HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-16 ENR PacketAGENDA
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
Monday, September 16, 2024
7:00 p.m.
Maplewood City Council Chambers
1803 County Road B East
1.Call to Order
2.Roll Call
3.Approval of Agenda
4.Approval of Minutes
a.August 19, 2024
5.Unfinished Business
a.Green Building Code
6.New Business
7.Visitor Presentations
8.Commissioner Presentations
9.Staff Presentations (oral reports)
a.Climate Mitigation Planning Update
c.Trash and Recycling Contract Extension Update
c.Solid Waste Tours
1)Tennis Sanitation Recycling Facility - Wednesday, September 11, 11 a.m.
2)Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy Center - Tuesday, October
22, 4 p.m. (in lieu of the October 21 ENR Commission meeting)
d.Environmental Education and Outreach Opportunities
1)Friday Night Fireworks (Touch a Truck) - Hazelwood Park, Friday,
September 20, 5 p.m. (fireworks at 8 p.m.)
10. Adjourn
MINUTES
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
Monday, August 19, 2024
7:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Guell called a meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources
Commission to order at 7:01 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Emma Broadnax, Commissioner Present
Rebecca Bryan, Commissioner Present
Nancy Edwards, Commissioner Present
Benjamin Guell, Chairperson Present
David Lates, Commissioner Present
Ted Redmond, Commissioner Present
Staff Present
Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Bryan moved to approve the July 15, 2024, Environmental and Natural
Resources Commission meeting agenda.
Seconded by Commissioner Lates. Ayes – All
Nays - None
The motion passed.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. April 15, 2024
Commissioner Lates moved to approve the April 15, 2024, Environmental and
Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as written.
Seconded by Commissioner Broadnax Ayes – All
Nays - None
The motion passed.
b. July 15, 2024
Agenda Item 4.a.
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Commissioner Bryan moved to approve the July 15, 2024, Environmental and
Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as written.
Seconded by Commissioner Edwards Ayes – Commissioners Bryan,
Edwards, Guell, and Lates
Abstain – Broadnax and Redmond
The motion passed.
5.UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a.Green Building Code
Environmental Planner presented the Green Building Code amendments.
The Commission had the following feedback:
•The code should include a definition for EV installed versus EV ready stalls.
•Requiring EV ready stalls is a low ask and sets a development up for easy
installation of EV stalls in the future.
•The code should include a requirement for a certain number of EV spaces
versus a certain percentage of EV spaces.
•The code should include a requirement for cost-effective solar as defined in
the Minneapolis code.
•The code should include a requirement for adding solar to cover a certain
percent of energy need and include a definition for energy need.
•Research how developers measure the percent of construction waste that is
recycled.
The Commission will continue their discussion of the Green Building Code
amendments during the next Environmental and Natural Resources Commission
meeting.
6.NEW BUSINESS
None
7.VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a.Lavonne Kursher, resident of Concordia Arms Apartments at 2030 Lydia Avenue
East. Lavonne expressed interest in serving on one of the City’s commissions or
boards. She is sitting in on the Environmental and Planning Commission
meetings for more information. The Commission thanked her for the visit and
encouraged her to apply for the vacant Environmental and Natural Resources
Commission position.
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8. COMMISSIONER PRESENTATIONS
a. Vice-Chair Lates gave an update on the Environmental and Natural Resources
Commission annual report presentation with the City Council on August 12. The
City Council approved the report and thanked the Commission for their work.
9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
Environmental Planner Finwall updated the Environmental and Natural Resources
Commission on the following:
a. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Vacancy Update
There is one vacancy on the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission.
The City Council is tentatively scheduled to conduct Commission interviews in
October.
b. Climate Mitigation Planning Update
The Climate Mitigation Planning Team met for their second workshop on August
27 to begin a discussion on goal setting. The next workshop is scheduled for
September 3.
c. Trash and Recycling Contract Extension Update
The City Council is scheduled to review a two-year contract extension for trash
collection with Republic Services and recycling collection with Tennis Sanitation
on September 9.
d. Solid Waste Tours
1) Tennis Sanitation Recycling Facility - Wednesday, September 11, 11 a.m.
2) Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy Center - Tuesday, October
22, 4 p.m. (in lieu of the October 21 ENR Commission meeting)
e. Environmental Education and Outreach Opportunities
1) Celebrate Summer at Edgerton Park – August 23, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
2) Buckthorn Removal Training, Maplewood Nature Center, Friday,
September 6, 6 to 7:45 p.m.
3) Friday Night Fireworks (Touch a Truck) - Hazelwood Park, Friday,
September 20, 5 p.m. (fireworks at 8 p.m.)
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10.ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Bryan made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes – All
The motion passed.
Chairperson Guell adjourned the meeting at 8:24 p.m.
ENVIRONMENTAL & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date September 16, 2024
REPORT TO:
REPORT FROM:
PRESENTER:
AGENDA ITEM:
Action Requested: ☐ Motion Discussion ☐ Public Hearing
Form of Action: ☐Resolution ☐ Ordinance ☐Contract/Agreement ☐ Proclamation
Policy Issue:
The purpose of the Green Building Code is to safeguard the environment, public health, safety and
general welfare through the establishment of green building requirements. The requirements are
designed to reduce the negative impacts and increase the positive impacts of the built environment
on natural environment and building occupants. The Environmental and Natural Resources (ENR)
Commission has been reviewing the code to ensure it is meeting the City’s sustainability goals and
make recommendations for electric vehicle and solar requirements.
Recommended Action:
Review the information supplied in this report regarding Green Building Standards for the new
Green Building Code and offer comment and feedback.
Fiscal Impact:
Is There a Fiscal Impact? No ☐ Yes, the true or estimated cost is $0
Financing source(s): ☐ Adopted Budget ☐ Budget Modification ☐ New Revenue Source
☐Use of Reserves ☐ Other: n/a
Strategic Plan Relevance:
☐Community Inclusiveness ☐Financial & Asset Mgmt Environmental Stewardship
☐Integrated Communication Operational Effectiveness ☐Targeted Redevelopment
The Green Building Code helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the City’s built environment
and aligns with the City’s energy and climate goals as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan –
Sustainability Chapter and the Climate Adaptation Plan.
Background:
Green Building Code Background
The City adopted the Green Building Code in 2013. The code requires all City owned and funded
buildings to be constructed with energy efficient and green building elements above the state’s
building code requirements. The base document is the 2012 International Green Construction
Agenda Item 5.a.
Code. Municipalities throughout the United States can adopt the International Green Construction
Code, and sections of the code can be applied or exempt, depending on the city’s goals.
The GreenStep Cities Program identifies seven Minnesota cities that have some type of formal
sustainable building approach: Duluth, Edina, Maplewood, Rochester, St. Louis Park, and Saint
Paul. Minneapolis also has a sustainable building approach but are not part of the GreenStep
Cities program due to their size. Maplewood is the only Minnesota city that has adopted the Green
Construction Code, with the other municipalities adopting performance-based policies that use
existing green frameworks such as LEED or B3 guidelines.
Green Building Code Revisions
During the August 19, 2024, ENR Commission meeting the Commission reviewed green building
standards that could be added to the code including electric vehicle capacity, predicted greenhouse
gas emissions and actual energy use, utilization of renewable energy, and diversion of construction
waste from landfills. Following are green standard recommendations based on the ENR
Commission’s research of several other cities’ sustainable building codes, the proposed
Department of Labor and Industry EV code changes, the Minnesota Municipal Sustainable Building
Policies Guide, and other data:
Electric Vehicle Capacity
•Previous Proposed EV Vehicle Green Standard: Electric vehicle charging capability (if parking
is included). Install conduit that allows charging stations to be installed at a future date.
•New Proposed EV Vehicle Green Standard (based on the Department of Labor and Industry
code change proposal):
o Definition:
EV Installed space means a designated automobile parking space that has a dedicated
connection for charging an electric vehicle at a minimum Level 2 charging.
EV Ready space means a designated automobile parking space that has sufficient
electrical capacity installed in the space by means of a branch circuit capable of
supporting the installation of an electric vehicle charging station providing at a minimum
Level 2 charging.
o All new parking facilities with more than:
25 parking spaces must supply at least 2 EV Installed and 1 EV Ready space.
50 spaces must supply at least 3 EV Installed and 2 EV ready spaces.
75 parking spaces must supply at least 4 EV Installed and 3 EV Ready spaces
100 parking spaces must supply at least 6 EV Installed and 5 EV Ready spaces.
150 parking spaces must supply 8 EV Installed and 6 EV Ready spaces.
200 parking spaces must supply 12 EV Installed and 9 EV Ready spaces.
300 parking spaces must supply 15 EV Installed and 11 EV Ready spaces.
400 parking spaces must supply 20 EV Installed 15 EV Ready spaces.
The City’s electric vehicle capacity requirements should reflect the Department of Labor and
Industry Code changes at a minimum. These changes are expected to be adopted as part of the
state building code in 2026 for all new parking facilities.
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Predicted Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Actual Energy Use
• Previous Proposed GHG and Energy Use Green Standard: Predicted greenhouse gas
emissions. Calculate and report.
• New Proposed GHG and Energy Use Green Standard (based on Rochester and St. Paul’s
Sustainability Policy): Predicted and actual energy use and GHG – meet SB 2030 Energy
Standard through design and operation.
GHG emission and energy use predictions help set and achieve GHG reduction targets. Monitoring
actual energy use and emissions against predictions allows for tracking progress toward climate
goals.
The B3 Sustainable Building 2030 (SB 2030) Energy Standards are required for all state-bonded
Minnesota buildings. Other organizations can utilize the SB 2030 program on a voluntary basis.
The SB 2030 Energy Standard is a progressive energy conservation program designed to
significantly reduce the energy and carbon in Minnesota commercial, institutional and industrial
buildings. Every five years, the total carbon emissions target from buildings is reduced so that in
2030 a 100% reduction (net zero carbon) is achieved.
Compliance with the SB 2030 Standard is achieved by a combination of on-site renewable energy
generation and energy efficiency. Projects must meet both an energy and carbon standard,
implement renewables based on a hierarchical approach and use the same standard for
renovations as new construction.
Utilization of Renewable Energy
• Previous Proposed Renewable Energy Green Standard: Utilization of renewable energy.
Evaluate 2% of on-site renewables; install if cost-effective using SB 2030 guidance.
• New Proposed Renewable Energy Green Standard (based on Minneapolis’ Sustainable
Building Policy): Meet 10% of annual energy need on-site through renewables if cost effective
through use of social cost of carbon and 15-year simple payback; project must be solar capable.
o Definition:
Social cost of carbon is an estimate of the cost, in dollars, of the damage done by each
additional ton of carbon emissions.
Solar capable is a building that is designed with several key features to facilitate the
installation and efficient operation of solar energy systems including roof orientation and
angle, roof space, roof strength, conduit and wiring, electrical panel capacity, and
designated space for inverters.
Diversion of Construction Waste
• Previous Proposed Waste Diversion Green Standard: Diversion of construction waste from
landfills and incinerators. Achieve 75% diversion rate.
• New Proposed Waste Diversion Green Standard (based on Maplewood’s current Green
Building Code):
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o Definition:
Construction debris means waste generated during construction and renovation. These
wastes include materials such as concrete, asphalt, bricks, wood products, roofing,
drywall, plaster, carpet, plastics, metals and other wastes.
o Recycle at least 75% of construction waste.
To verify the diversion of construction waste from a development site, a developer can hire a third-
party recycling and certification company to ensure the proper management of materials. Best
practices dictate that separating materials on-site is the best way to keep them free of
contamination and more desirable as recyclables. The third-party reports verifying how the
construction waste was recycled and diverted and to what percent would be submitted to the City.
For smaller developments where a third-party recycling company may not be warranted, a
developer can submit their solid waste reports from disposal and recycling companies which would
verify the percentage of waste versus recycled product. These two best practices, in addition to on-
site inspections throughout the development process, ensure compliance with the requirement to
divert 75 percent of construction waste under the Green Building Code.
Summary
The ENR Commission should review the green building standard research and edits and offer
comment and feedback.
Attachments:
None
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