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EQECM 12/08/2015 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION Fridley Municipal Center, 6431 University Ave Ne Meeting Minutes December 8, 2015, 2015, 6:30 p.m. Minutes Location: Conference Room A (Main Level, Fridley City Hall) Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m. by Chairman Todd Olin. Approve Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Minutes Approve Minutes of November 10, 2015. Commissioner Westby requested the following corrections: for the first page, under the water discussion topic, create an addendum regarding the importance of incorporating Low Impact Development techniques throughout the City for both public and private property, especially for the re- development of the expanded Columbia Arena site. MOTION by Commissioner Stoxen and seconded by Commissioner Westby to approve the November 10th, 2015 minutes of the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission, as amended. The motion passed unanimously. New Business Commissioner Foell is concerned about lake water quality in regard to e. coli and geese. He stated that East Moore Lake might benefit from an analysis of whether the winter aeration “bubbler” is further encouraging geese. He suggested additional shoreline work should be done to reduce the goose excreta in the surrounding park. That input will be passed to consultants who will be working on park re-design in that area and to Rice Creek Watershed District. Commissioner Foell would like to be informed about that project as it progresses. Commissioners then enjoyed a fast-paced presentation update on the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan by Mn-Dot consultant, Jacob Rueter. He stated that in October and November, MnDOT heard from more than 1,500 Minnesotans across the state—at community events, workplaces, and standing meetings. It has been a busy couple months traveling throughout Minnesota to learn what’s important to consider in Minnesota’s transportation future. He invited the EQEC to participate and he handed out publicly available information so the Commissioners could share their thoughts to help formulate the State plans. The group was encouraged to take a 3-minute survey about prioritization of the following: • Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan • Minnesota State Highway Investment Plan Old Business The EQEC received presentations from the following U-MN Environmental Policy groups: Right of Way Planting and Urban Forestry. The student research was conducted between September and December of 2015 through their capstone class with Professors Gary Johnson and Kristen Nelson. The Right of Way group made the following recommendations based on their findings:  Apply for the Right of Way grant from MnDOT called the Community Roadside Landscape Partnership program. If accepted, the City receives free landscape architectural design work and free trees and plants for the approved design. The group recommended the University Ave. corridor as a priority and also the 694, Mississippi River Trail and East River Road area near Georgetown Apartments as an additional area.  The goals for plantings in the rights of way include long term reduction of mowing, creating a visually appealing, environmentally sustainable plantings and increasing the perception of traffic commuters that they are in a community (decrease speeding). The Urban Forestry group recommended expanding the tree survey, increasing both tree canopy and species diversity by preserving high quality trees and planting new trees, creating an Emerald Ash Borer Response Plan and creating a Tree Board to attain Tree City U.S.A. status and to obtain volunteers for forestry activities like pruning and tree grove planting. Additional Old Business: update from Fridley’s GreenCorps Member, Erika Van Krevelen who discussed her urban forestry projects in Fridley. She has made excellent progress in updating the city’s tree inventory. All of the city park’s deciduous trees have been measured and assessed to reflect their current diameter and condition, and she has now started on updating street trees. She is also working towards becoming a certified Minnesota Tree Inspector and will be working with a U of MN Urban Forestry class this spring and City volunteers to use estimating techniques for surveying private property trees. Other Goals and objectives for 2016 EQEC and GreenStep Cities Step Two attainment were tabled until the January meeting due to a lack of time. Next Meetings/Announcements th Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2015, 7:00 p.m., Conference Room A (Main Level, City Hall). Adjourn MOTION by Commissioner Stoxen and seconded by Commissioner Foell to adjourn at 8:12. The motion passed unanimously.