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EQEA 01/08/2019 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION Fridley Municipal Center, 7071 University Ave Ne AGENDA WğƓǒğƩǤ БͲ ЋЉЊВ Location: Fridley Civic Campus, Banfill Room, 7:00 PM Call to Order Approve Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Minutes 1) Review December 11 Minutes New Business 1) Active Transportation Plan planning Old Business 1) Recycling drop-off question 2) Organics Update 3) Energy Action Plan update Other 1) January 12- Recycling Dropoff 2) January 26- Winterfest Next meeting February 12, 2019 at 7:00 PM at Fridley Civic Campus Adjourn ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION Fridley Municipal Center, 7071 University Ave Ne MINUTES 5ĻĭĻƒĬĻƩ ЊЊͲ ЋЉЊБ Location: City of Fridley Civic Campus, Banfill Room Call to Order Chair Hansen called the meeting to order at 7:01 Members present: Nick Olberding, Justin Foell, Sam Stoxen, Heidi Ferris, Mark Hansen, Paul Westby Absent: Approval of Minutes Commissioner Westby moved approval of the October 9, 2018 meeting minutes as written and Commission member Foell seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED unanimously New Business 1) Nature-Based Play areas- Heidi Ferris Ms. Ferris provided an overview of natural playgrounds following a workshop she attended regarding nature-based play. In contrast to manufactured playgrounds, natural playgrounds involve mostly natural materials and tend to be more flexible spaces that can be altered and moved. Pop-up natural playgrounds at Minneapolis parks found that visitors spent more time at natural playgrounds as compared to manufactured playgrounds and led to more intergenerational interactions. Ms. Ferris also shared that natural playgrounds tend to be safer than manufactured playgrounds because they are ground-based and more stimulating, so children do not engage in risky behaviors out of boredom. She also stated findings from the workshop that liability can be minimized depending on signage. The group discussed the use of ash trees cut down during the EAB mitigation process in these areas, it was determined that using ash trees would not result in increased EAB habitat. Chair Hanson inquired about the different maintenance that the natural playgrounds required. Commissioner Ferris responded that the type of maintenance depended on the structure of the - fulfill an ecological principle by breaking down on their own. Commissioner Foell recommended a pop-up event to let people try out the spaces. Commissioner Stoxen recommended looking into examples of natural playgrounds for adults as well. Ms. Workin said that the City is undertaking a Parks Master Planning Process and this is something that could be included in this process. She also shared that the City would likely be looking for an EQEC member to participate in this process. Ms. Workin said she would share this information with the Director of Community Engagement and Employee Resources and Operations Director-Parks with the intent of bringing this information to the Parks and Recreation Commission. 2) Active Transportation Plan update planning assistance of an Active Transportation Committee. She shared that two of the key pieces of the plan are a map of areas designated for sidewalks and trails and a map of priority trail projects. She shared that the majority of the priority trails have been completed or funded. Staff has discussed updating the plan in early 2019 with the assistance of the EQEC rather than reforming the Active Transportation Committee. Ms. Workin said that she would provide more updates as the plan progressed, but encouraged EQEC members to familiarize themselves with the ATP and be on the lookout for areas that they view as priorities for trails and sidewalks. 3) 2019 Environmental Fun Fair Ms. Workin shared that Anoka 4-H was interested in continuing the partnership related to the Fun Fair. She said the event would be similar to the previous years with a few additional items and an art contest. Commissioner Olberding recommended including prizes to increase participation. The group also th recommended including an adult category. Ms. Workin asked the commissioners to reserve the 4 for volunteering. 4) 2019 Recycling Drop-off update Ms. Workin shared that the City was planning to continue hosting events at Green Lights since participation recommended that the City ask GLR what events were turned away with the most frequency to determine how to expand collected items. Old Business 1) Pollinator Friendly Fridley update Ms. Workin shared that an update on this policy was included in the packet. 2) Energy Action Plan update Ms. Workin shared that an update on this policy was included in the packet. She also requested volunteer th help at the January 26Winterfest. She said that she would send out additional email information. Commissioner Ferris suggested an energy themed photobooth. Other 1) Smart Salting grant award Ms. Workin shared that the City received grant funding from MWMO to upgrade our snow plows to use less salt and keep better track of data. She also shared that we were selling brine to Columbia Heights so that they could decrease their salt use as well. 2) 2019 Meeting Dates Commissioner Foell mentioned that the group did not take action on the 2019 meeting dates during the October meeting. The meeting dates of the second Tuesday of the month (January 8, February 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8, November 12, and December 10) were provided. Commissioner Westby moved to approve the provided dates as the 2019 meeting dates. Commissioner Foell seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED unanimously Adjournment Commissioner Westby moved to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner Olberding seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:13pm. Memorandum Planning Division _____________________________________________________________________ DATE: January 8, 2019 TO: Environmental Quality and Energy Commission members FROM: Rachel Workin, Environmental Planner Active Transportation Plan SUBJECT: In 2013, the City adopted an Active Transportation Plan. This plan set the City’s vision for providing safe transportation opportunities for all citizens of Fridley and established strategies for increasing transportation options in Fridley. The plan also contained a series of maps including winter maintenance activities, streets designated for trails and sidewalks, and priority trails for sidewalks. Since the plan is now more than 5 years old and a new Comprehensive Plan has been developed, the plan needs to be amended for accuracy and relevancy. Goals of the update will be to: Update policy statements related to active transportation (Living Streets, winter maintenance, public transit) Update maps related to active transportation (identification of streets designated for trails/sidewalks and priority maps). Staff recommendation: Staff recommends that the EQEC reviews the Active Transportation Plan and consider priorities for updating the plan. Existing Trails and Sidewalks ?ÒA@ ?àA@ Sidewalk Bike Route (dedicated lane) County Trail City Trail City Path Proposed Trails LOCKE LOCKE County Park LAKE LAKE City Park ?ÒA@ MOORE MOORE LAKE LAKE ?àA@ § ¨¦ 694 FARR FARR LAKE LAKE § ¨¦ 694 · ?ÒA@ 00.10.20.40.60.81 Miles Sources: Fridley Community Development Fridley Public Works Metropolitan Council Map Date: 1/4/2019 City of Fridley 6431 University Ave NE Fridley, Minnesota 5543204303 Phone: (763) 572-3566 Memorandum Planning Division _____________________________________________________________________ DATE: January 8, 2019 TO: Environmental Quality and Energy Commission members FROM: Rachel Workin, Environmental Planner Energy Action Plan SUBJECT: th On November 26 the City Council approved an Energy Action Plan for the City of Fridley. In order to achieve the goals of the plan, an implementation plan was drafted. The below is a monthly update to the EQEC on progress toward completing the implementation plan: December 2018 Developing outreach materials Residential outreach plan development January newsletter article 2 social media posts Reached out to school for refrigerator recycling fundraiser Upcoming Events January 26- Winterfest February 9- EVs in Minnesota (Springbrook Discovery Dinner) February 14- Building Inspector Training May 4- Environmental Fun Fair