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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-27 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 27, 2016 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 7:01 p.m. by Chair Trippler. 2. ROLL CALL Mollie Miller, Vice Chair Present Ann Palzer, Commissioner Present Ryan Ries, Commissioner Present Tom Sinn, Commissioner Present Dale Trippler, Chair Present Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Ries moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the December 15, 2015, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Miller. Ayes – Chair Trippler, Commissioners Miller, Ries, & Sinn Abstention – Commissioner Palzer The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Election of Chair and Vice Chair i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall discussed the election of chair and vice chair. Commissioner Palzer moved to nominate Mollie Miller as Chair for 2016. Commissioner Miller accepted the nomination. 1 January 27, 2016 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Seconded by Chair Trippler. Ayes – All The motion passed. Chair Trippler turned the Chair responsibility over to Commissioner Miller. Commissioner Trippler moved to nominate Tom Sinn as Vice Chair for 2016. Commissioner Sinn accepted the nomination. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – All The motion passed. b. Frost/Kennard Spent Lime Stormwater Treatment System for Wakefield Lake i. Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor introduced the Frost/Kennard Spent Lime Stormwater Treatment System for Wakefield Lake and answered questions of the Commission. ii. Matt Kistner, Barr Engineering, Minneapolis, addressed the Commission, gave a presentation, and answered questions of the Commission. iii. Tina Carstens, District Administrator, Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District gave a presentation and answered questions of the Commission. The Commission had the following questions/comments:  Are there any odors from this treatment? (Matt responded there are no odors - it’s similar to chalk)  Doesn’t the spent lime lose its ability to sequester metals and phosphorous? (Matt responded they have tested some of this material and the jury is out on how long it would last. Once it does reach its capacity it would be treated similar to storm pond dredging – tested prior to land fill.)  Can you summarize the community response to the notices? (Matt stated he has received two e-mails, one regarding how the pond would affect a nearby fence and one with questions about impacts to regional flooding. Matt assured both residents that the pond would not affect the fence and that the pond would make improvements to regional flooding.)  Has there been any thought of doing something other than turf grass around the pond that wouldn’t require mowing? (Ginny Gaynor responded that the city is very open to that idea, there is potential funding through the grant depending on how the budget goes to vegetate some of the of the site).  Why is the structure 13’ X 35’? (Matt replied the structure is sized for how fast the water can move through the media.)  How long will the spent lime last? (Matt replied the storm water community is interested in seeing how long this will last so they will be doing regular testing.)  Does the watershed district have projections on when the phosphorous level of Wakefield Lake would be below the required standards? (Tina replied this project reduces the phosphorous levels by 50% so this is a highly effective location and opportunity to do that. They have also been talking about north of the lake at Wakefield Park and if there are opportunities to do storm water treatment before the water gets to the lake. Those are projects slated over the next 5 to 7 years and they will see how the response is in the lake.)  Who is responsible for maintenance? (Matt said Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District is responsible for the maintenance.) 2 January 27, 2016 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes  Who will replace the infiltration systems? (Matt said because this area has heavier soils and some clay in some areas infiltration isn’t possible. They have done filtration with sand, with iron enhanced sand and this appears to be the most cost effective way.) Commissioner Yingling moved to recommend the Frost/Kennard Spent Lime Stormwater Treatment System for Wakefield Lake. Seconded by Commissioner Trippler. Ayes – All The motion passed. c. 1958 Rice Street – Community Garden i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the Conditional Use Permit for the Rice Street Community Garden. ii. Applicant, Ron Peterson representing Galilee Church, 145 McCarrons Blvd N., Roseville, addressed and answered questions of the Commission regarding the community garden. The Commission had the following questions/comments:  Is the church looking for people to rent garden plots? (Ron replied at this time they have plenty of people who have been applying for plots.)  Is there going to be a portable bathroom on site? (Ron replied the McCarron’s Pub said people can use their facilities.)  Will there be signage on site? (Ron replied the church is reviewing options for signage, but will more than likely just have a small freestanding sign.)  What is included in the $1693 fee for a Conditional Use Permit and in the future can that fee be waived? (Ms. Finwall replied the fee cannot be waived at time as it is a requirement of a conditional use permit. The ENR Commission can make recommendations for community garden review fees in the future once they propose a new or amended code to address urban agriculture uses.) No action is required by the ENR Commission, the item was presented for review and discussion only. In particular the ENR Commission reviewed the Community Garden to see how this type of land use would be best reviewed in a future urban agriculture ordinance. This item will go to the Planning Commission on February 2, 2016 for a public hearing. d. 2214 Woodlynn Avenue – Wetland Buffer Variance i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report. ii. Ryan and Sarah Buhl, 2214 Woodlynn Avenue addressed and answered questions of the commission. The Commission had the following questions/comments:  The commission discussed comments from the neighbors and the placement of the house on the site.  The commission discussed the grading of the site, the possibility of building a retaining wall, and the expense of building one.  The commission was concerned about the escrow fee that covers the cost of the wetland buffer restoration and if the property owners were in agreement with that fee.  The commission wanted to remove the requirement of shifting the house 14 feet to the east side of the lot to minimize impacts of the new home and wetland buffer variance to the existing single family house located at 2206 Woodlynn Avenue East. 3 January 27, 2016 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Commissioner Yingling moved to recommend approval of a wetland buffer variance to construct a new single family house at 2214 Woodlynn Avenue East with the condition that the requirement to sift the house 14 feet to the east side of the lot be removed as it does not impact the wetland. Seconded by Commissioner Ries. Ayes – All The motion passed. This item goes to the Planning Commission on February 2, 2016 for the public hearing and to the City Council on February 22, 2016. e. 2016 Goal Setting i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall discussed the 2016 ENR Goal setting. ii. Natural Resource Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor discussed the 2016 goal setting for the Maplewood Nature Center as well as the Natural Resources Projects slated for 2016. Commissioner Ries felt the commission should spend additional time discussing Urban Agricultural and therefore continue this as a goal for 2016. Commissioner Palzer felt the 3 goals for 2016 should be 1) Urban Agriculture, 2) Mississippi River Critical Area Ordinance; and 3) Partners in Energy. Commissioner Yingling didn’t feel the Mississippi River Critical Area Ordinance would take that much time for the commission to review since Maplewood is a small part of the Mississippi River Critical Area. Staff agreed and felt that the biggest challenge would be finding the staff time to research and work on Urban Agriculture ordinance. Chair Miller said she thought 2016 goals should be 1) Urban Agricultural 2) Environmental Education; and 3) Partners in Energy. The commission members agreed on those goals. Staff will outline possible implementation strategies for achieving those goals and update the Commission at the next meeting. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS Ms. Julie Drennen with Conservation Minnesota addressed the Commission about her work in the organization in the East Metro area. Ms. Drennen stated she used to work with the Sierra Club and Minnesota Environmental Partnership. She stated she had the opportunity to meet with Ginny Gaynor to discuss the pollinator resolution and with Cindy Ojczyk, Maplewood Energy Program Coordinator, regarding the Partners in Energy program. Ms. Drennen said she looked forward to partnerships with the City. The Commission welcomed Julie. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None. 4 January 27, 2016 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Environmental Commission Appointments i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall said the City Council appointed two new commissioners to serve on the ENR. The new members are Mary Henderson and Keith Buttleman who will be present at the next ENR meeting on February 25, 2016. b. Community Solar Garden Collaborative Update i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall said the negotiations with the Metropolitan Council and solar contractors took longer than expected. Due to the delay the initial number of community solar garden subscriptions was reduced. Staff will keep the Commission updated on the community solar garden collaborative. c. Energize Maplewood! Update i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall said the Energize Maplewood! Team Energy Challenge began on January 1, 2016. There is an Energy Challenge Launch Party this Saturday, January 30, 2016 from 2-4 pm at the MCC. There will be workshops, a mini energy fair with discounts on home energy squad visits and energy audits, a bouncy castle and gym activities. The challenge goes until May 31, 2016. Visit the city’s website at www.maplewoodmn.gov/energy challenge for additional information. d. Environmental Commission Meeting Updates i. Environmental Planner, Shall Finwall stated due to President’s Day holiday, the February ENR Commission meeting has been rescheduled to Thursday, February 25, 2016. e. Nature Center Programs i. Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor presented the upcoming Nature Center Programs. For more information contact the Maplewood Nature Center at (651) 249- 2170. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Miller thanked Commissioner Dale Trippler for his service on the ENR Commission and adjourned the meeting at 9:11 p.m. 5 January 27, 2016 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes