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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-04-18 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 18, 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 7:20 p.m. by Vice Chair Edmundson. B. ROLL CALL Bill Schreiner, Chair Randee Edmundson, Vice Chair Judith Johannessen, Commissioner Carole Lynne, Commissioner Carol Mason Sherrill, Commissioner Dale Trippler, Commissioner Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Absent Present Present Absent Absent Present Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Michael Thompson, Deputy Public Works Director, City Engineer Steve Kummer, Civil Engineer II C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The following agenda items were added by the commission: H .1. Emerald Ash Borer - Commissioner Yingling H.2. C.E.R.T.S. Annual Spring Networking Event - Commissioner Johannessen H.3. City Council Request for Additional ENR Commissioners - Commissioner Trippler Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the aqenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes - All The motion passed. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES March 21, 2011: Commissioner Yingling had two corrections. On page 1, under Staff Roll Call it should say Ginny Gavnor rather than Ginny Yin!jlin!j. Item E.5.b. on page 2, it should say Ginny Gavnor rather than Ginny Yin!jlin!j. Commissioner Trippler would like the discussion during Visitor Presentations from Councilmember Nephew and Maplewood resident Dave Schelling summarized with what was said for the minutes. April 18, 2011 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 Commissioner Johannessen moved to approve the March 21. 2011. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meetinq Minutes as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Trippler. Ayes - All The motion passed. E. NEW BUSINESS 1. Maplewood Shoreland Wetland Regulations - Capstone Project Presentation a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall introduced the item. b. Jana Haedtke, Graduate Student, Environmental Management Student with University of Maryland addressed the commission and gave the Capstone project presentation. The Capstone Project was designed to research wetlands adjacent lakes in Maplewood, Minnesota, their current regulation, and their differences compared to freestanding wetlands in order to answer community and city concerns about the regulation of wetlands adjacent lakes separately from freestanding wetlands as part of the city's shoreland ordinance. The students have found that based on ecological, wildlife, and water quality aspects, wetlands adjacent lakes should be regulated just as strictly as freestanding wetlands, as all the positive benefits of having a healthy ecological and wildlife system and good water quality are the same for both types of wetlands, even though their functions may differ. Based solely on social and economic aspects, particularly recreational uses and value, less stringent buffer requirements would be justified. However, a decline in water quality, ecology, and wildlife due to recreational uses and other human activities will greatly diminish recreational uses and value. If buffer widths and restrictions are reduced, the ecology, wildlife, and water quality will be negatively impacted, which in turn, will decrease the quality of the wetlands and lakes and, along with it, the social, economic, and recreational use and value. Thus, wetlands adjacent lakes should be regulated just as strictly as freestanding wetlands. Ms. finwall thanked the four graduate students for their great work on this Maplewood Shoreland Wetland Regulations Capstone Project. Ms. Haedtke thanked staff and the commission for the opportunity to work on this challenging project. 2. Western Hills Area Street Improvement Project a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall introduced the item. b. Civil Engineer, Steve Kummer gave the presentation and answered questions of the commission. Staff is proposing improvements to the "Jackson Hole" wetland buffer, located on a city-owned parcel on the northwest corner of the intersection of Jackson Street and Larpenteur Avenue within the Western Hills Area Street Improvement Project area. The city's wetland ordinance allows the city to vary from the wetland buffer for public improvements. The improvements must be reviewed by the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council. Jackson Hole is classified as a Manage B wetland not adjacent to a lake. The ordinance requires a 75-foot averaged buffer from the delineated line. To improve the current wetland area within the basin, staff is requesting the commission recommend an exemption to use the buffer for storm water improvements. April 18, 2011 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2 Commissioner Trippler moved to recommend construction of public utilities and storm water improvements within the wetland buffer of the Jackson Hole basin and recommend this to the citv council. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes - All The motion passed. 3. Living Street Policy a. City Engineer, Deputy Public Works Director, Michael Thompson gave the report and a power point presentation as well as answered questions of the commission. Maplewood's living street policy goals include: . Improve stormwater quality through expansion of the rain garden program, reducing the impervious footprint, and meeting or exceeding the 1" infiltration standard. . Implement traffic calming measures through the use of techniques best suited for site conditions. . Improve biking and walking conditions along natural connector routes and collector streets through designation of bike lanes, sidewalks, or multi-purpose trails. . Create boulevard tree standards that provide environmental benefits (stormwater management, shade to reduce heating and cooling costs, filtering air pollutants), enhance quality of life, and are practical and affordable. . Minimize construction costs while also ensuring future maintenance and replacement costs are equal to or less than that of a standard street section. Commissioner's Trippler and Johannessen had concerns about the 22 foot wide streets. There should be no parking on either side of the street in the winter for snow removal. Commissioner Yingling asked about using strips of pervious pavement along the street so there is some infiltration. Also, the policy should consider how bike trails and walking corridors link and work together within those greenways. Commissioner Trippler stated there should be more sidewalks for bikers. It is too dangerous for bikers to bike on the street. It's good for walkers, kids, and bikers to have as many sidewalks in the city as possible. Vice Chair Edmundson asked about bike routes on a regional level and how the bike paths connect to ensure our residents can have less dependence on cars. The ENR commission supports the living streets policy. 4. Annual Report a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall gave the 2010 ENR Annual Report. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the 2010 ENR Annual Report with one minor amendment. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes - All f. UNfiNISHED BUSINESS 1. 2011 Goals - Implementation Strategies a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall gave the report. April 18, 2011 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3 Trash Hauling: It was determined that the Trash Hauling Subcommittee would be disbanded and three Commissioners would be appointed to serve on the new Trash Hauling Working Group (Commissioners Schreiner, Trippler, and Yingling). The Trash Hauling Working Group will conduct analysis and review of various collection systems and report their findings to the full City Council. Greenways: Implementation strategies to be discussed during the next meeting. Neighborhood Environmental Groups: Implementation strategies to be discussed during the next meeting. Commissioner Johannessen would be interested in being part of the Greenways subgroup. Vice Chair Edmundson was working with the Environmental Neighborhood Group and she is still interested in working in that group and doing some educational pieces. Commissioner Yingling said she has been working on the Greenways and she would like to continue on that group. Commissioner Yingling said she would tentatively work on the Trash Hauling group as well. Commissioner Trippler moved that the trash hauling sub-committee be disbanded. And a new working group be formed to include Commissioner's Trippler, Yingling, and Schreiner. Seconded by Commissioner Johannessen. Ayes - All The motion passed. The commission took a break from 9 p.m. and reconvened at 9:05 p.m. 2. Chicken Ordinance a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall gave the report on the Chicken Ordinance. Commissioner Trippler said if someone wanted to raise chickens they should buy a lot zoned as farm. There are hundreds of lots that are zoned farm in the City of Maplewood. Commissioner Trippler said the commission as a whole was concerned about the cost to run this program and he is concerned that it will be more expensive than the staff anticipated basing this off the cost of having a pet license. Vice Chair Edmundson said she likes the ordinance but wondered if the city should set the number of chickens allowed based on the square footage of the property. She knows some cities have chicken ordinances that are less restrictive and they have very few problems or concerns. Commissioner Yingling offered to assist staff with the ordinance. Staff said with assistance from Commissioner Yingling staff can bring this ordinance back to the ENR Commission in May. G. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. April 18, 2011 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 4 H. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS 1. Emerald Ash Borer - Commissioner Yingling e-mailed a memo regarding background information on why the commission is recommending the city not use pesticides for Emerald Ash Borer. This is the memo proposed for the city council's review of the EAB policy in a week. The commission members thanked Commissioner Yingling for her work on the Emerald Ash Borer Plan. This item will go to the city council workshop on Monday, May 9, 2001. 2. C.E.R.T.S. Annual Spring Networking Event- Commissioner Johannessen said the C.E.R.T.S. group is a gathering of partners and affiliates to promote saving energy with Green teams and green step programs. About 50 people from around the area came to the event to share ideas which was an excellent way of networking. The speaker Rick Carter, an architect spoke regarding his desire to develop a green building. He would like to come up with evaluation techniques, the short and long term effects and determining the outcomes and effects of building a green building. 3. City Council request for an additional ENR Commission member - Commissioner Trippler said at times the commission has been short members. Summer is coming and others might not be present meaning a lack of a quorum. The city council may need to consider changing the number of ENR Commission members and add an additional commission member. There are some large projects coming up and it would be unfortunate to have a lack of a quorum and delay meetings. Staff will look into this and report back to the commission in May. Commissioner Trippler moved that the commission be increased from seven to nine members. Seconded by Acting Chair Edmundson. Ayes - All The motion passed. I. STAff PRESENTATIONS 1. Spring Clean Up - April 30'h a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall said the Spring Clean Up is Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 8 - 1 p.m. at Aldrich Arena, 1850 White Bear Avenue. 2. Waterfest - May 21s' a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall said Waterfest is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake Phalen Park Pavilion in St. Paul. 3. Maplewood Nature Center Programs a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwalllisted off programs offered at the Maplewood Nature Center. More information can be found on the city's website at ci.maplewood.mn.us/nc or you can call 651-249-2170 for further information. J. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Edmundson adjourned the meeting at 9:45 p.m. April 18, 2011 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 5