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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-02-21 ENR Minutes February 21, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Thursday, February 21, 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 7:02 p.m. by Chair Edmundson. 2. ROLL CALL Randee Edmundson, Chair Present Judith Johannessen, Vice Chair Present Carol Mason Sherrill, Commissioner Present Ann Palzer, Commissioner Present Cindy Schafer, Commissioner Present until 8:30 p.m. Dale Trippler, Commissioner Present Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Steve Love, Assistant City Engineer 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Johannessen. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Johannessen had a correction under item c. in the first bulleted item - the second word should be commissioner. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the January 17, 2013, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – Commissioner’s Johannessen, Schafer, Trippler & Yingling Abstentions – Chair Edmundson, Commissioner’s Palzer, & Mason Sherrill The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Election of Chair and Vice Chair i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced the item. February 21, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2Commissioner Trippler moved to appoint Judith Johannessen as Chair. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – All The motion passed. Commissioner Trippler moved to appoint Ann Palzer as Vice Chair. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – All The motion passed. At this point Chair Edmundson turned the chair duties over to Judith Johannessen for the remainder of the meeting. b. Maplewood Recycling Program 1) Tennis Sanitation’s 2012 Yearly Report and 2013 Work Plan i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced the item and gave the report. ii. Willie Tennis, Tennis Sanitation, addressed the Commission and answered questions. Commissioner Yingling stated she was happy to see the letter from Strategic Materials regarding the glass recycling. Commissioner Yingling asked about the multi-family recycling rates that had gone down from the previous year. Commissioner Schaefer said the 2012 Yearly Report from Tennis Sanitation was well done and she liked the letters that were included in the report. Commissioner Trippler expressed concern with the 2012 Yearly Report. He felt it should have included more details. Commissioner Yingling stated it would be beneficial to see recycling statistics from surrounding communities. Commissioner Mason Sherrill was concerned about the decrease in the multi-family recycling. She was pleased that Tennis Sanitation will begin collecting plastic bags, but expressed concern over the fact that the bags would be shipped to China to be recycled. Willie Tennis responded that the only way to create a local market for recycling plastic bags, is to begin collecting them. So the collection of plastic bags in Maplewood is a good start toward that end. . Commissioner Schafer suggested removing the name of the resident who called to complain or give compliments. The date and nature of the call will suffice. Commissioner Palzer would like to see an overall percentage increase for recycling. Identifying trends and how Tennis Sanitation can motivate people to recycle more will be important. Educational material is beneficial as long as people read the pamphlets or brochures. She stated she remembered a Tennis driver speaking to the Commission in the past about his interactions with the residents during his route. That type of interaction also helps educate residents. February 21, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3Chair Johannessen said we need to remind people to work on reducing and reusing in addition to recycling. Willie Tennis thanked the Commission for their comments. 2) Extension of Tennis Sanitation’s Recycling Contract i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall briefly updated the commission on the contract extension. ii. Willie Tennis, Tennis Sanitation, addressed and answered questions of staff and the commission. Commissioner Schafer asked what would happen to the old recycling bins if the city switches to the recycling carts? Environmental Planner Finwall indicated the residents could keep those bins, or City could set up drop off locations where we could collect them to be recycled. Commissioner Edmundson asked if the recycling carts were going to be one size or will residents be able to pick the size they want? Environmental Planner Finwall stated the proposal is for a choice between a 65 or 32 gallon recycling carts. Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the two-year extension of Tennis Sanitation’s recycling contract with the use of city supplied recycling carts. Seconded by Commissioner Palzer. Ayes – Chair Johannessen, Commissioner’s Edmundson, Palzer, Schafer, & Yingling Nay – Commissioner Trippler The motion passed. Commissioner Trippler said he voted against the contract extension because he does not think a contractor of the City should be in the business of attempting to manipulate City elections similar to what happened with Tennis Sanitation during the City’s review of its trash hauling. Additionally, the City won’t know if they are getting a good deal on recycling rates unless they go out for a request for proposals. c. Arkwright-Sunrise Area Street Improvements i. Assistant City Engineer, Steve Love gave the report and answered questions of the commission. Commissioner Mason Sherrill suggested the use of solar lighting for street lighting on the sidewalks and trails. Commissioner Trippler had concerns about the sidewalk plan and having a sidewalk that doesn’t connect to anything. Commissioner Trippler asked how the neighborhood felt about this project. Assistant City Engineer Love stated that the neighbors were concerned about the need for sidewalks and city staff has been working with the neighbors on that concern. Questions February 21, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 4regarding the sidewalk included snow removal requirements and connections to the surrounding area. Commissioner Trippler had concerns about where people would walk if there were no sidewalks in this area, causing people to have to walk on the street which could be dangerous. Commissioner Mason Sherrill said the tree ordinance doesn’t allow trees to be planted in the right of way or boulevards but hopefully that will be revised so the living streets policy and the tree ordinance will be in sync. Assistant City Engineer Love stated this project will begin in the spring of 2014. Design plans will begin summer of 2013. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. 2013 Goal Implementation Strategies i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall went over the 2013 goal implementation strategies and how best to implement the goals. The commission discussed the 2013 goals and how best to implement them. It was determined that the goals would be placed into three categories including ordinance reviews, education, and research. Several commissioners expressed an interest in assisting with the ordinance reviews depending on which ordinance is reviewed (Urban Agriculture or Trees); Commissioners Palzer, Edmundson, and Yingling chose to focus on coming up with a comprehensive approach to environmental education; and Commissioner Mason Sherrill, Yingling, and Johannessen chose to conduct research on chemical use and plastic bags. The subcommittees will do outside research and report their findings to the full commission. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Nature Center Programs Environmental Planner, Shann 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 9:40 p.m.