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01/21/1997 - 00003723CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 21, 1997 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Sielaff called the January 21, 1997, meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Brad Sielaff, Dean Saba, Jack Velin, Rosalie Landt, Peter Panchyshyn Members Absent: Bruce Bondow, Rich Svanda, Others Present: Barbara Dacy, Community Development Director Scott Hickok, Planning Coordinator Julie Jones, Recycling Coordinator Mary Gliniany, Global Action Plan APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 17, 1996, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Mr. Velin, to approve the December 17, 1996, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes as written. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. INTRODUCTION OF JULIE JONES. NEW RECYCLING COORDINATOR: Chairperson Sielaff introduced Julie Jones, the newly hired Planning Assistant/ Recycling Coordinator, and welcomed her to the City of Fridley. Ms. Jones briefly explained her recycling background. APPROVAL OF JANUARY 21, 1997, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION AGENDA: The agenda was approved without any changes. NEW BUSINESS: a. Update on Presentation of Clean Water Partnership Grant to MPCA Mr. Hickok explained the background of the Clean Water Partnership Grant application for the Springbrook Nature Center. He reported that on January 9, 1997, staff conducted an oral presentation of the grant application to the MPCA. The presentation was well received; however, the City will not hear if the application is accepted until the first part of February. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION, JANUARY 21, 1997 PAGE 2 Mr. Sielaff stated that the City would probably not hear any results until closer to mid-February. 2. OLD BUSINESS: a. Further Discussion Regarding Global Action Plan's (GAP) EcoTeam Program Ms. Dacy apologized for neglecting to provide the context for the GAP EcoTeam request at the December meeting. She reported on and distributed a copy of Anoka County's answers to three questions that were raised by Commission members at the December 17, 1996, meeting. She recommended that the Commission endorse the EcoTeam program to initiate four pilot EcoTeams in the neighborhoods. There was much discussion regarding the calculation of SCORE funds. Ms. Dacy stated that there will be no impact to future SCORE funding as a result of supporting the program. Mary Gliniany distributed various pieces of information in support of the EcoTeam program. Mr. Saba raised concerns about GAP being able to form four EcoTeams. He said his experience is that people are very busy and it is extremely difficult to get them to take interest in new activities such as this. Ms. Gliniany stated that she has two groups already ready to start the program. Ms. Landt concurred with staff's recommendation for the Commission's support for the EcoTeam program. She stated the Commission's support could help GAP solicit interested households to form four EcoTeams. Mr. Sielaff clarified that GAP has enough money to form four EcoTeams. MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Ms. Landt, that the Environmental Quality & Energy Commission support the EcoTeam program. Chairperson Sielaff requested a friendly amendment to request GAP to report results to the Commission. Amendment accepted UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION AS AMENDED CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. b. Discussion Regarding Staff's Recommendations and Consultant Report on Recycling Center ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION, JANUARY 21, 1997 PAGE 3 Ms. Jones reported that the consultant's report regarding options for operation of the Fridley Recycling Center concluded that the City's least expensive option would be for municipal operation of the Recycling Center. She explained that in addition to the consultant report's analysis, staff had conducted a three month and a one year revenue/expense projection sheet for the Recycling Center. Ms. Jones stated that analysis of the three month projections showed a cost to the City of operating the Recycling Center of $2,044 for the first three months of the year. She explained that this net loss is due largely to the fact that the first quarter of the year is a slow time of the year for aluminum redemption at the site. In analyzing a one year revenue/expense worksheet for the site, a revenue projection was reached of $54,118. Ms. Jones stated the site is expected to cash flow in a positive manner over a one year time period due to the averaging out of aluminum redemption revenues over a one year time period. She explained that the weight estimates used were based on 1996 tonnages reported from RMR. Mr. Velin asked if the Site Monitor position would be a union position as part of Public Works. Ms. Dacy stated that the position would not be part of Public Works and would, therefore, not be a union position. After some discussion, the following motion was made: MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Mr. Velin, to accept staff's recommendations as written, which included: ♦ Authorize staff to negotiate a one year contract through December 31, 1997, with Weyerhaeuser under the existing arrangement, attempting to increase the City's payment for aluminum above $.10/pound. ♦ Continue to operate the site 37.5 to 40 hours per week, Tuesday through Saturday, with a full-time Site Monitor. ♦ Extend the Site Monitor position to a one year contract position including benefits. ♦ Market the Recycling Center to small business and multi-family housing managers through direct mailings, City Newsletter, local newspaper, and the Chamber of Commerce. ♦ Include an option in the forthcoming curbside recycling RFP for the selected curbside recycling service provider to also service the Recycling Center (Weyerhaeuser's current functions), beginning January 1, 1998. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION, JANUARY 21, 1997 UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. PAGE 4 c. Discussion Regarding Options in Forthcoming Curbside Recycling Collection RFP - Timeline and Options Ms. Jones reported that the City of Fridley's contract with Super Cycle to provide curbside recycling services expires March 31, 1997. Therefore, the City is under a very tight timeline to complete the RFP process. She stated that the current curbside recycling program does not appear to be meeting many Fridley residents' needs. Many Fridley residents coming to the Fridley Recycling Center have commented that they come to the Recycling Center with all their recyclables since they need to bring their plastics to the Center, or they commonly have missed their recycling day for whatever reason and they use the Recycling Center since they cannot wait 2-3 weeks for their next recycling day. Ms. Jones further explained that the way the 1995 RFP was designed greatly prohibited recycling firms other than Super Cycle from being able to competitively submit proposals for the curbside recycling service. She felt strongly that the City should consider changing various restrictions in the way the RFP has been written in the past. She made the following recommendations: • Include an option in the RFP for weekly collection of recyclables. • Include an option in the RFP to add plastic bottles to the program, making textiles an additional option or, possibly, moving textiles to the Recycling Center. • Eliminate the revenue-sharing aspect of the RFP for each material since markets have been very poor, except to possibly allow for revenue- sharing for corrugated cardboard. • Allow the recycling contractor to specify how paper materials can be sorted. • Eliminate the requirement for the contractor to "develop" the informational brochure and give the task to the Recycling Coordinator, but require the contractor to "pay for the cost of printing" a brochure. • Add an option for the contractors to submit proposals on servicing the Fridley Recycling Center under the current Weyerhaeuser type of agreement. • Add a clause that the contractor cannot dispose of recyclables as garbage without written notification to the City and approval from the O EA. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION, JANUARY 21, 1997 PAGE 5 A detailed discussion followed regarding the possibility of changing the program to a weekly collection program. Several Commission members voiced concern as to whether weekly curbside collection was necessary or cost-effective. The Commission members also discussed the possible costs of adding plastic bottles to the curbside recycling program. The Commission members were concerned about the increase in costs of a more comprehensive program; however, they generally agreed that the City should consider obtaining cost proposals for these options. Mr. Sielaff expressed concern about "same day" garbage and recycling services. Ms. Jones agreed that same day service is important to maximize recycling participation, and the RFP is designed to allow same day service to be possible under the weekly collection option. Mr. Sielaff also stated he would like to see revenue-sharing to remain in the RFP. Ms. Jones explained that corrugated cardboard is the only material that would likely have value in the next two years. MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Mr. Panchyshyn, to approve staff's recommendations regarding the curbside recycling collection RFP as outlined above. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. d. Update on Wellhead Protection Plan Mr. Hickok explained the current status of the Wellhead Protection Plan. He summarized a report received from John Flora, Public Works Director, regarding the City's option in joining a joint powers agreement with ten other cities. Mr. Sielaff asked for clarification regarding whether the City has any Wellhead Protection Plan currently in place. He questioned who will be representing the City in the joint powers agreement. Mr. Hickok explained that it is his understanding that John Flora, Public Works Director, will be the City's lead representative with the Assistant Public Works Director being the alternate representative. Mr. Sielaff suggested that Bruce Olson from the State Health Department be involved in the City's joint powers group. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION, JANUARY 21, 1997 3. OTHER BUSINESS: a. Update on Multi-Family Recycling Grant PAGE 6 Ms. Jones explained that a meeting scheduled last week for the multi-family recycling grant task force had been changed to January 29, 1997. She explained that after the January 29t" meeting, she will have more information for the Commission. However, she was aware that the task force in the process of finalizing a workbook guide for apartment managers. It appears that the workbook guide will be a very successful tool for the Recycling Coordinator to encourage all apartment owners in the City of Fridley to implement recycling programs. She stated it was also her understanding that the task force is currently obtaining bids for multi-family housing recycling containers as well as other publicity materials. b. Updated List of Council Members Mr. Velin requested an updated list of Fridley City Council Members. Ms. Jones stated she would include that list with the next agenda. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Mr. Velin, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:51 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie Jones Staff Liaison to Commission