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Locally imposed requirements (discretionary) <br /> (3A)Recycling program/solid waste collection/Organics program <br /> (313) Landfill abatement <br /> (3D) General recycling <br /> (413) gravel mining licenses, environmental permits for landfill, RDF plant, and GRE power station <br /> (4E) Environmental education <br /> (5A) Heritage Preservation Commission and Energy City <br /> (513) Lake Orono Improvement Association <br /> Diseased tree programs <br /> Relationship-building tasks: <br /> Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) representative, collaboration with DNR,BWSR and Sherburne SWCD <br /> Landfill (gas to electric plant), training,tours <br /> Recycling Association of Minnesota board member (recycling initiatives, trial programs) <br /> Great River Energy (district heating,wastewater reuse research and opportunities) <br /> Energy City, (especially city tours) <br /> Membership in Source Reduction and Recycling (CISSR), results in Elk River outreach <br /> Gravel mining <br /> Heritage Preservation,including maintenance of Certified Local Government <br /> Erosion control outreach/education to developers <br /> Wetland education <br /> Reductions <br /> To reduce the division workload, some tasks have already been redirected or reduced including: <br /> - Transition commission work to HPC commissioners (5A) <br /> - Moved some Energy City Commission activities to Elk River Municipal Utilities staff(5A) <br /> - Administration of right-of-way permits moved to building department staff(4D) <br /> - Decrease in erosion control education <br /> - Decreased recycling marketing and education <br /> - Participation in fewer workshops for recycling,wetlands and general environmental <br /> Staff does not recommend discretionary item cuts as they add identifiable and unique benefits to the city. <br /> However, Staff seeks Council confirmation on these discretionary programs, and whether they should still <br /> be offered. <br /> Further consideration <br /> The director has looked into delegating a number of regulatory tasks to different agencies including: <br /> - Landfill oversight to the state,but found that it would be difficult maintain the city's interests <br /> without significant opposition. <br /> - The county could administer gravel mining operations at a reduced service level possibly impacting <br /> established relationships/partnerships and a loss of gravel mining income. <br /> - Heritage Preservation was considered for delegation to the county,but they don't perform the <br /> same type of service. <br /> - Shifting administration of certain agreements and licenses for GRE and the landfill to a consultant. <br />