09/16/1997 - 00003752CITY OF FRIDLEY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING
SEPTEMBER 16, 1997
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Sielaff called the September 16, 1997, meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Brad Sielaff, Jack Velin, Rich Svanda, Bruce Bondow,
Dean Saba
Members Absent: Peter Panchyshyn, Rosalie Landt
Others Present: Julie Jones, Recycling Coordinator
APPROVAL OF AUGUST 19, 1997, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY
COMMISSION MINUTES:
MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Mr. Velin, to approve the August 19, 1997,
Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
1. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Review of Advertising Budget for Recycling and Waste Reduction
Ms. Jones explained an itemized list of advertising expenses budgeted in 1997
and 1998. Actual expenditures to date were also explained. She explained that
only about $600 of 1997 funds budgeted for advertising remained unspent to
date. She said some signage and advertising needs for the Recycling Center
will use up the remaining 1997 funds.
Ms. Jones stated there are some items that were budgeted for 1997 that have
not been completed and will not be completed, primarily due to many
unexpected expenses related to the Recycling Center.
Mr. Velin questioned why the City pays for ads in the Focus News when news
releases can be submitted at no charge.
Ms. Jones stated that staff does try to use news releases, however, the only way
to guarantee that the information gets into the paper is to pay for an ad.
Mr. Sielaff questioned whether or not revenues from the Recycling Center are
used to offset advertising costs for the Recycling Center.
Ms. Jones stated that the advertising cost, as all other operating expenses, are
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 16, 1997 PAGE 2
subsidized from the SWAP budget.
Mr. Velin questioned the effectiveness of the Holiday Plus cash register tape
coupons.
Ms. Jones stated that the coupons are bringing in some new customers;
however, staff has not conducted a formal survey of coupon users.
The Commission members requested a more detailed report on the use of the
coupons at a future meeting.
Mr. Sielaff asked how the Commission can have more influence of dollars
budgeted for advertising.
Ms. Jones stated that the Commission's involvement in the goals and objectives
process will be the key step in affecting the 1999 budget.
Mr. Svanda questioned why the 1998 advertising budget is less than 1997.
Ms. Jones stated that the 1998 budget proposal was higher, but printing and
distribution of a waste reduction booklet was eliminated from the 1998 budget
proposal, resulting in a reduction in 1998's advertising dollars below the 1997
level of funding.
Ms. Jones distributed information from a national environmental advertising firm.
She briefly summarized some of the firm's key points. She explained the firm's
critique of the City's current curbside recycling brochure.
Mr. Sielaff stated it would be appropriate for the Commission to study this
material in more detail at a future meeting.
Mr. Sielaff asked if the City has a web site.
Mr. Saba stated he didn't believe the Council has supported the idea.
There was some discussion of how the City could tie into someone else's web
site in order to distribute environmental information. Mr. Saba stated that the
City should have their own web site because many other City divisions need to
distribute information. The Commission members decided they would like to
discuss a possible web site, advertising tips, and other advertising opportunities
further at the November meeting.
b. Try-A-Toro Program
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 16, 1997 PAGE 3
Ms. Jones asked if the Commission members would be interested in supporting
NSP's Try-a-Toro Program next spring.
Most of the Commission members believed they would want to explore the
effectiveness of the electric, rechargeable mowers themselves before they would
feel comfortable promoting the program.
Mr. Bondow suggested putting the issue back on the agenda in March 1998.
c. Recreational Fires
Mr. Velin raised the issue of burning leaves in recreational fires. He had asked
the Fire Department if he could burn leaves in a recreational fire, but he did not
get a definitive answer.
Ms. Jones stated she had received some information on Minnesota burning
regulations from the State and would attempt to locate an answer to Mr. Velin's
question.
2. OLD BUSINESS:
a Update on Springbrook CWP
Ms. Jones reported that the Technical Committee will likely meet the first week in
October to review the first draft of the Springbrook CWP Work Plan. Staff is
continuing to refine the Work Plan draft which is now 20 pages long and
growing. The City was able to obtain maps from SEH, an environmental
consulting firm, that compiled the SCWMO's (Six Cities Watershed Management
Organization) Water Management Plan. The City will make use of its shared
GIS staff to rework the maps to suit the Springbrook project.
Ms. Jones also reported that both the Advisory and Technical Committees are
almost completely formed. She briefly summarized where the representatives
on each committee were from.
Mr. Sielaff stated he had a discussion with Shannon Lotthammer from the MPCA
regarding the progress of the Work Plan and the monitoring plans. He was
assured by Ms. Lotthammer that installation of monitoring equipment will
proceed this fall since she is comfortable with the City's progress on the Work
Plan thus far.
Mr. Sielaff questioned the Commission's interest in involvement with the
development of the CWP Work Plan. The Commission members indicated that
occasional updates from the Chair were acceptable.
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SEPTEMBER 16, 1997 PAGE 4
b. Update on Wellhead Protection Plan
Ms. Jones apologized for neglecting to obtain a verbal update from the
Engineering Department before they left to attend a national conference being
held in Minneapolis.
c. Update on EcoTeam Program
Ms. Jones distributed a summary of the accomplishments of the first EcoTeam
and explained the numbers.
Mr. Saba questioned how GAP arrived at the calculations.
Ms. Jones analyzed additional information GAP provided, but it did not detail the
calculations.
Mr. Saba stated he wondered if the seasonal nature of the various energy and
water savings was taken into account.
Ms. Jones stated she would need to consult GAP to find an answer to the
questions raised.
3. OTHER BUSINESS:
a. Fridley High School Environmental Club
Ms. Jones reported that the Fridley High School has an Environmental Club.
She stated she has invited the Club to attend a Commission meeting. They
have some water quality concerns about Moore Lake which they may bring up at
a Commission meeting.
Mr. Svanda suggested inviting the President of the Club to a future Commission
meeting.
b. Final BWSR Copy of SCWMO Watershed Management Plan
Ms. Jones reported that she has received a BWSR copy of the SCWMO
Watershed Management Plan. Since the Commission had made several
recommendations last year for changes to the draft, she wondered if there was a
need to review the final copy.
Mr. Sielaff asked Ms. Jones to find out if the BWSR copy she has is an
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SEPTEMBER 16, 1997 PAGE 5
"approved" copy. If it is, he will review the changes with her.
c. Memo Regarding Communication with City Council
Mr. Sielaff summarized his recent meeting with staff regarding concerns over
Council involvement and the Commission's involvement in water resource
issues. He stated Barbara Dacy, Community Development Director, suggested
that the Commission be involved in the upcoming City survey and RFPs for the
Recycling Center. He stated he thought it was a good meeting, and he hoped
the Council will respond to staff's memo.
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION by Mr. Bondow, seconded by Mr. Svanda, to adjourn the meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED
THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE SEPTEMBER 16, 1997, MEETING ADJOURNED
AT 9:15 P. M.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie A. Jones
Staff Liaison to Commission