HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-08-18 ENR Minutes
August 18, 2014 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday,
August 18, 2014 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 7:05
p.m. by Chair Palzer. 2. ROLL CALL Randee Edmundson, Commissioner Present Deborah Fideldy, Commissioner Absent 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 City Council Liaison Present Kathleen Juenemann, City Councilmember 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded
by Commissioner Johannessen. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the July 21, 2014, Environmental and Natural Resources
Commission meeting minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Edmundson. Ayes – All The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. 2015 – 2019 Capital Improvement Plan i.
Environmental Planner Finwall introduced the 2015 – 2019 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and answered questions of the Commission. ii. City Councilmember Kathleen Juenemann addressed
and answered questions of the Commission regarding the CIP.
August 18, 2014 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2 The Commission made the following comments and suggestions: Park Upgrades to Existing Parks:
Why are community field upgrades, equipment, fences, courts added to the CIP when the City is currently working on a Parks Master Plan? How do we know what needs to be upgraded prior
to the completion of the plan? Parks System Plan: The project states that the Parks System Staff will be working with the residents and businesses to develop the plan. The City
Council appointed a Parks Task force to review the Parks Master Plan. Information regarding the Task Force’s oversight and recommendations should be added to this section. EAB
Ash Tree Removal and Planting: Should the City include funding for possible EAB infestations in 2015? Projects Deferred/Declined: Sidewalk and Trail Improvements states that a
funding source needs to be found for these projects. Options being looked at are establishing Sidewalk Improvement Districts or implementing a franchise fee. Additional information
should be added about franchise fees and how they work. Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the 2015 – 2019 Capital Improvement Plan with changes and recommendations made at the
August 18, 2014, ENR Meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Trippler. Ayes – All The motion passed. The Commission appointed Commissioner Trippler to represent the Commission
at the September 8, 2014, City Council meeting. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Tree Ordinance i. Environmental Planner Finwall gave an update on the Tree Ordinance. The Commission
made the following comments and suggestion: Specimen trees – o Allow credit in the tree replacement calculation for developments that preserve specimen trees. o Add language
in the purpose and specimen tree definition on why we value specimen trees and want to save them. Require three year maintenance for replacement trees. Environmental Planner
Finwall indicated that the changes would be made and a revised ordinance would be brought before the Commission in September. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS City Councilmember Kathleen
Juenemann addressed the Commission. Councilmember Juenemann asked the Commission to be as specific as possible with language proposed for the tree ordinance. That will ensure an
easy review process by the City Council. She also asked if the Commission could begin a review of the City’s landscape ordinance to make recommendations. In particular when reviewing
development proposals the City should work with the developer to move and reuse trees on site or on a different site if possible, rather than just cutting down the tree and replacing
with smaller trees. Developing partnerships with developers is a better way of reviewing a development proposal rather than just telling them what to do.
August 18, 2014 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3 Councilmember Juenemann thanked the Commission as they serve a very important role in the City.
8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Openings Environmental Planner Finwall stated Commissioners’
Johannessen and Schafer are not renewing their reappointment terms on the Commission which end September 30, 2014. Application deadline for new members is September 12, 2014.
b. Nature Center Programs Environmental Planner Finwall presented the upcoming Nature Center Programs. For more information visit the Nature Center webpage at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/nc
or contact the Nature Center at (651) 249-2170. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Palzer adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m.