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07/17/2001 - 00009336CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING J U LY 17, 2001 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Johns called the July 17, 2001, meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Barb Johns, Rich Svanda, Pete Panchyshyn, Michelle Maher, Members Absent: Jack Velin, Mary Gliniany, Barbara Kovacic Others Present: Julie Jones, Recycling Coordinator APPROVAL OF MAY 15, 2001, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Ms. Maher, to approve the May 15, 2001, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes as written. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Ms. Jones requested that an update on the mid year recycling report to Anoka County be added to new business. MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Mr. Panchyshyn, to approve the agenda, as amended. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 1. NEW BUSINESS: a. Discussion of Proposed Rewrite of Solid Waste & Recycling Code Mr. Jones conducted a presentation about the major changes proposed to Chapter 113 of City Code, regarding solid waste management. Clarification was requested on what type of dumpsters need to be screened. The removal of the 32 gallon size limitation on garbage containers was discussed. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 17. 2001 PAGE 2 Ms. Johns was concerned that persons who need service to the door would not be able to get it. Ms. Maher believed certain haulers would still offer to-the-door service as an option to their customers. Ms. Jones stated that a 30-gallon cart on wheels would be easier to maneuver than a can that needs to be lifted, but she agreed that she had concerns for residents with long driveways. Mr. Svanda asked for clarification on what distance from waterways was required for a compost pile. Ms. Jones clarified the details of that proposed section. Discussion ensued about what should be allowed for outdoor storage of bagged leaves. Ms. Jones explained that staff is trying to develop language that can help eliminate some common complaints. Ms. Johns suggested adding language requiring apartment owners to cc Julie Jones when distributing recycling information. Ms. Jones replied that it may be good to add that requirement, but that she would be calling apartment owners for that information regardless if it was in the code. Mr. Svanda really questioned the choice of allowing 10 cubic yards capacity for a compost area. The Commission members concluded that 5 cubic yards was a more reasonable limit. Mr. Svanda pointed out that the word "collector" and "hauler" are used interchangeably, and that only one term should be used. Mr. Svanda raised concern that Section 113.14 (6) does not guarantee that a hauler can only provide a 90 gallon cart, but still meet the requirements of State Statute for volume-based rates. After some discussion, staff agreed that it may be wise to protect residents from this possibility. b. Staff Report on Proposed Fall Compost Bin Distribution ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 17. 2001 PAGE 3 Ms. Jones reported that Fridley will be part of a one-day sale of backyard compost bins on Thursday, September 27, as part of a Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board project to educate the public about waste reduction through food waste composting. She reported that compost bins will be available for $15 to those residents who pre-register one. The type of bin that will be available is the Home Composter, which is not her choice, but it is an affordable bin that works adequately. Mr. Svanda asked what the City would do with compost bins that are not picked up. Ms. Jones explained that the City will not be required to keep the ones that are reserved but not purchased. Ms. Johns asked if bin purchasers will be given educational materials. Ms. Jones replied that the City will be handing out information on the Chapter 113 changes about composting that will have been recently adopted. The Extension Service will also be providing some composting handouts. Ms. Jones stated the compost bin sale will be held at Columbia Arena from 2-7 pm. The Cities of Spring Lake Park and Columbia Heights are also part of the project. Each city is being asked to contribute seven volunteers to help check in customers, take payments, give out educational materials, and load bins in vehicles. She requested all Commission members to consider volunteering a few hours of their time to the project. c. Recycling Report Ms. Jones reported that the first semi-annual report to Anoka County regarding recycling in Fridley had just been completed for submission. She said that it is going to be another tight squeeze this year for the City to achieve its recycling goal of 2,505 tons. The City is at 51 % of goal midyear. Curbside recycling levels are down 2%, and multi-unit tonnages reported by private haulers are down 22%. The monthly drop-off totals are up 76%, however, from the same time frame last year. This is likely due to the advertising that was done for the April drop-off day. Ms. Jones stated the monthly drop-off days are also operating under budget, which is good, but it is going to disqualify us from receiving part of Fridley's SCORE funding allocation unless funds are expended in other areas. She explained that staff is looking into conducting some other advertising efforts for the City's recycling programs with these funds. 2. OLD BUSINESS a. Staff Report on Anoka County Residential Reuse Pilot Project & Draft Deconstruction Policy ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 17. 2001 PAGE 4 Ms. Jones reported that the draft deconstruction policy approved by the Commission at the last meeting has not yet been reviewed by the Fridley HRA. It is set to be an informational item at the HRA's August 2 meeting. Sometime after that meeting, it will be placed on the Planning Commission agenda and then on to City Council. Ms. Jones stated she has not had a waste reduction pilot project meeting since the last EQEC meeting to explore the possibilities of a remodeling deconstruction demonstration project, but there is a meeting tomorrow, where she plans to learn more about that possibility. Ms. Johns reminded staff that the Commission wanted a chance to review the policy again after the HRA has reviewed it before it moves on to the Planning Commission and City Council. Ms. Johns made the point that giving deconstruction information out to permit applicants may be too late, because they are all ready to start work at that point. Ms. Jones stated that is a valid point, and she would obtain the Building Official's perspective on that possible problem. b. Update on Springbrook CWP Phase II Grant Application Ms. Jones explained that she has reformulated the second MPCA CWP Phase II grant application for the Springbrook Watershed Project, which is due in October, according to recommendations from the MPCA staff at a meeting on June 25. The meeting was a result of the work of Rep. Bernardy at the past legislative session. Ms. Jones stated the reformulated application is going to require more "other" grant sources, which are going to make the project more difficult to administer. Staff has been pursuing many funding sources already. A letter of intent was sent to the McKnight Foundation last week, requesting $75,000 in environmental funds. If time permits, staff also plans to complete an application for federal Watershed Assistance Grant funds by the end of the week. 3. OTHER BUSINESS: a. Discussion on How to Improve 2002 Parade Participation Ms. Jones requested ideas for how to improve upon the distribution of recycling reminder materials at next year's parade. Mr. Svanda voiced concern that Petters Warehouse was handing out a disposable item with two batteries in it. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 17. 2001 PAGE 5 Ms. Johns voiced concern that participants in the parade should be discouraged from distributing disposable items, throwing items and exhibiting disruptive behavior. Ms. Jones suggested that a letter from the EQEC Chairperson to the Lions would be most appropriate. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Ms. Svanda, seconded by Mr. Panchyshyn, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE JULY 17, 2001, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:34 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison