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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-19 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, June 19, 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 7:07 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 Present Tom Sinn, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Steve Love, City Engineer 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Staff added 2 items to Staff Presentations including Fish Creek Open House and Green Step Cities Step 5 Award. Commissioner Ries moved to approve the agenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Miller. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Redmond stated that his name was left off the vote for approving the wetland buffer variance page 3, item 2. Commissioner Redmond moved to approve the May 15, 2017, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting minutes as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Miller. Ayes – All The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS – PUBLIC HEARING a. NPDES Phase II and MS4 Permit, 2016 SWPPP Annual Report i. City Engineer, Steve Love gave the report on the NPDES Phase II and MS4 Permit, 2016 SWPPP Annual Report and answered questions of the commission. June 19, 2017 1 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes City Engineer Steve Love gave presented the SWPPP annual report and discussed how the City has made process toward meeting the MS4 permit goals in 2016. Chair Palzer opened the meeting floor to public comment. No comments were heard. City Engineer Love stated that staff will address all comments received, incorporate the comments into the report, and then finalize the report for submittal to the MPCA. No further action is required. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Urban Agriculture – Zoning Review i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave an update on the Urban Agriculture - Zoning Review. The Commission continued their review of crop agriculture including community gardens, front yard gardening, private gardening on vacant lots, market gardens, and urban farms. Staff will make the suggested changes to the draft ordinance amendment and bring it back to the Commission for review. Once the crop agriculture ordinance amendment recommendations are complete, the Commission will finalize the urban agriculture zoning review with a review of direct to consumer sales (farm stands, etc.). 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS Maplewood resident, Candace Schomburg, 1968 Ide Street, Maplewood, was visiting the Commission meeting to better educate herself on what the Commission does. She also commented on her experience building a new home in Maplewood and how the tree preservation ordinance affected their project. She stated that even though they were required to replace trees and pay into the City’s tree fund, she felt that protecting trees is an important part of development of property. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Commissioner Redmond - Climate Mayors’ Commitment to Adopt, Honor, and Uphold the Paris Agreement. Commissioner Miller stated that the commission should also consider recommending the city sign onto the Compact of Mayors, which is a global initiative to reduce emissions. The agreement commits the City to pursue actions to achieve an emissions reduction target through: 1) Developing a community GHG inventory 2) Setting near- and long-term targets to reduce emissions 3) Developing a Climate Action Plan aligned with the City’s targets These are items the City of Maplewood has already undertaken or is currently reviewing as part of the planning process for the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Redmond moved to recommend approval of the resolution in support of the Paris Agreement. Seconded by Commissioner Miller. Ayes – All June 19, 2017 2 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes The motion passed. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Waterfest Recap – Waterfest was held Saturday, June 3, 2017 and was a success. Staff thanked the Environmental Education Subcommittee for coming up with this year’s booth theme and Commissioners Miller and Redmond for volunteering during the event. b. 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update – the first Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee meeting was held on May 22, 2017. Commissioner Miller is the ENR Commission’s liaison to the committee. The next steering committee meeting will be July 27, 2017. In addition to the Steering Committee, each of the City’s Commissions will begin reviewing their pertinent chapters of the comprehensive plan in July/August. c. LoGoPEP (Local Government Energy Planning) Update – Staff gave a brief update on the LoGoPEP project. The wedge tool for energy goal implementation strategies will be available soon. th d. Light It Up Maplewood Fourth of July Celebration – 4 of July Celebration at Hazelwood Park from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. with a band, food, beverages and fireworks. e. National Night Out – National Night Out will be on Tuesday, August 1, 2017. Staff will email the commission about this event. f. Nature Center Programs - Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall presented the upcoming Nature Center Programs. For more information contact the Maplewood Nature Center at (651) 249-2170. g. Fish Creek Open House – The official open house for the new Fish Creek trail will be held on June 27, 2017 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. The ribbon cutting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on top of the bluff. h. Green Step Cities Step 5 Award – Mayor Slawik accepted the award on behalf of the City at the League of Minnesota Cities conference in Rochester on June 15, 2017. For more information please visit www.maplewoodmn.gov/greenstepcities 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Palzer adjourned the meeting at 9:05 p.m. June 19, 2017 3 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes