HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-11-21 ENR Minutes
MINUTES
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
7:00 p.m., Monday, November 21, 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 Miller.
2. ROLL CALL
Keith Buttleman, Commissioner Present
Mary Henderson, Commissioner Present
Mollie Miller, Chair Present
Ann Palzer, Commissioner Present
Ted Redmond, Commissioner Present
Ryan Ries, Commissioner Present
Tom Sinn, Vice Chair Present
Staff Present
Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner
Chris Swanson, Environmental & City Code Specialist
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chair Miller inquired why the Trash and Recycling Contract Review was no on the November
agenda. Staff indicated that the City attorney and management are currently reviewing the
contracts. More information will be brought forward to the Commission at a later date.
Commissioner Ries moved to approve the agenda as submitted.
Seconded by Commissioner Palzer. Ayes – All
The motion passed.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Sinn moved to approve the October 17, 2016, Environmental and Natural
Resources Commission meeting minutes as submitted.
Seconded by Commissioner Ries. Ayes – Chair Miller,
Commissioner’s Buttleman,
Henderson, Palzer, Ries, Sinn
Abstention – Commissioner Redmond
The motion passed.
November 21, 2016
1
Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes
5. NEW BUSINESS
a. New Member Orientation
i. Environmental Planner Finwall reviewed the new member orientation and
welcomed the newest ENR Commissioner, Ted Redmond.
ii. The City Council appointed Commissioner Redmond in September to a three-year
term. Commissioner Redmond is filling the open position left by Commissioner
Yingling. Commissioner Yingling was present in the audience and approached the
podium to say thank you to the commission and staff, and offer encouragement for
moving forward with the City’s environmental initiatives. The commission and staff
thanked Commissioner Yingling for her nine years of service as an Environmental
Commissioner.
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Urban Agriculture Zoning Review
i. Environmental Planner Finwall gave the update on the Urban Agriculture Zoning
Review.
ii. Environmental & City Code Specialist Swanson addressed and answered
questions of the commission.
The commission recommended changes to the animal agriculture ordinance amendments as
follows:
Keeping of poultry: allow the keeping of poultry on property not zoned single family
residential with a conditional use permit.
Temporary keeping of goats and sheep: 1) allow the keeping of sheep on residential
property for the same purposes; 2) limit the number of goats and sheep based on the size
of the lot; and 3) require neighborhood consent for the temporary keeping of goats and
sheep.
Keeping of bees: 1) require beekeepers to test and treat their honeybees for mites; and
2) require beekeepers to keep current with all beekeeping best practices as outlined in the
University of Minnesota Bee Lab.
These changes will be made by staff, for final review by the commission in December.
The commission also began a review of crop agriculture.
7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
None present.
8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
Commissioner Sinn asked if staff has an update regarding the Community Solar Garden the City
of Maplewood subscribed to earlier in the year. That garden was planned for a site in Scandia,
Minnesota. Staff said the construction is underway and scheduled for completion in the Spring of
2017.
9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
a. Tennis Sanitation Recycling Facility Tour Update
i. Environmental & City Code Specialist Swanson gave an update on the Tennis
Sanitation Recycling Tour held on October 28, 2016 in St. Paul Park. Tennis
November 21, 2016
2
Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes
expanded and updated their recycling facility. No commission members were able
to attend the tour, so staff will work on scheduling another tour date in the future.
b. Energize Maplewood! Update
i. Environmental Planner Finwall said the Partners in Energy memorandum of
understanding expires at the end of December 2016. However, not all of the
energy actions are complete. Staff is working with Xcel Energy to get an amended
agreement that would ensure technical assistance until May 2017. Final energy
actions to complete include Energize Your Congregation, Building Tune Up
Program, and Benchmark Your Business.
c. Nature Center Programs
i. Environmental Planner Finwall presented the upcoming Nature Center Programs.
For more information contact the Maplewood Nature Center at (651) 249-2170.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Miller adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.
November 21, 2016
3
Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes