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05/15/2001 - 00009331CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING MAY 15, 2001 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Johns called the May 15, 2001, meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Barb Johns, Jack Velin, Rich Svanda, Pete Panchyshyn, Barbara Kovacic, Michelle Maher (arrived 7:55pm), Mary Gliniany I►�iCai'i1.• -Ta'�i �_1• -'�iii�►[•7T Others Present: Julie Jones, Environmental Planner APPROVAL OF MARCH 20, 2001, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Pete Panchyshyn, seconded by Jack Velin, to approve the March 20, 2001, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. NEW BUSINESS: a. Update on Park Recycling Pilot Ms. Jones explained that State law requires municipalities to recycle three categories of materials at all City facilities. She explained that the City Park Maintenance staff had started recycling in City parks in the early 90s. However, since recyclables were continually contaminated with trash, collection of recyclables was later discontinued. Recently, the Anoka County staff reminded all municipal recycling coordinators of the State law requirement and of the fact that the County gives the City a significant discount to our Solid Waste Management Tax on all City-owned property. The County gives the discount with the agreement that Cities are recycling 50% of their waste. To prevent another park recycling failure, Ms. Jones explained that the City is going to test recycling services in just one park this summer, figure out the glitches, and then expand the program citywide next year. The park selected is one of the busiest — Moore Lake Beach. BFI is set to locate six recycling carts later this week, collecting the recyclables once per week. A Boy Scout troop has ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 15. 2001 PAGE 2 agreed to sort through the recycling bins once per week, prior to BFI's collection. Discussion of the details of how the pilot project will work were further discussed. Mary Gliniany reported that the University of Minnesota researched recycling container placement on campus and found that people did a much better job of sorting waste if all their options were laid out together in one spot. She suggested doing the same at Moore Lake if possible. Ms. Jones explained that costs of specially designed recycling containers are very high, which is going to limit the City's options. Exactly how much park recycling at all City-owned facilities will cost is yet to be determined as well as what the funding source will be. b. Report on Proposed Moore Lake Shoreline Buffer Strip Ms. Jones presented slides explaining the Association of Soil Conservation Districts' proposal to install a shoreline buffer strip on the south end of East Moore Lake. Ms. Johns said she heard that the Park and Recreation Commission spoke very favorable of the proposal. The Commission members questioned why there were delays in getting the proposal to Council. Ms. Jones explained that there has been staff disagreement about recommending the project, which has caused some delay in getting the proposal before Council. Upon questioning, she further explained that concerns have been over potential maintenance expenses of the buffer strip. However, she explained that the Minneapolis Park Maintenance staff spoke very favorably about the buffer strips, contending that they require much less maintenance than mowed turf. Ms. Kovacic questioned if the planting could still occur this year. Ms. Jones explained that if the City Council gives approval to the proposal in June, it is likely that a fall planting can occur yet this year. MOTION by Jack Velin, seconded by Mary Gliniany. to suggest that the City Council approve the Association of Soil conservation Districts' proposal to install a shoreline buffer strip along the shore of East Moore Lake. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. c. Election of Officers Chairperson Johns opened the floor for nominations to the position of Chair. MOTION by Rich Svanda, seconded by Michelle Maher, to nominate the current ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 15. 2001 PAGE 3 slate of officers to continue in their positions as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson one more year. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTED AYE, THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Barb Johns continues to serve as Chairperson, and Jack Velin continues to serve as Vice Chair for the next year. 2. OLD BUSINESS a. Staff Report on Anoka County Residential Refuse Pilot Project & Review of Draft Deconstruction Policy Ms. Jones reported that she is pursuing the possibility of creating a residential remodeling reuse pilot project in Fridley. The pilot project would be possible with the cooperation of Anoka County and Deconstruction Services. Ms. Jones is hoping to meet soon with both parties to plan out the parameters of such a project. There was concern that funding sources to continue the pilot beyond April 2002 be obtained. Julie Jones said she was not sure if the project would qualify for any funding source, but agreed that it would be wise to consider more long term funding. The Draft Deconstruction Policy was discussed. Rich Svanda asked what the intent was under the "City-Owned" section where it refers to "building new facilities?" Ms. Jones said that was a mistake on her part and it should be changed to read "demolishes old facilities." Ms. Johns asked staff what the procedure was to forward the draft policy statement from the EQEC. Ms. Jones replied that Grant Fernilius has requested that the draft policy be reviewed by the HRA before it is passed on to City Council. There was agreement that the EQEC would like to see the policy statement reviewed by the HRA and then have a chance to review any recommended changes by the HRA before it is passed on to Council. b. Update on Compost Bin Testing Julie Jones reported that the compost bin sale and distribution did not go smoothly for those cities that participated and she was glad that she did not ask ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 15. 2001 PAGE 4 for Fridley to be involved in the program. The cities that were involved were disappointed that 20-30% of the people who preordered and pre-paid for compost bins did not show up to pick them up on the designated day. This left staff with the difficulty in storing and distributing by other means several hundred bins in some cases. There was also a great deal of breakage on the bins. The way they were shipped by semi-truck load, shrink-wrapped in tall stacks, made it impossible to get the stacks down from the trailer without breaking some of the bins. Some people complained that the bins were weak in certain areas and that resulted in breakage also. Ms. Jones reported that the City purchased two of the bins for experimentation purposes. Just as with the Earth Machine composters received last fall, one bin is being used to compost leaves and grass out at the Fridley yard waste transfer area and one is being used to compost food scraps mixed with yard debris. She did not feel the compost bin used in the SWMCB pilot was as sturdy as the Earth Machine unit. The lid did not fit well, the plastic appeared too thin, and there were no clamps with it to pin it in the ground. It is slightly bigger; however, and the wide top makes it easier to fill the bin. Ms. Jones stated it is unknown at this time if the compost bin distribution will be funded again next spring. 3. OTHER BUSINESS: a. Update on Springbrook CWP Project Ms. Jones reported that the Springbrook CWP funding bill did not make it in the original House or Senate tax bills. However, Senator pon Betzold reported that more money was allocated to the MPCA for the Clean Water Partnership Program than anticipated, improving funding chances for the Phase II project in the next funding round. Rep. Connie Bernardy was successful in having the Springbrook CWP bill added to the House Tax bill. However, Ms. Jones did not know if the same had been done in the Senate yet. Even so, such changes still need to pass conference committee. b. Update on Plans for 49'ers Days Parade/Consideration of Canceling June 19t" Meeting Ms. Jones reported that the State Office of Environmental Assistance has agreed to have their Reducemobile in the parade again this year. BFI has also agreed to have their recycling parade truck in the parade again. There are the refrigerator magnets and the crayons to hand out, left from last year's failed (due to rain) parade distribution. Plans have been made for one golf cart. What each member would wear was discussed. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 15. 2001 PAGE 5 Ms. Johns suggested that instead of T-shirts, the Commission members wear matching aprons that could be reused each year. Ms. Jones said she would attempt to get the aprons. She also reported that she understands that the line-up time for the parade is 5 p.m. and that the parade starts at 6 p.m., but she could send out a reminder to the Commission members about that when she receives confirmation from the parade committee. Ms. Johns asked if the Commission wanted to cancel the regular June meeting since they are spending time marching in the parade, unless an urgent issue needs to be addressed. MOTION by Rich Svanda, seconded by Jack Velin, to cancel the regular June EQEC meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Ms. Johns mentioned that there were several environmentally-related items in the recent issue of the Fridley Community News. She also noted that one of her children brought home an informative recycling brochure from school, which was good to see. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Jack Velin, seconded by Rich Svanda, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE MAY 15, 2001, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:08 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison