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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/07/1990URBAN AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF APPLE VALLEY MAY 7, 1990 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the City of Apple Valley Council Chambers. Members Present: Members Absent: Staff Present: Others Present• 2. APPROVAL OF E Chairman John McKay, Members JoAnne Ellison, Jeannine Churchill, Pamela Sohlberg, Sharon Schwartz and Councilperson Barbara Savanick. Shirley Doering. Scott Hickok. Susan Nathan and Dan McGinley. AGENDA OF MAY 7, 1990 Approved as written. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 2, 1990 MOTION: A motion was made by Member Sharon Schwartz, seconded by Member Pamela Sohlberg, to approve the minutes with clarification from Chairman John McKay regarding his position on demand electric during off- peak times. The motion carried unanimously. 4. DISCUSSION ON GAS UTILITIES INVOLVEMENT WITH ENERGY GRANT PROGRAM SPECIAL GUEST - SUSAN K. NATHAN ADMINISTRATOR ENERGY PROGRAMS Associate Planner Scott Hickok introduced Susan Nathan, representative of Minnegasco Energy Division. Sue opened with, "Why is Minnegasco involved in this Energy Conservation Program?" FIRST. Minnegasco is mandated by State because of their status as a public utility. SECONDLY Minnegasco can benefit by providing information to those customers who could benefit from energy conservation techniques. Sue expanded by saying that these are objective audits that will not try and sway or persuade the person to buy something. Minnegasco is not trying to sell anything through Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes May 7, 1990 Page 2 the program. A priority in this program is to preserve the long-term natural resources and increase the value of the home through energy conservation. Nathan went on to explain that this program is limited in some areas to certain groups for certain programs. The State of Minnesota determines whether a person that qualifies requires 50 percent of the funds spent by public utilities must be targeted to low and moderate income families. A simple evaluation of income - Minnegasco will provide $97,000 to subsidize the Apple Valley Energy Conservation Program. Minnegasco, overall, plans to spend $1 million dollars for their Energy Conservation Program in this area. There are basically two audit programs offered by Minnegasco. FIRST is their Residential Energy Audit. This is a Federal-mandated program and will provide energy savings and years of payback. Years ago, the Residential Energy Audits were offered, but the end product was a jumble of numbers that the homeowner could not use or would not understand. TODAY a report is completed by Minnegasco and designed to eliminate the confusion and give homeowners a clear picture of what they can do to save energy. Twenty to twenty-five dollars worth of materials, such as door sweeps, etc. may be needed. The auditor will provide this material, As a follow-up, 60 to 90 days later the Self Reliance Center will contact these people to see if they have installed the material and if it has improved their energy efficiency. Sharon Schwartz asked if SRC will only do low income. homes? Nathan responded that SRC will ask questions, such as how many people are in the home?, what is the combined household income?, and is it higher or l ower than a certain number? This will let them know whether or not they fit the low income guidelines. The y will provide an energy audit for all people that are interested in taking part. The low income audit is free. AlI other audits are $10.00. Sharon Schwartz asked whether or not someone could be above 185 Federal guidelines and still qualify? Sue Nathan responded yes they could. Barbara Savanick asked if there is a 30 years old home that needs serious modifications - roof, attic insulation, etc. - how is that handled? Sue Nathan responded that if they are low income people, they can be referred to other agencies who will provide the modifications necessary to bring their home into a comfortable, efficient condition. Sue continued by stating that NSP has a furnace program and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority has a furnace and weatherization program as well. Barbara Savanick asked what if you find an emergency? Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes May 7, 1990 Page 3 Minnegasco responded that they will notify the owner. The gas company will stop the leak, but they will not fix it without the homeowner's consent. Sharon Schwartz asked what the Energy Auditor looks at and what about insulation, windows, etc.? The auditor will more than likely recommend gaskets, not new windows and doors. Payback is an important consideration in conserving energy. Sharon Schwartz -What do you mean by low cost or no cost material? Sue Nathan stated that a standard audit will cost $80.00 or Minnegasco will provide $80.00 for a standard audit. Of that, $50.00 is actually audit costs, $20.00 - $25.00 is material, and $5.00 - $dA.00 is admini- stration costs. The State Grant also provides subsidies that will help finance an additional $40.00 per energy audit. Sue continued by saying that some communities do not apply for the State Grant and have energy conservation programs without it. Minnegasco provides an additional $10.00 per audit for those cities. Nathan again reiterated that this program is to audit not to replace roof, storm windows, etc.. Sharon Schwartz asked what about storm doors and windows? Sue Nathan responded that the Energy Auditors will be giving informa- tion about agencies that will help correct problems as they are noted. Sue Nathan explained the Project AIR Program and noted that each household, that has a Project AIR, will be provided $420.00 in expertise and materials to retrofit older homes. Project AIR consists of a blower door that is hooked up on the entrance of the home. The fan is hooked to a collaboration machine and computer. The mechanism pulls air out of the house and this air will be replaced by air that is coming through cracks and under-insulated areas. Nathan mentioned that there are standards for what is a safe infiltration level. This can be dangerous as well and suggestions are made to increase infiltration to a safe level. Where infiltration is too great, the major air leaks will be sealed, other elements such as rim-joist insulation, hot water pipes, etc. will be insulated to increase efficiency. The air infiltration reduction will increase the comfort level in the home and a follow-up evaluation will take place to measure the performance of the test. Nathan explained some blower door tests will require a full day, others may just require a half day. Sharon Schwartz asked how does this work when the occupant is a renter? Nathan responded that this program is for renters and homeowners as well. Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes May 7, 1990 Page 4 Sharon Schwartz asked what we would do in the event that a renter needs major improvements? Nathan responded that as long as the homeowner agrees the improve- ments can be made, the homeowner must also agree that the rent will not be raised for two years if the improvements have been made to the property. (This will assure that the renter can get energy conservation assistance without endangering their monthly rental rate.) JoAnne Ellison asked if a person can work out a deal, for a blower door test, if they are not a low income person? Nathan responded that at least 50 percent of these should be low to moderate income. Sharon Schwartz asked if this program will continue after two years? Sue Nathan stated that some communities start slow, others really take off, but that there is a possibility of extending the program if it is not quite complete at the end of two years. Chairman McKay asked how will the State money fit into this program? Nathan explained that the State funds help to both educate the community about the program and in this case, help subsidize part of the actual audit costs. Dan McGinley asked what about doing a joint venture with a business like Target? Sue Nathan stated that Minnegasco would love to do more advertising and there might be a possibility that somebody lake Target would be inter- ested in cooperating. Dan McGinley stated that 3M has a product that is designed to caulk and seal cracks and reduce infiltration.. He suggested that we talk to 3M about this product and possibly include this in our program. 5. REVIEW GRANT APPLICATION No Discussion. 6. DISCUSSION -OTHER ITEMS BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dan McGinley asked, if we as a city are interested in doing more about the commercial vehicles backing situation? Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes May 7, 1990 Page 5 Sharon Schwartz stated that she understands there are backing concerns in the metro area. Hickok responded that a letter would be going out to haulers later in the year. This letter would focus on safety and would be distributed as haulers begin thinking about relicensing for 1991. Hickok also said that an article would be placed in an upcoming quarterly newsletter. John McKay asked if the City would be interested in buying Savin¢ The Earth - A Citizen's Guide to Environmental Action Will Steger and Jon Bowermaster? McKay also asked for an update on the recycling program at the September meeting. This should include consideration of recycling the following: Plastics Batteries Styrofoam Phone Books Junk Mail Business Recycling Apartment Recycling 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. kg