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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-18 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, May 18, 2015 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 Trippler. 2. ROLL CALL Deborah Fideldy, Commissioner Present Mollie Miller, Vice Chair Present Ann Palzer, Commissioner Present at 7:25 p.m. Tom Sinn, Commissioner Present Dale Trippler, Chair Present Absent Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Jim Taylor, Park Manager Steve Love, Assistant City Engineer City Council Liaison Present Kathleen Juenemann, City Councilmember 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Miller moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Fideldy. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Sinn moved to approve the April 20, 2015, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Miller. Ayes – All The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Park Master Plan Presentation i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced the item and turned the discussion over to Park Manager, Jim Taylor. ii. Park Manager, Jim Taylor gave the Park Master Plan presentation and answered questions of the commission. May 18, 2015 1 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes In January 2015, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council both adopted the Parks System Master Plan. To find additional information on the process and a copy of the full plan visit the website at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/parks. No action was required. b. NPDES Phase II and MS4 Permit, 2014 SWPPP Annual Report i. Assistant City Engineer, Steve Love gave the presentation on the NPDES Phase II and MS4 Permit and 2014 SWPPP Annual Report and answered questions of the commission. Chair Trippler opened up the discussion to the public. Nobody addressed the commission. The discussion was closed. Staff will compile and address comments and incorporate them in the final 2014 SWPPP report submittal to the MPCA. c. Resolution of Appreciation for Commissioner Edmundson i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the resolution of appreciation. Chairperson Trippler moved to approve the resolution of appreciation for Randee Edmundson for her years of service on the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission. Seconded by Commissioner Palzer. Ayes – All The motion passed. This item goes to the city council May 26, 2015. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS City Council Liaison, Kathleen Juenemann addressed the commission. Councilmember Juenemann stated because there isn’t a lot of new development in the city there is not enough funding for our parks under the current PAC system anymore. She stated the city should examine new ways to fund parks. There may need to be a park referendum. Neighboring cities have done park foundations which involve organization, time, and volunteers - but once it’s established it works fairly well. There are a lot of items on the park needs and wants list, but the city needs funding to make it happen. In order to ensure the future funding is used properly the city will also need to ensure the money is earmarked for restoration and updates. She thanked the Maplewood Parks Department for all they have done with the resources they have to keep our parks clean and in great shape. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Community Solar Gardens (Commissioner Sinn) Commissioner Sinn shared an article from KSTP that city staff included in the packet regarding Community Solar Gardens. St Paul’s Macalester College has signed a 25-year deal with Sun Edison in California that is the world’s largest renewable energy May 18, 2015 2 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes development company. Joining the solar garden is the latest sustainability effort for Macalester College. Commissioner Sinn wanted to bring the Community Solar issue before the Commission for their review. Ms. Finwall said Maplewood has been participating in a Community Solar Learning Circle, sponsored by the Metro Clean Energy Resource Team. Maplewood and five other cities are meeting to discuss the various aspects of Community Solar. Ms. Finwall will have more information on this work in the near future. b. Harambee Community Cultures/Environmental Science School – Minnesota Department of Education Green Ribbon School Award (Commissioner Miller) Commissioner Miller said Harambee Community Cultures/Environmental Science School won the Green Ribbon School Award from the U.S. Department of Education. Commissioner Miller recommends that the Commission and City Council acknowledge the school’s award. The commission thought that was a nice gesture. Commissioner Miller moved that the commission recommend to the City Council that they review and approve an acknowledgement to the Harambee Community Cultures/Environmental Science School for receiving the Education Green Ribbon School Award. Seconded by Commissioner Sinn. Ayes – All The motion passed. This item goes to the city council on June 8, 2015. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Spring Clean Up Summary i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave a summary of the Maplewood Spring Clean Up held Saturday, April 18, 2015 at Aldrich Arena. The 2016 Spring Clean up is tentatively scheduled for April 23, 2016. b. Waterfest – May 30, 2015 i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall said the City of Maplewood is one of the sponsors for the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District Waterfest to be held on Saturday, May 30, 2015, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Lake Phalen Park in St. Paul. The ENR Commission will have a booth which will focus on composting and will be called “Garbage to Black Gold – Can You Dig It?” c. Community Garden Tour – June 18 (new date) i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall stated that the Community Garden Tour has to be rescheduled to June 18, 2015. d. Maplewood Nature Center Programs i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall presented the upcoming Nature Center Programs. For more information contact the Maplewood Nature Center at (651) 249-2170. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Trippler adjourned the meeting at 8:38 p.m. May 18, 2015 3 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes