Commissioner Susan Haigh, Chair Ramsey County

Commissioner Dick Stafford, Washington County

Commissioner Jim Kordiak, Anoka County

Commissioner Dennis Berg, Anoka County

Commissioner Jim Ische, Carver County

Commissioner Tom Workman, Carver County

Commissioner Michael Turner, Dakota County

Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt, Ramsey County

Commissioner Dennis Hegberg, Washington County

Dave Benke, OEA

Barry Schade, Dakota County

Mike Lein, Carver County

Judy Hunter, Washington County

Phil Eckhert, Hennepin County

Zack Hansen, Ramsey County

Ryan O’Gara, SKB

Greta Bergstrom, Northwoods Advertising

Julie Ketchum, Waste Management

Don Chapdelaine, SKB

Irv Stern, BFI

Doug Carnival, McGrann Shea Carnival

Chuck Wegner, BFI

Judy Purman, NRG Processing Solutions LLC

Barry Tilley, Capitol Hill Consultants, Inc.

Linda Gondringer, RRA

Mary Richardson, RRA

Kathie Doty, RRA

Jan Lucke, RRA

Commissioner Ische made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 23, 2003 meeting and the checks and claims as submitted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hegberg and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

1. 2003 Legislative Issues: Final Report

Barry Tilley distributed a summary of the outcomes of the 2003 Legislative Session. Mr. Tilley noted that a number of the items the SWMCB had on its agenda were successfully passed and a number of items were not passed to the full satisfaction of all involved. Chair Haigh noted that it was an extremely busy session, and she thanked Mr. Tilley for his great work, particularly in the area of communications. Chair Haigh also thanked Nick Riley for working with the Department of Revenue to resolve tax issues related to the Ramsey/Washington County environmental charge.

2. 2002 Annual Results Report

Kathie Doty presented the 2002 Annual Results Report. Ms. Doty said that the 2002 results in source reduction appear promising, noting that the rate of growth in tons of waste generated per capita is slowing.

Ms. Doty said the 2002 recycling rate is 46.3% including yard waste and source reduction credits. The region fell short of its 50% recycling goal. Ms. Doty noted that the residential sector is recycling about 20% of the total waste it generates and the Commercial Industrial Institutional (CII) sector is recycling about 50% of the total waste it generates. Commissioner Kordiak asked why the commercial sector recycling rate is so much higher than the residential recycling rate. Ms. Doty said that businesses generate a large amount of materials that can be recycled. She also noted that the residential recycling rate is based on actual tonnages, while the CII recycling rate is based on estimated tonnages. Ms. Doty noted that staff are currently looking into this issue in more detail.

Ms. Doty presented processing and landfilling data. No questions were asked.

Ms. Doty said that household hazard waste program participation, as well as the amount of household hazard waste collected shows no sign of leveling off. Ms. Doty noted that included in this amount is a steady growth in the pounds of consumer electronics collected by Hennepin County, 2.7 million pounds in 2002.

Chair Haigh asked if the Results Report included the amount of consumer electronics collected by municipalities and special events. Ms. Doty said the report does not include amounts collected by municipalities and special events; it only includes the amount of consumer electronics collected by counties in the SWMCB region.

Chair Haigh asked if staff have an estimate of the total amount of waste consumer electronics available for collection. Ms. Doty said that staff do not have such an estimate, noting that it's a difficult number to come by because many residents and businesses are storing waste consumer electronics in their homes. Commissioner Kordiak said that he estimated that the SWMCB is collecting about 10% of the total amount of waste consumer electronics available for collection.

Commissioner Kordiak asked why the amount of household hazard waste collected is measured in pounds when MSW is measured in tons. Ms. Doty said that historically the SWMCB has reported the amount of household hazard waste collected in pounds. She also noted that the county reciprocal use agreements require counties to bill each other by the pound. Ms. Doty also said that HHW comprises a relatively small wedge of the MSW pie.

Commissioner Reinhardt made a motion to approve the SWMCB 2002 Results Report as submitted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kordiak and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

3. Funding Agreement With OEA

1. GreenGuardian.com Media Launch on June 26, 2003

Linda Gondringer and Greta Bergstrom provided an overview of the Green Guardian campaign and details on the media launch.

Ms. Gondringer said the purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of waste reduction and recycling. In addition, the campaign will provide information that citizens need to make appropriate purchasing and disposal decisions. Ms. Gondringer reminded the Board that the target audience of the campaign is women age 35 - 54 and a secondary audience is children ages 5 - 14. Ms. Gondringer said the centerpiece of the campaign is GreenGuardian.com. Ms. Gondringer noted that the web site is currently live, but is not being promoted until the media launch on June 26, 2003. Ms. Gondringer said the billboard campaign, which begins in June, is designed to drive people to the web site. In addition the campaign will be supported by newspaper ads, the appearance of the Green Guardian mascot, promotions at the State Fair, and integration of GreenGuardian.com into individual county materials.

Ms. Bergstrom said that the official launch of the GreenGuardian.com is at 10:30 a.m. on June 26, 2003 at the Discovery Hall of the Science Museum. The launch is in the form of a press conference, and Chair Haigh, Vice-chair Stafford and Commissioner Reinhardt will be speaking at the event. Chair Haigh said she prefers that all counties are represented at the media launch, and hopes that all the SWMCB members can attend. Ms. Bergstrom said that formal invitations to the launch had been sent to over 125 state and local officials, including all metro area county commissioners, members of the House and Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, City of St. Paul Council Members, Community Power grantees, city recycling coordinators, and environmental groups. Ms. Bergstrom noted that North Woods Advertising has been working with Commissioner Stafford to secure Governor Pawlenty's attendance at the launch.

Ms. Bergstrom said that a press kit has been developed for the launch and has been given to Pawlenty's scheduler and media contacts in the Twin Cities area. Ms. Gondringer noted that the purpose of the launch is to gain free or earned media and reach the 6 county metrowide area.

Ms. Bergstrom held up the billboards that will appear as part of the campaign. She noted that a teaser billboard will appear beginning June 16, 2003 on major highways in the Twin Cities area and an answer board will appear beginning the week of the launch.

Ms. Bergstrom noted that the purpose of the newspaper ads is to impart a message of carrying and urgency, as well drive people to the web site. Ms. Bergstrom said that newspaper ads will run every other week for 6 weeks beginning with the launch and leading up to the State Fair.

Ms. Gondringer noted the mascot will appear at the media launch and is scheduled for numerous events for the remainder of the year.

Chair Haigh asked about details for the State Fair. Ms. Gondringer noted that SWMCB staff are working with OEA which has offered 1 or 2 days to feature Green Guardian at the OEA booth. Ms. Gondringer noted this is an excellent opportunity.

Ms. Gondringer noted that the communications team would like the assistance of the Commissioners in helping them move counties towards incorporating Green Guardian into county promotions. Ms. Gondringer noted the more we can get Green Guardian out there, the more recognition it will have and the more successful it will be. Ms. Gondringer noted that staff are also asking environmental groups to promote GreenGuardian.com.

Ms. Bergstrom noted that North Woods Advertising is developing short-term and long-term evaluation tools. The short-term evaluation will measure the campaigns immediate impact, and the long-term evaluation will measure the impact of the campaign at set intervals, 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, etc.

Commissioner Turner asked why June 26 was picked as the launch date. Ms. Gondringer noted that the communications team had selected a much earlier launch date, but, due to external forces, the Chair and Vice-chair recommended that the launch wait until after the Legislative Session concluded.

Commissioner Stafford said that he is very pleased with the Green Guardian campaign, noting that it gets us above the everyday din of marketing. Commissioner Stafford noted that he thinks this could really turn into something big if we can sustain the effort. Commissioner Stafford said the SWMCB is on the right track. This is a great start, even though we had to cut back. Commissioner Stafford said he hopes to see all of the SWMCB members at the media launch.

2. Community Power: Release of RFP

Commissioner Haigh said that the Regional Policy Development Committee is hard at work revising the metropolitan solid waste management policy plan. Chair Haigh recognized that many of the SWMCB Commissioners are participating in this work, and the next meeting is at 12:30 p.m. on June 11, 2003 at the Kelly Inn.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.