EQEA 06/13/2016-packet
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION
Fridley Municipal Center, 6431 University Ave Ne
AGENDA
June 13, 2016, 7:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall, Conference Room A
Call to Order
Approve Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Minutes
Review May 10th, 2016 minutes
New Business
Comprehensive Plan, EQEC role and survey structure and questions
Safe Routes to School Grant and committee
Old Business
Redeemer Church raingarden, Master Water Steward and Rice Creek Watershed project update
49er Days, work schedule for EQEC, Saturday, June 18.
LCCMR Grant update:
volunteer tree plantings Spring 2016, gravel bed completion, school involvement. Upcoming
Citizen pruning and tree care seminar, July 9 training, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
National Trails Day event results
MnDOT planting project with Youth Conservation Corps
Update on tree inventory, urban forestry planning
Other
Next Meetings/Announcements
th
Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 7:00 p.m., Conference Room A (Main Level, City Hall)
Adjourn
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION
Fridley Municipal Center, 6431 University Ave Ne
May 10, 2016, 7:00 p.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 Vice Chairman Mark Hansen.
Attendees: Vice Chairman Mark Hansen, Commissioner Sam Stoxen, Commissioner Kyle Mulrooney, Commissioner
Justin Foell, Commissioner Jack Velin, Commissioner Paul Westby and one guest, Nick Olberding.
Approve Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Minutes
Commissioners reviewed the minutes of April 12th, 2016 and had no changes or corrections.
th
MOTION by Commissioner Westby and seconded by Commissioner Velin to approve the April 12 minutes. The motion
passed unanimously.
New Business
Elections for Chairman and Vice Chairman positions for EQEC
MOTION by Commissioner Foell and seconded by Commissioner Westby to nominate Commissioner Hansen as
Chairman. The motion passed with a unanimous vote. Commissioner Hansen accepted the Chairman position with a note
that his work as Assistant City Engineer with Coon Rapids occasionally required meeting on the same night as the
Planning Commission (EQEC Chair serves as a member of that Commission, as well).
MOTION by Commissioner Westby and seconded by Commissioner Velin to nominate Commissioner Foell as Vice
Chairman. The motion passed with a unanimous vote. Commissioner Foell accepted the Vice Chairman position. He
stated that he would do his best to be available to fill in at the Planning Commission if Chairman Hansen was unavailable.
The new Chairman and Vice Chairman were congratulated by their fellow Commissioners and staff.
49er Days, Work Crew, Organics
The 49er Days will have a Girl Scout troop giving out educational information about organics. Commissioners are
encouraged to attend to promote recycling and organics at the event.
Staff explained that future municipal buildings like Springbrook Nature Center and any new City Hall would have a 3-sort
system for garbage, recycling and organics collection. Because organics, like recycling, is a source separated item, it is
part of a manufacturing process to create compost. Staff reviewed how the pilot project for the City of Minneapolis works,
with 35-gallon containers used. Residents sign up to participate and the City drops off the container, which is collected
weekly. The City of Minneapolis conducted educational sessions around the community and are blitzing TV and print to
encourage residents.
Anoka County is providing resources for cities to begin collection of organics. Best management practices for GreenStep
Cities also encourages organics collection. Commissioner Hansen led a discussion about the logistics of organics
collection. Staff explained that it would be an opt-in add on, if the City did it, much like St. Louis Park.
MOTION by Commissioner Stoxen, seconded by Commissioner Foell to create a special license for collection of
organics, which the City does not currently permit. The Commissioners approved the motion unanimously and asked that
the City Council be made aware of their support to add a special organics license to the City Code.
Old Business
National Trail Days update from subcommittee
The location is Riverfront Regional Park, at Pavilion 1, starting at 10:00 a.m., with the bike ride City staff will set out sign
holders and provide directional signage and lead a hike, if people would like a more organized route. EQE Commissioner
Foell contacted the Sun Focus to get a notice on their events list. The City will place a notice on Facebook and Tweet
about the event. Grandpa’s Ice Cream has agreed to provide a truck at the Farmer’s Market through their noon closing
time. Commissioners Foell and Hansen will work with Principal Darryl Vossler at Stevenson and the principal at Hays
Schools to try to encourage family attendance. Commissioner Hansen stated that his family would coordinate a children’s
craft activity. As the event grows, promotion of Regional Park geo-caching could be included.
Other discussion ensued. The possibility of a member of the EQE Commission taping a segment for cable TV was
mentioned. It was suggested that a Commissioner could check with Penn Cyclery to see if they would be interested in
bringing bikes to test. Other promotional possibilities included Next Door website, Fridley Families on Facebook.
Other
Next Meetings/Announcements
th
Tuesday, June 14, 2015, 7:00 p.m., location at City Hall, Conference Room A.
Adjourn
MOTION by Commissioner Westby and seconded by Commissioner Foell to adjourn at 8:12 p.m. The motion passed
unanimously.