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July 22, 2025 Saint Anthony Council Work Session - 3 Yunker stated that the final levy will be approved in December. We do not know when the cannabis doors will open. It is difficult to know at this point. B.Climate Plan Mid-Year Update. Sustainability Coordinator Saulog reviewed that the City has made progress on the Energy and Transportation areas of the Climate Plan this year. The Energy and Transportation sections are the City’s primary focus areas for Climate Plan implementation in 2025. All Climate Plan actions are specifically Policy-oriented, which the City Council and both Commissions have been identified as key stakeholders for implementation. This document does not include the actions that are Education and Operations- oriented, which are primarily for staff consideration and implementation. The PEC completed a ranking activity in December 2024 to provide input on how the City should consider prioritizing these actions. The Energy Action Plan has several strategies mirroring those in the Climate Plan, creating parallels and a stronger initiative for the City to make progress in those areas. In addition to the mid-year update, a select number of Climate Plan items are further highlighted for Council discussion: Address financial barriers for low-to-moderate-income residents by reducing or waiving permit submission fees for solar panels. (Energy focus area). Ms. Saulog provided recommendations as follows: Waive permit fees for solar panels – Staff investigated current permitting processes and fees for solar projects. Building permits are required for all solar projects. Costs vary depending on the size of the project and other factors. Permit fees cover the administrative and staff costs of processing the permit, and do not contribute to City revenue. Staff recommends no action be taken and keep building (solar) permitting fees as is for the following reasons: There is no precedent for fee waivers based on income for any other permits issued by the City. Administrative costs must be covered by the collection of fees. The cost of a solar array system and installation outweighs the cost of a permit, and there may be alternative ways to better address financial barriers and equitable access to solar. Mayor Pro Tem stated this would set a precedent and asked about other fees that may be requested to be waived as well. Councilmember Randle agreed that if we start to go down that road, where do we stop? If people want to put solar panels on their home, he does not see where the City should have any bearing on that financially or otherwise, if they choose to do that on their own. Councilmember Elnagdy stated she appreciates the consideration that fees are not the bulk of the cost for the solar upgrade. It seems like a necessary income from a City perspective. She likes the idea of a bulk buy program. There are rebates and other ways to help residents with the costs. Councilmember Doolan stated she just installed solar panels this year, and the average rate was $965 for 2024, which is 3% of the cost that they paid. She stated that it is not significant, and she appreciates that Commissioner Peterson talked about the tools that can be looked at to assist with the permitting 5