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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-15 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, October 15, 2012 Council Chambers, City Hall 1830 County Road BEast 1. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chair Edmundson. 2. ROLL CALL Randee Edmundson, Chair Judith Johannessen, Vice Chair Carol Mason Sherrill, Commissioner Ann Palzer, Commissioner Dale Trippler, Commissioner Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Present Present Present Present Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner City Engineer, Michael Thompson Council Liaison Present Kathleen Juenemann 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The commission added 4 items under commission presentations. Storm drain clean up event for County Road C, Fish Creek, Tree Discussion, and Fall Clean Up. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the aqenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes - All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Yingling requested to add an additional comment on page 2 under comments made by Ron Cockriel. It should note that he raised a concern about the extent of the paved trail along Fish Creek. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the September 17. 2012. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meetinq Minutes as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Mason Sherrill. Ayes - All The motion passed. October 15, 2012 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Living Streets Policy i. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall introduced the item and gave a brief report. ii. City Engineer, Michael Thompson addressed the commission and gave an overview of the Living Streets Policy and answered questions of the commission. The commission made the following comments regarding the policy: 1. Has the city thought of posting a no parking ban on some Maplewood streets in the winter due to the narrowness of some of the new roads as outlined in the policy? The residential streets are designed for parking on one side only. Also, there is no parking allowed from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. in Maplewood. 2. Cul-de-sacs with plantings in the center. 3. The City should assist residents with a curb cut to allow street runoff to enter existing rain gardens adjacent streets. 4. Increase Environmental Utility fee rebates for implementing best practices. 5. Rain garden clean-up days to get the community to assist with cleaning and weeding rain gardens. 6. Crosswalks need to be clearly marked with signs. Commissioner Trippler moved to recommend approval of the Livinq Streets Policv as amended bv the Commission. Seconded by Commissioner Edmundson. Ayes - All The motion passed. b. Resolution of Appreciation for Bill Schreiner i. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall discussed the resolution of appreciation for Bill Schreiner. The Commission discussed Commissioner Schreiner's term on the Commission and thanked him for his efforts. Of particular note was his work on the City's organized trash collection. Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the resolution of appreciation for Bill Schreiner. Seconded by Commissioner Trippler. Ayes - All The motion passed. 6. UNfiNISHED BUSINESS a. ShorelandlWetland Ordinance Amendments i. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall gave the report on the Shoreland/Wetland Ordinance Amendments. ii. Maplewood resident and Attorney, Sharon Sandeen who lives on Wakefield Lake addressed the commission on the Shoreland/Wetland Ordinance. Ms Sandeen would like the buffers adjacent lakes to remain as written in the current ordinance. These alternative buffers were a compromise for property owners who live on lakes, but have wetland October 15, 2012 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2 edges. The City Council had agreed that these wetlands are used differently than freestanding wetlands. The commission made the following comments on the amendments: 1. Regulations for wetlands adjacent lakes should remain in the wetland ordinance. 2. The city should not make amendments to the Shoreland Ordinance at this time, just revise the wetland ordinance. 3. Buffer sizes for wetlands adjacent lakes should be the same as for freestanding wetlands. 4. Because wetlands adjacent lakes are used differently than freestanding wetlands, waivers should be allowed for implementing best management practices. Staff will bring back examples of how many properties are affected by regulations pertaining to wetlands adjacent lakes. The example will also include how the property is affected by the wetland buffer and shoreland setback requirements. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS Councilmember Kathleen Juenemann addressed the commission regarding the Living Streets Policy and Wetland/Shoreland Ordinance amendments. She noted the importance of educating residents about the value of trees in the boulevard as we move forward with the Living Streets Policy. Bike lanes and sidewalks are very important so she was glad that was in the plan. Residents should ensure they check with the City regarding their shoreline or wetland edge property. There may be some restrictions on setbacks or buffer requirements. With the proposed changes to the wetland ordinance, the city should promote a sensible compromise to what a property owner can do on their property and how to best protect the shoreline and wetland edges. It is best to avoid variances to the buffers and shoreline whenever possible. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Storm drain clean up event for County Road C - Chair Edmundson Chair Edmundson stated on October 13, 2012, her neighborhood on County Road C celebrated the Girl Scout's Centennial Day of Service by hosting a storm drain clean up event. During the event leaves were removed from storm drains to keep them from running into the storm drain and watershed. The neighborhood, along with the Girl Scouts from the Northern Lights Service Unit, removed 72 bags of leaves from the street. Chair Edmundson presented a video of the Centennial Day of Service event. b. fish Creek - Commissioner Yingling Commissioner Yingling stated there will be a fund raising dinner for fish Creek on November 3, 2012, at the Maplewood Community Center from 6 to 9:30 p.m. The event is called the fish Creek Affair. for more information and to make a reservation, contact the Maplewood Community Center at 651-249-2230. c. Tree Discussion - Commissioner Mason Sherrill Commissioner Mason Sherrill shared a video on a large tree in Texas that was moved instead of removed. The video showed how the city valued such a large tree to go to such extents to move the tree. October 15, 2012 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3 b. Fall Clean Up - Commissioner Trippler Commissioner Trippler gave an update on the Maplewood Fall Clean Up event. The event was held on Saturday, October 13, 2012, from 8:00 a.m. - 1 :00 p.m. at Aldridge Arena. There were several vendors who took items for reuse and recycling such as bikes, car seats, furniture, carpet, concrete and landscape rock. Staff also thanked those that helped on the event. An official update with number of cars and materials collected will presented to the City Council once the final numbers are received. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Maplewood Nature Center Programs For information on programs at the Maplewood Nature Center call 651-249-2170. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Edmundson adjourned the meeting at 9:03 p.m. October 15, 2012 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 4