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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-05-20 ENR Minutes May 20, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, May 20, 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 7:16 p.m. by Chair Johannessen. The meeting began late due to technical difficulties. 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 Absent Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Absent Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Steve Love, Assistant City Engineer 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Mason Sherrill added 8.a.- bird presentation. Staff added 8.b. - Alliance for Sustainability Conference on Living Streets. Commissioner Edmundson moved to approve the agenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Mason Sherrill. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Mason Sherrill had two changes on page 2: Item 5.a., in the third line, the word "city’s" should be "cities". Under 5.b., in the first paragraph, she would like additional information added regarding the benefits of trees such as oxygen, shade, etc. The city will need to replant more trees in the future with the certain infestation of EAB to our ash trees. Commissioner Schafer moved to approve the April 15, 2013, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes as amended. May 20, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2Seconded by Commissioner Palzer. Ayes – All The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Public Hearing: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II and MS4 Permit, 2012 Annual Report i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced the item and turned the discussion over to Steve Love. ii. Assistant City Engineer, Steve Love gave the presentation on the 2012 Annual Report for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II and MS4 Permit and answered questions of the commission. The following items were discussed by the Commission:  Is there an evaluation for education and outreach?  Is the Nature Center education included in our reporting?  Are contractors aware of these requirements? Are there fines for violations of stormwater permits?  We should consider more public education on the subject.  What is the City doing with its street sweepings?  There were four lakes delisted from the impaired list. What does that mean? Assistant City Engineer Love indicated that education and outreach are evaluated as part of the permit and that the City does use the Nature Center education as well as our newsletter articles and website outreach to meet those goals. The City inspects grading and building projects for compliance of the stormwater permits. The City works with the contractors to get them to comply with the requirements once an infraction is found. In 2012 the City did not have to issue violations or fines. The City is currently stockpiling what street sweepings it has in the public works yard. The City will purchase a machine which will screen the sweepings and remove debris. The clean fill will then be used in the City’s street projects. The City had eleven impaired water bodies, but with new studies it has been determined that there are now only four. The watershed districts are completing the required total maximum daily load studies on these impaired waters. Kohlman Lake’s study was complete two years ago. The remaining reports will be presented to the ENR Commission when complete. Chair Johannessen opened the public hearing. There were no speakers that came forward to address the commission. Chair Johannessen closed the public hearing. The ENR Commission thanked Assistant City Engineer Love for the information. Staff took note of questions and comments received for further review by staff. No formal action was needed. May 20, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3b. Screening of A Chemical Reaction and Facilitated Discussion on Lawn Chemical Use by Julia Earl i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced the item and the speaker, Julia Earl. ii. Julia Earl of Healthy Kids Minnesota introduced the documentary, A Chemical Reaction and gave a presentation on lawn chemical use. The Lawn Chemical task force invited Ms. Earl to give the presentation and to facilitate discussion. Park staff will give an update to the ENR Commission on the City’s use of lawn chemicals on our recreational fields, parks, and city properties in the near future. The Commission thanked Ms. Earl for sharing the informative documentary and important information on lawn chemicals. c. Review of Draft 2014-2018 Capital Improvement Plan i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave a review of the draft 2014-2018 Capital Improvement Plan. There will be a public hearing at the planning commission meeting on June 18, 2013, and final review by the City Council on July 8, 2013. The Commission reviewed the draft CIP and had the following questions/comments:  East Metro Fire Training Facility – Don’t other cities that are in the joint powers agreement help pay for this facility?  Park Systems Plan – What does it mean to explore a referendum for a sustainable park system?  Pond Clean Out/Dredging Projects – Where will all the sediment go and how will it be treated?  Street Improvements – Will all of our future street improvements follow the Living Street’s policy? Staff stated that the City will be entering into a Joint Powers Agreement with other cities for the operations of the Fire Training Facility. The park systems plan is designed to gather public comment on the City’s park system and find creative and sustainable solutions to funding our parks in the future. Pond dredging will be handled according to MPCA requirements. Street improvements will follow the Living Streets policy. However, there might be some push back from neighborhoods on certain aspects of the policy. Commissioner Edmundson moved to approve the draft of the 2014-2018 Capital Improvement Plan along with the comments and questions raised to staff by the commission. Seconded by Commissioner Mason Sherrill Ayes – All The motion passed. Staff will send an email to the Commission looking for a volunteer to represent the Commission at the July 8, 2013, City Council meeting. May 20, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 46. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Birds – Commissioner Mason Sherrill shared pictures of dead birds she and her daughter found at the Community Center and downtown St. Paul. These birds died from window collisions. Commissioner Mason Sherrill suggested that the City of Maplewood work with the Minnesota Audubon Society to modify windows in City buildings to prevent bird collisions. Staff will gather further information and bring this back to the commission at a future meeting. b. Report on the Alliance for Sustainability Living Streets Conference – Commissioner’s Palzer, Mason Sherrill and Shafer shared information regarding the learned Living Streets conference. There are other cities that are working on the policies and beginning to implement these designs into their street projects. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Update on Maplewood Recycling Program – Environmental Planner Finwall gave an update on the City Council workshop regarding the Maplewood Recycling Program and the potential to use recycling carts instead of recycling bins that are currently used in the program. The City Council did not give clear direction on the purchase of carts, so the issue will be discussed again with additional information on revenue share and recycling rates to help assist in the decision. A future workshop is tentatively scheduled for July. Once the cart issue is resolved, the City will continue to finalize its extended contract with Tennis Sanitation. b. Update on Tree Rebate Program – Environmental Planner Finwall stated that the City is offering the tree rebate again this year. Residents or businesses can purchase and plant trees for reimbursement of up to $100 per tree, up to four trees, for a maximum of $200 rebate per year. c. Maplewood Green Team – Department Sustainability Challenge – Environmental Planner Finwall discussed the department sustainability challenges the Green Team is undertaking this year. The Community Development Department’s challenge is paper reduction. As such, the department is asking if our Commissions can go paperless, which means no paper packets forwarded for each meeting. The Commission indicated that they would be willing to give paperless packets a try. May 20, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 5d. Waterfest – June 1, 2013 – Environmental Planner Finwall stated that Waterfest will be held Saturday, June 1, 2013, from 11:00 – 4:00 pm at Lake Phalen Park in St. Paul. The event is sponsored by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District. The ENR Commission will have a booth at the event where we will spotlight pollinators. We are still looking for ENR Commissioners to volunteer for the event. e. Nature Center Programs -Environmental Planner Finwall presented the upcoming Nature Center Programs. For more information contact the Maplewood Nature Center at (651) 249-2170. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Johannessen adjourned the meeting at 10:15 p.m.