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01/15/2002 - 00024921CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 15, 2002 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Johns called the January 15, 2002, meeting to order at 7:31 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Barb Johns, Barbara Kovacic, Jack Velin, Rich Svanda, Mary Gliniany Members Absent: Michelle Maher Others Present: Julie Jones, Environmental Planner APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 18, 2001, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Ms. Gliniany, to approve the December 18, 2001, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 1. NEW BUSINESS: 2. None 3. OLD BUSINESS: a. Update on Springbrook Watershed Implementation Project Grant Applications Ms Jones explained that the City did receive the full $75,000 in funding requested from the McKnight Foundation. Now the City has over half of the funding it needs to complete the project. The freeze on State grants has now been lifted, and the City should hear on the MPCA CWP grant request by the end of the month. Mr. Svanda questioned what the City will do if it does not get the MPCA funding. Ms. Jones responded that she would not recommend that the City apply a third time to the MPCA due to the extensive staff time required. In addition, the grant funds that are currently secured must be spent within a year or so. These funds are needed to meet the MPCA 50% match requirements and cannot be spent until the City has a signed contract with the MPCA. When questioned if the project could proceed without the MPCA funds, Ms. Jones replied that she thought it could on a much reduced scale, but that would need to be approved by the four City Councils involved. b. Discussion Regarding Rice Creek Watershed District Ms. Jones asked if the Commission members found the RCWD Advisory Committee meeting minutes in the packet helpful. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES Januarv 15. 2002 PAGE 2 The Commission members commented that the minutes were not very helpful. Ms. Johns commented that Ms. Jones had suggested contacting the RCWD Advisory Committee member, Robert Peterson, to get more information, but noted he had not attended the two previous RCWD meetings. Ms. Jones suggested that the EQE Commission invite Mr. Peterson to attend the next EQEC meeting anyway to discuss concerns about protecting Fridley's water resources in the Rice Creek Watershed. The Commission members agreed that it would b good to contact Mr. Peterson and see if he is interested in meeting with the Commission. Ms. Jones said she expected to have difficulty getting further copies of the RCWD Advisory Committee meeting minutes, even though they are public information once they are approved. She questioned if the EQE commission wanted to continue to receive them. The Commission members were not interested in receiving future copies of the minutes. c. Discussion of Phosphorus Restrictions in Fertilizers Ms. Jones recommended that the Commission act tonight on the draft letter to the Governor and resolution supporting State restrictions on sale of phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizers. She explained the time urgency on this matter since the proposed legislation is expected to be introduced early in the session. Since it will take several weeks to run recommendations before the Planning Commission before being forwarded to Council, delaying any action until the next meeting would mean the State legislative session would be over before any City Council action could take place. Mr. Velin questioned the wording and intent of Subd. 1, (3) in the proposed legislation regarding home compost. It was clarified that it did not apply to home compost but to purchased fertilizer products. Mr. Svanda stated that the definition in Subd. 21 a does not specifically list commercial and industrial properties. The Commission members agreed that this should be added. Mr. Velin questioned if this legislation would apply to Miracle Grow on flower beds. The Commission member agreed that this legislation would only apply to lawn fertilizers. Ms. Jones made some suggestions for changes to the proposed letter to the Governor, including personalizing the letter and referring to specific waterways in Fridley. She also thought it would be good to make a tie to the Springbrook Watershed Project or any other water cleanup projects that involve State funds. She said she could investigate possible connections with the Engineering Department. Ms. Jones suggested personalizing the proposed resolution the same way, referring specifically to the Mississippi River. She felt, however, that the detailed description of points included in the ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES Januarv 15. 2002 PAGE 3 proposed legislation was unnecessary, and could likely lead to disapproval of the resolution by the City Council. She felt the details of the legislation could be viewed by the Council by attaching the proposed bill in their information packet. MOTION by Ms. Gliniany, seconded by Mr. Velin, to direct City staff to modify the letter to the Governor and the resolution relating to restrictions on the use and sale of the lawn fertilizers, making it specific to Fridley, and to forward the letter and resolution to the Planning Commission for City Council consideration. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. OTHER BUSINESS: Ms. Jones reminded everyone that the annual Commission Appreciation dinner is scheduled for Sunday, January 27. She encouraged everyone to attend and to rsvp as soon as possible. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Ms. Kovacic, seconded by Mr. Velin, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE JANUARY 15, 2002, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:12 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison