EQECM 11/12/2013
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION
Fridley Municipal Center, 6431 University Ave Ne
Agenda Packet
Tuesday, November 12, 2013, 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES
Conference Room A (Main Level)
Location:
Call to Order
Chairperson Velin called the meeting to order at 6:59p.m.
Commission members present: Courtner Ehlers Elford, Todd Olin (7:02 p.m.), Paul Westby,
Rich Svanda, Eric Boyles
Staff present: Julie Jones, Planning Manager; Kay Qualley, Environmental Planner; James
Kosluchar, Public Works Director
Observers signed in: George Walters, Pam Reynolds
Minutes Approval
Approval of Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Minutes: July 07, 2013 and
Sept. 10, 2013. There was no discussion and no corrections to the minutes as written.
MOTION by Commissioner Boyles and seconded by Commissioner Elford to approve the
July 07, 2013 and Sept. 10, 2013 minutes as submitted. Motion passed unanimously.
New Business
Kay Qualley reported on a GreenStep Cities workshop sponsored by Metro Cities that
covered energy benchmarking and retrofitting municipal and commercial buildings through
budget neutral programs. The question was raised about what was allowed in Fridley Code
for Solar applications. Planning Manager Jones said that the residential zoning code
language does allow solar equipment, but she was unsure if it was worded to allow the solar
garden concept. Ms. Qualley gave details from the presentation: Shoreview is using the B3
program for municipal building benchmarking of energy use. It is valuable because it helps
cities weigh their use against comparable buildings in other cities. Shoreview’s finance
department enters energy invoices and readings by buildings and said it is a ten minute
process to yield valuable information. The GESP project (Guaranteed Energy Savings
Project was discussed. The GESP elements include an Opportunity Assessment, a period of
time to Define Project Goals, ESCO Selection, Project Development, Project Implementation
and a Performance Period of 5-25 years. Basically, funding is available for municipalities
who want to go beyond the low hanging fruit of a lighting switch out into systems
replacements. The loan is paid back by the city taking the difference between the new lower
energy cost and their old bill and paying that amount for loan replacement. Because the
municipal buildings are currently being thoroughly evaluated from all aspects, including
energy, this program may or may not be applicable at present.
CityLabs has been presented as another program available to cities, similar to the University
of Minnesota’s Resilient Communities. CityLabs is a collaborative, multi-disciplinary
academic initiative that integrates education, civic engagement and community outreach
specifically around the issues of sustainability, livability and placemaking. Staff suggested
that further investigation might be in order for this program, especially if the concept of city
resiliency is being pursued.
Other
Discussion and approval of 2014 EQEC dates. The dates for 2013 will be Jan. 14, March 11,
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May 13, July 8, September 9 and Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Fridley Municipal Center
conference room “A”. November 4 was an election day and the Commission discussed
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changing the November 4 date to Oct. 28.
MOTION by Commissioner Boyles and seconded by Commissioner Olin to confirm
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changing the November 4 date to Oct. 28. Motion carried unanimously.
Old Business
Regarding the recent coal tar sealant ban enacted recently by the Legislature, the City needs
to pass an ordinance to enforce the ban on sales and application in the City. Staff stated that
the Minnesota League of Cities has proposed ordinance language prepared. Commission
members questioned how such an ordinance would be enforced by the City. James Kosluchar
commented that Public Works crews regularly stop and question homeowners and
contractors when they see someone sealing a driveway and ask what product they are using.
The EQE Commissioners asked staff to prepare a Fridley-specific version of the ordinance
and bring it to the January EQE meeting.
The next order of old business was review, discussion and recommendations regarding
organized garbage collection. Presentations and organized garbage information from the
various study sessions coordinated by retired City Manager Burns were reviewed and
discussed. The MPCA summary showed lower costs to residents in organized hauling and
other economic benefits including reducing the impact on roads and alleys. Organized cities
typically have 1 truck in a particular zone compared to 3+ trucks per neighborhood in our
existing open system. It also said reduced fuel consumption and emissions were a result of
fewer vehicle miles traveled. Commissioner Boyles discussed the myths of organized hauling
as presented in the MPCA’s February 2012 Organized Collection summary: organized
collection means that there will only be one hauler in the community; small haulers will
never win the contract; organized collection creates a monopoly. Each of these points was
refuted by the MPCA in this document.
Public Works Director James Kosluchar presented copies of a technical assessment from his
department relating to potential $100,000 budgetary cost savings (1% of city budget) relating
to reduced impacts with reduced road usage if the city converts from an open to an organized
system. He explained that variables such as drainage, subsoil and quality of road
construction might impact this estimate which would keep that saving from being fully
realized. Planning Manager Jones pointed out that the analysis could be re-run to reflect that
yard waste trucks collect for eight months of the year so that there are really 10 garbage
trucks on a given Fridley street most of the year – not the five used in the analysis.
As the discussion ensued, despite interruptions and shouting from observers, Commissioner
Boyles stated that the EQEC should encourage the Council to investigate organized
collection of solid waste because there were enough points in favor of it. He stated that the
new Minnesota Statute 115A.94 should be followed. Staff member Qualley placed the
statute in its entirety on the screen for review because the packets did not contain the full
statute. Qualley stated that the full statute would be added to the amended staff report to
Council. Commissioner Olin said that the commission should ask the Council to investigate
and since the EQEC had been investigating it, meeting with the MPCA, MN EPA, haulers
and others since 2010, it was time to send it on. Chairman Velin stated that he wanted to
send it on (approve it) to the City Council.
MOTION #1 for Council Consideration by Commissioner Boyles and seconded by
Commissioner Westby to send to the Fridley City Council a recommendation regarding
Organized Collection of Solid Waste, that the Council should take the next steps to
investigate and move forward with the organized solid waste collection process as proscribed
in 2013 Minnesota Statute 115A.94. Five of the six commissioners present approved the
motion. Commissioner Elford voted nay. Motion carried.
MOTION #2 for Council Consideration by Commissioner Olin and seconded by
Commissioner Boyles to provide a recommendation to Council on how to proceed with
Organized Collection of Solid Waste using the existing five licensed haulers, Ace Solid
Waste, Allied/Republic, Walters and LePage and Son. The recommendation is that Council
pursue alternatives (within the statute’s guidance) that divide the city into zones (based on
current market share) between above currently licensed haulers. Five of the six
commissioners present approved the motion. Commissioner Elford voted nay. Motion
carried.
MOTION #3 for Council Consideration by Commissioner Boyles and seconded by
Commissioner Westby to Recommend to Council that any organized contract negotiations
include housing units 1-12. Motion was carried unanimously.
MOTION #4 for Council Consideration by Commissioner Elford and seconded by
Commissioner Olin to let the City Council know that the EQEC is willing to serve if further
clarification is needed or should further information be required for their assessment; That
the EQE Commission will continue their investigation or function as appropriate per
statutory requirements and Council directives. Motion was carried unanimously.
Next Meetings/Announcements
Tuesday, January 14, 2014, 7 p.m., Conference Room A (Main Level). Commissioner Elford
stated that, if necessary, the EQEC should be prepared for a special meeting in December.
No vote was taken but no opposition to this possible meeting was noted.
Adjournment
MOTION by Commissioner Svanda and seconded by Commissioner Westby to adjourn. The
meeting adjourned at 9:05pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Kay Qualley, Environmental Planner
City of Fridley