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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-18 ENR Packet AGENDA CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Monday, July 18, 2022 7:00 p.m. Maplewood City Council Chambers 1803 County Road B East 1.Call to Order 2.Roll Call 3.Approval of Agenda 4.Approval of Minutes: a.May 16, 2022 5.New Business a.Resolution of Appreciation for Kayla Dosser b.GreenStep Cities Update 6.Unfinished Business a.Climate Action Financing and Project Priorities 7.Visitor Presentations 8.Commissioner Presentations 9.Staff Presentations (oral reports) a.Waterfest Update – June 4, 2022 b.Harvest Park Native Seed Garden Open House – July 23, 2022 c.National Night Out – August 2, 2022 10.Adjourn Agenda Item 4.a. MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, MAY 16, 2022 7:00 P.M. 1.CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Palzer called a meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission to order at 7:05 p.m. 2.ROLL CALL Emma Broadnax, CommissionerAbsent Rebecca Bryan, Acting ChairpersonAbsent Benjamin Guell, CommissionerPresent Mollie Miller, CommissionerPresent Ann Palzer, CommissionerPresent Ted Redmond, CommissionerPresent Staff Present ShannFinwall, Environmental Planner 3.APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Miller moved to approve the agenda. Seconded by Commissioner GuellAyes – All The motion passed. 4.APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Redmondmoved to approve the April 18, 2022, ENR Commission meeting minutes. Seconded by Commissioner MillerAyes – CommissionersRedmond and Miller Abstain – Commissioners Palzer and Guell The motion passed. 5.NEW BUSINESS a.Maplewood Greenhouse Gas Assessment Environmental Planner Finwall presented the item. Commissioner Redmond gave the report. The Commission had the following comments and recommendations on decreasing the City’s greenhouse gasses: 1 To achieve the City’s GHG reduction goals the City should install solaron as many city buildings as possible, purchase renewable energy credits, or purchase wind sourcecredits. The comprehensive plans calls for the City to revisit the GHG reduction goals every five years. The City adopted the comprehensive plan in 2019, so the GHG reduction goals should be reviewed for possible modification in 2024. b.Climate Action Financing and Project Priorities Environmental Planner Finwall presented the item and gave the report. The Commission had the following comments on the Climate Action Financing and Project Priorities: Ensure the EV study includes the entire City, not just City facilities. A climate mitigation plan will help the City map out all mitigation strategies. Rather than just submitting project priorities to the City Council, the ENR Commission should also make recommendations on possible resiliency fund strategies. 6.UNFINISHED BUSINESS 7.COMMISSIONERPRESENTATIONS None. 8.STAFF PRESENTATIONS Environmental Planner Finwall updated the Commission on the following eventsand upcoming meetings: a.Spring Clean Up – Saturday, May 21, 2022, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. b.Harvest Park Native Seed Garden Pollinator Planting – Tuesday, May 24, 2022, 6 to 7 p.m. c.Waterfest – Saturday, June 4, 2022, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. d.Reschedule June 20, 2022, ENRMeeting Due to Juneteenth Holiday (Suggested Dates Tuesday, June 28 or Wednesday, June 29) 9.ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Miller made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Redmond Ayes – All The motion passed. Commissioner Palzer adjourned the meeting at 8:32p.m. 2 Agenda Item 5.a. ENVIRONMENTAL & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Meeting Date July 18, 2022 REPORT TO: Environmental and Natural Resources Commission REPORT FROM: Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner PRESENTER:Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner AGENDA ITEM: Resolution of Appreciation for Kayla Dosser Action Requested: Motion Discussion Public Hearing Form of Action: Resolution Ordinance Contract/Agreement Proclamation Policy Issue: When citizen members end their time of service on a commission, the City considers adoption of a resolution of appreciation recognizing the individual for their time committed to serving Maplewood. Recommended Action: Motion to approve a Resolution of Appreciation for Kayla Dosser, Environmental and Natural Resources Commissioner. 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: Community InclusivenessFinancial & Asset MgmtEnvironmental Stewardship Integrated Communication Operational Effectiveness Targeted Redevelopment The City appreciates its citizen volunteers and provides recognition for members upon resignation. Background: Kayla Dosser resigned as a member of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission on May 5, 2022. Ms. Dosser served on the Commission for one year and six months, from October 12, 2020, to May 5, 2022. Attachments: 1. Resolution of Appreciation for Kayla Dosser, Environmental and Natural Resources Commissioner Attachment RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION WHEREAS, Kayla Dosser has been a member of the Maplewood Environmental and Natural Resources Commission for one year and six months, serving from October 12, 2020 to May 5, 2022. Ms. Dosser has served faithfully in those capacities; and WHEREAS, the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission and City Council have appreciated her experience, insights and good judgment; and WHEREAS, Ms. Dosser has freely given of her time and energy, without compensation, for the betterment of the City of Maplewood; and WHEREAS, Ms. Dosser has shown dedication to her duties and has consistently contributed her leadership and efforts for the benefit of the City. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED for and on behalf of the City of Maplewood, Minnesota, and its citizens that Kayla Dosser is hereby extended our gratitude and appreciation for her dedicated service. Passed by the Maplewood City Council on ________________ ______________________________ Marylee Abrams, Mayor Attest: ________________________________ Andrea Sindt, City Clerk Agenda Item 5.b. ENVIRONMENTAL & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Meeting Date July 18, 2022 REPORT TO: Environmental and Natural Resources Commission REPORT FROM: Shann Finwall,AICP, Environmental Planner PRESENTER:Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner AGENDA ITEM: GreenStep Cities Update Action Requested: Motion Discussion Public Hearing Form of Action: Resolution Ordinance Contract/Agreement Proclamation Policy Issue: Maplewood has been participating in the GreenStep Cities program since 2010. It is a voluntary challenge, assistance, and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. The Environmental and Natural Resources Commission and the Green Team serve as the steering committee for the City’s participation in the program. Recommended Action: Review and comment on the City’s GreenStep Cities participation and best practices. 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: Community Inclusiveness Financial & Asset Mgmt Environmental Stewardship Integrated Communication Operational Effectiveness Targeted Redevelopment Participating in the GreenStep Cities program assists the City in: creating a healthy and sustainable environment, managing our assets to preserve long-term investment, creating efficiencies based on performance measures and best practices, and communicating the City’s sustainability goals. Background: Award The City of Maplewood was awarded the GreenStep Cities Step 4 and 5 Award during the League of Minnesota Cities Conference in June. Maplewood is one of 146 participating cities and tribal nations in the 12-year-old challenge, assistance, and recognition program. To achieve Step 4 Maplewood must measure and report a minimum number of core and optional sustainability metrics for the previous calendar year. To achieve Step 5 Maplewood must demonstrate improvements on at least three eligible metric elements. From 2020 to 2021 Maplewood improved on 14 eligible metric elements in the following areas: 1. Reduced energy use in City buildings: -16.8 kBTU per square foot per year 2. Increase in LED street lights: +13% (from 77 to 90%) 3. Increase in City fleet MPG for diesel: +1.45 mpg (from 4.51 to 5.96 mpg) 4. Increase in public electric vehicle charging stations: +19 (from 36 to 55) 5. Decrease in City population vehicle miles traveled per person per day: -5 miles per person per day (from 27.4 to 22.4 mppd) 6. Decrease in City employee vehicle miles traveled per person per day: -2.48 miles per person per day (from 16.86 to 14.2 mppd) 7. Increase in number of new trees planted: +3 (from 147 to 150 trees) 8. Increase in Stormwater Management Assessment: +4% (from 62% to 67%) 9. Increase in Climate Adaptation Assessment: +15% (from 74% to 89%) 10. Increase in number of City-owned and private renewable energy generation sites: +11 (from 52 to 63) 11. Increase in generation capacity of City-owned and private renewable energy sites: +98kW (from 770 to 868kW) 12. Increase in number of local food venues: +5 (from 11 to 16) 13. Decrease in GHG City wide: -33% GHG reduction from 2015 baseline 14. Decrease in GHG City operations: -45% GHG reduction from 2015 baseline Best Practices There are five focus areasin the GreenStep Cities program including Buildings and Lighting, Land Use, Transportation, Environmental Management, and Resilient Economic and Community Development. Within the focus areas there are 29 best practices with 175 action items. One focus area that has changed since the inception of the program is the Resilient Economic and Community Development section. It now includes a Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience best practice. The best practice helps cities plan and prepare for extreme weather, adapt to changing climatic conditions, and foster stronger community connectedness and social and economic vitality. Following are the action items within that best practice: 29. Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience 1. Prepare to maintain public health and safety during extreme weather and climate- change-related events, while also taking a preventive approach to reduce risk for community members. 2. Integrate climate resilience into city or tribal planning, policy, operations, and budgeting processes. 2 3. Increase social connectedness through engagement, capacity building, public investment, and opportunities for economically vulnerable residents to improve their economic prosperity and resilience to climate change. 4. Encourage private sector action and incentivize investment in preventive approaches that reduce risk and minimize impacts of extreme weather and the changing climate for human health and the built environment. 5. Protect public buildings and natural/constructed infrastructure to reduce physical damage and sustain their function during extreme weather events. 6. Reduce the urban heat impacts of public buildings, sites, and infrastructure and provide resiliency co-benefits. 7. Protect water supply and wastewater treatment facilities to reduce physical damage and sustain their function during extreme weather events. 8. Improve local energy resilience by minimizing fuel poverty, installing distributed renewable energy systems, and developing microgrids that can improve energy system resiliency. For a full list of best practices visit https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/best-practices. Attachments: None 3 3 Agenda Item 6.a. ENVIRONMENTAL & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSIONSTAFF REPORT Meeting Date July 18, 2022 REPORT TO: Environmental and Natural Resources Commission REPORT FROM: Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner PRESENTER: Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner AGENDA ITEM: Climate Action Financing and Project Priorities Action Requested: Motion Discussion Public Hearing Form of Action: Resolution Ordinance Contract/Agreement Proclamation Policy Issue: In May 2021, the City Council approved a Climate Adaptation Plan. The plan outlines strategic goals and detailed actions to guide the City towards a more resilient, climate change ready condition. The Environmental and Natural Resources Commission and the Green Team serve as the City’s Climate Team charged with reviewing and supporting the actions of the Climate Adaptation Plan. Recommended Action: Review the Climate Action Financing and Project Priorities. A final report with the Environmental and Natural Resources and Green Team recommendations will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration. 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: Community Inclusiveness Financial & Asset Mgmt Environmental Stewardship Integrated Communication Operational Effectiveness Targeted Redevelopment Creating a list of Climate Action priorities and a budget to implement those priorities will assist the City in achieving its Climate Adaptation goals. Background: The Climate Adaptation Plan outlines several implementation strategies including identifying specific priority climate actions to implement yearly and the creation of a stable climate action financing mechanism to fund the projects. Climate Project Priorities The Greenhouse Gas Assessment (GHG) reflects that transportation and buildings are the biggest contributor to GHG in our City operations. Based on the information the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission and the Green Team created the following climate project priorities associated with City operations: 1. Climate Mitigation Plan: Undertake a Greenhouse Gas mitigation planning effort to map climate mitigation strategies as a companion to the Climate Adaptation Plan. The strategies will assist the City in identifying short and long-term climate action projects that will reduce GHG, including strategies that can be taken at a City-operation level. In early 2022, the City applied for a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) resiliency grant to complete the study. The MPCA did not award the City the grant funds. The City should continue to look for grant opportunities and other funding strategies for the creation of a Climate Mitigation Plan. 2. City Facility Rooftop Solar Feasibility and Funding Study: There are two new City buildings where rooftop solar is most feasible – Wakefield Park Community Building and the new North Fire Station. The City should review solar and financial options for installing solar on these two buildings in the short term. There are two ways for the City to finance rooftop solar on these buildings: 1) outright purchase - the City owns the equipment and retains the renewable energy credits; and 2) power purchase agreement - the City leases the equipment and the renewable energy credits go to the utility company. Long-term the City should review opportunities for adding solar on other City buildings. 3. City Fleet Study: The City should conduct a study to determine how to create a greener fleet. The study will review and make recommendations on the City’s existing fleet and usage, management and maintenance strategies, and a timeframe for converting to more fuel efficiency and electric/hybrid vehicles. The City has had fleet studies conducted in the past. But never a study to determine how the vehicles can be converted to a greener fleet over time. 4. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Feasibility and Funding Study: There are three new City facility parking lots where electric vehicle charging stations are most feasible – Wakefield Park Community Building (constructed to be electric vehicle ready), the new North Fire Station, and a future parking lot at Goodrich Park. The City should review electric vehicle charging station options at these parking lots in the short term. In addition, the City should conduct a City-wide charging station study to determine existing locations, areas of need, and funding strategies. Climate Action Financing City staff reviewed the climate action financing implementation strategy with the City’s finance director. She recommended the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission create a list of Climate Project Priorities that would be presented to the City Council during the budget cycle. Through the budgeting process, the City Council would determine ways to fund those priorities. The Commission, however, would like to include a resilience funding strategy for the City Council to consider during their review of the projects. With a resilience fund, the City can map out and anticipate Climate Project Priority projects yearly. Following are examples of climate action financing for consideration: 1. Stormwater Fees: Maplewood collects an environmental utility fee based on the amount of impervious surface on each property and the impact to the City’s drainage system. The fund pays for stormwater management including street sweeping, storm pipe maintenance, and wetland/ponding area maintenance. The fund could also cover tree planting, tree maintenance, and ongoing management of trees that assist with capturing stormwater. It is unclear if the fee could cover other resiliency actions. 2.Resilience Penny Property Tax: Yearly the City Council assesses the need for an increase or decrease in the City’s property tax based on the budget needed to cover the cost of running the City. The City could approve a property tax increase to cover the cost of resiliency projects needed to adapt to changes in our climate. 3.Capturing Energy Savings: In May 2018, the City entered into a 20-year community solar garden agreement. It generates approximately $8,200 of energy savings yearly. The savings currently offset the City’s electric bills. These funds could be set aside yearly for resiliency projects. .Utility Franchise Fees: The City collects franchise fees from Xcel Energy to recover the cost to maintain and operate streets, sidewalks, and trails. The fee is collected in lieu of other permits or fees for the use of the City’s right-of-ways. Xcel Energy passes those fees onto its customers. Franchise fees could also be used to help the City’s climate and energy efforts. As an example, the City of Minneapolis uses franchise fees to match grants for energy improvements for residential or commercial customers, and to buy down loans for customers in “Green Zones” (with lower-than-average household income). Maplewood would have to renegotiate its franchise fee agreement to get clean energy commitments and funding for new projects related to renewable energy, energy storage, and more. Attachments: None 2