HomeMy WebLinkAboutEC Minutes 3-14-16
Falcon Heights Environment Commission
March 14th, 2016
6:30 p.m.
Meeting Minutes
Present: Chair Miazga, Secretary Olson, Staff Liaison Moretto, Council Liaison
Mayor Lindstrom, Commissioners Wassenberg and Holmes.
1) Approval of Minutes
Minutes of the February 8th, 2016 meeting of the Environmental Commission were
approved.
2) News and Announcements
Falcon Heights’ most recent email newsletter has a website link to purchase discount
rain barrels and compost bins, amongst other items.
The new Bell Museum will break ground on April 22nd at 10 am in the City.
3) Community Solar- Sack Thongvanh
City Administrator, Sack Thongvanh, announced that the City of Falcon Heights has
been awarded a contract with Geronimo Energy to provide solar energy to the City
through a solar garden within the County. This process was done through an RFP
with the Met Council. Falcon Heights will receive a $0.01 discount per KWH of
electricity. Based on the 125 KW contract award, the City will receive an estimated
savings of $25,000 over the 25-year contract. The City Attorney must still review the
contract prior to being sent to the City Council for approval. It is anticipated that the
solar garden will be in operation by 2017.
A motion was passed by the Commission to recommend the City approve the
contract.
4) Smart Climate Grant- Updates
Chair Miazga and Staff Liaison Moretto updated the Commission on the application
progress for the Smart Climate Grant. Miazga asked the Commission to review and
comment on the draft application. The current idea in the application is to highlight
the City of Falcon Height as a “living laboratory” because of the City’s unique
proximity to the University of Minnesota and Hamline University. Liaison Moretto
will send an email of the current draft to Commissioners. The application is due by
April 1st.
5) Sustainable City Award
The City is eligible to apply for a $1000 award through the GreenStep Cities
Program. A subcommittee was formed to help complete the application. The
subcommittee includes: Chair Miazga, Secretary Olson, Mayor Lindstrom, Liaison
Moretto, and Commissioner Wassenberg. Last year’s winner was Oakdale. The
application is due May 2nd.
A motion was passed to encourage the City to apply for this award.
Secretary Olson asked for an update on the $3000 grant mentioned at the last
Commission meeting. Liaison Moretto said that there is still time to complete the
application and he will follow up.
6) Green Step 4- BP29 Fulfilling the requirements
Staff Liaison Moretto is currently documenting and tracking the City’s progress on
the 29 steps. There was a debate on the whether or not the submitted data/metrics
should include the State Fair and U of M properties.
No action was taken by the Commission.
7) Solar Garden meeting with CERT- Update
Commissioner Holmes passed out a press release for a proposed solar garden
meeting with CERT. The City had asked that CERT should pay $200 rental fee to
host the event at City Hall, but CERT stated that they were unable to pay. If the
Commission hosts, it may be able to get this fee removed. But, if the Commission
hosts, meeting minutes most be kept if the 3 or more Commissioners are present and
speak in an official capacity.
A motion was passed to recommend that the Environmental Commission should
host this meeting in April.
8) Public Comments
No public comments.
Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 7:56 PM
Next Meeting: Monday, April 11th, 2016