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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-03-16 PACKET 04.A.ii.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # DATE 3/16/11 Community Development ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT Howard Blin STAFF AUTHOR COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Receive and place on file the approved minutes for the Environmental Commission's meeting on February 9, 2011. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Receive and place on file the approved minutes for the Environmental Commission's meeting on February 9, 2011. BUDGET IMPLICATION $N /A $N /A N/A BUDGETED AMOUNT ACTUAL AMOUNT FUNDING SOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION DATE REVIEWED APPROVED DENIED ❑ PLANNING ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PARKS AND RECREATION ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ HUMAN SERVICES /RIGHTS ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY ❑ ❑ ❑ ® ENVIRONMENTAL 3/9/11 ❑ ® ❑ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ❑ MEMO /LETTER: ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ® OTHER: Approved minutes of Environmental Commission meeting on 2/9/11 ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS r IYUMM77-3 ME City of Cottage Grove Februar 9, 201 A meeting of the Environmental Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 7516 — 80th Street South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on February 9, 2011, in the Council Chambers. Attendees Members Present: Karla Bigham, Rick Chase, Barbara Gibson, Rita Isker, Patrick Lynch, Patrick McLoughlin, David Olson, Thaddeus Owen, Matthew Porrett Members Absent: None Others Present: Justin Olsen, City Councilmember Howard Blin, Community Development Director Jennifer Levitt, City Engineer Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator Call to Order Porrett opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. He explained that this meeting is an informal workshop and asked Commission members and staff to introduce themselves. ••• • • rt- - Olson noted that he was not able to attend the meeting of the Concerned Citizens of Cottage Grove, so therefore he does not a report. With that change, the agenda was accepted. O • - • • • • =Z New Business Public Safety /City Hall Presentation — Wold Architects Project Update /Sustainable Design Discussion Jody Nelson and Joel Dunning of Wold Architects presented an overview of the Public Safety /City Hall project. Bigham asked if there were plans to incorporate energy saving measures such as solar energy, geothermal heating, and the like. Schroeder stated the City Council has adopted a policy state- ment on energy efficiency in this building. Items which have a reasonable payback would be in- vestigated. Items that may qualify for LEED certification but do not have a reasonable payback would not be sought. Olson asked if the payback was based on return on investment. Schroeder responded we are only looking at measures which have payback of 15 years or less. Environmental Commission February 9, 2011 Minutes Page 2 Dunning described the Wold philosophy toward sustainability and described the aspects of sustainable design. Levitt asked what the certification and paperwork requirements were for the various certifications. He explained the various certifications, including LEED, Minnesota B3, and Energy Star. Owen asked if the Public Safety /City Hall would have daylight sensors which would turn off or turn down lighting when sufficient daylight exists. Dunning responded that those items would be addressed through an Xcel Energy assessment of the project. Lynch asked how the City Council would make decisions on the energy saving elements of the building. Dunning responded that Wold would be making recommendations on various elements. McLoughlin asked if the worksheets in the handouts are being used. Schroeder stated that the project is not yet at that point. Olson asked that another consideration beyond the environmental efficiency of the building is the effect of the building on the larger environment. For example, creation of excessive waste during the construction phase has negative impacts. Chase asked for a few examples of efficient projects. Dunning responded that the various ele- ments are typically mechanical, lighting, insulation, windows. One example is the increased use of variable speed drivers on mechanical equipment. Chase asked if geothermal has been effec- tive. Dunning responded that the more conventional systems have become much more efficient, which lessens the relative savings with geothermal. Porrett asked how the paybacks are calculated and are they based on current energy prices or future prices. Dunning described the LEED certification process, including the costs involved. A minimum cost to provide the documentation for LEED certification is $30,000. Porrett asked what assumptions the project is proceeding under and what role the Commission would take in making recommendations. Schroeder stated again that the direction from the Council was for cost effective measures. Councilmember Olsen responded that he was interested in whatever feedback the Commission offers. Bigham agreed that the building should be cost effective. We should, however, look at the low hanging fruit including designing features that are compatible with future advances. McLoughlin asked what other public entities typically do for energy efficiency. Dunning stated that most public clients follow a similar approach to that in Cottage Grove, design an efficient building but not expend the money to get LEED certified. Olson noted that some public agencies, such as the Federal GSA, require LEED certification. Owen stated that he has been involved in LEED projects and his opinion is that it may not be worthwhile. The Commission should, however, discuss the strategies to recommend, using the LEED standards as a guide. Porrett stated that the Commission should have recommendations coming out of the next meeting. It would be helpful to have a subcommittee meet before the next meeting. He asked Environmental Commission February 9, 2011 Minutes Page 3 who would be interested in working on this subcommittee. Bigham, Owen, and Lynch volun- teered. He stated that he would contact the subcommittee to set a time to meet. Workshop on Future Activities Porrett suggested that a timeline be prepared on: • EIS for Aggregate Industries • Air permits and schedule — would like to anticipate reviews. • Update for GreenStep Cities • Blue Star Award Porrett asked members to come up with their top five issues to study over the next 12 months and send the list to him. At the next meeting, the Commission will be asked to reach consensus on the program going forward. McLoughlin suggested a booth for the Commission at Strawberry Fest. Bigham asked for the goals of the Sustainability Task Force. Approval of Environmental Commission Minutes of January 12, 2011 Two changes were made to the Environmental Commission minutes from the January 12, 2011, meeting. The minutes were accepted with those changes. City Council Update None Response to Commission Inquiries None Environmental Commission Comments and Requests None [4inIT -2 am F-I TTUSTW IL The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.