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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 09-21 CONCMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION SEPTEMBER 21, 1978 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Conservation Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairman Vetter at 7:40 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Vetter, Commissioners Dorff, Price, Winkelman, Jensen, Wesloh, and Albright. Also present were Councilwoman Celia Scott and Administrative Assistant Mary Harty. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 4-20-78 There was a motion by Commissioner Dorff and seconded by Commissioner Winkelman to approve the minutes of the April 20, 1978 meeting. The motion passed unanimously. CORRESPONDENCE Chairman Vetter noted she had received a letter thanking the Commission for their participation in the Energy Sun Day sponsored by the League of-Women Voters on May 3. Mary Harty indicated there was no other correspondence which had to be responded to, but there were several periodicals and brochures which the Commission might be interested in. The Commission decided to take turns taking the periodicals and brochures home rather than review them at the Commission meeting. As one Commissioner has finished reviewing the materials, the materials will be passed on to another Commissioner. Chairman Vetter explained she and Commissioner Jensen had participated as guest speakers at the Hennepin County Vocational Technical School, North Campus, through the Adult Vocational Division in explaining Brooklyn Center's concerns as they relate to conservation in an attempt to provide input to Hennepin County Vocational Technical School in their planning of courses which relate to conserva- tion and which would serve community needs. Commissioner Jensen explained it was an opportune time to explain the purpose and the function of the Conservation Commission in Brooklyn Center. DISCUSSION OF PROGRAM THROUGH BROOKLYN CENTER COMMUNITY EDUCATION Chairman Vetter explained the Conservation Commission was sponsoring two conservation courses through Brooklyn Center Community Education. One of the courses is on weatherization to be held on October 17 in the Brooklyn Center High School. The second course is on solar energy, also to be held at Brooklyn Center High School on October 10. Both of the courses are being offered at no charge. The Commission discussed publicity for the courses. It was suggested that flyers put in the schools had been helpful in the past in drawing people to seminars. 9-21-78 _1_ It was suggested that flyers be distributed to Evergreen, Earle Brown, Garden City, , Palmer Lake, Kings Academy, St. Aphonsus and Victory Schools. An additional suggestion was to include information in the Superintendent's Newsletter. Commis- sioner Price suggested posters in selected places might also encourage people to attend. A suggestion was made to encourage each of the Commissioners to person- i ally invite people to attend the seminar. Commissioner Jensen suggested sending lettersof invitation and flyers to various civic organizations within the community. There was also a discussion on a possible course taught by someone from the Energy Shed. This type of course might be appropriate for winter. Another sugges- tion made for possible winter courses was a course in wildlife or environmental appreciation. Other suggestions were made to sponsor an environmental or wildlife tour to a selected place in the area. Suggestions were made for tours to the Coon Rapids dam, Elm Creek Park Reserve, Carver Park Reserve or the Science Museum in St. Paul. It was decided to discuss possible winter programs or tours at the next Conservation Commission meeting. Chairman Vetter. indicated she would contact the Post newspapers for possible publicity about the present courses being offered through the Brooklyn Center Community Education program. J COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS Mary Harty referred the Commission to several memorandums which they had received in their agenda packets concerning Community Development Block Grants. The history and purpose of Community Development Block Grants was briefly outlined. Various programs possible for funding through Community Development Block Grants were briefly reviewed. Councilwoman Scott explained the City Council was interested in getting input from. the City Commissions as well as from other citizens in attempting to formulate program plans for use of Community Develop- ment Block Grant money. The Commission indicated their willingness to provide input. Various suggestions made at the Commission meeting for programs for use of Community Development Block Grant money were-programs assisting with home insulation, and other programs to assist in the area of Dutch elm tree removal, handicapped accessibility and bus shelters. Councilwoman Scott suggested Com- missioners should call her or the City staff if they had additional suggestions. The Commission indicated they would recommend Mr. Ball Hear as a possible choice for the Citizen's Participation Committee for Community Development Block Grants. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Price and Commissioner Dorff suggested one Commissioner should be appointed from the Conservation Commission to serve on the Community Educa- tion Advisory Council. Commissioner Albright volunteered to serve on the Council. There was a motion by Commissioner Price and seconded by Commissioner Jensen to appoint Commissioner Albright to the Community Education Advisory Council. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Jensen indicated she was attempting to set up a tour for the Conser- vation Commission to an underground shelter private home located in Shakopee. It was decided to attempt to set up the tour for the regularly scheduled Thursday 9-21-78 -2- evening Conservation Commission meeting. Commissioner Jensen explained she would attempt to set up the tour for October 19. RECESS The Conservation Commission recessed at 9:05 p.m. and reconvened at 9:20 p.m. INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKER Chairman Vetter introduced Dick Hedlund from Brooklyn Recycling Center. Dick Hedlund briefly reviewed the history of Brooklyn Recycling Center, the grant which he had received from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the current status of his operation, and the operation of his business through a contract with, the City of Columbia Heights. He explained Brooklyn Recycling Center was pleased-with the success they were having and was processing 25 tons of recycled paper per month. He indicated it was his intent to begin placing recycling bins in apartment complexes in the near future. He also explained a new program whereby people can bring old appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, and washing machines to Brooklyn Recycling for a fee of $3.00. Ofthat $3.00, 50~ will be contributed to CEAP and 50 will be contributed to the Brooklyn Park Chamber of Commerce. The Commission expressed appreciation to Mr. Hedlund for the civic responsibilities he had taken on and for the civic contributions he had made. Mr. Hedlund further explained the grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency was written so that the four commodities which his company deals with are rags, tin cans, aluminum cans and paper. He briefly explained a new conveyor belt system which he was installing in order to separate the tin cans from aluminum cans. He explained this would make the handling of cans much more effective. He briefly explained how the City of Columbia Heights handles the contract with Brooklyn Recycling. He stated the City charges $2.90 per home which is charged . on the City's water bill. There was discussion among the Commissioners to the effect that the amount of $2.90 was considerably less than what was being charged in Brooklyn Center. A discussion ensued concerning the great number of rubbish haulers which carried on service within the City of Brooklyn Center as is true within many other cities. Mr. Hedlund explained that many rubbish haulers in an area might have a tendency to raise the price simply because picking up rubbish from just a few homes in a large number of blocks is an expensive way to handle the business. The Commission also discussed the feasibility of attempting to institute a similar contract rubbish hauling service for the City of Brooklyn Center. The Commission indicated they were interested in pursuing a study of the feasibility of a contract for rubbish hauling service within the City of Brooklyn Center. It was decided to discuss this item again at a future Conservation Commission meeting. 0 9-21-78 -3- ADTOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Winkelman and seconded by Commissioner Wesloh to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m. Chairman 0 0 9-21-?S -4-