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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-02-16 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Thursday, February 16, 2012 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 7:03 p.m. by Acting Chairperson Johannessen. B. ROLL CALL Randee Edmundson, Chair Judith Johannessen, Vice Chair Carol Mason Sherrill, Commissioner Ann Palzer, Commissioner Bill Schreiner, Commissioner Dale Trippler, Commissioner Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Absent Present Present Present Absent Present Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Staff recommended adding a new E. 1. to hear a discussion on Roselawn Wetlands and renumbering New Business. Also changing the order of hearing the Solid Waste Management Ordinance ahead of the Capital Improvement Plan for 2013-2017. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the aqenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Palzer. Ayes - All The motion passed. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the January 19. 2012. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meetinq Minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes - All The motion passed. E. NEW BUSINESS 1. Roselawn Wetlands i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced the Maplewood resident who was present to give the report. ii. Lisa Li and her son Cullen Li, Maplewood Residents addressed the commission regarding the Roselawn Wetlands, Roselawn Park and buckthorn in the area. February 16, 2012 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 Cullen Li's boyscout troop was interested in making improvements to the wetland buffer. Lisa Li was concerned about a proposal by a developer to purchase a portion of Roselawn Park for future development of senior housing. Planner Finwall indicated she would research the development proposal and update the Commission. 2. Annual Report and Work Plan for the Maplewood Residential Recycling Program i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the annual report and work plan for the recycling program. ii. Willie and Greg Tennis, and Matt Saiko, a driver from Tennis Recycling addressed and answered questions of the commission. iii. The commission had the following questions, comments, and recommendations regarding the report: . It appears that many residents put their recyclables in plastic bags. Residents should be made aware that plastic bags, even those containing other recyclable materials cannot be put in recycling containers. . The commission asked for clarification on plastic recycling. . The cart pilot project should run for an entire year, monitoring recycling rates and participation for six months with bins and six months with carts. Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the annual report and work plan for the Maplewood residential recvclinq proqram. Seconded by Commissioner Trippler. Ayes - All The motion passed. 3. Solid Waste Management Ordinance i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave a brief report on the solid waste management ordinance (SWMO) and answered questions of the Commission. ii. Norm Schifrel, Policy Analyst, Ramsey County Department of Health, addressed the commission. iii. The commission had the following questions, comments, and recommendations for the draft SWMO: . The definition of compost should follow state statute. . There should be a definition for Organized Trash Collection. . Remove the language which refers to cutting up trees and placing them in the trash. . City Code limits disturbing noise between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Our SWMO allows trash trucks to pick up trash from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Either the noise ordinance should be changed or the SWMO, they should not conflict with one another. . Unlawful disposal should include household hazardous waste. . For licensing, the applicant should also follow long range trash disposal goals of the Metropolitan Council . Commissioner Trippler submitted written comments to staff. The commission will review the SWMO amendments again in March and April. The City Council will review the first and second reading of the ordinance in May. 4. Capital Improvement Plan for 2013-2017 i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for 2013-2017. February 16, 2012 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2 ii. The commission had the following questions, comments, and recommendations for the 2013-2017 CIP: . What will happen to the McMenemy Fire Station? Commissioner Mason Sherrill spent a day planting trees on that site a few years ago. . The Gladstone projects will require a lot of funding. . When will the ENR Commission be able to review the East Metro Fire Training Facility plans? . Will road improvements be required on Century Avenue as part of the East Metro Fire Training Facility? . In the bar chart showing eight categories from 2014 to 2017, there is an extra bar that should be removed. . Commission Trippler submitted several comments to staff in writing. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the Capital Improvement Plan for 2013-2017 with revisions as recommended bv the commission. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes - All The motion passed. F. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Implementation of Goals i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the implementation of goals. ii. The Commission decided to continue working in subcommittees to include Environmental Neighborhood Groups, Greenways, and Education. G. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. H. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS 1. International Year of the Bat 2011 - 2012 i. Commissioner Mason Sherrill gave the presentation on the International Year of the Bat. The United National Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European bats have joined together to celebrate the "Year of the Bat in 2011 and 2012". The two year long global species campaign's visions and mission is to increase public awareness on the need for bat conservation, the threats they face, the important role bats play in terrestrial eco-systems and the need for species biodiversity. The focus will be on highlighting the links between bats and biodiversity, and encouraging individuals, organizations and governments to participate in bat conservation and educational activities, National initiatives related to bat conservation, education and research will be promoted along with international cooperation on bat conservation. I. STAFF PRESENTATIONS 1. Maplewood Nature Center Programs i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced some of the upcoming programs at the Maplewood Nature Center. Contact the Nature Center at 651-249-2170 for further information. February 16, 2012 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3 J. ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Johannessen adjourned the meeting at 9:40 p.m. February 16, 2012 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 4