EQEA 01/08/2019
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION
Fridley Municipal Center, 7071 University Ave Ne
MINUTES
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Location: City of Fridley Civic Campus, Banfill Room
Call to Order
Chair Hansen called the meeting to order at 7:00
Members present: Nick Olberding, Justin Foell, Sam Stoxen, Mark Hansen, Paul Westby
Absent: Heidi Ferris
Staff: Rachel Workin, Environmental Planner
Approval ofMinutes
Commissioner Westby moved approval of the December 11, 2018 meeting minutes with the replacement of the
the section related to Recycling Drop-offs and Commission member
Stoxenseconded the motion.
MOTION PASSED unanimously
New Business
1)Active Transportation Planning
Ms. Workin shared that the City was planning to update the Active Transportation Plan (ATP). The ATP
was previously written in 2013 with the help of a Commission, but staff proposed that the new plan would
be written with the assistance of the EQEC. She reviewed the components of the existing plan which
interlaced policies, maps, and background data. In the new draft, the City proposes to identify policies and
background in the main document which would be updated every 5 years, and then maps in the appendix
which would be updated annually.
Living Streets Policy
Winter Maintenance
ADA
Priortizing Trails
Improving supporting Infrastructure to support active transportation
Updating the Plan
Commissioner Foell asked about improving route signage. Ms. Workin shared that staff was planning to
some sort of bike improvements. Commissioner Foell stated
that route signage is useful for wayfinding. Commmissioners also discussed improving bike routes on
google map. Commissioner Hansen asked if the City had a Go-Pro so that volunteers could make Trail View
footage. Ms. Workin said that she would check to see how to go about updating Google Maps and taking
photos of the trail. Wayfinding was added as another policy to include in the ATP. Commissioner Hansen
commented on the presence of North-South barriers in the City that prevent east-west movement and the
desirability of off-road trails where possible. Commissioner Westby commented that Riverview Terrace
though its prioritized, studies would need to be done before moving forward.
Ms. Workin discussed the premise of the Living Streets Policy which would outline the components of
Living Streets, what the City would look at when deciding which Living Streets components to implement,
and what the exceptions would be. Commissioner Westby recommended that include vegetation.
The group reviewed the SWOT analysis from the original ATP and created a new SWOT analysis which
came to:
Strengths:
Strong regional employment: net gain of commuters; Northstar Trainstop; more awareness of benefits of
trails and their ability to connect peopl
are open to trails, strong partnerships with watershed districts
Opportunities:
Prioritize regional connections and destinations, new campus, new residents, community groups/volunteers,
county roads and up for resurfacing (goal trail oneside, sidewalk otherside), residents have new needs,
ability to beautify/regreen/placemake, ADA transition
Weakness:
Many roads are outside city control, city is bisected by transit corridors, financial conditions, city orignialy
formatted without walks
Threats
-Development may increase numbers of automobiles, plans to increase active transportation opportunities
can be sidelined by lack of easements or a few vocal residents, increased infrastructure requires
increased maintenance, University Ave crossings are dangerous
Commissioner Foell recommended reaching out to members of the previous Active Transportation
Committee. Ms. Workin stated that the next meeting would go more in depth on identifying trails. Chiar
Hansen requested the map of existing routes be superimposed over a road class map.
Old Business
1)Recycling Drop-off questions
Ms. Workin stated that
question about which items were turned away most often at drop-off events. GLR said furniture was the most
but that residents could place extra flattened
cardboard next to their recycling can for pick-up on their recycling day.
2)Organics Update
Ms. Workin stated that the City currently has 193 subscribers to the program and that there is a new promotion
for three free months for residents that sign up in January. She will share information with the Commissioners
to repost as they are available. It was recommended to pass out fliers at the drop-off. Ms. Workin said she
would.
3)Energy Action Plan update
Other
1)Jan 12-Recycling Drop-off
2)Jan 16-ADA transition plan meeting
3)Jan 26 Winterfest
Adjournment