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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-17 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 17, 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 7:01 p.m. by Chair Palzer. 2. ROLL CALL Keith Buttleman, Commissioner Present Mollie Miller, Commissioner Present Ann Palzer, Chair Present Ted Redmond, Commissioner Present Ryan Ries, Vice Chair Absent Tom Sinn, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Staff added 9 e. Environmental Education Subcommittee. Commissioner Miller moved to approve the agenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Sinn. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Redmond moved to approve the March 20, 2017, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Miller. Ayes – Chair Palzer, Commissioner’s Redmond & Sinn Abstentions – Commissioner’s Buttleman & Miller The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Oak Leaf Energy Community Solar Garden Subscription Agreement i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report ii. John Hereford, Founder and President, Oak Leaf Energy Partners, Denver Colorado, addressed the commission and answered questions of the commission. April 17, 2017 1 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes The community solar garden is proposed to be constructed on top of the Carpenter’s Union building in St. Paul. Twenty percent of that garden is available for a total of 183,353 kWh per year, which represents 5 percent of the City’s overall electricity use. The Environmental Commission recommended declining the community solar garden subscription agreement because the capacity of the agreement is too small to warrant the City administering such a long-term contract. The Commission also outlined policy questions the City should consider prior to moving forward with other community solar garden proposals: 1. How much capacity does the City want to cover with renewables? 2. What are the City’s goals for renewable energy credits? 3. Should some or all of the savings received through the community solar garden subscription agreement be used to further the City’s sustainability goals? Commissioner Sinn moved to decline the community solar garden subscription agreement and further define the City’s energy goals. Seconded by Commissioner Miller Ayes – All The motion passed. b. 2040 Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall reviewed the 2040 Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. The first meeting will be May 22, 2017 at 5 p.m. Commissioner Miller volunteered to be the representative for the Environmental Commission. Commissioner Redmond moved to appoint Commissioner Miller as the representative for the Environmental Commission on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. Seconded by Commissioner Sinn. Ayes – All The motion passed. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Urban Agriculture – Zoning Review i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the update on the Urban Agriculture report and answered questions of the Commission. The Environmental Commission reviewed the Planning Commission’s comments to the animal ordinance amendments and began discussions on community garden regulations. The Environmental Commission recommended that the animal agriculture ordinance amendments not proceed to the City Council prior to the entire study being complete. The urban agriculture study and ordinance amendment recommendations are scheduled to be complete by the end of the year. Staff will make the suggested changes to the community garden ordinance amendment and bring it back to the Environmental Commission for review at the next meeting. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. April 17, 2017 2 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Commissioner Redmond: Maplewood Climate Change Vulnerabilities Review Commissioner Redmond reviewed his report on the Maplewood Climate Change Vulnerabilities with the Environmental Commission. Commissioner Miller moved to recommend that the Maplewood Climate Change Vulnerabilities report be included in the City’s energy planning as associated with the comprehensive plan update. Seconded by Commissioner Buttleman. Ayes – All The motion passed. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Spring Clean Up – April 22, 2017 b. All Parks Clean Up – April 22, 2017 c. Rush Line Open House – April 27, 2017 d. Maplewood Nature Center Programs e. Environmental Education Subcommittee – Waterfest is scheduled for Saturday, June 3, 2017, from 11 am to 4 p.m. Commissioners Palzer and Redmond are on the Environmental Education Subcommittee. The subcommittee should meet to come up with a theme for the Environmental Commission’s booth at the event. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Palzer adjourned the meeting at 9:17 p.m. April 17, 2017 3 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes