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11/18/2003 - 00028080CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 18, 2003 C � L' \ � � C � Z � ] :7 � ] � :7 i Chairperson Johns called the November 18, 2003, meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. :Zi]���L\�Ri Members Present: Barb Johns, Rich Svanda, Anne Andrews, Jack Velin Members Absent: Barbara Kovacic, Michelle Maher Others Present: Julie Jones, Environmental Planner Colleen Coyne, Minnesota Environmental Initiative APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 21, 2003, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Mr. Svanda, to approve the October 21, 2003, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes as written. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. I 0 I��i�� =1��� I 0 I���1 a. Presentation by Colleen Coyne, Minnesota Environmental Initiative, regarding the Clean Air Minnesota Initiative (MEI) Ms. Jones introduced Colleen Coyne from MEI. Ms. Coyne started her presentation by explaining the air quality problems in the Twin Cities. The Clean Air Minnesota Initiative's goal is to prevent the Twin Cities from getting into ozone nonattainment status. She explained that MEI is a local non-profit organization with a staff of ten people whose goal is to foster innovative partnerships to solve environmental problems. Ms. Coyne stated the Clean Air Minnesota Initiative is likely the only "voluntary" air quality effort in the country. She explained that there is a great deal of money (costs) at stake, which has spurred the effort. Mr. Svanda clarified that besides the $300 million/year cost for nonattainment, the State could lose Federal Transportation dollars also. Ms. Coyne stated that the Metro area had four nonattainment days this past summer. Most of the Twin Cities' ozone pollution comes from south of Minnesota. Power generation, transportation, construction equipment, agricultural equipment, and manufacturers' chemicals are the main sources of ozone pollution. The air quality index is posted on the MPCA web site now at www.pca.state.mn.us. Ms. Andrews commented that it would be helpful to have advanced forecasting of air ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, NOVEMBER 18, 2003 PAGE 2 quality alerts. Ms. Coyne explained that it is not possible to accurately forecast alert days with current technology. According to current MPCA predictions, based on current data and trends, the Metro area will be in violation of air pollution levels by 2010. The consequences of violating federal air quality standards were explained. Possible actions during high ozone days were presented. The Commission members discussed how the City of Fridley could promote some of these options. Ms. Johns asked if the Commission was to pick up 2-3 top things to focus on to reduce air emissions, what would Ms. Coyne suggest? Ms. Coyne suggested focusing on VOC emissions capture and supporting clean fleets or use of mass transit. She stated awards or incentive programs work well. The Commission members decided to continue further discussion on the Clean Air Minnesota Initiative at the next meeting. b. Approval of 2004 EQEC Meeting Schedule MOTION by Ms. Andrews, seconded by Mr. Velin, to approve the proposed 2004 Environmental Quality & Energy Commission meeting schedule. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. OLD BUSINESS: a. Update on the IYs In the Bag Recycling Project Ms. Jones reported that SuperValu announced their IYs In the Bag plastic bag recycling system on October 28. The Fridley CUB Store did not have their plastic bag recycling bins set up that morning, but the Store Manager said they would by the end of the day. Ms. Jones said store shopping bags, dry cleaning bags, and newspaper bags are the types of bags they can recycle. It continues to be important to remove any paper stickers, receipts, or handles from plastic bags. In the SuperValu program, the bags are collected and processed by a nonprofit agency that trains people with disabilities. The baled bags are then marked to Trex, where they are combined with sawdust to make wood/plastic composite lumber. While she is glad that SuperValu responded to intense consumer demand to reinstate plastic bag recycling, she voiced disappointment that the company and the other supporters of the project missed a golden opportunity to encourage reuse and reduction of the number of bags distributed to consumers. Ms. Johns stated she was glad to see Target as a financial contributor in the project. b. Update on Multi-unit Recycling Grant Project Ms. Jones reported that she had misunderstood Fridley's role in the Eureka Recycling Multi-unit Recycling Grant. Apparently, Eureka is developing educational materials that ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, NOVEMBER 18, 2003 PAGE 3 Fridley will be asked to test. The entire grant is supposed to be completed by the end of the year, so she expected to be asked to test the use of the draft educational materials soon. Mr. Velin asked if the City has encouraged Fridley residents to talk to their non-recycling neighbors. Ms. Jones stated she is targeting certain areas in the City known to have poor recycling rates via postcards, encouraging the residents to get a blue bin and recycle. She said she will be evaluating the effectiveness of this effort over the next few months. c. Update on Springbrook Watershed Implementation Project Ms. Jones reported that the work on the University Avenue Pond wrapped up for the fall today. Moving of some utility lines and resulting landscaping will occur in the spring. Although the pond needed to be redesigned and reduced in capacity due to some utility lines being closer to the surface than expected, the pond construction project looks to be a success. Ms. Jones stated an Advisory Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for December 3 to begin plans for the next steps in the project. One major winter activity will be to finalize a Springbrook Nature Center wetland management plan and a topography study of the Nature Center. The topography study is necessary to be able to redesign the east streambank into the Nature Center. Mr. Velin asked why the plants were important to bring back to the Springbrook wetlands. Ms. Jones explained that the plants are important for wildlife habitat and for filtering the storm water. Update on Proposed Ordinance Changes to Protect Surface Water Quality in Fridley Ms. Jones reported that she has been working over the past two weeks on drafting new City Code language for several sections of the Code. She is continuing research and meetings with other staff to refine the details of proposed language. The Public Works Director is working on a draft erosion control ordinance. She was hopeful that staff could have draft language prepared in time for review at the December EQEC meeting. e. Confirmation of Commission Opening Ms. Jones reported that a resignation letter had been received from Patrick Rowan indicating that he had moved out if the City of Fridley. She said she had requested that the City Manager post the commission opening in the next City newsletter. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Ms. Andrews, to adjourn the meeting. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, NOVEMBER 18, 2003 PAGE 4 UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE NOVEMBER 18, 2003, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:09 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison