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10/16/2001 - 00010483CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 16, 2001 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Johns called the October 16, 2001, meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Barb Johns, Jack Velin, Rich Svanda, Barbara Kovacic, Michelle Maher (arr. 7:42 pm) Members Absent: Pete Panchyshyn, Mary Gliniany Others Present: Julie Jones, Environmental Planner Scott Lund, Mayor APPROVAL OF JULY 17, 2001, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Mr. Velin, to approve the July 17, 2001, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes as written. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 1. NEW BUSINESS: a. Open Discussion with Mayor Lund About Role of EQEC Mayor Lund thanked the Commission for inviting him to the meeting, because he is trying to meet with each advisory commission throughout the year. He had read in the last EQEC meeting minutes that there were some concerns about activities in the Fridley parade. Since he is the President of the Fridley Lions, he said he would take the Commission's concerns about throwing items and handing out hazardous items to the Lions' Parade Committee. Ms. Svanda suggested that the EQEC consider passing out litter bags in the parade next year. Ms. Jones stated there is a supplier where the City could purchase custom-printed bags for that purpose. Mayor Lund brought up a recent letter received from the City of Shorewood requesting the City of Fridley's support for state legislation to ban phosphorus in fertilizers. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 16. 2001 PAGE 2 Ms. Jones explained the history of a previous request prior to the 2001 legislative session. The problem of lost, natural buffers to lakes and streams was discussed. The Commission members decided to make the study of the Shorewood request an item on the next EQEC agenda. Mayor Lund explained that there are similar issues about erosion, sedimentation, and (high phosphorus) water quality with the Rice Creek Watershed. Part of the problem, he said, is that there is only one representative from Anoka County on the Watershed Board. He also had some concerns that the Rice Creek Watershed Board is not following proper legal procedures for approving projects. He requested the EQEC to look at some of the Rice Creek Watershed issues to raise more understanding of Fridley's concerns. Mayor Lund stated there is one more topic that may be appropriate for the EQEC to become involved with. He stated there is a possibility that a company wants to locate in Fridley that collects and consolidates medical wastes. The City will likely want to ensure a safe operation if this business does locate in Fridley, so it would be proactive for the City to ensure that enough safeguards are in place. Mr. Svanda suggested having a representative of the MPCA at the next meeting to address medical waste requirements in the State of Minnesota. Mayor Lund suggested also contacting Spencer Pierce at Anoka County, since he has been involved in this potential business development. A few other current projects were discussed, including the new entry monument signs, the School Board's use of the Municipal Center, and sound barrier walls on the west side of University Avenue. b. Update on Monthly Drop Off Days Julie Jones reported that about four times the normal amount of electronics was brought in on the October 13 recycling drop off day, so the CRT brochure was successful in getting people to bring in their old TVs and computer monitors. However, electronics cost the city about $1,000/ton to recycle, so this is a costly means to generate more recycling tonnages. Mayor Lund asked how this related to the overall budget for the drop-offs. Ms. Jones responded that the cost to collect electronics is about half of the entire drop-off day budget annually. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 16. 2001 PAGE 3 Mayor Lund commented that a fee should be charged at the time of purchase to cover these recycling costs. Ms. Jones stated that the State is working to develop "Producer Responsibility" requirements in Minnesota. Ms. Jones reported that she is working to coordinate a unique way to advertise the last monthly drop off of the year by placing Post-It notes on each Focus Newspaper delivered in Fridley on November 1 and 8. 2. OLD BUSINESS: a. Staff Update on Proposed Rewrite of Solid Waste & Recycling Code Julie Jones reiterated the changes made to the proposed Chapter 113 changes as stated in her memo to the Commission. Mayor Lund explained some of the concerns that the City Council has discussed. The placement of containers and container size options were discussed. Ms. Jones reported that a revised draft of the proposed rewrite of Chapter 113 of City Code is scheduled to be discussed again at the Monday, October 22, City Council meeting. The only remaining portion of the code that is being debated is the section restricting size of garbage containers. b. Staff Update on Anoka County Residential Reuse Pilot Project and Deconstruction Resolution Ms. Jones reported that the latest project in the County Reuse Pilot is the creation of a video promoting ways to reduce waste during the holidays, our most consumptive time of the year. The video is being produced by the County staff and will be aired on the local cable TV channels throughout the County. She, along with many other professionals in the field of recycling, is taping a segment for the show. She described some of the ideas that will be demonstrated in the program. Ms. Jones also reported that the Deconstruction Resolution was approved by the City Council on October 8. The County has provided many copies of its Building Green Guide, which is available at the Building Permit counter at the Municipal Center. c. Staff Report on September 27 Compost Bin Distribution ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 16. 2001 PAGE 4 Ms. Jones reported that the Compost Bin distribution at Columbia Arena was a challenging project, but it offered a valuable service for the community. Over 700 Fridley households preordered bins, which consumed the department's staff resources for about two weeks. Unfortunately, less than 80% of those residents who preordered a bin showed up to pick it up. Approximately 200 unclaimed bins were left over from the four-city distribution at the end of the sale, which were shipped to the next sale. Calls are still coming in from folks who forgot to come pick up their bin. Had staff known so many residents would call, we could have kept some bins available at our front counter. Ms. Jones stated there have been no complaints about the bins that staff has been unable to resolve, so the over 500 residents who now have a Home Composter must be happy with the product. There were some site cleanup issues, but everything was eventually resolved. The entire event consumed a disproportionate amount of Fridley's staff time. Since the collection site was next door to Fridley's City Garage, Ms. Jones felt the private company selling the compost bins should have been required to compensate Fridley for all of the assistance provided. d. Update on Springbrook CWP Phase II Grant Application Ms. Jones reported that the second Phase II MPCA Clean Water Partnership Grant application was submitted by the deadline today. She remains confident the project will be funded, but explained that the amount of funds requested was far less than what is needed to complete the project. Changes in requirements since funds were requested last year have forced the City to seek many other funding sources for the project. An application for $23,885 in federal Watershed Assistance Grant funds has been made. A$75,000 application for a McKnight Foundation Environmental Grant has also been made. The McKnight grant possibilities are strong since the interviewing process has gone well. The City should have a response on each of these applications by the end of November. If both applications are funded, the first three-year phase of the Phase II Implementation Plan is completely funded. However, in case both applications are not accepted, staff is going to apply for a Metro- Environment Partnership Grant with the Metropolitan Council, which has an October 26 deadline. 2. OTHER BUSINESS: Ms. Maher asked what regulations the City has regarding artificial turf. Ms. Jones stated the Commission should investigate the issue since it is a storm water issue if these surfaces are impervious. Ms. Johns requested staff to gather some information on the product for the next ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 16. 2001 PAGE 5 meeting. Ms. Johns asked about the status of the salvage yards in Fridley. Ms. Jones and Mayor Lund explained that the HRA's plans to purchase and redevelop the salvage yards have been shelved due to reductions in commercial tax rates which allow tax increment financing to work to finance this project. Mayor Lund explained the effect on the City of the recent cuts in State aid to the City. A discussion ensued about the distribution of our tax dollars. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Mr. Svanda, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE OCTOBER 16, 2001, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:34 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison