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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-01-17 ENR Minutes January 17, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Thursday, January 17, 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 7:04 p.m. by Vice Chair Johannessen. 2. ROLL CALL Randee Edmundson, Chair Absent Judith Johannessen, Vice Chair Present Carol Mason Sherrill, Commissioner Absent Ann Palzer, Commissioner Absent Cindy Schafer, Commissioner Present Dale Trippler, Commissioner Present Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resource Coordinator Ann Hutchinson, Lead Naturalist 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Schafer. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the December 17, 2012, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Schafer. Ayes – All The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Election of Chair and Vice Chair Commissioner Trippler moved to table the election of chair and vice chair until the February 21, 2013, ENR meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – All The motion passed. January 17, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2b. Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the Proposed 3M Research and Development Building Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced the item and turned the discussion over to the following speakers: Sherri Bus, Planner, TKDA, addressed the commission. Darren Schwanki, Engineer, TKDA, addressed the commission. Roger Spinner, Principal Project Engineer, 3M, addressed the commission. The commission had the following comments/questions regarding the EAW:  Why doesn’t the building concept match the overall plans? TKDA – there were some modifications to the plans during the initial phases. The changes will be reflected on the final plans.  Are other 3M campus buildings closing with this new building? TKDA – a portion of the new building will house employees that will be relocated from existing buildings on the campus. The existing buildings will eventually be remodeled.  Will the building be LEED certified or any other green code certification? TKDA – 3M will follow guidelines to create the most energy efficient building as possible. No formal certification will be pursued.  Have the St. Paul residents located on the west side of McKnight Road been notified of the development. TKDA – the EAW will be mailed to all properties within 500 feet of this property. Also, to ensure the St. Paul residents are notified, the EAW will be mailed to those residents across McKnight if they are not within that distance.  Will there be any impervious surface? TKDA - There is no impervious surface proposed at this time. But the plans are very preliminary.  Will 3M add bike lanes to McKnight Road? TKDA – McKnight is a County Road. 3M will review the traffic and bike/pedestrian issues for this new building with the County to determine if bike lanes could be included.  Is an EIS necessary? TKDA - The comments received during the notification and public hearing phase, and ultimate City Council review, will determine the need for an EIS. But nothing in the EAW points to the need for an EIS.  Is there enough parking? TKDA – for the building size the parking lot does not meet the City’s standards for parking. However, 3M will propose shared parking scenarios at all of their other parking lots and ramps within the campus. TKDA will present the EAW and request release of the document during the February 11, 2013, City Council meeting. After the required 30-day notification period, a public hearing is tentatively scheduled in March with the Planning Commission. . c. Maplewood Recycling Program – Consideration of an Extension to Tennis Sanitations Recycling Contract Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave a report and answered questions of the commission. The contract for Tennis Sanitation expires December 31, 2013, with two, one-year extensions possible. The commission should consider extending the recycling contract and bring any concerns up before this item is brought back at the February ENR meeting. The commission had the following comments/questions regarding the recycling contract:  A commissioner expressed concern over a city contractor participating in negative attacks on city councilmembers running for re-election. Is there something the city can add in the contract that would prohibit the contractor from doing this again?  The city should look at the results of the recycling cart study in the annual report before determining if the city should continue using recycling bins or switch to recycling carts.  There was a concern regarding the charge of switching from the current red bins to the recycling carts. January 17, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3 When there is a cart for garbage and a cart for recycling sometimes there can be a residual because people mistakenly put their garbage in the recycling cart.  Recycling won’t blow around the neighborhood with the use of carts.  What is the timeframe for negotiations for extending the recycling contract with Tennis Sanitation? If negotiations fall through, the City will have to go out for proposals, which can be a lengthy process. Willie Tennis, one of the owners of Tennis Sanitation, addressed and answered questions of the commission. The commission recommended that staff begin negotiations with Tennis Sanitation for an extension of the contract. Staff should obtain information on recycling costs with the use of the existing bins, contractor supplied carts, and city supplied carts. Staff will meet with Tennis to begin those negotiations, with hopes of bringing a draft contract for review in February. d. Goal Setting Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall reviewed the 2013 ENR Goals. Staff discussed the status of goals, action items and upcoming events of the ENR for 2013 as noted in the memo. Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor discussed the natural resources projects that the commission will review in 2013. Lead Naturalist, Ann Hutchinson, discussed the Maplewood Nature Center Goals for 2013. The commission discussed goals and came up with the following list for 2013:  Plastic bags – reduce or eliminate  Greenways  Urban Agriculture  Environmental Education – Speaker Series  Chemical Use  Tree Ordinance Staff will summarize the goals and propose implementation strategies during the February meeting. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None. January 17, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 4 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Parks Citizen Advisory Team Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor gave the presentation for the Maplewood Parks Citizen Advisory Team. Staff is looking for a volunteer from the ENR commission to meet the 4th Monday of the month around 4 or 5 p.m. for 12-18 months beginning in March/April of 2013. Commissioner Trippler volunteered to serve as the ENR member on the Parks Citizen Advisory Team. Commissioner Schafer volunteered to serve as the alternate. b. Tree Program Update (Presentation Only) Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor gave an update on the tree program. Arbor Day is May 4, 2013, so mark your calendars. c. Maplewood Nature Center Programs Lead Naturalist, Ann Hutchinson presented the upcoming Maplewood Nature Center Programs. For more information contact the Maplewood Nature Center at (651) 249-2170. 10. ADJOURNMENT Acting Chair Johannessen adjourned the meeting at 9:39 p.m.