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12/21/2004 - 00028055CITY OF FRIDLEY ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING December 21, 2004 C � L' \ � � C � Z � ] :7 � ] � :7 i Chairperson Johns called the December 21, 2004, meeting to order at 7:50 p.m. :Zi]���L\�Ri Members Present: Anne Andrews, Barb Johns, Rich Svanda, and Jack Velin Members Absent: Barbara Kovacic and Paul Westby Others Present: Julie Jones, Planning Coordinator APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 19, 2004, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Svanda, seconded by Mr. Velin, to approve the October 19, 2004, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes, as written. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 1. NEW BUSINESS: a. Presentation on RETAP Services The Commission members waited several minutes, but Russel Fraiser from the RETAP program did not appear. b. Surface Water Quality Ordinance Changes Ms. Jones reported that she and other staff inembers continue to meet on a regular basis to prepare draft code changes designed to protect surface water quality in Fridley. These changes relate to many different sections of City Code. Some of these draft changes were reviewed by the commission earlier in the year. One extensive undertaking is developing a shoreland ordinance, which is something that was supposed to be completed as part of the last comprehensive plan update. City staff had prepared a draft shoreland ordinance in the early 90's; however, agreement on acceptable code language was never reached between the DNR and City Council. Staff is now resurrecting this old information and making comparisons to other examples that the DNR finds acceptable. c. 2005 Meeting Schedule Mr. Svanda moved and Ms. Andrews seconded a motion to approve the 2005 EQE Commission meeting schedule as prepared by staff. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Svanda moved and Mr. Velin seconded a motion to change the normal meeting time to 7:OOpm, starting in 2005. Paper Recycling Weight Experiment Ms. Jones asked the commission members to weight and speak about how much recyclable paper they accumulated in a week briefly on camera. The purpose of the demonstration was to show that everyone has something to contribute to curbside recycling since everyone gets newspaper and junk ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES 12/26/2006 PAGE 2 mail delivered to their door. The video footage was to be used in the next episode of Your Eco Home, which will educate residents about the benefits of revenue sharing in the new curbside recycling contract. e. Healthcare Waste Solutions, Inc. Inspection Report Ms. Jones explained that the County is continuing to inspect Healthcare Waste Solutions, however, it has been difficult getting reports from them. The commission members were pleased to see that there were no problems found by the County at the site. 2005 Work Plan The commission members reviewed the items in the 2004 Work Plan, deciding what items to carry over in 2005. Some activities were not carried over and some new items were added. Staff was directed to bring a draft 2005 Work Plan before the Commission at the next meeting. 2. OLD BUSINESS: a. Spending of 2003 SCORE funds Ms. Jones explained that the City did not qualify for about $18,000 of Fridley's eligible SCORE (recycling) funds last year, which the City was permitted to carry over into 2004. Staff has been working over the past few weeks to use these 2003 funds to help pay for items that were budgeted for 2005, as it appears that we will be short on balancing expenses and revenues next year due to the higher curbside contract rates. Some of the items being purchased are curbside recycling containers, community recycling bins for city facilities, deskside office paper recycling bins for City employees, apartment recycling baskets, pencils to hand out at the 2005 parade promoting revenue sharing, and office equipment for the new Environmental Planner. All of these expenses, as well as, adding some money to the City's bulk mail account at the post office will total close to $18,000. b. Update on Springbrook Watershed Implementation Project Ms. Jones reported that the Springbrook Watershed Advisory Committee approve design plans for the restoration of Springbrook Creek in the eastern portion of Springbrook Nature Center at their December 1, meeting. The restoration project includes installing a 48" storm water pipe that will run alongside the creek bed and carry storm water flows during heavy storm events. Taking the high flows out of the stream will allow for effective stabilization of the streambank to prevent further erosion and sediment deposit into the Springbrook wetlands. This project will require the removal of many trees within the park. The City's Tree Preservation ordinance requires that any tree removal in a public park be approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Planning Commission, and the City Council. As part of that approval process, a reforestation plan must also be approved. This requirement becomes difficult in this case, because 1) some of the trees need to be removed so that the stream can function properly, and 2) the deer will devour anything planted. What the project plan includes in planting trees and shrubs in five key locations by the bridges over the stream and the entrance from Springbrook Apartments. The Parks and Recreation Commission and the Planning Commission have approved the plan to date. The City Council will hear the proposal on January 3, 2005. Mr. Svanda commented that he had been seen some sort of white marking system this past summer on roadside tree seedlings that someone told him worked great to ward off deer. He said he would try ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES 12/26/2006 to find out more about this product. c. Consideration of Joint Environmental Commission Meeting PAGE 3 Ms. Johns reported that she spoke to Connie from the Lino Lakes Environmental Board and found out that they want one person from each community's environmental commission to attend occasional meetings. They may have guest speakers at these meetings address the group if there is a common topic that folks desire to learn more about. She said the commission will need to select a representative to attend when we hear when they are ready to meet. Update on Commission Opening Ms. Jones reported that the City does have someone interested in the commission opening. However, since the council meeting agendas are very full the month of January, they do not plan to interview this person until February. e. New Environmental Planner Ms. Jones reported that staff has completed interviews and has selected someone to be the City's next Environmental Planner. Her official appointment to the position by the City Council is set to occur on January 3, and she is set to start in her new position on January 10. This new staff person should serve well as the Commission's liaison. K��� �: I�:� =1��� I 0 I��3a There was no other business. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Andrews, seconded by Mr. Velin, to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JOHNS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE DECEMBER 21, 2004, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:21 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Jones Staff Liaison