Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/03/01 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - Regular Official minutes Environment & sustainability commission St. Louis Park, Minnesota 3/1/2023 1. Call to order – 6:30 p.m. 1a. Roll call Members present: Chair Shaina Ashare, Marisa Bayer, Ramil Goonetilleke, Ryan Griffin, Abigail Oppegaard, Andrew Willette, Dave Wilsey, Eric Zweber Members absent: Tatiana Giraldo, Lillian Hertel, Hailey Sexton, Sasha Shahidi, Paul Zeigle Staff present: Emily Ziring, Sustainability Manager 2. Approval of minutes - Feb. 1, 2023 – the minutes were approved as presented, with 3 abstentions. 3. Business a. Gas Lawn equipment work group update Ms. Ziring presented the work group minutes to the commission. She noted the consensus points below: - to focus on commercial companies vs. residential - to focus on education vs. regulation - Promote tax credits and incentives for companies - Lay out a vision of what want from companies and communicate to them She also noted these next steps: - Commissioner Zweber will research Inflation Reduction Act benefits for companies - Commissioner Griffin will talk to Minneapolis commercial mower how they operate and promote electric use - Consider green operating business recognition program - Promotion climate champions to residents - State proposal may alter the approach – bill introduced by legislature prohibiting nonelectric landscaping equipment starting Jan. 1, 2025 Commissioner Griffin stated the state approach might be better served than local, but it will be interesting to see where it goes. Commissioner Willette added that the state law is the direction we should go but it feels a bit aggressive by 2025, and it would be difficult to run their equipment on batteries all day long. He agreed there will also need to be some carrots in order to get companies to agree to this. He asked should the commission make a recommendation to council about the state legislation and changes they might want to see with it. Environmental & Sustainability Commission Mar. 1, 2023 Ms. Ziring noted the bill is not being addressed by a legislative committee yet. The commission will table this issue until after the state acts, and then will make recommendations to the city council. b. Efficient Building Benchmarking ordinance update Ms. Ziring presented a report to the commission with background on the ordinance. She noted 3 years of data has been collected and a program evaluation has been conducted. Ms. Ziring presented a synopsis of the data collected. Commissioner Griffin stated he does not think there is enough data collected yet to know if the program is successful. Ms. Ziring noted she has also read a Department of Energy benchmarking study which analyzed policies of 24 jurisdictions across the country. This study noted benefits are typically realized after three years of data gathering. She added she is eager to see what comes out of year four in St. Louis Park. Ms. Ziring described the possibility of a state benchmarking statute. She also laid out five possible paths forward if the state program does not proceed and stated that this topic can be further discussed with the commission again at the May meeting. 4. Staff updates Ms. Ziring noted the following: - Electrify Everything MN website is live and CEE staff presented at the recent West Metro Home Remodeling Fair. She noted a recording will be shared. - Electrification pilot with Edina and Eden Prairie. - Working on funding opportunities and grant writing. - Energy improvement project under the special assessment program. - Benchmarking data analysis. - Climate Champions outreach to businesses and organizations – 5 businesses and 9 organizations have signed up. - Events work group looking at a May trivia night – the ESC is interested in hosting in May. 5. Work plan update a. Expand outreach – Events work group update Commissioner Bayer noted a Trivia Night at Park Tavern, and they are working on a date for this in May as a lead out from Earth Day and Earth Month. Ms. Ziring tabled with Commissioners Giraldo and Zeigle at the West End Frosty Mug Crawl. b. Share our voice – state policy update Environmental & Sustainability Commission Mar. 1, 2023 Commissioner Ashare is updating the state policy spreadsheet as she gets email notifications. She noted the lawn care equipment bill did not reach her yet, but there is some on resiliency and solar upgrades. Other items included upgrading of power transfer between North Dakota and Minnesota, electric vehicles and funding prospects. Commissioner Griffin asked if the city has any dialogue with state representatives and what are ways the city can align. Ms. Ziring stated that state representatives come to city hall to meet with city council each year and discuss city priorities. c. Measure progress – staff and volunteer reports (quarterly and as needed) Ms. Ziring shared the quarterly outreach report on incentive programs. She noted how many property owners have signed up for Climate Champions assessments and projects, and how many hours of emails and phone calls had been done. She noted 1 applicant so far for Climate Champions for Homes, but lots of interest in this. Free Home Energy Squad visits are being offered to anyone who purchases a home in St. Louis Park 6 months after home closing. Ms. Ziring noted also the Depave SLP program went live this week. Commissioner Ashare noted this report and the metrics are helpful. Commissioner Goonetilleke asked when physical mailings are sent. Ms. Ziring stated they don’t often do a city-wide mailer because of cost, but they do use the Park Perspective and send mailings to specific areas or businesses. She noted there will be a mailer to dental offices soon about energy efficiency bonuses. 6. Environmental Justice and current events open discussion Commissioner Wilsey stated he appreciated the electric truck article that was sent out. The commissioners mentioned the East Palestine, OH situation noting it is very sad and hard to discuss. Commissioner Zweber noted a series on PBS about home ownership and the Just Deeds program. Ms. Ziring noted 11% of properties in St. Louis Park have racial covenants associated with them. Commissioner Griffin noted a recent trip to DC and Bethesda, MD, and viewed a street of tree plantings with every tree set in a rain garden and tied to the storm sewer as a mechanism for watering. 7. Upcoming/proposed events Environmental & Sustainability Commission Mar. 1, 2023 a. Arbor Day celebration – May 13, 2023 – this will be separate from the May trivia night. Ms. Ziring asked commissioners to consider volunteering to plant a tree or be involved in the event. Ms. Ziring added there is discussion about an event for Bike Month in May, with the possibility of a community bike ride for residents and families. She asked for commissioners to volunteer to assist with the bike events. Ms. Ziring noted the first Electrify Everything workshop will happen in May at the library, with more information to come. Commissioner Wilsey asked about an updated bike map trail and where that could be found. Ms. Ziring stated the Three Rivers trails signs have all been updated and there is hope Cedar Lake Trail will be open again soon. She added the city’s Getting Around website is also helpful. Commissioner Zweber made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Griffin, to cancel the April 5 ESC meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The ESC will next meet on May 3rd. 8. Adjournment – 8:15 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Emily Ziring, liaison Shaina Ashare, chair member