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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-05-06 ENR Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES MONDAY, MAY 6,2008 COUNCIL CHAMBERS - MAPLEWOOD CITY HALL 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST Chairperson Yingling called the meeting to order at 5:20 p.m. ATTENDANCE: Commissioner Frederica Musgrave Commissioner Ginny Yingling Commissioner Carol Mason Sherrill Commissioner Dale Trippler Commissioner Carole Lynne Present Present Present Present Excused STAFF PRESENT Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner; Ginny Gaynor, Open Space Naturalist; Dr. Kim Chapman of Applied Ecological Services; and Will Rossbach, City Councilmember APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Commissioner Trippler made a motion to approve the agenda as written, seconded by Commissioner Mason Sherrill. The motion carried by a vote of 4-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Trippler made a motion to approve the April 21, 2008, minutes with changes including adding staff members present; adding a question mark after comments on third page, third bullet point; changing the word "four" to the word "for" on the fourth page, first bullet point under staff presentations; and language the following language to clarify Commissioner Musgrave's nay vote for the Rules: "with Commissioner Musgrave voting against the draft Rules based on concerns with the special emergency meetings (too short notice) and agenda format (listing visitor presentations further down on the agenda)." Seconded by Chair Yingling. The motion carried by a vote of 4-0. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Comprehensive Plan - Natural Resources Chapter Naturalist Gaynor gave the specifics of the draft natural resources chapter. Commissioner Musgrave asked what the process is regarding the comprehensive plan, will the commission see it a second time and when will they vote to approve it? 1 Naturalist Gaynor responded that staff will bring the Natural Resources Chapter back to the ENR in June. The June draft will include comments and suggestions received tonight and during the May 22 open house. Commissioner Trippler asked what zoning and ordinances are being referred to in the Chapter. Commissioner Musgrave pointed out that much of language was focused on the use of natural resources by people, not on the resources themselves. Dr. Chapman stated that he would revise that language. Commissioner Yingling stated that the third bullet point should be moved to the top of the list because it lays out all the different types of habitats. Also, language should be added that helps people start seeing land in a natural resource sense. Commissioner Mason Sherrill asked what was meant by 'harvestable parts of nature?" Dr. Chapman responded that humans do extract a lot from nature such as mushrooms or maple syruping at the nature center. Regardless, he would look at changing the language from harvesting to something else. Naturalist Gaynor mentioned that staff would be happy to take written comments on word changes and changes on some of the smaller issues. Page 2: Vision and goals for the natural resources in Maplewood: Commissioner Trippler had a suggestion about the paragraph on the top of page 2, we need to talk about management at some point. Commissioner Trippler suggested including one of the major benefits of raingardens which is groundwater recharge. Commissioner Musgrave asked if we should have more details on natural resources goal 9? Dr. Kim Chapman stated there would be more details following in later sections. Commissioner Trippler asked Dr. Chapman to elaborate what the meaning of "interpretation" was? Dr. Kim Chapman stated that interpretation would be the full spectrum of environmental education activities and tools that people use to understand their environment. Commissioner Mason Sherrill stated that goals 4 and 6 pertaining to trees should include the great benefit for the city economically. 2 Dr. Kim Chapman stated that a brand new goal may be warranted along that line. The commissioners agreed. Commissioner Yingling stated that it could be a goal identifying opportunities or sustainable methods that allow the city to save money. Commissioner Musgrave asked what 'adequately fund natural resources' means? Could it read as adequately fund the nature center and resource programs to achieve the visions and goals of the city? Commissioner Trippler stated that in some ways it is better to have your goal be broader so nothing is left out. Commissioner Yingling stated that they can revisit the need to change the wording to natural resources programs and add something on the nature center. Discussion on Natural Environment of Maplewood: Dr. Chapman stated that he wants to set the stage for why decisions are made by the commission, such as why we would want to restore prairie. Commissioner Musgrave asked about the species mentioned in the table in the last paragraph, is there reference later about these being reintroduced? Dr. Chapman stated that the table was put in to emphasize the point that large blocks of habitat are needed in Maplewood in order to reintroduce a species. Commissioner Yingling is wondering if it is appropriate in a comprehensive plan to identify species that are present and declining. Dr. Chapman stated the comprehensive plan is more of a vision document, not what is going on presently. Naturalist Gaynor said it is appropriate to put in implementation strategies, with an attempt to identify if these species are still in Maplewood. Commissioner Trippler asked how a species would be protected once it is gone? Is it to reestablish their habitats? Dr. Chapman stated that it is in the document for reestablishing species. He will work on clarifying this statement. Commissioner Musgrave suggested that something be included regarding those species that need to be reintroduced showing hope and possibility. Commissioner Trippler asked why the Mississippi critical area is not mentioned? Dr. Chapman stated it is discussed briefly on the bottom of page 13. He stated that the critical area is a legal designation and the greenways are ecological units. 3 Commissioner Yingling inquired about the sighting of Blanding turtles, where were they sighted? She wondered if there is now little hope in recovering turtles in those areas due to the change in the environment. Dr. Chapman stated the sighting he researched was east of Kohlman Lake and east of Beaver Lake. Turtle populations in Maplewood have become too small due to many factors. Commissioner Yingling asked about the pinch points, do we need some language to look at how significant the pinch points are in terms of wildlife migration and prioritizing them. Dr. Chapman stated that could be added under the inventory when evaluating natural resources. Commissioner Trippler asked what was meant in the brackets under the pinch points. Dr. Kim Chapmen stated that is a typo, it should state figure 2. Commissioner Musgrave stated that there are no challenges listed under the Mississippi Critical area and it seems like the challenge should be to protect, maintain and restore it. Naturalist Gaynor explained Maplewood's four prong approach to natural resources: . Natural area greenways that are Maplewood designations which does not include critical areas, state or federal designations. . Local habitats which picks up all those individual sites such as the neighborhood preserves, back yard habitats, and individual wetlands that are not in the greenways. . Active parks and trails. . Issue based management. Commissioner Musgrave stated that there is no guidance on page 13 regarding connecting ecological areas together in the future such as is the case with the Mississippi critical area. Commissioner Yingling stated that part of the Mississippi critical area is already incorporated in the Fish Creek area in Maplewood. Perhaps this needs to be mentioned more clearly in the document. Battle Creek Forest - page 7 Commissioner Musgrave asked if challenges will be addressed later with recommendations for this section? Dr. Chapman stated that the challenges vary, so to make things easier they are organized differently around topic as opposed to area. 4 Dr. Chapman stated that one of our strategies is to have conversations with Woodbury and St. Paul and point out that since there are shared lakes, streams and forests there could be joint ecological management programs down the road. It was agreed that this could be a good addition to the comprehensive plan. Fish Creek - Commissioner Musgrave stated that she likes the paragraph on regional barriers, and does not see that as a challenge. Dr. Chapman stated that the challenges are the same as the Battle Creek Forest. Active parks and trails- Commissioner Mason Sherrill asked public works fits into this? Public works is crucial to implementation because they deal with our roads. There is a course of action they can take to help with our natural resources during road construction, such as preserving or planting trees. Can this be incorporated in the public works training? Dr. Chapman stated there currently isn't public works training as an implementation strategy, but that is an excellent idea. Dr. Chapman will look at the wording. It will be added to the implementation strategies. Commissioner Musgrave commented that it is nice to have an opportunity to view wildlife without disturbing it. She would also like trash removal added under challenges in addition to passive viewing sites. Commissioner Mason Sherrill stated that currently the safest way to get around Maplewood is by car because Maplewood is not pedestrian friendly. She would like to see the city more pedestrian and bike friendly. Naturalist Gaynor stated that that item is thoroughly discussed in the parks, trails, and open space chapter so that is why it was purposely left out of the discussion on natural resources. Commissioner Musgrave likes the idea of signage for historical aspects and also promotion of the appreciation of wildlife. Special natural resource issues - Commissioner Trippler stated he would like to see some kind of conclusion statement such as "using the nine goals stated above, Maplewood would mitigate or reduce as many of the challenges identified for each ecosystem as is possible given the staffing and funding available, specific directives are discussed in the following section." Commissioner Mason Sherrill asked where we address the air quality in the document? Naturalist Gaynor stated that the transportation and sustainability chapters will be addressing this. 5 Implementation strategies Education section - Commissioner Musgrave stated that we should do more outreach to the minorities in the community. Commissioner Mason Sherrill stated that education should also be focused on elected officials and city staff. Opportunities could include workshops for staff and council. City planning and zoning - Commission Trippler commented that we have the authority to ask for advice from the other commissions. Protection and restoration - Commissioner Yingling stated that it seems to be focused on identifying existing habitats that need protection or looking at existing public lands. Is there a place to identify opportunity areas, looking at both public and private lands? Commissioner Mason Sherrill stated that she would like an inventory of trees which would be beneficial in showing what trees Maplewood has. Naturalist Gaynor stated that we do address creating a tree plan for the City of Maplewood. We are looking at what species are here in Maplewood. Commissioner Trippler suggested that we hand our drafts with edits to the staff. Naturalist Gaynor stated that the commission could submit more detailed comments in writing. NEW BUSINESS: none VISITOR PRESENTATIONS: Ellie Anderson, Maple Hills Townhomes, discussed her concerns over CFLs and mercury: What is it going to cost Maplewood to replace the bulbs? Receptacles and garage lights are not compatible. Commissioner Yingling commented that the city has changed to these light bulbs due to energy savings. The amount of mercury is very slight. The purpose is to reduce mercury and reduce green house gases. 6 COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS: Need to schedule a second meeting this month to revisit the rules and to go over Silver Lake funding request. The next meeting will be Tuesday, May 20 at 5:15 p.m. Wetland ordinance is coming back to the ENR for review in June. Resolution of Appreciations was tabled until the next meeting. Woodburning Task Force - Councilmember Rossbach gave an update on the task force. Waterfest, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Phalen Lake Comp Plan Open House, May 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Maplewood Community Center Nature Center Programs - Weed of the Month Club ADJOURNMENT: 6:55 p.m. 7