Laserfiche WebLink
Request for Action <br /> <br /> <br />To Item Number <br />Mayor and City Council 9.2 <br />Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br />Work Session October 17, 2016 Kristin Mroz, Environmental Technician <br />Item Description Reviewed by <br />City Operations Greenhouse Gas Assessment Suzanne Fischer, Director COD <br />Reviewed by <br />Cal Portner, City Administrator <br /> <br />Action Requested <br />For information only, a joint presentation to the City Council and Energy City Commission. <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br />The city received a grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as a part of the GreenStep Cities <br />program to fund a City Operations Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Assessment with paleBLUEdot, LLC. This <br />assessment reviewed usage of energy, water usage, solid waste, and transportation across city and Elk <br />River Municipal Utility facilities. <br /> <br />2 <br />Combined, 7,455.10 metric tons of COe emissions (20.56% ERMU and 79.44% city), was emitted into <br />the atmosphere in 2015. This can equate to 17,867,307 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle, 787 <br />homes’ energy use, or cutting down 7,057 acres of forests per year. <br /> <br />City operations see the most impact with city buildings and grounds, water and wastewater operations, <br />and city vehicles. Potential next steps include: <br />1. Engage a consultant to work with the city leadership to develop a GHG reduction goal and action <br />plan. <br />2. Engage a consultant for a detailed Facility Assessment, Energy Audit, and energy efficiency action <br />plan for the Public Safety, Ice Arena, and Waste Water Facilities. <br />3. Explore the feasibility of installing a renewable energy generation on one or more city facilities. <br />4. Conduct a detailed waste sort study to span a minimum of one full week of collection. <br />5. Develop a long range vehicle replacement plan to migrate to electric and hybrid vehicles. <br />6. Implement a Public Transit Commuter Campaign building awareness among city staff by <br />communicating public transit routes, establish carpool groups, and communicate reimbursement <br />potentials available under December 2015 Consolidated Appropriations Act (HR 2029). <br /> <br />The city is currently awaiting a final report for the city-at-large (to include residential and commercial) <br />GHG from the Regional Indicators Initiative. <br /> <br />Financial Impact <br />None <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> 2015 GHG Inventory Report <br /> Infographic <br /> <br />