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Home My WebLink About2018-10-15 ENR Packet AGENDA CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Council Chambers 1830 County Road B East Monday, October 15, 2018 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers - Maplewood City Hall 1830 County Road B East 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of Minutes: a. September 17, 2018 5. New Business a. SolSmart Solar Program Presentation b. Gladstone Phase 3 Corridor Improvements and Wakefield Lake Water Quality Update 6. Unfinished Business 7. Visitor Presentations 8. Commissioner Presentations 9. Staff Presentations a. Fall Clean Up Campaign — First Four Weeks in October b. Commission Terms — Commissioner Buttleman and Commissioner Reis Terms Expire September 2018 C. Re-Energize Maplewood Update d. Community Food Assessment Update e. Maplewood Nature Center Programs 10. Adjourn Agenda Item 4.a. MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, September 17, 2018 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 Acting Chairperson Palzer. 2. ROLL CALL Keith Buttleman, Commissioner Present Mollie Miller, Commissioner Present Candace Okeson, Commissioner Present Ann Palzer, Acting Chairperson Present Ted Redmond, Vice Chair Absent Ryan Ries, Chairperson Absent Tom Sinn, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Staff added 9 c. - Solar Power Hour to Staff Presentations on the agenda. Commissioner Miller moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Okeson. Ayes —Acting Chairperson Palzer Commissioner's Buttleman, Miller, Okeson & Sinn The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Okeson moved to approve the July 16, 2018, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Buttleman. Ayes —Acting Chairperson Palzer Commissioner's Buttleman, Okeson & Sinn Abstention — Commissioner Miller The motion passed. September 17, 2018 1 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Community Food Assessment i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the Community Food Assessment and introduced the presenters. ii. Carissa Glatt, St. Paul-Ramsey County SHIP Grant Coordinator, addressed the commission and spoke regarding the Community Food Assessment. iii. Caitlin Pyrz, University of Minnesota, MPH Nutrition/RD Student, addressed the commission and spoke regarding the Community Food Assessment. The City of Maplewood has the opportunity to partner with St. Paul-Ramsey County SHIP on the creation of a Community Food Assessment. Caitlin Pyrz has been hired by the Ramsey County Public Health Department as an intern to complete the assessment. SHIP employees will provide technical assistance and Caitlin will complete her Master Thesis for the University of Minnesota, Master of Public Health program. The speakers presented the Community Food Access concept and asked for guidance on the creation of the City's assessment. The Environmental Commission's Urban Agriculture (Local Foods) subcommittee will help guide the report and bring updates to the full Commission. The assessment will be complete January 2019. No action was necessary. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Renewable Energy Ordinance i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the update on the Renewable Energy Ordinance and answered questions of the commission. The commission would like to look at the Renewable Energy Ordinance again prior to the end of the year, after a presentation by the SolSmart advisors. r 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Fall Clean Up Campaign — First Four Weeks in October—Staff said bulky item curbside collection will be offered at a reduced cost. For more information contact Republic Services at (651) 455-8634. b. Maplewood Nature Center Programs - Upcoming Nature Center Programs were spotlighted. For more information contact the Nature Center at (651) 249-2170. C. Solar Power Hour—Staff spotlighted the upcoming Solar Power Hour event that will be held at Bruentrup Heritage Farm on Wednesday, September 19, 2018. 10. ADJOURNMENT Acting Chairperson Palzer adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m. September 17, 2018 2 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Agenda Item 5.a. ENVIRONMENTAL & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Meeting Date October 15, 2018 REPORT TO: Melinda Coleman, City Manager REPORT FROM: Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner PRESENTOR: Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner AGENDA ITEM: SolSmart Solar Program Presentation Action Requested: ❑ Motion ✓ Discussion ❑ Public Hearing Form of Action: ❑ Resolution ❑ Ordinance ❑ Contract/Agreement ❑ Proclamation Policy Issue: The SolSmart Solar Program is a national designation program designed to recognize communities that have taken steps to address local barriers to solar energy. The City of Maplewood has been participating in the program since 2016. Recommended Motion: Review and offer comment and feedback on the City's participation in the SolSmart Solar Program, no formal motion is required. Fiscal Impact: Is There a Fiscal Impact? ✓ No ❑ Yes, the true or estimated cost is 0 Financing source(s): ❑ Adopted Budget ❑ Budget Modification ❑ New Revenue Source ❑ Use of Reserves ❑ Other: n/a Strategic Plan Relevance: ❑ Financial Sustainability ❑ Integrated Communication ❑ Targeted Redevelopment ❑ Operational Effectiveness ✓ Community Inclusiveness ❑ Infrastructure & Asset Mgmt. Renewable energy is a valuable resource within our city. Removing barriers to this resource will ensure all residents and businesses are able to capture the benefits of appropriately designed and sited renewable energy sources. Background Energy Planning The Sustainability Chapter of the City's 2040 Draft Comprehensive Plan outlines energy goals and policies. One of the goals is to encourage and support renewable energy by obtaining a minimum of 50 percent of all electric energy from renewable sources by 2040. SolSmart Designation The SolSmart Solar Program is led by the International City/County Management Association and The Solar Foundation, along with a team of partners with expertise in solar energy and local governments. SolSmart uses objective criteria to designate communities that have successfully met the goals. Since the program launched in 2016 more than 200 local governments nationwide have achieved SolSmart designation. The program objectives state that local governments have influence over renewable energy growth. Unnecessary paperwork, red tape, and other requirements increase costs and discourage renewable energy companies from moving to the area. Streamlining the requirements and taking other steps to encourage renewable energy development will help the City meet its renewable energy goals and promote economic development and new jobs. The City of Maplewood applied for SolSmart designation in 2016. Since that time the City has been designated at the Silver level by completing the following criteria: • Created an online permitting checklist, increasing transparency for community members and solar installers. • Reviewed local zoning codes and identified restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development • Allowed solar by-right accessory use in all zones (so solar installations don't require special permits or hearings) • Cross-trained both inspection and permitting staff on solar PV Renewable Energy Ordinance Amendments As part of the review process, the national solar experts at SolSmart have conducted a review of Maplewood's solar regulations to assess possible obstacles (i.e. height restrictions, set-back requirements, etc.) and gaps. The outcome of that review is found on the attached SolSmart Zoning Review document. Amendments proposed to the renewable energy ordinance are based on that review and include: • Use restricted to on-site: The ordinance restricts solar energy systems to on-site use, precluding off-site, shared, or community solar facilities. • No exemptions provided: No exemptions or allowances are provided for height, setback, or lot coverage for solar energy systems. • Visibility restrictions and screening requirements: The wording "solar energy systems shall be designed to blend into the architecture of the building or be screened from routine view from public right-of-ways other than alleys" could be interpreted to prevent a rooftop system that is no flush mounted. The Environmental and Natural Resources Commission have been reviewing updates to the renewable energy ordinance based on SolSmart's recommendations. A final review and recommendation on those updates will take place in November. SolSmart Presentation Cameran Bailey, SolSmart Advisor with the Metropolitan Council, will be present during the October 15 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting. Mr. Bailey will present the 2 SolSmart program and give updates on the City's designation. Additionally, Mr. Bailey will expand on resources for promoting solar energy in the community including: • Solar PV building and structure integration • Supporting existing policies, goals, and strategies with solar PV • Potential social, environmental, and economic co-benefits of solar PV deployment Attachments 1. SolSmart Solar Program Website Link - https://www.solsmart.org/ 3 Agenda Item 5.b. ENVIRONMENTAL & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Meeting Date October 15, 2018 REPORT TO: Melinda Coleman, City Manager REPORT FROM: Steven Love, Public Works Director/ City Engineer PRESENTER: Steven Love, Public Works Director/ City Engineer AGENDA ITEM: Gladstone Phase 3 Corridor Improvements and Wakefield Lake Water Quality Update Action Requested: ❑ Motion ✓ Discussion ❑ Public Hearing Form of Action: ❑ Resolution ❑ Ordinance ❑ Contract/Agreement ❑ Proclamation Policy Issue: The City of Maplewood is in the process of completing the feasibility study for the Gladstone Phase 3 Corridor Improvements which will help improve the water quality of Wakefield Lake. Recommended Action: No action is required. This item is to provide an update on the proposed project and gather feedback from the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission. Fiscal Impact: Is There a Fiscal Impact? ❑ No ✓Yes, the true or estimated cost is $5,192,000. Financing source(s): ❑ Adopted Budget ❑ Budget Modification ❑ New Revenue Source ❑ Use of Reserves ✓ Other: The proposed project is included in the 2019 Draft Capital Improvement Plan and will be funded through Improvement Bonds, assessments, a grant from Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, and various city funds. Strategic Plan Relevance: ✓ Financial Sustainability ❑ Integrated Communication ❑ Targeted Redevelopment ❑ Operational Effectiveness ✓ Community Inclusiveness ✓ Infrastructure & Asset Mgmt. The goals of the proposed project are: • Improve the pavement condition of Frost Avenue • Enhance Wakefield Lake water quality • Add missing pedestrian and bicycle connections along Frost Avenue The proposed improvements will also decrease future maintenance costs for Frost Avenue. Background The Gladstone Phase 3 Corridor Improvements project is a joint project between the City of Maplewood and the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD). Through this partnership, the City and RWMWD have developed a proposed project that will meet several objectives in the Wakefield Lake area. The proposed project includes the following: • Improvements to Frost Avenue between English Street and White Bear Avenue • Addition of pedestrian and bicycle connections along Frost Avenue • Wakefield Lake water quality improvements • Aesthetic improvements to Wakefield Park • Creation of stormwater quality educational opportunities within Wakefield Park RWMWD awarded the City of Maplewood a grant to help fund and meet the project goals in the amount of$1,068,000. One of the main overall arching goals of this project is to improve the water quality of Wakefield Lake. The RWMWD worked with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) water quality study for Wakefield Lake, which is an impaired water body for excess nutrients. A TMDL study researches levels and causes of impairments, sets goals for reaching approved standards, and identifies some strategies for achieving the set goals. The goal of Wakefield Lake's TMDL is to reduce the growing season phosphorus load by 51.8 pounds. The nutrient phosphorus feeds algae in the lake, resulting in algae blooms and loss of water quality. To date the City and RWMWD have completed several projects in the area. These included such projects as: • A spent lime system was constructed on the south end of Wakefield Lake • A spent lime system was constructed at the intersection of Frost Avenue and Kennard Street to treat stormwater prior to entering Wakefield Lake • Wicklander Pond at City Hall takes some of the watershed's runoff and was dredged in 2013/2014 • Boulevard rain gardens in the local neighborhoods take some of the runoff. A retrofit project was completed to improve their effectiveness. • Rain garden retrofit projects have taken place at multiple churches in the area to help treat stormwater runoff It is estimated that the work completed to date has decreased the growing season phosphorus load by 20.3 pounds (approximately 39.2% of the overall TMDL goal). The proposed project will help reduce the phosphorus load in several ways. The section of Frost Avenue that is included in this project is a two lane road that is one mile long and approximately 52 feet wide. The width is in excess of what is typically required for a four lane road, creating significant extra runoff. The proposed project will reduce the road width to 26 feet and thereby greatly reducing the amount of stormwater runoff coming directly from Frost Avenue. The proposed project also includes the construction of two infiltration areas that will help treat the stormwater runoff before it enters into Wakefield Lake. Additionally, these basins are being designed to provide aesthetic improvements and stormwater quality educational opportunities within the park (see attachment). 2 Overall, it is estimated that the proposed project will decrease the growing season phosphorus loading in Wakefield Lake by an additional 23.8 pounds (approximately 46% of the overall TMDL goal). This will help bring the total growing phosphorus reduction to 44.1 pounds (approximately 85.1% of the overall TMDL goal). Attachments 1.) Wakefield Park Improvements 3 Attachment 1 I gp 898 8 '897 889 8 8 B92" BASl `t b p SAN V 1 1 Z � a �3 .z r �u o 1 mzs : 1 Y i , O: y . 1 W 1 1 y., 1. / 1 }y 1 l' 1' i Cm 1 I 7. ox LLJ zz ij LW WOOD MULCH L7 l ' vi L m �6 3 T0Q �.. SANC SAND y S .. 6 WaTKA .. ` u GAZEBO N I � I Q ru