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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-21 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, September 21, 2020 7:00 P.M. (THIS MEETING WAS HELD REMOTELY VIA ZOOM AND CONFERENCE CALL) 1. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Chairperson Miller. 2. ROLL CALL Keith Buttleman, Commissioner Absent Mollie Miller, Chairperson Present Candace Okeson, Vice Chair Present Ann Palzer, Commissioner Present Ted Redmond, Commissioner Present at 7:03 p.m. Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Ann Hutchinson, Lead Naturalist Joe Sheeran, Communications Manager 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Palzer moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Okeson. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Okeson moved to approve the August 17, 2020, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Palzer. Ayes – Miller, Okeson and Palzer Abstain – Redmond The motion passed. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Resolution of Appreciation for Ann Hutchinson, Lead Naturalist Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner, presented the Resolution of Appreciation to the Commission. Ann Hutchinson, Lead Naturalist, discussed her 33 years with the City of Maplewood. Ann was the fifth naturalist to be hired by the City. She helped operate the Nature Center and September 21, 2020 1 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes coordinate the City’s environmental education. Ann thanked the Commissioners and all of the people that supported her and the Nature Center over the last 33 years. The Commission thanked Ann for her years of service to the Community and wished her well in her retirement. Commissioner Palzer moved to approve the Resolution of Appreciation for Ann Hutchinson, Lead Naturalist. Seconded by Commissioner Redmond. Ayes – All The motion passed. This will go before the City Council on September 28, 2020. b. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Communications Joe Sheeran, Communications Manager, spoke to the Commission regarding different ways the Commission and the Communications Department can partner to share environmental topics and stories with Maplewood residents. Environmental Planner Finwall discussed the long term communications plan. Describing that the City will be rebranding the environmental newsletter Seasons now that the Naturalists who were the main authors of that newsletter have left the City. The question was posed to the Commission on how they could participate in the City’s environmental education moving forward? The Commission suggested several environmental education video opportunities. Environmental Planner Finwall stated that there would be follow up on next steps during the October meeting. c. Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Ordinance Environmental Planner Finwall led a discussion regarding the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Ordinance. Maplewood will be notified soon that it is time to adopt new zoning standards consistent with the MRCCA rules. The intent of this agenda item is to ensure the Commission has all of the background material prior to the start of the ordinance updates. Staff will bring ordinance language before the Commission in October for further discussion. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS None. September 21, 2020 2 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Fall Clean Up Campaign – Throughout the Month of October Environmental Planner Finwall spoke to the Commission about the city’s upcoming Fall Clean Up Campaign. Residents can schedule reduced priced curbside bulky item collection with the City’s contracted trash hauler, Republic Services, throughout the month of October. b. Shredding Event – October 10 Environmental Planner Finwall spoke to the Commission about the city’s upcoming Shredding Event. The event is part of the Fall Clean Up Campaign. Free to Maplewood residents. Held on Saturday, October 10 from 9 to noon. c. Update on Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Vacancies Environmental Planner Finwall gave an update on the progress of appointing additional members to the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission. The City Council will be conducting interviews to appoint the two vacant ENR Commission positions on September 28. d. Update on Nature Center Task Force Environmental Planner Finwall stated the City held the first Nature Center Task Force meeting on September 17. Commissioner Okeson is the Commission’s liaison on the Task Force. She stated that there was a lot of background and financial information shared at the first meeting. Many of the Task Force members expressed concern that they would not be able to accomplish the goals outlined by the City Council by December. The next Task Force meeting is scheduled for October 1. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Miller adjourned the meeting at 8:29 p.m. September 21, 2020 3 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes