Informational Meeting

MINUTES Informational Meeting Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at 3:00 PM Carnegie Town Hall, 235 West 10th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104 1. Call To Order Council Chair Marshall Selberg called the meeting to order at 3 p.m. and noted that there was a quorum present. 2. Councilor Remarks There were none. 3. Presentations A. Sustainable Sioux Falls Update by Holly Meier, Sustainability Coordinator Presentation: Approximately 20 minutes followed by discussion Mark Cotter, Director of Public Works, began the presentation with a thank you to all involved in the process; and mentioned that Sioux Falls has been a leader in sustainability for more than 20 years. He said that Sustainable Sioux Falls is the result of a collaborative effort that serves as a road map to strengthen community wellbeing, protect the environment, support economic prosperity, and prepare the community for emerging sustainable opportunities and challenges. This has been a 2.5-year process. Cotter provided a brief history on the the formation of the revamped committee that created the new Sustainable Sioux Falls framework. He spoke about the mission and vision that the Steering committee put together. The framework is for future generations. Cotter said this is why it contains realistic goals and actions. He said that during his time as Public Works director, he has seen improvement in a few areas, including water conservation, water quality, waste diversion, and strides forward with renewable energy and efficiency. Among the accomplishments that the City has made over the last 20 years, include: six billion gallons of water being saved; 1,000+ pounds of trash picked up annually along the river; and funding to support 3,000+ acres of riverside land as buffer strips. Also, during this time, Household Hazardous Waste has diverted an average of one million pounds of hazardous and electronic waste. In 2022, more than 10,000 pounds of yard waste was made into compost and given away for free. The Sioux Falls Regional Landfill has also recycled tires, scrap metal, and mattresses. Nearly 100% of lime sludge and biosolids have been reused and diverted from the landfill. Cotter said that 80% of the City's streetlights have been replaced with LEDs, which has saved $200,000 annually. Also, all signalized intersections have LED technology. The landfill has captured and sold methane gas for energy to POET. This creates $1M in annual revenue. The Water Reclamation Plant produces 30% to 40% of its electricity using biogas. Cotter spoke about the three core  considerations: supporting choice, cost and benefits for all, which were used to guide the framework. A vote from the Council is not necessary since the Framework is considered a guideline. Initiatives that stem from it will be brought forward to the Council for a vote. Cotter concluded by speaking of changes that were made to the document. Holly Meier began the second part of the presentation by discussing the "why" the City has been doing this work for so long and for the creation of the new framework to guide future action. She said prioritizing sustainability, which means protecting a healthy environment, while also supporting community wellbeing and economic prosperity, really brings a lot of benefits to our community. She then spoke about the five focus areas, which are used as an organizational structure to house Sustainable Sioux Falls' goals and actions. The focus areas are Community Vitality & Sustainable Living, this includes local food production, food security, and education; Materials Management & Waste, includes actions like recycling and reducing food waste; Energy & Building, includes the wise use of energy and consumer choice; Transportation & Land Use, supports sustainable modes of transportation; and Natural Systems, supports the stewardship of the natural environment. She said that each focus area has one to three goals, which make up the framework. The goals are: 1. Improve water quality and increase water conservation; 2. Strengthen the urban forest; 3. Protect and restore biodiversity; 4. Reduce waste; 5. Expand and enhance local food production and equitable access; 6. Expand upon a culture of conservation and sustainability; 7. Improve resilience and public health; 8. Increase sustainable energy and buildings while maintaining reliability, affordability, and consumer choice; 9. Decarbonize transportation through multimodal solutions while maintaining consumer choice; and 10. Increase sustainable land use. She said that items eight and nine were concerns that they heard from the public after the release of the first draft. A strategy section was provided in the documents, and provided examples, on ways to move towards and reach the goals in our community. She said the actions listed in the strategies section is not exhaustive. They would be able to be shifted as technology or community needs change. Meier said that it was important for them to make this a living document. She said it considers how we want to be adaptable to emerging opportunities, challenges and community changes. Moving forward Sustainable Sioux Falls will be used as a guiding framework, she said that will be used for projects. Meier explained how items would be moved forward to the City Council, City of Sioux Falls and used for Community Collaboration. Discussion followed regarding: concerns regarding the original plan; appreciation of the team listening and the process that was taken; what is the difference between the framework and not having a policy, and why the Council doesn't get to vote on it; goals of the Mayor; redoing the energy codes; the 2009-2015 energy code and how it lowered the carbon footprint; appreciation of the document and it being brought to the Council; great ideas being brought forth; a timeline to start seeing things being brought to the Council; providing education and educational tools; and size comparison of the two steering committees. 4. Public Comment Arlene Brandt-Jenson spoke about several things, including the mayor's letter for the framework, lack of transparency with the process and the need to adopt a policy.  Megan EisenVos spoke about her praise for the original Sustainability plan and her confusion with the weaken verbiage for the new framework plan. Michael Heisler spoke about serving on the Sustainable Sioux Falls Steering Committee, being dismissed as a special interest group and that the framework is a fundamentally different plan from the original steering committee document, Deidre Appel spoke about composting, the differences with the two Sustainability documents and the mayor's comments regarding the Earth Day rally. Jeff Smith spoke about the lack of energy building codes in the framework plan. He also relayed a message from Rocky Welker regarding the lack of actionable goals with the framework. Jim McAdaragh read comments from Kasey Abbott, who served together, on the Sustainability Steering Committee. Abbott's letter referenced updating energy codes. Julia Natvig spoke about the lack of measurability and mandates in the new Framework. Sue McAdaragh spoke about being disappointed in the framework not being the document that the Sustainable Steering Committee recommended. Carlos Guirola spoke about the decrease in Sioux Area Metro ridership, how to encourage people to use the bus system, and other benefits that stem from public transportation. Joel Ingle, representing the Homebuilders Association, spoke about being a part of the steering committee meetings, supporting the framework, and how discussions continue regarding topics like energy codes. Jeff Griffin, Greater Sioux Falls Chamber president, spoke about supporting the framework, signs of progress, and change taking time. 5. Adjournment Council Chair Marshall Selberg adjourned the meeting at 4:13 p.m. Denise D. Tucker, MMC, Assistant City Clerk