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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-04-01 ENR Minutes Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Minutes Tuesday, April 1 ,2008 Council Chambers - Maplewood City Hall 1830 County Road BEast 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. Call to Order: 5:17 Roll Call . Present: Carol Mason Sherrill, Ginny Yingling, Carole Lynne, Dale Trippler . Excused: Frederica Musgrave . Staff Present: Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner; Ginny Yingling, Open Space Naturalist; Ann Hutchinson, Lead Naturalist Approval of Agenda . Addition of 9.b. (lNaterfest); 9.c. (Comprehensive Plan Open House); 9.d. (lNetland Ordinance); 9.e. (ENR Vacancy); 9.f. (Nature Center Programs). All approved. Approval of Minutes . February 19, 2008 - Dale Trippler made a motion, Carol Mason Sherrill seconded to approve with one correction (remove Ann Hutchinson's name from staff present). Motion passed by a vote of 2 to 0 with Dale Trippler and Carole Lynne abstaining. . March 4, 2008 - Dale Trippler made a motion, Carole Lynne seconded to approve minutes with two corrections (correct spelling for Frederica Musgrave and Carole Lynne on the members present list). Motion passed by a vote of 3 to 0 with Ginny Yingling abstaining. Visitor Presentations Ron Cockriel discussed the proposed wetland ordinance and questioned why the ENR Commission recommended approval of the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District's new classification system when it appeared that some of our wetlands would be downgraded? Comments: . Staff: Because it is a more objective and scientifically based classification system. The city will also expand on their system by establishing a class A+ system. . Commissioner: If there are wetlands in question then it would be helpful to have those listed out to identify the exact locations. . Staff: if we feel that something is misclassified the city can hire a wetland scientist to do our own Minnesota Routine Assessment Method to verify the classification. . Staff: If the city adopts the proposed natural area greenway corridors, we may want to add additional protections to those wetlands within the corridor. 1 New Business a) Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement - Presentation by Julie Smendzuik-O'Brien, resident of Maplewood and Fielding Graduate student. . Ms. Smendzuik-O'Brien discussed her research on the suburban mayors who have signed the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement. . Cities signing this climate protection agreement need to work to meet the same Kyoto Protocol levels proposed for the United States, which was to reduce emissions by 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. . Cities are encouraged to work with the state and federal government to adopt similar programs to meet those levels nationally. . 794 mayors throughout the country have the signed the agreement. Questions: . Which organization would we contact to teach us how to do inventories and to give us guidance? The cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul may have staff that can help. An organization called Fresh Energy may also be helpful. . Which of the cities had economic benefits? Both Roseville and White Bear Lake have experienced significant benefits. Dale Trippler made a motion to recommend approval of the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement, seconded by Ginny Yingling. Motion carried by a vote of 4 to O. b) Natural Area Greenways: Ginny Gaynor presented the report on comprehensive plan and natural area greenways and asked the following questions of the commission. . At the May meeting there will be a draft of the natural resource section and also a draft we can discuss at the next commission meeting. . Is this feasible and economical? . Are you comfortable with the methods they used to designate the greenways--map based approach? . We can also talk about the criteria; size, connectivity, quality of features and water quality. Discussion: . Commissioner Trippler: Sometimes the accuracy of the maps can be questionable. It is also difficult to know how complete the map is. A simple drive by would be beneficial. . Commissioner Mason Sherrill: What criteria do we use to place value on open space, clean water, and on making an effort to find all of the open space and natural areas which are of benefit? What would prevent us from training volunteers to be involved in their environment? . Staff: We may not have time to engage the community in going out to find the corridors before the Comprehensive Plan deadline but there will be opportunity afterwards for community involvement. . Staff: There is another grant program provided through the department of Natural Resources that the city will be applying for - it is a new initiative to look at these types of incentives. . Chair Yingling: Getting these major corridors identified is the goal of this project right now and it is not necessary nailing down every detail of how they will look and be protected. 2 . Chair Yingling: Commissioner Musgrave raised a question about flyways. It is important that we protect habitat that will provide nesting and foraging areas for migrating birds? . Commissioner Mason Sherrill: What is meant by connections and quality? . Staff: Connections are proximity and having a natural habitat. Wetland data defines quality. . Commissioner Trippler: What is meant by water quality? . Staff: The use of water quality was included for general information. . Commissioner Trippler: The city should look at wildlife use as criteria in the corridors. . Staff: The corridors themselves are larger areas that may be able to provide habitat for the specialist species. . Staff: The flyways are rivers according to the speaker at the March 18 meeting. We need to make sure we have large enough patches of woodland habitat to support birds. Comments: . Need to identify those places with potential. . Keep those areas identified as corridors so they will be protected now and can be used in the future. The greenways are a long-term project. . Property will not get less expensive. We can layout the areas now and let people know that these are protected areas. Open space provides quality of life criteria for many people. . Staff commented that if any of the commissioners have specific areas of interest to ensure are shown on the map that they should submit those to Ginny Gaynor. If people know of wetlands that have been misclassified submit that also to staff. . April 22 is the open house for the comprehensive plan where the natural area greenways will be presented in addition to other elements of the draft plan. Natural Resources plan: . Ginny Gaynor would like comments and advice on the draft plan outline. Comments: . Commissioner Trippler: It is important that we identify why we need a natural resources plan, a definition of cost and benefit should be included. . Commissioner Trippler: The plan states "we support the preservation of natural areas and greenways." Is this a good title? The citizens may not know what a greenway is. It could be retitled and changed to natural wildlife habitat and migration corridors. . Ginny Yingling: Does it specifically talk about protecting areas for wildlife needs and restoration purposes under the 'special natural resources issues?' . Commissioner Trippler: To enhance and restore is the only thing that is optional. . Ginny Gaynor: Do we want our natural resources plan to say 'we want restoration and enhancement happening in Maplewood?' The commissioners agreed that they do. 3 Commission Presentations: a) Commissioner Mason Sherrill presented information regarding the value of trees in the urban landscape pointing out how trees are an integral part of our environment. She discussed the i-tree project. b) Reminder to commissioners of the April 21,2008, Rules of Procedure meeting. Staff Presentations: . Resolution of appreciation for Jim Beardsley - Dale Trippler made a motion, seconded by Carole Lynne to recommend approval of a resolution of appreciation for Jim Beardsley who served on the commission for two years and on the committee prior to that. Motion carried by a vote of 4 to O. . The Waterfest event is scheduled for May 17 at Phalen Park Pavilion in St. Paul. . The first open house on the comprehensive plan is scheduled for April 22. . Update on wetland ordinance - staff presented the proposed ordinance to the city council on March 24 where they recommended approval of the first reading. Second reading will be presented to the council on April 28. . Announced that there is one vacancy on the ENR commission. . Ann Hutchinson - discussed happenings at the nature center including the Arbor Day event on April 26, tree disease workshops, spring park clean-up on April 26, and other educational and volunteer opportunities. The nature center is continuing to update the nature center portion of the website, particularly the tree section. Adjourn: 6:45 4