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03/15/2005 - 00028002CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING MARCH 15, 2005 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Johns called the March 15, 2005, meeting to order at 7:09 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Anne Andrews, Barb Johns, Paul Westby, Jack Velin, Del Jenkins Members Absent: Barbara Kovacic, Rich Svanda Others Present: Rachel Harris, Environmental Planner APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 15, 2005, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Mr. Jenkins, to approve the February 15, 2005, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes, as written. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION Ms. Johns began the meeting with a warm welcome to our newest committee member, Del Jenkins. Each committee member stated his or her name, listed the number of years as a committee member and gave a short personal introduction. NEW BUSINESS: a. SACA Food Drive Ms. Harris talked about the upcoming March 21-24, 2005, food drive for Southern Anoka Community Agency (SACA). Ms. Harris coordinated the food drive with BFI Waste Systems, Fridley's curbside recycling contractor. Food will be picked up on the normal recycling collection day that week. Place the donations of canned food items like canned, fruit, vegetables, soup, meat and peanut butter in a plastic bag next to your recycling container by 7:00 am and BFI will pick it up. Ms. Harris reminded commission members not to donate food items in glass or paper packaging due to risk of damage in transport. Fridley residents generously donated 2,722 pounds of canned food in 2004. Ms. Harris spoke with SACA Director, Marilyn Peters, in early March. Marilyn said that SACA currently serves 423 families each month. That equals 21.5 families each weekday who don't have enough to eat. Both food and cash donations are greatly appreciated. Please send cash donations directly to SACA at 627 38th Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421. Mr. Westby commented that the money residents donate [to SACA] is more effective than if they bought food on their own. Ms. Harris agreed. She said that SACA director, Ms. Peters, noted that $10 in donations buys $100 of food. b. Compost Bin Distribution Event, Thursday, April 28. Volunteers needed for 2 hour shifts! Ms. Harris reminded commission members that on Thursday, April 28, from 2pm to 7pm, Anoka County will sponsor a compost bin distribution event at the Columbia lce Arena. Compost bins and an accompanying 2-gallon kitchen bucket will be sold for $30. The compost bin is currently on display in the city hall lobby. Ms. Harris said that volunteers are needed for two hour shifts to assist with directing traffic. Mr. Westby offered to call Fridley High School to recruit 4 volunteers. c. Update on Surface Water Quality Ordinance Drafting Ms. Harris reported that staff continues to work on creating a shoreland overlay district for the City of Fridley. Staff carefully considers the implications of each section of the ordinance to maintain lot compliance and prevent possible non-conformities. The completed ordinance may be used as a model for neighboring cities associated with the Rice Creek watershed project. Mr. Jenkins questioned why the properties around Locke Lake are under water. Ms. Johns said Locke Lake is a manmade lake. The lake was smaller when the plots were laid out. Ms. Harris then distributed maps of Rice Creek watershed to illustrate the direction of water flow in the watershed. She explained that water from as far away as White Bear Lake and Forest Lake flows through the City of Fridley to the Mississippi River in underground water tables. The water tables and urban run- off affect levels of above-ground lakes, streams and ponds. This combination contributes to Locke Lake's water level. OLD BUSINESS: a. Update on Springbrook Watershed Implementation Project Ms. Harris toured Springbrook Nature Center on March 14 and observed the progress. Construction was well underway and the overflow pipe was scheduled to be inserted by Friday, March 17. A temporary bypass was constructed for the stream so that the 4 foot-wide pipe could be laid without creating a muddy stream. Paths to the construction site are open, but visitors are not allowed to cross the site to continue along the trail. Springbrook Nature Center director, Siah St. Clair has observed the construction daily and taken a number of photos to document the development. You may contact him at 763-572-3589 to learn more about the construction. Mr. Jenkins inquired about the purpose of the Springbrook Watershed Implementation Project. Ms. Johns explained that the project originated from an attempt to control erosion in the streambed; and more practically, to make a streambed a streambed instead of a straight channel through the forest. Ms. Johns said that the project designated five locations for tree regrowth to replace those lost during reconstruction. Mr. Jenkins asked where the funding for the project came from. Ms. Johns said that the four cities of Fridley, Blaine, Coon Rapids and Spring Lake Park plus a bonding bill passed at the State paid for the project. b. North Metro Home and Garden Fair (verbal update) Ms. Harris reported that five staff from the City of Fridley Community Development department, including Julie Jones, Julie Beberg, Scott Hickok, Dave Jenson and Rachel Harris, hosted a booth at the 7th annual Home and Garden show at the Schwan Center in Blaine. The new location and the 7tn annual event proved to be popular. Attendance reached 1,300 people. Ms. Harris provided environmental education about food and hazardous chemical look-alikes. She also offered visitors an opportunity to make -- and take home -- a non-hazardous home cleaning product for windows and mirrors. At the March 15, 2005, meeting EQE Commissioners had the same opportunity to mix water and vinegar in a take-home spray bottle to make a non-hazardous window cleaner. Commissioners Andrews, Johns, Westby, Velin, and Jenkins delighted in the opportunity. Each went home with spray bottle and additional non-hazardous cleaning product recipes in hand. OTHER BUSINESS: In response to the 2005 Living Green Expo brochure included in the member packets, Mr. Westby exclaimed that he really enjoyed this event last year. Ms. Johns nodded in agreement about her visit two years ago. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Westby, seconded by Mr. Velin, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE MARCH 15, 2005, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:20 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Rachel A. Harris Staff Liaison