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EQEM 04/12/2016 ENVIRONMENTALQUALITYANDENERGYCOMMISSION FridleyMunicipalCenter,6431UniversityAveNe April12,2016,7:00p.m. Location: Conference Room A (Main Level, Fridley City Hall) Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chairman Todd Olin. Attendees: Chairman Todd Olin, Vice Chairman Mark Hansen, Commissioner Sam, Commissioner Kyle Mulrooney, Commissioner Justin Foell, Commissioner Jack Velin, Commissioner Paul Westby and one guest, Nick Olberding. Approve Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Minutes Approve Minutes of March 8th, 2016. Commissioner Westby asked that the minutes be amended to correct the draft minutes by amending his first name from Bruce, back to Paul. th MOTION by Commissioner Westby and seconded by Commissioner Hansen to approve the March 8 minutes as noted. The motion passed unanimously. New Business 1)DNR-LCCMR Grant details The City’s recent award of the DNR-LCCMR grant will provide $36,000 through the LCCMR (Legislative Citizen- Commission on Minnesota Resources) program effective April 2016 through May of 2018. The grant is intended to help cities accelerate tree planting in parks and on municipal property by providing small trees and supplies for planting. Grant partners like the Conservation Corps, University of Minnesota, HandsOn Twin Cities and the Tree Trust will also provide training and education for community tree planting events for interested community volunteers. Over 1500 City ash trees are at risk of decimation by Emerald Ash Borer, and thousands more ash trees on private, commercial and regional park properties will be affected because the pest has already been found in Anoka County (see map of Municipal Ash). The DNR LCCMR grant focuses on low-cost solutions to rapidly increase the number of trees on municipal property (e.g. parks and right-of-way areas). The grant provides tree-related landscape materials (e.g. stakes and hardwood mulch), irrigation supplies, educational outreach pieces and materials and labor for construction of a holding area gravel bed for growing on small bareroot trees. The installation of trees on City property in key locations will be coordinated with City Forester Jeff Jensen and his staff with help from GreenCorp member Erika Van Krevelen in City parks. These plantings are a priority for many reasons. The large numbers of ash trees and the lack of young and mid-aged trees of other tree species in most parks created a need for diversifying the tree species on our public land. The grant award was reviewed with Parks & Recreation Director Jack Kirk and the Parks & Recreation Commission. 2016 (Phase 1) would include spring projects such as approved varieties of container tree planting in Commons and Community Parks and construction of a tree holding-bed for bareroot trees (the latter work done by the Conservation Corp, a grant partner). The bed would be located near the community gardens and Public Works facility. In fall, the trees in the holding bed would be planted in the community. This would provide for installation of 135 trees in 2016. 2017 (Phase 2) would focus upon planting container trees in other priority locations in City Parks and Municipal properties and cultivating a second season of smaller trees in the holding bed. Approximately 150 trees would be planted in 2017.The holding bed can be re-located, if required by future construction near the Public Works facility. The materials for the bed will be Jersey barriers or possibly concrete wall blocks. The DNR’s associated partners for the grant support efforts to contact businesses, schools and service organizations who have expressed an interest in volunteering for projects and plantings recently. HandsOn Twin Cities sets up business events and provides tools and scheduling help. The University of Minnesota provides expertise for service organizations who might volunteer if they had some technical help in a tree planting or young tree pruning project. The Tree Trust works with youth groups for planting and maintenance projects. Budget/Impact: The cash match contribution requirement is for $2,250.00 in each grant year, 2016 and 2017 for the purchase of small trees. The Public Works operation budget will not need to be changed or augmented since a small number of large balled and burlapped trees will not be purchased and instead, this expenditure will be transferred to the purchase of a slightly larger number of small trees. City in-kind match commitment of $2,250.00 per year (in addition to the cash match) for 2016 and 2017 will be met by City staff through activities such as mapping the new trees’ locations, purchasing and watering of new trees as well as some event-oriented volunteer coordination (e.g. Arbor Day) with the grant partners. The use of City equipment can also be used as part of the match (e.g. a skid steer with an auger that might pre-drill holes for trees for volunteers to install). Old Business 1) National Trail Days event updates and volunteer sign-up The event will be held at Riverfront Regional Park, starting at Pavilion 1, Anoka County has set that location aside and offered a naturalist. Since it is a National Trails Day, as well as the Fridley Bike & Hike, those who wish to hike can take a look at the river. The EQE Commissioner discussed making contacts to Banfil Center for the Arts to create activities for kids at the site and to the Sun Focus for their events list. Other places to promote it included the City web site, bike vendors, and a conversation with Grandpa’s Ice Cream about a truck to be placed at the Farmer’s Market. Justin is contacting Stevenson School. 2)Volunteers for Arbor Day Tree Sale The Commission and staff talked about whether they would be providing volunteers for the Arbor Day Tree Sale on Saturday, April 30 from 9-noon at Commons Park. Commissioners Hanson, Stoxen, Westby indicated they will likely be available but that staff should confirm with them prior to the event. Other th Elections for Chair and Vice Chair positions for EQEC are next month, May 10. Staff asked EQE Commissioners to th date as a “mandatory” attendance because of elections. Chairman Olin stated that he may be consider the May 10 moving and would not mind if other Commissioners were interested in taking over the Chair position. Commissioner Olin stated that he has enjoyed his years of service and that if he and his family stay here, he will continue on as an EQE Commissioner. Commissioner Stoxen mentioned that he has volunteered to do water quality sampling from West Moore Lake and Commissioner Foell mentioned that any aerator used in West Moore Lake in future, could be used as needed. Another topic discussed was reuse formats including starting a free bikes for kids program, a gear or tool grab. Commissioner Westby talked about potential projects for his capstone as a Master Water Steward possibly being located at Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church. Ways to promote organic lawn care were discussed, briefly. Staff invited everyone th , to hear the sustainable lawn care expert (Kim Sullivan) speak at the Landscaping for Clean Water seminar on April 19 from 6-8 p.m. at the Community Center. Next Meetings/Announcements th Tuesday, May 10, 2015, 7:00 p.m., location at City Hall, Conference Room A. Adjourn MOTION by Commissioner Hanson and seconded by Commissioner Westby to adjourn at 8:05 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.