Burnsville City Council — Transcript
Monday, October 5, 2026
Electricity Supply and Sustainability Initiatives
Parks Wayfinding Study
Lighting Effects on Migratory and Non-Migratory Birds
Votes (4)
Dakota Electric Association Sustainability Initiatives Presentation
Patrick Matwig from Dakota Electric presented an overview of the cooperative, its service to Burnsville and Dakota County, and the fundamentals of the electric grid. He highlighted the importance of reliability and detailed various sustainability initiatives including energy efficiency programs, demand response, renewable energy options like Wellspring, and the concept of beneficial electrification. Matwig also discussed Burnsville-specific partnerships and Dakota Electric's financial stewardship and future outlook regarding increased electrification and battery growth.
Great River Energy Sustainability Initiatives and Power Supply Planning Presentation
Jamie from Great River Energy (GRE) presented on the generation and transmission cooperative, serving over 1.7 million people. She detailed GRE's adherence to seven cooperative principles, including a 'triple bottom line' of reliability, affordability, and environmental stewardship. The presentation covered GRE's extensive transmission system, LEED platinum headquarters, and rebate programs under the ECO Act. A significant portion focused on their energy supply strategy, including market participation and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for long-term planning, aiming for 80% carbon-free energy by 2030 and 100% carbon-free power supply for Burnsville by 2040, primarily through new wind and battery storage projects.
Parks Wayfinding Study Presentation
Scott Hikamp presented the findings of the Parks Wayfinding Study, initiated as part of the 2024 parks plan. The study assessed Burnsville's 76 parks, finding that only 23 currently meet recommended signage standards. It proposed 149 new signs, primarily directional and destination types, to improve visitor navigation, promote accessibility, and increase awareness of amenities. Community engagement revealed a strong need for clear, consistent signage, particularly for trails and decision points within parks. The plan's implementation will involve finalizing sign standards, developing cost estimates, and a phased rollout focusing on high-use community parks.
PNRC Roundtable Discussion: Lighting Effects on Migratory Birds
A commissioner presented findings on how artificial light affects migratory birds, particularly those using the Mississippi Flyway. The presentation detailed that higher color temperatures (Kelvin) in lighting cause greater disorientation and mortality for birds. It reviewed Burnsville's current utility (Dakota Electric, Xcel Energy) and MnDOT lighting standards, noting that while some are relatively bird-friendly, there's no specific ordinance for light temperature. The commissioner proposed two recommendations for the 2050 Comprehensive Plan: amending city ordinances to require new/replacement exterior lighting to be ≤3000K, and promoting easily accessible birding locations within the city. The potential addition of motion-sensor lighting to reduce light pollution was also discussed.
Notable Quotes (15)
Cooperative is a utility owned by the people it serves. No outside investors. Um members are both customers and owners.
So, Dakota Electric is a distribution electric cooperative where just the distribution from the substation to the meter on your house or business.
We have an obligation to serve and so if if a data center comes knocking, um we don't just say like get out of here, you know, we we have to entertain what they're looking to do.
unless you specifically design it with the battery as a generator system where if the power goes out it has an automatic or manual um switchover.
We actually have all of our carpet squares are made from fly ash from one of our coal power plants.
Great River Energy used to just serve exactly its load and now we sell all of our energy into the market every day and then we actually purchase it all back.
The Iron Air is actually a really good long duration energy storage. Um and that is 150 hours.
this was passed um and uh GRE is going to be on par with the investor own utilities to be about 80% carbon free by 2030
a wayfinding plan establishes um a comprehensive framework for how visitors navigate throughout the throughout the park system or any park system.
We have some extensive trail systems throughout our you know magnet and Terrace Oaks um that that we have we have a need [snorts] to improve improve upon our way finding
directional signs only represent 4.2% 2% of the current signs within our park system.
LED lights with a rating that's higher than 3000K significantly more disruptive to bird life.
Burnsville... are on the Mississippi flyway... 40% of all of the birds um uh in North America, waterfell, shorebirds, others use this route.
One is to amend the city ordinances um to state specifically that if you're putting new lighting on a building or if you're swapping out lighting on a building um it needs to be converted to less than um oh I think I put that as yeah less than or equal to 3000K... And then also as a part of us being a, you know, in the Mississippi flyway is to potentially look for places where birding is easily accessible and to to promote that as a part of what our city can offer
I actually got an email um yesterday, two days ago um that they were asking all residents to turn off their exterior lights because it is a period of time when there are so many migratory birds passing by.
Ordinances & Resolutions (12)
Signed by FDR, enabled local farmers to form cooperatives to bring electricity to rural communities in the 1930s.
City resource for sustainability information, mentioned as tracking Burnsville's 100% carbon-free city electricity.
Great River Energy document providing an overview of their operations and financials.
International principles guiding cooperative operations, including democratic member control and concern for community, adhered to by Great River Energy.
Minnesota state law that establishes the rebate structure for energy efficiency programs, with Great River Energy spending about $20 million annually.
A 15-year time horizon public document used by utilities in Minnesota (including Great River Energy) for power supply planning, reviewed by the Public Utilities Commission.
An updated plan presented in June 2024, which identified the need for a parks wayfinding study.
A desktop and mobile-friendly application being developed by Burnsville's GIS team to help residents find park amenities.
City regulations for exterior lighting, following state administrative rules but not specifying light type or temperature.
Rules governing exterior lighting, which Burnsville's municipal code follows.
Survey revealing that parks and recreation are significant drivers of satisfaction in Burnsville.
Current city planning process where recommendations regarding lighting and birding will be proposed by the PNRC.