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04/15/2003 - 00028062CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 15, 2003 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Johns called the April 15, 2003, meeting to order at 7:31 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Barb Johns, Jack Velin, Pat Rowan, Anne Andrews, Barbara Kovacic, Michelle Maher Members Absent: Rich Svanda Others Present: Julie Jones, Environmental Planner APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 18, 2003, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Ms. Kovacic, to approve the February 18, 2003, 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. Welcome New Commission Member, Patrick Rowan Ms. Johns welcomed Patrick Rowan to the Commission. Mr. Rowan explained his background. b. Report on Living Green Expo Ms. Johns, Ms. Andrews, and Ms. Jones reported on the activities and displays at the Living Green Expo. Ms. Jones reported that attendance was 11,200, which was more than double last year's attendance. The Expo will likely need to charge an entrance fee next year to continue, as they expect to lose the $20,000 in State funding they received this year. c. Update on Proposed Budget Cuts Ms. Jones reported that she testified before the House Environment and Natural Resource Finance Committee on April 1St regarding proposed cuts to State SCORE funds. At this time, the City is budgeting for 2004 according to the Governor's proposed 20% cut to SCORE funds. What that will likely mean for Fridley, she explained, is elimination of the yard waste drop-off and park recycling. Also, all non-required recycling education will be eliminated from the budget. She explained that this would include handouts at the parade. At this time, she has not had any preliminary budget meetings with the City Manager, so she was unsure of what staff would be proposing to the City Council at this point. She explained that the City of ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 15, 2003 PAGE 2 Fridley is expecting to lose $1.7 million in LGA funding next year, so expecting the General Fund to be able to replace lost SCORE funds is unrealistic. The Commission members discussed the budget situation. Discussion of Information regarding Container Deposit Ms. Jones explained that the GrassRoots Recycling Network (GRRN) is conducting a campaign in the midwest for container deposit. They are labeling the issue producer responsibility, which gives the concept more public and governmental support. However, what they are proposing appears to be no different that the "bottle bills" of the past. What is new, Ms. Jones explained, is data from a national study showing that we fall very short of the recycling potential for single serving beverage containers. The report on the national study claims that container deposit only costs half a cent more per container than our present curbside recycling collection system. The information not included in the report, however, was details on how container deposit has worked successfully with curbside recycling programs. She hopes to be able to obtain answers to that question in the near future. She stated that there are portions of the recycling commodities that are not successfully being recycled now, but she was unclear on how those commodities could be recovered without impacting a successful existing recycling system in Minnesota. She emphasized that the largest portion of the recyclables we collect by weight is paper. Paper recycling is extremely important environmentally, so container deposit will not abolish the need for curbside recycling collections. Mr. Rowan asked how the pricing in our contract with BFI is set. Ms. Jones stated it is a price per household so collecting less material would not reduce our costs. She said she could likely provide more information at the next meeting, following GRRN's forum. e. Review of 2002 Recycling Report Ms. Jones reported that the 2002 recycling report demonstrates that there is still much room for improvement in Fridley's recycling efforts. The overall recycling tonnage reported decreased 9% from the previous year. She clarified that one non-profit is still not yet reporting, but that is not expected to impact the numbers in the report. Recycling totals will definitely drop further in 2003 with discontinuance of the monthly recycling drop-off days and less educational efforts budgeted. Discussion of Leaf Burning Information Ms. Jones explained that she was providing the Commission information on leaf burning, because the topic has arisen in the past. She wanted the Commission to be educated on the issue. In light of the information found that leaf smoke is harmful to asthmatics and contains a known carcenogen, benzo(a)pyrene, she thought that the facts provided by the Wisconsin DNR would be an appropriate problem to address in an Environmental Essential piece in a future City newsletter. Ms. Andrews asked why this issue has come up. Ms. Jones explained that there have been concerns about recreational fires. There are ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 15, 2003 PAGE 3 residents in the City using "recreational" fires to manage their yard waste long term, which is not allowed in the Fire Department's guidelines. She believed a newsletter article could be a means to educate people about why this type of burning is a health hazard. Report on February 19 Northstar Corridor Meeting with the Governor Ms. Jones explained that she had no new information about the Northstar Corridor Proposal since the February 19 meeting with the Governor. She saw this as an environmental issue for Fridley, however, that she would attempt to keep the Commission informed about. 49'ers Day Parade Mr. Velin asked if the EQEC is participating in the parade this year. It was confirmed that the parade registration has been submitted. 2. OLD BUSINESS: a. Update on Xcel Energy MERP Recommendation to Council Ms. Jones reported that the City Council did not act on the Commission's recommendations made at the February meeting regarding the Xcel Energy Metro Emission Reduction Plan. They felt they did not have enough information to warrant a recommendation and did not have time within the comment deadlines to place the item on a future Council agenda. b. Update on Springbrook Watershed Implementation Project Ms. Jones reported that staff inet with MNDOT staff regarding the Northtown Pond a few weeks ago, which was a critical step in the project, because they have exhausted all other possibilities proposed by the engineering consultant on the project. The project Advisory Committee directed staff at the last meeting to extend the contract with WSB to draft preliminary design plans for expansion of the Northtown pond, as suggested by MnDOT staff. MnDOT will then review the design to see if they are willing to partner with us in moving and expanding the pond eastward. Ms. Jones stated work on the educational video is proceeding. The script has been finalized and Coon Rapids Television Network staff is working on developing the graphics while we wait for things to green up for filming. The project now also owns a new computer and water quality education software, which will be displayed at the Spring Fling on April 19 at the SNC. The brochures developed and printed last December are now being sent out over the next few weeks. i►�i��:l�:�:l��yl►l��yi Ms. Johns asked about the future of expanding the shoreline landscape buffer project on Moore Lake this year. Ms. Jones stated that she doubted anything is feasible in light of budget cuts, but she could contact ACD to see what funding they have available. I_\�11L�1�1:7►1►�il�►�� ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 15, 2003 PAGE 4 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 APRIL 15, 2003, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:15 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison