Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board Agenda Item #1a
Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board
Minutes
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
Metro Counties Government Center
Members Present:
Commissioner Susan Haigh, Ramsey County
Commissioner Jim Kordiak, Anoka County
Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt, Ramsey County
Commissioner Dick Stafford, Washington County
Commissioner Joseph Harris, Dakota County
Commissioner Dennis Berg, Anoka County
Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, Hennepin County
Commissioner Michael Turner, Hennepin County
Others Present:
Barry Tilley, Dakota County
Barry Schade, Dakota County
Brad Fields, Anoka County
Mike Lein, Carver County
Don Chapdelaine, SKB
Kevin Johnson, Lindquist & Vennum
Judy Hunter, Washington County
Phil Eckhert, Hennepin County
Leo Raudys, MPCA
Greta Bergstrom, North Woods Advertising
Zack Hansen, Ramsey County
Wayne Gjerde, OEA
Chuck Wegner, BFI
Paul Smith, OEA
Linda Gondringer, RRA
Peggy Aho, RRA
Mary Richardson, RRA
Trudy Richter, RRA
Bill Sierks, OEA
Agenda Item #1. Introduction of New Members.
Chair Haigh reviewed the 2003 membership list and noted and welcomed the new SWMCB members: Commissioner Tom Workman of Carver County and Commissioner Michael Turner of Dakota County.
Agenda Item #2. Election of Officers.
Commissioner Harris made a motion that the SWMCB elect Commissioner Dick Stafford as Vice Chair of the SWMCB. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Turner and passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Commissioner Harris made a motion that the SWMCB elect Commissioner Jim Kordiak as Treasurer of the SWMCB. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Stafford and passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Agenda Item #3. Consent Items.
a. Minutes of the December 4, 2002 Meeting.
Commissioner Reinhardt made a motion to approve the December 4, 2002 minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kordiak and passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Commissioner Reinhardt made a motion to ratify the checks and claims. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kordiak and passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Commissioner Reinhardt made a motion that the SWMCB authorize the Chair to execute Amendments to the Joint Powers Agreements between the SWMCB and Dakota County (#2002-30) and the SWMCB and Washington County (#2002-27) extending the terms of the Agreements to December 31, 2003.
Agenda Item #4. Management and Regional Policy.
Chair Haigh reviewed the new organizational structure of the SWMCB.
Paul Smith reviewed the State Solid Waste Advisory Committee’s draft Vision as developed by the Blue Ribbon Panel. Commissioner Reinhardt asked whether as a result of this Vision, will the OEA be bringing any proposals before the Legislature. Mr. Smith noted that the OEA does not plan to develop any legislative proposals, but will support others who do, if it fits with the Vision. Commissioner Reinhardt recommended that SWMCB staff look at the Blue Ribbon Panel’s Vision and see if the SWMCB needs to make changes to its legislative package.
Commissioner Harris asked how a statewide goal to achieve 85% reduction by weight of MSW landfilled by the year 2020 by managing it through the highest and best use economically feasible, could be accomplished given state funding limitations. Mr. Smith noted that the statewide recovery rate is currently 65-70%. Bill Sierka, OEA, noted that paper is recoverable and that this would be one way to help reach the 85% goal .
Wayne Gjerde, OEA, gave presentation on the OEA's publication called Minnesota’s recycling industries: Economic activity summary. Mr. Gjerde noted that there are an estimated 8,700 jobs in the State of Minnesota associated with recycled material and that jobs have shifted from less skilled to more skilled. Mr. Gjerde noted that the industry as a whole has grown slowly and that Minnesota is one of three states doing something with post-consumer material.
Barry Tilley gave an update on legislative issues and noted that the current fiscal year faces a $356 million shortfall and that the projected shortfall for next year is 10 times this amount. Mr. Tilley noted that Governor Pawlenty is recommending that the Solid Waste Fund be reduced by 11 percent and that this would not affect the SWMCB’s funding. Barry Tilley noted that the SWMCB is scheduled to make a presentation before the House to provide information on the SWMCB and its responsibilities. Chair Haigh urged all members of the SWMCB to attend the meetings.
Commissioner Kordiak noted that it is time to kick-off CRT legislation and he reviewed a summary of the SWMCB’s proposed legislation for the recovery and recycling of waste electronic products.
Trudy Richter, RRA, gave an update on the SWMCB’s legislative initiative regarding classification of waste-to-energy as "renewable energy". Ms. Richter noted that a bill had come out of the Revisor’s Office and that they hope to find an author to sponsor the bill. Ms. Richter noted that all facilities in the State of Minnesota have state of the art pollution control equipment and some of the lowest emission levels in the country. Commissioner Kordiak asked why it is important that methane gas be considered as a renewal resource. Ms. Richter noted that the State does not have a renewable portfolio and that earlier on there were tax credits for renewables.
Agenda Item #5. Communications and Outreach.
Due to time constraints, this agenda item was postponed until the next SWMCB meeting.
Judy Hunter and Susan Cairn gave an overview of the Community POWER First Round Grant recipients final reports on each project. Judy Hunter noted that the Community POWER project involved over 1,380 people in waste reduction activities in the first year. Ms. Hunter noted that a RFP for the next round of Community POWER grants may be issued this fall.
Judy Hunter noted that the SWMCB authorized the release of a request for bids for residential compost bins for a Spring 2003 distribution program in December 2002. Ms. Hunter noted that the SWMCB received three bids on January 14, 2003. The bids for bins with the direct shipping to homeowners residences distribution method was substantially more than earlier market research indicated, thereby creating the need for the SWMCB to subsidize the sale of the bins at a much greater level than budgeted.
Staff recommend that the SWMCB reject all bids received and restructure the program. Further, staff recommend that the SWMCB release a request for bids for a Fall 2003 distribution program. Commissioners requested that staff explore additional, more cost-effective distribution methods. A motion was made by Commissioner Reinhardt that the SWMCB reject all bids for the residential composting bin program and authorize the release of a new request for bids for residential composting bins. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kordiak and passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Commissioner Reinhardt noted that it is apparent that Minnesota is ahead of the curve on education of Transport Packaging and that she has been asked to be a speaker at the Transport Packaging Conference to be held in Dallas, Texas.
Agenda Item #6. Other: 2003 Meeting Dates.
Chair Haigh reviewed the 2003 SWMCB meeting schedule.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.