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EQECM 01/07/2013 MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, January 7, 2013 Call to Order Chairperson Velin called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Commission Members Present: Courtney Ehlers, Jonathan Bonkoski, Todd Olin, Eric Boyles, Jack Velin. Richard Svanda and Paul Westby Commission Members Absent: None Others Present: City of Fridley City Council Member Delores Varichak, Kay Qualley, Environmental Planner, staff liaison, City of Fridley, Julie Jones, Planning Manager, City of Fridley Community Development Department. Guests: Douglas Snyder, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Watershed Management Organization, Dan Kalmon, Planner and Program Manager, Minneapolis Watershed Management Organization APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 13, 2012, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES. MOTION by Commissioner Ehlers and seconded by Commissioner Boyles to approve the November 13, 2012, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON VELIN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. New Business Chairperson Velin started New Business by asking about the 2013 Drop-off Event Request for Proposals. Staff explained that several e-waste and electronics recyclers have been asking for an th opportunity to bid on our Dropoff Events. An RFP was sent off and are due on January 18, 2013. The RFP is an attempt to discover what the current market rates are for the services needed for the Dropoff events, not a reflection on the quality of service provided by our current vendor, Green Lights. Green Lights will also be bidding on the projects. Presentation from Mississippi Watershed Management District, Mr. Douglas Snyder, Executive Director Ms. Qualley showed a map of Fridley delineating the three watershed districts (Coon Creek, Rice Creek and Mississippi Watershed Management Organization). Mississippi Watershed Management Organization representatives Douglas Snyder and Dan Kalmon were introduced. Mr. Snyder explained that he was previously employed by BWSR, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, for Hennepin, Scott, Carver, Counties and that prior to that he had held a position that dealt with water issues for Scott County. A brief history of the evolution of participating partners during the formative years of the MWMO followed. An example of this was the fact that Falcon MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, January 7, 2013 Heights and the University of Minnesota were early partners who opted out—Falcon Heights going to Capitol Region and the U going its own way. The University of Minnesota has recently begun to liaison with MWMO on some test projects and mutual issues. In 2001, the Second Generation Plan was in use. The MWMO Board of Directors went to the legislature to get direct funding and in that year became the first joint powers WMO to receive ad valoren taxing authority. BWSR (Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources) has said that MWMO cannot do projects unless it is on the organizations CIP list. One of the many ways that the MWMO can be useful is the following example: the MnPCA is asking cities to deal with Total Maximum Daily Load issues among other things. The MWMO can provide science so entities like cities can be enabled to meet those standards. Mr. Snyder explained that he is also involved with the Metropolitan Council granting committees like Livable Communities. The organization is also testing new technologies or examining the results from those companies or entities that are testing new and different ways to treat stormwater. For instance, they are currently looking at a project which uses the technology from a Japanese firm. An ionizer (with ozone) unit is inserted in streams, pipes or ponds. This ionizer currently has the capacity to clean/treat 300,000 gallons of stormwater per day. The company is rolling out a new model in 2014 which would handle a million gallons/day. This higher volume unit will be a more useful size, according to Mr. Snyder. The company doing the testing is WSB Engineering (specifically, Todd Hubmer, their lead engineer). In general we have few ponds but have a greater concentration of pipes and filtration. Ponds need dredging periodically. Commissioner Svanda asked if the MWMO was dealing with sludge coming out of the dredging process. Mr. Snyder responded that bubblers in sludge can use ozone to reduce and eliminate some of these materials. It would be great to clean sludge and leave it where it is or if moving it, move it in a cleaner state. Commissioner Svanda said it seems like the tool would create a lot more sludge issues. Mr. Snyder responded that periodically we will need to send some residues on down the sanitary sewer. If so, that material has the added feature that it attracts and binds phosphorus, which the Pigs Eye plant needs to remove anyway. A new topic was introduced by Mr. Snyder. The MWMO is starting to do in-river monitoring in response to the MnPCA. So then, when the MPCA says “reduce this or that”, the MWMO knows where the problems are. They might be upstream, for instance. The monitoring will allow the City and the MWMO to say whether or not the TMDL is being met and perhaps to conclude that this is elsewhere. Commissioner Westby asked if they monitor other lakes and MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, January 7, 2013 wetlands. Mr. Snyder said the MWMO has some riverine lakes and small ponds and wetlands but they in no way resemble the original huge acreage which comprised the former Bridal Veil wetland areas. Discussion ensued about the location and extent of the Bridal Veil wetlands area. Mr. Kalmon explained that the MWMO is going back to historical records to determine where wetlands were historically located. But even with the best science, restoring wetlands can be problematic (gave example) and it is better to preserve existing wetlands first.  Mr. Snyder reviewed several of the major programs and granting opportunities offered by The Greening Program the MWMO. can be used for plantings along paths and bikeways. Councilmember Varichak added that it is important to be aware of after-care and continuing maintenance costs before embarking on new projects. She went on to explain that budgets, like those of the Parks Department, may not support expansion into new maintenance projects.  Land Conservation -the MWMO sometimes forms partnerships with other entities for acquisitions. They may work to preserve habitat, for instance. One such partnership is with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board of Directors. Sometimes funds can be paired with local matching funds, state or federal matching funds.  Stormwater Infrastructure- Stormwater capture along Silver Lake Road is an example of their work in this area. Silver Lake Road backflush water (300,000 gallons/week) gets re-used for watering turf, etc. For cities they want to stress that land use decisions that involve stormwater are more cost-effectively made on the front end, instead of trying to accomplish goals retro-actively. Mr. Snyder explained that the MWMO prefers the efficiencies of stacked benefits, like stormwater treatment under an alley or parking lot. Sometimes a project, if well-designed, may solve many of the problems of an entire watershed.  Diagnostic -The MWMO may hire engineers to see how to address improved stormwater management on a project. They may assess at an early stage in development plans (for city projects for instance) to decide whether a project with worth doing from the MWMO standpoint. Mr. Kalmon added that front end involvement in preliminary design of engineering for stormwater is important and can create better projects.  Education and Training - The MWMO currently has a science-based program that involves north-side kids. They bring in experts for lectures during the year and they get to participate in interesting activities as well.  Outreach -Other programming is not boundary-specific. It can help us (in the MWMO boundary areas) when people upstream use our programming. An example of this is partnering with the MnEPA for classes for contractors on Ice Salt reduction and Turf Care modifications. Ms. Qualley stated that the quality of these classes is excellent. She completed the Turf Care class and felt the information would be beneficial to local landscapers and city Parks Departments.  Stewardship fund  Grants and Mini-Grants -there is a CAC that looks over the grants. They do not MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, January 7, 2013 currently have a City of Fridley representative. Ms. Qualley handed out applications for both MWMO and the Rice Creek Management Organization to the Commissioners in the event any would like to apply. Mr. Snyder said that MWMO does about three projects a year of this sort. Projects are currently partnerships with public entities but during the upcoming Board retreat staff and the Board may discuss public/private/MWMO partnerships for the future. A discussion ensued about stormwater management techniques and issues. Phosphorus was used as an example. Phosphorus in stormwater is found in two ways, according to Mr. Snyder: dissolved (about 45%) or attached to colloidal particles which behave like they are dissolved. Increasingly, the use of iron (in ponds and other areas) has been used to attract and bind phosphorus. Although a very successful project in general, their work at Heritage Park in north Minneapolis does not have ponds with iron-enhanced pond filtration. Storm drain and stormwater pipe management is moving beyond just city street sweeping and filtration with underdrains into the storm sewers themselves. Mr. Snyder stated that the push for volume standards on development sites would become more prevalent in the future. An example of this would be that the first inch of rainfall needs to be absorbed or handled, i.e. stay on site. Ms. Qualley asked Mr. Kalmon to explain the differences between MWMO and Anoka County Conservation District and other entities like the Rice Creek Watershed District. MWMO Planner Mr. Kalmon asked to be informed about any washed out areas along banks of the Mississippi and area creeks, as well as pertinent commercial and larger industrial projects. Ms. Qualley pulled up the MWMO map of the Fridley management area. Fridley Planning Manager Julie Jones gave a short presentation on upcoming projects that might be in development between 2013 and 2015. She also showed the area that will be subject to Master Planning after the City hires a consultant with the recent grant awarded to Fridley by the Metropolitan Council. Commissioner Boyles asked what the timetable was for the Master Plan. Ms. Jones replied that it needs to be completed within twenty-four Commissioner Boyles mentioned that the Islands of Peace months and the clock is ticking. property is junky, with odd trail locations that seem to go nowhere. Commissioner Ehlers asked when the Main St. pedestrian bridge (referred to in Ms. Jones presentation) will be installed. Ms. Jones estimated the timetable as 2014 to 2015. BAE (aka the Navy Munitions) Site Update (RER project) Paul Hyde and his company Hyde Development (Real Estate Recycling) have commenced with the first items on the timetable to conduct an AUAR (4410.3610 Alternative Urban Areawide MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, January 7, 2013 Review Process) for his proposed development on the BAE site. The timetable regarding the scoping document and public input meetings required prior to the completion of the AUAR environmental review was handed out to the Commissioners. In addition, the Commissioners and Councilmember Varichak were invited to attend the public input meeting on the following night, Wednesday, January 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Commissioner Ehlers asked if the BAE site is residential. Ms. Jones explained that the projects would more likely be office buildings, warehousing and light manufacturing in nature. 5601East River Road (at 694) Site Update th Ms. Jones discussed the future goal of having the 57 Ave. extension road from Main St. to extend over or under the railroad tracks to connect the current commercial concentration to housing along East River Road. She stated that any site plan in this location would be subject to Transit Overlay District requirements but that could create an opportunity to combine housing, new commercial entities and warehousing all on this particular site. Contractors investigating the site’s potential have submitted some preliminary architectural drawings along these lines. More concrete development plans will depend on market conditions and a developer’s ability to market these products. Planner Kalmon from MWMO asked that he receive a marked-up version of the map so the organization could keep the projects on their lists. Commissioner Westby commented that there are riverfront property owners using Chemlawn. Mr. Snyder responded that it is cheaper to train people on how to correctly apply chemicals than the cost to eliminate the pollutants caused by that activity. Commissioner Westby also asked about the parameters of the MWMO conducting projects on private property. Mr. Snyder explained that the MWMO needs to prove a public benefit in such projects. Old Business Commissioner Velin asked about where the road study was at (in reference to organized garbage collection). Public Works Director Jim Kosluchar had contacted Ms. Qualley prior to the meeting and mentioned that the organized garbage collection and street impact study was being revised after a third draft had been reviewed by the committee. He stated that a Minnesota State University-Mankato professor was working on the project but that it was not in a state ready for perusal by the EQEC. Commissioner Olin stated that the EQEC had spent considerable time on this issue and provided a lot of input and had wished for more conclusive action by this time. Staff explained that without someone to lead the charge at the City or City Council, it was difficult to move forward on the subject and that the proceedings in Maplewood generated many conflicting opinions and debate. The Commissioners asked when the topic may be resumed. Ms. Qualley stated that, as mentioned at the last meeting, Dr. Burns, the City Manager had retired at MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, January 7, 2013 the end of December and that a search firm has been retained. Without burdening an acting city manager with a complex project, the soonest this issue can be resumed is likely May. She stated that, as a result of a focus on organized collection and recycling singlesort, water issues seemed like a potential area of focus for this next year, especially in view of the fact that the City of Fridley has a relatively new relationship with the MWMO. She mentioned that Commissioner’s topics and areas of interest for future meetings and for the formation of committees are important to incorporate into the proceedings and provide direction to staff. Locke Lake Commissioner Olin was unable to attend the November 2012 presentation about the effects on Locke Lake from the railroad corn spill. He stated that his neighbors were still upset because they were under the understanding that there had been a promise of a $10,000 settlement by the MPCA. The settlement was to have paid for the restoration of the lake, which is an on-going issue. He said that the neighborhood was told that the person who told them about the restoration funds had retired from the MPCA and no one knew how to access these funds. He wanted to know who could be the point person from the City to help them. Ms. Jones said that the City’s Engineering staff should be contacted. Ms. Qualley mentioned that Matt Kocian of the Rice Creek Watershed District should be re-contacted and that she could get a copy of his PowerPoint presentation from November that stated that there was no measurable fish kill in Locke Lake after the train derailment. Commissioner Olin stated that Matt Kocian has been very valuable and that, having met with RCWD specialist Kocian within the last two months, he had likely seen this presentation already. Other Commissioner Ehlers asked whether the City of Fridley has an Adopt a Park program. Councilmember Varichak replied in the affirmative that yes, Adopt-A-Park possibilities exist and that Jack Kirk is the contact person with the City. (Note: Mr. Kirk is the Recreation Director for the City of Fridley). Councilmember Varichak said when a park cleanup is scheduled, information about park clean-up is passed out but that volunteers cannot trim bushes because that would get involved in liability issues. Commissioner Boyles requested an updated report on volumes of the new single sort curbside recycling program. Ms. Qualley reported that her most recent numbers, which do not include December, show a 16% increase over 2011 weights. Next, Ms.Qualley mentioned that, although the EQEC election in November re-elected Chair Velin as 2013 Chairman of the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission, a Vice- Chairperson had not been selected. She mentioned that, in the event that the Chairperson was unavailable due to illness or travel, a Vice Chairperson would be able to lead the group. At that point Chairperson Velin announced that to his knowledge, the last person holding the position of Vice Chairperson was Commissioner Westby. At that point, Commissioner Velin nominated MINUTES Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Tuesday, January 7, 2013 Commissioner Westby for the position of Vice Chairperson of the EQEC. The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Bonkoski. After hearing no objections, the EQEC conducted a vote. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON VELIN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY ELECTING COMMISSSIONER WESTBY AS VICE- CHAIRPERSON OF THE EQEC. ADJOURNMENT Chair Velin asked if there was any further business. He stated that, hearing of no further business he would like to entertain a motion to adjourn the meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Westby, seconded by Commissioner Ehlers, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON VELIN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE JANUARY 7, 2013, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Kay Qualley Staff Liaison for the EQEC Environmental Planner City of Fridley