Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-06-20 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, June 20, 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 7:00 p.m. by Chair Miller. 2. ROLL CALL Keith Buttleman, Commissioner Absent Mary Henderson, Commissioner Absent Mollie Miller, Chair Present Ann Palzer, Commissioner Present Ryan Ries, Commissioner Present Tom Sinn, Vice Chair Present Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Sinn moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Palzer moved to approve the May 16, 2016, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Ries. Ayes – All The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Governmental Solar Subscriber Collaborative i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave an introduction on the Governmental Solar Subscriber Collaborative and introduced Doug Wester to speak. ii. Doug Wester, Geronimo Energy, 7650 Edinborough Way, Suite 725, Edina, addressed and answered questions of the commission. iii. Matt Ledvina, Maplewood resident and Community Solar Garden subcommittee member addressed the commission in favor of this project. June 20, 2016 1 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Mr. Wester stated that the 25-year community solar garden subscription agreement would generate enough solar power to offset 45% of the City’s electricity use. The cost analysis reflects an accumulated savings of $344,088.85 over the life of the 25-year contract. The Commission discussed several aspects of the agreement including:  Renewable energy credits.  Community solar garden location and timing. Commissioner Sinn moved to recommend approval of the community solar garden subscription agreement with Geronimo Energy through the Governmental Solar Subscriber Collaborative. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – All The motion passed. This item will go to the city council on June 27, 2016 and Chair Miller will represent the ENR Commission at the meeting. b. Valley Branch Watershed District Boundary Change i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the Valley Branch Watershed District boundary change and answered questions of the commission. Commissioner Yingling moved to recommend approval of the resolution that supports the petition from Valley Branch Watershed District to the Board of Water and Soil Resources, requesting a boundary change for the transfer of territory between it and its adjacent watershed management plan. Seconded by Commissioner Palzer. Ayes – All The motion passed. c. ENR Commission Rules of Procedure Amendment – Meeting Start Times i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report about amending the start time of the ENR Commission meetings from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. The majority of the commission stated it would be a hardship for them to get to the meetings by 6 p.m. with work hours, traffic, and childcare needs and would prefer to leave the start time at 7 p.m. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Urban Agriculture – Zoning Review i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave an update on the urban agriculture zoning review and answered questions of the commission. ii. Sarah Cade, 2616 Bittersweet Lane, addressed the commission about the chicken permitting process. The ENR Commission continued their discussion of animal agriculture, especially focusing on changes proposed to the City’s chicken ordinance as follows:  Remove the 6-foot height requirement for chicken coops and chicken runs.  Change neighborhood consent from 100% to 75%. June 20, 2016 2 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes  Change permit renewals from one year after the initial permit is issued and every other year thereafter.  Require chicken permit inspections during the initial permit process and first renewal, with inspections on an as needed basis thereafter.  Change the number of chickens from a maximum of 10 to a maximum number based on space requirements. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Energize Maplewood! Update Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall said there were 12 teams with 97 households that participated in the Energize Maplewood! Residential Energy Challenge. The winning team was the Finny Finsters. They have been awarded the $500 grand prize. The next energy challenge will take place this fall for churches and will be called Energize Your Congregation! Stay tuned for further information about this challenge. b. Organics Tour at The Mulch Store in Rosemount – Tuesday, June 28 Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall said an invitation was sent out to the City Council, Green Team and the ENR Commission about the tour of The Mulch Store on Tuesday, June 28. Organics collected at City facilities are brought to The Mulch Store for processing into compost. thth c. Maplewood July 4 Light It Up Event – Maplewood, July 4 th The City of Maplewood is holding its annual July 4 event called Light It Up at Hazelwood Park from 4:00 – 10:00 p.m. There will be kid activities, food, drinks, and fireworks at dusk. d. Trash/Recycling Subcommittee Meeting – Tuesday, July 12 at 2 p.m. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall said the trash/recycling subcommittee is meeting on July 12 at 2 p.m. to discuss the trash and recycling contracts, both expire December 31, 2017. e. Ramsey County Fair and Parade – Wednesday through Sunday, July 13-17 Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall said the Ramsey County Parade is Wednesday July 13 on White Bear Avenue. The Ramsey County Fair will run Wednesday through Sunday. f. Nature Center Programs 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 Miller adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m. June 20, 2016 3 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes