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02/18/1997 - 00003729CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING FEBRUARY 18, 1997 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Sielaff called the February 18, 1997, meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Brad Sielaff, Jack Velin, Peter Panchyshyn, Rich Svanda Members Absent: Dean Saba, Bruce Bondow, Rosalie Landt Others Present: Julie Jones, Recycling Coordinator Dennis Parkinson, Waste Management APPROVAL OF JANUARY 21, 1997, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: Mr. Velin stated that at the last meeting, he had questioned whether the Site Monitor position would be a union position. MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Mr. Panchyshyn, to approve the January 21, 1997, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes with the addition of the following two sentences on page 3, paragraphs 4 and 5: "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." UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MINUTES APPROVED AS AMENDED. APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 18, 1997, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION AGENDA: Ms. Jones suggested that the agenda be amended to discuss the 1996 Recycling Report first. Chairperson Sielaff declared the agenda amended as suggested. 1. NEW BUSINESS: a. Review of 1996 Recycling Report Ms. Jones reported that the City of Fridley did meet its 1996 tonnage goal, established by Anoka County, which qualified the City for additional funds. She further explained the memo and attachments enclosed with the meeting packet. She gave the Commission members the yearly total number of stops and ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION FEBRUARY 18, 1997 PAGE 2 tonnage totals provided by Super Cycle. She explained that tonnages collected from 1994 to 1996 have been quite consistent; however, the number of stops has fallen from 1995 to 1996. She reported that 1,730.84 tons of material were collected by Super Cycle in 1996, and the monthly average participation rate was 45%. Mr. Svanda questioned where schools fall into the program. Ms. Jones stated that Super Cycle's contract calls for them to service the schools, but the program does not entirely fit the schools' needs. It was her understanding that only two of the Fridley schools are being served on an "as needed" basis by Super Cycle. The schools also contract on their own with other firms for paper collection. Mr. Sielaff stated the schools do conduct aluminum can collection fund raisers for which the City should get the reports. Ms. Jones stated it was her understanding that the schools are taking their aluminum to the Fridley Recycling Center, so the City was getting credit for the school fund drives. Ms. Jones stated she will continue to report newly discovered tonnages to Anoka County as they come in. Mr. Sielaff questioned where multi-family tonnages appeared in the County report. Ms. Jones explained that those tonnages were included in the curbside figures. Mr. Sielaff asked to see the schools' recycling totals and the multi-family totals next month. b. Review of Proposals for Curbside Recycling Services Ms. Jones first explained the survey of other neighboring cities' recycling programs. She stated that Fridley was the only city surveyed that did not have plastics included in the curbside recycling program. Fridley was also one of the few cities of comparable size that did not have weekly collection. She explained that cities collecting plastics were collecting 2-5% of their tonnage in plastic. The Commission members discussed Fridley's participation rate. Mr. Svanda requested more details on high participation cities. Ms. Jones stated she believes that Robbinsdale's participation rate is based on ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION FEBRUARY 18, 1997 PAGE 3 postcard responses from residents which have historically been inaccurate. Mr. Sielaff reminded the Commission members that they also need to be conscious of the costs a city spends to achieve higher participation rates. Ms. Jones reminded the Commission members that in considering these proposals, they need to be attentive to the City's environmental goals. She emphasized that the current program has much room for improvement as far as more participation and being more cost-effective. Mr. Sielaff asked how much plastic was collected at the drop-off site in 1996. Ms. Jones stated she did not have that data at this meeting, but she did have data showing that the City could expect to collect an additional 40 tons in 1997 if plastics were added. The Commission members reviewed the proposals from the three contractors, BFI, Super Cycle, and Waste Management. The Commission members requested Dennis Parkinson of Waste Management to verify the details of Waste Management's proposal, particularly how commingling works. Mr. Parkinson explained Waste Management's system. The Commission members discussed the possibility of four recycling zones leading to more residents having same day garbage and recycling pick-up. The commission members discussed meeting County goals/SCORE funding. The timeline involved in the RFP review and contract negotiations were also discussed. MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Mr. Svanda, to accept Waste Management's bid for weekly service-single family and bimonthly multi-family rate, which both included plastics. Discussion followed the motion. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. OLD BUSINESS: a. Discussion Regarding Staff's Recommendations and Consultant Report ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION FEBRUARY 18, 1997 PAGE 4 on Recycling Center Ms. Jones explained the current status of negotiations with Weyerhaeuser. She stated she was confident that a suitable contract agreement would be reached. The agreement was scheduled to appear on the February 24, 1997, Council agenda. b. Wellhead Protection Plan Mr. Sielaff stated he still doesn't see what the "plan" is or if there is one. He stated he was not as concerned about the project since the County Health Department is now involved. He stated there is a Barr Engineering draft report on the existing data for existing wells. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Mr. Velin, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE FEBRUARY 18, 1997, MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:27 P. M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison to Commission