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09/16/2003 - 00028074CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 16, 2003 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Johns called the September 16, 2003, meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Barb Johns, Rich Svanda, Anne Andrews, Pat Rowan Members Absent: Jack Velin, Michelle Maher, Barbara Kovacic Others Present: Julie Jones, Environmental Planner APPROVAL OF JULY 15, 2003, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Ms. Andrews, seconded by Mr. Rowan, to approve the July 15, 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. Clean Air Minnesota Initiative Mr. Svanda reported on the Clean Air Minnesota event that he attended on June 3, 2003, at the Science Museum, which the Governor attended. He stated that the Governor was very supportive of the program, which is led by the Minnesota Environmental Initiative (MEI). He explained that this initiative is designed to prevent the State of Minnesota from losing federal aid for being in noncompliance on air quality standards. Mr. Svanda stated that it was a well organized event with a clear solution laid out, one of which was public education. He believed this was one area where the Environmental Quality & Energy Commission (EQEC) could assist. The difficulty of notifying the public of air quality alerts was discussed. There seemed to be much interest in conducting some education about air quality. Mr. Svanda suggested that staff contact MEI to see if they have someone who could come speak to the EQEC at a future meeting to determine how MEI would see a local government taking a roll in public education. The issue of encouraging native landscaping was also discussed. Ms. Jones stated she would investigate sources of further information on the topic of native landscaping. She stated ordinance amendments would need to take place before the EQEC could make recommendations encouraging native landscaping, as current ordinance language does not clearly permit it. Mr. Svanda suggested that the EQEC spend some time at the next meeting formulating questions for a future speaker on the topic of air quality. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 16, 2003 PAGE 2 2. OLD BUSINESS: a. Update on Proposed Plastic Bag Recycling Project Ms. Jones reported that the latest information she has on plastic bag recycling is that Minnesota Waste Wise, an organization that works with the Chamber of Commerce, has asked the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) to subsidize the retailer's planned plastic bag recycling program planned to begin this fall. She did not know if the SWMCB decided to subsidize the program or not. She voiced disappointment that other options did not appear to be considered. One interesting option suggested by another metro area recycling staff person was to have retailers charge customers a surcharge for new plastic bags. This would provide funds for recycling costs. It would not be a tax that the government would need to be involved in and would encourage a lot of re-use of bags. The environmental affects of plastic versus paper bags was debated. Mr. Rowan commented that plastic bag production takes less energy and resources than paper bag production. Ms. Jones commented that she had never seen a scientific study on this topic. b. Update on Multi-unit Recycling Grant Project Ms. Jones reported that recycling and waste generation was monitored at the three Fridley apartment buildings selected for participation in the Eureka Recycling Multifamily Grant Project during the month of July. Recycling weights ranged from zero to 7.32 pounds per unit to 30.33 pounds per unit on the three buildings, showing that there is a wide range of improvement needed at the pilot buildings. This compares to an average last year curbside in Fridley of 39.63 pounds per month per household and an average of 26.74 pounds per unit per month in larger apartment buildings. She now is just waiting for further direction on the project from Eureka Recycling. c. Update on Springbrook Watershed Implementation Project, including viewing of the Endangered Wetlands video Ms. Jones reported that the exciting news about the Springbrook Watershed Project is that the wetland drawdown, combined with a dry summer, has resulted in amazing vegetative growth in the wetlands. A vegetative survey was completed by a botanist on September 10 so that the Drawdown Subcommittee can learn more about the types of plants that have germinated. The Subcommittee will now need to make recommendations as to how to proceed with the drawdown. They will also need to make recommendations as to how we begin to create a long term wetland management plan. Ms. Jones stated another significant development is that bids are being sought currently for expansion of the existing University Avenue pond just south of Northtown Mall. The bid opening is set for October 3. The pond is expected to reduce storm water flows by one-third in one-two inch storm events and significantly reduce chemical loading in the east inlet into the Nature Center. Ms. Jones stated stream monitoring has continued to be missed due to MPCA equipment ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 16, 2003 PAGE 3 failure. They will likely not have enough data to determine whether or not Spring Lake Park's street reconstruction project last year had an impact on storm water flows or cleanliness before construction begins in October, which is very disappointing. The Commission viewed the Endangered Wetlands video created to raise awareness of the Springbrook Watershed Project. 3. OTHER BUSINESS: None ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Ms. Andrews, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE SEPTEMBER 16, 2003, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:03 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison