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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-23 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Thursday, February 23, 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 7:06 p.m. by Chair Miller. 2. ROLL CALL Keith Buttleman, Commissioner Present Mary Henderson, Commissioner Absent 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 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Ries moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Redmond. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Redmond moved to approve the January 25, 2017, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Ries. Ayes – Chair Miller, Commissioner’s Palzer, Redmond & Ries Abstentions – Commissioners Buttleman & Sinn The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Election of Chair and Vice Chair i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall reviewed the election process for Chair and Vice Chair positions. February 23, 2017 1 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Chair Miller nominated Commissioner Palzer for Chair. Commissioner Palzer accepted the nomination for Chair. Commissioner Buttleman moved to appoint Commissioner Palzer as Chair. Seconded by Commissioner Ries. Ayes – All The motion passed. Chair Miller nominated Commissioner Redmond for Vice Chair. Commissioner Palzer nominated Commissioner Ries for Vice Chair. Commissioner Redmond declined the Vice Chair position and gave his support to Commissioner Ries. Commissioner Ries accepted the nomination for Vice Chair. Chair Miller moved to appoint Commissioner Ries as Vice Chair. Seconded by Commissioner Redmond. Ayes – All The motion passed. After the Chair and Vice Chair elections, Commissioner Palzer took over as the new Chair. b. 2017 Goal Implementation Plan i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the 2017 Goal Implementation Plan. During the January the ENR Commission meeting, the Commission chose the following goals to implement in 2017:  Planning: 1) Comprehensive Plan; 2) Urban Agriculture; 3) Renewable Energy Ordinance.  Environmental Education: 1) Environmental Education at Events; 2) Environmental Education Outreach. To implement the goals, the Commission will form three subcommittees including Urban Agriculture, Energy, and Environmental Education. Chair Palzer stated the following Commissioners have expressed an interest on serving on the various subcommittees as follows:  Urban Agriculture: Commissioners Miller and Sinn  Environmental Education: Commissioners Redmond and Palzer  Energy: Commissioners Redmond, Ries, and Sinn Commissioner Sinn moved to approve the subcommittee members as outlined by Chair Palzer above. Seconded by Commissioner Miller. Ayes – All The motion passed. c. 2016 ENR Commission Annual Report i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall reviewed the 2016 ENR Commission Annual Report. February 23, 2017 2 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Commissioner Miller recommended additional details be added to the Environmental Education subcommittee portion of the report involving energy programming with Harambee Elementary School. Commissioner Miller moved to approve the 2016 ENR Commission Annual Report as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Sinn. Ayes – All The motion passed. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Urban Agriculture Zoning Review i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall reviewed the Urban Agriculture Zoning. Staff brought the Urban Agriculture – Animal Agriculture zoning change recommendations to the February 21, 2017, Planning Commission meeting. Staff shared feedback and recommendations from the PC with the ENR Commission. Staff introduced a guest from the City of Little Canada that wanted to address the Commission regarding the proposed changes to the Chicken Ordinance. ii. Christian Torkelson, City Councilmember and resident of the City of Little Canada, addressed the commission regarding backyard chicken keeping. The City of Little Canada is considering a similar ordinance. Staff presented the Urban Agriculture – Crop Agriculture zoning review to the Commission. The Commission will begin that portion of the review by discussing regulations for community gardens. Staff presented the City of St. Paul’s urban agriculture ordinance which allows community gardens under one acre with a license, and community gardens over one acre with a conditional use permit. The urban agriculture subcommittee agreed to meet outside of the Commission meeting to research and make recommendations for community garden regulations. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS Commissioner Redmond attended the February Green Team meeting as a representative of the Environmental Education Subcommittee. The Green Team has chosen coordinated environmental education as their goal for 2017. There will be an opportunity for the Environmental Subcommittee and Green Team to coordinate on this goal. Commissioner Redmond said the city’s capacity for developing communications is going to become more robust this year. Individuals can go in a user friendly way to record video commentary. There are resources at the Green Team’s disposal such as an in house capacity for flyers, written components, and social media. February 23, 2017 3 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Nature Center Programs i. 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 Palzer adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m. February 23, 2017 4 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes