January 18, 2002
The meeting of the Legislative Audit Commission was called to order by Senator Ann H. Rest at 10:10 a.m. on Friday, January 18, 2002, in Room 15, State Capitol.
Members Present:
| Senator Ann H. Rest | Representative Steve Dehler |
| Senator Claire Robling | Representative Dan Larson |
| Senator Deanna Wiener | Representative Mary Jo McGuire |
| Representative Michelle Rifenberg | |
| Representative Wes Skoglund |
Members Excused:
| Senator Bill Belanger | Representative Ruth Johnson |
| Senator Dave Johnson | Representative Peggy Leppik |
| Senator Sheila Kiscaden | Representative Dan McElroy |
| Senator Thomas Neuville | |
| Senator Jim Vickerman |
Other Legislators Present:
| Representative Alice Hausman |
Senator Rest indicated the purpose of the meeting was to release and review the program evaluation report on Recycling and Waste Reduction. She indicated she first wanted to note that the commission's new policy on report release procedures was working inasmuch as there had not been any leak of the recently release report on state agency barter agreements. In response to a question from Senator Rest, James Nobles, Legislative Auditor, indicated the barter study had not included the Metropolitan Council or metropolitan agencies.
Senator Rest indicated Senator Kiscaden's report of the special subcommittee on topic selection and data requests would be reviewed at a future meeting.
Senator Rest again recognized Mr. Nobles. Mr. Nobles reviewed the reasons the commission chose the topic of recycling and waste reduction, some background of the issues covered, and noted that for the most part, the findings were positive about such efforts in Minnesota. He introduced Deborah Parker Junod, project manager, and David Chein, Evaluation Specialist.
Ms. Junod reviewed the background, questions addressed in the study, research methodology, and findings and recommendations contained in the report and answered questions from members.
Senator Rest recognized Sherry Enzler, Director of the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance. Ms. Enzler indicated there were two different reporting requirements in statute and will be requesting the reporting process be streamlined in order to be more useful, and answered questions from members. There was some discussion concerning areas where recycling efforts need to be improved, including construction/demolition sites and multi-family housing. There was also some discussion of how to improve the State of Minnesota's own recycling efforts, particularly in the legislative offices.
Representative Hausman noted the Interim Committee on Solid Waste Management had just released its report and that it concurred with the finding that the data reporting requirements need to be improved. They also were recommending that the Legislative Commission on Waste Management be reconstituted.
The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
Senator Ann H. Rest, Chair
Jean Barnhill, Recording Secretary
