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EQE 01/12/2010 - 29865Call to Order MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY �z, zo�o, 7:0o P.M. Chairperson Velin called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Roll Call Members Present Members Absent: Others Present: Rich Svanda, 7ack Velin, Barb 7ohns, Tina Nelson Anne Andrews, Denise Milks, Paul Westby Rachel Harris, Environmental Planner APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 8, 2009, ENVIRONIVIENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Ms. Nelson seconded by Mr. Svanda to approve the DECEMBER 8, 2009, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON VEL1N DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. STAFF REPORT Code enforcement successes; Junkyards have special use permits; Bike route map completed Ms. Harris reported that in 2009, in addition to the summer intern's caseload, staffinspected about 800 hundred addresses throughout the year. The total numbers were lower than in 2008 because we did not have summer interns available to perform systematic code enforcement of resident property. Staff was happy to have the help of a summer intern who inspected each commercial/industrial property and resolved outside storage and dumpster enclosure issues. Ms. Harris said that staffworked for 3-4 years to bring all three licensed junkyards into compliance with city code. As of last fall, all have received special use permits. Ms. Harris noted that after several months of researching data and combining databases, there is a completed recreational route map with sidewalks, county and city trails, bikeways, and bike routes. Ms. Johns asked where the public could get the map. Page � 1 Ms. Harris replied the map would be available for download on the Fridley website. Anoka County Yard Waste Site Open January 9 and 16, 2010 Ms. Harris notified commissioners that the Anoka County yard Waste site is open to the public for two weekends in January to accommodate Christmas tree composting. This is also a good time to get rid of any compostables collected since the site closed for the season last November. Residents may bring any brush or leaves left over from the fall season. Mr. Svanda asked if yard waste bags could be recycled at the compost site. Ms. Harris said they could as long as the bag was a compostable bag. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business to report. NEW BUSINESS New Yard Waste Bag Requirement Mr. Svanda thought the rule was already in effect since the Anoka County Yard Waste site has not allowed plastic bags in years, per his recollection. Mr. Velin asked is anyone knew where to buy the bags. Ms. Johns said the bio-bags are available at Fleet Farm. Mr. Svanda said he uses the paper yard waste bags available at Menards and Home Depot. Upcoming DNR Critical Area Rules Revision Ms. Harris reported that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been asked by the state legislature to write new rules for the Mississippi River Critical Area. This is a protected corridor from Dayton to Hastings that is also a National Park The new rules will delineate and define new districts within the critical area corridor and establish minimum guidelines and standards for development within these districts. The rule making process will likely last two years. The DNR will set up a website and email list serve to keep interested parties apprised, and has invited stakeholders to apply to join advisory committees that will meet periodically through the end of this year. Ms. Harris said that staff will have a meeting with a DNR land use planner, DNR area hydrologist, Anoka County Parks planner and Anoka County Highway staff on February 19, 2010, to share ideas about the Critical Area Rules Revision. The rules revision will focus on regulating development along the Mississippi River. Mr. Velin suggested letting Commissioner Kordiak know about or invite him to the Critical Area Rules meeting, since this is his district. Page � 2 Mr. Svanda looks forward to hearing more about the rule-making process. Vacancy on Commission Ms. Harris recently called a couple of commissioners who had missed most or all of the four meetings in 2009. She talked with the commissioners to find out if they had continued interest for the commission. One member, Ms. Nelson, wished to continue and one, Ms. Milks, did not. Ms. Harris requested a written notice from her since she had verbally resigned. That member, Ms. Milks, had not yet sent a written notice by the time of the meeting. The ne�t step is for the remaining commissioners to make a written notice on behalf of Ms. Milks; in this case the commissioners would need to make a motion to remove her. Ms. Johns asked if there was anyone waiting to get on the EQE Commission. Ms. Harris replied that there was not, but neither had the public been made aware of an opening. Without advertising an opening, people would not know that requesting to join was an option. Mr. Svanda suggested waiting until the ne�t meeting to give Ms. Milks more time to submit her formal resignation. Ms. Harris said that was a possibility, but reminded the commissioners that the ne�t meeting was not until March and then the Council would not be able to hear their motion until late March or early April. Mr. Svanda suggested that fellow members consider a motion that says in the event that since Ms. Milks verbally indicated that she wished to resign from the EQE Commission and if she does not submit the formal written resignation before the ne�t Council meeting then the commissioners would support a motion to submit a resignation on her behalf. APPROVAL OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE VERBAL RESIGNATION OF MS. MILKS FROM THE EQE CONINIISSION AND SUPPORT OF A FORMAL RESIGNATION ON HER BEHALF 1N THE EVENT THAT STAFF DOES NOT RECEIVE A WRITTEN RESIGNATION BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON JANUARY 25_ 2010. MOTION by Ms. Nelson, seconded by Ms. Johns, to acknowledge the verbal resignation of Ms. Milks from the EQE Commission and support for a formal resignation on her behalf in the event that staff does not receive a formal written resignation before the ne�t Council meeting on January 25, 2010. OTHER BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Harris learned today that the EQEC will need to be ready to discuss the Garbage Collection Study by former code enforcement intern, Kate Meyer, Master of Urban and Regional Planning, at the March 9 meeting. Page � 3 ADJOURNMENT APPROVAL OF ADJOURNING THE JANUARY 12, 2010, ENVIRONIVIENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING. MOTION by Ms. Johns, seconded by Mr. Svanda to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON VEL1N DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE JAN UARY 12, 2010, ENVIRONIVIENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY CONINIISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:04 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Rachel Harris Environmental Planner and Staff Liaison Page � 4