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02/20/1996 - 00003790CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 20, 1996 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Sielaff called the February 20, 1996, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Brad Sielaff, Bruce Bondow, Dean Saba, Richard Svanda Members Absent: Jack Velin Others Present: Lisa Campbell, Planning Associate APPROVAL OF JANUARY 16, 1996, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Bondow, seconded by Mr. Saba, to approve the January 16, 1996, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes as written. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 20, 1996, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION AGENDA: The following items were added to the agenda: Under "Old Business": e. Six Cities Watershed Management Organization Plan Rewrite. Under "Other Business": b. Spring Beautification MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Mr. Bondow, to approve the agenda as amended. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 1. NEW BUSINESS: a. Community Values - Guest Speaker: Dave Sallman, Fridley's Public Safety Director Ms. Campbell stated Dave Sallman was at the meeting to talk about the Values 1 st Program. Mr. Sallman stated he would keep his comments brief. He stated he represents the Government committee of the Values 1 st program. The Values 1 st program started a couple of years ago out of Southern Anoka County. Some people who were leaders in the community met regarding their concerns about crime, deteriorating housing, and discussed what can they could do about it. The program that they came up with is based on Peter Benson's study findings conducted for the Search Institute. A lot of cities are calling their programs "Children First" or "Youth First.". They decided to call their program "Values 1 st with Seven Values." These seven values were actually identified by sending surveys out to the community. They also sought to identify assets. These assets also come from Benson's work. According to Benson, if a child demonstrates 25 assets, then you have a healthy community. Across the County, the average is 15 to 16 assets. He stated this program is not about trying to impose his values on someone else's. Values studies were done across the world, in different cultures, and basically they ended up with the same values. Mr. Sallman stated they are trying to provide adult resources for children. The values represented by this program are self control, youth taking responsibility for curfews, and providing adults as mentors. Mr. Sallman stated that Government committee tries to do one value a month. This month is Citizenship month. They are going to have history night that will be put on by seniors. So what they are trying to do is instill these values into the community. The Government committee is just trying to go out to the various committees and let them know what the program is and give everybody an opportunity to ask questions. By the fact that the members of the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission are already volunteering their time shows that they already believe very strongly in citizenship. Mr. Sallman stated they are just looking for opportunities to talk to adults about what values they represent to their children. The best example he could use is that at least once a year a police officer will end up going to a little league game and breaking up a fight between the two coaches. They are trying to get adults to start realizing that children are paying attention to their behavior and to consider what values they are representing to the youth. Mr. Sielaff asked what values have been highlighted so far. Mr. Sallman stated that last month they highlighted respect. This month they are highlighting citizenship. He stated they wanted to get the message out to the various commissions to see if there are ways to work together to make this program successful. He had heard some discussion about spring clean up and the possibility of involving the kids in that program. Mr. Saba stated that the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation is very interested in connected with this Values 1 st program, too. They would like Mr. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, FEBRUARY 20, 1996 PAGE 3 Sallman to come to the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation to discuss the Values 1 st program. Mr. Sallman stated he would be glad to do that. He also wanted to emphasize that this as a long term thing. They are not going to hit the homerun. They had some events to kick off the program, but they are trying make an impact a little at a time, over a long period of time. Mr. Campbell asked if Project Safety Net is an ongoing program. Mr. Sallman stated that Project Safety Net is a combination of the curfew and their drop-in center, The Zone. The curfew center runs three nights a week, Friday and Saturday and one week night during this time of year. Through the summer the curfew center runs seven nights a week. For example, they served 600 kids last summer in the curfew center. Other cities have been paying attention. Columbia Heights is contributing to the center, and Coon Rapids is contributing $18,000. This is something where there is actually an economy of scale. Mr. Sallman stated that in the past the police officer would pick the kid up and spend the whole evening with the kid. Now the police officer picks the kid up and drops him off at the curfew center, where the Youth Workers bring the family in and find out why the kid was out. Sometimes the problems are minor, but sometimes there are bigger problems that need to be dealt with. They received a$45,000 grant to help fund the curfew center. Ms. Campbell asked about the Harambee component of the program. Mr. Sallman stated that the Harambee program is a self-esteem program for African American Youth. There are two African-American women among the youth workers who are setting this program up at the high school. There have been some racial problems at the Fridley High School, and the youth workers have been very active in trying to work some of those issues out. They have been fairly successful. Mr. Sielaff asked what happens to the program after this year. Mr. Sallman stated that the Values 1 st is a continuing program. They will be continuing to get the message out. A real big area they are looking at is the Youth Coaching Association. Mr. Sielaff stated that as treasurer of FYSA, he would like to have a speaker come to a FYSA meeting. The FYSA has had some discussion on the Values 1 st program. Mr. Sallman stated they could have a speaker come out. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, FEBRUARY 20, 1996 PAGE 4 Mr. Saba asked about a long-range plan for the Values 1 st program. Mr. Sallman stated a subcommittee has been formed to do some long range planning. Mr. Saba stated he thought the Values 1 st program is a wonderful effort and he would like to see more civic groups involved in the program. A suggestion could be a basketball game between the youth and the police department, getting the adults involved with the youth. Mr. Sallman stated they had actually done that, and it was a lot of fun. Mr. Sielaff stated he would contact Director Sallman about coming to one of the FYSA meetings. Mr. Sallman thanked the Commission members for this time to talk about the Values 1 st program. b. Review of Budget for Wellhead Protection, drafted by Bruce Olson, Supervisor, Special Services Unit, Drinking Water Protection Ms. Campbell stated that the Planning Coordinator, Scott Hickok; Public Works Director, John G. Flora; and Public Works Superintendent, Paul Lawrence, met with Bruce Olson on Wednesday, February 14, to further discuss wellhead protection. Mr. Olson went through this preliminary budget, and he immediately reduced the preliminary budget, by $12,000. That amount is for the pumping tests. He thought there would be some pumping test data available. Mr. Sielaff, asked if Mr. Olson was saying that they did not need to do a pumping test. Ms. Campbell stated, yes, they do need to do a pumping test. Mr. Olson said he thought the City could do its own pumping tests and also use existing data. Mr. Sielaff stated that they would have to make sure that any of the existing data or pump test data meets the testing parameters of the Minnesota Department of Health. Ms. Campbell stated that the other interesting feature of this meeting was that Public Works Director, John Flora, is ready to move forward on the plan. He feels that the Water Conservation Plan has been done and that they ought to move on that momentum and complete the Wellhead Protection Plan. The planned strategy of applying for a 1996 Clean Water Partnership Grant for the 1997 budget year and making the grant application part of the 1997 budget discussion was discussed with him, and he was agreeable to that, as well as possibly moving the whole thing forward to 1996. He argued that they could ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, FEBRUARY 20, 1996 PAGE 5 demonstrate a need in 1996 and get the Council to approve a 1996 expenditure. Staff will be meeting again to discuss the various strategies. Mr. Sielaff asked if staff had some potential strategies. Ms. Campbell, stated yes. The two strategies are to make it part of the 1996 workplan and to complete the plan in 1996 with general fund money; or to stick with the original plan of applying for a clean water partnership act grant application in 1996, for the 1997 budget year, and make the wellhead protection plan part an explicit 1997 budget discussion. The first option would require convincing Council that there is a need to do it this year and persuade them to release 1996 general fund monies for this purpose. Given the current budget constraints, accomplishing the first strategy seems less likely. Mr. Svanda asked about the likelihood of the Council approving a general fund match this year for this project. Mr. Campbell stated that given the current budget constraints and the lack of opportunity for the Council to review the request in a timely and systematic matter, it seemed less likely than the first strategy. Of course, the Council would be given the opportunity to make those determinations. Mr. Sielaff stated that it was his understanding that staff would be meeting again to discuss those two strategies. Ms. Campbell stated, yes, but there may also be a third strategy that would involve applying for a grant from another source to allow the project to go forward this year. Mr. Sielaff asked which department, Planning or Public Works, would be the responsible department. Ms. Campbell stated the Planning Department would be responsible, and she believed Barbara Dacy would be the responsible party, but that she would be the project coordinator. Mr. Sielaff directed staff to update the Commission on staff progress on this matter at the March commission meeting. c. Review Draft of City's Application: Governor's Award for Excellence in Pollution Prevention Ms. Campbell stated the Commission members had a draft copy of the application. She had some trouble identifying the waste, pollution, or other environmental problem that motivated the organization to undertake the project, until she realized that the disposal cost for the Fridley resident had increased ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, FEBRUARY 20, 1996 PAGE 6 89% in the last fifteen years. Mr. Svanda asked what was the pollution prevention that resulted from the project. Ms. Campbell the pollution prevention was roughly 208 tons. Mr. Svanda asked what waste this represents. Ms. Lisa Campbell stated this is the waste that has either not left people's yards, has not been managed properly, or has come to some other unknown disposition. Mr. Svanda asked if every effort has been made to reuse or recycle these materials. Ms. Campbell stated, yes. Mr. Saba stated that recycling fluorescent lamps, oil, and car batteries makes sure that residents are not dumping the material. Mr. Bondow asked if these amounts were over and above our normal averages. Ms. Campbell stated, absolutely yes. Mr. Bondow, asked if otherwise these amounts would have just been laying around. Ms. Campbell stated it probably would. To support this belief, she cited that fact that this program would have cost the participating resident roughly $20.00. If the participating resident wanted to get rid of three of these items, it would have cost the resident $90.00. Mr. Saba stated that Ms. Campbell's emphasis in putting together the application is correct. The application has to give the review board a sense of how this program prevents this material from becoming mismanaged and, therefore, becoming pollution. Mr. Bondow stated that it could be argued that the material would still be laying around in people's yards, perhaps leaking, and this program provided the motivation to gather all that stuff up. Mr. Svanda stated that he believed pollution prevention would mean not creating the waste in the first place. Mr. Saba stated that he understood that and the review board may agree with Commissioner Svanda, but he believed that proper management of this material ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, FEBRUARY 20, 1996 PAGE 7 could represent significant pollution prevention. You could argue very convincingly that this many car batteries would not have been managed properly without this program. Mr. Svanda stated that maybe this will get the award, and maybe it will come back praised as the model that other cities want to use. Again, it is his understanding that pollution prevention is preventing the generation of waste in the first place. He did think staff and the Commission members had made a good argument. Mr. Saba stated he believed the whole value of the project was that the City prevented this material from going into the waste stream. Ms. Campbell reviewed with the Commission the text of the draft application. The Commission members made several suggestions on how to improve the application, prior to its submission. d. Discuss Improvement Strategy for Recycling Center Ms. Campbell directed the Commission's attention to Appendix A for a complete history of the events leading to the revised improvement plan for the recycling center. She stated that in February 1995, staff submitted a comprehensive redevelopment plan for the City' recycling center. Improved customer service and an increase in tonnage processed at the site were the objectives of this plan. The estimated cost of the plan was $88,000. In March of the same year negotiations were initiated with Recycle Minnesota Resources, Inc. (RMR). In June of the same year, the City ceased negotiations with RMR. In September, the City went out for a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an alternative contractor to take on both the redevelopment of the site and the operation of the facility. The City received no substantive responses to the first RFP. The City issued a second RFP. In the second RFP the prospective contractor was allowed to identify an operating fee that would be paid by the City. The City received two proposals. Waste Management and RMR submitted proposals with operating fees of roughly $6,000 and $3,000, respectively. Both operating fees exceeded the City's budget for the project. Subsequently, the City entered into a short- term lease with RMR. This lease terminates on May 31, 1996. Ms. Campbell directed the Commission's attention to the beginning of the staff report for a complete report on The Revised Improvement Strategy. She stated that there were three elements to the revised improvement strategy. The three points were: 1) Pursue a short-term lease with a new contractor; 2) Leave the building in its current location; and 3) Implement a three year improvement plan using Score Funds, cash and in-kind contributions, and volunteer efforts. She stated that the basis of the recommendation that the City pursue a new contractor is the current contractor's unwillingness to participate financially in the ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, FEBRUARY 20, 1996 PAGE 8 improving the site and a recent drop in tonnage at the site. Ms. Campbell stated that the City recently completed roughly $7,000 worth of improvements at the site and of this amount the current contractor was only willing to contribute 800.00 to those costs. She stated the second basis of the recommendation is the recent drop in tonnage. The City relies on the Recycling Center to meet the tonnage goals. Any drop in tonnage hurts the City's chances of ineeting the annual abatement goal. Ms. Campbell stated that staff is not entirely convinced that the private sector does not have funds to contribute to this project. She cited the considerable capital investments private recycling business have made in their own recycling programs. She cited a recent article in the Wall Street Journal that states that the recycling part of Browning Ferris Industries has grown from a 10 million dollar part of their operation, to a 675 million dollar part of their operation. She also stated that even though the article does point to the risk of marketing materials, it also points to the private sector's willingness to invest in expanding their own share of the recycling business. Ms. Campbell stated that given this level of investment, staff does not believe that some level of private investment is an unreasonable expectation. She stated that the basis for this belief is further supported by the fact that recycling is a federally and state mandated activity, which guarantees the private sector a long term demand for their services. In the seven county metropolitan area, the practice of giving land away free or at a discounted price for this use is a common practice. The private recycling companies are already receiving subsidies from us. Ms Campbell stated the budget for the Revised Improvement Plan was roughly $24,000, of which $21,000 could be paid from SCORE funds and $3,000 would come from cash and in-kind contributions. Mr. Sielaff asked about the lease agreement. He stated that he believed an option the Commission had discussed in the past was making the contractor make a lease payment to the City. Why couldn't they do that now? Why couldn't the City figure out what it would cost to make the improvements and recover its costs? Ms. Campbell stated that the problem with that approach is that any revenue the City receives from the recycling center is deducted by the County from the City's final SCORE payments. Mr. Sielaff stated he understood that, but he did not understand how what staff is currently proposing is different from a lease agreement. Ms. Campbell stated that under the current lease agreement and the proposed lease agreement, there is no lease payment. Only the land is being leased to ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, FEBRUARY 20, 1996 PAGE 9 the contractor. Mr. Saba stated that it sounds like the contractor has a no cost lease. He gets to operate the site. The only benefit the City gets is that it gets to count the recyclables toward the annual recycling goal. Mr. Sielaff asked about the terms of the current lease agreement. Ms. Campbell stated that the contractor pays for maintenance, the electric bill, and staffs it. The contractor pays the operational costs. Mr. Sielaff stated that he still did not understand why the City is calling this a short-term lease agreement. Ms. Campbell stated that the City is leasing the facility and the land to the contractor. Commissioner Bondow stated that the contractor is renting the facility for zero dollars, but that there are other considerations which are addressed in the agreement. Mr. Saba asked if a handicapped accessible bathroom at a cost of $5,000 is really necessary. Ms. Campbell stated this is a requirement of the State Building Code. According to the building inspector, if there is one employee, a bathroom is required. A new bathroom must meet the requirements of the Disabilities Act. However, this question is still being investigated. Mr. Bondow asked if the satellite that was out there is no longer sufficient for the needs of the site. Ms. Campbell stated the issue of the bathroom is still being investigated. Staff is looking at the possibility of a satellite that is handicapped accessible. The installation of the bathroom could be eliminated from the plan, but if the City does install a bathroom, it will have to be handicap accessible. Mr. Saba asked how staff would be proceeding now toward the implementation of the improvement plan. Ms. Campbell stated that under the improvement plan, staff would be going forward next month with another Request for Proposal for a short-term lease. Council has asked for a user tally of the site, and they want this information before they will direct staff to go forward with the improvement plan. Mr. Sielaff asked about the purpose of the user study. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, FEBRUARY 20, 1996 PAGE 10 Ms. Campbell state the purpose of the user study is to determine who uses the site and whether or not the City should be asking others to participate in the cost of improving the site. Mr. Sielaff asked if other cities have recycling centers. Ms. Campbell stated that other cities have recycling centers, but they are not all monitored or open five days a week. The Fridley recycling center would be considered a full service recycling center. Mr. Sielaff asked staff to keep the Commission updated on this project. e. Six Cities Watershed Management Plan Ms. Campbell stated, that she did not have the Six Cities Water Management Plan rewrite for the Commission as she had hoped. Unfortunately, the review period ends February 29, 1996. Mr. Sielaff stated there is still the public hearing for the draft. Ms. Campbell stated that is true. She stated she could have the plans at the next meeting, or she could get them delivered to the Commission sooner. Mr. Sielaff stated he has learned that the plan has been at the State, or The Board of Water and Soil Conservation, for their review since December. Ms. Campbell stated that is true, and the memorandum the Commission received from Director Flora does not identify the deadline. It says that the plan will be approved by June of 1996. Mr. Sielaff stated that BWSR is concerned about the fact that generally watershed districts have not been setting up citizen advisory review of the drafts. Considering the sensitivity of the Springbrook Nature Center wetland, there should be some opportunity for public review of the draft. Maybe it would be possible to request an extension of the comment period, since the Commission just found out about the deadline on the comment period. The Commission should send a letter to the Six Cities Watershed Management Organization and carbon copy BWSR saying that the Commission would like to have the comment period extended. The comment period should be extended one month to March 29, 1996. Ms. Campbell stated that she would write a letter asking for a one month extension on the comment period. She stated that she understood that the Commission wanted her to carbon copy to BWSR. 2. OLD BUSINESS: ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, FEBRUARY 20, 1996 PAGE 11 a. Finalize 1996 Workplan This item was tabled until the March 1996 meeting. 3. OTHER BUSINESS: a. Commission Vacancies and Confirmation of Seven Member Status of Commission Ms. Campbell stated that Council would like the Commissions to offer any possible candidates for the vacancies. Ms. Campbell stated she had reviewed the City Code regarding the size of this Commission. It is to be a seven member Commission. There was no language in the City Code that says that the Commission will be allowed by attrition to fall to a five member commission indefinitely. b. Spring Beautification Mr. Saba stated that Councilmember Bolkcom asked about the possiblity of putting together some kind Spring Beautification program. He suggested the possibility of getting people to plant gardens or having some kind of garden competition. Mr. Svanda stated that this winter's ice storm has really caused alot of debeautification. He even thought it detracted from the fall clean-up. Maybe the City would want to consider providing another brush collection. Mr. Bondow stated that the City should let the residents put the material out curbside and the City could pick it up. Ms. Campbell stated that Public Works is picking up branches that have fallen as a result of the ice storm curbside. Residents just need to call Public Works when their branches are ready. Mr. Svanda agreed that the ice storm really brought down a lot of branches. He created a lot of blight and even detracted from the clean-up efforts that took place last fall. Mr. Saba agreed that this brush is really creating a blight. Maybe this pick-up service could be extended further and maybe the City could consider some kind of program where people who needed help could get their trees trimmed for a discount. Mr. Svanda asked how long the pick-up service is available. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, FEBRUARY 20, 1996 PAGE 12 Ms. Campbell stated there is no deadline; however, anyone interested in having that service should call Public Works as soon as possible. Ms. Campbell stated she would investigate the possibility of putting together some kind of plan for the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Mr. Svanda, to adjourn the meeting. Upon a voice vote, all voting aye, Chairperson Sielaff declared the motion carried and the February 20, 1996, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Campbell Recording Secretary