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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-12-16 ENR Minutes December 16, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, December 16, 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 Deborah Fideldy, Commissioner Present Judith Johannessen, Chair Present Ann Palzer, Vice Chair Present Cindy Schafer, Commissioner Present Dale Trippler, Commissioner Present Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resource Coordinator Ms. Finwall said Councilmember Juenemann, liaison to the Commission, could not be present this evening but wanted to thank the Commission for their hard work in 2013. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Palzer. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the November 18, 2013, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Edmundson. Ayes – Chairperson Johannessen, Commissioner’s Edmundson, Palzer, Schafer, Trippler, & Yingling Abstention – Commissioner Fideldy The motion passed. December 16, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 25. NEW BUSINESS a. New Member Orientation i. Environmental Planner Finwall introduced and welcomed the newest Commissioner, Deborah Fideldy. Environmental Planner Finwall reviewed the new member orientation handbook. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Tree Ordinance i. Natural Resource Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor gave the report on the Disease Tree portion of the Tree Ordinance and answered questions of the Commission. The Commission had the following questions/comments:  Is there money in the tree fund to assist property owners with diseased trees?  The appeal process is a good idea but the cost should be reduced from $5,000 to $2,500.  Under the removal of infected trees it states that a nuisance tree must be abated within a specified time not less than 5 days from the date of mailing such notice or from the date of service. This wording should be revised. .  Staff stated that is something that should be changed in the ordinance. Currently homeowners are given seven days. However, it has been City policy to allow 30 days to remove a tree with Dutch elm disease and until February to remove trees with Oak wilt.  Does it make sense to list each disease for trees since more diseases are on the way? Maybe it is more important to clarify infestations or diseases that are fatal.  Staff stated that the definition of diseased trees needs to be expanded. It is staff’s preference, however, to list the three diseases since we are updating the ordinance at this point in time. If the definition does a better job of clarifying the epidemic diseases, that will help with any future infestations.  How does a resident know what species or size of tree to plant on a lot that is covered by trees that might be lost to disease?  Staff indicated it is wise to work with an arborist.  The model ordinance recommends sending people to jail for not cutting down their diseased trees - that seems extreme. If there is any penalty at all it should be the City charging the homeowner for the cost to cut down the tree.  The City should establish a fund for residents that do not have the money to pay for the removal of diseased trees.  It is important that the City notify residents when the City will be inspecting trees for disease on their property.  Staff indicated that the City publishes an article on disease tree inspection in the April newsletter. When the tree inspector comes to the home they put a flyer on the door December 16, 2013 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3indicating they were inspecting. The inspector tries to educate residents and help them understand the problem with tree diseases when out in the field.  Maplewood resident, Scott Creer of Haller Woods addressed the Commission. He said that he lives in a heavily wooded lot. He has several elm trees that were affected by Dutch elm disease. It is not difficult to take down the tree, but it is a burden to transport the diseased tree to the appropriate compost site. He questions the requirement for removing diseased trees in a heavily wooded lot. He believes that if you remove healthy trees that are close to diseased trees that will stop the spread of the disease, not removing trees that are already diseased. He requested that the City review the research on removal of diseased trees to ensure an effective strategy, rather than placing the burden on the property owner.  Can a property owner burn a diseased tree on site verses transporting it?  Staff indicated that trees affected with Dutch elm disease need to be debarked, but could then be cut up and used as firewood. Trees affected with Oak wilt, however, need to be chipped. If the resident can’t afford removal of the tree, there is an option that the tree can be cut up and covered with plastic, with a trench into the soil. But that is also something that is challenging for a property owner to do correctly. Staff will bring the Tree Ordinance back to the Commission in January. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Fish Creek Update – Commissioner Yingling stated that as of December 11, 2013, the City of Maplewood is the proud owner of Fish Creek. This would not have happened without the hard work of City staff to raise resident awareness and get people involved. She is very proud of the City and congratulated Ginny Gaynor and DuWayne Konewko and thanked all of the contributors. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Update on the Maplewood Residential Recycling Program - Environmental Planner Finwall stated that on December 9, 2013, the City Council authorized a four-year contract with Tennis Sanitation beginning January 1, 2014. The contract requires that the contractor supply recycling carts for the City’s recycling program. b. Reschedule the January 20 and February 17, 2014, ENR Commission Meetings due to Martin Luther King Day and President’s Day Holidays. Proposed dates – Thursday, January 16, 2014 and Thursday, February 20, 2014. Staff will follow up with an e-mail to Commissioners in order to reschedule the meetings. c. 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. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Johannessen adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m.