Laserfiche WebLink
were a handful of building owners that showed up but there was not any resistance, <br />just a lot of questions. <br />Member Spencer asked if St. Louis Park is looking to do more solar power or other <br />renewables or is it a combo of doing what the city can with the land it has plus <br />purchasing renewable power going forward. <br />Ms. Ziring explained in May 2019 the Sustainability Commission went to the city <br />Council and recommended the city purchase wind source subscriptions for all of <br />the buildings that are not currently subscribed to renewable connect or renewable <br />energy. All of the city street lights and wastewater and almost all of the city's <br />operations are now subscribed to Xcel's Wind Source program. The city is getting <br />to be as renewable as it can for city operations. On the community side of things, <br />the city is looking at where it can install community solar on a public building and <br />then sell subscriptions potentially to local residents. There is also a solar group buy <br />program that is going into year three and helping to market as many programs as <br />can be found that the city thinks makes sense to its residents and community <br />business owners. <br />Member Misra thanked the city of St. Louis Park for taking the lead on this and <br />laying a lot of the groundwork and allowing other cities to ask questions on its <br />progress. She was curious, given these are pretty long projects, what sort of <br />technical expertise, given that hopefully there will be changes in technology and <br />innovation, how is the city going to make those adaptations or keep track of that. <br />Is there a list of resources that is regularly updated. <br />Ms. Ziring explained St. Louis Park is in a good place with great community <br />partners. When needed the city can get consulting services as needed. She did not <br />know if there is any technology currently that the city is worried about <br />implementing. <br />Member Huiett asked what advise could be given for communities just beginning <br />its first step into a climate action plan. <br />Ms. Ziring thought engaging with the programs that are out there, talking to cities <br />like St. Louis Park and cities that have implemented it is pretty important. Talking <br />to getting involved with partners in energy, which was a great first step for St. Louis <br />Park. Also making sure the city is really engaging its community members and <br />find out what the community is looking for. <br />Chair Cihacek asked how difficult it for the city Council was to authorize specific <br />sustainability positions as part of this plan. He wondered if this is a job that could <br />be done by people at a .2 or .5 and be successful or does this level of undertaking <br />really require dedicated resources to really be successful, given it is such a long- <br />term, data and communication extensive process. <br />Ms. Ziring thought the city would need at least one full time employee in order to <br />do this. There is a lot to juggle and many different plans and programs out there. <br />Page 3 of 5 <br />