HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-06-20 ENR Minutes
MINUTES
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
7:00 p.m., Monday, June 20,2011
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 Schreiner.
B. ROLL CALL
Bill Schreiner, Chair
Randee Edmundson, Vice Chair
Judith Johannessen, Commissioner
Carol Mason Sherrill, Commissioner
Dale Trippler, Commissioner
Ginny Yingling, Commissioner
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Staff Present
Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Trippler added H.d - City Council Response to Expanding the ENR Commission.
Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the aqenda as amended.
Seconded by Commissioner Yingling.
Ayes - All
The motion passed.
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of the April 18, 2011, ENR Minutes
Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the April 18. 2011. Environmental and Natural
Resources Commission Meetinq Minutes as submitted.
Seconded by Commissioner Johannessen.
Ayes - Commissioner's Edmundson,
Johannessen, Trippler &
Yingling
Abstention -Chair Schreiner,
Commissioner Mason
Sherrill
The motion passed.
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Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes
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Approval of the May 16, 2011 ENR Minutes
Commissioner Yingling had a correction to the top of page 3, first line, which should read
Commissioner Yinqlinq inquired about increasinq fuel costs in the citv. Also in the 3,d line the
word complete should be completeg.
In I. 2. Living Streets Task force, it should read Because all of the Commission members were
not present.
Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the Mav 16. 2011. Environmental and Natural
Resources Commission Meetinq Minutes as amended.
Seconded by Commissioner Edmundson
Ayes - Chair Schreiner,
Commissioner's Johannessen,
Mason Sherrill, & Yingling
Abstention - Commissioner Trippler,
Edmundson
The motion passed.
E. NEW BUSINESS
1. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Presentation
a. Civil Engineer, Steve Kummer gave the report on the NPDES Permit process and
answered questions of the Commission.
b. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall answered questions of the Commission.
The permit application requires the City to develop a Storm Water Pollution Prevision Plan
(SWPPP). The MPCA has established six minimum control measures the SWPPP must address.
They are:
Public Education and Outreach
Public Participation and Involvement
Illicit Discharge, Detection and Elimination
Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control
Post-Construction Storm Water Management
Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping
Maplewood's SWPPP defines the Best Management Practices (BMPs) the City intends to use to
minimize pollution from stormwater runoff for each of the six minimum control measures.
The Commission inquired if the city's storm sewer map was available on the city's website,
inquired about the street sweepings being placed in the old city dumpsite, and stormwater
education.
No action was needed for this item.
2. Resolution of Appreciation for Commissioner Carole Lynne
a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall gave the report on the resolution of appreciation for
Carole Lynne who resigned from the Commission. Ms. Lynne served on the Commission
for four years and five months, and also served on the Environmental Committee for two
years prior to her appointment on the Commission.
Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the resolution of appreciation for Carole Lvnne.
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Seconded by Commissioner Yingling.
Ayes - All
The motion passed.
f. UNfiNISHED BUSINESS
1. Renewable Energy Ordinance
a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall gave the update on the renewable energy
ordinance and answered questions of the Commission.
The Commission requested the following changes to the ordinance:
-Allow wind turbines in residential zoning districts with neighborhood consent.
-Require that all commercial wind turbines that require a CUP come before the ENR Commission
in addition to the Planning Commission and City Council.
-Placement of wind turbines should be clarified for commercial turbines, some businesses might
not have a rear or side yard.
Minimum setback for a wind turbine to residential should be the height of the turbine plus 25 feet.
-Colors allowed on wind turbines should be colors that have the least amount of impact on birds
and bats.
-Commercial wind turbines should be required to have a shut off mechanism during high bird
migration periods.
Commissioner Edmundson moved to approve the renewable enerqv ordinance with the chanqes
outlined above.
Seconded by Commissioner Trippler.
The motion passed.
Ayes - All
G. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
1. Elizabeth Sletten, 2747 Clarence Street, Maplewood. Ms. Sletten discussed the NPDES and
a hydraulic spill at Health East in Maplewood.
H. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
1. 2011 Working Group/Subcommittee Reports
a) Trash Hauling - Staff stated the next trash hauling working group meeting is scheduled
for June 22, 2011, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The final working group meeting is scheduled
for June 29, 2011. The working group will present the request for proposals for
comprehensive residential trash collection to the City Council on July 11, 2011.
b) Greenways - Staff stated that the Greenway Subcommittee planned for a
Holloway/Beaver Creek Greenway event in May. Unfortunately, not enough people
signed up for the event and it was canceled. The Greenway Subcommittee will now begin
discussions on educational materials for the Greenways and planning for next year's
focus which is the Phalen Chain of Lakes Greenway.
c) Neighborhood Environmental Groups - Commissioner Edmundson gave a report on
the Neighborhood Environmental Groups Subcommittee. As part of educating the public it
was discussed that a website should be put together as well as having a handout or guide
which lists areas that Neighborhood Groups might be interested in such as energy or
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stormwater. The guide would list resources and best practices. The Subcommittee will
continue to work on those two items throughout the year.
d) City Council Response to Expanding the ENR Commission - Commissioner Trippler
asked staff if they had found anything out regarding adding additional Commission
members as discussed by the Commission several months ago. Staff stated that the
Commission's request was listed in the annual report which was approved by the City
Council. However, the City Council did not discuss the request during the meeting. The
city is currently advertising for the vacant Commission position. The interviews for that
position will be held in July, with the new Commissioner beginning in August. Additionally,
there are two Commission members whose terms end September. Staff recommends
getting a full complement of Commissioners to see if attendance issues improve prior to
requesting an amendment to the ENR Commission ordinance to allow nine members
rather than seven.
I. STAFF PRESENTATION
1. Living Streets Task Force - Carol Mason Sherrill volunteered to serve on the Living Streets
Task Force.
2. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Vacancy - The application deadline
to apply for an opening on the ENR Commission is July 8,2011. Currently there are two
applications received. The City Council plans to conduct interviews in July and the new
Commission member would start in August.
3. Maplewood Nature Center Programs - Staff mentioned upcoming Maplewood Nature
Center Programs. More information can be found by calling the Maplewood Nature Center at
651-249-2170.
J. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Schreiner adjourned the meeting at 9:08 p.m.
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