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EQE 08/15/2022 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING August 15, 2022 7:00 PM Banfill Room Fridley Civic Campus MINUTES Call to Order The meeting was moved to the Banfill Room from the Fireside Room due to technology in the Fireside Room being inoperable. The lobby signboard was updated with this information prior to the meeting. CHAIR DRITZ called the commission to order at 7:02 PM Present Amy Dritz Sam Stoxen Nick Olberding Mark Hansen Justin Foell Aaron Klemz James Kosluchar, Public Works Director Karen Blaska, Park Planner with Anoka County Parks Approval of Agenda MOTION by Commissioner Olberding to APPROVE the August 15, 2022, meeting agenda. SECONDED by Commissioner Foell. The MOTION PASSED unanimously. Approval of Meeting Minutes MOTION by Commissioner Olberding to APPROVE the July 12, 2022, meeting minutes. SECONDED by Commissioner Klemz. The MOTION PASSED unanimously. New Business 1. Rice Creek West Regional Trail Planning Karen Blaska, Anoka County Parks, provided an update on the Rice Creek West Regional Trail Planning Initiative, providing history and background and an update on the process and timeline. A public Environmental Quality & Energy Commission Minutes Page 2 Meeting 8/15/2022 engagement event, “Conocer Los Parques” is to be held on Sunday, August 28, and engagement surveys will remain open until the end of this month. The Commissioners noted that the regional trail was a significant asset and indicated specific enhancements that could be made to the regional trail, including wayfinding, accessibility, highway crossing, connectivity, seasonal maintenance, and general maintenance improvements. There was also discussion about the navigability of Rice Creek, and suggestions to provide improved regional trail connections to both Rice Creek and the Mississippi River. 2. Chapter 514 Winter Maintenance Recodification As a result of updated permit conditions of the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Permit from the MPCA, the City must update its code to require proper storage of bulk salt. Mr. Kosluchar shared proposed updates to the City Code Chapter 514 which incorporate these required changes as well as additional updates to provide protection of vulnerable waterbodies from chloride pollution. The commission indicated their support for the code rewrite and for additional means of enforcement and discussed related chloride reduction initiatives. MOTION by Commissioner Klemz to recommend the proposed updates to City Code Chapter 514 for adoption by the City Council. SECONDED by Commissioner Foell. The Motion PASSED unanimously. 3. Approve the 2023 EQEC Meeting Dates Commissioners reviewed the proposed 2023 meeting dates included in the packet. MOTION by Commissioner Olberding to adopt the proposed 2023 meeting dates as included in the packet. SECONDED by Commissioner Foell. The Motion PASSED unanimously. Old Business 4. Energy Action Plan Updates Commissioners reviewed updates regarding the Energy Action Plan included in the packet. 5. Grant Updates No new environmental grants were applied or received for during the previous month. 2022 Outreach and Events Commissioners reviewed updates regarding 2022 Outreach and Events included in the packet. Other Items 6. Informal Status Reports Environmental Quality & Energy Commission Minutes Page 3 Meeting 8/15/2022 Mr. Kosluchar shared that the City had received the National Exceptional Performance Award in Sustainability from the American Public Works Association. This award would not have been possible without Rachel Workin’s efforts, and Mr. Kosluchar elaborated that the Commission’s vision and contributions provide support to staff to pursue programs and activities that were the basis of the award. Adjournment MOTION by Commissioner Foell to adjourn the meeting SECONDED by Commissioner Klemz. The MOTION PASSED unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:06 PM.