City Council Meeting Date: July 16, 2019
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Beth Kallestad, Program Coordinator
Title
Review of Energy Subcommittee report and the Memorandum of Understanding for Phase 2 Implementation (18-month Energy Action Jump Start) with Partners in Energy program.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council receives a presentation on the report developed by the Energy Subcommittee of the Climate Action Plan Advisory Board (CAPAB) and a request for a Memorandum of Understanding to continue working with Xcel Energy for assistance in the Partners in Energy Program. The presentation will be given by Marisa Bayer, Partners in Energy Community Facilitator from the Center for Energy and the Environment and Beth Kallestad, City Program Coordinator.
Summary Report:
On October 16, 2018, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy (PiE) Program for the City to participate in Phase 1 - Plan Development. The Energy Task Force, a subcommittee of the CAPAB, worked on plan development over six months that included five workshops facilitated by Partners in Energy and a group of 28 participants from various sectors of the community. That effort has resulted in the Energy Subcommittee Report which is being shared with Council this evening. It is to be incorporated into the City’s Climate Action Plan which is still in development. A 4-page Summary of the Energy Subcommittee Report including the strategies is provided as attachment 2.
The Energy Subcommittee Report has been presented to”
• Climate Action Plan Advisory Board (June 5th) - A motion was approved to recommend to Council to move forward with the memorandum of understanding with Xcel Energy Partners in Energy.
• Environmental Quality Commission (June 13th) - A motion was approved to recommend to the City Council approval of the Memorandum of Understanding for the 18 Month Energy Action Jump Start with Xcel Energy Partners in Energy.
• Planning Commission (June 20th) - No motion for recommendation was requested or made. Some questions regarding tie-in to other climate related items which will be addressed in the Climate Action Plan. Also discussion around how policy language may need to be updated in the future to support Climate Action Plan efforts.
• Economic Development Authority (June 27th) - No motion for recommendation was requested or made. Some questions around financial support for actions and the need to look at life cycle costs.
The request being presented now is to continue to participate in the PiE program to begin to implement the actions in the 18-month Energy Action Jump Start with support from Xcel Energy. The strategies being proposed can be found in Appendix 3, Pages 37-52 of the Energy Subcommittee Report.
Alternative Options:
Not applicable.
Financial Impacts:
Xcel Partners in Energy program will be providing approximately 350-400 hours of in-kind staff support and $3,500 of financial reimbursement for printing and other items in the action plan. These contributions will enhance Northfield staff capacity to lead implementation actions.
Tentative Timelines:
The work will begin upon signing of the MOU and continue with Partners in Energy for 18 months.