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<br />2 <br /> <br />Motion by member Curtis, second by Hanson to appoint Tom Sagstetter as Chair <br />again. Motion by Sagstetter, second by Brixius to appoint Henry Griner as Co-Chair. <br />Both motions passed unanimously. <br /> <br /> <br />5.3 10-year Action Plan <br /> <br />Commission members discussed various items within the Action Plan that are <br />priorities and goals for the future of the group. Members asked for an update on <br />what has been accomplished and any metrics that can be included for each year or <br />action item. Options for possible community education classes were discussed and <br />potential partnerships with ISD 728. Member Hanson discussed the need and <br />demand for better recycling education especially for hard to manage items that his <br />local business has the ability to recycle. The proximity of the landfill is also a visual <br />representation of how waste management affects our community as well. Public <br />outreach and education on this topic could include videos in partnership with the <br />City in the future too. The group also discussed how photos could help educate <br />residents about waste in parks, along roads and within ponds in the city. Member <br />Plaisted shared some information about the green roof and raingarden mixes his <br />company has created for local residents. He will share an update when the project is <br />completed. Other topics discussed included a survey to residents (about what topics <br />are important to them related to sustainability), micro dams, defused solar array <br />programs, carbon from air liquid fuel at the landfill and other new technologies. The <br />Action Plan calls for many items to be done in the next year or few years, there was <br />some discussion whether or not that’s realistic for some items. A detailed update of <br />progress will be sent to the group soon. <br /> <br />5.4 Hometown Solar Grant Update <br /> <br />The City has begun working with MMPA for the installation for a 5 kW solar array <br />to be built at City Hall. This grant opportunity will allow the city to educate the <br />public about how solar energy works and allow them to see it up close. The <br />installation will include a dashboard; the group suggested adding this to the City Hall <br />cable television and other areas to show live updates of solar production and <br />consumption. The array is very small and will only produce about 2% of the energy <br />needed for City Hall’s consumption. The group then spent some time discussion <br />solar options for residential application, paybacks, production and the role of tax <br />incentives. ERMU provides the option to purchase renewable energy through Clean <br />Energy Choice which can be a better option economically for residents. At home EV <br />chargers are also becoming more popular in Elk River. Wind in Minnesota is not <br />very efficient and not always the best option for power generation. <br /> <br />The distributed energy contract as part of the Hometown Solar installation was <br />approved by the Utility Commission. This system is very small and won’t have any <br />issues with connection or production. <br /> <br /> <br />5.5 CSM update/video program