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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-07-15 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Monday, July 15, 2024 7:00 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER Vice-Chairperson Lates called a meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission to order at 7:17 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Emma Broadnax, Commissioner Absent Rebecca Bryan, Commissioner Present Nancy Edwards, Commissioner Present Benjamin Guell, Chairperson Absent David Lates, Commissioner Present Ted Redmond, Commissioner Absent Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Bryan moved to approve the July 15, 2024, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes – All Nays - None The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. April 15, 2024 The April 15, 2024, approval of minutes has been tabled until the August 19 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Green Building Code Environmental Planner presented the Green Building Code amendments. The Commission had the following feedback and questions: 2 • Do privately funded buildings have to follow the Green Building Code? Staff reports that only City funded buildings would have to follow the Green Building Code, but privately funded buildings could voluntarily follow the code. This will likely happen if the code is amended to be based on performance-based codes such as LEED or Energy Star. There are currently several LEED and Energy Start certified privately funded buildings in the City. • Does the City or any other organization offer awards or recognition for privately funded buildings that voluntarily follow the Green Building Code? Staff reports that the City’s Green Building Code does have language that outlines a future award or recognition program that could be set up. However, to date that has not happened. For performance-based codes those organizations do offer recognition. • The City should include measurable data for electric vehicle and solar requirements, instead of just requiring electric vehicle-ready parking lots and solar-ready buildings. • The Commission is hesitant to add too many additional standards to the Green Building Code besides the electric vehicle, solar, and greenhouse gas assessment requirements. Can staff give an update on this during the next meeting? • For the electric vehicle and solar requirements, the City should review the future state requirements expected to roll out in the next few years. The Green Building Code should include those requirements at a minimum. The Commission will continue their discussion of the Green Building Code amendments during the August 19 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting. 6. NEW 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. Waterfest Recap The event is put on by the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District. It was held Saturday, June 1 at Phalen Regional Park in St. Paul. The Environmental and Natural Resources Commission hosted a booth at the event. The booth focused composting and food scrap recycling education and outreach. b. Climate Mitigation Planning Update 3 The first Climate Mitigation Planning Workshop was held July 9 at the Maplewood Community Center/YMCA. Twenty stakeholders including residents, business owners, Commissioners, and staff are participating in the working group. Two Environmental and Natural Resources Commissioners are participating and will bring updates to the full Environmental and Natural Resources Commission throughout the process, which is scheduled to continue with six workshops throughout January 2025. c. Trash and Recycling Contract Extension Update The City Council authorized negotiations for a two-year extension to the trash and recycling contracts. City staff is working with the haulers on those details. The final contract is expected to go to the City Council for approval later this summer. d. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Vacancy Update There is one vacancy on the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission, left when Mollie Miller resigned from the Commission last September 2023. Maplewood has advertised to fill the vacancy, but no applications have been received. The City will continue to advertise in the Maplewood Living and the City’s social media accounts. e. Solid Waste Tours 1) Tennis Sanitation Recycling Facility: Scheduled for Wednesday, September 11 at 11 a.m. 2) Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy Center: Scheduled for Tuesday, October 22 at 4 p.m. in lieu of the October 21 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting. f. Environmental Education and Outreach Opportunities 1) Celebrate Summer at Afton Heights Park – July 26, 6 to 7:30 p.m. 2) National Night Out – August 6, 5 to 9 p.m. 3) Celebrate Summer at Edgerton Park – August 23, 6 to 7:30 p.m. 4) Touch a Truck at MCC/YMCA – September (date and time TBD) 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Bryan made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes – All The motion passed. Vice-Chair Lates adjourned the meeting at 8:06 p.m.