HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-17 ENR Minutes
March 17, 2014 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 8:00 p.m., Monday, March
17, 2014 Council Chambers, City Hall 1830 County Road B East From 6:30 to 8 p.m. there was a public meeting for the Wakefield Lake Water Quality Study 1. CALL TO ORDER A
meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission was called to order at 8:05 p.m. by Chair Palzer. 2. ROLL CALL Randee Edmundson, Commissioner Present Deborah
Fideldy, Commissioner Present Judith Johannessen, Commissioner Present Ann Palzer, Chair Present Cindy Schafer, Commissioner Present Dale Trippler, Vice Chair Present
Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 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 a. February 27, 2014 Commissioner Schafer requested a correction
to the last page of the minutes under adjournment to read “Chair Palzer adjourned the meeting” not Chair Schafer . Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the February 27, 2014,
Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Johannessen. Ayes – Chair Palzer, Commissioner’s Fideldy, Johannessen,
& Trippler Abstentions – Commissioner’s Edmundson, Schafer & Yingling The motion passed.
March 17, 2014 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Maplewood Trash Plan (2013 Annual Report and 2014 Work Plan): i. Environmental
Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the Maplewood Trash Plan and answered questions of the commission. ii. Rich Hirstein, representative from Republic Services addressed and
answered questions of the commission. Items discussed by the Commission included: 2013 Annual Report How much of the City’s trash actually gets sorted and recycled at the
RRT Facility? Mr. Hirstein stated that just the large metals are able to be sorted and recovered. In 2013 the RRT facility diverted 20,000 tons of metals from 400,000 tons of waste
collected trash collected from 22,000 homes . Does Republic Services educate Maplewood residents when they throw away something that can be recycled? Mr. Hirstein stated that
the carts are collected with an automated arm, so it is difficult to determine if there are materials in the cart that could be recycled. If there obvious issues, such as a large
tree or branch sticking out of the cart cover, Republic Services does leave an education note on the cart about the issue. 2014 Work Plan Survey – o The purpose of the
survey should be defined first before you finalize the questions. Is the survey to gauge how Republic Services is doing or to gauge how residents feel about the organized trash system?
o What will Republic Services do with the results of the survey? o Some residents don’t get paper bills, how will they be notified of the survey? o The following should be addressed
in the survey: Improvements that could be made to the City’s trash plan. RFID questions. Pay as you throw options. Organics collection. Recycling education. Only
ask questions for which a change can be made. Make room for additional comments. Organics Collection – o Collecting organics in City Buildings will allow the City to educate
residents that visit City Hall or the Community Center on organics collection so they can bring home the concept. o The City should ensure to educate along with collection of organics
with signs, articles, etc. o Does Republic Services work with schools on organics collection? The Commission thanked Mr. Hirstein for the 2013 annual report and 2014 work plan.
Republic Services’ annual review with the City Council is scheduled for April 14.
March 17, 2014 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3 b. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission 2013 Annual Report i. Environmental Planner,
Shann Finwall gave a brief description of the 2013 Annual Report and answered questions of the commission. Commissioner Trippler asked about forming a subcommittee for the Urban
Agriculture group. The Commission decided to form the subcommittee during the meeting, so it could be included in the annual report. Commissioner Schafer moved to recommend appointing
Commissioners Edmundson, Yingling and herself to the Urban Agriculture subcommittee. Seconded by Commissioner Trippler. Ayes – All The motion passed. The Commission discussed
the feasibility of forming subcommittees for the environmental education goal. The Commission agreed that this was something they would like to work on as a group. Commissioner
Trippler moved to recommend the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission 2013 Annual Report with the addition of the subcommittee to the Urban Agriculture Subcommittee. Seconded
by Commissioner Schafer. Ayes – All The motion passed. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Tree Ordinance (to be continued during the April 2014 meeting) 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Maplewood Spring Clean Up Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall said the Maplewood Spring
Clean Up is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, 2014, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Aldrich Arena, 1850 White Bear Avenue. Information can be found at ci.maplewood.mn.us/cleanups.
b. Nature Center Programs Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall presented the upcoming Maplewood Nature Center Programs. For more information contact the Maplewood Nature Center
at (651) 249- 2170.
March 17, 2014 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 4 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Palzer adjourned the meeting at 9:12 p.m.