HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-01-13 ENR Minutes
MINUTES
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
7:00 p.m., Thursdav. January 13, 2011
Council Chambers, City Hall
1830 County Road BEast
A. CALL TO ORDER
A meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission was called to order at 7:00
p.m. by Chair Trippler.
B. ROLL CALL
Dale Trippler, Chair
Randee Edmundson, Commissioner
Judith Johannessen, Commissioner
Carole Lynne, Commissioner
Carol Mason Sherrill, Commissioner
Bill Schreiner, Commissioner
Ginny Yingling, Commissioner
Present
Present
Present
Absent (Leave of Absence)
Present
Present
Present
Staff Present
Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner
Ann Hutchinson, Maplewood Nature Center Lead Naturalist
Virginia Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Staff added under Staff Presentations: - Renewable Energy Ordinance Update and Maplewood
Mall Storm Water Improvements.
Commissioner Johannessen added under Commission presentations - Relationship of the ENR
Commission to the City Council.
Commissioner Johannessen moved to approve the aqenda as amended.
Seconded by Commissioner Mason Sherrill.
Ayes - All
The motion passed.
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Johannessen had a correction to page 3, item G., 1. in the 4th line, City of BeilleI
should say City of Benicia.
Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the December 9. 2010. Environmental and Natural
Resources Commission Meetinq Minutes as amended.
Seconded by Commissioner Schreiner.
Ayes - All
The motion passed.
E. NEW BUSINESS
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1. Election of Chair and Vice Chair
Environmental Planner Finwall gave a brief report indicating the ENR Commission
ordinance requires that the commission appoint a chair and vice chair to run the meetings
annually. In 2010 the chair of the commission was Dale Trippler and the vice chair was
Bill Schreiner.
Commissioner Schreiner nominated Chair Trippler to remain the chair.
Commissioner Johannessen nominated Commissioner Schreiner to be chair.
There was a secret ballot cast by all commissioners. The results were a tie vote, three
votes for Commissioner Trippler and three votes for Commissioner Schreiner. Chair
Trippler withdrew his appointment nomination. Commissioner Schreiner agreed to serve
as the chair of the commission for 2011.
Commissioner Trippler nominated Commissioner Johannessen to be vice chair.
Commissioner Johannessen declined due to personal reasons.
Commissioner Trippler nominated Commissioner Edmundson to be vice chair. There was
an open vote by a show of hands and all commissioners voted for Commissioner
Edmundson to be vice chair for 2011. Commissioner Edmundson agreed to serve as vice
chair of the commission for 2011.
2. 2011 Goal Setting
Environmental Planner Finwall gave the 2011 Goal Setting report and answered questions
of the commission.
Lead Naturalist Hutchinson discussed the 2011 Nature Center goals.
Natural Resources Coordinator Gaynor discussed projects she is involved with for 2011.
The ENR Commission brainstormed areas they wanted to focus on in 2011. They agreed
that the three goals set for 2010 should be forwarded onto 2011 and work should continue
on those areas including: trash hauling, environmental neighborhood groups, and
greenways. In addition, the commission wants to focus more on environmental education
and promotion of the city's environmental programs. One way to accomplish this is to
have commissioners attend more of the city sponsored events. Additionally, the
commission agreed that they should continue work on the city's shoreland ordinance and
slope/Mississippi Critical Area ordinance in 2011.
Environmental Planner Finwall indicated that she would put together the revised list of
goals and implementation strategies for achieving those goals. This will be brought back
to the commission in February for further discussion.
3. Collection System Analysis Goals and Objectives
Environmental Planner Finwall gave the Collection System Analysis Goals and Objectives
report and answered questions of the commission.
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Goals and objectives recommended for the city's Collection System Analysis were as
follows:
. Economic
. Cost savings on road repairs and reconstruction.
. Lower cost for residents (cost per household per month) due to competitive
bidding.
. Environmental
. To better manage solid waste and recycling.
. Able to direct waste to best environmental destination.
. Less gas and/or diesel burned.
. Less CO2 emitted into the atmosphere.
. Aesthetics/Safety/Service
. Less traffic, noise, and dust.
. Safer streets.
. More consistent and neater looking streets during collection days.
. Greater leverage to correct problems with service.
Commissioner Trippler moved to adopt the qoals and obiectives as outlined above for the
citv's Collection Svstem Analvsis.
Seconded by Commissioner Johannessen
Ayes - All
The motion passed.
F. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
G. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
Ron Cockriel, 943 Century Avenue, Maplewood. Mr. Cockriel discussed the city's greenways
and how the proposed fire training facility to be located on Century Avenue on the unused
MNDOT right of way is located in one of those greenways. Mr. Cockriel discussed the possible
impacts a fire training facility next to wetlands might have on the environment.
The commission requested that staff give an update on the fire training facility during the
February meeting.
H. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
1. Relationship of the ENR Commission to the City Council.
Commissioner Johannessen spoke about her disappointment in the City Council's
decision to contract with Tennis Sanitation for the city's recycling contractor, and not
Eureka Recycling who was recommended by the commission. Commissioner
Johannessen recommended that a representative of the City Council come to an ENR
meeting to give us direction on what type of advisory role we should play and why the
commission's recycling contractor recommendation was not taken.
As the new chair of the commission, Bill Schreiner, indicated he would speak with the City
Council about this issue.
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I. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
1. Maplewood Nature Center Programs
Lead Naturalist Hutchinson gave a brief report regarding programs at the Maplewood
Nature Center and discussed the Nature Center calendar for 2011.
2. Renewable Energy
Environmental Planner Finwall gave a brief update and stated that the Renewable Energy
ordinance will go to the planning commission on January 18, 2011, for their first review.
3. Maplewood Mall Storm Water
Environmental Planner Finwall gave a brief report on the Maplewood Mall Storm Water
project. Ramsey/Washington Metro Watershed District is undertaking the project along
with the mall, city, and county as part of the stormwater improvements being made for the
White Bear Avenue and County Road D street improvement projects. The watershed
district is requesting at least one volunteer from the commission attend a meeting to
discuss and plan for the proposed interactive displays for the improvements. The meeting
will be held Friday, January 21, 2011, at 1 :00 p.m. Commissioner Mason Sherrill
volunteered to participate in the meeting.
J. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Schreiner adjourned the meeting at 9:05 p.m.
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