HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-09 ENR Minutes
Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Minutes
Wednesday, January 9,2008
Council Chambers - Maplewood City Hall
1830 County Road BEast
Call to Order:
Members Present:
Ginny Yingling
Carol Mason-Sherrill
Jim Beardsley
Carole Lynne
Margaret Behrens
Frederica Musgrave
Staff Present:
Ginny Gaynor
Dewey Konewko
Approval of Af.!enda: Approved
Approval of Minutes:
. October 30, 2007 Approved
. December 4, 2007 Approved
Visitor Presentations: none
Commission Presentations:
Ginny Yingling - Reported on the progress ofthe Parks Plan Task Force meeting.
Margaret Behrens - mentioned several comments and issues from neighbors regarding:
. Proper snow removal
. Snowmobiles
. Having fireplace chimneys cleaned
. Issues about County Rd. C buckling
. Potential project at corner of61 and County Rd C
. Update the website regarding Commission vacancies
Staff Presentations:
City attorney - Alan Kantrud - Addressed the Commission's role in responding to residents:
. ENR should not respond if legal action is pending.
. It is okay to acknowledge receipt of email or letter.
. Staff agreed to prepare a written document explaining protocol on how to respond to
visitor presentations.
John Nephew - Introduced himself to the Commission and welcomed them to drop him a line
anytime through his email.
Administrative Business:
. Ginny Yingling was elected as chair with Jim Beardsley as vice chair
. Proposal to move meetings to the 1 st Tuesday at 5: 15 p.m. and Jim will try to change his
schedule so meetings can be changed to the first Thursday of each month 6:00-8:00.
. Staff will provide a 2008 calendar with schedules. This will be done at the February
meeting.
. Shann Finwall will be a permanent part of the meeting.
. The meeting on February 5 has been cancelled due to caucuses so instead the
Commission will meet on the third Tuesday, February 19 at 5:15 p.m.
. There is a need for a separate meeting for visioning in February or March.
Unfinished Business:
Wetland Ordinance - Reviewed comments and changes by Planning commission and
Community Design Review Board that Jim, Ginny and Frederica attended:
. Summarized to staff: two issues that need to be addressed
1. Ginny Gaynor addressed concerns from other Commissions and councils regarding
how many Class A + wetlands there are. The consensus is that we are setting a
standard to other cities wetland ordinances by keeping the A + classification.
2. Addressing storm-water in the ordinance: Dewey said we are going to revamp the
storm-water ordinance. The surface water management plan needs to be completed
then the ENR will start working on the new plan. We have changed the ordinance on
page 10 we are dropping the storm water piece except for a general piece on
discharging of storm-water. The storm-water piece will appear in a different
ordinance. There was a request for clarification of language on page 10.
. Additional comments/changes to the ordinance:
1. In the past the watershed district was responsible for issues regarding filling in
wetlands and the commission/staff agreed that this should be part ofthe wetland
ordinance. It was also agreed that it stated that the city is against filling in
wetlands.
2. The usage ofthe word linear is clarified.
3. The minimum should only apply to 10%.
4. Clarification of what we will review as a commission: It will be only those
applicants requesting a variance. A change was made on page 11... the ENR will
make a recommendation regarding any applicant requesting a variance - this can
be found on Page 14 - 8B.
5. Before the City Council acts on a variance the Planning Commission and the ENR
shall make a recommendation to City Council. ENR should make their
recommendation before the Planning Commission makes their recommendation to
Council.
6. Talked about doing an accompanying document so people can see the buffer
diagram.
7. Chemical control of noxious weeds within the buffer - are we allowing chemical
controlling with an approved plan?
8. Page 9 4E - proposal to add statement that dead trees are good for wildlife habitat
so they do not necessarily have be removed as long as they do not pose a safety
hazard and are not diseased.
9. Page 5 under class A+ - proposal to add a statement regarding adding a
significant historic value to the city. What type of historic sites or properties
would a site need to have to make it qualify to be an A+? Staffwill craft some
language.
10. Regarding class B will keep the first sentence and half ofthe second sentence -
'these wetlands are high quality wetlands.' On Class C keep 'these wetlands are
moderate wetlands.'
11. On page 4 regarding setback can the word minimal be replaced with the word
minimum?
12. Proposal regarding page 3 under clearing - add 'by physical or chemical means.'
13. The commissioners are asked to email any other language changes to staff.
Wetland Ordinance - make recommendation
. Frederica motioned that the wetland ordinance be approved with changes discussed.
New Business:
. Staff will be working with the Nature Center and Friends ofthe Nature Center using the
MNC as the clearing house to spearhead and champion educational efforts.
. Snowshoe hike at the Priory on Saturday, January 26.
. Improvements will be made on the Nature Center website.
Uvcominf.! meetinf.!s
Tuesday, February 19 5:15 p.m.
. Eureka Recycling will present their annual report
. Nature center will present the tree program
. Marsh proposal
To be discussed at a future meeting
. Environmental Corridors
. Maplewood Comp Plan - discuss vision for City of Maplewood
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