04/19/2005 - 00028005CITY OF FRIDLEY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING
APRIL 19, 2005
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Johns called the April 19, 2005, meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Anne Andrews, Del Jenkins, Barb Johns, Barbara Kovacic, Rich Svanda,
Jack Velin
Members Absent: Paul Westby
Others Present: Rachel Harris, Environmental Planner
APPROVAL OF MARCH 15, 2005, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION
MINUTES:
MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Mr. Jenkins, to approve the March 15, 2005, Environmental
Quality & Energy Commission minutes as amended: The Roll Call was incorrect; Ann Andrews was
not present at the March 15 meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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INTRODUCTION
NEW BUSINESS:
a. Citizen Recycling Watch, Walt Flatoski and Rachel Harris
Ms. Harris mentioned that she received a phone call from a citizen, Walt Flatoski, concerned about
his neighbors' the low recycling participation rates. Mr. Flatoski wondered if he could create a
system of noting which addresses did not recycle and contact Ms. Harris with those addresses.
Then, Ms. Harris would mail a postcard to the resident with instructions for Fridley's recycling
program.
Ms. Harris offered to work with him and invited him to the April EQE meeting to share his idea with
the Commission members. He indicated that he was interested in attending and would wait to hear
more information from Ms. Harris.
Since speaking with Mr. Flatoski in March, Ms. Harris had not been able to reach him on either of
the three times she telephoned him. He did not appear to have an answering machine at his home
for her to leave a message.
Ms. Harris decided not to pursue Mr. Flatoski's idea unless she heard from him again.
Ms. Johns clarified the idea by asking the nature of the postcard. She wondered if the postcard
would deliver a"for your information" type of inessage with instructions on how to recycle and where
to obtain a bin. Ms. Harris replied that it would.
Mr. Velin suggested that Block Leaders could deliver a similar message at block parties. Block
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leaders could bring 3-4 bins and recruit neighbors to begin recycling. Ms. Johns said that she tried
that last year and no one wanted a bin. Mr. Velin inquired about block clubs and their role. Ms.
Johns replied that block clubs aid in building community among neighbors and help reduce crime.
b. Moore Lake Restoration Plan
Ms. Harris introduced a plan that Julie Jones began working on in January 2005. More shoreland
restoration work on the east side of Moore Lake has been proposed. The project would last two
growing seasons and be completed in two phases.
In Phase 1, a fifteen foot buffer over 500 feet long would stretch from the edge of the 2001 Buffer
Planting to the water inlet. While in Phase 2, both sides of the water inlet would be lined with a 15
foot buffer on the southern edge and 25 foot buffer on the northern edge. Also, aquatic plantings
would fill about 125 feet of the inlet to filter run-off from streets and driveways before that run-off
water reaches the swimming area.
Commission members expressed enthusiasm about the addition of more native plants along East
Moore Lake's shore.
c. Review Shoreland Overlay District draft 2
Ms. Harris reported to the Commission that staff is still determining the percentage of impervious
surface for residential lots. Likely, staff will recommend an increase from the current 25% that
includes the house, garage and out-buildings to 35% that will include the aforementioned plus
driveways and patios.
Ms. Harris requested a postponement of discussing the draft ordinance until the May meeting.
Commission members considered the requested and nodded in agreement that discussion a
complete ordinance would be better than
OLD BUSINESS:
a. SACA Food Drive
Ms. Harris conveyed that the March 21-24, 2005, food drive for Southern Anoka Community Agency
(SACA) was a success. The drive collected 805 pounds of food. Ms. Harris coordinated the annual
food drive with BFI Waste Systems, Fridley's curbside recycling contractor. Food was picked up on
the normal recycling collection.
Ms. Harris reported that the 2005 food drive produced substantially smaller amount than the 2,712
collected in 2004. Ms. Harris concluded that the reduction was due to minimized publicity. In 2004,
BFI distributed leaflets to recycling customers for two weeks prior to the food drive. In 2005, BFI's
staffing change and internal miscommunication resulted in no distribution of leaflets in recycling
bins.
b. Mr. Westby's ReTAP assessment at Wellspring
Ms. Johns noted that we would wait to discuss the Retired Engineers Technical Assistance
Program (ReTAP) when Mr. Westby is in attendance. This service reviews electrical, plumbing,
cooling and heating in businesses and identifies opportunities for business owners to reduce energy
consumption costs.
OTHER BUSINESS:
a. Medical Waste reports.
Ms. Harris passed around the Anoka County Medical Waste reports from the months of February
and March. There were no issues to report.
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b. 49ers Day Parade
An addition to the agenda was made by Commissioner Barb Johns to discuss the 49ers Day
Parade. Commissioner Johns requested confirmation that the Environmental Quality and Energy
Commission has registered for the June parade. Ms. Harris said that she has submitted the
registration form and would follow up with the parade coordinator to confirm the registration.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Mr. Jenkins, seconded by Ms. Andrews, to adjourn the meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED AND THE APRIL 19, 2005, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:32 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Rachel A. Harris
Staff Liaison
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