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EQE 09/13/2011 - 30037� CITY OF FRf DLEl' MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, September t3, zo��, 6- 7:zo P.M. Call to Order Chairperson Velin called the September 13, 2011, Environmental Quality and Energy Commission meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. after waiting for members to arrive or access the meeting room when the external building doors were locked. Members Present: Members Absent: Others Present Jonathan Bonkoski, Courtney Ehlers, Todd Olin, Jack Velin Paul Westby, Rich Svanda, Tina Nelson Rachel Harris, Environmental Planner APPROVAL OF JULY 12, 2011, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Commissioner Ehlers, seconded by Commissioner Bonkoski to approve the July 12, 201 l, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON VELIN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Staff Report Public Outreach Effort - Watershed Monitoring Update Ms. Harris reported the Stream Health Evaluation Program (SHEP) began in August. Portions of Rice Creek in Fridley will be monitored for invertebrate health. The health and quantity of microbes indicates the quality of water in the stream. Ms. Harris said volunteers are trained by scientists to take water samples over several weeks and then analyze the data in labs. Staff will again invite SHEP coordinator Mr. Trevor Russell, Friends of the Mississippi River, to provide a summary of the water quality in Fridley's portion of Rice Creek. The staff report concluded and commission members carpooled to the tour site on 5942 Benjamin Street. New Business Rain Exchange System Tour Rich Svanda and Tina Nelson joined the meeting at 6:45pm at the tour site. The EQE Commissioners met the owners Angelique Frederiksen and Susan Okerstrom at 5942 '= GTY OF FRIDLEl' MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, September �3, zo��, 6- 7:ZO P.M. Benjamin to learn about the rain exchange system installation. Landscaper Ray Campbell described the rain exchange system and landscape project. The top garden with gold fish pond can hold up to 1,500 gallons of rain. The capacity of the two separate water features is 10,000 gallons. Berms are designed to collect the rain water run-off from the property and direct the rain toward a below surface water harvest system that is similar to an underground rain barrel. An example of the berms and rocky shores is shown below. Ms Ehlers said have you planned for the snow? Mr Campbell said snow has been accounted for. With the new sloping landscaping, snow will collect in the low areas. Mr Svanda asked about the soil type. Mr Campbell said it is a combination of loam and sand. Mr Bonkoski asked about management of leaves or debris that falls into the water. Mr Campbell designed to the water features to take care of themselves and can due because the natural bacteria CI iYO� FRIDLEY in the water. MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, September �3, zo��, 6- 7:zo P.M. Mr Svanda asked how long the landscaping project took to build. Mr Campbell said the project began in early July but stopped due to the need to apply for a variance. That sixty day process changed the project timeline. While some trees were planted in August, much of the work finished in September. The total build time came to 9 weeks. Mr Olin asked about heavy rain events since we've had so many this year. Can the water be absorbed? Mr Campbell said the project was designed with heavy rain events in mind. The sandy soil and plants that thrive in water were included for that purpose. Also, the capacity of the rain water harvest system can hold up 10,000 gallons. Mr Campbell said water pumps in the ponds can run through December if wanted. Ms Ehlers asked about the neighbors' response. Ms Okerstrom said the neighbors like it. "I,hey came over with celebratory bottle of champagne when the project was done. Mr Campbell added the yard was previously covered in grass. Now it has a grove of trees, many types of plants and iron range rock and birch trees. When asked how many trees were planted, Mr Campbell said � GTYC?� FRIDLEY MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, September �3, zo��, 6- 7:zo P.M. many, but could not recall an exact amount. He estimated about ten trees. Ms Ehlers asked how many rain exchangers were installed. Mr Campbell said each rain exchanger is almost a three foot cube and there are 15 installed in the project. You can imagine how much water can be held in 15 three foot cubes. Mr Svanda asked what happened during the big rain in August. That's the storm that washed out the Burlington Northern railroad tracks across Rice Creek. Mr Campbell said the rain absorbed in one day. Mr Svanda agreed that was a spectacular amount of rain to absorb in one day. Mr Bonkoski said he works as a contractor so he has some idea of how much a project like this would cost. He asked about the cost of the project. Mr Campbell said the initial water exchange system with waterfalls and pond came in at about $25,000 and some extras like birch trees and iron range stone were added. Ms Ehlers asked if the owners had any flooding problems in the yard or in the house before the rain exchange system was installed. Ms Okerstrom and Ms Frederiksen said their yard flooded, but not the house. The yard received the runoff from the lot to the south. They pointed out how their house sits down the hill from their neighbors to the south. Since the installation, they've had fewer mosquitoes in the yard due to the moving water feature. Mr Campbell said he could be reached at lostedenponds@tds.net if the commissioners had additional questions. Old Business There was no old business to report. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr Olin, seconded by Ms Ehlers to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON VELIN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE SEPTEMBER 13, 2011, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:03 P.M. Respectfully submitted, � ���, Rachel A. Harris Environmental Planner and Staff Liaison