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EQECM 05/12/2015 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION Fridley Municipal Center, 6431 University Ave Ne Minutes May 12, 2015, 7:00 p.m. Minutes Location: Conference Room A (Main Level, Fridley City Hall) The meeting was called to order by Past Chair, Commissioner Jack Velin at 7:00 p.m. Introductions were conducted because some attendees had not met one another. th MOTION by Commissioner Hanson and seconded by Commissioner Foell to approve the April 14, 2015 Environmental Quality and Energy Commission minutes was made. The motion passed unanimously. New Business Water Quality Update Guest speaker was Jim Kosluchar, City of Fridley Public Works Director. He presented information about the recent disconnect of piping from the City of New Brighton due to elevated amounts of a contaminant of emerging concern. He explained that Fridley disrupted the connection for the first time in over twenty years because of testing which revealed the presence of contamination, in the form of: 1,4-dioxane. Current filtration systems in the Upper Midwest cannot remove 1, 4 dioxane from drinking water. It is surmised that this contaminant could be in the plume because of the Arden Hills munitions operation, possibly because 1,4- dioxane was developed as an additive to solvents to inhibit corrosion and may have been used there. 1,4- dioxane can also be an unintended contaminant of chemical ingredients used in consumer products including bubble bath, shampoo, laundry detergent, soap, skin cleanser, adhesives, and antifreeze. Foods may also contain small amounts of 1,4-dioxane from some additives and packaging materials. Past issues associated with the Arden Hills munitions operation have impacted New Brighton in the past, to the point where their water filtration program was underwritten by the Army. Since 1993, the City of Fridley has operated an interconnected water supply with the City of New Brighton. Fridley receives on average 30% of our water from New Brighton. Why is this of concern? 1,4 dioxane is a suspected carcinogen, however, no Drinking Water Standard has been developed by EPA or MDH. EPA and MDH routinely look at toxicity and attempt to identify presence of harmful contaminants as toxicology and testing improves. With recent updated health studies, MDH set a Health Guidance Value of 1 ppb for 1,4-dioxane (one of about 12 states that have set a value, and one of the lowest values). More recently, water supply systems were tested for this and dozens of other new contaminants in its third round of unregulated contaminant monitoring Two Fridley sites had trace detections (0.12 to 0.14 ppb) in its Prairie du Chien wells. New Brighton had higher detections in their Prairie du Chien wells (2.9 to 5.5 ppb). The City of Fridley was notified of this in March by the City of New Brighton and MDH. Subsequently, confirmation testing was performed in March and April which showed that with the water from New Brighton had roughly 4.5 ppb 1,4-Dioxane; one Fridley well showed a trace (0.07 ppb).Upon confirmation, the City of Fridley requested a shutdown of the interconnect (first time in over 20 years). New Brighton shut down the TCAAP treatment system, and is using wells from alternate aquifers. At this point technology from places like Tucson, Arizona, where this molecule has been successfully removed or reduced in water, needs to be propagated for increased testing and eventual distribution. In the mean time, Fridley’s water and New Brighton’s water are not connected. Fridley Public Works will be doing additional testing of our water quality and using our own well sources. Locke Lake reports Anoka County is under discussion with our Public Works Director about their desired drawdown of the lake to achieve trail repair. The goal is to get the trail repaired, while not impeding the ability for the Lake to be used during summer weekends, and for the drawdown to not have a deleterious effect on fish and other fauna. Regional Initiatives & GreenCorp A grant opportunity for an eleven month GreenCorp member (similar to a qualified intern) to work on Urban Forestry issues has been solicited from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Staff member Kay Qualley stated that one goal for the GreenCorp person, if the City receives the grant, would be to move the Emerald Ash Borer Draft Study (slated for completion in July 2015) into an Emerald Ash Borer Plan as a chapter in the overall Urban Forestry and Re-Greening of Fridley Plan. Part of that process would include locating private or public entities where the ash logs could be taken to be turned into enduring products such as board feet of lumber for flooring, furniture, baseball bats and other business uses instead of just providing fuel for energy in a burner. th rd June 6 The planning session forevent, National Trails Day and Fridley’s 3 Annual Bike and Hike was not accomplished because of the time allotted for the important question and answer session which followed the water quality and Locke Lake presentations. One suggestion, to increase the number of activities for children was to have a table with water quality and the Mississippi-related experiments/demonstration for children was discussed. Commissioner Hanson agreed to help out at that table if staff could provide the ingredients and information. It was suggested that staff contact the Sun Focus to obtain publicity for the event. Raquel Strand, the City’s new communications person has sent out press information prior to this meeting, and an additional th reminder will be sent by Wednesday, May 20. Active Transportation issues and opportunities were touched on. No one from the committee attended the Commission meeting and the group may need new members. Commissioners were asked to think people who might be well-suited to volunteering for a committee that meets 2 or 3 times annually. Old Business Spring Recycling Drop-off Event hosted 571 cars. Council members Ann Bolkcom and Dolores Varichak worked at the event. Mayor Lund and the remaining Council members attended to lend their support. This event was about 60 cars more than last year. Tonnage reports are not yet available but the vehicles were well loaded so tonnage should be favorable. Earth Week was celebrated in two locations in the City (at a minimum). Environmental Planner, Kay Qualley, presented stormwater (kids- help protect the Mississippi) and recycling information to each grade from kindergarten through fourth grade during their lunch periods at Stevenson Elementary School on East River Road. 579 children received the information and saw the recycling demonstration. Staff mentioned that in order to become a Tree City U.S.A. member (a goal for 2016/17) the City needs to host an official Arbor Day in 2016 thereafter so the EQEC might want to plan for it and for providing volunteers. There was general discussion about the idea of a Tree Trust Plant sale and how to get inexpensive trees into the hands of homeowners in advance of the advent of Emerald Ash borer removals. After a conversation between City staff and Tree Trust staff it was determined that the tree distributions to private individuals are subsidized by the City who is hosting the sale (e.g. if the 10-gallon size tree costs $100 wholesale and the homeowners is asked to pay $35 for it, the City, not the Tree Trust is picking up the tab for the addition $65). The Tree Trust, for its part, hosts the website, procures and cares for the trees, uses PayPal to accept payments from property owners, and runs the distribution event. When the City has a minimal subsidy (e.g. Lino Lakes charged homeowners $75 and only sold 5 trees), tree sales are not dramatic. St. Louis Park charges $35 per tree and sells 350 per year so the difference is incorporated into City budgets. Other ways of getting affordable trees of various diverse species into the yards of homeowners were discussed: bare root tree sales are used in Plymouth and Shakopee and might be appropriate. Bare root trees are typically held in bark or sand until right below sale and must be planted rapidly to ensure that root hairs do not dry out. A few announcements were made: th  Raingarden Seminar on April 16was a lively discussion and excellent presentation by Mitch Haustein of Anoka Conservation District. Anoka County Master Gardeners, Lynda Ellis and Janet Swanson were in attendance and answered some questions during the two presentations (the second of which, on Sustainable Landscapes, was done by Kay Qualley, City Environmental Planner).  GreenStep Cities next “Steps” priorities by EQE Commissioner, any additions to the list below were delayed until the June meeting to allow Commissioners more time to review the 28 best management practices for GreenStep Cities. Mark Hanson-Stormwater and Code Updates, Atlas 14, MIDS Paul Westby-Raingarden & Stormwater reduction Todd Olin-Energy Issues Sam Stoxen-reviewing materials Jack Velin-reviewing materials Justin Foell-Active Transportation Other The Commissioners had no additions to the agenda items. Next Meeting th The next meeting of the EQEC will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, 7:00 p.m., Conference Room A (Main Level, City Hall). MOTION by Commissioner Westby and seconded by Commissioner Hanson to adjourn the meeting at 8:16 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kay Qualley Environmental Planner City of Fridley