EQEM 12/10/2019
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 7:01 p.m.
Present: Amy Dritz, Sam Stoxen, Mark Hanson, Justin Foell, Nick Olberding
Absent: Heidi Ferris, Paul Westby
Staff: Rachel Workin, Environmental Planner
Approval of Minutes
Chair Hansen called for a motion to adopt the minutes from the November 12 Environmental Quality and
Energy Commission minutes.
Ms. Workin states there was an error, and that the minutes said to approve the November 12 minutes instead of
the October 8 minutes
Commissioner Olberding made a motion to approve the minutes and Commissioner Foell seconded the motion
to approve the minute with the abovementioned correction.
MOTION PASSED unanimously
New Business
1)Chair/Vice Chair appointments
Ms. Workin stated that the EQEC needed to appoint chair members. Commissioner Stoxen made a motion
to reappoint Mark Hansen as chair and Nick Olberding as vice chair. Commissioner Foell seconded the
motion.
MOTION PASSED unanimously
Commissioner Olberding asked if there was any movement on adding teens to commissions. Ms. Workin
heard of any.
2)Active Transportation Plan
Ms. Workin shared edits that had been made to the ATP based on EQEC feedback. Chair Hansen discussed
the educational outreach that must accompany HAWK infrastructure, and reviewed traffic circles.
Commissioner Foell recommended repeating the headings on tables broken by pages
Commissioner Foell motioned to recommend that the Active Transportation Plan be recommended to the
Planning Commission for approval. Commissioner Dritz seconded the motion.
MOTION PASSED Unanimously.
Ms. Workin shared potential plans for trail sidewalk infrastructure along University Avenue Service Roads
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between 69 and 73 Avenues. Commissioner Dritz said that the sidewalk was located in a better location.
Commissioner Foell recommended thinking about crosswalks and designing the system in the straightest
path. He recommended a crosswalk to Holiday. Chair Hansen asked if you could avoid removing trees by
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placing the sidewalk right along the curb. He said that the service road was lower volume north of 73
Avenue. The EQEC preferred the sidewalk to the trail option
3)Metropolitan Council Water Efficiency Grant
Ms. Workin shared that the City had received a $20,000 grant for rebates for water efficient toilets, washing
machines, and irrigation systems. The EQEC recommended hosting a dinner at Springbrook on irrigation
systems and reaching out to large businesses and churches with irrigation systems.
4)Recycling Dropoff Update
Ms. Workin shared information comparing 2019 dropoffs with previous years. She shared that the City was
able to recycle 20 more tons of material for $1000 less dollars than in 2017.
Old Business
1)Energy Action Plan update
Ms. Workin said the information was in the packet. Commissioner Olberding shared that he was working
with other commissions on a HES challenge for 2020.
2)Lawns to Legumes
Ms. Workin shared information on the Lawns to Legumes grant which is now open.
Other
1)TOD project; funding of TOD sidewalks Main St project
Chair Hansen discussed a project in the TOD that was approved by the planning commission. The group
discussed the zero-lot line provision within the TOD.
Adjournment
Commissioner Foell moved to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner Stoxen seconded the motion. The
meeting Environmental Quality and Energy Commission adjourned at 8:23 p.m.