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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-01-25 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 25, 2017 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 7:05 p.m. by Chair Miller. 2. ROLL CALL Keith Buttleman, Commissioner Absent Mary Henderson, Commissioner Absent Mollie Miller, Chair Present Ann Palzer, Commissioner Present Ted Redmond, Commissioner Present Ryan Ries, Commissioner Present Tom Sinn, Vice Chair Absent Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resource Coordinator 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Ries moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Palzer Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Redmond moved to approve the December 19, 2016, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Ries. Ayes – Chair Miller, Commissioner’s Redmond, & Ries Abstention – Commissioner Palzer The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Election of Chair and Vice Chair The chair recommended moving the election of Chair and Vice Chair to the February 23, 2017, ENR meeting so that all Commission members could be present. January 25, 2017 1 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes b. Local Energy Planning  Environmental Planner Finwall discussed the Comprehensive Planning process and how Local Energy Planning will fit into the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. st  Senior Program Director, Brian Ross with Great Plains Institute, 2801 – 21 Avenue South, Suite 220, Minneapolis, addressed and answered questions of the Commission. st  Metro CERT’s Director, Diana McKeown, with Great Plains Institute, 2801 – 21 Avenue South, Suite 220, Minneapolis, addressed and answered questions of the Commission. Mr. Ross and Ms. McKeown presented regional energy planning and tools available to the City for energy and greenhouse gas reduction planning. The presentation and energy planning assistance is part of the Local Government Project for Energy Planning (LoGoPEP). Maplewood is one of five Minnesota cities participating in the LoGoPEP project designed to engage local governments in committing to actionable strategies for energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions. As part of the project, the Environmental Commission should recommend broad energy/climate goals by the end of March. These goals will be shared with the LoGoPEP group and will help guide other City’s energy goals. Staff recommend the Commission form an energy planning subcommittee to meet outside of the full Commission and recommend energy goals. The subcommittee appointments should be addressed during the 2017 Goal Setting agenda item. c. 2017 Goal Setting  Environmental Planner Finwall reviewed the 2016 goals and discussed projects the Commission may review in 2017.  Natural Resource Coordinator Gaynor addressed the Commission regarding the 2017 Maplewood Naturel Center goals and natural resources projects. The Commission chose three goals to focus on in 2017 including: 1. Planning – i. Continue with urban agriculture zoning review ii. Begin comprehensive plan review including energy planning iii. Revise Renewable Energy ordinance iv. Revise Mississippi Critical Area ordinance 2. Environmental Education - i. Environmental education during events ii. Focus on more environmental education outreach, such as partnering with the Green Team to create public service messages or using social media. The Commission choose to create subcommittees to address these goals more thoroughly outside of the full Commission as follows: 1. Planning – i. Commissioner Miller volunteered for the urban agriculture subcommittee ii. Commissioner’s Ries and Redmond volunteered for energy planning 2. Environmental Education - Commissioner’s Palzer and Redmond volunteered for the environmental education subcommittee. The goal implementation plan and subcommittee appointments will be finalized during the February Commission meeting. January 25, 2017 2 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Urban Agriculture Zoning Review Due to the time constraints the Commission tabled this item until the February 23, 2017, ENR Meeting. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS Commissioner Redmond mentioned he is putting together a Maplewood Community Action Tool Kit that he will share with staff and the full Commission soon. The intent of the kit is to educate people on certain things such as global warming. If this is something the City is interested in using it could be a great educational tool. Chair Miller stated that this kit could be used as part of the Commission’s educational booth at the Waterfest event in June. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. January 31, 2017, Republic Service Landfill and Recycling Center Tour Environmental Planner Finwall reminded Commissioners about the landfill and recycling center tour on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. th b. 60 Celebration th Natural Resource Coordinator Gaynor announced the City is having a 60 celebration at the Maplewood Community Center on Friday, February 24, 2017, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. c. Maplewood Nature Center Programs For information on programs at the Maplewood Nature Center contact the Maplewood Nature Center at (651) 249-2170 or check the City’s website. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Miller adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m. January 25, 2017 3 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes