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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-06-24 Evironmental Quality Commission Meeting MinutesAGENDA Edina Environmental Quality Commission Monday, June 24, 1974, at 7:30 P.M. Edina City Hall I. Roll Call. II. Approval of the May 28, 1974, EQC Minutes. III. Special Election of the EQC Chairman. IV. Old Business: A. Recycling Center. B. Highway 100 Construction in Melody Lake Area. C. Preliminary Report for a Basic Land and Water Management Improvement Project for Minnehaha Creek. V. Reports: A. Committee Reports. B. Watershed District Proceedings. C. Hennepin County Soil Survey. D. Replacement of Fritz Reid. VI. Other Business: A. VII. Others Wishing to be Heard. VIII. Adjournment. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE EDINA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSION HELD MONDAY, JUNE 24, 1974, EDINA CITY HALL I. Roll Call: Barbara Casselman, Secretary Paul Mucke Fritz Reid John Telfer Virginia Scott Jim Bentley Cliff Johnson Staff Present: Gordon Hughes, Environmental Planner Debby Donley, Secretary II. Approval of the May 28, 1974, EQC Minutes - There being no changes in the minutes as read, a motion for approval was made by Cliff Johnson and seconded by Mrs. Virginia Scott. All voted aye. Motion carried. At this time Mr. Hughes introduced the new secretary, Debby Donley. III. Special Election , of the EQC Chairman - Because of the absence of the Vice Chairman, Secretary Barbara Casselman opened nominations for the position of Chairman. Cliff Johnson nominated Don Johnson present EQC Vice Chairman. Jim Bentley seconded. Virginia Scott nominated Cliff Johnson who at that time declined the nomination. Paul Mucke moved to close nominations, seconded by John Telfer. All voted aye, Don Johnson is elected Chairman of EQC by a unamimous ballot. In the absence of the new Chairman, Secretary Barbara Casselman opened nominations for the position of Vice Chairman. Cliff Johnson nominated Jim Bentley. Nomination was seconded by Fritz Reid, Paul Mucke closed nominations. Jim Bentley was elected by a unamimous ballot and took over the meeting as Vice Chairman. IV. Old Business A. Recycling Center - Gordon Hughes commented that Mrs. Virginia Bodine, who has been instrumental in operating the Edina Recycling Center has requested some assistance in the future operation of the Center. The question has been posed -- how can we attract and accommodate more solid waste for the Center? A discussion was held on city-wide contract for garbage collection and although such a system may be beneficial from the environmental standpoint, it seemingly has some drawbacks from theeconomic and administrative standpoints. Mr. Hughes also pointed out that it appears unlikely the Council will consider such a system in the near future, thus he recommends that the EQC explore methods of attracting more recyclable material while working within the constraints of the present garbage hauling system in Edina. Further discussion was held on City-wide garbage collection after which Mrs. Bodine commented that the Center should be reaching more homes in Edina, and the City also needs to find a place to do business during the week. She also stated she would like to see some of the City staff take some responsi- bility in the recycling center. A suggestion was made that possibly a regular EQC Minutes June 24, 1974 Page 2 pick up of recyclable material could be initiated in some apartment buildings in Edina. This material perhaps could be picked up by a hauler, a City truck, or a volunteer group. Mr. John Telfer asked that someone call the Metro Recycling to see if other locations in Edina could be used for pick up and also ask about other communities and what they do in this situation. The EQC instructed Mr. Hughes to investigate the future participation of the City in the Recycling Center and to investigate methods of collecting recyclable solid waste. Comments will be made at the next meeting. B. Highway 100 Construction in Melody Lake Area. - Mr. Hughes reported that in May, 1972, the EQC considered the proposed construction of the Highway 100 frontage road in the Melody Lake-Benton Avenue area. At that time the EQC adopted a resolution which was later adopted by the City Council stating that it found no objection to a 1.1 acre encroachment into Melody Lake, which was needed for the construction of the frontage road. As a result of rainfall, a temporary dike that was designed to prevent sedimentation of Melody Lake washed out. For about one week following this wash out, sediment- ladened storm water was not only allowed to enter the Lake via runoff, but was also pumped from other areas of the construction site into the Lake. By June 11, the southern half of Melody Lake was extremely turbid due to the runoff. The dike was subsequently replaced and such runoff is no longer entering Melody Lake. The staff has contacted two agencies, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, responsible for issuing construction permits for this project. The DNR has assured Mr. Hughes that they will investigate the problem and report their findings. It is recommended that the EQC defer any action until the findings of the DNR are known. This matter will be taken up at the next meeting of the EQC. C. Preliminary Report for a Basic Lane and Water Management Improvement Project for Minnehaha Creek. - Mr. Hughes stated the EQC was asked to review a proposal for a Cooperative Powers Agreement among the municipalities participating in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Governing Committee. Recently, Hickok and Associates completed their preliminary report and presented it to the Watershed District Governing Committee. The Watershed District thereupon requested each municipality to review the report. Mr. Hughes indicated that any comments of the EQC regarding the project would be transmitted to the Governing Committee. The preliminary report is divided into five project areas: Headwaters control structure; Gray's Bay Damsite; Oakes Lake; Creek, shoreline and culvert improvements; and the Meadowbrook area. Within Edina, four creek and shore- line improvements are proposed. As discussion was held regarding the removal of material resulting from aggradation in the Creek in the 44th Street area. Mr. John Telfer requested permission from the Commission to further study and research the effects of dredging on the fauna and flora of the creek. Any significant findings will be reported to the Commission. EQC Minutes June 24, 1974 Page 3 Mr. Hughes has recommended that the EQC not formally accept or recommend acceptance to the Council of this plan prior to a public hearing which must be held by the Watershed District. EQC members indicated that they had no further comments to transmit to the Governing Committee. Mrs. Barbara Casselman moved that no official action or recommendations be made until the time after the public hearing and that between now and the public hearing any investigation that the Commission would like to make can be given to the Council at the appropriate time. Cliff Johnson seconded. All voted aye. V. Reports A. Committee _Reports 1. Water Resources - None 2. Land Resources - None 3. Soil Erosion - None 4. Planning Commission - None 5. Solid Waste - None 6. Open Space Committee - Mrs. Casselman and Mrs. Scott have attended these meetings but have nothing to report. 7. Education - None B. Watershed District Proceedings - Mr. Hughes reported on the activities of the Watershed Districts during the past month. C. Hennepin County Soil Survey - Mr. Hughes reported that a soil survey has been completed and published for Henn. Co., Although only a small portion of Edina has been mapped, the Soil Survey may be very valuable to the EQC in the future. D. Replacement of Fritz Reid - Mr. Hughes stated he has contacted a person for replacement and as of this date the person has not responded. No further action taken. VI. Other Business A. Mrs. Scott started a discussion on guidelines for the Commission. Mr. Hughes commented the guidelines could be established for the following: soil, noise, ground water and wetlands. Mrs. Scott then proposed that during the next month the commission try to think of guidelines that they could use when evaluating business before the EQC. Mr. Richards stated that Yr. Hughescould start with guidelines for the Commission and then set up a meeting to discuss same. This matter will he brought up at the next EQC meeting. Next meeting date set for July 29, 1974, at 7:30 p.m. VII. Others Wishing to be Heard - None Mrs. Scott moved and Mr. Johnson seconded meeting be adjourned - 10:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Debby Donley, Secretary dd