Minnetonka City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Minnetonka Sustainability Awards Program
Greenhouse Gas Emission Data Update
Federal Climate Policy Developments
Votes (8)
Sustainability Award Selection - Children's Category
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Patine [00:33:51] · Seconded by Chair Golib [00:34:03]
Two children, Shupang and Winston Heg, were recognized for their unique sustainability projects. Shupang researched hockey rinks' environmental impact and educated others, while Winston Heg initiated and maintained a storm drain clearing project. The commission discussed the new children's category and the desire to encourage both applicants rather than selecting just one for special recognition due to their different but equally impressive contributions.
Sustainability Award Selection - Energy Category (Business)
Dissent: Commissioner Patine abstained from the vote due to concerns about classifying a county entity as a business for the awards.
Moved by Commissioner Ingram [00:46:58] · Seconded by Chair Golib [00:47:04]
Two business applicants, The Veil Apartments and Ridgedale Regional Center (Hennepin County), were considered. A discussion arose regarding whether a county entity should be categorized as a 'business' and the potential for perceived conflict of interest or unfair advantage due to differing access to resources compared to private businesses. Ultimately, the commission decided to award both entities a nominee award.
Sustainability Award Selection - Energy Category (Resident)
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Ingram [00:57:33] · Seconded by Commissioner White [00:57:41]
Four resident applicants were scored for their energy-saving projects, including solar installations, geothermal furnaces, heat pumps, and building envelope improvements. Commissioner Meyer provided detailed educational context on different heat pump systems and their environmental implications, emphasizing the goal of promoting all-electric options.
Sustainability Award Selection - Waste Awards (Business)
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Ingram [00:59:58] · Seconded by Commissioner White [01:00:07]
Abbott Minnetonka, a medical device manufacturing campus, was the sole applicant in this category. Their project showcased an impressive increase in waste diversion from 40% to 89% through extensive education programs and specialized recycling efforts. The commission unanimously praised the project's scale and success.
Sustainability Award Selection - Waste Awards (Resident)
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Patine [01:03:00] · Seconded by Commissioner Patine [01:04:47]
Ridge Point Senior Living residents were the sole applicant, recognized for a resident-led project that upcycled plastic bags into mats for people experiencing homelessness. The commission lauded the project for its ingenuity, community involvement, and the tangible positive impact it had on both waste reduction and social welfare.
Sustainability Award Selection - Landscape Awards (Resident)
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Ingram [01:10:43] · Seconded by Commissioner White [01:10:52]
Two resident applicants, Peter Gosman and Katherine Malotki, were reviewed. Peter Gosman converted 100% of his turf grass to native landscaping, planting over 120 native species. Katherine Malotki installed permeable pavement and a stormwater swale to manage runoff and create pollinator habitat. The commission voted to give special recognition to Peter Gosman.
Sustainability Award Selection - Water Awards (Resident)
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Patine [01:18:28] · Seconded by Commissioner Ingram [01:18:38]
Four resident applicants were reviewed, all nominated by the 9M Creek Watershed District. Projects included shoreline restoration, rain garden installation, and native shoreline buffers. Glenn Atrium Condominium Association's project, which transformed a neglected pond area into a multi-use park-like oasis through resident effort, received the highest score and special recognition.
Sustainability Award Selection - Young Adult Awards
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Patine [01:21:28] · Seconded by Commissioner Ingram [01:21:32]
The Vantage program's high school team was the sole applicant, recognized for their collaboration with Dem-Con on a waste reduction project focused on market research and analysis of poly-coated fiber packaging recycling. The commission praised the student's initiative and the project's practical application, with a suggestion to engage more educational leaders for future nominations.
Notable Quotes (8)
I'm exceptionally impressed with both of the applicants. I hope that my fellow commissioners will agree with me. We do not want to stifle innovation or creativity. They are both very different from one another. I read over the applications several times and I'm, as I said, I'm impressed with both.
I would also say um that one also seemed very particularly a little bit more focused on energy and I know like we have separate categories as is for the adult categories and the other one was a little bit more focused on um I feel like outdoor almost landscaping and so a little bit more environmental focused um outdoors I guess and so to me that makes more sense as well even because they're more category specific.
I just I felt like it needed to be said just that we this is the county and our library like that. I just felt like it needed to be said that that there needed to be some disclaimer of sorts to be said that we're voting on an entity that or that we allow entrance or that I don't know that we've even considered that factor in the past or if it's something that we maybe should consider when we're for the competition in the future.
I think um, so I I see Hennepin County as potentially an institution, if you will. Um, so that means we could also be receiving like a school applying perhaps. Um, trying to think of other maybe maybe like a watershed district. I don't know if we have any other facilities of that sort within our um yeah like a religious facility um as Thomas is saying or nonprofit. So yeah, there's a whole host of non-b businessiness business applicants that we could get.
Um the electric um heat strips can be an excellent backup at about a fifth of the cost of what a gas furnace backup would be. And um there is um higher cost when it's utilized, but cold climate heat pumps can go down to minus15 degrees. And if we're looking at um maybe 5 to 10 days out of the winter where we're below minus15 that the electric heat strips would go on then the cost additional cost of energy um would be compensated by the lower upfront cost.
I think the uh information submitted from Abbott Minnetonka is uh extremely well done. Having been in a role like that in the private sector, I can appreciate the level of effort and I think they they they definitely deserve it. They're they've they're doing a great job and their data demonstrates that.
Number one, because it was resident led and um you know, the resident said, 'I see something. I see a need in the community. How can I help?' And then brought it back to people within her smaller community to get them to help. But also, I hope that other people see like, 'Oh, there apparently this is a need.'
I'd also like to note that um in the future, I'd love that the teacher recommended that. And I'd like to for us to be mindful of how we can better communicate this uh competition, I guess, if you will, to uh more of our educational leaders so that they can potentially um nominate more of their students in the future because I love that.
Ordinances & Resolutions (15)
Source for obtaining commission schedule and tentative agenda.
Areas of sustainability not addressed by city code are reviewed by the commission.
Areas where the Sustainability Commission makes recommendations to the City Council.
City plan that the Sustainability Awards program aligns with and Hennepin County's plan contributes to.
Driven the solar installation project at Ridgedale Regional Center.
Goal of 75% recycling, used as a benchmark for Abbott Minnetonka's 89% waste diversion.
Received by energy award applicants Paul Stork and Eric Winter for their projects.
Received by energy award applicants Paul Stork and Eric Winter for their projects.
Received by Peter Gosman for his native landscaping project.
Potential funder for a green cauter program and sponsor of the regional greenhouse gas data initiative.
Sponsor of the regional greenhouse gas data initiative.
Sponsor of the regional greenhouse gas data initiative.
Sponsor of the regional greenhouse gas data initiative.
Sponsor of the regional greenhouse gas data initiative.
Initiative from which the regional greenhouse gas data collection was born.