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The Elk River Vision <br />A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional service, and community <br />engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity <br /> <br /> <br />Request for Action <br /> <br />To <br />City Council <br />Item Number <br />11.3 <br /> <br />Meeting Date <br />October 7, 2024 <br />Prepared By <br />Cal Portner, City Administrator <br /> <br />Item Description <br />Energy City Commission <br />Reviewed by <br />Cal Portner <br />Zack Carlton <br />Tina Allard <br /> <br />Action Requested <br />Discuss and provide staff direction. <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br />In 1996, Elk River applied to the Minnesota Environmental Initiative (MEI) to become a program of Energy <br />Alley and officially became Energy City. <br /> <br />In 2005, the State of Minnesota informed the city that MEI and The Action Committee for Energy were likely <br />dissolving and recommended Energy City become a city commission. The original 2005 ordinance establishing <br />the Energy City Commission had a sunset date of December 31, 2010. <br /> <br />In July 2019, the Council amended the city ordinance, removing the commission's sunset date, as the <br />commission had completed its agreed-upon tasks and had a new vision. <br /> <br />Over the past few years, we have struggled to maintain membership on the commission. By ordinance, it can <br />have up to 11 members. We currently have five vacancies, although two members can appeal their dismissal. <br />There are currently six members on the commission, one of whom is an ERMU representative and one of <br />whom is a city council member. We have replaced nine members since 2023. The commission has also <br />struggled to identify projects and have them budgeted. Further, since its establishment, Great River Energy, <br />ERMU, and Waste Management have removed demonstration and education opportunities from the RDF <br />Plant, and Landfill Gas to Energy. <br /> <br />With aggressive recent legislative actions and information widely available regarding sustainable energy, the <br />Council should consider disbanding the Energy City Commission. <br /> <br />Financial Impact <br />No direct financial benefit, although continuous recruitment and meeting preparation takes considerable staff <br />time that can be utilized elsewhere. <br /> <br />Page 114 of 139