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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-15 ENR PacketAGENDA CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Monday, April 15, 2024 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.March 18, 2024 5.New Business a.Climate Mitigation Plan – Steering Committee Discussion b. 2024 W ork Plan and Environmental Priorities Implementation Plan c.2023 ENR Commission Annual Report 6.Unfinished Business 7.Visitor Presentations 8.Commissioner Presentations 9.Staff Presentations (oral reports) a.Metro Clean Energy Resource Teams 2024 Annual Event – May 2, 3:30 to 7 p.m. b.2024 Environment Commissions Conference – May 1, 5 p.m. Tour, 6 p.m. Event c.Waterfest – June 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. d.Landscape Revival Native Plant Expo and Market – June 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 10. Adjourn MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Monday, March 18, 2024 7:00 P.M. 1.CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Guell called a meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission to order at 7:02 p.m. 2.ROLL CALL Emma Broadnax, Commissioner Present Rebecca Bryan, Chairperson Present Nancy Edwards, Commissioner Absent Benjamin Guell, Commissioner Present David Lates, Commissioner Present Ted Redmond, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3.APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Redmond moved to approve the February 28, 2024, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Broadnax Ayes – All Nays - None The motion passed. 4.APPROVAL OF MINUTES a.February 28, 2024 Commissioner Bryan moved to approve the February 28, 2024, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as written. Seconded by Commissioner Redmond Ayes – Commissioners Bryan, Guell, Lates, Redmond Abstention – Commissioner Broadnax The motion passed. Agenda Item 4.a. 2 5.NEW BUSINESS a.Tennis Sanitation Recycling Collection Annual Review 1)2023 Recycling Collection Year End Report 2)2024 Recycling Collection Work Plan Environmental Planner Finwall presented the report. Willie Tennis and Alexia Hieserich Freund of Tennis Sanitation answered questions of the ENR Commission. The ENR Commission had the following questions and feedback on the Recycling Collection Annual Review: •What is the status of the recycling market? o Last year the market was slow. It took longer to sell the materials. This year the market is picking up and is now stable. Tennis Sanitation works with local recycling companies in Minnesota and the Midwest. •Are there any new products that could be recycled? o Tennis Sanitation takes in more recyclables than any other hauler in the Twin City area including metal pots and pans and large plastic items. There is no market for new products at this time. •The reports are very helpful in understanding what, where, and how much is being recycled in our community. •Do you see the recycling cart sizes increasing? o Yes, we are mostly seeing an increase from 35-gallon to 65-gallon recycling carts. •How will the proposed Minnesota Bottle Bill affect recycling in the community. o It might put us out of business. •Can you give us details on the recycling education tags? o When a driver sees contaminants in the recycling cart, cart placement issues, or other concerns, an education tag is left on the cart. •How does the City and Tennis Sanitation do outreach for business recycling? o The recycling contract allows small businesses and churches to opt into the residential recycling program. The City notifies all businesses of the program in the annual licensing letters and in newsletter articles. •We are looking forward to a tour of Tennis Sanitation’s facility. b.Republic Services Trash and Yard Waste Collection Annual Review 1)2023 Trash and Yard Waste Collection Year End Report 2)2024 Trash and Yard Waste Collection Work Plan Environmental Planner Finwall Presented the report. 3 Beverly Mathiasen answered questions of the ENR Commission. The ENR Commission had the following questions and feedback on the Trash and Yard Waste Collection Annual Review: •How is the food scrap program going? o It is going well. There are no additional steps for our drivers. They collect the trash and tip at the Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy Center. The food scraps bags are sorted at the center. •What is the trash and yard waste trends – do you see more or less trash? o The trends for trash and yard waste materials in Maplewood are fairly consistent. We are seeing a little less residential trash as less people are working from home full time. •Is Republic Services able to report on the food scraps data? o Ramsey County is monitoring that. We don’t have details on how they will report that data. But it is an important question as our trash weights will include the food scraps bags. 6.UNFINISHED BUSINESS None 7.VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None 8.COMMISSIONER PRESENTATIONS None 9.STAFF PRESENTATIONS Environmental Planner Finwall updated the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission on the following: a.Maplewood Spring Clean Up – April 13 The clean up is an opportunity for residents to recycle or dispose of bulky items or other hard to recycle items. It is held at Aldrich Arena. The Commission is encouraged at the event. b.Waterfest – June 1 The Commission will have a booth alongside the Friends of Maplewood Nature. The Commission should discuss a theme for the booth and coordinate that with the Friends. 4 10.ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Lates made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Chairperson Guell. Ayes – All The motion passed. Chairperson Guell adjourned the meeting at 8:12 p.m. ENVIRONMENTAL & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Meeting Date April 15, 2024 REPORT TO: REPORT FROM: PRESENTER: AGENDA ITEM: Action Requested: ☐ Motion Discussion ☐ Public Hearing Form of Action: ☐Resolution ☐ Ordinance ☐Contract/Agreement ☐ Proclamation Policy Issue: A Climate Mitigation Plan is the critical and final piece needed in the City’s climate resilience planning, fulfilling the energy resilience-planning goal of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, and addressing a key implementation strategy of the City’s Climate Adaptation Plan. The planning process will result in strategic goals across multiple sectors with concrete short-, mid-, and long- term actions to advance climate resilience and capacity. Recommended Action: Discuss the Climate Mitigation Plan. Appoint one or two representatives to serve on the Climate Mitigation Plan Steering Committee. 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 Taking climate actions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and help the City become a more climate-resilient community: 1) aligns with the City’s energy and climate goals as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan – Sustainability Chapter and the Climate Adaptation Plan; 2) will involve education and outreach to ensure community inclusiveness and integrated communication; 3) will help the city reduce waste and save money. Background: Climate Mitigation Plan The City of Maplewood has hired climate and energy consultant paleBlueDot LLC to assist with the creation of a Climate Mitigation Plan. The Climate Mitigation Plan will serve as a compliment to the 2021 Climate Adaptation Plan by guiding the City toward reduced emissions. Phase one of the Agenda Item 5.a. project took place last year when the City conducted climate mitigation education and outreach at various events. The outreach included the creation of a climate mitigation survey. During the second phase of the project paleBlueDot LLC will assist the City in the following: •Analyze GHG Emissions •Recommend GHG Emission Reduction Targets •Forecast GHG Emission Reductions •Organize a Collaborative, Multi-stakeholder Planning Team •Draft Climate Mitigation Plan Steering Committee A steering committee will be established to help guide the Climate Mitigation planning process. The steering committee will include representatives from: •City Council •Environmental and Natural Resources Commission •Planning Commission •Community Design Review Board •Park and Recreation Commission •City and county staff teams •Additional jurisdictions such as the watershed district •Resident and business representatives •Agencies and organizations working with vulnerable populations The steering committee will work collaboratively in the exploration, creation, review, refinement, and prioritization of mitigation and adaptation strategies. Following are the tentative workshop dates: •Team Introduction Meeting Tuesday June 11, 2024, 1 to 1.5 hours, In Person, Time to be Determined • Subteam Goal Setting Meeting Tuesday, July 9, 2024, 2 hours, Virtual, Time to be Determined • Workshop A Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 2 to 2.5 hours Virtual, Time to be Determined • Workshop B Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 2 to 2.5 hours, Virtual, Time to be Determined • Workshop C Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 2 to 2.5 hours Virtual, Time to be Determined • Workshop D Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 2 to 2.5 hours Virtual, Time to be Determined • Draft Plan Review Tuesday, January 7, 2024, 1 to 1.5 hours, In Person, Time to be Determined The plan draft plan will be brought to the City Council for final approval. Attachments: None 2 Attachment 1 ENVIRONMENTAL & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Meeting Date April 15, 2024 REPORT TO: Environmental and Natural Resources Commission REPORT FROM: Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner PRESENTER: Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner AGENDA ITEM: 2024 Work Plan and Environmental Priorities Implementation Plan Action Requested: ☐ Motion ✓Discussion ☐Public Hearing Form of Action: ☐Resolution ☐Ordinance ☐Contract/Agreement ☐ Proclamation Policy Issue: The Environmental and Natural Resources (ENR) Commission ordinance outlines the Commission’s duties and responsibilities to include: The Commission shall establish environmental priorities for the city in partnership with the City Council and recommend changes or new policies that control, protect, preserve, and enhance the City’s environmental assets. Yearly the ENR Commission adopts environmental priorities to help achieve those duties and responsibilities. Recommended Action: Review the 2024 Work Plan and Environmental Priorities Implementation Plan. Fiscal Impact: Is There a Fiscal Impact? ✓ No ☐ Yes, the true or estimated cost is enter amount or $0.00. 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 Establishing environmental priorities will allow the ENR Commission to operate effectively by setting an agenda and work plan for the year. It also assists the City in meeting its environmental stewardship strategic priority. Background: Work Plan In February the ENR Commission reviewed the 2024 Work Plan items and discussed environmental priorities. During the April meeting, the Commission should discuss how best to implement those priorities. Agenda Item 5.b. Following is a list of work items and possible dates for review by the ENR Commission in 2024: 1.Trash and Recycling 2024 Annual Review: The ENR Commission held the annual review on March 18, 2024. 2.Trash and Recycling Contract Extension or Request for Proposal (RFP): The trash and recycling contracts end June 30, 2024. City staff is reviewing options for contract extensions. If the contract extensions are not successful, the City will begin to work on an RFP for new contracts. The ENR Commission will be updated on contract extensions beginning in May and would play a key role in the creation of new trash and recycling goals and RFP documents beginning in June. 3.Climate Mitigation Planning: The ENR Commission will participate in the second phase of the Climate Mitigation Planning process throughout 2024. Phase 2 includes an exploration of needs and actions to address climate mitigation of both municipal operations and community-wide, with the end result being the creation of a Climate Mitigation Plan to assist the City in reducing GHG. The ENR Commission will appoint one to two members to serve on the Climate Mitigation Strategic Planning Team. That team will begin their work in June. 4.Green Building Code: Continue to review the City’s Green Building Code to ensure it is meeting the City’s sustainability goals, and to review options for electric vehicle requirements and other green building initiatives. Review of the Green Building Code is tentatively scheduled to be brought back to the ENR Commission in May or June. Environmental Priorities and Implementation Plan To help guide environmental priorities for 2024, the Commission reviewed the work plan items above, Strategic Priorities, ENR Commission duties and responsibilities, 2040 Comprehensive Plan (Natural Resources and Sustainability Chapters), Climate Adaptation Plan, and Green Step Cities and Gold Leaf programs. The ENR Commission recommends focusing on recycling and food scrap education and outreach in addition to the work plan items identified above. To implement the education and outreach, the ENR Commission should coordinate outreach at existing events including the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District’s annual Waterfest event and the City’s Summer Celebrations. The ENR Commission should discuss other opportunities for recycling and food scraps education and outreach during the April meeting. Summary Discuss the work items and environmental priorities. Determine how best to implement recycling and food scrap education and outreach. The work plan and priorities will be included in the ENR Commission’s annual report to the City Council. Attachments: None 2 ENVIRONMENTAL & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Meeting Date April 15, 2024 REPORT TO: Environmental and Natural Resources Commission REPORT FROM: Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner PRESENTER: Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner AGENDA ITEM: Environmental and Natural Resources Commission 2023 Annual Report Action Requested: ☐ Motion ✓Discussion ☐Public Hearing Form of Action: ☐Resolution ☐Ordinance ☐Contract/Agreement ☐ Proclamation Policy Issue: The Environmental and Natural Resources Commission submits an annual report to the City Council. The report includes Commission updates including membership, yearly actions, and environmental priorities. Recommended Action: Review and discuss the ENR Commission 2023 Annual Report. Fiscal Impact: Is There a Fiscal Impact? ✓ No ☐ Yes, the true or estimated cost is 0.00 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 The Environmental and Natural Resources Commission’s annual report serves as an important method of updating the City Council and the community on the City’s environmental accomplishments and priorities. Background: Attached find a draft of the 2023 annual report. The report includes the ENR Commission’s purpose, mission, membership, accomplishments, and priorities. The report will be finalized once the ENR Commission holds their annual work plan and environmental priorities meeting. The final report will be presented to the City Council. Attachments: 1.Environmental and Natural Resources 2023 Annual Report Agenda Item 5.c. DRAFT 2023 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Annual Report Purpose The Environmental and Natural Resources (ENR) Commission provides recommendations to the Community Design Review Board, Planning Commission, and City Council on changes necessary to existing policies, operating procedures and ordinances that control, protect, preserve and enhance the City’s environmental assets. The Commission works closely with the Parks and Natural Resources Department to implement the mission of the department. Mission In order to protect, preserve and enhance the environment of the City of Maplewood, the ENR Commission will: 1.Actively participate in and support the mission and goals of the Maplewood Nature Center and Neighborhood Preserves by promoting environmental awareness through educational programs, communications and co-sponsored activities. 2.Pro-actively promote greater use and appreciations of the City’s environmental assets. 3.Review the role of other City groups and how they might assist, support and advise the ENR Commission. 4.Sponsor environmental projects to enhance, repair, replace or restore neglected or deteriorating environmental assets of the City. 5.Develop educational programs and materials that foster the mission of the ENR Commission. 6.Develop and promote the use of “sustainable practices” for City policies and procedures. Membership The ENR Commission is a seven-member, volunteer advisory commission with three-year terms. The membership is made up of Maplewood residents committed to preserving and enhancing the environment. The Commissioners include: Member Term •Emma Broadnax 10-25-21 to 09-30-24 •Rebecca Bryan 04-26-21 to 09-30-24 •Nancy Edwards 02-27-23 to 09-30-25 •Benjamin Guell 10-25-21 to 09-30-24 •David Lates 02-27-23 to 09-30-25 •Ted Redmond 11-14-16 to 09-30-25 Attachment 1 2 There is one vacancy on the Commission, left by Mollie Miller when she resigned from her position on September 30, 2023. ENR Commission Staff Liaison The Parks and Natural Resources Department provides staff liaisons and technical support for two of the City’s citizen advisory Commissions including the ENR Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission. Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner, is the staff liaison to the ENR Commission. 2023 Environmental Accomplishments 1.Review of a W etland Buffer Variance (1910 County Road C East). An old discharge system needed to be removed from the site during development. The removal impacted the wetland buffer adjacent the creek. The ENR Commission made recommendations on mitigation strategies that would protect the creek including re-establishing the buffer with native plugs and increasing the buffer area on the southwest side of the building. 2.Tennis Sanitation and Republic Services Annual Review: The contract with Tennis Sanitation and Republic Services requires that the City hold an annual review of the residential recycling and trash collection services and adopt an annual work plan with service improvement recommendations. 3.Clean Energy for All Project Review: The Clean Energy for All project included research, recommendations, and outreach of energy saving strategies for historically underserved populations living at manufactured home parks. The outreach portion of the project focused on 800 households at three manufactured home parks in Maplewood. 4.Climate Mitigation Planning: The ENR Commission offered guidance and recommendations on the first phase of the project, including the creation of a survey and education and outreach throughout the summer and fall. 5.Green Building Code: The ENR Commission has been reviewing the Green Building Code to ensure it is meeting the City’s sustainability goals and adding EV charging station requirements and other green building initiatives. This work will continue in 2024. 6.Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG): The EECBG program is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Maplewood is eligible for a formula grant for $76,530. The ENR Commission offered expertise into the grant proposal including the creation of a Green Fleet pathway that centers on an effective transition to alternative fuels, aiding decision-makers in understanding annual financial effects, conversion-ready vehicles, weighing costs against emissions, and underlining market choices. 2024 Work Plan Work plan items include subject matters that are carried over from last year’s environmental priorities, or subject matters that require review by the ENR Commission based on City contract, policy, ordinance or State rules or regulations. In 2024 the ENR Commission will review the following items: 3 1. Residential Trash and Recycling 2024 Annual Review: The contract with Republic Services and Tennis Sanitation require an annual review. 2. Residential Trash and Recycling Contract Extension or Request for Proposal (RFP): The residential trash and recycling contracts end June 30, 2024. The City is reviewing contract extensions for these contracts, or an RFP for new contract. 3.Climate Mitigation Planning: The ENR Commission will participate in the second phase of the Climate Mitigation Planning process throughout 2024. Phase 2 includes an exploration of needs and actions to address climate mitigation of both municipal operations and community-wide, with the end result being the creation of a Climate Mitigation Plan to assist the City in reducing GHGs. The ENR Commission will appoint one to two members to serve on the Climate Mitigation Strategic Planning Team. 4.Green Building Code: The ENR Commission will continue to review the City’s Green Building Code to ensure it is meeting the City’s sustainability goals, and to review options for electric vehicle requirements and other green building initiatives. Environmental Priorities Yearly the ENR Commission recommends environmental priorities that should be reviewed based on new or revised regulations, programs, technologies, or identified problems. In 2024 the ENR Commission recommends a focus on recycling and food scrap education and outreach. The ENR Commission will coordinate their efforts with Ramsey County to promote the new curbside Food Scraps Program now available to all Maplewood residents.