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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-26 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 26, 2019 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 7:02 p.m. by Chair Redmond. 2. ROLL CALL Keith Buttleman, Commissioner Present Mollie Miller, Vice Chairperson Present Candace Okeson, Commissioner Absent Ann Palzer, Commissioner Present at 7:15 p.m. Ted Redmond, Chair Present Tom Sinn, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Staff removed item 8 a. from the agenda under Commission Presentations. Commissioner Sinn moved to approve the agenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Miller. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Miller moved to approve the January 23, 2019, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Sinn. Ayes – Chair Redmond, Commissioner’s Miller & Sinn Abstention – Commissioner Buttleman The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Election of Chair and Vice Chair i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall discussed the Election of Chair and Vice Chair process. Commissioner Sinn moved to nominate Ted Redmond as Chair of the ENR Commission. February 26, 2019 1 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Seconded by Commissioner Buttleman. Ayes – Commissioner’s Buttleman, Miller, Palzer & Sinn Abstention – Chair Redmond The motion passed. Commissioner Buttleman moved to nominate Mollie Miller as Vice Chair of the ENR Commission. Seconded by Chair Redmond. Ayes – Chair Redmond, Commissioner’s Buttleman, & Sinn Abstention - Commissioner Miller The motion passed. b. Community Food Assessment i. Caitlin Pyrz, St. Paul-Ramsey County SHIP Program intern, gave the report on the Community Food Assessment and answered questions of the commission. The assessment identifies strengths and weaknesses of the current food environment in Maplewood, 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 CFA will highlight potential for providing equitable healthy food access for all members of the community. The assessment document includes an introduction, methods, results, discussion, and recommendations. The recommendations will assist the City in adopting policies and programs that will remove gaps to healthy foods within the community including strategies for improving accessibility, affordability, and availability of healthy foods. Commissioner Miller moved to approve the Community Food Assessment. Seconded by Commissioner Sinn. Ayes – All The motion passed. Staff and the ENR Commission thanked Caitlin Pyrz for her work and efforts on this project and wished Caitlin luck in her future. c. 2019 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Goals i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall discussed the 2019 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission goals and gave a recap of the goals in 2018. Commissioners discussed several action items for 2019 including:  Installation of electric charging stations around the City of Maplewood.  Accessibility to local food venues.  Accessibility to trails, sidewalks, transit stations.  Sustainability funding. Staff noted goals the commission discussed they would like to look at in 2019. February 26, 2019 2 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Commissioner Miller made a recommendation for five ENR goals for 2019 to include Explore Sustainability Budget, Energy, Accessibility, Trash and Recycling Contracts, Strategic Planning Subcommittees. Seconded by Commissioner Buttleman. Commissioner Sinn stated that some of the goals identified are big picture goals, not something that can be accomplished in one year. After a lengthy discussion the commission had difficulty agreeing on the recommendation. Commissioner Miller withdrew the motion. Staff stated the Commission didn’t have to formally recommend goals, just brainstorm during this session for final review next month. The trash and recycling contracts will be reviewed by the Commission this year, so it is not necessarily a goal item. The Commission seems to be leaning toward more strategic goal setting, having general areas of interest that subcommittees can review and recommend action items and longer term goals. The three strategic planning areas are Sustainability Budget, Energy, and Accessibility (local foods and trails/transit). Chair Redmond recommended that the Commission form subcommittees to advance the goals and action items. Chair Redmond and Commissioner Sinn would like to be on the Sustainability Budget subcommittee. Commissioner’s Miller and Buttleman would like to be on the Accessibility subcommittee. Commissioner Miller would like to be on the Energy subcommittee. d. Resolution of Appreciation for Ryan Ries i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall discussed the Resolution of Appreciation for Ryan Ries. Commissioner Miller moved to approve the Resolution of Appreciation for Ryan Ries. Seconded by Chair Redmond. Ayes – All The motion passed. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Rules of Procedure i. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave an update on the Rules of Procedure. The Commission discussed the proposal to remove the Visitor Presentations section of the agenda. One of the Commission’s goals is to educate the public on environmental matters in the City. It is difficult to do that when visitors aren’t encouraged to attend the meeting. The Commission agreed that the Visitor Presentations section should be changed to Community Engagement and added to the beginning of the agenda. The Rules of Procedure should outline that Community Engage allows visitors to discuss environmental matters with the Commission. Presentations made during Community Engagement are limited to two minutes, with one minute follow up by the Commission. February 26, 2019 3 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Staff mentioned that the removal of the Visitor Presentations is an attempt to create consistency during the City Council and Commission meetings. The City Council has removed the Visitor Presentations section of their agenda. The Commission stated they preferred to change the Visitor Presentations to Community Engagement. If the City Council does not approve of that change they of course will comply. But for now it is their position that a Community Engagement section reflects the inclusivity they want to portray in their meetings. Commissioner Palzer moved to approve the Revised Rules of Procedure with the modified ENR agenda changing Visitor Presentations to Community Engagement. Seconded by Commissioner Miller. Ayes – All The motion passed. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None present. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Commissioner Okeson – University of Minnesota Turf Grass Field Day (Staff removed) 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Ramsey County Food and Nutrition Commission Meeting – March 4, 2019 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. b. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Vacancy. You can go to the city’s website www.maplewoodmn.gov to apply for commission and board openings. c. Maplewood Nature Center Programs i. For more information on the Maplewood Nature Center Programs go to the city’s website or contact the Maplewood Nature Center at (651) 249-2170. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chair Redmond adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m. February 26, 2019 4 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes