EQEA 09/10/2019
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION
Fridley Municipal Center, 7071 University Ave Ne
MINUTES
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Location: City of Fridley Civic Campus, Banfill Room
Call to Order
Chair Hanson called the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission to order at 7:02
Present: Amy Dritz, Nick Olberding, Heidi Ferris, Mark Hanson, Justin Foell
Absent: Paul Westby Sam Stoxen
Staff: Rachel Workin, Environmental Planner
Other: Iris Ferris
Approval of Minutes
Chair Hansen called for a motion to adopt the minutes from the August 13 Environmental Quality and Energy
Commission minutes.
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Chair Hansen corrected an error on the 2 page related to the phrase steepness of the sidewalk cross slope
Commissioner Foell said that the minutes marked him and Commissioner Stoxen as absent and requested that
this be changed.
Following the correction of these errors, Commissioner Olberding made a motion and Commissioner Ferris
seconded the motion to approve the minutes.
MOTION PASSED unanimously
New Business
1)Active Transportation Plan
Ms. Workin said that the EQEC had been working on updating the Active Transportation Plan. She said that the
map contained two maps, a long-
listed the priorities within this long-term vision for that plan cycle. She recommended leaving the long-term
vision the same and updating the priority map. Commissioners were asked to travel within certain zones. Ms.
Workin asked the commissioners to share their experience travelling within the different zones. Ir
Iris provided maps of her opinions of where she biked in the City of Fridley. Ms. Iris Ferris commented that she
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did not feel comfortable biking between Locke Lake park and on 73. Commissioner Ferris described the
conditions that made it discouraging to biking. Ms. Ferris also shared her experience of cars not stopping at the
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crosswalk on 73, and that 3 lanes of traffic would come to a stop and then a car would speed by through the 4
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lane of traffic. Chair. Hansen commented about 73 being a very confusing intersection. Commissioner Foell
recommended doing a temporary neckdown at this intersection. Commissioner Ferris recommended doing this
in conjunction with the Timberwolves event. Ms. Workin stated that we could propose a policy of no
crosswalks that must path through more than one lane of traffic in either direction. Chair Hansen commented on
the success of a high visibility cross walk in Coon Rapids. Ms. Ferris also recommended a bike lane or path
down Jackson Street. She said that the University Avenue Trail was very bumpy
Ms. Workin asked the other commissioners to share their experience biking in the City. Chair Hansen said the
trail around Community Park was very steep, not at ADA compliant, which discourages riders. He
recommended adding an ADA connection on northside of road, he also recommended the potential for trail or
bridge.
Commissioner Dritz said that she like the improvements \[new medians, crosswalk, and bike lane between high
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school and W. Moore Lake\] on 61. Commissioner Foell agreed, but said that the treatment at Highway 65,
should go.
Chair Hansen recommended focusing on County roads, and higher volume streets. He also recommended
converting one side to trail when we have trail and sidewalk. He stated that the was on the fence about the
Riverview Heights trail due to low traffic volume. Commissioner Foell said it was his favorite part of MRT.
Commissioner Hansen said that it was already a narrow row, maybe it could use a sidewalk since there was
such a defined cow path but .
Commissioner Ferris said she travelled along Zone 3 and was surprised by the number of people on the
backroads in the industrial area (Main St/Commerce) by Treehouse Foods. She encountered a woman by City
Hall who was lost and recommended wayfinding at intersections and at major intersections around the Rice
Creek trails. Chair Hansen said that it was possible to get SHIP funds for wayfinding signs.
Commissioner Olberding said that the tunnel under the train station needs a bike rail on the stairs. He also said
that there was a cow path in front of new sidewalk. He recommended increased wayfinding along the MRT
through Stevenson Elementary.
Commissioner Foell said that his primary concern was maintenance, and that in many situations, the condition
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of the road is worse than the trail, for example Osborne Rd, 73, E Moore Lake Dr, Old Central. He said there
should be plan for resurfacing of trails like there is for roads. He also recommended focusing on the small wins,
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like the crossing on 73 and installing a curb cut from 73 service road to University. He also recommended
connecting the 57 ½ Ave. Commissioner Foell also recommended installing more trees along the trails for shade
and to block headlights and wind.
Commissioner Dritz commented that trees along University between Community and Two Stooges need
trimming. She agrees on spending more effort on maintaining trail conditions. Commissioner Dritz said signage
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was needed on the trail between Locke County Park and 73 Avenue.
Commissioner Olberding recommended signage on Monroe St into the Rice Creek trail system.
Chair Hansen suggested that the plan provide a pallet of reconstruction, provide options.
Commissioner Ferris recommended using wayfinding to communicate what the City has to offer and
recommended increased signage around Islands of Peace.
Chair Hansen commented that there was significant erosion from the railroad onto the service road that previous
efforts have not fixed. Ms. Workin said she would follow up.
Ms. Workin said that staff discussions supported the EQEC recommendations. She said that identified gaps in
the sidewalk and trail system aligned with road classifications presented in the comp plan. She showed a map
that included two way bike and walk facilities along these roads, and where the gaps were. She said that the
bike gaps could be addressed through a sufficiently wide trail on one side of the road or bike lanes on both side
of the road. A trail could also take the place of a sidewalk. Ms. Workin then shared a matrix ranking the
different priorities of trails. The commissioners expressed agreement with this method and the identified
priorities in addition to the priorities listed above.
Old Business
1)Energy Action Plan update
Ms. Workin said the information was in the packet.
Other
1)Recycling Drop off- Sept 14
2)Smart Salting Workshop- September 19
Ms. Workin shared that 18 participants had registered.
3)Mississippi St Meeting- September 24
Ms. Workin shared fliers for the event and encouraged commissioners to attend or send comments.
4)Julie Jones retiring- October 4
Ms. Workin said that Julie Jones would be retiring next month and that she expressed her gratitude for the work
they did and for being able to work with the EQEC. Ms. Workin said that her retirement party was planned for
October 4 from 2:30-4 at Springbrook Nature Center.
5)New resident mixer- October 12
Ms. Workin said that there would be a new resident open house and asked for commissioners help tabling the
event. Chair Hansen requested she send an email with event details.
6)Mosquito Control- meet in October
Commissioner Foell said he was at an event with the MMCD and thought they would be a worthwhile EQEC
presentation. Commissioners requested an October presentation. Commissioner Foell said that he would
coordinate.
Adjournment
Commissioner Foell moved to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner Olberding seconded the motion. The
meeting Environmental Quality and Energy Commission adjourned at 8:24