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2021-1 AgendaSUSTAINBILITY COMMISSION Regular Meeting Agenda Thursday, January 28th, 2021, 7:00 pm Virtual Meeting - WebEx Commission Members Staff/Others Liaisons Jeremy Barthels, Laura Durenberger-Grunow, Carolyn Engeldinger, Amanda Kueper, Kameron Murray, Alyssa Sanden, Brian Shaw Amy Markle (Recreation Services Director) Rachel Lindholm (Sustainability Specialist) Julia Eagles (IMT) Ben Whalen (City Council) Heather MacDonald (CSC) 1. Call to Order/Welcome 2. Approval of Minutes/Agenda  Regular Meeting Minutes: November 19th, 2020 3. Public Comment  Any resident comment and items not printed on agenda 4. Staff Reports  Organized Collection (Lindholm, Markle)  Tree Policy process update (Lindholm, Markle)  Miscellaneous items – smart salting training, plastic free challenge (Lindholm) 5. Discussion Items  MN City Coalition IRP letter (Julia Eagles, IMT) 6. Action Items  MN City Coalition IRP letter motion of support (Lindholm)  MNCC legislation motion of support (Lindholm)  Approve the Commission’s letter to City Council re: tree preservation policy (Lindholm) 7. Committee Reports  Community Services Commission (CSC) (MacDonald) 8. Next Meeting Thursday, February 25th, 2020, 7:00 pm Virtual Meeting held on WebEx 9. Adjournment REGULAR SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION MEETING Thursday, November 19, 2020 Held virtually over WebEx PRESENT COMMISSIONERS: Laura Durenberger-Grunow, Carolyn Engeldinger, Amanda Kueper, Alyssa Sanden, Kameron Murray, Brian Shaw STAFF: Rachel Lindholm, Amy Markle LIAISONS: Ben Whalen (City Council), Heather MacDonald (CSC) ABSENT Jeremy Barthels (Commissioner) Call to Order Kueper called the meeting to order at 7:08 pm. Approval of Minutes/Agenda Engeldinger moved to approve the agenda and previous minutes, seconded by Murray, approved by all. Public Comment Gordon Hanson and Sandy Spanier submitted public comment. Their letter highlights the benefits of a tree preservation policy, differences from tree replacement policy, and shows resident interest in going forward with a policy. Kueper heard from Sandy about the same issue. A. Richfield has a policy, and B. that it goes beyond the tree replacement policy. Staff Reports Organized Collection 101 (Lindholm, Markle) Durenberger-Grunow asked if the slides/presentation would be available on the website or somewhere accessible. Lindholm said yes, the recording of the meeting will be posted online so the slides will be accessible there. Why organized collection?  Metro area is below 50% recycling rate. County goal is 75% (including organics) by 2030.  Richfield has been #39 out of #44 for recycling rate, per trash per pound, in the county.  An open system with multiple haulers does not give the most consistent and complete education (about recycling/waste disposal) to residents.  Organics are the most commonly found item in an average household’s waste.  Richfield and Eden Prairie are the only cities within Hennepin County that don’t have organized recycling collection. Economic: -Value of services - very important to many people -Increases equity and lessening the economic burden on marginalized populations -There are lots of disparities between the same hauler from household to household -Ensures all residents have access to waste collection (organics, yard waste, etc). Richfield has had to remove illegal dumpin g, which is a further cost to the city Environmental: -Fewer trucks reduces pollution, litter that blows out of trucks, improves safety by having trucks move slower down the street (a concern of many residents) -Reduce road wear impact Social, Education: -a goal of minimizing disruption to residents -increases rates of recycling, composting, and waste reduction -allows for the city to advocate for residents and minimize issues Shaw mentioned that there is a definite safety issue with all of the trucks rushing through streets and backing up with a lot of blind spots. Durenberger-Grunow asked whether it is known if recycling would be picked up every week or every other week. Lindholm mentioned that it would depend on pricing, the hauler, and what the community wants. Lindholm mentioned that resident feedback is wanted and needed for this very reason. She also mentioned that residents have wanted organic recycling, and an option for every other week trash pick-up. Organics recycling program DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE SC Extremely successful. There is an option for feedback when signing up for the program, and some residents have expressed that dropping off organics is not accessible for them, but they want a curbside option and would participate on that level. A work session was held on November 10. Initial meeting with haulers was held in late November. Negotiations start in December. Public hearing and Council Approval – February/March? Implementation – Summer/Fall All dates subject to change due to COVID and negotiation length. The city cannot go out for a bid per the requirements of state statute. The city is trying to avoid some of t he outcomes that have come out in other cities. Sanden asked if the process of interviewing haulers and negotiating is open to the public. The initial special council meetin g with haulers was recorded and published on the website. The negotiation meetings are closed. Public feedback: -Listening/learning sessions will be recorded and put on the public access channel (with interpreter). Zoom info will be made available on the website, mailer, etc. -December 18 @ 7pm - Friday -December 19 @ 4pm - Saturday -December 22 @ 2pm - Tuesday -FAQ document on city website -Webpage creation -Social media posts Durenberger-Grunow asked what the process was for removing the trash cans - will residents have to pay to have their carts removed? Lindholm said other cities have not incurred those charges. Whalen mentioned based on resident feedback that people are wondering what is part of contract negotiations? Negotiations goes beyond price; having different options for waste removal, etc. He also mentioned that a resident was wondering if there is room for considering various haulers treat their workers; worker protections, fair pay….want to make sure that a company is not undercutting others to get the contract at the expense of paying workers. Lindholm said that the haulers aren’t competing against each other for a contract so this wouldn’t be the case. The city can express that labor conditions are important to residents (if it is an important issue.) Kueper thanked Whalen for posting in the Richfield FB group about the organized collection. She also asked what is the best way for residents to provide feedback as far as benefits and concerns? Additionally, what is the best way for the commission to act as a bridge between residents and feedback. Lindholm said that she is acting as the point person for resident feedback. Email and phone number are available on the webpage and any marketing material. Residents are strongly encouraged to provide feedback to her, and council members. Staff don’t monitor the Community Facebook page. Murray asked if apartment buildings are part of this organized collection? Do people moving in to Richfield get told about the garbage collection before moving in? Lindholm mentioned that apt buildings are normally serviced by a commercial hauler. Organized waste collection is for single family homes, duplexes, twin homes, and triplexes, and that includes homes being rented out. Whalen mentioned many comments on the community FB page had frustrations with billing. Lindholm mentioned that the city would likely not be taking that piece on - that the haulers would still handle billing. Whalen had a second question from one resident who was wondering if there was an option for an opt-out process. Other residents shared concerns about wanting a choice and wanted an option to opt out. Lindholm responded: City code currently states that everyone must have a waste disposal process or an environmentally friendly alternative. However, that is not to say that this will stay the same. The city is planning on talking about an opti ng out option; will there be proof required of proper waste disposal, etc? Discussion Items Lindholm mentioned that the bylaws say the Commission doesn’t hold a December meeting. Commission agreed to skip December meeting. Kueper reminded that the listening and learning sessions will be happening to keep the organized collection project moving. Action Items Kueper asked Lindholm to send the tree preservation policy letter from Kueper and Engeldinger to the group. Feedback can be sent directly to Kueper. Committee Reports MacDonald reported on the CSC’s last meeting, giving an update on: -winter rec programs halted due to COVID numbers increasing and hitting Richfield hard. The city is going to err on the side of safety -virtual activities are being planned, however -ice rink will hopefully be open, but warming houses will not -roundup at the Richfield liquor stores for parks -holiday food drive partnering with VEAP - working with the city - letting people in the city be food drop off sites. December 1 - 18. City will be collecting food at a central location -Richfield Lake mindfulness journey will be available for a week - focusing on gratitude -Kids activities planned: virtual yoga, story time with Santa, snowshoeing/ski rentals, solstice walk Other/Next Meeting/Adjournment Next Meeting: Thursday, January 28th, 7:00 pm, will be held virtually over WebEx. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn by Murray, seconded by Sanden. Meeting adjourned by Kueper at 8:32 pm.