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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-07-15 ENR Minutes July 15, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, July 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 Absent Judith Johannessen, Chair Present Carol Mason Sherrill, Commissioner Present Ann Palzer, Vice Chair Present Cindy Schafer, Commissioner Absent Dale Trippler, Commissioner Present Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resource Coordinator Jim Taylor, Parks Director City Council Liaison Present Kathleen Juenemann, City Councilmember 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Staff added 9.c. - ENR Commission Reappointments and 9d. - GreenStep Cities Award. Commissioner Yingling added 8.a. - Fish Creek update and 8.b. - Geothermal Heating Systems. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the June 17, 2013, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Schafer. Ayes – All The motion passed. July 15, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems Ordinance i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced the item. ii. Engineer, Brian Malm with Bolton & Menk, Inc., gave the presentation and addressed and answered questions of the commission on the subsurface sewage treatment systems ordinance. The commission discussed the following:  We should have an appeal process for homeowners whose septic system permits are denied due to location, etc. Staff indicates that the septic system will be reviewed in order to ensure it meets state and city requirements. If they want to place a septic system closer to a building or some other nonstructural issue, they can apply for a variance from the city’s codes. If they want to appeal design elements they would work with the State of Minnesota who has the authority over that aspect of the systems.  Is the three year timeframe adequate to have all systems inspected and pumped? How will the city ensure they are inspected? Staff indicates that the homeowners are required to submit their MPCA inspection results completed by the licensed company doing the inspection and pumping. If they do not submit their inspection results, staff will follow up with a letter to ensure compliance.  Should we require an escrow from applicants when the compliance inspection fails, rather than before the management plan is submitted? Staff indicates that the escrow is based on the cost of the project. So it is difficult to take an escrow until you know what type of repairs need to be made.  There should be some language in the escrow requirement that it could be used to connect to sanitary sewer if the septic system cannot be repaired.  The ordinance as written does have a requirement that homeowners have a compliance check of their system prior to sale of the home. Because the City does not know when a home is being sold, it will be important to add language to our truth in housing code and to educate the City’s realtors on this requirement.  The time requirement to make repairs to a system that is contaminating ground water is 18 months. That timeframe should be reduced to a lesser amount, perhaps 3 months unless extenuating circumstances require additional time (such as winter months) as approved by the city. There should also be language which states that the City can make the repairs in circumstances and assess that to the property, as an example in the event of an absentee landlord who doesn’t care. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the subsurface sewage treatment systems ordinance as revised. Seconded by Commissioner Mason Sherrill. Ayes – All The motion passed. b. Update on Maplewood Turf Management Plan and Pesticide Use on Parks and Public Lands i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced the item. ii. Maplewood Natural Resource Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor gave the report on pesticides used on parks and public lands and answered questions of the commission. iii. Park Manager, Jim Taylor addressed and answered questions of the commission. July 15, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3The commission discussed the following:  Has the City ever considered hiring a company to bring in goats to remove buckthorn?  The City’s mow-high pledge asks residents to mow their grass at 3 inches in height, and mulch the grass clippings. Why does the City cut park land a 2-1/2 inches? Staff indicates that the City attempts to follow the mow high requirement on park land by cutting at 3 inches. However, there is a problem cutting at that height with some of the mowers. As new mowers are added to the fleet this issue will be resolved.  Does the City ensure signs are installed when using herbicides? Staff indicates that the City hires a commercially licensed company to do that work and they are required and do install signs when applying herbicides. The commission thanks staff for the information on turf management and pesticide use on parks and public lands. The commission will use this information as they continue to research lawn chemical use and policies in the City. 6. NEW BUSINESS None. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS Council Liaison Juenemann had the following questions of staff: Why does the City allow mosquito control and the spraying on our natural habitats? Ms. Gaynor stated that the City should really address that type of overarching question with public meetings which includes scientific evidence that the spraying is actually working? This could take a while to research. Does the City have rain sensors installed on our recreational field irrigation systems? Mr. Taylor indicates that there are rain sensors, but the City should research new more accurate sensors for the systems. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Fish Creek Update – Commissioner Yingling stated that the City has received LCCMR funding for Fish Creek. The Linder’s flower market fund raising brought in a few hundred dollars for the project. There are still people who are using the site to drive their ATVs. The City also removed a large amount of furniture and debris from the property. Once all of the funding is in place, the City will be the proud owner of a beautiful parcel of land. b. Geothermal Heating Systems – Commissioner Yingling said a few years ago the City passed the renewable energy ordinance which includes regulations for geothermal systems. The Department of Health’s Well Management Program has been revised to control angled or horizontal borings in addition to vertical borings. One revision is the regulation on the type of chemicals that can be used in the geothermal systems, allowing only noncontact chemicals that are also used in the food industry in the event that the chemical escapes the system. The City may want to include the same restriction in its renewable energy ordinance. She will research the requirement and bring back additional information to the commission. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. National Night Out – Tuesday, August 6, 2013 Environmental Planner Finwall announced National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6, 2013. This year Tennis Sanitation has agreed to participate with the city and attend the parties handing out recycling bins and recycling information. July 15, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 4Ms. Finwall asked the Commissioners if they were interested in volunteering for the event as well. It is a great opportunity to meet with residents and discuss environmental issues. b. Nature Center Programs Environmental Planner Finwall presented the upcoming Nature Center Programs. For more information contact the Nature Center at (651) 249-2170. c. ENR Commission Reappointments Environmental Planner Finwall reminded the Commission there are three Commission positions up for reappointment. If those Commissioners are interested in another three-year term reappointment, they should submit their forms by August 9, 2013. d. Green Step Cities Award Environmental Planner Finwall said the City of Maplewood has been participating in the GreenStep Cities program for three years. This year the City was awarded a Step Three award for completing additional sustainable best practices. Staff shared a picture of Councilmember Juenemann and City Manager Ahl receiving that award at the annual League of Minnesota Cities conference. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Johannessen adjourned the meeting at 9:07 p.m.