HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-07-09 EEC Packet (Board Portal)
Energy & Environment Commission Meeting
Agenda
July 9, 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. May 14, 2026 Meeting Minutes
5. Special Recognitions and Presentations
5.1. Water Resources Update
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. Work Plan Modification
7.2. Work Plan Item 2: Education and Outreach to Schools
8. Chair and Member Comments
Page 1 of 9
9. Staff Comments
9.1. Commissioner Expectations for City Council Endorsements
10. Adjournment
Page 2 of 9
Item Report
July 9, 2026
Energy & Environment Commission
Item Number: 4.1 Department: Public Works
Item Activity: Action Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager
Item Title: May 14, 2026 Meeting Minutes
Action Requested:
Approve meeting minutes.
Information/Background:
Review and approve May 14, 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. May 14, 2026 EEC Minutes
Page 3 of 9
Energy & Environment Commission Meeting Agenda
May 14, 2026, 7:00 PM
Edina City Hall, Community Room, 4801 W. 50th St.
1. Call to Order
Chair Lukens called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. then shared the procedure for community comment.
2. Roll Call
Answering roll call were Chair Lukens, Vice-Chair Haugen, Commissioners Budin, Olson, Bartholomew, LaCasse,
and Schima, and student Commissioners Lassig and Tyshow.
Commissioner Tessman arrived at 7:16 p.m.
Absent was Commissioner Martinez-Salgado.
3. Approval of Meeting Agenda
Schima made a motion, seconded by Bartholomew, to Approve the Meeting Agenda. Motion carried.
4. Approval of Meeting Minutes
4.1. March 12, 2026 Meeting Minutes
Schima made a motion, seconded by Haugen, to Approve the Meeting Minutes. Motion carried.
5. Special Recognitions and Presentations
No special recognitions or presentations were received.
6. Community Comment
No community comment was received.
7. Reports/Recommendations
7.1. 2026-2027 Work Plan Updates
Commissioners gave progress updates on the work plan, including discussing removing the Green
Business Outreach Program and replacing it with a new item related to dark skies and light pollution.
Liaison Bayer advised a new work plan outline will need to be completed for Council approval, noting both
the removal of the GBOP and replacing it with a new item will go to Council at one time as a mid-point
work plan modification.
Tessman made a motion, seconded by Bartholomew, to remove the Green Business Outreach Program
from the work plan. Motion carried. Chair Lukens and Commissioner Olson will prepare a new work plan
item related to dark skies for review at a future meeting.
8. Chair and Member Comments
9. Staff Comments
10. Adjournment
Haugen made a motion, seconded by LaCasse, to Adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m.
Page 4 of 9
Item Report
July 9, 2026
Energy & Environment Commission
Item Number: 5.1 Department: Public Works
Item Activity: Information Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager
Item Title: Water Resources Update
Action Requested:
No action requested.
Information/Background:
Water Resources Manager Jessica Vanderwerff Wilson will present Edina's annual water resources
update.
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 5 of 9
Item Report
July 9, 2026
Energy & Environment Commission
Item Number: 7.1 Department: Public Works
Item Activity: Action Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager
Item Title: Work Plan Modification
Action Requested:
Approve Work Plan Modification to Add New Initiative.
Information/Background:
EEC voted to discontinue Work Plan Intiative 7, Green Business Outreach Program (GBOP) at its May
2026 meeting. Commissioner Olson prepared an alternative work plan item related to dark skies.
Commissioners should discuss the draft item and vote to approve it as a mid-year work plan
modification.
If approved by the EEC, the commission will need to present the new initiative to the City Council for
approval. The commission should determine who will present this item and Liaison Bayer will
coordinate to have this on a future council agenda (Tuesday, July 21 or Wednesday, August 5).
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 WP Modification Draft (Board Portal)
Page 6 of 9
EEC Mid-point Work Plan Modification
Blue – Commission Completes
Green – Staff Completes
Initiative Title: Explore Options for Dark Skies Lighting Ordinances
Initiative Description:
What will we do:
• Contact Starry Skies North, Minnesota’s local chapter of DarkSky International, to see what
information/resources are available.
• Research Edina’s existing ordinances (ex: Sec. 36-1260) and how they compare to those of other cities both in
terms of the quality of standards being used and the level to which those standards are being enforced.
• Research what DarkSky compliant ordinances could potentially be implemented in Edina as allowed by existing
Minnesota Statutes (ex: Chapter 16B.328 Outdoor Lighting Fixtures Model Ordinance & Chapter 216C.19 Energy
Conservation).
• Create advisory communication and report summarizing findings.
The impact of dark skies ordinances and best practices include safety and security, minimizing the disruptive effects of
artificial light exposure, wildlife protection for migratory birds, insects and pollinators, removing unnecessary
illumination and reducing energy costs, and reducing light pollution that obscured star visibility.
Deliverable:
Deliverable is an Advisory communication and report summarizing findings.
Targe Completion Date:
Q4 2027
Owner:
Chris Olson
Contributors:
Cory Lukens
Council Charge: ☐ 1: Review & Comment ☒ 2: Study & Report ☐ 3: Review & Recommend
☐ 4: Review & Decide ☐ 5: Event
Budget Required (completed by staff): No budget required for a study & report.
Staff Support Required (completed by staff): Minimal staff time will be required to support outside the Staff Liaison’s
time. Some hours may be needed by Planning and Facilities to share information about existing zoning and building code
implications.
Liaison Comments: The Commission has expressed interest in exploring how to minimize light pollution in the
community. This is the first step to understanding what might be possible in reducing light pollution beyond what existing
code already does.
Page 7 of 9
Item Report
July 9, 2026
Energy & Environment Commission
Item Number: 7.2 Department: Public Works
Item Activity: Discussion Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager
Item Title: Work Plan Item 2: Education and Outreach to Schools
Action Requested:
No action.
Information/Background:
Discuss engagement framework for Work Plan Item 2: Education and Outreach to Schools.
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 8 of 9
Item Report
July 9, 2026
Energy & Environment Commission
Item Number: 9.1 Department: Public Works
Item Activity: Information Prepared By: Marisa Bayer, Sustainability Manager
Item Title: Commissioner Expectations for City Council Endorsements
Action Requested:
No action.
Information/Background:
State General Election is Nov. 3, 2026, which includes city council elections. As a reminder,
Commissioners may endorse candidates, but they should follow these guidelines:
1. Commissioners may write letters or make public posts related to local elections, including
political endorsements. There is no City policy that prohibits a commissioner from submitting a
letter to the editor or guest column, including one that endorses a candidate.
2. Commissioners may not use their commissioner title or reference their commission when
writing letters or making public endorsements. Letters and endorsements must be submitted as
a private resident. Commissioners should not identify themselves as a commissioner, chair, vice
chair, or reference their commission affiliation.
3. Commissioners may write about issues that are important to them. If topics such as the arts,
environment, housing, transportation, equity, or other community issues are important to them,
they may discuss those issues in their letter or in public posts as long as they follow the
guidelines above.
4. Letters must represent an individual viewpoint. To avoid the appearance of a commission
endorsement, letters and posts should be authored and signed by a single commissioner.
Commissioners should not co-author or jointly sign endorsements with other commissioners.
If a commission is unsure, they can contact MJ Lamon with questions.
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 9 of 9