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temperature during occupied hours. In homes and buildings where the HVAC fan operation can be <br />controlled at the thermostat, set the fan to the "on" position instead of "auto," which will operate the <br />fan continuously, even when heating or air-conditioning is not required. <br />• Open outdoor air dampers beyond minimum settings to reduce or eliminate HVAC air recirculation. In <br />mild weather, this will not affect thermal comfort or humidity. However, this may be difficult to do in <br />cold, hot, or humid weather. <br />• Improve central air filtration: <br />• Increase air filtration to as high as possible without significantly reducing design airflow. <br />• Inspect filter housing and racks to ensure appropriate filter fit and check for ways to minimize filter <br />bypass. <br />• Check filters to ensure they are within their service life and appropriately installed. <br />• Consider portable high -efficiency particulate air (HEPA) fan/filtration systems to help enhance air <br />cleaning (especially in higher risk areas such as a nurse's office or areas frequently inhabited by <br />persons with higher likelihood of COVID-19 and/or increased risk of getting COVID-19). <br />• Generate clean -to -less -clean air movement by re-evaluating the positioning of supply and exhaust air <br />diffusers and/or dampers (especially in higher risk areas). <br />• Consider using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) as a supplement to help inactivate SARS- <br />CoV-2, especially if options for increasing room ventilation are limited. <br />• In non-residential settings, consider running the HVAC system at maximum outside airflow for 2 hours <br />before and after the building is occupied. <br />Fink reported Trane has provided a proposal to implement changes to the New Brighton Community Center <br />HVAC that fall in line with CDC recommendations. That proposal along with the air quality assessment was <br />reviewed by staff. The cost of this proposal is $209,433. Staff proposed that this project be funded using <br />dollars from the Community Reinvestment Fund. <br />Councilmember Dunsworth asked if the UV bulb needed to be replaced regularly and questioned what the <br />ongoing cost for this project would be. Michael Witzel, Trane representative, explained the bulbs would last <br />18 months and the MERV filters would have to be replaced every quarter. He noted he did not have the cost <br />for the bulbs in front of him. Fink reported the City was already using a MERV 13 filter and these were being <br />exchanged on a quarterly basis. <br />Councilmember Dunsworth stated she would like to better understand the ongoing costs for these upgrades to <br />the HVAC system. She noted this was a significant investment and inquired why the City was considering <br />these improvements now. Fink commented the previous Council had approved the installation of UV over the <br />Eagle's Nest and the fitness center/gym areas. She reported these were high touch areas and the air was being <br />disinfected. She indicated each year 540,000 people come into the facility. She stated knowing that COVID <br />was not going away and seeing how the NBCC has become a hub for the City staff was recommending the <br />improvements to the HVAC units. She discussed the vulnerable populations that are served at the community <br />center. She stated these improvements would create an elevated level of safety and health for both staff <br />members and visitors to the NBCC. She noted the City may be able to fund this project through new federal <br />funding. <br />Councilmember Dunsworth thanked staff for the thorough explanation. She stated she supported the proposed <br />improvements to the HVAC units at the NBCC. <br />Councilmember Axberg questioned why the City had not completed these improvements earlier. Fink reported <br />the UV was something staff thought was a good idea, but the City could not afford to install UV in the entire <br />NBCC, and therefore had to prioritize certain areas that had the most high touch surfaces. While she did not <br />