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03/18/1997 - 00003733CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING MARCH 18, 1997 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Sielaff called the March 18, 1997, meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Brad Sielaff, Peter Panchyshyn, Bruce Bondow, Dean Saba Members Absent: Jack Velin, Rich Svanda, Rosalie Landt Others Present: Julie Jones, Recycling Coordinator Scott Hickok, Planning Coordinator APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 18, 1997, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: Mr. Bondow stated a correction had to be made in the attendance as he was absent at the February meeting. MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Mr. Panchyshyn, to approve the January 21, 1997, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes as amended. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MINUTES APPROVED AS AMENDED. 1. NEW BUSINESS: There was no new business. 2. OLD BUSINESS: a. Follow-up Items from February 18, 1997, EQE Meeting Ms. Jones reported the recycling statistics requested at the last meeting. One follow-up item requested was recycling tonnages from the Fridley schools. She reported that the Fridley School District does not count towards the City's recycling goal since it is considered "commercial" recycling. She also discovered that the 1995-96 senior class can drive material did get taken to the Fridley Recycling Center. Another follow-up item from the February meeting was a breakdown by percentage of the source of Fridley's recycling tons. Ms. Jones showed an overhead of a pie chart that showed that 75% of the 1996 tons came from the curbside program, 5% from multi-family, 16% from the Recycling Center, 1% ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MARCH 18, 1997 PAGE 2 from non-profits, 2% from appliances, and 1% from a clean-up day. Mr. Saba questioned what would happen if the City decided to focus efforts on waste reduction rather than increasing recycling levels. Ms. Jones stated that the City would not lose SCORE funds. However, with the City now receiving revenues from the Recycling Center for the first time in 1997, it may have the result of reducing the level of eligible expenses that the City can use SCORE funds towards. This is why she emphasized to the City Council at its March 3, 1997, meeting that the City should attempt to reach 108% of its goal in 1997, so the City can have the freedom to spend SCORE funds on otherwise ineligible expenses. Mr. Sielaff suggested that the City not report tonnages from the Recycling Center and not have to report the revenues. Ms. Jones stated that not reporting the revenues would not be an option, and the City should, instead, pursue changing the County's policy. She suggested that the Commission study the issue in more detail at the April meeting. Ms. Jones answered another question from the February meeting regarding plastics recycling at the Recycling Center. She reported that 15 tons of plastics were collected at the Recycling Center in 1996. She explained that small businesses are being encouraged through a mass mailing to use the Recycling Center. b. Update on Public Notification Regarding Changes in Curbside Recycling Services (memo and attachments enclosed) Ms. Jones reported on the current status of the public notification regarding the new curbside recycling program with Waste Management, Inc. She explained that the first letter telling residents their recycling day was delivered to the post office on March 17. The brochure is scheduled to be delivered to the post office on March 24. She explained that other information being delivered includes: a separate mailing and brochure to owners of 5-12 unit buildings, a cable television special show, updating the Fridley Information Line (FIL), a letter to all churches, a letter to Fridley schools, a letter with zone map to the licensed residential refuse haulers, and a letter to existing block captains. Ms. Jones noted that Waste Management indicated in a telephone conversation that day that they also want to include refrigerator magnets with their telephone number in a future City mailing. Mr. Sielaff inquired as to how the City will monitor Waste Management's performance if most complaints are going to the contractor. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MARCH 18, 1997 PAGE 3 Ms. Jones stated the City will be getting reports, at least monthly, from the contractor, which is required by the contract currently being negotiated. The boundaries of the recycling zones were discussed. Ms. Jones reported that Waste Management is planning on redesigning its garbage routes to coincide with the new recycling zones by July 1, 1997. b. Discussion Regarding Clean Water Partnership Grant and Development Technical Advisory Committee Mr. Hickok came to the meeting from a meeting in the Council Chambers regarding the Hyde Park neighborhood. He reported that the City has received information that it has been approved for full funding of the Clean Water Partnership Grant for study of the Springbrook Nature Center. Mr. Hickok reported that staff will be moving forward with the grant as a priority. However, staff may not have a formal progress report for the Commission until the May meeting. A written report could be included in the April meeting packet if there is progress to report. Mr. Sielaff commented that staff will need to meet with MPCA staff fairly soon regarding revision of the timeline. He suggested that the City may want to develop the Technical Advisory Commission quickly so the Commission members can be involved in the initial monitoring. He further recommended getting representatives from other cities and the Six Cities Watershed District on that Committee as well. He further suggested that a member of the Commission be on the Technical Advisory Committee. He asked Mr. Saba if he would be interested, but Mr. Saba stated he would likely have conflicts with other previous commitments. Mr. Sielaff stated he would possibly be available to be the Commission's representative. However, he suggested that if he ever had a conflict with a meeting time that another Commission member attend in his absence. b. Discussion Regarding Wellhead Protection Plan The Commission had been given the "Conclusion" and "Recommendations" pages from the draft consultant report. Mr. Sielaff did not see any problems with the draft report; however, he felt there could possibly be other options to solve the problem. No formal action was taken. ADJOURNMENT: ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MARCH 18, 1997 PAGE 4 MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Mr. Bondow, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE MARCH 18, 1997, MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:03 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison to Commission