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05/09/2006 - 00027987C � L' \ � � C � Z � ] :7 � ] � :7 i CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2006, 7:20 P.M. Chairperson Johns called the May 9, 2006, meeting to order at 7:39 p.m. after Ms. Harris finished speaking at the annual Block Club Leaders meeting. ROLL CALL: Members Present Members Absent: Others Present Anne Andrews, Del Jenkins, Barb Johns, Paul Westby, Rich Svanda, Jack Velin, Tina Nelson Rachel Harris, Environmental Planner APPROVAL OF APRIL 11, 2006, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Jenkins, seconded by Mr. Svanda to approve the April 11, 2006, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW BUSINESS 49ers Day Parade Instructions: June 15 Ms. Johns gave an overview what to expect on the night of the parade for new Commission members or those who have not participated in the parade in previous years. We will line up near the middle school. Members of the Lions are available to direct parade members to the appropriate station number. She asked Commission members to arrive as close to 6 pm as possible and wear your navy parade shirt from last year or the previous year's shirt. Ms. Harris announced that she had invited the Allied Waste/BFI truck to join the parade with the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission members. Ms. Johns confirmed that the Commission will have use of a golf cart for the parade and Ms. Harris will distribute aprons for carrying parade trinkets on route. Mr. Velin said that he will drive the golf cart. Mr. Svanda asked if shirts will be provided again. Ms. Harris stated that she did not think shirts would be available. She suggested that Commission members wear the shirts they received in previous years. Ms. Johns said we'll be giving out the magnets and key tags that both have the message "Fridley Page 1 of 4 Recycles! Take It To The Curb". Chapter 113 Solid Waste, Recycling Collection Same Day As Garbage Text Amendment Ms. Harris reported that staff is working on a text amendment to change the garbage collection schedule in Fridley. The plan is to keep the existing recycling collection schedule and require the garbage haulers to match that schedule. The purpose for the change is two-fold. It would help with code enforcement by allowing staff to quickly determine if a household has garbage service that day or if the household has just left the garbage cart at the curb. This is a common complaint in the City that the Code Enforcement staff deals with. The second purpose for requiring same day garbage and recycling collection is that the neighborhoods look cleaner with carts out on one day a week instead of multiple days per week. Ms. Andrews thought that there would be resistance from residents to support the change. She thinks it's easier to haul just the recycling or only the garbage out for collection. Hauling both for the same service day seems like a hassle. Ms. Nelson said she already has same day garbage and recycling collection. It is convenient for her. Ms. Johns said she also has same day garbage and recycling collection. Ms. Andrews said that a potential negative effect of switching garbage collection routes is that all different garbage haulers would drive down her street on the same day and there would be more traffic on that day whereas now the traffic is spread out over a week. She also thought that the garbage trucks could create a traffic jam when all are collecting on one street at the same time. East Moore Lake Native Plant Installation - Proposal: Phase 1& 2 Ms. Harris reported on the presentation that she gave to the Park and Rec Commission on May 1, 2006. The proposed project was proposed by Anoka Conservation District (ACD). The ACD would involve students from the community in the planting. The project would be funded 50% by ACD and 50% by Fridley's Public Works Department. ACD plans to coordinate with students from Fridley and Totino Grace high schools to install plants. Ms. Harris further stated that the project of installing native plants on the shore of East Moore Lake has been proposed in three phases. Phase 1: Plant both banks of storm drain inlet near swimming beach during the late summer or early fall of 2006. Phase 2: Installation of aquatic plants in mouth of storm drain inlet in the summer of 2007. Phase 3: Plant a 505 foot strip of shore between storm drain inlet and existing native plant area along retaining wall in the summer of 2008. Ms. Harris listed the benefits of native plant installation. The installation of native plants along the shore include slowing surface water run-off into lake; stabilizing the shoreline with the long roots of native plants that act like an anchor for soil; and ability to meet the NPDES permit requirements of managing stormwater. Ms. Harris mentioned that she asked the Park and Recreation Commission for support of this project and a recommendation of approval to City Council. However, the Chairperson, Dave Kondrick, was not comfortable making a decision at this time. He requested that Ms. Harris return at the June 2006 meeting to provide more information about what types of plants would be installed and whether there was an outside agency requiring the City to install native plants at this time. Page 2 of 4 Ms. Johns said the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission had addressed the planting of native plants at Moore Lake when the first installation was added near the retaining wall on the south side of the lake. Mr. Svanda confirmed that the Commission had reviewed plans for the 2001 native plant installation along the retaining wall. At that time, the Commission was in support of the effort to reduce pollution, stabilize the shore and reduce erosion. He is still in support of further plantings along East Moore Lake for the same reasons. Ms. Johns concurred that she supports the effort. Mr. Westby agreed that he would like to see the project move forward. He welcomes projects that benefit improving water quality. OLD BUSINESS Results of Fridley Recycling Drop-off Day: April 15, 2006 Ms. Harris reported that the Spring Recycling Drop-off Day was overwhelmingly successful. Approximately 500 vehicles passed through the site in 5%2 hours. Although the event was to last the usual 4 hours, so many cars were in line that organizers decided to stay open and service all vehicles that were in line by 1:OOpm at the scheduled conclusion of the event. The last car drove through at 2:35pm. Event workers stayed an additional 40 minutes to load electronics and appliances into the trucks. Ms. Harris noted that the great turnout was likely due to two factors. This spring Ms. Harris sent out a direct mail piece to every household to advertise the event. That type of publication is more effective than including the event information in another publication like a newspaper or newsletter. The second reason for the high turnout was due to the one-time offering of allowing residents to recycle up to 3 electronic items for free. Ms. Harris had received the invoice for the event and the tonnage figures in time for the May EQEC meeting. She shared the results. The electronic recycling event cost $24,000 dollars and recycled 31.8 tons of electronics. Residents also recycled 13 tons of appliances and about 1,500 pounds of fluorescent lamps. The cumulative total is 46 tons of recycled products. Mr. Svanda said that the turnout is indeed impressive. Ms. Jones said that she stopped by but the line was too long for her to wait. Ms. Nelson said that she and her husband participated and they did have to wait a while, but they were happy to do the right thing by recycling electronics and appliances. 2006 SCORE Contract Ms. Harris reported that the City Council approved the 2006 SCORE Grant at the May 8, 2006 Council meeting. The contract term runs January 1, 2006 — December 31, 2006. This agreement is administered by Anoka County with a purpose of providing cooperation between the County and the City of Fridley to implement solid waste recycling programs in Fridley. Ms. Harris added that the City of Fridley is entitled to receive reimbursement for eligible expenses, less revenues or other reimbursement received, for eligible expenses up to $63,241.60. This amount combines funding of $10,000 for recycling activities and $4.70 per household for recycling activities. The City of Fridley typically uses this money to partially pay for Page 3 of 4 operating expenses of the curbside recycling program and staff time to administer the curbside recycling program. Ms. Harris noted that Anoka County received these funds from the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board and the State of Minnesota. The funds are administered to help cities meet the recycling goals established by the Anoka County Board of Commissioners. For 2006, the City of Fridley's recycling goal has been set at 2,405 tons. That is the same goal that Fridley needed to reach in 2005. Last year, Fridley barely made its goal. OTHER BUSINESS: Ms. Harris announced that Rice Creek Watershed District is coordinating a rain garden installation at Jay Park on May 13, 2006, 9 am — 12 noon. Volunteers are needed. Please contact RCWD to confirm that you will participate. A volunteer appreciation lunch will be served after the event. Ms. Harris noted that the April Service Exchange Fund revenue is not ready to report at this time. It is usually ready by the 15th of the following month. Ms. Harris distributed the Medical Waste Report for April. There were no issues to report. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Jenkins, seconded by Mr. Svanda, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE MAY 9, 2006 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:12 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Rachel A. Harris Environmental Planner and Staff Liaison Page 4 of 4