2014-03-25_PWETC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Member DeBenedet noted Leadership, Environment and Energy Design (LEED) requirements, with points allotted for stormwater plans, but only up to the point of meeting regulatory requirements, which he found to be an odd concept. As an example, Member DeBenedet referenced the expansion and remodeling of the Ramsey County Library—Roseville Branch and their incorporation of a number of stormwater features not required to achieve LEED Certification. Related to stormwater issues, Member Gjerdingen expressed his personal concern with recent trenches installed along streets (e.g. Pascal south of County Road B) that negatively impacted pedestrian accessibility. Member Gjerdingen opined that, depending on their location, he preferred that a considerable amount of care be given to how and where they were used; noting that they affected future abilities to pave pathways in that area, as grading shifted significantly. For the benefit of the body, Mr. Schwartz advised that rain gardens and/or infiltration trenches had been installed as part of a previous pavement project. Member DeBenedet suggested that staff may want to calculate examples to cost out larger sites, and provide example sites to work out factoring interest in their cost-effectiveness evaluation. Member DeBenedet opined that staff may find that it doesn't pay to do this without the benefit of other motivating factors, even though it offered an opportunity to address additional stormwater issues. Chair Vanderwall opined that it would provide another tool in the toolbox that would help the City go in the desired direction in addressing stormwater management concerns. On behalf of staff, Mr. Schwartz thanked the PWETC for their feedback, advising that staff would take the proposal to the City Council at some point in the near future to receive their feedback as well, and whether staff was directed to proceed. 7. Update on Recycling for Business/Institutions At the request of Mr. Schwartz, Mr. Johnson noted inquiries from several churches and businesses to participate in the City's curbside recycling program. As detailed in the staff report, Mr. Johnson noted that these commercial and institutional properties had been using the blue recycling bins through the Roseville system for the past three years, while not paying the quarterly recycling fee, since the program was only intended for residential properties. In an effort to encourage their continued interest and participation in recycling, Mr. Johnson advised that staff had consulted with Eureka Recycling, who was willing to deliver a cart and add these properties to their routes if the City wanted to expand its recycling program. Mr. Johnson advised that the City would receive revenue sharing from anything coming out of these issues, and in an effort to tap into their interest and potentially expand the recycling program even further for Page 8 of 14