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10/15/2002 - 00024938CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 15, 2002 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Johns called the October 15, 2002, meeting to order at 7:38 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Barb Johns, Jack Velin, Barbara Kovacic, Rich Svanda, Michelle Maher Members Absent: Anne Andrews Others Present: Julie Jones, Environmental Planner APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2002, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Ms. Kovacic, to approve the September 17, 2002, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 1►1��J�:l��yl►l��yl a. Discussion of Storm Water Issues with Bob Peterson from Rice Creek Watershed District Advisory Committee Ms. Jones explained that Mr. Peterson never returned her call, so she was not sure why he was unable to attend tonight's meeting. She said she has been trying since January to get Mr. Peterson to attend an EQEC meeting and wondered if the Commission wanted her to keep trying. The Commission members discussed whether or not to pursue other options. Ms. Johns suggested trying to contact Mr. Peterson again, trying to find out if he has any intentions of ever coming to a meeting. b. Review of NEMO Workshop Information by those who attended Ms. Johns reported that the NEMO workshop held on September 30 was very informative. She commented that it was very beneficial to have Spring Lake Park representatives invited to the workshop, too. Some of the examples of new storm water management techniques presented were: rain gardens, rain barrels, the H. B. Fuller parking lot, and Maplewood's street reconstruction with rain garden designs. Ms. Johns mentioned that at the last Planning Commission meeting, Dean Saba had suggested that it would be nice for the entire commission to see an abbreviated version of the presentation. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 15, 2002 PAGE 2 Ms. Jones stated that the Planning Commission will be hearing the same presentation during its regular meeting on December 4. She said any EQEC members who wanted to attend that presentation were welcome. It will also be viewable on cable television. She said there may be more NEMO workshops on specific topics to follow. The Springbrook Watershed Project Advisory Committee will be discussing this option at its October 21 meeting. Ms. Jones explained that the City Manager wants to feature the EQEC in the next City newsletter. She asked some questions about the history of the Commission as background information for the article. 2. OLD BUSINESS: a. Review of Drinking Water Information from Public Works The Commission members asked Rich Svanda, who was absent at the last meeting, if his questions had been answered by the Water Department's memo. Mr. Svanda stated his main concern had been about TCE and PAHs. He saw that the Fridley water tested at TCE levels of 4.2-5.9 ppm, which meets the Federal recommended level of less than 5.0 ppm. Mr. Svanda explained that he had asked about testing for PAHs because one of New Brighton's wells is near a Superfund site that was contaminated by creosote. PAHs are byproducts of creosote, and some are suspected or known carcinogens. He gave Ms. Jones a list of some PAH compounds that he found on the internet. Ms. Jones stated she would pass the list on to the Water Department and see if they can provide more information on the New Brighton water. Mr. Velin asked if the City is still working to find out where the well water contamination is coming from. Ms. Jones stated she was unsure what research is currently underway on the contaminated wells, but would try to find out that information. b. Update on Springbrook Watershed Implementation Project Ms. Jones reported that the Advisory Committee for the Springbrook Watershed Project will be discussing new information at its next meeting on October 21 regarding the possible expansion of the Wal-Mart northern storm water pond. The reason this option to reduce storm water flow impacts to the Nature Center wetlands is taking a long time to investigate is that the pond used to be a wetland and was converted to a storm water storage pond during the development of Wal-Mart. Since the pond used to be a wetland, modifications to it must meet the requirements of the Wetland Conservation Act. These requirements are replacement of impacted parts of the wetland. However, since the purpose of modifying this wetland is to restore a much larger, more significant wetland, credit may be allowed in replacement requirements. Also, the Technical Evaluation Panel reviewing the request will need to be assured that there are no better alternatives available to restore the Springbrook wetlands. The Engineering Consultant has be asked to prepare some mathematical calculations for the meeting that should ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 15, 2002 PAGE 3 help the Committee determine how to proceed. Ms. Jones stated that as far as education efforts, besides the NEMO workshops mentioned earlier, proposals are now being sought for two informational brochures regarding nonpoint storm water pollution that will be distributed next spring. The sampling of rain barrels has been delayed until spring so that volunteer residents living within the watershed can be found. 3. OTHER BUSINESS Ms. Johns reported that she had asked a few days ago if it were possible to have an ongoing section in the City newsletter called "Did You Know?" with an environmental education fact. Ms. Jones stated that the City Manager is willing to make space for such a concept. Since preparations are underway for the December City newsletter, she suggested that the Commission select a fact now for submission for the next newsletter layout. She gave a suggestion of focusing on reducing toxins in your home, because that is the focus of the current Your Eco Home Program. The Commission members decided to use a statement related to children's susceptibility to toxins and to encourage people to use less toxic alternative cleaners. Ms. Maher stressed that she would like to see a solution given following each fact statement and not just focus on the problem. The Commission members decided that at the next meeting, they should start deciding on what facts to use for the newsletters going out in 2003. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Mr. Velin, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE OCTOBER 15, 2002, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison