HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes 050905City of Falcon Heights
Solid Waste Commission
May 9, 2005
Present: Barany, Kielsmeier, Meah, Harding, Staff Liaison Worthington, Council Liaison Lamb
The meeting was called to order at 5:39 pm.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Commissioner Millet has formally stepped down due to her health. The commission regrets losing her and wishes her a swift recovery.
Roselawn resident Linda Smith will appear on the consent agenda for appointment to the commission at the City Council’s Wednesday meeting. The mayor interviewed her and expects that
she will be a fine addition to the commission. Smith was the sole candidate for this round of appointments, and future appointments will consider geographic distribution, per city policy
with regard to commissioner appointments.
RECYCLING CONTRACT
Staff Liaison Worthington distributed a draft contract reflecting the outcomes of her meeting with EZ Recycling the previous week. She was looking for a similar contract to our current
one, with possible revenue sharing. The current framework involves a $0.13 per household per month increase in formal contract, which had been increased once for inflation to $1.45
from its formal rate of $1.42. The price will now be $1.55 fixed for five years, without the provision for inflationary adjustment that was in the former contract. Our current rate
would be $1.70 if inflation had been tabulated from start of contract. Multifamily houses will receive a similar deal, but the price has not been finalized. Several new housing developments
affect both single and multifamily resident populations.
The same collection terms were maintained, including textiles and car batteries. Revenue sharing would increase per household cost to $1.70 and require more paperwork. It would yield
about $0.10 per household per month based on current paper prices and a contractual %50 sharing of net income.
Commissioner Kielsmeier asked about a possible opt-in provision for revenue sharing, for instance if the price of paper were to increase dramatically. We could have such a revenue sharing
kick-in if prices go high enough. Tracking mechanisms already exists and will continue. There will be a new requirement of weekly or biweekly complaint reports including how they were
resolved. We will also require EZ to distribute contact information to residents. The agreed-upon dual stream collection system will be added formally to the new contract as well.
New requirements include holding yearly meetings with EZ and mutually agreeing to contract extensions. Legal language regarding liability and insurance was also updated.
Collection was switched to every other week in accord with standard industry practice, at no additional cost. Council Liaison Lamb added that in the case of holidays collection should
stay on same schedule as garbage pickup, including same change of day in the case of a Monday holiday.
Staff Liaison Worthington will ask the City Attorney about provisions in case of sale of contract, ensuring that our current terms remain intact. Weekly collection would be much more
expensive, costing from $2.00 to $2.10.
Commissioners generally assented to the current terms. Commissioner Harding will investigate the contractual minutia around plastics collection. The next step is to make a final contract
in June for consideration by the commission and eventually the City Council.
GENERAL DISCUSSION
Commissioner Barany will make sure the high school knows about need for more commissioners. Recruitment will be a general issue for the summer.
Council Liaison Lamb introduced a discussion on future goals of the commission. Commissioners would research a topic or two of environmental interest and build informational materials
and a library for the City to post on the City website. The commission can sponsor workshops on such topics. The Neighborhood Commission has expressed an interest in including educational
materials at block parties, the dead of winter event, ice cream socials, and so forth. Division of labor would allow lots of information to be incorporated.
The Commission developed the following list of areas for research:
Recycling
Stormwater/runoff
Solid waste MOU monitoring/enforcement
Air and water quality
Composting
Wildlife gardening
Raingardens
Invasive plant species
Green/forest management education
Waste reduction
Re-use
Bell Museum EIS/public process
Energy audit
Data on pollution/effects from lawn mowers
Open space
Vehicle alternatives
Household hazardous waste
School networks for environmental issues (storm drain stenciling, tree surveys, park clean-ups, plantings)
Yearly newsletter centered on environmental issues
Electronics recycling
Incentives for recyclers
Clean-up day promotion and volunteers
Commissioner Kielsmeier added that accountability for current practices such as the hauler memorandum of understanding should be explored, and the commission should increase connect
with schools, and team with Parks and Neighborhood Commissions. Commissioners also suggested that all research generated by these efforts could be put into an online library as a resource
for the community.
Worthington reported that the new Bell Museum will be a green building, meaning that they will incorporate sustainable, environmentally sound elements in the building and use them as
part of the exhibits. They will include a great deal of public communication during the construction process. Falcon Heights does not have jurisdiction over the site. She will keep
the commission up to date as the process for the construction of the Bell moves forward.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:38 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Barany, Commissioner
Heather Worthington, Staff liaison