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EQE 01/11/2011 - 30034MINUTES �__-� ENVIRONNIENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY CONINIISSION MEETING ����� TLTESDAY, JAN UARY 11, 2011 Work Session Roll Call Members Present: Tina Nelson, Rich Svanda, 7ack Velin, Paul Westby Members Absent: Anne Andrews, Barb Johns Others Present: Rachel Harris, Environmental Planner Bill Burns, City Manager Dolores Varichak, City Council Ann Bolkcom, City Council Bob Barnette, City Council The work session began at 6:10 p.m. with an introduction by Dr. Bill Burns, Fridley City Manager. He said each meeting had the same format with guest speakers and a 90 minute panel discussion. Only the topic changed from meeting to meeting. After the five panel discussions on various topics related to solid waste collection and collection systems, the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission would have an opportunity to make a recommendation on ne�t steps. Brief Summary of Panel Series He said that he had facilitated a series of panel discussion about open hauling trash collection and organized trash collection that occurred between April - November 2010. In Apri12010, Sig Scheurle, NIl'CA, addressed benefits and challenges of implementing a city-wide organized garbage collection. In May 2010, Fritz Knaak, Fridley City Attorney, continued the discussion on the benefits and challenges of implementing a city-wide organized garbage collection. In 7uly 2010, representatives from the three communities of Columbia Heights, Blaine and Robbinsdale, shared their experience with organized trash hauling systems. In September 2010, Darrick Zarling, University of Minnesota researcher, presented information about his diesel fuels study, while a Foth Infrastructure and Environmental consultant relayed a report conducted by Foth about the impacts of garbage truck traffic on streets. A third presenter, Ben Worel of MN DOT was unable to attend. In November 2010, the haulers who are licensed to serve Fridley's residential refuse customers had an opportunity to comment and give position statements on organized garbage collection. These companies are Ace Solid Waste, Allied Waste, Walter's and Waste Management. Proposed Options Regarding Solid Waste Collection Dr. Burns issued a memo to commissioners with four potential ne�t steps that the EQE Commission could take. Continue to study the issue. EQE Commission Minutes, January 11, 2011 Dr. Burns proposed that the EQE Commission consider further analysis. This may include an additional discussion related to establishing organized collection by district or an additional meeting to review the results of the study being completed by 1VINDOT's Local Road Research Board on the impacts of garbage trucks on local streets. This study is expected to be completed in summer 2011. tlse Chapter 7 or Chapter 5 of the Fridley City Charter to get the organized collection issue on the ballo� Using Chapter 7, Council could pass a resolution declaring the necessity for organized collection and identifying the purposes for which additional fees would be required according to City Attorney Fritz Knaak After a three-week time lapse, Council would then hold a public hearing and consider a resolution (by at least four affirmative votes) that would approve clear and concise ballot language that would be on the ballot at the ne�t General Election. Fifty-one percent of those voting would be needed to approve the amendment. Using Chapter 5, a minimum of five registered voters could initiate a petition. This group would need to file a copy of a proposed ordinance providing for organized collection. They would then need to circulate a petition over a 30 day period. They would need to get at least 10% of voters to sign the petition before Council could consider the ordinance amendment. If Council fails to adopt the ordinance the ordinance must be submitted to the voters at the ne�t General Election. Councilmember Bolkcom asked for clarification. Is that 51% of those voting in the elections or 51% of those voting on that question? Dr. Burns confirmed we would need 51% of those voting in the elections, which is generally a larger number than those voting on a question. Dr. Burns said he is dissuaded from the special election because of the cost and would prefer to go forward with a citizen survey to learn what a broad selection of our residents think. Submit the question to the public through informal web-based survey software like Survey Monkey This could be done two ways by selecting a random sample of less than 1,000 residents or the entire community and ask them to go online and complete a survey using Survey Monkey. Price varies from $90 -$225 depending on the option. Dr. Burns said given the current political climate as it relates to this issue, he suggests taking some or all of the following steps. Spend some additional time considering organized collection by district. Try to get a sense of commitment from those residents who have told us they favor organized collection. We might do this by inviting some of the more ardent supporters that we have heard from to a future meeting. Review what we have learned in 2010. Keep a close eye on the LRRB study and any results that are forthcoming during summer 2011. Continue to address this issue through cable television shows and the City newsletter. Develop a carefully considered list of pros and cons of organized collection. Use it as a narrative for an informal survey of Fridley Page � 2 EQE Commission Minutes, January 11, 2011 residents using Survey Monkey. Following the survey, determine whether or not more formal steps toward adoption of organized collection should be taken. Mr. Svanda asked for a description of survey monkey for those who were unfamiliar with the tool. Dr. Burns said it is software for internet-based surveys. Ms. Bolkcom asked if the options for questions and answers are limited. Dr. Burns said that you can only ask yes or no questions. Mr. Svanda wondered if we could ask how much people pay for trash. Dr. Burns said yes we could. Councilmember Varichak asked if you could pose a question with the answers giving a range of fees paid. Dr. Burns said that was an option. Seeing no additional questions he invited Commissioner Rich Svanda to report on his informal garbage hauling price survey. Mr. Svanda said he found that he was paying much more than the 5 of 7 Fridley residents who responded to his request for information regarding their garbage fees for service. A surprising outcome was that he paid more for using a 30 gallon garbage can than some of the respondents who used 60 or 90 gallon cans. Before he switched to another company, he did ask for a lower price for the same services from his original hauler. They offered him a decrease of almost $90 in annual costs. As a result, he changed haulers and estimates that he will save about $140 per year. Ms. Bolkcom asked if the can sizes were the same for each of the five respondents. Mr. Svanda said each resident used a different can sizes for garbage and yard waste. He suggested that people who want to learn more can benefit from talking to their friends and neighbors about prices. He requests education in the form of a survey or newsletter. Mr. Barnett has had a similar experience. He talked with three Fridley while playing golf and found out that he paid more than the others. He had the same hauler for more than 50 years and was happy with the service, but not the price. Mr. Svanda has heard about neighborhoods that organize on their own. Ms. Bolkcom said why ask how much each pays? Ms. Nelson said it would make the case for voter because they know the different prices. Ms. Bolkcom questioned how the charter would be impacted with the introduction of a new fee. Dr. Burns said we would have to justify the new fee. Page � 3 EQE Commission Minutes, January 11, 2011 Ms. Bolkcom said could the public use Chapter 7 to protest the added fee. Dr. Burns said that was a possibility. Mr. Velin asked if residents would have to know the price before asking them to switch to organized garbage collection service. Dr. Burns said it is unlikely that residents would pay more. Mr. Svanda suggested council could pass a resolution to study the cost. Mr. Scheurle, a staff member with the Minneosta Pollution Control Agency, commented on Mr. Svanda's neighborhood experience saying by doing the math you can save a lot of money. Mr. Scheurle added that as the lowest price utility, it's hard to get the attention of residents. Ms. Bolkcom asked if trash collection is a city government service. Mr. Scheurle said solid waste is a policed power in the state of Minnesota. Health and welfare is the basis for counties and cities to be involved in solid waste collection. Health and welfare is only part of the issue. Wear and tear on roads is also a concern. Dr. Burns said 70% of US cities have organized trash collection. He asked if there were any more thoughts on where this topic should be headed. Mr. Velin said he needed more time. There is an enormous amount of information to absorb. He wants to hear the pros and cons. Mr. Svanda said he agreed. He thought the committee should proceed with Dr. Burns' suggestions and explore the legal aspect. Dr. Burns said maybe we would meet at the ne�t meeting and then take a break until the results from the Local Road Research Board are available. Mr. Svanda said certainly it's interesting to learn about garbage truck traffic as compared to 1,000 cars on the road. Mr. Westby said we should ask how many residents really want this. We've spent a lot of time talking about organized collection without know what our residents want. Dr. Burns said we spent a lot of time educating our residents through newsletters and by airing these commission meetings on cable television. We could work with the hauler to get something from the hauler. Mr. Berkopec, ACE Solid Waste Manager, said ACE is a hauler with a long tradition. It's clear where he thinks the study should go. He suggested a campaign in Fridley to choose the type of hauler and price. It's a competitive market. He believes the EQE Commission panel is on the right track with education. Residents can benefit from a competitive market. Page � 4 EQE Commission Minutes, January 11, 2011 Ms. Varichak asked if we should ask for resident comments again. She said this would be another utility bill fee and we already have residents who don't pay their utility bills. Ms. Bolkcom said the price isn't enough to sway public opinion, but wait until the LRRB report is done and we'll see if health and wellness are affected. Ms. Varichak said each time a garbage hauler picks up at a house the load gets heavier and heavier. If there was only one hauler, then a heavier truck will be stopping at your house. Mr. Westby asked ACE what they would do to obtain a win/win so that residents are satisfied with the service and get a good price. Ms. Harris asked if the trash haulers could work toward getting all residents to have trash service. Ms. Bolkcom asked how staff enforces the code for residents who don't have trash service. Ms. Harris explained the code enforcement process of inspecting, calling each of the four licensed trash haulers to see which one has provided service to that address, sending a letter, following up with another inspection and requesting a copy of the property owners trash bill. Dr. Burns concluded the discussion. ### Call to Order Chairperson Velin called the 7anuary 11, 2011, Environmental Quality and Energy Commission meeting to order at 7:28 p.m. Roll Call Members Present: Tina Nelson, Rich Svanda, 7ack Velin, Paul Westby Members Absent: Anne Andrews, Barb Johns Others Present: Rachel Harris, Environmental Planner Mike Berkopec, Ace Solid Waste Bill Burns, City Manager Michael Baye, Ace Solid Waste Dolores Varichak, City Council George Walter, Walter's Refuse and Ann Bolkcom, City Council Recycling Bob Barnette, City Council APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 9, 2010, ENVIRONIVIENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Ms. Nelson seconded by Mr. Svanda to approve the November 9, 2010, Environmental Quality & Energy Commission minutes. Page � 5 EQE Commission Minutes, January 11, 2011 UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON VEL1N DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business to report. STAFF REPORT Public Outreach Effort — Annual Participation in 49ers Parade Ms. Harris said that at the last parade in the summer of 2010, half of the commission participants including the staff liaison were not in favor of being in the parade again. She wondered if the commission members were interested in continuing with the 7une event. Ms. Nelson said she and her young son had a great time. Mr. Westby said it was a blast. Ms. Harris said each year the city says the commission can no longer rent a golf cart because of budget cuts, but she has gotten the cart rental cost reimbursed through the county SCORE recycling grant as it is an approved expense. That may come up again this year. Mr. Velin said the commissioners are still interested in the event. OLD BUSINESS Ms. Harris said the commission still has a vacancy. One seat has been open since January 2010. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business to report. ADJOURNIVIENT MOTION by Ms. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Westby to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON VEL1N DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE JAN UARY 11, 2011, ENVIRONIVIENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:41 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Rachel A. Harris Environmental Planner and Staff Liaison Page � 6