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02/18/2003 - 00028058CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 18, 2003 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Johns called the February 18, 2003, meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Barb Johns, Barbara Kovacic, Rich Svanda, Anne Andrews Members Absent: Jack Velin, Michelle Maher Others Present: Julie Jones, Environmental Planner Ken Ackerman, 6370 Washington St NE AI Stahlberg, 8055 Riverview Terrace NE APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 17, 2002, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Ms. Andrews, to approve the December 17, 2002, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. NEW BUSINESS: a. Presentation by Ken Ackerman, Fridley Resident, on Energy Savings He has Accomplished in His Home Ms. Johns welcomed Mr. Ackerman to the meeting. Mr. Ackerman stated he purchased his Fridley home in 1960 and has maintained records on his energy usage since then. After the 1965 tornado, he became fascinated by weather and, in 1976, became the Channel 5 weather station monitor for Fridley. Mr. Ackerman showed the Commission members how insulating his attic, caulking and weather- stripping, a new furnace, and installing new windows accounted for a 62% combined drop in gas (heat) usage over a 28 year time period. He also showed how installing a whole-house exhaust fan with air turbines, whole house air conditioning, a high-efficiency blower motor, and energy- efficient appliances all reduced the combined electric usage in his home, reducing usage 48% over the 28 year time period. Ms. Johns asked Mr. Ackerman what his top three energy-saving recommendations would be for the general public. Mr. Ackerman stated they would be: 1. Insulating the attic 2. Weather-stripping and caulking 3. Installing energy-efficient appliances Mr. Svanda explained his findings after having an energy audit done by the City program. Mr. Ackerman stated he would be happy to come back any time to address additional questions ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 18, 2003 PAGE 2 from the Commission. b. Consideration of Recommendations Regarding Xcel Energy MERP Ms. Jones reported that Mayor Lund had received a request from the Mayor of Minneapolis to support Xcel Energy's plan to convert three Metro area power plants to use natural gas as a fuel source to generate electricity rather than coal. She explained that the Mayor was concerned about the Fridley City Council supporting Xcel Energy's plan, which is called the Metro Emissions Reduction Project (MERP), without careful consideration since the MERP would likely result in significant rate increases. The Mayor suggested that the EQE Commission review the MERP proposal and offer feedback to the City Council. The Mayor asked her to thank the Commission for their input on the Xcel Energy MERP project. Ms. Johns questioned details about potential rate increases. Mr. Svanda stated he believed Xcel Energy should be commended for voluntarily coming forward with the MERP in light of the lack of sound environmental policy being followed at the Federal level. Ms. Kovacic made some suggestions for improving the wording of the letter to the PUC from the Mayor. MOTION by Ms. Andrews, seconded by Mr. Svanda, to submit the drafted letter to the PUC from the Mayor, as amended, to the City Council for consideration. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. c. Review of 2002 Recycling Report Ms. Jones explained that she was unable to complete the recycling report since she had not received final non-profit recycling totals from Anoka County. She explained that those numbers would certainly be available by the next EQEC meeting. However, recycling totals for three areas (curbside, drop-off, and private multi-unit residential) had been compared to the previous year's figures. Ms. Jones reported that curbside recycling weights increased a meager .8% in 2002. Monthly drop-off weights decreased 22%. There was also a 9% reduction in residential multi-unit recycling at large apartment buildings that is collected by private haulers. She said she could not predict what the final year-end recycling total comparison will be to previous years, but she expects it will be a significant drop. The good news, Jones expressed, is that City residents recycled 478 pounds of materials per household in 2002 that would have been otherwise landfilled and wasted. Ms. Jones stated that as soon as she gets the final numbers, she plans to input the City's recycling figures in the National Recycling Coalition's Benefit Calculator, which is a computer program that converts tons recycled into meaningful environmental facts (like greenhouse gas emission reductions, for example). She will then try to communicate that positive information to Fridley residents in the City newsletter. Ms. Johns asked about yard waste totals. Ms. Jones stated that usage at the yard waste site was significantly down in 2002. For example, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 18. 2003 PAGE 3 usage last year was only a third of usage tracked in 1997. d. Consideration of June 12, 2003, 49ers Day Parade Participation Ms. Jones said she knew the 49ers Day Parade was listed in the Commission's 2003 Work Plan; but before registering the Commission to appear in the parade, she wanted to make sure that most Commission members were still willing to participate. The Commission members indicated they would like to participate in the parade again this year. Ms. Johns reminded Ms. Jones to try to get a golf cart for the Commission members to use again this year. This always becomes a necessity in the rain. 2. OLD BUSINESS: a. Discussion of Volunteer Opportunities at the April 12-13 Living Green Expo at the State Fairgrounds Julie Jones explained that plans are continuing for the 2003 Living Green Expo despite State budget cuts. She was told by one of the State employees working on the event that they need many more volunteers this year since it has been expanded to a two-day event and because they expect twice the number of participants. She said the Commission could volunteer as a group or as individuals. She would work with the volunteer coordinator based upon the group's wishes. The Commission members indicated they would like to volunteer as a group if they could. Ms. Jones stated she would investigate their options and would likely have more information at the next meeting. b. Update on Springbrook Watershed Implementation Project Ms. Jones reported that the outlook for a suitable storm water infiltration construction project in the portion of the Springbrook Watershed upstream of the east inlet into the Nature Center looks grim at this point in the project. Preliminary indications from the engineering consultant indicate that dewatering the Wal-Mart pond resulted in impacts to ground water levels on the other side of the berm in the Nature Center, which means the option of expanding the Wal-Mart pond will likely be determined to provide more harm than good to the Nature Center. Further testing is being considered to see what the impact of raising the pond's water level would be. In light of this new information, staff is trying to schedule a meeting with MNDOT officials to see if the City can reconsider modifying the Northtown Park-n-Ride pond to accommodate MNDOT's and the City's future needs ahead of MNDOT'S anticipated project schedule. Ms. Jones stated a new complication is State funding cuts. The City has not gotten any definite answers from MPCA staff, but it appears that the CWP continuance money the City was anticipating to qualify for next year may now be very difficult to obtain. The $200,669 CWP grant for the first part of the project, however, cannot be taken away, because it is committed in the contract. Ms. Jones stated the one bright spot in the project continues to be the public education efforts. She reported that work is underway in refining the video script, which they plan to start shooting in ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 18. 2003 PAGE 4 April or May. c. Consideration of Graphic Design Ideas for future Environmental Essentials Items in City Newsletter The Commission members agreed that they would like to continue to use the "Environmental Essentials" title, but they would like the Commission's name to appear with the fact, so people know they are performing their duty to educate the public. A logo was not extremely important to all the Commission members, but there was general interest in Ms. Johns' idea to use a partial outline of a leaf with the Commission's name trailing along the edge of the leaf. 3. OTHER BUSINESS: Ms. Jones reported that the City may decide to lease out a 30' x 30' space behind the old recycling center building to AT&T for a communications tower, which is in a wetland area that is not useable space for storage. The City is expected to gain $1,500 per month rental fees for use of the space. Ms. Jones announced that Governor Pawlenty's 2003-04 budget proposal included a 20% cut to SCORE (recycling) funds. In addition, last week's unallotment included a$1.45 million cut to this year's SCORE funds. She said the City of Fridley will likely be fine with the 2003 cuts since it budgeted for a 10% cut in SCORE revenues. However, it would be impossible to maintain the curbside recycling program as is with an additional 20% cut. Ms. Johns asked if the tax limitation in Fridley approved by referendum a few years ago could be repealed. Ms. Jones stated it could, but it would be a lengthy process that would likely take too long to aid current budget woes. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Ms. Kovacic, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE FEBRUARY 18, 2003, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:25 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison