Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board

Others Present:

Judy Hunter, Washington County

Brad Fields, Anoka County

Phil Eckhert, Hennepin County

Barry Schade, Dakota County

Mike Lein, Carver County

Zack Hansen, Ramsey County

Barry Tilley, SWMCB

Kevin Johnson, Lindquist & Vennum

Don Chapdelaine, SKB Environmental

Doug Carnival, McGrann Shea Carnival

Kevin Johnson, Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P.

Mike Robertson, Robertson and Associates

Chuck Wegner, BFI

Irv Stern, BFI Waste Services

Mike Schwanke, ISD #196

Chris Guillemette, NRG Processing Solutions

Ryan O’Gara, SKB

Kevin Tritz, NRG Processing Solutions

John Carmody, University of Minnesota

Dawn Erlandson, North Woods Advertising

Ellen S. Telander, MN Waste Wise

Jodi Taitt, JL Taitt

Katy Boone, Katy Boone & Associates

Julie Ketchum, Waste Management

Thomas Keliher, Capitol Hill Associates

Leslie Wilson, Carver County

Mary Ayde, MN Waste Association

Mary Richardson, RRA

Jan Lucke, RRA

Peg Aho, RRA

Linda Gondringer, RRA

Chair Haigh welcomed the new OEA Director, Art Dunn.

Agenda Item #1.Consent Items.

a. Minutes of the September 24, 2003 Meeting and b. Checks and Claims

Commissioner Kordiak made a motion to approve the minutes of the September 24, 2003 meeting and the checks and claims as submitted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Reinhardt and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

Agenda Item #2. Management and Regional Policy.

a. State Policy Report

Paul Smith reviewed the 2003 State Solid Waste Policy Report. Mr. Smith reviewed recycling rate, waste disposal and processing trends over the past 10 years. Commissioner Reinhardt noted that 46% of the increase in generation is attributed to an increase in population and jobs in the metropolitan area.

Paul Smith noted that the OEA must provide a preliminary report to the Legislature in January 2004 regarding an incentive based SCORE distribution formula and must report with a final recommendation in January 2005. Mr. Smith also noted that the OEA will seek the input of stakeholders.

b. Source Separated Organics Management Pilot Project
Reports: School District #196 and Grocery Stores

Ellen Telander, Executive Director of MN Waste Wise, presented the final report on the SSOC pilot projects at School District 196. Ms. Telander presented the methods used to collect food waste at schools, the training and education provided to the students, how the waste was processed, and the financial elements of the program.

Ms. Telander noted that the goals of this project were to evaluate and measure opportunities, challenges and barriers in organic processing as a means to manage solid waste in an institutional setting in Dakota County. Core project partners included BFI, Inc., Dakota County, ISD #196, Mn Waste Wise, and NRG Processing Solutions with funding provided by the SWMCB.

Mr. Schwanke, ISD #196, noted that the results of this project indicate both environmental and economic benefits for the District. Ms. Telander also noted that in addition to increased recycling, survey results showed that environmental education had also been enhanced at all levels within the District.

Commissioner McLaughlin asked if this project was self-supporting. Mike Schwanke noted that this project was not a huge expense. Commissioner McLaughlin asked if there were any plans to replicate this project. Barry Schade noted that this project was very successful because leadership in the school district made it successful. He also noted that there had been inquiries from other schools, and hopefully they will be able to take this project on the road.

Judy Hunter and Jodi Taitt reviewed the Washington County organic waste management strategies in grocery store project final report. Ms. Taitt noted that the intent of this project was to conduct the pilot projects for a period of six months at two grocery stores already participating in the County’s study of the grocery industry: Kowalski’s Market in Woodbury and Rainbow Foods in Oakdale. The project focus shifted in mid-project because Ramsey and Washington Counties implemented a county environmental charge, which changed the economics of organics waste diversion options available to grocery stores. Ms. Taitt reported on the waste diversion successes in each of the stores.

c. Amendment #1 to the Agreement with Hennepin County for the SSOC Pilot Project

Judy Hunter noted that Hennepin County has requested an extension to the term of the SSOC Pilot Project agreement so that the project can continue through the end of 2004, with a final report in early 2005. Ms. Hunter noted that a mid-term project data report will be submitted by Hennepin County in early 2004 and will be used by the SWMCB in its analysis of all of the SWMCB’s source separated organics composting pilot projects. Commissioner Ische made a motion that the SWMCB authorize the Chair to execute Amendment #1 to the Agreement between the SWMCB and Hennepin County for the Organics Processing Project, extending the term to February 28, 2005. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Reinhardt and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

d. 2004 Legislative Package

Barry Tilly and Thomas Keliher reviewed the SWMCB draft 2004 legislative package as submitted in the packet. Commissioner McLaughlin made a motion that the 2004 Legislative Package be approved as submitted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ische and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

Commissioner McLaughlin asked that staff review and clarify at a future meeting how funds collected from the pesticide registration fees under MN Stat. 18B.26 are allocated in the metropolitan area.

e. Special Resolution 2003-02 Distribution of SCORE and LRDG Funds

Commissioner Stafford made a motion that the SWMCB adopt Resolution 2003-02 as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner McLaughlin and passed unanimously with Commissioners McLaughlin, Harris and Berg and Ische casting two votes for their counties.

f. 2004 Work Plan and Budget and Related Agreements

Mary Richardson reviewed the 2004 work plan and budget development process. Ms. Richardson noted that the 2004 work plan continues to build on the significant communications and outreach initiative undertaken in 2003 and includes a strong emphasis on policy development. Ms. Richardson noted that the SWMCB collaborated with the OEA on the development of a new Regional Plan in 2003 and will need to develop the Regional Solid Waste Master Plan which sets forth the implementation strategies needed to achieve the goals in the Regional Policy Plan.

Commissioner Reinhardt made a motion that the SWMCB adopt the 2004 work plan and budget as submitted. Commissioner Kordiak seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously with Commissioner Stafford casting two votes for Washington County.

Barry Schade reviewed the agreements which the SWMCB would need to enter into for three key areas of the 2004 work plan, on-going services to the Board (Richardson, Richter & Associates, Inc., Lindquist & Vennum and Capitol Hill Consultants, Inc.), intergovernmental cooperation (Dakota County Financial Management Services, Hennepin County for VSQG Services) and communications and outreach services (North Woods Advertising, Designstein, Inc. and Climb Theatre, Inc.). Commissioner Reinhardt made a motion that the SWMCB authorize the Chair to negotiate and execute agreements to continue the contracts with Richardson, Richter & Associates, Inc. for policy and management services in the amount of $440,980, Lindquist & Vennum for legal services in the amount of $70,000, Capitol Hill Consultants, Inc. for lobbying services in the amount of $50,000, Dakota County for financial management services at no cost, Hennepin County for VSQG database services in the amount of $30,000, North Woods Advertising for communications services in the amount of $270,000, Designstein, Inc. for web site design services in the amount of $60,000 and Climb Theatre, Inc. for mascot appearances/performances in the amount of $22,500. The motion was seconded by Commissioner McLaughlin and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

g. Update on CRT Activities by Commissioner Kordiak

Commissioner Kordiak gave an update on recent CRT activities.

Agenda Item #3.Communication and Outreach Update by Commissioner Reinhardt and Turner.

Commissioner Reinhardt gave an update on transport packaging activities.

Agenda Item #4.Collaborative Activities: Evaluation of Dakota County Northern Service Center for Sustainable Building Design.

Due to time constraints, this item was moved to the November SWMCB meeting agenda.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board

Minutes

Wednesday, October 22, 2003

Metro Counties Government Center