Minnetonka sustainability commission targets property owners in 2025 business outreach push

The Minnetonka Sustainability Commission on July 22 discussed a focused 2025 plan to reach local businesses, with staff proposing property owners of small and medium enterprises as the initial outreach target.

Staff said the effort supports the city’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and the Sustainability Commission work plan and is intended to increase participation in existing utility incentive programs and contractor-led efficiency services. “We target property owners who own either small or medium sized businesses. That’s what we can focus on in 2025,” Allie Sutherland, sustainability staff, said during the meeting.

The proposal grows out of a Morris Leatherman Company phone survey of businesses Minnetonka commissioned earlier this year. Kiersten Jaeger, the city’s economic development coordinator, who presented the survey results, told commissioners the city has “approximately 2,500 businesses” and that “of the businesses that we surveyed, approximately 40% of them had been here for over 20 years.” Jaeger said the survey reached 400 businesses from mid-January to mid-February and that the responses showed owners were more likely than tenants to pursue energy actions.

Why it matters: the commission recommended a targeted outreach because owners can more readily authorize capital upgrades at a property. Staff framed the outreach as a way to accelerate the city goal to “develop an education and outreach plan to engage businesses on how they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” which appears in the climate action plan and city council priorities.

Key outreach items and rationale - Priority actions: staff suggested promoting (1) free business energy audits and recommended efficiency upgrades; (2) renewable energy options including utility subscription programs and rooftop solar; and (3) installation of EV chargers at commercial properties. Sutherland and Jaeger said energy audits were the most common action taken by businesses surveyed and that audits typically lead to follow-on upgrades. - Channels: the commission was asked to use the Thrive business newsletter (mailed three times a year), the business email listserv, city website updates on the Sustainable Minnetonka business pages, and in-person approaches such as a business “blitz” and the City’s business series run in partnership with the Wayzata West Metro Chamber. - Partnerships and programs: staff recommended leaning on existing programs and partners (Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy, Center for Energy and Environment rebates, and the one-stop efficiency shop) rather than creating a separate new program, and to test a business canvass similar to a prior “1-stop business blitz” that visited roughly 30–40 businesses.

Commissioners urged practical follow-up and volunteered to act as ambassadors. Several commissioners recommended participating in the September Minnetonka Business Council meeting (staff said that meeting is scheduled for Sept. 17) and in-person canvassing events if a Partners in Energy blitz is organized. Commissioner Diane Meyer described prior blitz visits as “an excellent outreach opportunity” because energy experts could immediately point businesses to rebates and low-cost measures.

What remains undecided: staff said they will refine the contact list (property owners vs. tenants), coordinate with Partners in Energy on a possible August–September blitz, prepare business case studies from previous Sustainable Minnetonka awardees, and return with draft text for the Thrive newsletter and web updates.

The commission opened the item for public comment and none was received.

Ending: Staff asked commissioners to notify them if they can attend the Sept. 17 business council meeting and to consider joining any upcoming canvass events; staff also said they will return with draft outreach materials and a recommended property-owner contact list.