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Commission hears updates: Everything Electric tabling, Home Energy Squad uptake and successful clothing swap
Summary
Staff reported outreach results from a June Everything Electric exhibit (400+ direct engagements), Home Energy Squad subsidized visits (392 visits Oct 2024–June 2025, about 30% income-qualified), a popular clothing swap at the Marsh and upcoming business/city tours and tabling opportunities.
City staff updated the Minnetonka Sustainability Commission on outreach events and program participation, reporting sizable community engagement and some near-term follow-up tasks.
At the start of the staff updates, Allie Sutherland and Susan (city sustainability staff) described the Everything Electric exhibit held at a Summerfest event. Staff said the exhibit reached more than 4,000 people at the event location and that staffers had “just over 400 people engage with us directly.” The booth included plug-in vehicles, an EV display from Xcel Energy partners, a robot mower and electric landscaping equipment; staff also handed out LED bulbs and collected survey responses.
Home Energy Squad campaign Staff reported a recent Home Energy Squad campaign subsidized by a Minnesota grant and carried out between October 2024 and June 2025. Sutherland said the city completed 392 Home Energy Squad visits in that period and that the monthly sign-up rate during the campaign was several times higher than prior years. Staff said roughly 30% of those visits (about 120 visits) were income-qualified households, indicating the outreach reached priority areas.
Community events and outreach Staff described a successful clothing swap hosted at the Marsh that drew community volunteers and a long line of attendees; commissioners praised the turnout and encouraged repeating or expanding the event. Staff said the city will host a farmers market table in August to promote the county Switch Together solar program and invited commissioners to staff that table. Commissioner Diane Meyer and others volunteered as potential ambassadors.
Planned tours and meeting reminders Staff noted a joint tour with city council and commissions scheduled for July 31 (meet at 5:00 PM; tour starts 5:30 PM at Ridgedale Commons Park) to visit local businesses and city solar installations, and reminded commissioners the next regular meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 16.
Votes at a glance The commission recorded three procedural voice votes at the start and finish of the meeting: approval of the July 22 agenda, approval of the March meeting minutes, and a motion to adjourn (all approved). For the agenda and minutes, staff conducted a roll call after motion and each named commissioner called “Approved.”
Ending: Staff will follow up with county partners for participation counts on the Switch Together program, return with Home Energy Squad campaign analytics that correlate sign-ups to outreach channels, and circulate opportunities for commissioners to join upcoming events and canvasses.
