Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board Minutes
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Metro Counties Government Center
Members Present:
Commissioner Dick Stafford, Washington Co.
Commissioner Susan M. Haigh, Ramsey Co.
Commissioner Jim Kordiak, Anoka Co.
Commissioner Michael Turner, Dakota Co.
Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt, Ramsey Co.
Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, Hennepin Co.
Commissioner Dennis Hegberg, Washington Co.
Commissioner Dennis Berg, Anoka Co.
Gordon Wegwart, MPCA
Dave Benke, MOEA
Others Present:
Barry Schade, Dakota Co.
Phil Eckhert, Hennepin Co.
Brad Fields, Anoka Co.
Mike Lein, Carver Co.
Zack Hansen, Ramsey Co.
Judy Hunter, Washington Co.
Chuck Wegner, BFI
Paul Smith, MOEA
Mike Robertson, Mike Robertson & Assoc.
Susan Young, City of Minneapolis
Angie Timmons, Hennepin Co.
Erin Bowley, Cairn & Associates
Tim Goodman, Tim Goodman & Associates
Amy Briesacher, Anoka County
Kevin Johnson, Lindquist & Vennum
Irv Stern, BFI
Ryan O’Gara, SKB
Margaret Williams, Riverview Sp. Sch.
Dave Weirens, AMC
Doug Carnival, McGrann, Shea Carnival
Rick Patraw, MOEA
Kate Theisen, RRA
Mary Richardson, RRA
Linda Gondringer, RRA
Kathie Doty, RRA
Peg Aho, RRA
The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m.
Agenda Item #1. #9; Consent Items.
Commissioner Haigh made a motion to accept the minutes of the May 26, 2004 meeting and the checks and claims as submitted. Commissioner Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Agenda Item #2. #9; Management and Policy.
Garth Hickle gave an overview of the OEA Electronic Waste consultation process and the feedback received to date. Mr. Hickle noted that there should be a recommendation to bring before the Governor and the Legislature by November 1 of this year. Bob Dunn will be the moderator at the July, August and September meetings.
Commissioner Stafford asked what industry representatives will be participating in the process and what the OEA sees as the SWMCB’s role in this process. Garth Hickle noted that Best Buy, Apple and Target will be participating. Commissioner Kordiak asked who is invited to attend the consultation meetings. Mr. Hickle noted that Board members and members of other organizations are welcome to observe the meetings and will have several opportunities to provide input at the August 5 and 7 meetings. Commissioner Reinhardt stated her hope that the counties are able to participants in the consultation meetings and have a say in the discussions. Commissioner Reinhardt suggested that Commissioner Kordiak attend upcoming OEA electronic waste meetings on behalf of the SWMCB.
Commissioner Kordiak thanked Garth Hickle and the OEA for their diligent efforts on this issue.
Update will be given at the next meeting.
Tim Goodman, Tim Goodman and Associates gave an update on the organics management feasibility study. Nine recommendations came out of the commercial organics waste management marketplace assessment and are based on the findings of the study and are supported by much of what is in the body of the report. The recommendations are grouped under four headings – general, residential, commercial and schools/institutional. Mr. Goodman noted that the recommendations will be used by the Regional Policy Development Committee for the development of outcomes and strategies related to organics management in the Regional/County Solid Waste Master Plan.
Commissioner Haigh made a motion to approve the nine recommendations as submitted. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Berg and passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Mary Richardson reviewed the work plan and budget development process which began in April. Policy staff, with input from the SWMCB Implementation Groups, obtained a revenue estimate from the OEA and worked to develop a work plan and budget for consideration by Chair Stafford, Vice-Chair Haigh and Treasurer Kordiak.
Ms. Richardson noted that the MLAA funds from the OEA are projected to be 30% lower than 2004. The decrease is due to projected decrease in landfill receipts in metropolitan area landfills. The recommended county contribution for 2005 is $18,000 per county.
Ms. Richardson noted that staff are recommending that the SWMCB focus its efforts around a few key policy issues and continue to build upon the successful programs in its core functional areas, due to the substantial reduction in projected revenue for 2005. Some of the key projects for 2005 include: continuing work on the Green Guardian campaign, continuing of the Community POWER program, distributing of residential compost bins and kitchen food waste buckets, implementing recommendations as part of the Regional Processing Business Plan, continuing to pursue product stewardship for electronic waste, developing an improved data management system that will inform the policies of the region in areas of recycling and household hazardous waste, coordinating of the Regional Hauler Licensing Program and coordinating of Hospital Healthcare waste.
Mary Richardson noted that staff are proposing that the VSQG database management project be classified as a special project funded by the six member counties. The 2005 total project costs are projected to be $35,500 and includes a $20,000 contract with Hennepin County to provide staff to enter the data, $15,000 for a software vendor to host, maintain and update the web based database and develop reports that all member county hazardous waste staff access, and $1,500 for Richardson, Richter & Associates to administer the two contracts and coordinate management issues with the software vendor. The recommended special funding allocation is based on the number of data entries assigned to each county and it is thought by staff to be the most closely tied allocation option to the actual amount of data entry work performed. Ms. Richardson noted that if the SWMCB receives more MLAA funds than currently estimated, the Board could consider funding the VSQG program as a part of its budget and not as a special project.
Commissioner Haigh asked if the OEA and the PCA received the same 30% reduction in MLAA funds as the SWMCB. Dave Benke noted that appropriations for the OEA has been consistent over the last few years and there is projected to be no increase or decrease for 2005. Commissioner Reinhardt asked how the distribution of MLAA funds are calculated. Dave Benke noted that he will bring calculations to the next meeting. Commissioner Haigh also asked for a history of the amounts the State and the OEA have retained over the past few years. Commissioner Kordiak asked that hard numbers be brought back to the Board on what the MLAA fund generated last year. Mary Richardson noted that staff will be coming back to the Board at the end of the year with updated numbers.
Commissioner Haigh made a motion that the SWMCB approve, by Special Resolution, the 2005 work plan and budget, including the county 2005 contribution of $18,000, and approve the Special Project and the country funding allocation for the 2005 VSQG database management project, and forward the Special Project budget to each county for ratification. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kordiak and passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Barry Schade noted that the SWMCB Chair, Vice-chair and Treasurer recommend that the SWMCB approve the agreements for the 2005 ongoing services and project of the SWMCB. Mr. Schade noted that the agreements are consistent with the proposed 2005 budget and work plan and that any other contracts needed for the 2005 projects will be brought before the SWMCB following a procurement process as required in the SWMCB’s financial management procedures policy.
Barry Schade noted that the SWMCB had undertaken a procurement process for ongoing services of the Board, such as policy and management, legal, and lobbying services in 2001. The SWMCB’s financial management procedures call for a procurement process every five years for ongoing services.
Barry Schade noted that, based on the proposed 2005 SWMCB budget and work plan, staff are recommending that the SWMCB approve the following for execution:
Commissioner Reinhardt made a motion that the SWMCB authorize the chair to negotiate and execute the above contracts. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Haigh and passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Agenda Item #3. Communications and Outreach.
Judy Hunter introduced representatives of two recipients of the 2004 Community POWER grant program: Margaret Williams from the Riverview Specialty School and Lynn Rabbits from the Conway Battle Creek Living Home Block Nurse Program. Ms. Williams and Ms. Rabbits gave the SWMCB a brief overview of their proposed Community POWER programs. Ms. Hunter noted that the next quarterly meeting of the Community POWER grantees will be on June 24. SWMCB members are encouraged to attend to meet and greet the new grantees.
Judy Hunter gave an overview of the 2004 compost bin/budget program. She noted that 11 events were held throughout the metropolitan area, 10,000 bins were sold, 73% of the order were taken via GreenGuardian.com web site.
Agenda Item #4. Other.
Chair Stafford noted that the next SWMCB meeting will be held on July 28, 2004, at the Metropolitan Counties Government Center and that the next Regional Policy Development Committee meeting is scheduled for July 8, 2004.
Commissioner McLaughlin made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hegberg. Meeting adjourned.