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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-11-19 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, November 19, 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 7:00 p.m. by Chair Edmundson. 2. ROLL CALL Randee Edmundson, Chair Judith Johannessen, Vice Chair Carol Mason Sherrill, Commissioner Ann Palzer, Commissioner Cindy Schafer, Commissioner Dale Trippler, Commissioner Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Present Present Present Present Absent Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Staff added 9.b. - ENR Commissioner Appointment under Staff Presentations. Commissioner Yingling added 8.a. - Fish Creek Update under Commission Presentations. Commissioner Johannessen moved to approve the aqenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Mason Sherrill. Ayes - All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the October 15. 2012. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meetinq minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Palzer Ayes - All The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Annual Sustainability Report i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the annual sustainability report The Annual Sustainability Report is provided as an update on the city's sustainability goals and to obtain comment and feedback on strategies needed to continue the mission. November 19, 2012 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 Staff listed 17 items that the ENR Commission worked on regarding environmental issues. Staff also discussed the Minnesota Green Step Cities, Blue Star City Award, Environmental Stewardship Award, Green Team activities, and environmental programs and education. Commissioner Mason Sherrill asked staff if the Tree City USA designation could be added to the list of accomplishments in the annual sustainability report. Commissioner Yingling suggested staff also include the City's new solar panels that were installed on the Community Center and at City Hall. The commissioners thanked staff for a great job on the items that the commission worked on in 2012, especially staffs hard work and dedication to the solid waste management ordinance and standards and getting the new program running. This item goes to the city council on December 10, 2012. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Wetland Ordinance Amendments i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the wetland ordinance amendments In September and October the ENR Commission reviewed the shoreland and wetland ordinances and directed staff to make changes to the regulations for wetlands adjacent lakes. Staff reviewed with the Commission the 40 properties that are affected by these regulations. The properties are located around Lake Oehrline, Beaver Lake, and Wakefield Lake. Aerial maps reflect that a majority of the properties have pre-existing nonconforming lawn areas to some degree. There are only seven properties with the required naturalized buffer and those are located on Beaver Lake. The Commission discussed the following: 1. Buffers for wetlands adjacent lakes should be the same as buffers for freestanding wetlands (Manage A-100 feet; Manage B-75 feet; Manage C 50 feet) 2. Exemptions should be built into the ordinance to allow encroachments for structures (additions, garages, boat houses, pools) into a "non-naturalized" buffer without a variance for properties located on wetlands adjacent lakes. 3. Maximum exemption should be as follows: Manage A-75 feet; Manage B-50 feet; Manage C - no exemption. 4. Mitigation for exemptions will include the planting of a native buffer. 5. Exemptions will be reviewed and approved by staff as part of the building permit. There would be an appeal process if staff denied. Staff will begin drafting the amendments to the wetland ordinance and bring them back to the Commission in December. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. November 19, 2012 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Fish Creek Update - Commissioner Yingling stated the Fish Creek fund raiser dinner scheduled for November 3, 2012, at the MCC was canceled due to lack of ticket sales. There will be another opportunity coming up possibly in January. More information will follow. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Maplewood Nature Center Programs i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave an update on the programs at the Maplewood Nature Center. For information on programs there call 651-249-2170. Staff showed some photos of the new 2013 Calendar from the Friends of Maplewood. Contact the Maplewood Nature Center to purchase a calendar. b. ENR Commission Appointment i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced the new ENR Commission member Cindy Schafer who was appointed by the City Council to complete Bill Schreiner's term, expiring September 30, 2014. Commissioner Schafer gave a brief description of her experience and background and staff and the Commission welcomed her to the Commission. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Edmundson adjourned the meeting at 8:12 p.m. November 19, 2012 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3