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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019/06/05 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - Regular St. Louis Park Administrative Services Department • 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416 www.stlouispark.org • Phone: 952.924.2531 • Fax: 952.924.2170 • TTY: 952.924.2518 Environment and sustainability commission (ESC): Sustainable SLP Minutes June 5, 2019 Community Room, St. Louis Park City Hall Members present: Chair Bridget Rathsack, Clair Lukens, Abdi Ali, Shaina Ashare, Sue Bloyer, Stefan Collinet-Adler, Ryan Griffin, Larry Kraft, Jim Leuthner Excused absence: Niki Ciulla, Zoe Frank, Katie Christiansen Staff present: Jennifer Monson, planner; Lauren Michaels, intern Guests: Marc Berg, Lee Ann Landstrom, Jane Fischer, Sandy Fazeli, Lotus Engineering and Sustainability 1. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Rathsack. 2. The minutes of May 1, 2019 meeting were approved. Ms. Bloyer abstained as she was not in attendance at the last meeting. 3. Elect chair and vice chair for 2019 – moved this item to end of meeting. 4. Business a. Staff presentation and discussion – Jennifer Monson, planner with City of St. Louis Park. She noted planners help write the comprehensive plan and creating a more healthy and livable city, which is walkable, has mixed use, has lifecycle housing choices, and higher mixed-use density developments, transit-oriented development, street design. Mr. Collinet-Adler asked about development of more north-south transit in St. Louis Park, as public transit uptake is limited by the paucity of north-south lines. Ms. Monson stated this is something staff continues to work on such as adding bus services onto Louisiana Boulevard. She added there will be more help for this with SWLRT, adding this will open in 2023. Mr. Griffin noted Excelsior and Grand seems more walkable with living principles than the West End. Ms. Monson said as more retail is filled and apartments, there will be more opportunity for folks to live and work in the area. More work is being done on transportation to the area. St. Louis Park Administrative Services Department • 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416 www.stlouispark.org • Phone: 952.924.2531 • Fax: 952.924.2170 • TTY: 952.924.2518 Ms. Monson stated the planning philosophy for the city is all included when meeting and working with developers, and also takes into account zoning for each development area. When permits are pulled by developers and builders, more requirements are needed related to green initiatives within the city. They also try to reduce parking requirements and reduce impervious surface areas, where possible. Ms. Monson said staff is slowly looking at reducing parking areas over time. Ms. Monson stated the city is creating a land trust, so residents can purchase homes at more affordable costs. Mr. Collinet-Adler asked about lights in parking lots and LED lights in use within the city. Ms. Monson stated the lights will dim in parking lots later in the evening, and will remain at a lower level, but still be on for safety reasons. Mr. Collinet-Adler added there are concerns about Kelvin characteristics of LEDs being installed. The use of LEDs with increased blue spectrum light impact human sleep patterns that can have a broad range of negative health impacts. This type of light can also negatively impact animal life. Mr. Collinet suggested that lowest Kelvin LEDs should be installed. He had communicated this to City staff a couple of years ago. Ms. Monson also noted the city’s green policy, and work the city does with LHB, to develop energy uses of buildings. She added more affordable middle housing is needed, for residents to purchase, and the city works with every developer on this. Ms. Monson added staff is also encouraging solar and renewable energies. Chair Rathsack asked if there are any barriers or gaps city planners are noting from a sustainability aspect. Ms. Monson stated time is the only barrier, and staff is working very hard on the CAP, most days. She added since the CAP, staff has been more intentional, and focusing on certain items vs. others. Chair Rathsack asked if this is tracked with staff or included in a report to city council. Ms. Monson said there is no tracking spreadsheet, but staff does include a report to the council on CAP items and goals that are met or completed. Mr. Griffin asked if there is any internal goal setting happening. Ms. Monson stated this will depend on the market, and some of this is starting with SWLRT as well. She also noted new buildings are being designed to meet the city’s green policy. Jane Fischer asked if there is any talk about lowering the speed limit on Minnetonka Ave. Ms. Monson stated this is a county road and the speed limit is 35 mph on county roads, so there would be no changes of speed limit on county roads, per Hennepin County. The commissioners were encouraged to contact Ms. Monson for further questions. b. Sandy Fazeli, Lotus Engineering and Sustainability Ms. Fazeli stated there are google docs set up for folks to make comments on the CAP documents and noted there are a number of tool kits under review and Hillary Dobos will be St. Louis Park Administrative Services Department • 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416 www.stlouispark.org • Phone: 952.924.2531 • Fax: 952.924.2170 • TTY: 952.924.2518 responding to these next month. She noted items related to the CAP and a business engagement program, and what this might all include. She presented a slide show to the commission. Ms. Fazeli noted an internal tracking sheet for the city that is CAP related, that could be used with business, as well as a tool kit. She noted tools on how to bring in small and minority-owned businesses into the program. She pointed out the amounts of investment for building retrofits for businesses and noted a total of $673 million through 2040 to reach these goals. This reflects achieving renewable energy goals from outside solar. Mr. Collinet-Adler pointed out community solar does not need to happen in St. Louis Park in order to benefit St. Louis Park. The costs given by Lotus did not appear to include the use of community solar outside of SLP, but used by SLP. He felt that the large costs being predicted by Lotus to achieve some of the goals of the CAP, did not take into account many aspects of the problem and its solutions (nuclear energy, community solar, reduced energy use, etc.) and could be seen as a non-starter by the community. He added reducing energy usage is another goal that will impact Lotus' cost predictions. Mr. Leuthner asked if buildings are made more energy efficient, would the costs be reduced at all. Ms. Fazeli stated yes, and noted this study reflects costs for green retrofit only. She added by 2030, 80% of electricity in St. Louis Park could be coming from renewable energy. Ms. Fazeli also pointed out rebates and financing for businesses in place for building efficiency and retrofits, with a goal of 40 percent completed by 2020. She noted this might be a low hanging fruit. Chair Rathsack asked about constantly setting new interim goals right now and if this is worth our time to update these until we begin making progress since we have really just started to implement the CAP. Ms. Fazeli stated setting goals might be looked at for 2040 then, and then other things will happen organically over time. Ms. Fazeli stated she highlighted what the roles of ESC members might be, and agencies the commission might want to meet with to ask them to incorporate CAP items. Ms. Fazeli asked the group for their general reactions on the plan, and what would be helpful for commissioners, along with resources and other information needed. Mr. Collinet – Adler stated that the bottom line is there are limits to what the ESC can do related to businesses, and really all commissioners can do at this time is funnel businesses to meetings with the city. The ESC does not have the technical knowledge, leverage or negotiating ability to respond to business concerns about CAP implementation. He stated that the City will need to lead the initiative when talking to businesses. He would like to see ESC members present at meetings between business and the City so that the ESC can then play its role more effectively (i.e., by understanding the stumbling blocks of CAP uptake and its proposed solutions, the ESC can then engage businesses and the community at large with more effective communication) St. Louis Park Administrative Services Department • 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416 www.stlouispark.org • Phone: 952.924.2531 • Fax: 952.924.2170 • TTY: 952.924.2518 5. Topics for discussion: i. Staff updates – Hennepin County Benchmarking Ordinance – working on this currently. Ms. Michaels asked if the ESC would like to hear from this group soon. The commissioners felt this would be helpful. Chair Rathsack asked if the ESC could also meet with the planning commission as well. Mr. Griffin also noted concerns over residents not understanding what the term ‘renewable energy’ is. Ms. Michaels stated she will discuss this with staff communications about writing materials that help explain better to residents about the CAP and terms related to it. ii. EV event – Saturday, June 8. A raffle will be held during the event. Snacks will be handed out by the ESC. Mr. Collinet-Adler sent a google map to those driving electric cars to the event, including parking location in the lot adjacent to the Roc. iii. Ecotacular brainstorm ideas – Commissioners were encouraged to sign up for shifts. Ms. Bloyer will do the 2:30 – 4:30 shift. Mr. Griffin will also do a shift. Mr. Collinet-Adler will also do a shift. Ms. Michaels stated the community engagement vehicle will be used. iv. Biking event rescheduling – not rescheduled yet - Mr. Berg noted end of June or mid-July would work. The group decided Sunday, June 23 at noon, on the same route, and the Facebook invite will be updated. v. New chair and new vice chair Chair Rathsack made a motion to nominate Clair Lukens as 2019-20 ESC Chair, Mr. Collinet- Adler seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Chair Rathsack made a motion to nominate Mr. Collinet-Adler as 2019-20 ESC Vice Chair, Mr. Griffin seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. vi. Upcoming meetings – Reminder: July meeting moved to July 10. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.