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data
request (URL).
1. Feb 12 EEC Minutes
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Energy & Environment Commission Meeting Agenda
February 12, 2026, 7:15 PM
Edina City Hall, Community Room, 4801 W. 50th St.
1. Call to Order
Chair Lukens called the meeting to order at 7:18 p.m. then shared the procedure for community comment.
2. Roll Call
Answering roll call were Chair Lukens, Vice-Chair Haugen, Commissioners LaCasse and Bartholomew; and
student Commissioner Lassig.
Absent were Commissioners Martinez-Salgado and Tessman, and student Commissioner Tyshow.
3. Approval of Meeting Agenda
Haugen made a motion, seconded by Bartholomew, to Approve Meeting Agenda. Motion carried.
4. Approval of Meeting Minutes
4.1. January 8, 2026 Meeting Minutes
Bartholomew made a motion, seconded by Haugen, to Approve Meeting Minutes. Motion carried.
5. Special Recognitions and Presentations
No special recognitions or presentations were received.
6. Community Comment
Resident Taylor Bruhschwein shared concern about the need for more protected bicycle facilities in Edina,
highlighting an upcoming project on Wooddale Ave. and requested the commission write an Advisory
Communication. The commission agreed about the importance of the issue to the Climate Action Plan goals and
Chair Lukens will work with the Transportation Commission Chair to join their draft Advisory Communication,
which will be approved at a future meeting.
7. Reports/Recommendations
7.1. Officer Elections
Haugen made a motion, seconded by Bartholomew, to nominate Cory Lukens for Chair. Motion carried.
Bartholomew made a motion, seconded by LaCasse, to nominate John Haugen for Vice-Chair. Motion
carried.
Cory Lukens and John Haugen will serve their terms until February 2027.
7.2. 2026-2027 Work Plan
Commissioners discussed the 2026-2027 Work Plan to identify next steps and objectives for each work plan
initiative. Commissioners identified which initiatives need additional support from new members.
8. Chair and Member Comments
Three new members will start their terms next month once approved by City Council at the Feb. 17 meeting.
Commissioners discussed their shared frustration with current Federal immigration enforcement in the Twin
Cities.
9. Staff Comments
Liaison Bayer reminded the commission of upcoming events and advised the Tree Protection Ordinance will be
on the Feb. 17 City Council agenda.
10. Adjournment
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Bartholomew made a motion, seconded by LaCasse, to Adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
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Item Report
March 12, 2026
Energy & Environment Commission
Item Number: 5.1 Department: Public Works
Item Activity: Information Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager
Item Title: Presentation on Edina Bike & Pedestrian Facilities
Action Requested:
No action.
Information/Background:
Transportation Planner Andrew Scipioni will present on Edina's strategy to building bike and pedestrian
facilities, highlighting the Wooddale Ave. corridor project.
Supporting Documentation:
Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL)
and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data
request (URL).
None
Page 6 of 33
Item Report
March 12, 2026
Energy & Environment Commission
Item Number: 7.1 Department: Public Works
Item Activity: Action Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager
Item Title: Transportation Commission Advisory Communication
Action Requested:
Approve Advisory Communication.
Information/Background:
The Transportation Commission approved the attached Advisory Communication related to the
Wooddale Ave. pedestrian infrastructure. The Transportation Commission is asking the EEC to sign on
to the Advisory Communication.
Supporting Documentation:
Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL)
and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data
request (URL).
1. ETC Advisory Communication
2. Wooddale Community Presentation (Board Portal)
3. Wooddale Staff Presentation (Board Portal)
Page 7 of 33
Commission Advisory
Date: February 19, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Transportation Commission
Subject: Wooddale Avenue Bike Lane Project Letter of Support
Approved Work Plan Item: No Council Charge: N/A
Action Requested
As you consider the 2026 Wooddale Avenue mill and overlay, the Transportation Commission urges Council to direct
staff to review and present viable all-ages-and-abilities (AAA) design alternatives for the corridor — including options
beyond those currently proposed such as those in the attached presentation provided to the Transportation
Commission by members of the community.
Situation
Wooddale serves neighborhoods where kids, families and older adults walk, bike, and cross every day. For a corridor
with its traffic volumes and speeds, national guidance supports protected facilities that clearly separate people walking
and biking from motor vehicle traffic.
Before narrowing direction, we believe Council should have the benefit of a full evaluation of feasible alternatives and
their safety impacts.
This project is a rare opportunity to make meaningful, cost-effective safety improvements. We encourage Council to
ensure all viable options are thoughtfully reviewed and presented prior to selecting a final design.
Encl.
Community Presentation Received February 19, 2026
Staff Presentation Received February 19, 2026
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Wooddale Corridor
Spring 2026
Page 9 of 33
We’ve fallen behind
PeopleForBikes.comCity Ratings 2025
Page 10 of 33
Page 11 of 33
Protected vs Unprotected
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Everyday Destinations
-Schools
-Parks
-Small Businesses
-Daycares
-Churches
Future Connectivity
-Rosland Bridge (2026)
-Valley View Rd
-50th St
-Wooddale to St. Louis Park
Page 13 of 33
All Ages and Abilities
"Protected bike lanes are the only tool for All Ages & Abilities
biking on streets with high curbside demand, speeds of more than
25mph, multiple adjacent travel lanes, or motor vehicle volumes
above 6,000 vehicles per day."
-NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide, 2025 (pg 148)Page 14 of 33
AAA design advances city plans
-Comprehensive Plan
-Climate Action Plan
-Bike/Ped Master Plan
-Active Routes to School Plan
Page 15 of 33
Research supports AAA (protected) design
-1.8x larger increases in bicycle commuting compared to standard (painted) lanes (1)
-Ridership increase of +21% to +171%after protected lanes were installed (2)
-Ridership increase of +50%after protected lanes were installed (3)
-10%of riders on the protected lanes said they switched from other modes (e.g., car, transit) (2)
-8% speed reduction of vehicles vs standard lanes (4)
-Protected lanes reduce bike/car crashes up to 50%compared to standard lanes (5)
(1) The Link Between Low-Stress Bicycle Facilities and Bicycle Commuting —Ferenchak & Marshall (2025)
(2) Lessons from the Green Lanes: Evaluating Protected Bike Lanes in the U.S. —Monsere et al. ( 2014)
(3) West Mulberry Street Protected Bike Lane Pilot Project —Fort Collins, CO City Staff (2024)
(4) The Traffic Calming Effect of Delineated Bicycle Lanes —Younes et al. (2023)
(5) Developing Crash Modification Factors for Separated Bicycle Lanes —FWHA (2023)
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Wooddale Corridor
Page 17 of 33
Page 18 of 33
Project Limits
•Wooddale Ave, W 50th St to Valley View Rd
•Only north-south bike corridor in NE quadrant
•Bituminous overlay scheduled for 2026
•Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan
recommends combination of standard bike
lanes, buffered bike lanes, and shared-use paths
Page 19 of 33
Existing Conditions
•W 50th St to W 56th St
•NB shared bike lane
•SB standard bike lane
•On-street parking (east only)
•5’sidewalk (east only)
•W 56th St to Valley View Rd
•NB/SB shared bike lanes
•On-street parking (east only)
•5’ sidewalk (east only)
•ADT: 5,200-6,700 vpd (2022-2023)
•25 mph speed limit
Page 20 of 33
Existing Conditions
•29 reported crashes in last 10 years
•Severity:
•38% minor/possible injury (11)
•62% property damage only (18)
•Mode:
•70% involved motor vehicle (20)
•10% involved cyclist (3)
•10% involved parked car (3)
•10 % other (3)
•Several segments noted as medium/high priority
in draft SEMAP
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W 50th St to W 56th St
EXISTING
PROPOSED
*Actual dimensions may vary along the corridor
Page 22 of 33
W 56th St to W 61st St
EXISTING
PROPOSED
*Actual dimensions may vary along the corridor
Page 23 of 33
W 61st St to Valley View Rd
EXISTING
PROPOSED
*Actual dimensions may vary along the corridor
Page 24 of 33
Connecting Facilities
•Existing:
•Wooddale Ave bike boulevards/shared-use path
•Valley View Rd bike lanes
•Planned:
•Wooddale Ave bridge
•Rosland Park pedestrian bridge
•Wooddale Ave bike lanes through Country Club
•Future:
•Bike lanes on Golf Terrace, W 54th St, W 58th St
•Connection to Fred Richards Park/NMCRT
Page 25 of 33
Next Steps
•Seeking feedback from adjacent properties
•Project will require a no parking resolution from City Council (spring 2026)
•If approved, implementation will occur following overlay (summer 2026)
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Item Report
March 12, 2026
Energy & Environment Commission
Item Number: 7.2 Department: Public Works
Item Activity: Action Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager
Item Title: Extreme Heat Advisory Communication
Action Requested:
Approve Advisory Communication.
Information/Background:
Commissioner Martinez-Salgado prepared the attached Advisory Communication related to extreme
heat in Edina. This is a follow up to the EEC's 2025 Work Plan item related to a "review & comment" on
Staff's Extreme Heat Report presented at the December 2025 EEC meeting.
Supporting Documentation:
Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL)
and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data
request (URL).
1. EEC Advisory Communication, Extreme Heat Report
Page 27 of 33
Commission Advisory
Communication
Date: 03/12/2026
To: Mayor & City Council
From: Energy & Environment Commission (EEC)
Subject: Support mitigation and adaptation solutions listed in Edina’s Extreme Heat Report
Approved Work Plan Item: Yes, 2025 WP Council Charge: 2: Review & Comment
Items not on the approved work plan: Council action is rarely taken mid-year for items not on the current approved
work plan. Action is only taken if Council chooses to discuss the Advisory Communication at the Council meeting
and provides specific direction through a Council vote. Commissions are encouraged to submit new initiative
proposals through the annual work plan process.
Action Requested:
Consider appropriating sufficient funding from the city budget and staff resources to implement the mitigation and
adaptation solutions identified in their Extreme Heat Report developed by the city’s Sustainability Division.
Background:
With the aim not only to mitigate climate change, but to make the city more resilient to the risk that climate change
could bring to our community, the city published in 2021 its Climate Action Plan.
The plan identified extreme heat and weather as one of the top 5 risks the city would face in the changing climate we
are currently living. Among the different sectors the plan covers, it identified 6 strategies regarding Greenspaces & Trees
and Climate Health & Safety to help the city mitigate these risks and adapt our built environment to reduce their
impacts in our community.
Assessment:
Edina’s Extreme Heat Report developed by the Sustainability Division of the city includes a clear assessment that shows
that the areas with the highest temperature during the day are also those with the lowest tree canopy and a lot of
impervious pavements. These areas can be more than 10 degrees hotter than the Twin Cities’ average in the summer.
Recently published decade-long research on green spaces, concluded that urban green spaces are increasingly recognized
as effective nature-based solutions (NBS) to mitigate urban heat through cooling mechanism such as shading,
evaporation and enhanced albedo. The study concluded that green spaces could lower temperature by 2-12° F,
influenced by vegetation type, spatial configuration, and urban morphology1.
1 Soltanifar, H., & Amani-Beni, M. (2025). “The cooling effecr of urban green spaces as nature-based solutions for mitigating urban heat: insights from a decade-long
systemic review”. Climate Risk Management.
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Additionally, the CDC2 considers that as heat endangers human health in many ways, tools and programs that will help
protect public from these events need to be develop by communities, like communication strategies, cooling centers,
distribution of relief kits, etc.
Since this increase in temperature can have both health and economic impacts in the city, the report has identified new
opportunities, with an important number of them around greenspaces, tress, and health related programs, that would
help the Edina improve its resilience.
Recommendations:
Extreme heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States, and its numbers are expected to
increase as these events become more frequent and intense due to climate change.
Therefore, the Energy and Environment Commission urge the City Council to allocate city budget funds and staff
resources in next budget and work plan process to support extreme heat mitigation and adaptation strategies, with a
priority to:
1. Create emergency response plans to address extreme heat events;
2. Increase engagement resources and heat relief tools to equip Edina residents to prepare for extreme heat;
3. Expand the availability of cooling centers using a city facility; and
4. Expand programs to preserve and expand the tree canopy in areas with low density and create a new incentive-
based pavement conversation program.
2 CDC. (2017). The Use of Cooling Centers to Prevent Heat-Related Illnes: Summary of Evidence and Strategies for Implementation. Center for Disease Control and
Prevention.
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Item Report
March 12, 2026
Energy & Environment Commission
Item Number: 7.3 Department: Public Works
Item Activity: Discussion Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager
Item Title: 2026-2027 Work Plan Updates
Action Requested:
No action.
Information/Background:
Review and discuss the approved 2026-2027 Commission Work Plan and next steps.
Supporting Documentation:
Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL)
and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data
request (URL).
1. 2026-2027 EEC Work Plan
Page 30 of 33
03/12/2026 Meeting
EEC 2026-2027 Work Plan
Description Council
Charge Leads Update / Next Steps (Current notes, Feb Mtg)
1
Internal Combustion Engine Idling, Lawn Care Equipment,
and Air Quality
Study and report on city-led initiatives around internal combustion
engine idling, lawn care equipment, and air quality. Focus will be on
community vehicles and equipment.
Deliverable is an Advisory communication and report summarizing
findings.
Study &
Report Hilda, Cory
Support needed from new members
• Research what other cities and school
districts are doing (interviews, searching the
internet)
• Separate research by topic: Anti-idling, lawn
care equipment electrification, air quality
impacts of idling and lawn care
• Determine what co-benefits should be
included (like noise pollution reduction)
• Sloane has connection to Toro she can
introduce to work plan leads
2
Education and Outreach to Schools
Build relationships with schools and find pathways to assist them in
with messaging climate related topics, such as vehicle idling, school
bus use and organics recycling. EEC will support schools and
student groups to lead messaging. If EEC wants to pursue a broader
campaign or school project beyond building relationships, a work
plan update request will be needed.
Deliverable is regular updates status and messaging.
Event
Sloane, John,
Zander,
Genevieve
• Connect with Cool Planet (Paul Thompson),
Project Earth (High School group), Go Green
Committee, Principals, Parents
• Sloane has started making connections to
Principals and gather their thoughts; talking
to PTO leaders
• Make Schools aware EEC is a partner in this
work; build connections and be ready to
implement when ready
• Student Commissions can come back with
specific ideas of what EEC could focus
• John and Sloane to continue to connect with
schools along with the student
commissioners
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03/12/2026 Meeting
Description Council
Charge Leads Update / Next Steps (Current notes, Feb Mtg)
3
Organics Outreach
Assist staff to promote organics recycling in multi-family housing.
Create a neighborhood-to-neighborhood contest to increase set
out rate for curbside organics recycling. EEC will present to
neighborhood associations to generate participation. EEC will draft
proposal for contest with information on structure, timeline and
materials to inform future implementation.
Deliverable is a proposal on the contest structure, presentations to
neighborhood associations, and outreach at multifamily buildings.
Review &
Decide
Brooke,
Genevieve
Support needed from new members
• Discuss at future meeting
4
Food Security Assessment and Local Food Production
Continuation of work plan item from 2025. Study and report "food
security assessment" to determine food insecurity conditions within
Edina using existing data and reports across multiple sources. EEC
will collaborate with staff and study what other cities are doing, the
best practice strategies to increase food security, and opportunities
for food rescue.
Deliverable is an Advisory communication and report summarizing
findings.
Study &
Report
Brooke,
Tom, Zander
• Brooke has additional GIS files
• Brooke and Tom have connected on report,
will connect with Zander
5
Continuation of Tree Recognition Campaign (TRC)
Continuation of existing annual EEC initiative to recognize and
promote Edina's tree canopy. Complete annual Tree Recognition
Campaign, including advertising program and selecting awardees.
Deliverable will be 2026 & 2026 TRC awards and recognition.
Review &
Decide John, Hilda
• Discuss Earth Day/Arbor Day timing to
promote application, “take pictures now”
• Confirm application submission/open date
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03/12/2026 Meeting
Description Council
Charge Leads Update / Next Steps (Current notes, Feb Mtg)
6
Continuation of Earth Day Promotion and Tabling
Support existing community Earth Day events) with tabling to
promote EEC initiatives and priorities, including electric vehicles.
Deliverable will be event attendance.
Event Tom, Brooke
• Planning meetings start March 1st
• Earth Day festival on April 26
• Tom and Brooke brainstorming what topics
to feature at table; hoping to find kid friendly
activities
• Tom talking to Shift2Electric to feature more
EVs
• Recruiting Friends of the Boundary Waters
to attend and table
• Could Toro talk about their electric
products? Sloane could connect work plan
leads
• Work plan leads will put a call out to
volunteers to help closer to the date
7
Continuation of Green Business Outreach Program
(GBOP)
Continuation of existing annual EEC initiative to recognize and
promote green businesses. Evaluate program and opportunities to
improve. Complete annual Green Business Outreach Program
(GBOP), including advertising application period and selecting
businesses for recognition.
Deliverable will be 2026 GBOP awards and recognition, followed by
evaluation report of program before 2027 awards.
Review &
Decide Cory
Support needed from new members
• Discuss at future meeting
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