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EQE 07/12/2011 - 30036• t�_a MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, July �z, zo��, 7- 7:45 P.M. Call to Order Chairperson Velin called the July 12, 2011, Environmental Quality and Energy Commission meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Members Present: Members Absent: Others Present: Tina Nelson, Jack Velin, Paul Westby, Courtney Ehlers, Todd Olin, Jonathan Bonkoski Rich Svanda Rachel Harris, Environmental Planner APPROVAL OF MAY 10, 2011, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Westby, seconded by Ms. Nelson to approve the May 10, 2011, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON VELIN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Staff Report Conservation - Recycling Drop-off Day April 16 Ms. Harris said we collected 97 tons of material in 4'/z hours on Saturday, April 16. Council members Ann Bolkcom and Dolores Varichak volunteered again, as did city staff from the Community Development Department. Ms. Harris reported that residents recycled 30,000 pounds of scrap metal, 515 appliances, and 3 semi trucks full of electronics. Conservation - RCWD has an opening for an Anoka County representative. Ms. Harris noted the members must be residents of the watershed district. There are twelve seats total consisting of four seats from each of the three counties, WashingtonJRamsey/Anoka in the RCWD. Public Outreach Effort - April 23 Watershed Protection Ms. Harris said the event was initiated in 2011 to draw attention to the water quality improvement needs of Fridley's lakes and streams and the effects that individual actions have on urban water quality. In an effort to establish an annual litter cleanup, staff reached out to various potential partner organizations. Of the organizations contacted, including Anoka County Parks, Friends of the Mississippi River, and Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD), only RCWD was able to partner with marketing support to publicize the event and recruit volunteers. In the first year, fourteen volunteers from curbside recycling partner Allied Waste, city council, S MINUTES i� Environmental Quality and Energy Commission cino� Tuesday, July �z, zo�t, 7- 7:45 P.M. Ff1JDLEY and Fridley Women of Today helped celebrate Earth Day and clean water with a litter cleanup at the popular Moore Lake Park on Saturday, Apri123, from 9 am - 12 noon. They collected 3 bags of trash. Other Ms. Harris reported that staff inet with Anoka County highway department and the State Health Improvement Program consultant to discuss how a federal Transit Enhancement (TE) grant could be administered to fund a pedestrian bridge next to the existing bridge on Main St over the freeway, which would extend bike/walk opportunities from neighborhoods south of the freeway north to the train station. Ms. Harris said regional agencies are learning of Fridley's efforts to improve bicycle and walking access. For example, the Bike Walk Twin Cities program director emailed staff when she heard about Fridley's Transit Oriented Development (TOD) efforts that reduce the required distance from the curb to the front of the building. She said "I think the TOD vision and progress in Fridley is powerful..." It's exciting to see how our work on TOD has made additional infrastructure funding opportunities for us. New Business Watersheds in Fridley Ms. Harris reported that the city is reassessing membership in watershed districts outside of the Rice Creek Watershed District. Plans are to examine membership in Six Cities Watershed District. That need arose after the city of Blaine announced it would no longer continue as one of the six cities. Fridley is downstream in the watershed from Blaine. Utility Bicycling Reduces Air Pollution Ms. Harris said the city of Fridley began studying bike walk connections and gaps in 2010 through funding from the State Health Improvement Program (SHIP) grant. A group of citizens and staff formed a committee, called SHIP Committee, to give feedback on pedestrian safety, safe street crossings, access to parks and connectivity of bike lane and shared use paths. This committee concluded in June 2011. Ms. Harris asked if any of the EQE Commissioners had an interest in picking up where the SHIP committee ended. Commissioners Ehlers, Bonkoski and Olin volunteered. Ms. Harris said she would contact them after the meeting. The new group will be a task force and will include some EQE commissioners and former SHIP committee members. Old Business �� Cl7YOF FRiDLEY 49ers Parade MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, July �z, zo��, 7- 7�45 P.M. Chairperson Velin, Commissioners Nelson and Westby reported on their participation in the 49ers Parade on June 23, 2011. Mr. Velin said commissioners met at 6 p.m. near the high school. When they arrived, the Lions Club parade coordinators said the lineup had changed and they relayed the new location for lineup. The parade began at 6:45 p.m. and EQE members finished the 2 mile route around 8:30 p.m. Ms. Nelson and Mr. Westby handed out 700 buttons with a recycling message and another 1,000 buttons with a storm water message. Ms. Nelson said the buttons were not a good idea to hand out because some of the buttons were delivered with their clasps undone. She felt this was a safety concern for kids. Mr. Westby said in reaching into the box of buttons he pricked his finger by one the unclasped buttons. Ms. Harris asked if they had time to converse with the people watching the parade and ask what things they recycle. Ms. Nelson said they did not because only she and Mr. Westby from the commission were handing out buttons and she and Mr. Westby had to run to keep up with the golf cart driven by Mr. Velin in the parade. Mr. Westby said they usually have a few more people helping hand out the 49ers parade trinkets of pencils, magnets or buttons. Ms. Nelson said she and her 4 year old son had a great time and he really enjoyed riding in golf cart with Mr. Velin in the paxade. Mr. Velin assumed his usual role as golf cart driver. Additionally, he served as the commission's volunteer coordinator for the evening. Ms. Harris asked the commission if they wished to continue participating in the parade. Ms. Ehlers said she tried to participate in the parade. She arrived at 6 p.m. at the original lineup and no signage indicated there was a new lineup. Mr. Westby and Ms. Nelson said they want to continue participating in the parade, but need more commissioners to take part. ADJOURNMENT � CITY(7F fRiDL�.l' MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, July tz, zo�t, 7- 7�45 P.M. MOTION by Mr. Westby, seconded by Ms. Nelson to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON VELIN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE NLY 12, 2011, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:45 P.M. Respectfully submitted, ' � � � � �� .'r ��� � wnr� - Rachel A. Harris Environmental Planner and Staff Liaison