HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnvironmental Quality Committee Minutes 12-09-2020Proposed Minutes Page 1 of 2 Regular Meeting of December 9, 2020
Approved Minutes
Environmental Quality Committee Meeting
December 9, 2020
Vice Chair Babcock called a Regular Meeting of the Plymouth Environmental Quality
Committee to order at 7:01 p.m. on December 9, 2020. All present participated remotely, per
State Statute 13D.021.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chair Babcock, Committee members Spoonheim,
Niedermaier, Senne, and Prokop.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Chair Gregor, Committee member Polzin.
STAFF PRESENT: Council member Roehl, Water Resources Supervisor Scharenbroich,
Engineering Services Manager McKenzie.
Plymouth Forum
Presentations and Public Information Announcements
Introduction of Chris McKenzie, the City’s new Engineering Services Manager.
Approval of Agenda
Water Resources Supervisor Scharenbroich added item 6.2, Water Usage Comparison from 2019
to 2020, under Reports and Staff Recommendations.
Motion was made by Committee member Senne, and seconded by Committee member
Niedermaier to approve the amended agenda. With all members voting in favor, the motion
carried.
Consent Agenda
Motion was made by Committee member Niedermaier, and seconded by Committee member
Spoonheim to approve the Consent Agenda that included the following item:
(4.1) Approve November 18, 2020 Environmental Quality Committee Meeting Minutes
With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.
General Business
(5.1) 2021 Environmental Quality Committee Work Plan
Proposed Minutes Page 2 of 2 Regular Meeting of December 9, 2020
Water Resources Scharenbroich indicated there were no changes to the content of the 2021 Work
Plan from the EQC discussion during the November meeting. He shared comments he received
from Chair Gregor in regards to the format of the 2021 activities; Gregor requested that the
activities be bulleted and numbered. Scharenbroich made the revisions in the document.
Scharenbroich informed the committee that at the December 9, 2020 meeting, the City Council
approved extension of membership for EQC Committee members Senne, Babcock, and Gregor.
Scharenbroich made the revisions in the document.
Motion by Committee member Spoonheim, seconded by Committee member Niedermaier to
approve the Environmental Quality Committee 2020 Annual Report and 2021 Work Plan as
amended. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.
Reports and Staff Recommendations
(6.1) 2020 – 2022 Water Efficiency Rebate Program
Water Resources Supervisor Scharenbroich provided statistics of the most current update of the
program: 210 devices purchased; 411 residents benefitting from savings; 3,000,000 gallons of
water saved; $17,000 issued in rebates; $53,600 spent by residents on water-saving devices. One
third of the grant funds have been used.
(6.2) Water Usage Comparison from 2019 to 2020
From the request of the committee at the November 18 meeting, Water Resources Scharenbroich
prepared data about city water usage. Scharenbroich shared the comparison of gallons of water
used in 2019, compared to water used in 2020. He highlighted the increase of water usage
starting in May of 2020. He indicated that water usage was increased due to the pandemic, but
other factors included an addition of 300 newly built houses and also lower levels of
precipitation in 2020 compared to 2019.
Council member Roehl asked how the numbers were determined. Scharenbroich indicated it is
the number of gallons pumped from the city wells.
Adjournment
Vice Chair Babcock adjourned the meeting at 7:44 p.m.