01/20/1998 - 00003689CITY OF FRIDLEY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING
JAN UARY 20, 1998
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Sielaff called the January 20, 1998, meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Brad Sielaff, Dean Saba, Bruce Bondow, Jack Velin,
Rich Svanda, Peter Panchyshyn
Members Absent: Rosalie Landt
Others Present: Julie Jones, Recycling Coordinator
APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 16, 1997, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY
COMMISSION MINUTES:
MOTION by Mr. Velin, seconded by Mr. Svanda, to approve the December 16, 1997,
Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes as written.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
NEW BUSINESS:
a. Preparation of 1999 Goals & Objectives
Ms. Jones clarified that the sample goals and objectives that were in the
Commission's packet were specifically related to the Solid Waste Abatement
Program fund and that these differed from the Commission's workplan layout.
She explained that if the Commission wanted to draft goals and objectives that
fall in other departments' budgets, then that request would be forwarded to that
department and the City Manager in a memo from the Community Development
Department. Ms. Jones also clarified the relation of other surveys being
conducted in the City to the goals and objectives.
Mr. Sielaff requested that a copy of the citizen survey results be forwarded to the
Commission when they are ready.
The Commission started discussing the 1999 goals and objectives by going
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 20, 1998 PAGE 2
through the Solid Waste Abatement fund goals and objectives.
The Commission debated the objective of the 108% of the County goal. Ms.
Jones explained that reaching the 108% of the County goal recycling level would
give the City more freedom on how it can spend its SCORE funds.
The Commission also debated the need to have clean-up days. It was noted
that clean-up days do encourage households to clean out and recycle things that
they might otherwise put off. However, it was also noted that clean-up days are
expensive.
The Commission discussed possible waste reduction activities. They concluded
that much educational effort could be done at no or little cost through cable
television, the Focus News, and the City newsletter.
The Commission discussed the financial viability of the Recycling Center. Ms.
Jones explained that the Recycling Center goals should be tied to profits rather
than tonnages.
The Commission decided to continue to strive towards reaching 108% of the
County goal by implementing:
• increased education efforts.
• target additional materials at the Recycling Center that can
significantly increase tonnage.
• increase participation of curbside, multi-units, Recycling Center.
• target small businesses for Recycling Center.
• advertise aluminum redemption in Fridley and other communities.
Ms. Jones stated that realistic goals should be established for multi-unit
buildings also.
Mr. Sielaff asked Ms. Jones to investigate what other departments have in their
own goals and objectives regarding wellhead protection, water quality, wetland
protection, and other environmental issues.
2. OLD BUSINESS:
a. Discussion of Commission Meeting Minutes Reviewed by Other
Commissions
The Commission was in agreement that it was acceptable to forward the
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 20, 1998 PAGE 3
Commission's minutes on to other commissions and the City Council prior to
approval by the Commission, provided that the word "Unapproved" was written
at the top of the first page.
b. Update on Springbrook CWP Project
Ms. Jones reported the following key updates on the status of the Springbrook
CWP grant project:
• The project workplan is very near completion.
• The Technical Committee is meeting on January 29, 1998, to make final
comments on the workplan.
• The Advisory Committee is then expected to review the workplan in mid-
February.
• The intern position for the project is currently being advertised and closes
on February 6, 1998.
• It has been determined that we do not have adequate funding to test for
metals so we will be seeking additional funding to help put metals testing
back into the Monitoring Plan.
• The sediment portion of the Monitoring Plan is still preliminary, and we
are contacting wetland researchers for additional input. We are
investigating the feasibility of conducting a seedbank study as part of the
sediment research, but we may require additional funding for that addition
to the plan.
c. Update on Wellhead Protection Plan
Ms. Jones reported that she had not seen or heard about any activity related to
the Wellhead Protection Plan in staff reports. She was unable to reach John
Flora for comment before the Commission meeting.
d. Update on EcoTeams
Ms. Jones reported that she did not have additional information on the
EcoTeams since a January 14, 1998, meeting with Mary Gliniany from Global
Action Plan had to be rescheduled.
3. OTHER BUSINESS:
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 20, 1998 PAGE 4
There was no other business.
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION by Mr. Panchyshyn, seconded by Mr. Saba, to adjourn the meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED
THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE JANUARY 20, 1998, MEETING ADJOURNED AT
9:16 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie A. Jones
Staff Liaison to Commission