Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board Minutes

Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Metro Counties Government Center

Members Present:

Commissioner Dick Stafford, Washington Co.
Commissioner Jim Kordiak, Anoka Co.
Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, Hennepin Co.
Commissioner Jim Ische, Carver Co.
Commissioner Joseph Harris, Dakota Co.
Commissioner Tom Workman, Carver Co.
Commissioner Michael Turner, Dakota County
Commissioner Dick Lang, Anoka Co.
Commissioner Randy Johnson, Hennepin Co.
Commissioner Dennis Hegberg, Washington Co.
Cathy Moeger, MPCA (For Gordon E. Wegwart)
Art Dunn, MOEA


Others Present:

Zack Hansen, Ramsey Co.
Phil Eckhert, Hennepin Co.
Mike Lein, Carver Co.
Judy Hunter, Washington Co.
Brad Fields, Anoka Co.
Paul Smith, MOEA
Jim Chiles, MPCA
Mark Rust, MOEA
Tim Goodman, Tim Goodman & Assoc.
Mayo Rude, Onyx
Sue Cairn, Cairn and Associates
Erin Bowley, Cairn and Associates
Irv Stern, BFI
Chuck Wegner, BFI
Katy Boone, JRs Appliance Disposal
John Domke, SKB
Judy Purman, NRG Processing Solutions
Julie Ketchum, Waste Management
Barry Tilley, SWMCB/Dakota Co.
Mary Richardson, RRA
Jan Lucke, RRA
Kate Theisen, RRA
Linda Gondringer, RRA


The meeting was called to order at 10:32 a.m.

Agenda Item #1. Consent Items.
a. Minutes of the January 26, 2005 Meeting and
b. Checks & Claims.
Commissioner Harris made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 26, 2005 meeting and the checks and claims as submitted. Commissioner Ische seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.

Agenda Item #2. Communication and Outreach.
a. Community POWER Report on Grants.
Susan Cairn presented background information on the Community POWER project and outlined the types of groups that the program has reached. The program has funded 47 different projects since 2001.

After three years, 5,600 people have been directly reached in waste reduction activities and waste reduction has become more central in 60% of grantees' missions. A new round of grants will begin next week.

b. Community POWER Presentation on the North St. Paul – Maplewood – Oakdale (ISD 622) Community Education Project.
Pat Svendsen, North St. Paul - Maplewood - Oakdale Community Education Project, highlighted how their program focuses on outreach to adults in group homes with developmental disabilities. The presentation outlined many of their projects including "Green Living for All". The group

has seen a 15% reduction in funding for community education. The Community POWER grant is allowing for free education programs to its residents. The main goal of the grant funded projects is to teach other group home leaders about recycling and composting so they can teach their residents.

Commissioner Stafford stated that it is difficult but important to measure progress. Ms. Svendsen replied that she doesn't always have quantifiable data, but she has many positive stories about waste reduction success. Commissioner Turner asked if the project information, references and success stories are posted on the web to reach a wider community. Erin Bowley replied that the project summaries and materials are posted on GreenGuardian.com which includes a section for replicable projects for different groups. Commissioner Turner asked how SWMCB promotes the web information so others know about the replicable projects. Sue Cairn replied with this round of funding, Community POWER is again going to require outreach to similar groups as a project task. Commissioner Turner commented that each project we do should be transportable to others.

c. Agreement with Cairn & Associates for Technical Services for Community POWER.
Judy Hunter stated, that per SWMCB procedure, an RFP was issued for technical services for Community POWER. Staff recommends that the Board enter into an agreement with Cairn & Associates for the period of March 1, 2005 through July 31, 2006 for an amount not to exceed $50,000. Commissioner Harris asked what the cost was last year. Judy replied that the last contract was $60,000 for 18 months. Commissioner Harris made a motion to authorize the Chair to finalize negotiations and enter into an agreement with Cairn & Associates for an amount not to exceed $50,000 for a term of March 1, 2005 - July 31, 2006. Commissioner Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.

Agenda Item #3. Management and Policy.
a. Update on the Department of Environmental Protection and the MPCA/OEA 2006-07 Biennial Budget Proposal.
Art Dunn referenced fact sheets in the packet regarding the creation of the Department of Environmental Protection which combines the OEA and MPCA. Last year the merger between the OEA and MPCA did not pass. There was much opposition to the merger by local governments. To review the opposition, Art Dunn and the MPCA Commissioner, Sheryl Corrigan, spoke to local government units and discovered that some local government units believed that a merger would take monies away from SCORE and other projects. Art Dunn said it is the MPCA's intent to maintain funding at the same level. To better protect the SCORE dollars, they propose 70% of SCORE monies go into the environmental fund and the remaining 30% go to the general fund.

Commissioner Kordiak asked if it requires legislative action to merge the two agencies, or if it is within the Governor's prerogative. Art Dunn responded that it needs legislative action. Commissioner Kordiak asked if this merger was proposed to improve efficiency or achieve cost savings. Art Dunn commented that cost savings have already been met because of so many previous budget cuts. Commissioner Harris asked if there is going to be a savings, then why does the MPCA need the $8 million dollars that is currently allocated to the processing credit. Art Dunn commented that the processing credit was paid for by left over funds in environmental funds. Last year, the legislature transferred the surplus in the environmental fund to the general fund to balance the budget. The $8 million does not exist anymore. Commissioner Harris commented that the $8 million will go to the OEA instead of going to the Counties if the processing credit sunsets.

Cathy Moeger, MPCA, commented that the processing credit was set to sunset after two years. Commissioner Harris asked what was the intent of the solid waste tax when it was created; was all the money to be spent on the environment? Cathy Moeger stated that currently 50% of the solid waste tax goes into the general fund. Commissioner Harris replied that $105 million was collected in tax. It is a big ticket item and half of it is already going into the general fund. Art Dunn commented that with the new proposal, 70% of the tax collected would go into the environmental fund and 30% into the general fund. Cathy Moeger commented that the solid waste tax increases would be captured in the environmental fund and it can then be better allocated to the environment. Mike Turner asked if base and growth were 70/30, and Art Dunn commented yes.

Commissioner Stafford stated that at the SWMCB All Staff Meeting, where Commissioner Corrigan was the guest speaker, she stated that her number one priority is ground water. Commissioner Stafford asked what are her second and third priorities. Commissioner Stafford wants to know her other priorities and asked for them to be explored by staff. Art Dunn added water and air quality in the Metro area were her top priorities. Art Dunn also stated that Commissioner Corrigan realizes that it is through partnerships with local government units, industry and the State that we are where we are now on environmental issues, and the MPCA does not want to damage these partnerships.

b. Regional/County Solid Waste Master Plan Approval Status Report.
Art Dunn stated that the OEA staff is currently reviewing the Master Plan. In addition, they are developing a matrix to compare SWMCB and OEA strategic plan objectives to see where SWMCB and OEA can work together. Art Dunn stated that we need to enhance our partnership to see where we can jointly use our resources.

c. Update by OEA on Solid Waste Tax Data Project.
Art Dunn stated that the stakeholder group met on February 22, 2005 to discuss industrial waste. Art Dunn stated there has been a steady growth in industrial waste for the past five years and there has been a big increase in construction & demolition waste. It was suggested at the meeting that the increase is due to the brownfield development and some speculate it might be because of surcharges. The OEA is in the process of collecting data. An additional meeting will be held on March 10th and possibly another meeting March 17th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the OEA. Commissioner Workman requested to be added to this invitation list and asked if a legislative position had been developed. Art Dunn commented that OEA does not intend to propose legislation, but to conduct a fact-finding process. The OEA wants to learn about what is going on and why, but are not intending to recommend a change in policy. Commissioner Stafford asked if the OEA could provide an update at the next SWMCB Board meeting. Art Dunn replied yes.

Mary Richardson noted that at the last meeting the Board supported the repeal of the sunset date for the processing credit. Commissioner Workman asked if the OEA or SWMCB staff are looking at the effectiveness of the processing credit. Commissioner Harris stated that currently it is being used to subsidize processing in the region. In Dakota County, processing has gone up eight fold and Dakota County is utilizing it to direct waste from landfills. Commissioner Workman commented we do not know what will happen when the processing credit goes away. Further, Commissioner Workman noted that before SWMCB supports the processing credit, we should know more about the effect of the processing credit. Commissioner Harris commented that the solid waste tax is not going away, and that the processing credit money will go to the State. Commissioner Workman noted that in Carver County the waste still might be going to landfills and not getting processed. Commissioner Stafford requested this item be put on next month's agenda and that staff gather data on the use of the processing credit.

d. Legislative Issues.
i. E-waste.
Commissioner Kordiak commented that there has not been a lot of activity in the last few weeks regarding e-waste legislation. Commissioner Kordiak noted that the ban will be going into effect in four months. Representative Cox's bill has had minor revisions from last year's bill and will be available shortly. Commissioner Kordiak also stated that he and SWMCB staff met with Hewlett Packard today and that SWMCB might be able to partner with them. There are three or four more bills emerging. Next month staff will bring back information on the hearings.

ii. Processing Credit.
Barry Tilley stated that Commissioner Reinhardt met with Representative Ozment to discuss continuing the processing credit.

iii. Other.
No other legislative issues were discussed.

Agenda Item #4. Other
Commissioner Stafford noted that the meeting schedule and the Committee assignments were previously approved.

Commissioner Harris made a motion to adjourn at 11:36 a.m. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kordiak, and passed unanimously on a voice vote.