HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-21 ENR Minutes
MINUTES
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
Monday, August 21, 2023
7:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Bryan called a meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources
Commission to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Emma Broadnax, Commissioner Present
Rebecca Bryan, Chairperson Present
Nancy Edwards, Commissioner Present
Benjamin Guell, Commissioner Present
David Lates, Commissioner Present
Mollie Miller, Commissioner Present at 7:13 p.m.
Ted Redmond, Commissioner Present
Staff Present
Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner
Taylor Mathison, Gold Leaf Intern
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Guell moved to approve the August 21, 2023, Environmental and Natural
Resources Commission agenda.
Seconded by Commissioner Broadnax Ayes – All
The motion passed.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. June 22, 2023
Commissioner Lates moved to approve the June 22, 2023, Environmental and
Natural Resources Commission minutes as written.
Seconded by Commissioner Edward Ayes – Commissioner Broadnax,
Chairperson Bryan, and
Commissioners Edwards, Guell,
Lates
Abstain – Commissioner Redmond
The motion passed.
b. July 17, 2023
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Commissioner Redmond moved to approve the July 27, 2023, Environmental
and Natural Resources Commission minutes as written.
Seconded by Commissioner Broadnax Ayes – Commissioners Broadnax,
Lates, Redmond
Abstain – Chairperson Bryan, and
Commissioners Guell and Edwards
The motion passed.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Climate Mitigation Planning
Taylor Mathison presented the Climate Mitigation Planning including the Climate
Action Survey, outreach opportunities, and newsletter and social media posts.
The Environmental Commission gave the following feedback:
The City should offer additional incentives for completing the survey when
released in two additional languages.
The school district offers translation software. The City could look into
that opportunity to help with the survey translation.
Does the survey ensure that there are no duplicate e-mail responses?
Staff - yes, each e-mail can submit one survey.
b. Green Building Code
Taylor Mathison presented her findings on cities with EV charging station
ordinances and the new state building code update that include EV charging
station requirements.
Environmental Planner Finwall discussed challenges the City has faced with the
existing Green Building Code. That code is based on the 2012 International
Green Construction Code. Additionally she discussed the comparison of the
existing code with the 2021 International Green Construction Code, and other
cities’ Green Codes (based on meeting LEED and other established codes).
The Environmental Commission gave the following feedback:
EV Charging Stations –
o The City should consider accessibility when creating EV charging
station parking requirements.
o How does a City determine how many EV charging stations are
needed in a development? Commissioner Redmond stated there are
three ways to consider the need: with no state or federal incentives
then the City should require additional EV charging stations, with state
or federal incentives 15 percent, to improve on those goals 30
percent.
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Green Building Code
o Does the City offer education to builders on the Green Building Code?
Staff – more so during the roll out of the code in 2013, but when a
development is required to build under the code that is when the City
works with the builders.
o What is the difference between a code and certification?
Commissioner Redmond stated a code must be followed as written,
certification allows flexibility to achieve the goal.
o The new state building code requiring EV charging stations includes
zoning requirements. It would be helpful to understand how that is
possible in a building code.
o Builders are already using the established Green Codes such as
LEED.
o Who certifies the buildings when they are LEED certified?
Commissioner Redmond explained the certification is through a
separate council, or outside third party.
o It would be helpful to have the Building Official attend an ENR
Commission meeting to discuss the Green Building Code.
o Based on challenges the City has had with the existing Green Building
Code how the 2021 updates do not fully address those challenges,
the City should consider adopting a different form of Green Building
Code.
o It appears that the City of Edina has a very clear Green Code.
o The City should also review Bloomington Indiana’s Green Code.
o The City should add greenhouse gas reduction and emission
predictions based on the SB2050 step down targets. This can be
accomplished through solar or energy efficiency.
6. NEW BUSINESS
7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
8. COMMISSIONER PRESENTATIONS
9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
Environmental Planner Finwall updated the Environmental and Natural Resources
Commission on the following outreach opportunity:
a. August Celebrate Summer – August 23 (Edgerton Park)
10. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Miller made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Seconded by Commissioner Lates Ayes – All
The motion passed.
Chairperson Bryan adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
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