Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout9175 04-17 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 APRIL 17, 1975 CITY HALL Gall to order The Brooklyn Center Conservation Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chair- man Vetter at 8:10 p.m. Roll Call Chairman Vetter, Commissioners Winkelman, Jensen, Dorff and Livingston. Also present were Brooklyn Center - Crystal Environmental Preserve Task Force Member Ann Mencel and Administrative Assistant J'ames Lacinao Approval of Minutes Commissioner Jensen noted that her name was not 3-20®75 listed as being present during the roll call in the m.17^ut.es of the March 20, 1975 meeting. She indicated that this was an error. Commissioner Winkelman noted that Dick Forstrom was also a member of the Pride in Your City Ccmimittee Mct.(_);% by COmmiss.ic):ner Winkelman and seconded by ^~;(-,mm.1ss:x.c),r.er Livingston to approve the minutes of the March 20, 1975 meeting as corrected. The motic)n passed unanimously, Environmental Preserve ha man Vetter Lntroduced the first item of busi® Annual Report Ness cn the agenda, the annual report from the E<,.vire;,.nmentay Preserve o She noted that Task Force Member Ann's Mencei was present to review the projects compl.e;ted durinng 1974 and the proposed projects for 975. Task Force Member Me,ncel then reviewed the report of the Brooklyn Center ® Crystal Environmental Preserve Task Force o She noted that 1974 had been a productive year for the Task Force and that many projects were completed in the Preserve She stated that trail maintenance improvement had been a major program. She noted that the majority of the work on the trail maintenance had been done through volunteer help but that trimming of the . western and .:northern sections of the trails had been done by the Cities of Brooklyn Center and Crystal. She then reviewed the remainder of the programs for 1974 noting that the spring clean-up, three resting benches made of downed trees by an Eagle Scout, marking of the ski touring trails, ski touring workshop and the weekly ski touring programs were the major areas of emphasis Mrs. Mencel then reviewed proposed improvements for 1975° She noted that continued maintenance, improvement of the txails consisted of a major portion of the proposed improvements. She them commented that spring cleaning, adding two additional resting benches, repairing the entrance signs, painting the new shelter building and landscaping around the new shelter building were major areas of work for the 1975 program. She further noted that the Task Force would hold their next meeting in the Preserve shelter building in con- junction with a hike in the Preserve. She commented that she would be notifying the Commissioners and solicit their interest for possible attendance. Following further discussion, there was a motion by Commissioner Winkelman and seconded by Commissioner Jensen to approve the Eror_klyn Center - Crystal Environmental Preserve Task Force annual. report. The motion passed unanimously. 3 Commissioner Winkelman teen reviewed the upcoming Pride in Your City activltiesa She ;noted that the week of April 19 - April. 26 was designated by the City Council as "Pride in Your City Week" and that it would be the Commiss.Lc_,,.-:t. ° s focus to st3.,mulate interest in cleaning up the open spaces throv~,gh volunteer group help during this time o She com- mented that this year°,s program was different in that it concentrated on areas through the utiliza- tion of groups and not ~ a one day, volunteer basis, She noted that she had bee° in contact with several groups that, had made commitments to clean up certain areas, She ccumme.nted that to date the program had been movi,~.g qul.te well. There was a brief discussio:n a.s try the clean-up areas and to the possibility of utilizing the senior citizens° group kr, cr) Juncti.on with the Garden Club regarding the pla°.;tl.:TIgs around. City Hallo Commissioner Winkelman noted that she would follow up on this possl,b.ilitya The Brooklyn Center Conservation Commission recessed at 9:00 pomo and resumed at 9s20 p.m. Councilman Britts arrived at 9:20 p.m. 0 Pride in Your City Recess • • 4/17/75 ®2.m Recycling Discussion The secretary introduced the next item of business on the agenda, the report on the recycling program. He noted that he had been in discussion with Mro Rick Tewedell, of the Occupational Training Center, and • Mro Dori Ryser, of the Pollution Control Agency, Solid Waste Division.. He stated that Mro Tewedell indicated that Metro Recycling was a subsidiary of the Occupational Training Center and would be closing their program regarding recycling and in Brooklyn Center because it was no longer economically feasible to operate He noted that Mro Tewedell indicated that opera- tional coasts had greatly exceeded the revenue of the sale of the recyclable materials. The secretary then noted that Metro had been providing a trailer and transportation service fur Brooklyn Center. He then reviewed a discus- with Mr, Kyser of the P.C.A. He noted that Mr, Kyser stated that they had little involvement with C),T oC o and Metro Recycling to this date ® He nd.,"L.cated that he was aware of the fact that Metru, would be closing and also noted that their opera,t:.r-,n was not economically feasible o He stated that, P.C.A. has certain guidelines under wh.;.c, they can award grants for capital expendi- tures and Metro did not meet the requirements because :Lt di,d nint. have a guaranteed market, was nut ecr)-,.,omlcally viable and did not transport in large enough quantities. He further commented that Mro Ryser noted that Metro had recently `Ic;,;st. a b,'.d L, a transfer station whJ h even lessened the feasibility of their program. He that Mr, Ryser felt it was unfortunate that this shc)uld happen but that a major criteria establ;.shed by the P.C.A. _had been that recycling operatlc)nb must be economically viable. He noted th' t P oC oA o cc)uld not grant money for operations, regardless r)f the organization The secretary thew commented that he did not r)resee any immediate solution to the recycling prGblemo He noted that the Girl Scouts program would have to be altered in order to comply with the restraints imposed by Metro cancelling their =.nvolvement A lengthy, discussion ensued relative to the concept of recycling. Commissioner Jensen indicated that she was aware of the Scouts' desire to continue the recycl-.ng program and that they felt they could handle it on a newsprint and can basis only. She further commented as to the proposal of H.F. -3- 4/17/75 150 regarding additional money for operation of resource recovery activities. The secretary noted that H.F. 150 contained an approximate $700,000 appropriation to the P.C.A. He noted that this appropriation was to carry over for the second biennium and consisted of money that was originally funded to the P.C.A. but not usEd He noted that of this $150,000 would be used for grant administration leaving only $550,000. He then noted that these same requirements that he reviewed earlier would apply to the distribution of this money and since Metro did not qualify previously they would not qualify for any of this additional money. The secretary then noted that S of © 1259 contained substantially the same legislation in addition to an approximate $1 million grant to the City of Fairmont for a resource recovery station in can junction with a fuel usage capability. Councilman Britts then noted that he felt the recycling was not feasible for the City to partic- ipate in and operate on an extensive basis. He did indicate, however, he would support a proposal that would allow the Girl Scouts to continue their operation at the premises at 09th and Dupont Avenues North on the basis of cans and newsprint. A brief discussion ensued relative to the use of • the existing storage building. The secretary noted the storage building was in very poor shape and that at this time he indicated it was doubtful that it would be adequately secured to be used for storage outside of a fenced in area Commissioner Jensen.inquired into the possibility of 'moving the building inside the fenced in area and using it for a storage depr<)t for the Girl Scouts. The secretary noted that he would have to review this matter with the Cite Man-ager and the Superintendent of Streets Councilman Britts noted that he would be in favor of this proposal if I'A were feasible The secretary then ,oc~,ted that Commissioner Jensen might contact the Girl Scouts to let them know they may continue their recycling on the basis of cans and paper sr lonng as they are able to get rid of all the materials they take in on the • same day. 4/17/75 -4- Bicentennial Horizons Chairman Vetter then recognized Mro Chris Shwanz Committee Report r>f the Bicentennial Horizons Committee o Mr. Shwanz noted that his Committee was in charge of conserva- tion activities. He commented that he was organizing some 200 scouts for a formal clean up of the Twin bake area. A brief discussion ensued relative to this proposal. Commissioner Winkelman noted that this coincided with the proposed Pride in Your City project. Mro Shwanz commented that if the Conserva- tion Commission has additional activities in which they might participate, he would be more than happy to organize some help. Commissioner Winkelman noted that the Horizons Committee might become involved in work in the Preserve area. She further comet-,rated that she would be in contact with Mro Shwanz regarding additional. programs. Oil Recycling Commissioner Dorff then reported that he had been Project in contact with eight gas stations throughout the C.'L.ty who had indicated a desire to serve as oil recycling depositories. He reviewed the locations of these sites on the City map. He noted that he would be n contact with the secretary to draft a formal letter noting the arrangements that would have tc., be set up. Spring Hike Chairman fetter them reviewed the details for a spring hike through the K,ylawn Preserve. She noted that Mro Oscar Johnson of the Minneapolis Bird Club would lead the bird watching hike on Saturday, May 3, starting at 6-.45 a.m. in the Dnvirunmmenta.l Preserve o She noted that coffee would be served in the shelter building in the Preserve at 6-45 a.m. with the hike commencing at 7,00 aomo She indicated that she would put together a flyer to be sent to each of the pri.n.c.ipals and to be distributed to various ocst:.c .s throughout the. City. She noted that the prc,gram would not consist of any charge but would be part of the Community Education program and the Conservation Commission's parti,cipaLon in such, Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Winkelman and seconded by Commissioner Dorff to adjourn the meeting. The motio, passed unanimously. The Brooklyn Center Cranservat.:~:,on Commission adjourned at ll,-20 p.m. Chairman -5- 4/17/75