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05/18/1999 - 00002324CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING MAY 18, 1999 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Sielaff called the May 18„ 1999, meeting to order at 7:36 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Brad Sielaff, Rich Svanda, Peter Panchyshyn, Jack Velin, Michelle Maher, Barbara Johns Members Absent: Rosalie Landt Others Present: Scott Hickok, Planning Coordinator APPROVAL OF APRIL 20, 1999, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Mr. Panchyshyn„ to approve the April 20, 1999, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes as written. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. NEW BUSINESS: a. Discuss Plans for July Meeting Mr. Hickok, Planning Coordinator, stated that staff has hired Susanna Wilson, who has a degree in Environmental Education, to cover 20 hours/week in Julie Jones' absence. He stated that for the July meeting, he would make the room available and have the tape recorder and other meeting essentials available to the Commission if they chose to meet. He was not certain if staff would be available for that meeting. Mr. Sielaff stated that he believed a July meeting would be necessary for a final look a the survey questions being suggested and that the Commission may need to consider the key issues related to solid waste management. Mr. Sielaff suggested that the Commission consider the questions this evening and then decide later in the meeting whether a July meeting is necessary. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, MAY 18, 1999 PAGE 2 b. Discuss Possible Questions for 1999 Citizens' Survey Mr. Sielaff asked the Commission to consider topics for the Citizen Survey and to pin down the questions for the record. Mr. Svanda asked how many questions they could ask. Mr. Hickok stated that last year, they had asked 15 questions; however, the amount of space for questions is at the discretion of the City Manager. He indicated that the City Manager must balance all requests for space in the survey. With a limited number of possible questions, some of the Commission's questions may not make the cut. Ms. Maher suggested that the Commission prioritize their questions in an effort to make sure that the highest priority questions do not get eliminated. She suggested the following questions: If you do not recycle, why not? Is there something the City can do to assure that you will? She asked about the possibility of combining recycling with garbage pick-up. Mr. Svanda indicated that the City has independent haulers and a free market approach to individuals contracting for service. The City of Columbia Heights has organized collection. Ms. Maher asked if an appropriate question might be: Should the City of Fridley have organized collection with one garbage haule►? A general discussion ensued regarding organized hauling and the City's tradition of allowing residents to select their own haulers. Ms. Maher asked what if the City was to implement a voluntary organized collection? Mr. Svanda explained that you would not get haulers to bid on such a system because they would not know what volume and where their customers are. Ms. Maher stated she had not understood that she was to place her garbage by the garage for collection. A general discussion ensued regarding code enforcement. Ms. Johns suggested that they have more questions on the "no" side of the survey. Since the last survey, they continued to ask specific questions once the respondent answered "yes" that they do recycle. More questions on the "no" side of the issues might get to the bottom of why people don't recycle. Mr. Sielaff suggested the question: What do you recycle? ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, MAY 18, 1999 PAGE 3 Ms. Johns stated that junk mail is difficult to recycle. She suggested the questions: How many people recycle mixed mail? What do you recycle /east? What would make it easier for you to recycle t hose materials? A general discussed ensued regarding mixed mail and the security of placing certain items at the curb. Mr. Sielaff asked about interest in including a question about citizen impacts of closing the Recycling Center. Has closing the Recycling Centerhad an impact on what you now place at the curb? Ms. Johnson suggested the question: Are you using the monthly drop-offs? If yes, what materials? Mr. Svanda suggested that the City repeat the following questions from last year's survey: Have you used the City's yard waste site located next to the former redemption center during the past yea►? and How important do you think the yard waste site is as a City service? Mr. Sielaff suggested a question: Are you aware that the County has a site for brush collection? Ms. Johns suggested asking this question: Do you believe it is the City's responsibility to pick up brush after storms? Mr. Sielaff suggested a question about the diagnostic study underway at the Springbrook Nature Center: What level of funds and staffing would be appropriate for protecting the natural environment at the Springbrook Nature center? Ms. Maher suggested that they repeat the questions regarding container size and container placement for garbage pick-up. Mr. Sielaff asked staff to list the questions for the Commission's July meeting. 2. OLD B USINESS: a. Update on Commission Letter regarding BFI's Mobius0 Curriculum Mr. Hickok stated that Ms. Jones had not heard from any of the schools in response to her offer to bring the Mobius program to their schools. He believed this has more to do with timing and curriculum preparation than the various school districts' lack of interest. b. Report on April & May Monthly Recycling Drop-off Days ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, MAY 18, 1999 PAGE 4 Mr. Sielaff asked for an update on the monthly drop-off. Mr. Hickok briefly reviewed the memo from Julie Jones and indicated that the numbers from the May drop-off had not been submitted at this time. c. New City Curbside Recycling Survey Mr. Velin asked for clarification on the number of golf carts. Mr. Hickok stated that he was aware of two carts that had been ordered for the EQE. Mr. Velin asked about t-shirts and pencils. Mr. Hickok explained that Julie Jones had left instructions for Susanna Wilson to coordinate the embroidery and then she would contact the Commission members. Mr. Velin volunteered to pick up the shirts and all the pencils for those w ho would be at the parade. Mr. Maher asked to have Susanna call her and she would pick up her shirt at City Hall. 3. OTHER BUSINESS: a. Update on Springbrook CWP Project No update beyond staff inemo b. Update on Wellhead Protection No update c. Onan/Murphy Project Mr. Svanda expressed disappointment about not hearing about the Superfund clean-up at the Onan site. He had heard about the project from a friend. Since this was a large environmental project in the City, the Commission should have at least heard about it. Mr. Hickok apologized and explained the 400,000 square foot Onan/Murphy Warehouse project. He also discussed an earlier clean-up below the Dealer's Manufacturing building site on Main Street. In both cases, funds were requested from both the Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED) and the Metropolitan Council. He explained that the funds are not 100% in place on the ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING, MAY 18, 1999 PAGE 5 Onan/Murphy project; however, $600,000 have been committed. Funds for the Dealer's Manufacturing project were awarded last year that allowed clean up of contamination below their existing building. Continued monitoring assures that the Dealer's project was successful. Mr. Hickok stated that both projects are victories and are projects the City can be proud of. He committed to keeping the EQE informed about this type of project in the future. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Mr. Panchyshyn, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIELAFF DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE MAY 18, 1999, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:10 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Scott Hickok Staff Liaison