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EQEA 12/11/2018 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION Fridley Municipal Center, 7071 University Ave Ne AGENDA 5ĻĭĻƒĬĻƩ ЊЊͲ ЋЉЊБ Location: Fridley Civic Campus, Banfill Room, 7:00 PM Call to Order Approve Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Minutes 1) Review October 09 Minutes New Business 1) Nature-Based Play areas- Heidi Ferris 2) Active Transportation Plan update planning 3) 2019 Environmental Fun Fair 4) 2019 Recycling Drop-off update Old Business 1) Pollinator Friendly Fridley update 2) Energy Action Plan update Other 1) Smart Salting grant award Next meeting January 8, 2018 at 7:00 PM at Fridley Civic Campus Adjourn ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION Fridley Municipal Center, 6431 University Ave Ne MINUTES hĭƷƚĬĻƩ ВͲ ЋЉЊБ Location: City of Fridley City Hall, Conference Room A Call to Order Vice Chair Olberdingcalled the meeting to order at 7:03pm. Members present: Nick Olberding, Justin Foell, Sam Stoxen, andHeidi Ferris Absent: Mark Hansen, Kyle Mulrooney, Paul Westby Staff present; Julie Jones, Planning Manager Others present: Marissa Bayer, Center for Energy and Environment; Yvonne Pfeiffer, Xcel Energy; Amy Dritz, resident of 210 Longfellow St. Old Business Commission member Foell asked about the bike route sign location map that was discussed at the last meeting. Julie Jones said she would locate the map and forward it to him electronically. Approval of Minutes Commission member Foell moved approval of the September 11, 2018 meeting minutes as written and Commission member Ferris seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED unanimously New Business Recommendation of City of Fridley Energy Action Plan 1) Marissa Bayer, Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), presented information about the Partners in Energy program and how the draft Energy Action Plan was developed for the City of Fridley. The City, she explained, is in the first phase of the process: Planning. The next phase is Implementation. An Energy Action Team was developed, representing various interested parties of the City. The Energy Action Team held five workshops with the result being the draft Energy Action Plan. Once approved by committee, the next step will be to bring the draft Energy Action Plan to the City Council. The Council will be asked to approve the Plan via a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Commission member Ferris asked if multi-family residents are being considered in the Plan so that renters can support energy reductions as well. Ms. Bayer said yes. Ms. Bayer showed data displaying commercial/industrial users as the heaviest energy users, which is not surprising, she said, for a highly industrialized city like Fridley. In the category of residential energy use, Fridley was average compared to other communities. Fridley was higher than average in terms of energy use in the commercial/industrial sector, however. Commissioner Ferris asked where schools and churches fall in the breakdown of energy use. Ms. Bayer said they are in the commercial/industrial category. It was reported that many businesses have been taking advantage of lighting conversion rebates. Commissioner Foell asked if businesses can get reduced cost energy audits through the utility programs also. Ms. Pfeiffer said Commissioner Foell asked how the solar data compared to other cities. Ms. Bayer said it was a little low. n energy audit first before deciding what energy improvements to make to your home and consider renewables. Ms. Bayer said yes, that is advised. V. Chair Olberding asked how we get Renewable Connect data, because it is not reflected in the Plan. Ms. Bayer and Ms. Pfeiffer said they would try again to track that down. Ms. Bayer presented the community-wide goals and strategies for four focus areas: 1) Residential, 2) Business and Multi-family, 3) Institutions, and 4) Transportation and EVs. Locating more EV charging stations at public locations in the community was discussed, as Amy Dritz, an EV owner, had inquired about the need. Ms. Jones reported that she understands that the new Civic Campus will have just one charging station. She also explained that the draft 2040 Comprehensive Planfocuses on getting more EV charging opportunities along the freeway and in new multi-family housing developments. Ms. Bayer presented the impact of achieving the goals presented in dollars saved and savings in energy use and reductions in GHG emissions. Commissioner Foell asked about a dip in the 2016 data. Ms. Bayer said that was due to the fact that 2016 was the fifth warmest year in history. She went on to cover the implementation plans project management. The MOU will detail the roles and responsibilities of the City and EQE Commission. Commissioneare typical. Ms. Bayer said every community is unique. Commissioner Ferris asked where the funding will come from. Ms. Bayer said the City can request special funding to hire help, cover the cost of mailings, meeting refreshments or materials. The City will also be able to tap into existing Partners in Energy programs offered by the utilities. Commissioner Ferris said a recent Nobel conference focused on the greening of the planet being key for GHG reductions. In light of the need to replace ash trees lost to EAB, she was wondering ifthe topic of re-greening is in this Plan. Ms. Bayer said something could be added to address that. Commissioner Stoxen suggested that is out of the scope of what should be in the Energy Action Plan. Commissioner Foell said he considered that alternative transportation could be mentioned as well, but maybe those topics can be incorporated in the marketing efforts of the Plan. Since he had to leave the meeting, which was going to result in a lack of quorum, Commissioner Stoxen made a motion to recommend that the draft Energy Action Plan be brought to the Planning Commission for adoption as MOTION PASSED unanimously. prepared and Commissioner Foell seconded the motion. Commissioner Stoxen then had to leave the meeting at 8:05pm, so there was no longer a quorum to pass other agenda items.The proposed 2019 EQE Commission meeting dates were reviewed, but a vote on the dates was delayed until the next meeting, due to lack of a quorum. Other Commissioner Foell said he would be happy to provide a testimonial regarding his experience using the Energy Squad program and installing insulation in his home this past summer. Ms. Bayer said that would be very helpful. Adjournment Commissioner Foell moved to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner Ferris seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:13pm. Memorandum Planning Division _____________________________________________________________________ DATE: December 11, 2018 TO: Environmental Quality and Energy Commission members FROM: Rachel Workin, Environmental Planner Energy Action Plan SUBJECT: th On November 26 the City Council approved an Energy Action Plan for the City of Fridley. In order to achieve the goals of the plan, an implementation plan was drafted. The below is a monthly update to the EQEC on progress toward completing the implementation plan: November 2018 Approved plan Kickoff meeting to finalize implementation plan between City, Xcel, and CEE Approved MOU Marketing meeting between City, Xcel, and CEE Analyzed resident survey Mailed manufactures information about MnTAP program Memorandum Planning Division _____________________________________________________________________ DATE: 11, 201 Environmental Quality andEnergyCommission members TO: RachelWorkin, Environmental Planner FROM: Pollinator Friendly Fridley SUBJECT: In March 2018, the City Council passed a resolution designating the City as Pollinator Friendly. The resolution had stated objectives to implementing the goals of this resolutions. The below is an update on the steps the City has taken to meet the action steps included in the memo: 1)Pursue planting pollinator forage in city parks Action Steps taken: Newpollinator patch at Commons Park; Incorporation of pollinator friendly plantings in existing landscaped beds throughout the City (ex. Community garden sign, planters in front of City Hall). 2)Incorporating pollinator friendly plants in the design of all new and renovated facilities Landscape plan at Civic Campus adjusted to include native and pollinator-friendly plantings in areas landscaped with plugs Landscape plan designed with native seeds 3)Limit and minimize systemic pesticides No insecticides used in parks Herbicide use of Round-Up in landscaped areas 4)Undertake best efforts to purchase plants that have not been pre-treated with pesticides Unknown 5)Use pollinator plantings as educational spaces and communicate to City residents, partner organizations, and businesses the importance of creating and maintaining a pollinator-friendly habitat Newwebsite (fridleymn.gov/pollinators) Educational signage at ERR and Commons Pollinator focus at Environmental Fun Fair Co-hosted Resilient Yards workshop with Metro Blooms/Blue Thumb Promoted Sustainable Lawns class through Columbia Heights Community Ed Blurb in business e-newsletter Article in Community Newsletter Segment on cable access channel Interview with Sun Focus Facebook posts (number unknown) Springbrook events (number unknown) Installed two curb-cut raingardens with pollinator friendly plants 6)Maintain a list of native and naturalized pollinator-friendly plants for reference by the community and encourage private developers to incorporate pollinator-friendly plantings into required landscaping List on website Flier on native landscaping for business in progress, need to complete. Direct communication with 1 business Meeting with MWMO and 1 business 7)Provide an annual report to the EQEC Complete The City plans to continue these efforts in 2019. Known action steps include: Continue incorporation of pollinator-friendly plantings in landscaped areas Design one new pollinator-focused area in a City park Coordinate with MnDOT on landscaping along University Ave as part of a planned 2020 fencing/landscape update Install pollinator-friendly/low-mow vegetation at new Locke Park Get landscaping handouts for business approved Support Anoka Conservation District educational series on residential landscaping Continue educational outreach efforts Incorporate strategies related to natural resource management into Parks Master Plan