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EQEA 11/12/2019 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION Fridley Municipal Center, 7071 University Ave Ne MINUTES bƚǝĻƒĬĻƩ ЊЋͲ ЋЉЊВ Location: City of Fridley Civic Campus, Banfill Room Call to Order Chair Hanson called the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission to order at 7:06 p.m. Present: Amy Dritz, Heidi Ferris, Mark Hanson, Justin Foell, Paul Westby, Nick Olberding Absent: Sam Stoxen Staff: Rachel Workin, Environmental Planner Approval of Minutes Chair Hansen called for a motion to adopt the minutes from the October 8 Environmental Quality and Energy Commission minutes. Ms. Workin states there was an error, and that minutes under New Item 2 Approve 2020 Meeting Dates should be revised to dates. Commissioner Dritz made a motion to approve the minutes and Commissioner Foell seconded the motionto approve the minutes. MOTION PASSED unanimously New Business 1)Review Active Transportation Plan Ms. Workin provided a presentation on the Active Transportation Plan. The presentation detailed the planning process to date, the process for selecting focus areas, the Living Streets Policy, Maintenance, Winter Maintenance, and implementation. She asked that the EQEC provide comments on the document or recommend approval. Commissioner. Ferris emphasized the importance of physical snow removal to avoid the need for de-icing agents that could harm water quality. Ms. Workin said that the City did not currently use de-icing agents on sidewalks. Commissioner Hansen commented that trails are often in shady areas with lack of traffic that pose challenges for ice removal. Commissioner Hansen said that the goals made and were in line with what the commission had talked about. He liked the focus on collector streets. He recommended including discussions about long range Highway 65 to be able to incorporate any new opportunities that might arise as a result of land use changes. Commissioner Hansen asked how the plan would incorporate water quality. Ms. Workin said that the Living Streets worksheet identifies opportunities for narrowing road width and identifying stormwater management th opportunities. She provided the example of 69 Avenue which is planned to be narrowed with incorporated swales. Commissioner Foell shared that he really tests and getting feedback, and that he would like trial runs to be part of the vocabulary- make it the norm not the exception. Foell- they have a lot guidelines for redevelopment. Commissioner Hansen said that a lot of the guidelines have been standardized and recommended listing other sources and references. Commissioner Ferris recommended integrating climate resiliency. The group then discussed the importance of education and educational outreach. Based on the discussion the group recommended bringing the document back in December with the following changes: 1)Include discussion of long-range planning on Highway 65 2)Provide information on integration of active transportation into redevelopment, such as the Hennepin County Active Living checklist 3)Include a section on education/outreach 4)Integrate climate resiliency 2) Lawns to Legumes Ms. Workin provided an update on the Lawns to Legumes program which is a new program administered through BWSR to encourage residences to plant pollinator friendly yards, particularly in areas of the rusty patch bumble bee. She described that there would be two tracks: an individual application as well as a demonstration project application. She said that the City of Fridley would be applying for a demonstration application with ACD, and the City of Coon Rapids and Andover with a focus on pollinator habitat along the Mississippi and Rum Rivers. She asked EQEC members to share her contact information with residents in that area that may be interested in applying. Commissioner Hansen said that residents in Coon Rapids could reach out to the city forester. Old Business 1)Energy Action Plan update Ms. Workin said the information was in the packet. rd 2)53 Ave open house recap rd Ms. Workin said that the 53 Ave open house was a success with approximately 60 people in attendance. She said that attendees preferred a street design that had a trail, and the City would be moving forward with a grant application for the upcoming regional solicitation grant. Other 3) Commissioner Foell recommended having an article about MMCD and stormwater information. The group discussed how informative the presentation was. Ms. Workin asked the EQEC to share other speakers they would be interested in hearing from. The group mentioned Bob Dahm of Organic Bobs and Cheryl Seeman of APAP. Adjournment Commissioner Westby moved to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner Foell seconded the motion. The meeting Environmental Quality and Energy Commission adjourned at 8:15 p.m.