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EQEM 08/25/2016 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION Fridley Municipal Center, 6431 University Ave Ne MINUTES August 25, 2016, 7:00 p.m. Location: City Hall, Conference Room A Call to Order: Chairman Mark Hansen called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. In attendance: Commissioners Hansen (Chair) Foell (Vice Chair), Stoxen, and Velin. Approve Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Minutes Review July 12, 2016 minutes. MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES Commissioner Stoxen made the motion to approve the minutes, which was seconded by Commissioner Foell, and the minutes passed on a unanimous vote. Chairman Hansen had a general request for the minutes going forward, that acronyms of organizations and other entities be spelled out to allow readers to more quickly review the materials and discussions of the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission. New Business Under the first agenda item, Residential Water Use Survey from the Metropolitan Council, Commissioners reviewed the Survey questions (will complete survey on their own) and viewed the website. The Metropolitan Council has provided many resources for cities, like Fridley, that have begun the mandatory Comprehensive Planning process, which extends from now through 2018. The survey link was then sent out to Commissioners as “Link to Water Use Survey discussed”: http://www.metrocouncil.org/News-Events/Wastewater-Water/News-Articles/Take-the-Lawn-Water-Use- Survey.aspx The residential water use information included the following: “During summer, we use two or three times more water than during winter months. That means higher costs to home and business owners. But how much more, and are there steps we can take to reduce water use and expense? Researchers at the Metropolitan Council and University of Minnesota Extension want to know how efficiently sprinkler or irrigation systems are performing. They’re asking metro area residents to participate in a brief online “Lawn Water Use Survey,” and respond to a series of questions about their residence type and lawn size, and their irrigation practices and goals.” After a short review of this information, Commissioners asked staff if the City used Odd/Even watering bans. Staff stated that this was not a policy in effect at this time. Sustainable turf education is presented as a component of the sustainable landscaping seminar held annually, which reaches between 10 and 20 people, along with City website and periodic newsletter information about reducing the impact on watering turf by keeping the grass height around 3”, and use of drought tolerant grass seed. Commissioner Hansen mentioned No-Mow turf options which are usually a type of fescue mowed once annually or less. A general water use discussion followed which included brainstorming about ways to reduce wasteful lawn watering practices through irrigation systems operating without sensors at townhome associations, apartments, schools and businesses. Commissioners wanted to know if grants for businesses to convert to sensor-driven irrigation systems (known as Smart Irrigation) exist. Staff will ask Bart Biernat from Anoka County. Other discussion centered on whether irrigation and water conservation could be enacted in a way that would not provide a negative budget impact, e.g. tiered water pricing for residential super users. Old Business Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) municipal tree grant update: the gravel bed tree nursery was inspected by first by Forestry Professor Gary Johnson and later by Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant administrators. All pronounced it working very well, with the exception of oak trees. Professor Johnson stated that other cities are having issues with oak trees and will get back to the City with more information as it becomes available. Valerie Johnson, Ken Holman and other DNR staff toured the grant tree planting sites in Community, Commons and Summit Square Parks as well as the Minnesota Department of Transportation planting areas. They stated that Fridley was the shining star of the tree planting grant. The grant will run through spring of 2018. The main challenge has been to find ways to reduce public works watering truck time and shift to volunteer watering in future. A couple of 5- gallon buckets in the back of a car or truck are not enough to make watering multiple trees by volunteers workable. Valerie Johnson from the DNR will mull over some ideas. The Environmental Quality and Energy Commissioners will also return with ideas at their next meeting. Safe Routes to School Grant committee members are being sought right now. Commissioner Foell was checking to see if Mrs. Foell might be available. He will let Julie Jones (City Planning Manager and Safe Routes to School Coordinator) know. This year’s MnDOT planting project at East River Road on the Mississippi River Trail needs to be completed to increase the likelihood that the City can compete successfully for additional phases through Right of Way planning grants in 2016/2017. Commissioner Foell stated that the business where he works has some interest in volunteering to move the bark pile and possibly complete some planting work on that grant project. He suggested that Staff should consult with Public Works personnel and send out a Doodle Poll for a 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. time slot in the next few weeks. Staff will accomplish this after the two involved individuals at the City are back from vacation (early Sept.). The Master Water Steward discussion was tabled as Environmental Quality and Energy Commissioner Westby was unable to attend. Other Next Meetings/Announcements th Tuesday, September 13, 2016, 2016 at 7:00 p.m., Conference Room A (Main Level, City Hall) Adjourn: MOTION TO ADJOURN The motion was made to adjourn by Commissioner Foell and seconded by Commissioner Velin. The motion passed and the meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m.