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City Council Minutes Page 2 <br />November 18, 2019 <br />----------------------------- <br />3.3 Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA) Wind Turbine Siting <br />Options <br /> <br /> Mr. Adams presented the staff report. He discussed items to consider when installing <br />a wind turbine, such as location, noise, lighting, marketing, and education. He stated <br />he is looking for feedback for sites in Elk River, such as city hall or Highway 10. <br /> <br />Mr. Adams noted the wind turbine is a marketing tool and not expected to produce a <br />lot of energy and will not make money. He stated it is small in scale and would <br />represent we are for a green future. <br /> <br />Commissioner Stewart stated it would be an educational tool as well. <br /> <br />The Council/Commission discussed the following site options: <br /> <br /> ERMU field plant <br /> Youth Athletic Complex <br /> North Star Business Park <br /> Twin Lakes Parkway <br /> <br />Councilmember Wagner questioned the project cost. <br /> <br />Mr. Adams stated everything would be owned and paid by Minnesota Municipal <br />Power Association (MMPA). He noted MMPA would be responsible for <br />maintenance and decommissioning. <br /> <br />Consensus of both boards is to host the windmill if a site could be selected. Council <br />stated they are not interested in the city hall site. <br /> <br />3.4 Ordinance Amendment: Transfer Administrative Authority of <br />PPZ/Backflow Prevention Program to ERMU <br /> <br /> Mr. Adams presented the staff report. <br /> <br /> Mayor Dietz questioned if Council could pass regulatory authority to ERMU. <br /> <br />Attorney Beck stated the regulatory scheme is a gray area. He outlined how the <br />plumbing codes are typically handled by the city which includes ensuring the initial <br />installation. State law requires annual inspections, and the reporting on of <br />compliance. The city does not perform those services, which are done by certified <br />private inspectors. He stated the plumbing code talks about the water authority <br />undertaking follow-up compliance. He stated there is adequate authority for ERMU <br />to do the compliance, noting the area already doing it, but to would be good to <br />formally designate it. <br /> <br /> <br />