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Minutes Environ Steward 2 6 01MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP ADVISORY COMMISSION FEBRUARY 6, 2001 4:00 P.M. CITY HALL ANNEX, 1300 MAIN, CONFERENCE ROOM # 1 Michael Buelow called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Buelow, John Bennett, Briana Tully, Dave Czarnecki, William Niemann. MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Mary Rose Corrigan, Don Vogt, Paul Horsfall Michael Buelow completed the Certification of Compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Dave Czamecki moved to approve the Minutes of the January 9, 2001 ESAC meeting. Bill Niemann seconded the motion. There were no changes or additions and the Minutes were approved as distributed. TEST AGENDA: John Bennett moved to accept the agenda. Dave Czarnecki seconded the motion. There were no changes or additions to the agenda. Motion passed unanimously. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION: OLD BUSINESS: I. Radon. Mike Buelow explained that Mary Rose Corrigan and Rich Russell, Building Services Manager, were attending the Home Builders Association meeting tonight to discuss radon and radon resistant construction. The City of Muscatine is going to wait to adopt the International 2000 Residential Building Code because their County Board of Supervisors wants to adopt it county-wide. They are requesting $335,000 in an EPA grant for advertising, training, etc. If they get the grant, they will pass their ordinance in July 2001, and if they don't get the grant, they will pass it in January 2002. Radon resistant construction will also be discussed again at the next Building Code of Appeals meeting on February 22, 2001 at 4:00 P.M. After input from that meeting, the Commission may again discuss it and then present a recommendation to the City Council whether or not the Building Code of Appeals Boards endorses the measure. Bill Niemann commented that at the last meeting, the Building Code of Appeals Board said that new construction is only 3% of the housing, so we are not actually making a big impact, but we are making a political statement and continuing with Health Department education about radon. Don Vogt suggested that there may be some leverage in the Section 8 Housing rules where we could use radon or incorporate it into their Code. 2. Bottle Bill. John Bennett had reported that the City Council approved the Bottle Bill Resolution the Commission forwarded them. It was a "Consent" item on the agenda last night. Discussion occurred as to whether a press release should be done. Information had been sent to the Telegraph Herald when the Bottle Bill first came up, but no coverage occurred. Mary Rose Corrigan will contact the Telegraph Herald City Editor to see if a story would be forthcoming. NEW BUSINESS: John Bennett presented the idea of energy and should the Commission be looking at it especially in lieu of gas and electric prices. He stated that Iowa ranks forty-fourth in energy efficiency according to National Wildlife magazine. After discussion, it was decided that John will bring some information to the next meeting regarding this topic. ITEMS FROM STAFF: OLD BUSINESS: 1. Deer Management Program. Mary Rose Corrigan explained that the deer count/aerial survey occurred and the preliminary numbers indicate the population was once again stabilized. Don Vogt reported that the road kill pickups are also down, which the IDNR predicted would happen after a couple years of of a hunt. Mary Rose should have the final statistics on the deer count for the Mamh Commission meeting. NEW BUSINESS: Paul Horsfall mentioned that eastern Iowa will be part of a DNR emissions inventory study. His plant will be submitting data. He also discussed the environmental scorecard which looks at Alliant, John Deere, and their potential to emit air pollutants, not actually what they emit. Don Vogt reported that the funding for the energy bill which the Iowa Legislature just passed came from landfill budgets. Approximately $8 million that was supposed to be used for clean water programs, establishing facilities for recycling, household hazardous waste matedal collection, the UNI waste reduction center, will be decreased. Also, IDNR staffing that was frozen two years ago will be eliminated. Landfill agencies are discussing this and may refuse to pay the $2.25 per ton tax to the state. ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC: There was no one present to address the Commission. CLARIFICATION OF TASKS: Mary Rose Corrigan and any available Commissioners will meet with the Building Code of Appeals Board on February 22, 2001 at 4:00 P.M. John Bennett will prepare some energy information. NEXT MEETING DATE: MARCH 13, 200'1 due to three of the members being on Spring break. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Energy, deer, radon. ADJOURNMENT: Dave Czamecki moved to adjourn the meeting. Bill Niemann seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 5:00 P.M.