HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-10-17 ENR Minutes
MINUTES
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
7:00 p.m., Monday, October 17, 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 7:04
p.m. by Chair Miller.
2. ROLL CALL
Keith Buttleman, Commissioner Present
Mary Henderson, Commissioner Present
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
Chris Swanson, Environmental & Code Specialist
City Council Liaison Present
Kathleen Juenemann, City Councilmember
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 Ries moved to approve the July 18, 2016, Environmental and Natural Resources
Commission meeting minutes as submitted.
Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes – Chairperson Miller,
Commissioners Ries, Sinn,
& Yingling
Abstentions –
Commissioners Henderson & Palzer
The motion passed.
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5. NEW BUSINESS
a. Trash/Recycling Contract Review
i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the Trash/Recycling
Contract Review and answered questions of the commission.
ii. Health Educator with Ramsey County Public Health, Jean Buckley, addressed the
commission.
iii. Environmental and Code Specialist, Chris Swanson addressed and answered
questions of the commission regarding trash and recycling.
iv. City Council Liaison, City Councilmember Kathleen Juenemann addressed the
commission regarding trash and recycling.
The commission reviewed the existing trash and recycling contracts, solid waste
ordinance and standards, and gave comment and feedback on future trash and recycling
program policy considerations.
Jean Buckley, Health Educator with Ramsey County, detailed the County’s solid waste
goals and offered feedback and guidance on Maplewood’s solid waste program.
Additionally, Ms. Buckley announced that the County has authorized solid waste technical
assistance for the City’s trash/recycling contract review with Foth Infrastructure and
Environment.
No action was required. This item will be brought back to the commission at a later date.
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Urban Agriculture – Zoning Review
I. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the update on the Urban Agriculture
Zoning Review and answered questions of the commission.
ii. Environmental & Code Specialist, Chris Swanson, addressed and answered
questions of the commission.
The commission reviewed the animal agriculture portion of the ordinance amendments.
The commission requested additional information on the poultry and goat ordinance
amendments including:
Reviewing the coop and run requirements to ensure they are adequate for the
additional types of poultry being allowed.
Adding language to allow for the keeping of poultry at schools, churches, and
government agencies with a conditional use permit.
Reviewing the goat ordinance to allow the temporary keeping of goats for
vegetative management purposes in all zoning districts with a permit.
The urban agriculture zoning review will continue in November, with the commission
finalizing the animal agriculture portion and beginning to review crop agriculture.
7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
Kevin Berglund, 1929 Kingston Avenue, Maplewood, addressed the commission and offered
comments on the city’s trash and recycling programs.
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8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
a. Pollinator Community Award
Chair Miller announced that the city was presented with the Pollinator Community Award
on September 11, 2016, in Stillwater by the Pollinator Friendly Alliance. The award was
given to the city for the adoption of the Pollinator Resolution and the city’s work on
improving habitat and educating about pollinators. The award is displayed at the
Maplewood Nature Center.
9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
a. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Positions
Ann Palzer, Mary Henderson, and Ginny Yingling’s terms expired September 30, 2016.
Ann Palzer and Mary Henderson were reappointed. Ginny Yingling has decided to step
down from the commission. Staff indicated that after nine years of exceptional policy
direction on the commission, Ginny will be missed. Therefore, there is one position open
to serve on the commission. The city is taking applications now, with interviews
scheduled for November.
b. Fall Clean Up Campaign (Last Four Full Weeks in October) – Chris Swanson reported
on the Fall Cleanup Campaign. The last four weeks in October the city partners with our
trash contractor, Republic Services, to offer reduced price bulky item curbside collection.
For more information contact Republic Services at 651-455-8634.
c. Energize Maplewood! Update – Shann Finwall reported on the three energy actions that
are currently underway in the Energize Maplewood! program: Energize Your
Congregation – there are ten congregations participating; Building Tune Up Program – all
seven businesses participating have had their energy audits and are preparing to make
the energy efficiency improvements; and Benchmark Your Business – the city is
partnering with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce to offer Maplewood businesses free
energy assessments, energy benchmarking, and Energy Star certification if they qualify.
d. Fish Creek Sneak Peek Tour – October 19 – Shann Finwall reminded the commission
of the upcoming sneak peek tour of the new Fish Creek trail on Wednesday, October 19,
from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The Parks Commission has invited the City Council and
Environmental Commission to attend. The trail is open to the public now, and the city will
host an “open house” for the trail in the spring.
e. Planning for Resilient Cities – October 24 – Shann Finwall reminded the commission of
the Planning for Resilient Cities workshop on Monday, October 24 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
The workshop is put on by the Alliance for Sustainability.
f. Tour of Tennis Sanitations Expanded Recycling Facility October 28 – Chris Swanson
reminded the commission of the tour of Tennis Sanitation’s expanded recycling facility in
St. Paul Park on Friday, October 28, 2016 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
g. Nature Center Programs
Shann Finwall presented the upcoming Nature Center Programs. For more information
contact the Maplewood Nature Center at (651) 249-2170 or visit the website at
www.maplewoodmn.gov/nc.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Miller adjourned the meeting at 8:52 p.m.
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