HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/08/14 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Official minutes
City council study session
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Aug. 14, 2023
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Yolanda Farris, Margaret Rog
Councilmembers absent: Sue Budd, Lynette Dumalag, Nadia Mohamed
Staff present: City manager (Ms. Keller), deputy city manager (Ms. Walsh), building and energy
director (Mr. Hoffman), sustainability manager (Ms. Ziring), sustainability specialists (Ms.
Pottorff and Ms. Rabine), fire chief (Mr. Koering)
1. Environmental stewardship system kick-off
2. Sustainability division programs status update
Ms. Ziring, Ms. Pottorff and Ms. Rabine presented the staff reports.
Mayor Spano asked about the unknowns and what conversations are happening around
advanced strategies. Ms. Ziring stated they are still exploring this and noted anaerobic digesters
for waste heat at a local apartment building did not pan out, but they hope to see it installed in
the future. She added most funding is going into fuel switching now because the grid must be
carbon neutral by 2040 under state law. Ms. Ziring added there is also a lot going on around tree
planting as well. She stated they do meet with their partners about developments as they occur.
Mayor Spano asked what item has the greatest return on investment. Ms. Ziring stated
commercial and industrial energy is that area, and removing fossil fuel equipment as soon as we
can.
Councilmember Rog asked what regulatory options are realistic in this emergency time, and how
the city can move closer to established goals. Ms. Ziring explained that with the state-wide
benchmarking law, the state is closer to allowing cities to require building performance
standards, or BPS. She added benchmarking is the prerequisite for setting targets, and BPS is the
next step.
Councilmember Brausen asked what Falcon Heights is doing, noting they have a very committed
council with sustainability. Ms. Ziring stated she had not looked at Falcon Heights recently, but
noted she does collaborate with the former mayor there. She added they do meet regularly with
many cities like Edina and Eden Prairie to collaborate.
Councilmember Brausen thanked staff for their important work, adding he is only disappointed
with the city’s business community and noted much of this is because it is of some cost to
businesses to do this work. He noted, however, the long-term costs will make the world unlivable
within 40 years if significant changes are not made. He asked what the city can do to encourage
residents to participate in these programs, and stated he is glad there will be public outreach. He
added council will be happy to help with any of this work.
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Councilmember Rog agreed and thanked staff for the thorough report. She noted much was
stated about mitigation in the report and asked about resilience and adaptation planning. Ms.
Ziring stated some of their programs are moving in that direction and staff is constantly looking
at what should be done, such as retaining the city’s tree canopy and looking at other ways to
create more shade in the community.
Councilmember Rog noted with all the crises going on in the world, we may start to see more
migration to the Midwest.
Councilmember Rog stated many do not understand electrification of their homes. She asked if
there is a survey for residents, and what the results were. Ms. Ziring stated there is an
electrification education program and website used for all things electrification within the home.
She stated a successful electrification workshop was hosted and staff will offer this again in
November. She added this information is also included in the Park Perspective and e-newsletters
and more education will be coming on this topic.
Ms. Keller asked if contractors and distributors are ready for electrification as well. Ms. Ziring
stated there are two networks of preferred contractors. The networks are trained on heat-pump
sizing and installation, and HVAC contractors can get certified through this program via the
electrification website. A second network is for installers of heat pump water heaters or hybrid
water heaters, and there is a specific network of plumbers and HVAC contractors who assist with
this. Ms. Ziring stated they are always looking for more contractors to apply and join these
networks.
Councilmember Rog asked what happens to old furnaces when a new heat pump is installed. Ms.
Ziring stated they encourage people to keep their old furnaces to provide back-up heat for the
days of the year when there is extreme cold. She stated natural gas is still cheaper than electricity,
so even if you install a heat pump, when it’s below 0 degrees, heat pumps are not very efficient.
Mayor Spano asked about “Depave SLP” and if there has been discussion about targeting this to
residential property owners, and what can be done. Ms. Pottorff stated there is a similar program
for residents, Rainwater Rewards, which funds rain gardens and similar pavement alternatives.
Ms. Ziring stated next steps include coming back to council to discuss trees, solid waste and multi-
family recycling work.
3. Lithium-ion battery safety
Chief Koering and Mr. Hoffman presented the staff report.
Councilmember Brausen asked what the ignition temperature is for a battery in an iPhone. Chief
Koering stated that there is an ignition temperature for any battery, and there are many factors
to this temperature. Chief Koering stated that observing any changes in a battery are part of
necessary safety precautions.
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Councilmember Rog asked why there has not been one fire in Minnesota yet. Chief Koering stated
there have been, two of which occurred in garages in St. Louis Park. He noted their concern is
where these fires are happening.
Councilmember Rog asked if multi-family building owners are aware of these risks. Chief Koering
stated staff is looking to prepare an intentional plan for educating owners. He stated staff wants
to inform council first, and then get out into other areas and educate along with fire prevention
education.
Councilmember Rog asked if the city would become open to lawsuits by requiring underground
parking electric charging stations. Mr. Hoffman stated that he did not think so, but it should be
discussed when reviewing city policies. He stated that allowing electric charging stations – as we
will not stop people from installing them - and incentivizing the stations are two different
situations.
Councilmember Rog agreed providing messaging and information without an alarmist attitude is
important and asked if there will be signage right away. Chief Koering stated this is the process
the city is going through now. He added people will change their behaviors as soon as they are
educated, thereby reducing risks in the community. Chief Koering added that there are many
methods and ideas for community outreach that will help residents minimize their risks as soon
as they are made aware and take action.
Councilmember Rog added hearing there are over 200 multi-family buildings in the city without
sprinkler systems is very concerning. Chief Koering stated that many older buildings do not have
them, but new buildings do. He noted several sprinkler enhancements have been made in the
community, but it is a very high cost to install sprinkler systems in multi-family buildings.
Mayor Spano recalled that in the past, the State of Minnesota had an inspections program to test
vehicle emissions. He asked whether future legislative agendas should include a battery system
evaluation to minimize risk of damage or incorrect use. Chief Koering stated this is being
discussed at the state and national levels, along with updates to existing codes. He stated the
strategy necessary to deal with battery fires will demand changes to fire department response;
it is impossible to eliminate all risk. Mr. Hoffman added an example of a battery recall to illustrate
that as the EV industry matures and grows, it is on course to become less dangerous.
It was the consensus of the council to have staff review adopted city codes and policies relevant
to lithium-ion battery usage and potential amendments.
Written Reports
4. Tree policies and programs
Councilmember Rog and Brausen stated they are looking forward to the discussion on trees and
tree canopy later this month.
Communications/meeting check-in (verbal)
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Ms. Keller noted that Sept. 8 is the Crime Prevention Fund Golf Tournament. This annual
fundraiser for the crime prevention fund supports much of the police department’s outreach.
She stated more information is online.
The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor
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