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07/15/2003 - 00028070CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING JULY 15, 2003 C � L' \ � � C � Z � ] :7 � ] � :7 i Chairperson Johns called the July 15, 2003, meeting to order at 7:31 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Barb Johns, Jack Velin, Barbara Kovacic, Anne Andrews Members Absent: Others Present APPROVAL OF M MINUTES: Rich Svanda, Michelle Maher, Pat Rowan Julie Jones, Environmental Planner f►�i�►�iI�k��►D/l:ii7►1►�il�►��_\��1�L\���'E:?��►1�:iH'�K�]►�il►�il��y[�7►1 MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Ms. Andrews, to approve the May 20, 2003, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes as written. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. NEW BUSINESS: a. Plastic Bag Recycling Ms. Johns explained how Cub's discontinuance of its plastic bag recycling service started a wide-spread discussion of plastic bags. That is why the e-mail, which she forwarded to the Commission, about the plastic bag tax in New Zealand caught her attention. The Commission members discussed possible reuse options for plastic bags. Ms. Kovacic voiced concern that some residents have the perception that plastic bags are environmentally superior to paper bags. Ms. Andrews suggested that banks, which are in the Cub stores now, could sell cloth bags to promote their business names. Ms. Johns suggested that Cub promote the reusable cardboard boxes they sell more than they used to. The Commission members discussed how difficult it would be for retailers to monitor shoplifting when people are using cloth bags Ms. Jones suggested that the Commission use the Environmental Essential feature in the City newsletter to address the topic of plastic bags. After MN Waste Wise makes the official announcement of the new plastic bag recycling opportunities in September, they would be able to communicate new drop-off options in the Fridley area to residents, but the emphasis should be on reduction. b. Clean Air Minnesota Initiative ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 15, 2003 PAGE 2 Ms. Jones stated Mr. Svanda was unable to attend tonight's meeting. He had planned to discuss his experience attending the Clean Air Minnesota forum on June 3, 2003. The Commission members agreed to discuss this item at a later meeting when Mr. Svanda is present. The Commission members discussed wind energy. c. Update on Multi-unit Recycling Grant Project Ms. Jones reported that she started working on the Eureka Recycling Multiunit Recycling Grant project two weeks ago. To date, three apartment complexes in Fridley have been selected to participate in the grant. One complex is Springbrook Apartments, a 361 unit complex with nine separate dumpster and recycling locations. The second complex is Oak Hill Apartments, a 34 unit building, that has struggled with recycling and possibly has some language barrier issues. A third complex is Norton Avenue Apartments, a seven- unit building, where recycling has been unsuccessful for a number of years. Ms. Jones stated the purpose of the recycling grant project is to create and test an educational tool kit that can be duplicated across the state. Eureka Recycling, the lead agency on the grant, is planning to use focus groups to test certain educational concepts to find out what motivates apartment dwellers to recycle. Waste reduction is a major goal of the project — both through increased recycling and increased reuse of household items like furniture. Door-to-door campaigning is planned to be a key form of education. Ms. Jones stated that right now she is gathering information on the weight of recycling and garbage being collected at each location for a period of four weeks. That way improvements can be measured at the end of the project. Ms. Andrews asked how Georgetown Apartments is doing with recycling. Ms. Jones stated that due to its internal storage and confusing collection system, she has been unable to monitor the recycling at Georgetown. She explained that she decided not to select Georgetown for the pilot project since staff has had difficulties getting cooperation from the management there in the past. d. Report on Plans for a Fall Recycling Drop-off Day Ms. Jones reported that Green Lights Recycling will be collecting electronics, appliances, and fluorescent lamps on Saturday, October 11, at the old recycling center site. They will be charging their cost for recycling these items, which is about double of what residents used to pay. She said this event is an experiment to see if residents are willing to pay higher prices for the convenience of a close location to home. It is also an experiment to see if enough people will participate to make it worth the company's time and advertising costs. The City did agree to pay half of the advertising costs and put the printed notices in the City utility bills, which costs the City nothing. Ms. Kovacic raised the concern that the site will be overwhelmed with only one event during the year. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 15, 2003 PAGE 3 Ms. Jones agreed that this was a concern, but that it is likely that the high prices will keep many people from participating. She concluded that the event is an experiment that the City agreed to pursue since it appeared a better option than doing nothing. e. Consideration of Canceling August 19 Meeting Ms. Jones explained that she will be gone on vacation the week of August 19. The Commission could still meet, but would have to take its own minutes. MOTION by Ms. Kovacic, seconded by Mr. Velin, to cancel the August 19, 2003, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. OLD BUSINESS: a. Discussion of Springbrook Nature Center Closure Ms. Johns explained that the City Council decided in May to study the feasibility of creating a golf course at Springbrook Nature Center. Then, at the 2004 budget work session, the City Manager proposed to lay off the Springbrook Nature Center staff but keep the park trails open, eliminating all programming. Ms. Jones explained that the City Council needs to authorize a$10,000-15,000 expenditure to delineate the wetlands in order to move forward to complete the golf course analysis. The Commission members discussed possible funding options to keep Springbrook staffed. Ms. Andrews asked if the watershed project is moving forward in light of the debate going on over the future of the Nature Center. Ms. Jones explained that the project is moving forward, but there is concern. She also explained the status of the project. b. Update on Springbrook Watershed Implementation Project Ms. Jones reported that the City Council approved an agreement with WSB & Associates, the engineering contractor for the Springbrook Watershed Project, at its meeting on July 14. This agreement is for the final design work to expand the existing storm water pond at 85th Avenue and University Avenue. The design will need to be approved by the City of Spring Lake Park, the City of Blaine, and MnDOT before bids can be obtained. Fall construction is planned with landscaping to be completed in the spring of 2004. Ms. Kovacic asked how the Advisory Committee for the Springbrook Watershed Project reacted to the news about the Nature Center operational changes. Ms. Jones stated there was great debate at the Advisory Committee's June 26th meeting about whether or not the project should move forward since the educational opportunities ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 15, 2003 PAGE 4 at the Nature Center would be lost. The MPCA representative made it very clear that the Clean Water Partnership grant money would need to be repaid if the use of the Nature Center changed to a revenue-generating facility like a golf course. It was unclear if other grant funds from other sources would need to be repaid. In the debate, it was clarified that the City of Fridley is responsible financially as all contracts are through Fridley, the lead agency for the project. So, the Committee approved the proposal to move forward, knowing that Fridley could stop the project if funding was withdrawn. c. Report on the Moore Lake Shoreline Buffer Landscaping Ms. Jones showed pictures of the Moore Lake Shoreline Buffer Landscaping Project area to date, compared to a year ago. The Commission members were very pleased to see the current condition of the project area. Ms. Jones stated it was surprising to see that the entire area is completely vegetated now with plants other than turf grass. She noted also that users (likely fishermen) in the area have created a narrow trail through the entire length of the landscape buffer, but it hasn't damaged the plants much. I_\�11L�1�1:7►1►�il�►�� MOTION by Ms. Kovacic, seconded by Ms. Andrews, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE JULY 15, 2003, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:12 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison