2021.03.23 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Rn•INEW 1U BRIGHTON building tomorrow today Council Worksession March 23, 2021 5:00 pm Present: Mayor Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas Councilmember Abdullahi Abdulle Councilmember Graeme Allen Councilmember Pam Axberg Councilmember Emily Dunsworth Absent: Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust, Jennifer Fink, Jason Hicks, Brenda Davitt Guests in Attendance: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this meeting was held virtually. New Brighton Community Center HVAC Upgrades Fink stated in 2019, the New Brighton Community Center had 540,000 visitors. These are people using the fitness facilities, the Eagles Nest, the Ramsey County Library, and meeting spaces. Despite total closure in April and May, and limited uses throughout most of 2020 —attendance still topped 182,000. It is home to City- wide and Community building events such as voting, Senior High School graduation night parties, weddings, funerals and is home to several churches. The New Brighton Community Center was built in 1994 and the current HVAC system was installed in 2016. At that time, council implemented a forward thinking UV treatment on two of the rooftop units that service the Eagles Nest, Gym and Fitness Center. The entire system is scheduled to be replaced in 2036. Fink explained at the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, City staff worked with Trane to discuss the ability of our HVAC system to upgrade the filters to a MERV 13. After assisting the City with that, Trane approached the City of New Brighton about the opportunity to perform an Indoor Air Quality Assessment. The Trane Indoor Air Quality Assessment provided concrete guidance based on the overall system performance. The assessment identified areas for improvement to meet industry guidelines and optimize indoor air quality. At the time of the assessment, the transmission of COVID-19 was less known. However, since that time, ventilation and circulation of the air have been identified as major contributors in providing a safe environment for visitors. The assessment and the purchasing of the MERV 13 filters were funded by CARES Act dollars. CDC Recommendations as of February 9, 2021 for HVAC and ventilation mitigation strategies that apply to the New Brighton Community Center: • Increase outdoor air ventilation, using caution in highly polluted areas. • Ensure ventilation systems operate properly and provide acceptable indoor air quality for the current occupancy level for each space. • Increase airflow to occupied spaces when possible. • Turn off any demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) controls that reduce air supply based on Agenda Section: Worksession Report Date: 03/16/2021 Council Meeting Date: 03/23/2021 occupancy or