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10/21/2003 - 00028077CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 21, 2003 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Johns called the October 21, 2003, meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Barb Johns, Jack Velin, Rich Svanda, Barbara Kovacic, Michelle Maher (arrived at 8:22 p.m.) Members Absent: Anne Andrews, Pat Rowan Others Present: Julie Jones, Environmental Planner APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2003, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Ms. Kovacic, to approve the September 16, 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. Discussion of Natural Landscaping Needs in City Code The Commission reviewed and discussed existing sections of the code that apply to landscaping and weed control. Mr. Svanda pointed out that natural landscaping is not just good for water quality, but beneficial to air quality also. MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Mr. Velin, to recommend that staff review Section 105 (Weeds) of the City Code to make natural landscaping permissible and also ensure that natural landscaping is an acceptable option for "vegetative cover" as staff proceeds over the next few months to draft new City Code language designed to protect water quality and prevent soil erosion, as committed in Fridley's NPDES permit application. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. OLD BUSINESS: a. Discussion of questions for MEI Speaker on Clean Air MN Initiative Ms. Jones explained that Colleen Coyne from the Minnesota Environmental Program is scheduled to speak at the November EQEC meeting about the Clean Air Minnesota Initiative. She asked if there were any questions on the material discussed at the last meeting or included in this meeting packet that the Commission needed researched prior to the November meeting. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2003 PAGE 2 1) Mr. Svanda stated he would like to have an overview of what has happened since the June 3 kick-off. 2) What is the status of the project team's current activities listed on the bottom of a handout entitled "About Clean Air MN"? 3) Are there any Fridley businesses participating in the Clean Air MN program? 4) Are there landscaping code changes that could have a positive impact on air quality? 5) Is this being done anywhere else in the U.S.? 6) Is the Clean Air Initiative and the Water Quality Initiative and the transportation work being done by MEI coordinated in any way? b. Update on Proposed Plastic Bag Recycling Project Ms. Jones reported that she has not received any announcements yet on the plastic bag recycling project, but has gotten confirmation from the Waste Wise Executive Director and the OEA staff person who originally worked on the problem that there is going to be an announcement soon. c. Update on Multi-unit Recycling Grant Project Ms. Jones reported that there has been no new activity on the Eureka Recycling multi-unit recycling grant project in the past month. She has contacted Eureka Recycling trying to find out why the project is delayed but has really gotten no answers. Update on Springbrook Watershed Implementation Project Ms. Jones reported that construction is underway on the University Avenue pond expansion project. Park Construction was awarded the bid for the job. Since their bid came in over $100,000 below the expected cost, and because the wetland drawdown has been successful, the Springbrook Watershed Advisory Committee will be exploring means to complete the Part B portion of the Phase II project without going back to the MPCA and asking for more funds and a continuation of the project beyond 2005 as planned. Ms. Jones reported she is in the process of completing a cable television program that will update residents on the Springbrook Watershed project along with covering a buckthorn removal grant project being completed by the Anoka Conservation District in Innsbrook Nature Center. The Commission members discussed how to identify buckthorn and how best to remove it. e. Report on Oct. 11 Drop-Off Ms. Jones reported that the October 11 recycling drop-off carried out by Green Lights Recycling was quite successful. The following materials were collected: Quantity Item Weiqht 911 Fluorescents .29 tons ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 21, 2003 PAGE 3 91 Appliances 6.98 tons Televisions 1.04 tons Computers 1.03 tons Stereos .26 tons VCRs .01 tons Total 9.62 tons Ms. Jones stated the wait was long for a lot of folks with most people waiting about 30 minutes to drop off items during the first two hours of the drop off, but wait times lessened after 10:30am. The President of Green Lights Recycling has indicated that they will likely be interested in conducting a similar event next year. Staff is investigating whether or not we can obtain another fluorescent lamp recycling contract with Xcel Energy now that Van-O-Lite has a contract for the Fridley area. Fridley's existing contract expires the end of the year. Ms. Kovacic reported that she had recycled some fluorescent lamps at Van-O-Lite recently, and they had indicated that they have had very few Fridley residents drop off lamps there for recycling. The Commission members agreed that the City needs to do more to notify the public of this option for properly disposing of fluorescent lamps. K��� �: I�:� =1��� I 0 I��3a Ms. Jones announced that Patrick Rowan has indicated to staff that he is resigning because he is moving out of Fridley by the end of October. 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 OCTOBER 21, 2003, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:37 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison