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EQECM 07/08/2014 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION Fridley Municipal Center, 6431 University Ave Ne Draft Minutes Tuesday, July 8, 2014, 7:00 p.m. AGENDA Conference Room A (Main Level) Location: Call to Order at 7:07 p.m. Introductions Approve Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Minutes: May 8, 2014 MOTION by Commissioner Boyles and seconded by Commissioner Westby to approve the May 13, 2014 minutes. Minutes were voted approved. New Business Visioning and EQEC next steps, Chair Todd Olin Commissioner Westby said that environmental issues are not well connected when he looked at progress in the City and watched pesticides being used or how the parks are handling mowing. It feels like EQEC has been moving really slowly in the past, but moving into a green perspective and redefining ourselves as a City can be like pushing a boulder-if you have a lot of like-minded people moving in the same direction, you create momentum. Intro to Visioning Chairman Olin provided a PowerPoint presentation entitled (content contained in these minutes). He stated that the discussion tonight needed the input of everybody and asked to be reigned in if he became too tangential during the discussion. Olin asked, “Who are we as a Commission? If we are advisory, what do we want to do, focus upon?” Chairman Olin reviewed: “I joined in 2011 and the first thing I experienced was the discussions centering around organized collection. 2012 topic was Stormwater management with presentations from organizations like Watershed Districts. Result: new emphasis on raingarden and stormwater capture, City joins Blue Thumb organization but no specific initiatives or information is sent to Council, City newsletter articles are ongoing on topic per MPCA reporting requirements. 2013 Topic: Organized Collection; Result: Recommendation sent to Council in 2013 and negotiations currently underway between Haulers and City Staff with the goal of bringing pricing to Council in late 2014. 2013-2014 Topic: Energy saving information gathering and presentations, no specific recommendations to Council, limited programming on cable access (staff note: one program done on light bulb difference LED vs. Compact fluorescents) or other EQEC outreach opportunities acted upon. 2014 Topic was GreenStep Cities and EQEC had presentations. Result: support of general recommendation to become GreenStep City will be sent to Planning Commission. EQE hears great presentations that educate the Commission, but where does that information go? What direct actions have resulted from these presentations? Also we need to better connect the information with people that consume it. How does Council view the EQEC? Concern is expressed because newly adopted City Council Vision statement does not include sustainability or air quality, energy or community resiliency language. How should EQEC increase community impact? Review the new City Council mission statement and make sure that our activities are consistent with it. Consider creating our own statement to augment CC’s?  Compare our commission to those of surrounding cities by visiting their meetings, examining their outreach  How can individual EQEC members better communicate with the sector residents you represent to personalize our messages?  What are the most important environmental issues for the City? County? State?  How can we multiply our efforts and those of staff to reach more residents? What are the ways we act or could act as advocates for our residents? 1) EQEC can act on more items to make recommendations. We currently do create sample resolutions that get forwarded to the Planning Commission for review and on then to the Fridley City Council 2) We could produce and coordinate information of interest to the general public in a format that makes it easily read by laypeople in the community for publication by the new communications staff member 3) We could make connections between parties that have an interest in issues heard before us through activities, calls and personal communication and event outreach 4) Consider a five-year plan of goals, topics and a framework of what EQEC wants to accomplish based on what other cities do, what our city’s interests are. Increasing Impact and EQEC Profile in Community 1) We do pass on draft resolutions to the City Council (via Planning Commission approval) -nothing new in this category but we don’t frequently have Council meeting representation or provide updates about our priorities to them. 2) We need to create opportunities to interact directly with residents and also to get out our primary messages each year by identifying channels of distributing information to the public (TV, City Newsletter, etc.) and ensure that the information that comes before us gets processed into resident-friendly language and that a plan is created for its distribution. 3) We need to identify all parties with an interest in the business that comes before us and make sure to invite them to pertinent meetings. When they can’t attend, we need to reach out and provide them with relevant information and opportunities. Our mission should therefore be: “To act as advocates and to bring together parties interested in improving the sustainability of Fridley’s resources like air, water, land, and public health through our activities. To identify and promote community-wide opportunities for improved energy use; improvement and protection of natural resources/environmental quality; and to support Active Living health initiatives and non-auto transportation opportunities in the City of Fridley.” Other Proposed Action Form two subcommittees: Publicity, Outreach. -Publicity—This committee would be in charge of (a) identifying the channels to distribute information to the public, writing and, with staff input, increasing the quality and amount of information distributed; (b) tracking what information must be distributed by category; (c) following up by giving short reports at our meetings. -Outreach—This committee would be in charge of (a) identifying local private sector and government energy and environmental stakeholders; (b) identifying the topics of upcoming meetings and inviting stakeholders to attend; and (c) reaching out to any stakeholders that could not/did not attend to make sure they are aware of any opportunities that come before us. It is also important to connect to business, much like the presentation we had from a solar installation company. How do make this happen? Community Development staff may know key individuals to link businesses, like solar companies who install systems with firms with large sprawling roofs.” Staff suggested that the solar company may want to contact the North Central Chamber of Commerce to make a presentation there. Commission Boyles stated that he didn’t want to spend Commission time promoting for- profit companies. A discussion ensued about avoiding favoritism while promoting businesses in the Green industry (like Amazon Paint of Fridley). Commissioner Olin expressed an interest in connecting interested individuals and stated that the Commission needs to take ownership of issues and how information about them is disseminated. He further suggested that the EQE Commission meet monthly rather than every other month because there is too much disconnect after that length of time. He will call City Manager, Wally Wysopal, to discuss this and to present an abbreviated version of the key points of the PowerPoint presentation. Commissioner Westby: “Could we get a free intern to help with environmental issues each year? Many students would jump at the chance to work for a City in this capacity.” Commissioner Olin, “After we get good information, where does it go?” Staff: A new communications information person, Raquel Strand has started work in a new capacity for the City. It will be easier to find and post Environmental information when she revamps the webpage. Topics of interest included outdoor lighting in the city, conservation design, transportation and mobility, innovative stormwater management. A sample of what the City of Maplewood committee works on was handed out: City of Maplewood: Environmental & Natural Resources Commission Commission Objectives The Environmental and Natural Resources Commission will help protect, preserve and enhance the environment of the City of Maplewood by: (1) establishing environmental priorities for the city; (2) recommending to the Community Design Review Board, Planning Commission and City Council new policies, operating procedures and ordinances that control, protect, preserve and enhance the City’s environmental assets; (3) actively participating in and supporting the mission and goals of the Maplewood Nature Center and Neighborhood Preserves by promoting environmental awareness through educational programs, communications and co-sponsored activities; (4) promote greater use and appreciation of the City’s environmental assets; (5) review the role of other City groups and how they might assist, support and advise the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission; (6) sponsor environmental projects to enhance, repair, replace or restore neglected or deteriorating environmental assets of the City; (7) develop educational programs and materials that foster the mission of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission; (8) develop and promote the use of sustainable practices for City policies and procedures. Meeting Time and Location The Environmental and Natural Resources Commission normally meets on the third Monday of each month in the Council Chambers at the Maplewood City Hall (1830 County Road B East) at 7:00 p.m. th Volunteers for Night to Unite, August 5. Staff asked if there was any interest or availability for the Commissioners to attend Night to Unite parties to promote recycling or to provide information to block captains about other environmental issues/opportunities. According to the Fridley Police Department Night to Unite liaison, no particular requests for staff and volunteers had been made this year to EQEC or staff. Schedules for Commissioners were not a good match for the date so a newsletter detailing the Energy Squad Excel Energy opportunity (energy audit and bulb replacement for $50.00), water leak tips and residential recycling drop-off event information will be prepared by staff. 1000 copies will be distributed to the block captains the day before the event along with other city information. th Multi-Community Drop-off Event July 26 A multi-city residential drop-off event will be held at the Fridley Public Works garage on July 26, 2014 and will be promoted though the newsletter and direct mail. It is the first time Fridley has partnered with Spring Lake Park, Columbia Heights and Hilltop to do an event. Commissioners are encouraged to attend and to spread the word. Other Metro Blooms Rain Garden class report by Commissioner Paul Westby. Commissioner Westby stated that the class was very professionally run and worthwhile. He recommended the class to fellow Commissioners and suggested it also be offered on a weekend. 49er Day Parade update: impending rain at the parade start caused the EQEC group to change plans and run ahead of the Republic truck to distribute recycling magnets. Some that were left over will be distributed to apartments who are trying to work with the City to improve recycling. Old Business Review of draft GreenStep City Resolution wording for approval and sending onward to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Rich Svanda was unable to attend, but sent an email regarding the draft resolution stating that it looked good to him. After discussion and agreement, the draft GreenStep City Resolution moved to a motion. MOTION by Commissioner Boyles and seconded by Commissioner Elford to approve the Draft GreenStep City Resolution. Resolution was unanimously voted as approved. It will move to the Planning Commission for review next. The Fridley Footprint: Land, Water and Energy, Cable channel volunteers and programming ideas needed. Update on Organized Collection: the process is continuing with discussion about pricing and disposal costs for our city versus other cities of similar size. Next Meetings/Announcements Tuesday, September 9, 2014, 7 p.m., Conference Room A (Main Level) Adjourn MOTION by Commissioner Boyles and seconded by Commissioner Westby to adjourn at 9:15. Approved unanimously.