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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-11-18 ENR Minutes November 18, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, November 18, 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 7:00 p.m. by Chair Johannessen. 2. ROLL CALL Randee Edmundson, Commissioner Present Judith Johannessen, Chair Present Ann Palzer, Vice Chair Present at 7:03 p.m. Cindy Schaefer, Commissioner Present Dale Trippler, Commissioner Present Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Nick Carver, Assistant Building Official 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Staff added 9.c. - Commission Appointment. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the October 21, 2013, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Edmundson. Ayes – All The motion passed. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Green Building Code i. Assistant Building Official, Nick Carver gave the presentation on the green building code. November 18, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2In 2012 and 2011 the Environmental and Natural Resources (ENR) Commission was introduced to the Maplewood Green Building Code. The main components of the code are the International Green Construction Code and the National Green Building Standards. Since the ENR Commission’s review of the code the building inspection division partnered with the International Code Council to assist in the development of the National Green Building Standards for residential buildings and the International Green Construction Code for commercial buildings. On September 23, 2013, the Maplewood City Council adopted the Maplewood Green Code. Mr. Carver’s presentation included an update on the code since the ENR Commission’s last review, and the impacts it will have on City-financed buildings. b. Maplewood Recycling Program – Recycling Contract and Recycling Carts i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall reported on the recycling contract and recycling carts. During the January 2013 ENR Commission meeting, the commission recommended that staff begin negotiations with Tennis for an extension of the recycling contract. Staff negotiated three contract scenarios including the use of the City’s existing recycling bins, contractor-supplied recycling carts, and City-supplied recycling carts. Since that time all three scenarios were presented to the City Council for review. The City Council expressed support for the conversion to recycling carts; however, there was not a consensus on which cart scenario to choose - contractor-supplied or City-purchased carts. Because the recycling contract will expire at the end of the year, the City Council directed staff to finalize the contract with language that would allow for the switch to carts in the future (either contractor-supplied or City-purchased carts). On September 9, 2013, the City Council approved a contract with Tennis for City-wide residential recycling. The Contract extends recycling collection with Tennis for two more years (2014 and 2015) beginning January 1, 2014. Recyclables will continue to be collected curbside in the City’s existing recycling bins, with language in the contract that will allow the City to convert to recycling carts (either contractor-supplied or City-supplied) at any time during the term of the contract. Ms. Finwall’s presentation included an update on the recycling cart and contract scenarios and the City’s award of $100,000 from the Ramsey County Innovation Grant program for the purchase of recycling carts. The Commission had the following comments/questions regarding the various recycling contract options:  Commissioner Trippler state he is in favor of the recycling carts if the city continues with single sort recycling. He has two 18 gallon recycling bins and because he has recycling overflow he is thinking of using a third. Commissioner Trippler said he was surprised that there was so much participation and tonnage in the recycling cart pilot project. Because Maplewood has the lowest recycling rate of the 16 cities in Ramsey County, the City needs to work on increasing those recycling numbers. Recycling numbers drop in the winter because people don’t want to bring their bins out. He prefers having the city buy the recycling carts so the resident doesn’t have to pay for the carts year after year on their bill. Also, it will allow the city to purchase carts that are the same color and style of carts so there is consistency.  Commissioner Edmundson stated it is clear that recycling carts will make a difference in recycling rates and participation. Has the City considered every other week recycling pick up and a choice of recycling cart size?  Commissioner Yingling stated that the city-purchased recycling carts would be the best scenario for the residents. She agreed with Commissioner Edmundson about November 18, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3what size recycling cart should be offered to residents. She would like a 32 gallon recycling cart compared to the 65 gallon recycling cart due to space limitations.  Commissioner Schaefer asked if it would be possible to have every other week trash pick and once a week recycling. This may make people recycle more and produce less waste.  Commissioner Palzer asked if the term “profit sharing” in the city-purchased cart scenario is rubbing people the wrong way. If residents are being taxed for a service that a private company and the City can make money on, it might be creating some negative images in the public’s mind. Perhaps the term should be “revenue share” rather than “profit share.” Commissioner Palzer stated that it would be most beneficial for the city to purchase the carts.  Commissioner Edmundson asked if the city begins collecting compost, with that require a third cart?  Commissioner Schaefer said the Commission should also make a recommendation on the environmental aspect of the city purchasing the carts – the city will reuse the carts year after year. If the city leases the carts from a contractor new carts will have to be rolled out with each new contractor change. Commissioner Trippler moved to recommend to the city council purchase the recycling carts with Tennis Sanitation rolling out the carts under the current two-year contract (2014-2015). Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – All The motion passed. This item goes to the city council on November 25, 2013. c. Tree Ordinance – To Be Continued in December 2013 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Annual Sustainability Report i. Environmental Planner Finwall gave the Annual Sustainability Report Chairperson Johannessen thanked staff for the hard work on this report. The commission members did not have any questions or comments regarding the annual sustainability report. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None. November 18, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 4 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Update on the Mississippi Critical Area Rulemaking i. Environmental Planner Finwall gave the update on the Mississippi Critical Area Rulemaking. The 2013 Legislature required that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) begin the rulemaking again after the deadline for the previous rulemaking expired in 2012. The DNR has met with all cities within the Critical Area, including Maplewood city staff, and have prepared draft rules based on that feedback. A final draft will be complete in the spring of 2014. Staff will present that document to the ENR Commission at that time. Once the new rules are in place, the City will be required to update our Critical Area ordinance to reflect the changes. b. Maplewood Nature Center Programs i. Environmental Planner Finwall presented the upcoming Nature Center Programs. For more information contact the Nature Center at (651) 249-2170. c. Commission Appointment i. Environmental Planner Finwall mentioned that the city council appointed a Deborah Fideldy as a new member to the ENR Commission. Ms. Fideldy will fill the vacant position left by Commissioner Mason Sherrill. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Johannessen adjourned the meeting at 8:26 p.m.