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06/04/1996 - 00003818CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING JUNE 4, 1996 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Sielaff called the June 4, 1996, meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Brad Sielaff, Dean Saba, Rich Svanda, Bruce Bondow, Jack Velin I►�iCai'i1.• -Ta'�i �_1• -'�iii�►[•7T Others Present: Lisa Campbell, Planning Associate APPROVAL OF MARCH 19, 1996, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Mr. Bondow, to approve the April 16, 1996, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes as written/amended. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. APPROVAL OF JUNE 4, 1996, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION AGENDA: MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Mr. Svanda, to approve the agenda as written/amended. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 1. OLD BUSINESS: a. Report from Brad Sielaff, Chairperson, on May 20, 1996, Meeting with Council Regarding EQE Comments on the Six Cities Watershed Management Organization (SCWMO) Plan Mr. Sielaff stated that, along with meeting with the Council, he and Siah St. Clair and Commissioner Saba had attended the public hearing to comment on the ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, JUNE 4, 1996 PAGE 2 plan. He stated that the SCWMO received the Commission's comments with regard to the plan without commenting on their concerns at the public hearing. Mr. Sielaff stated that after he went to the public hearing, he contacted William Burns, the City Manager, to discuss the Commission's concerns regarding the scheduling of data collection at the Springbrook Nature Center wetland into the year 2000, and that the Commission would like to see that date moved up to 1997. Mr. Burns was concerned about the cost of the study. Mr. Sielaff stated that he offered the resources of the Challenge Grant from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. Mr. Burns was also concerned about restoring the wetland back to 1974 levels. Mr. Sielaff stated he had responded by saying that some benchmark was necessary. Mr. Sielaff stated that he believed it was a good exchange of information, and he asked Mr. Burns if he could present the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission's concerns to the Council. Mr. Burns agreed. Mr. Sielaff stated that he attended the post-council meeting and talked with the Council about the Commission's concerns. He believed the Council was receptive to the Commission's concerns and he told the Council about the Challenge Grant. The Council indicated that they would support the grant application. Ms. Campbell stated that the Six Cities Watershed Management Organization would be the grant sponsor, with the City of Fridley contributing most of the in- kind and cash match. She stated that a resolution from the Six Cities Watershed Management Organization and a letter of support from the City of Fridley are the documents that will be needed for the grant application. She stated that she is also seeking cash and in-kind contributions from the Cities of Blaine, Spring Lake Park, and Coon Rapids, and the Anoka Conservation District. The SCWMO meets on June 27, 1996, and they will consider a resolution supporting the grant application at that time, but the City of Fridley will be provided the bulk of the matching funds and in-kind contributions. Mr. Sielaff asked Ms. Campbell about the budget on the Clean Water Partnership Grant. Ms. Campbell stated that amount was $60,150, but she thought that could be reduced by taking the education component out of the BWSR grant. Mr. Sielaff stated that John Flora, Director of Public Works, was at the Council meeting on May 20, and he mentioned that the SCWMO is now monitoring what is going out of Springbrook. Mr. Flora believed they should focus on monitoring ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, JUNE 4, 1996 PAG E 3 the quality and quantity of the water that is going into the Springbrook Nature Center wetland. Ms. Campbell stated she could have a draft application of the grant available for the Commission's review at the next Commission meeting on June 18, 1996. Mr. Velin asked if it had to be a matching grant. Ms. Campbell stated, yes. Mr. Velin stated he was concerned that the Council would not want to match a grants as high as $40,000. Mr. Sielaff stated there would be other sources of the match including other cities, as well as in-kind matches. Ms. Campbell stated it might be possible to reduce the budget of this grant. Mr. Sielaff stated the only remaining issue is whether or not they should apply for a regular Challenge grant of up to $40,000 or a special wetland planning grant from BWSR. Mr. Svanda stated he thought the whole problem was beyond the planning stage, and that the application should be for the regular Challenge Grant. Ms. Campbell asked that if the Commission is in agreement, the application should be for a regular Challenge grant. The Commission members agreed. Mr. Sielaff asked if there were any other issues related to application. Ms. Campbell stated that the grant criteria for the seven county metropolitan area states that under item B: "Metropolitan Surface Water Management Plans. Metro Watershed Management Organizations (WMO) with state approved plans and locally adopted plans are eligible to apply for and receive Challenge Grant funding." She stated further that she had talked to John Flora about this and he said that the SCWMO has a plan and it is approved. However, item F states that the grant must include a statement in the application "...describing the relationship of the grant request to priority implementation items in the comprehensive local plan." There is no such statement in the old plan. She ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, JUNE 4, 1996 PAG E 4 stated she believed they might run into the same problem they had in the other application, that there is no statement identifying Springbrook Nature Center wetland as a priority in the currently approved plan. She said that when she talked to John Flora about it he told her to work with Mark Lobermeir of SEH, the SCWMO's consultant, to address that part of the application. Ms. Campbell restated that she would have a draft ready for their review at the June 18, 1996, Commission meeting. The Commission members complimented Commissioner Sielaff for his work in presenting the issue to the Council and his success in obtaining their support for the Challenge grant application. b. Update on Wellhead Protection Planning Ms. Campbell stated that City staff had a meeting with SEH staff on March 13, 1996. The purpose of that meeting was to discuss with SEH staff how much it would cost for them to do the wellhead protection plan. SEH was considered for this discussion since they had just finished the Water Conservation Plan for the City. Ms. Campbell stated that during the meeting, the consultants suggested that it would cost $500 to get the City through the Scoping meeting with the Minnesota Department of Health. And, then some time later, Scott Hickok received this letter from the consultant stating that the cost will actually be $1,300. Mr. Velin stated in the body of the letter it states that the City will provide the consultant with all the data. If the City is to provide all the data, then the City could complete the work. He said the proposed amount is too high. Mr. Sielaff stated he did not think it was necessary for staff to rely on a consultant to take the City through the Scoping meeting, especially when Bruce Olson of the Minnesota Department of Health is willing to assist cities. Ms. Campbell stated that Council will be discussing the wellhead protection plan budget in the 1997 budget discussion on June 18, 1996. Mr. Sielaff asked if the Council has ever met on the same night as the Commission in the past. Ms. Campbell stated, yes, this is a Council budget work session that it is a public ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, JUNE 4, 1996 PAG E 5 meeting, publicized, and conducted in Conference Room B. Ms. Campbell stated that Barbara Dacy, Community Development Director, has asked her to obtain a letter from Bruce Olson regarding when the City would come under the wellhead protection rule. She has done that and this document will be used to in the budget work session to evaluate whether or not the City will go forward. Mr. Sielaff stated that he understood. 2. NEW BUSINESS: a. Review of July - December 1995 Reimbursement Request to Anoka County for SCORE Funds Ms. Campbell reviewed the process she goes through to complete and support the reimbursement request to Anoka County for SCORE funds. b. Report on Minnesota Environmental Initiative Policy Conference XV Ms Campbell stated she attended the Minnesota Environmental Initiative Policy Conference on Monday, May 6, 1996. She stated that although the conference was planned before the recent court decision affirming the unconstitutionality of waste designation, or "flow control," that decision certainly did provide an added urgency and context for the discussion on the future waste management practices in the state. This is because the current waste management system relies on flow control to fund its programs and management practices. The method, flow control, provides the primary financing for the bonds on the metropolitan region's resource recovery facilities, the incinerators. Ms. Campbell stated that as a group, the participants of the conference represented all players in the State's waste management system. The general consensus of the group was that a lot of progress had been made over the last 15 years in the area of recycling and resource recovery. It was agreed that more was needed in the areas of reduction and composting. As the group looked forward toward the future, the concerns were varied. Some participants wanted a more serious commitment on the part of the State to implement waste reduction programs. Other participants wanted lobbying efforts at the Federal level to remove subsidies that make virgin materials less costly to use than recycled materials. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, JUNE 4, 1996 PAG E 6 Mr. Sielaff asked what made virgin materials more appealing. Ms. Campbell stated many virgin materials still have price supports. Mr. Sielaff added that the Federal government still makes a practice of executing cheap leases on federal lands for paper companies. Ms. Campbell agreed and further stated that some conference participants argued that virgin material isn't just more economical because of a pure economic system, rather it is because the Federal government has intervened by providing price supports. If these subsidies were removed, then the playing field would be level. Ms. Campbell stated that there was also a desire among conference participants to base new policy on resource conservation, rather than focusing on the movement of materials from one location to another. For instance, an analysis of the resources used to conduct curbside recycling programs would probably reveal that this method of managing waste does not conserve resources. Ms. Campbell stated that the group also seemed to agree that flexibility should be a significant feature of future solid waste management policy. Regardless of what point of view, private or public the participants were coming from, they seemed to be unified on this point: The future solid waste management policy and practice should be flexible enough to respond to changing conditions. Mr. Sielaff asked who was at the conference. Ms. Campbell stated that "everybody was there." Municipalities were there, private industry was there. Waste Management, Super Cycle, and BFI were there. Senator Gene Merriam was the moderator. Recycling Coordinators were there. State people were there. About 200 people attended the conference. Commissioner Paul McCarron was also there. Mr. Sielaff asked if they were going to review the Waste Management Act in the next session. Ms. Campbell stated it was her understanding that legislation will be reviewed in 1998. 3. OTHER BUSINESS: Ms. Campbell announced that two new members will be attending the next ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, JUNE 4, 1996 PAG E 7 Commission meeting. Ms. Campbell also forwarded some information from Michele McPherson on the state wetland planning project and getting on the Internet. Mr. Saba asked when the City of Fridley was going to get on the "web." Ms. Campbell stated she would check. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Mr. Saba, to adjourn the meeting . Upon a voice vote, all voting aye, Chairperson Sielaff declared the June 4, 1996, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lisa Campbell Staff Liaison to the Commission