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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-10-15 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, October 15, 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 7:05 p.m. by Chair Ries. 2. ROLL CALL Keith Buttleman, Commissioner Absent Mollie Miller, Commissioner Absent Candace Okeson, Commissioner Absent Ann Palzer, Commissioner Present Ted Redmond, Vice Chair Present Ryan Ries, Chairperson Present Tom Sinn, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Redmond moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Palzer. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Palzer moved to approve the September 17, 2018, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Sinn. Ayes – Commissioner’s Palzer & Sinn Abstention – Commissioner’s Redmond & Ries The motion passed. October 15, 2018 1 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 5. NEW BUSINESS a. SolSmart Solar Program Presentation i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall introduced the SolSmart Solar Program and turned the discussion over to the speaker. Staff also answered questions of the commission. ii. Senior Planner with the Metropolitan Council, Cameran J. Bailey, representing SolSmart Solar, gave the presentation and answered questions of the commission. Cameran Bailey, SolSmart Advisor with the Metropolitan Council, presented details of the SolSmart program. Maplewood is currently designated at the Silver Level. To achieve the Gold Level the City needs to enact a three-day review process for solar permits. The presentation also detailed additional 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 No action was taken. The commission will use this information as they complete their review of the City’s renewable energy ordinance. b. Gladstone Phase 3 Corridor Improvements and Wakefield Lake Water Quality Update i. Public Works Director, Steve Love introduced the presentation on Gladstone Phase 3 Corridor Improvements and Wakefield Lake Water Quality Update and answered questions of the commission. ii. Chad Larson, Kimley Horn & Associates, gave the presentation for Gladstone Phase 3 Corridor Improvements and the Wakefield Lake Water Quality Update. iii. Paige Ahlborg, Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District, addressed and answered questions of the commission. The Gladstone Phase 3 Corridor Improvements project is a joint project between 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. No action was needed. October 15, 2018 2 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Fall Clean Up Campaign – First Four Weeks in October Bulky item curbside collection will be offered at a reduced cost during the month of October. For more information contact Republic Services at (651) 455-8634. b. Commission Terms – Commissioner Buttleman and Commissioner Ries Terms Expired September 2018 The City Council reappointed Commissioner Buttleman for another term on October 8, 2018. Commissioner Ries did not seek re-appointment on the ENR Commission. Staff and the commission wish him well and thank him for his service. The City will advertise the commission vacancy soon. c. Re-Energize Maplewood Update Staff gave an update on the Re-Energize Maplewood program. This program is being funded by a $7,500 grant from the Clean Energy Resource Teams Seed Grant program. For more information visit the website at www.maplewoodmn.gov/reenergizemaplewood. d. Community Food Assessment Update Staff gave an update on the Community Food Assessment that is being conducted by Caitlin Pyrz, University of Minnesota graduate student, along with assistance from the St. Paul-Ramsey County SHIP program. Ms. Pyrz will be wrapping up her stakeholder interviews by the end of November and then begin drafting the assessment document in December. The final document will be presented to the commission in January 2019. e. Maplewood 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 Ries adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m. October 15, 2018 3 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes