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Home My WebLink About2011-10-17 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, October 17, 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 Ann Palzer, Commissioner Dale Trippler, Commissioner Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Present Present Present Present Present Absent Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Ginny Yingling, Natural Resource Coordinator C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the aqenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Johannessen. Ayes - All The motion passed. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the September 19. 2011. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meetinq Minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Edmundson. Ayes - Commissioner's Edmundson, Johannessen, Mason Sherrill, Palzer & Trippler Abstention - Chair Schreiner The motion passed. E. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Gladstone Savanna a. Natural Resource Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor introduced the item and answered questions of the commission. b. Project Manager, SEH, Vadnais Heights, AI Sunderman, addressed the commission and gave a summary of the Gladstone Savanna property. October 17, 2011 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 c. PE Project Manager, SEH, Vadnais Heights, Ron Leaf addressed the commission and gave a brief report. The Commission asked questions of staff and consultants and the following clarifications were made: . The proposed four-foot cover is a safety buffer to keep people away from the soils rather than to protect the groundwater. The TCLP test determined that contaminants are not leaching into the groundwater from this site. . This site would not be a candidate for a community garden. There could be raised garden beds. . The cover material will come from the soils removed to create the stormwater basin on the west side of the site. The MPCA might require additional testing on those soils. . The entire site will be re-established with native vegetation. There will be some areas that are wooded to provide screening for residents and some areas that are open as prairie. . There will be no open water on the site. . The site will capture 80 percent of the runoff from the site and surrounding properties. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the recommendations in the Response Action Plan (RAP) and the Construction Continqencv Plan (CCP) for the manaqement of contaminated soil on site and the qeneral strateqies for the storm water manaqement at the Gladstone Savanna. Seconded by Commissioner Mason Sherrill. Ayes - All The motion passed. Commissioners Edmundson and Mason Sherrill planned to attend the upcoming Gladstone Savanna neighborhood meetings. 2. Maplewood Dump Site a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave a brief report on the Maplewood Dump Site. b. Project Manager, SEH, Vadnais Heights, AI Sunderman, addressed the commission and gave a report on the Maplewood Dump Site. c. Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor answered questions of the commission. The Commission asked questions of staff and consultants and the following clarifications were made: . Future use of the Maplewood Dump is planned as open space. There is opportunity for restoration of the site with native vegetation once the cover is established. . There is a creek and wetlands that will be impacted by covering this site. . This site is not considered a land fill, so it originally did not qualify for state-funded clean up. . It would be expensive and may not be warranted to add a liner to the site prior to cover. . Dumping on the site included municipal solid waste and household waste. The site was fairly uncontrolled so it is difficult to know exactly what was dumped there. . Testing that was done did not show any toxic material in soils or groundwater. . Piping the creek and then covering the site might be the best option. But none of the options are easy. . The ground water is not being impacted based on test wells located on the site. Staff will bring back further plans for clean-up of the site as the assessment continues. F. NEW BUSINESS October 17, 2011 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2 1. Joy Park Wetland Buffer Waiver a. Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor introduced the item and answered questions of the commission. b. Environmental Resource Specialist for Ramsey County, Alan Rupnow gave the presentation and answered questions of the commission. The Commission asked questions of staff and the following clarifications were made: . The swale will be 5 feet wide, rather than 3 feet. . The swale will protect the roadway from flooding during any ten-year flooding event. . Placing a culvert under the roadway might be an option, but it would be costly. . The wetland was classified as a Manage A wetland. Once the watershed district adopts this wetland based on their MNRAM studies, staff will bring the wetland before the City Council to include it in our wetland map. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the wetland buffer waiver for public improvements in the buffer to allow Ramsev Countv to clean the ditch alonq Jov Road and excavate a 5-foot-wide swale connectinq the wetland to the ditch. Seconded by Commissioner Edmundson. Ayes - All The motion passed. This item goes to the Planning Commission for a public hearing on November 1, 2011. G. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. H. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS 1. Neighborhood Group Subcommittee - Commissioner Edmundson stated she held a wine and cheese neighborhood party on October 7, 2011, with a focus on wetland watershed protection. Louise Watson of Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD) was a guest speaker at the party. Additionally, on Saturday, October 8, 2011, there was a potluck bonfire for neighbors in the Phalen Lake watershed. These meetings are being coordinated by the RWMWD and Alliance for Sustainability. I. STAFF PRESENTATIONS 1. ShorelandlWetland Ordinance Update a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave a brief update on the Shoreland/Wetland Ordinance. There is an option in the Shoreland Rules which would allow the City to regulate wetlands adjacent lakes in the shoreland ordinance under a special protection shoreland overlay district. The City needs to make changes to the wetland ordinance by the end of 2012 to ensure the sunset clause that is set to end special regulations of these wetlands by December 31, 2012, is addressed. 2. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Reappointments a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report. October 17, 2011 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3 The City Council reappointed Commissioners Schreiner and Johannessen to another three-year term, expiring September 2014. In September 2012 Commissioners Trippler and Edmundson will be up for reappointment. 3. Maplewood Nature Center Programs a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave an update on the upcoming Maplewood Nature Center Programs. These programs are available on the Nature Center's webpage at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/nc. J. ADJOURNMENT Chair Schreiner adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m. October 17, 2011 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 4