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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-10-08 City Council Workshop Packet PLEASENOTESTARTTIME PLEASENOTESTARTTIME AGENDA MAPLEWOOD CITY COUNCIL MANAGER WORKSHOP 5:30P.M. Monday,October8, 2018 City Hall, Council Chambers A.CALL TO ORDER B.ROLL CALL C.APPROVAL OF AGENDA D.UNFINISHED BUSINESS None E.NEW BUSINESS 1.Commission & Board Interview 2.Follow Up Review of Urban Agriculture Ordinance Amendments 3.Tree Rebates and Sales for Private Land 4.Rental Housing Licensing Discussion F.ADJOURNMENT RULES OF CIVILITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND OUR COMMUNITY Following are rules of civility the City of Maplewood expects of everyone appearing at Council Meetings - elected officials, staff and citizens. It is hoped that by following these simple rules, everyone’s opinions can be heard and understood in a reasonable manner. We appreciate the fact that when appearing at Council meetings, it is understood that everyone will follow these principles: Speak only for yourself, not for other council members or citizens -unless specifically tasked by your colleagues to speak for the group or for citizens in the form of a petition. Show respect during comments and/or discussions, listen actively and do not interrupt or talk amongst each other. Be respectful of the process, keeping order and decorum. Do not be critical of council members, staff or others in public. Be respectful of each other’s time keeping remarks brief, to the point and non-repetitive. THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK E1 Workshop Packet Page Number 1 of 25 E1, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 2 of 25 E2 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOPSTAFF REPORT Meeting Date October 8, 2018 REPORT TO:Melinda Coleman, City Manager REPORT FROM: Chris Swanson,Environmental and City Code Specialist Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner PRESENTER: Chris Swanson,Environmental and City Code Specialist AGENDA ITEM: Follow Up Review of Urban Agriculture Ordinance Amendments Action Requested:MotionDiscussionPublic Hearing Form of Action:ResolutionOrdinanceContract/AgreementProclamation Policy Issue: At tonight’s workshop, staffwill present a summary of actions since the adoption of the urban agriculture ordinanceamendments. Recommended Action: No action necessary. This is an update. Fiscal Impact: Is There aFiscal Impact?NoYes, the true or estimated cost is $0.00 Financing source(s):Adopted BudgetBudget ModificationNew Revenue Source Use of Reserves Other:N/A Strategic Plan Relevance: Financial SustainabilityIntegrated CommunicationTargeted Redevelopment Operational EffectivenessCommunity InclusivenessInfrastructure & Asset Mgmt. Removing barriers to urban agriculture uses by amending the city’s ordinances has given all residents access to healthy foods. The city’s environmental and economic development department works with the police and licensing department to ensure that all applicable urban agricultureordinances are followed. Background The City Council adopted the urban agriculture ordinance amendments on June 11, 2018.The ordinance amendments address the keeping of poultry, temporary keeping of goats, and the keeping of bees. It also updated ordinances relating to urban agriculturesuch as front yard gardens, community gardens, urban farms, and directtoconsumer sales.The City Council requested thatstaffprovide afollow-up review of the urban agriculture ordinance amendmentsto determine the impacts on the community. Included in the discussion section of this report is a summary of actions since the adoption of the urban agriculture ordinanceamendments. Workshop Packet Page Number 3 of 25 E2 Discussion Animal Agriculture Chicken Permit % Neighbor Poultry:The ordinance amendment modified the (Since Update)Approval previous chicken ordinance to include other types of Permit 160% poultry in addition to chickens, changed the Permit 2100% neighborhood consent requirements from 100 percent to Permit 367% 60 percent, and allowed the keeping of poultry on property that is not zoned residential. Since the Permit 467% ordinance amendments seven new chicken permits have Permit 5100% been processed(refer to table). Six of the permitshave Permit 6100% been approved and one is waiting for the ten-day Permit 7Pending approval period to end. Three of the permits would not have been approved under the old standardssince they did not receive 100percentapprovalfrom the surrounding properties. There have been no issues with the approved chicken coops.To date, the cityhas 42poultry permits, with 309poultry throughout the city. Goats and sheep: The ordinance amendment allows goats and sheepto be kept on all properties in the city up to 60 days with a permit for the purpose of vegetationmanagement. Since the ordinance amendment there has been one inquiry from a resident to temporarily keep goats on their property next spring to remove buckthorn. There is no permit fee approved for the temporary keeping of goats. Staff will be bringing the proposed fee to the City Council for approval later this year. Beekeeping:The ordinance amendment added text to allow beekeeping in any zoning district as a permitted use. Hive placement requirements were added to ensure no nuisances to surrounding properties and adjacent sidewalks. No changes have occurred since the ordinance amendment. Prior to the amendment staff was aware of a few residential and commercial bee hives. None of which have posed a nuisance. Adding requirements for bee hives to maintain setbacks to adjacent buildings and sidewalks and to have the hive face inward toward the property will allow staff to work with property owners if nuisances do arise in the future. Aquaculture and Aquaponics:The ordinance amendment defined aquaculture and aquaponics and allowed for these uses in the M-1 and M-2 zoning districts. Prior to the ordinance amendment, there was only one aquaponics business located in an M-1 zoning district. Garden Fresh Farms is an indoor agriculture operation which grows lettuce and herbs through a closed loop aquaponics system. No nuisances or issues have arisen with this type of business. Crop Agriculture Community Gardens:The ordinance amendment allows community gardens that are one acre or under as a permitted use in allzoning districts. The gardens must meet standards such as setbacks, time limits for sale of produce, etc. Community gardens over one acre would require a conditional use permit in any zoning district. Since the ordinance amendment staff is aware of one church that has added a small community garden. Lakeview Lutheran Church followed the City’s standards for such a garden and were able to do so without the barrier of obtaining a conditional use permit. The community garden plots were filled right away and they have hada successful first year with no nuisances. Workshop Packet Page Number 4 of 25 E2 Front Yard Gardening: The ordinance amendment added clarifying language to make it clear that front yard gardening is a permitted use in all residential zoning districts.Staff is aware of one front yard produce garden that has been added in a residential area since the ordinance amendment. The resident indicates that the front yard was their only sunny spot and needed to locate the produce garden in that area. No nuisances have arisen from the ordinance amendment. Urban Farms:The ordinance amendment allows urban farms on park land if it meets the City’s Park Master Plan andwith a conditional use permit inall other zoning districts. Minnesota Food Association may be partnering with Maplewood on the creation of the City’s first urban farm in the future. Three acres of the park are being prepared for different kinds of farming practices. Direct to Consumer Sales Farm stands, farmer’s markets, and food trucks: The ordinance amendment defines direct to consumer sales as the exterior sale of agricultural products or prepared foods directly from farmers or venders to consumers.These uses are now allowed in all commercial zoning districts for up to four months with food permitif necessary. Overthe last few years the City has seen more food trucks in commercial areas. A previous ordinance amendment allowed for these in the Business Commercial and Manufacturing Zoning Districts for up to four months as a permitted use, and longer with a conditional use permit. They would now be allowed in other areas of the City as well. In addition to the produce stands located in some commercial parking lots, staff has witnessed two new types of food stands, one selling corn and one selling peaches out of trucks. These uses were parked in commercial parking lots for a short period of time and were not posing nuisances. Community Food Assessment The Sustainability Chapter of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan includes a section on Local Foods. The goal of the Local Foods section is to create a healthy, walkable community by providing healthy food options and accessibility for all people, regardless of income. Completing the urban agriculture zoning review and ordinance amendments was one of the action items identified to accomplish this goal. Another action item outlined in the Local Foods section is the creation of a community food assessment that identifies barriers and gaps in healthy food access and community assets.The City of Maplewood has the opportunity to partner with the Ramsey County Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) on the creation of a community food assessment.The assessment will identify strengths and weaknesses of the City’s current food environment as well as gaps and disparities in accessing affordable and nutritious foods. A major aspect of a healthy community is access to healthy food, and there are a wide range of factors and barriers that might exist in creating food insecurity. The community food assessment will highlight potential for providing equitable healthy food access for all members of the community. The Environmental and Natural Resources Commission hasbegun to review the community food assessment, which is scheduled to be complete January 2019. A full report on the assessment will be given to the City Council in early 2019. Attachments None Workshop Packet Page Number 5 of 25 E3 Workshop Packet Page Number 6 of 25 E3 Maplewood’s Tree Rebate Program. rebatesale Friends of the Parks and Trails of St. Paul and Ramsey County Tree Sale City of Minnetonka Tree Sale. Maplewood’s Tree Preservation Fund. Workshop Packet Page Number 7 of 25 E3 Discussion RebateSale Sale Workshop Packet Page Number 8 of 25 E3, Attachment 1 Questions? Call Maplewood Nature Center, 651-249-2170 prior to your purchase. Person to Whom Reimbursement Check should be made Payable Street City State Zip Code Street Zip Code Workshop Packet Page Number 9 of 25 E3, Attachment 1 ex:Acer rubrum exUlmus americana (Populus grandidentata) (Populus tremuloides) (Tilia americana) Betula papyrifera etula nigra Acer rubrum (species) Acer rubrum ‘Autumn’ (Prunus serotina) Acer rubrum ‘Radiance‘ (Juglans nigra) Acer rubrum ‘Autumn Carpinus caroliniana Spire‘ Juglans cinerea Acer rubrum ‘Firedance’ New Dutch Elm Disease resistant varieties only Acer rubrum ‘Northfire’ (Celtis occidentalis) Acer rubrum ‘Northwood’ (Crataegus ) (Carya cordiformis) Acer saccharum (species) (Carya ovata) Acer saccharum Ostrya virginiana) (Gymnocladus dioica) Acer saccharum (Sorbus americana) Acer saccharum Quercus macrocarpa uercus rubra), Acer saccharinum (species) Quercus bicolor (Quercus alba) Acer x freemanii Quercus ellipsoidalis) Cornus alternifolia Amelanchier laevis) (Amelanchier arborea Questions? Call Maplewood Nature Center, 651-249-2170 prior to your purchase. Or email, info@maplewoodnaturecenter.com Acer ginnala Acer platanoides) Workshop Packet Page Number 10 of 25 E4 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOPSTAFF REPORT Meeting Date October 8, 2018 REPORT TO: Melinda Coleman, City Manager REPORT FROM:Michael Martin, Economic Development Coordinator PRESENTOR: Michael Martin, Economic Development Coordinator AGENDA ITEM:Rental Housing Licensing Discussion Action Requested:MotionDiscussionPublic Hearing Form of Action:ResolutionOrdinanceContract/AgreementProclamation Policy Issue: The city council will be updated on the progress and development of a proposed rental housing licensing program. In addition, staff will be looking for feedback and direction on proposed program elements. Recommended Motion: Provide feedbackto staff on potential elementsto the city’s rental housing policies. Fiscal Impact: Is There a Fiscal Impact?NoYes, the true or estimated cost is$0. Financing source(s):Adopted BudgetBudget ModificationNew Revenue Source Use of Reserves Other:Implementing a rental housing program will have implications to the city’s budget. However, this item is only for discussion purposes at this time. Strategic Plan Relevance: Financial SustainabilityIntegrated CommunicationTargeted Redevelopment Operational EffectivenessCommunity InclusivenessInfrastructure & Asset Mgmt. The city’s public safety and environmental and economic development departments work together regarding safety, property maintenance and code enforcement issues. Background At the June 25 council workshop, the council held a discussionregarding the city’s current rental housing policies, potential amendments to those policies and outline the probable fiscaland staffing impacts said amendments would have.The city council expressed an interest in developing a rental housing licensing program. Staff is bringing this proposed program back to a council workshop to have the council consider and discuss several program elements of rental licensing and to direct staff in how to proceed with development of this new initiative. Workshop Packet Page Number 11 of 25 E4 Staff thus far has approached this effort with the guiding principle that any amendments to existing policies need to be cost neutral. Meaning any new programs will needto fund itself without any increases to the city’s general tax levy. In addition, this discussion will focuson a collaborative effort among multiple city departments in order to ensure a more unified approach to future enforcement situations. Attachments 1.Presentation Workshop Packet Page Number 12 of 25 E4, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 13 of 25 E4, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 14 of 25 E4, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 15 of 25 E4, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 16 of 25 E4, Attachment 1 once program is fully operational will need to design functionality for housing program Workshop Packet Page Number 17 of 25 E4, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 18 of 25 E4, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 19 of 25 E4, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 20 of 25 E4, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 21 of 25 E4, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 22 of 25 E4, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 23 of 25 E4, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 24 of 25 E4, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 25 of 25