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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-04-15 ENR Minutes April 15, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 15, 2013 Council Chambers, City Hall 1830 County Road B East 1. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Chair Johannessen. 2. ROLL CALL Randee Edmundson, Commissioner Present Judith Johannessen, Chair Present Carol Mason Sherrill, Commissioner Present Ann Palzer, Vice Chair Present Cindy Schafer, Commissioner Present Dale Trippler, Commissioner Present Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Staff added 9.f. Soil and Water Stewardship Week under staff presentations. Commissioner Mason Sherrill moved to approve the agenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Trippler. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The commission had clarifications and changes to the March 18, 2013, ENR minutes which staff will look into and correct. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the March 18, 2013, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Palzer. Ayes – Chair Johannessen, & Commissioner’s Edmundson Mason Sherrill, Palzer, Schafer & Trippler Abstention – Commissioner Yingling The motion passed. April 15, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 25. NEW BUSINESS a. Regional Indicators Initiative Report i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced the item and the speaker Rick Carter with LBH, Inc. ii. Rick Carter, FAIA, LEED Fellow, Senior Vice President of LBH, Inc. serving as the project manager for the project addressed the commission and gave the Regional Indicators Initiative Report. The City of Maplewood is participating in the Regional Indicators project. This project is a measurement of city-wide performance which showed levels of energy, water, travel, waste and emissions used in the 20 cities that were studied. This was the initial phase of the project, with additional phases and additional cities to be included in the future. The research will help to quantify best practices for reducing energy use and pollution that are outlined in the GreenStep Cities program. They will also be available and accessible for people to compare information city to city. b. Environmental Utility Fee Credit i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the Environmental Utility Fee Credit Report. Commissioner Mason Sherrill said that planting a tree is just as beneficial as installing rainwater gardens and should be considered for EUF credits. Planting a tree is less expensive, does not require as much maintenance, and offers a lot of other benefits including increased oxygen and assisting the city in replacing trees lost to disease. Commissioner Mason Sherrill discussed drain channels which filter stormwater into channels and ultimately a garden or the yard. Commissioner Trippler expressed support for increasing the credit. However, he was concerned that there would not be enough money in the environmental utility fund the credit and everything else the city uses the fund for. Commissioner Trippler asked if the city will have to look at another funding source to have enough money to fund MDES permits and the implementation of the program. Commissioner Yingling stated that the proposal to fund up to four retrofitted rainwater gardens should include a process to rank the location and style of rainwater gardens so that top priority areas get funded first. Environmental Planner Finwall indicated that staff will continue to work on the EUF credit policy and other policies outlined in the Living Streets Policy, and bring that back to the commission in the near future. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Park Clean Up Day – April 20, 2013 April 15, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 39. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Update on Maplewood Dump Site Clean Up Environmental Planner Finwall gave an update on the cleanup of the Maplewood Dump Site. The culvert was constructed to bury a portion of the creek where exposed debris was located. The tree removal, grading, and seeding were complete last fall. Tree planting will take place fall 2013. The site will remain as open space. b. Spring Clean Up- Saturday, April 20, 2013 Environmental Planner Finwall stated the annual Spring Clean Up will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Aldrich Arena. Commissioners are invited to volunteer during the event. c. Earth Day – Monday, April 22, 2013 Environmental Planner Finwall reminded the Commission that April 22 is Earth Day. For tips on helping protect the environment go to the EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/earthday. d. Metro Cities Environmental Commissions Meeting, Tuesday, May 14, 2013 Environmental Planner Finwall discussed the Metro Cities Environmental Commissions Meeting which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at 6 pm at the League of the Minnesota Cities. The focus is on living streets. e. Maplewood Nature Programs Environmental Planner Finwall presented the upcoming Nature Center Programs. For more information contact the Maplewood Nature Center at (651) 249-2170. f. Soil & Water Stewardship Week April 28 – May 5, 2013 Environmental Planner Finwall shared information about the Ramsey Conservation District who is promoting soil and water stewardship week which is April 28 – May 5, 2013. Less than 1% of all the water on our planet is fresh water. The average citizen in the United States uses 70 gallons of water every day and this doesn’t include the water to manufacture the automobiles, clothing and food that we depend on each and every day. Take time to learn about your local community water supplies and volunteer. For more information you can go to the website www.epa.gov/mywaterway. 9. ADJOURNMENT Chair Johannessen adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m.