Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-11-18 ENR Packet (goals) AGENDA CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION GOAL SETTING MEETING Tuesday, November 18, 2008 5:15 p.m. Council Chambers - Maplewood City Hall 1830 County Road BEast 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. New Business: 2009 Environmental Goal Setting 5. Adjourn MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: DATE: RE: Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator November 13, 2008 for the November 18 ENR Meeting ENR Commission Goals-Setting Meeting In preparation for the goals-setting meeting on November 18, please review the appropriate sections of the draft city comprehensive plan attached (sustainability and natural resources chapters) and the environmental and natural resources ordinance. In addition, you may want to review the draft surface water chapter, which is on the city website: www.cLmaplewood.mn.us. Commissioners may also be interested in reviewing statewide conservation goals prior to our meeting: . In June 2008, Minnesota completed its draft Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan. This document, including an 8-page executive summary, can be found at: http://www.lccmr.leq.mn/statewideconservationplan/SCPPFinaIPlan.html. . Minnesota's "Greenprint" outlines the state's plan for Environmental Education. This can be found at www.mnseek.net/qreenprint. Attachments: 1. Draft Sustainability Chapter 2. Draft Natural Resources Chapter 3. ENR Commission Ordinance Attachment 1 (Draft Sustainability Chapter) Sustainability Chapter Our world is facing many complex environmental challenges, and possible solutions will require the creativity and energy of forward-thinking people and communities. One way the City of Maplewood will undertake this challenge is through our city's comprehensive planning process. Maplewood's quality of life depends on the preservation and enhancement of its environment. The city recognizes the sensitive interface between the natural and built environments and as such will promote balanced and sustainable practices in the community in order to accommodate the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Maplewood's 2008 comprehensive plan as a whole will encourage sustainable practices through the use of land, management of water, and protection of our remaining natural resources. These practices and policies will ensure that the residents, businesses, and property owners live and function in a way that considers the livelihood of future generations and of other living beings on this planet. In addition to the overriding theme of environmental stewardship found throughout the plan, the sustainability chapter will focus on sustainable policies and guidelines directed toward the city's human activities and built environment. This will be accomplished through the development of goals that will serve as important building blocks to future sustainable policies and implementation strategies which will assist Maplewood in feasibly obtaining those goals. Vision The city strives to improve upon the natural and built environment by using best practices for sustainability. The city believes that property values and the city's overall marketability will rise over time by improving upon these environments. Following its tradition as an environmental leader, the City of Maplewood holds the following vision for sustainability The City of Maplewood, in order to ensure stewardship of its environment, will promote sustainable development and practices for the preservation, design, and maintenance of its natural and built environments. Developments and practices should maintain or enhance economic opportunity and community well-being while protecting and restoring the natural environment that people, economies, and ecological systems depend on. Sustainability Page 1 Goals The sustainability chapter is a tool for action and is intended to change long-standing practices through the creation of goals and implementation strategies. To realize the sustainability vision, the city will promote these goals 1. Protect and enhance air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 2. Make energy efficiency and conservation a priority through building code improvements and city operations. 3. Promote sustainable building practices such as green building standards. 4. Encourage sustainable and aesthetic design and maintenance practices for multi-family residential and commercial developments. 5. Adopt an urban tree program that encourages a healthy and thriving urban tree canopy and other desirable forms of vegetation. 6. Provide transportation options by promoting a transportation system that is safe, efficient, minimizes disruption, promotes better land development, improves the aesthetic appearance of the city, reduces air pollution, and provides pedestrian connections. 7. Follow low impact and environmentally sensitive city maintenance and operation practices. 8. Address noise, air, and water pollution by taking measures to reduce these pollutants at point and non-point sources. 9. Focus on reducing, reusing and recycling solid waste prior to disposal. 10. Provide educational opportunities to promote sustainable practices. 11. Promote local production and consumption of foods and products. 12. Encourage and promote healthy lifestyles for residents. Implementation Strategies The city's present and future residents, businesses, and property owners will benefit from Maplewood's sustainable practices and guiding principles. The plan for sustainability has the following strategies Education/Partnersh ips . Give annual sustainability progress reports to the city council and the community. . Prepare a sustainable newsletter and brochures for residents and businesses. . Create a sustainability page on the city's website. . Continue and expand environmental and sustainable programs which outreach to the youth, adults, and businesses in the city. Sustainability Page 2 . Coordinate with mass transit providers to facilitate bus transportation and promote alternative mass transit options. . Provide educational material on sustainable building and operational practices. . Work with other government units, owners, and developers to identify and implement ways to buffer, reduce, or eliminate noise, air, and water pollution originating from businesses, industries, railroads, and highways. . Have a city employee become certified in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. . Encourage efficient city trash hauling by reducing multiple pick ups and trips in one neighborhood. . Encourage composting. . Create opportunities for community gardens. City Policies Ordinances and Proqrams Modify the city's policies, ordinances, or programs to implement feasible sustainability strategies that. . Encourage developments to utilize renewable energy sources including solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and biomass. . Encourage low impact development and conservation design practices to include o Green building modeled after the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or Minnesota Green Star programs. o Low impact landscaping which promotes native plantings and do not require irrigation. o Green space requirements. . Encourage and offer incentives to developments which can obtain points toward LEED standards or which can become LEED certified. . Continue to strive for and improve on building design standards and ordinances that will include provisions about building massing, architectural design, off-street parking ratios and location, access, traffic impacts, landscaping, fencing or screening, and trash handling. . Encourage the planting of trees and protect the city's urban tree canopy by o Requiring a no net loss policy for the city's urban tree canopy by maintaining and preserving existing trees and planting new trees on public and private property. o Requiring new subdivisions to plant trees. o Maintaining Tree City U.SA standards. Sustainability Page 3 . Use existing development review process to actively promote alternative modes of transportation such as public transit, bicycles, car and bike share programs, carpools, and promote alternative work schedules. . Enforce and strengthen ordinances which require buffering of developments from the impacts of noise pollution. City Operations The city is in a unique position to implement and influence approaches to achieving a balance between the environment, the economy, and our community. The city can demonstrate and showcase applications of new sustainable technologies in the following ways . Take an inventory of current city operation efforts that make progress toward sustainability and be frank about areas that need improvement. . Work to increase awareness of sustainability among its staff and management. . Create a green team made up of city employees to make suggestions and help implement sustainable practices within all areas of city operations. . Encourage partnerships with other organizations to make public buildings, operations, and maintenance sustainable. . Establish goals for reduction of greenhouse gasses within all aspects of the city's operations including such things as a "no idle" policy, increasing the fuel efficiency of city fleet vehicles, and the conversion of vehicles that operate with environmentally sustainable alternative fuels. . Require that all new city buildings or city-funded buildings obtain at least ten points toward the LEED standards. . Recycle at all parks, city buildings, and city events. . Increase recycling efforts at multi-tenant buildings and schools. . Encourage employees to commute to work by alternative modes of transportation than single- car commuting. . Become paperless in city operations where feasible. . Measure the carbon footprint of city operations and take measures to reduce carbon emissions where feasible. City Budqet Modify the city's operating procedures and annual budgets to implement the sustainability strategies found to be feasible. P:\com-dev\compplan\sustainaibility\sustainabilitychapter Sustainability Page 4 Attachment 2 (Draft Natural Resources Plan) Chapter 7 - Natural Resources Plan - 7/24/08 Draft Protect, Connect, Restore, and Manage Ecosystems, Plant Communities and Species Why a Natural Resources Plan is Needed Maplewood's quality of life depends on how it manages its natural resources. Natural resources are the air, minerals, land, water, and biota that form the foundation to life in Maplewood. For example, the oxygen we breathe comes from plants. Without plants, the atmosphere would be poisonous to people and animals. That is a free ecosystem service that benefits people in Maplewood. There are many others. The benefits of treating natural resources in a sustainable way include: . High quality forests, savannas, prairies, wetlands, lakes, and streams will support a variety of life-trees, shrubs, wildflowers, groundcover, fish, birds, and other wildlife. . Lakes, streams, and wetlands will be clean enough to support aquatic life and provide recreational opportunities. . Undeveloped land will provide essential ecosystem services. . Vegetation will help prevent sediment, phosphorus, nitrogen, and contaminants from reaching lakes, streams, and wetlands. . Rainwater infiltrates, which reduces flooding and feeds groundwater. . Groundwater is recharged and can be used for drinking, irrigation, and to feed cold, clean water to lakes, streams, and wetlands. . Water levels are more stable, which prevents erosion of shorelines and stream channels. . Beautiful places exist for people to see and visit. There is an economic value to treating natural resources in a sustainable way. Property values are higher near natural areas and open space'. New developments that protect natural resources using conservation design and low-impact development techniques can save an average of 24-27% in construction costs per development'. Damage to storm sewer outfalls, shorelines, and buildings due to flooding are reduced in such developments. In addition to the economic and recreational benefits of natural resources, for many people nature and natural resources merit protection and care due to their intrinsic value, regardless of their value to humans. This natural resources plan is a guide for how Maplewood can manage natural resources in a sustainable way. It will help protect and enhance Maplewood's quality of life for current and future generations. It suggests strategies to protect, connect, restore and manage ecosystems, plant communities, and species. This plan can guide zoning and ordinances. It gives city staff and officials information to use when making annual and long-range budgets. This plan will also provide citizens with an understanding of how they can playa role in achieving these goals through wise land use and management of their property. 1 Embrace Open Space study is at: httn:llwww.ernbraceODenSDace.om:/EOSReDortlEconornicValueofDuenSuace.udf. 2 EPA Low Impact Development study is at: httn:llwww.eua.f!.ov/owow/nusllid/costs07/docurnents/reducimstorrnwatercosts.udf; AES study is at: httu://www.auuliedeco.comlProiects/ConDevArticleLavout.udf. Natural Resources Plan Page 1 Wise use and management of natural resources is not all that Maplewood needs to be a great place to live in the 21~t century the city also needs good schools, a vital economy, and efficient public services. But healthy natural resources will help ensure that Maplewood has a high quality of life that can be sustained far into the future. Vision and Goals for Natural Resources in Maplewood The City of Maplewood has led the way in urban natural resource conservation in Minnesota. From a bonding referendum in 1993 to protect forests and wetlands, to a rai n garden program for rechargi ng groundwater and purifying runoff to its lakes and streams, Maplewood's citizens and elected leaders quickly adopt new ideas from scientists, businesses, and regulatory agencies. Maplewood has learned that supporting environmental laws and best practices has benefits for city residents. The city also believes that property values and the city's overall marketability will increase over time by improving natural resources and the environment. Maplewood's desire to become sustainable depends on stewardship of its ecosystems, plant communities, and species. Good stewardship protects the functions of ecosystems and the free ecosystems services necessary for a high quality of life. Following its tradition, the City of Maplewood holds the following vision for natural resources The City of Maplewood, in order to preserve a beautiful, functional, and varied environment for current and future residents, will protect, connect, restore and manage its ecosystems, plant communities, and species. The city will do this by using the best science and striving for the highest ecological standard. To realize this vision, the City of Maplewood has these goals for natural resources: Natural Resources Goal!. Protect and buffer ecosystems-forests, savannas, prairies, lakes, streams, wetlands-and other natural resources. Natural Resources Goal 2. Connect and enlarge natural areas and wildlife habitat. Natural Resources Goal 3. Restore and manage natural areas, wildlife habitat, and other natural resources for high ecological quality and for diversity of plant and animal species. Natural Resources Goal 4. Restore the natural ecological functions involving water by better managing storm water runoff This means vegetation filtering, infiltration, groundwater recharge, and maintaining stable water levels. Natural Resources Goal 5. Fund natural resource programs to achieve the vision and goals. Natural Resources Goal 6. Integrate the city's natural areas, open space, and active parks and trails. Natural Resources Goal 7. Incorporate the vision and goals for natural resources in the city's comprehensive plan, ordinances, policies, development standards, and zoning. Natural Resources Goal 8. Enhance public understanding of nature, natural systems, and environmental issues by providing programs, information, and interpretive facilities. Natural Resources Plan Page 2 Natural Resources Goal 9. Promote a culture of stewardship on public and private land through access to natural areas and education and volunteer opportunities in natural areas restoration and management. Natural Resources Goal 10. Seek cost savings by using natural systems to provide services such as heating, cooling, storm water management and water conservation. The Natural Environment of Maplewood Prior to settlement in 1851, most of Maplewood was covered by oak savanna, a plant community with scattered oak trees or oak groves and a groundcover of grasses, sedges, and wildflowers. Hazelnut, chokecherry, juneberry, nannyberry, and wild plum grew in the savanna and at wetland edges. Low, wet areas contained wet prairies, sedge meadows, and marshes. Forests grew on the Mississippi River bluffs in south Maplewood and in valleys where fires were not severe. Some forests were mainly oak and in others sugar maple and basswood mingled with oaks. Lakes were smaller at the time, and were later enlarged by excavating wetland vegetation from the shorelines. Nearly every year the Mdewakanton Dakota Indians ignited fires in the region; the fires had burned the savannas and wetlands for thousands of years. As a result, most of the plants and animals living in the natural areas of Maplewood were residents of savannas, marshes, wet prairies, and sedge meadows. Plants and animals of forest settings lived in the small forest areas of the Mississippi bluffs and in ravines with flowing streams. After settlement, many changes took place in Maplewood . Natural lands were developed with farms, houses, and businesses. . Large savannas and forests were broken into small separated parcels. . Remaining savannas became overgrown with trees and shrubs. . Many wetlands were drained, excavated, and filled. . Plant life was altered by grazing and the introduction of non-native plants. . Trees from river floodplains seeded into uplands and wetlands. . Erosion occurred in streams, at shorelines, and on steep slopes. . More sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen reached lakes, streams, and wetlands than historically. . Some wildlife was eliminated by hunting. . Some wildlife left or died out because there was not enough habitat to successfully breed. . More water flowed directly into lakes, streams, and wetlands after rainstorms. . Water levels in groundwater fell, and water levels in lakes, streams, and wetlands rose and fell more often and more quickly than historically. One example of what these changes mean is wildlife that has disappeared or is declining. Generalist species, such as raccoon and deer, are species that can adapt to different types of habitat, including urban habitats. Many generalist species thrive in Maplewood. But specialist species, such as the ovenbird and Blanding's turtle, are more particular about habitat and often need large, connected habitat to persist. These species have declined, or are in danger of declining locally. Many of the species in Table 7.1 are specialists. Natural Resources Plan Page 3 Table 71. Status of Selected Historical and Current Species in Maplewood. These species are on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' list of species in greatest conservation need and are found in the east Twin Cities region. The list is for illustration only and was not checked by field surveys. Once Now Gone American Woodcock Black-crowned Night-heron Eastern Meadowlark Red-headed Woodpecker Red-shouldered Hawik Sedge Wren Trumpeter Swan Upland Sandpiper Wood Thrush Persius Duskywing Regal Fritillary American Badger Franklin's Ground Squirrel Prairie Vole Blanding's Turtle Gopher Snake Western Hognose Snake In Decline? Common Mudpuppy Brown Thrasher Common Nighthawik Eastern Wood-pewee Field Sparrow Least Flycatcher Northern Rough-winged Swallow Ovenbird Rose-breasted Grosbeak Swamp Sparrow Virginia Rail Yellow-bellied Sapsucker American Brook Lamprey Least Weasel Common Snapping Turtle Smooth Green Snake Eastern Fox Snake Eastern Snake Restored Bald Eagle Peregrine Falcon Today, Maplewood is a patchwork of developed land and undeveloped natural areas (Figure 7.1). Maplewood has several lakes and ponds in the north, fringed by small amounts of wetland vegetation. The urban watershed that feeds the lakes provides poor water quality. There are many wetlands, but aggressive cattails and reed canary-grass cover most. South Maplewood has large forests. The once large expanses of savanna and prairie no longer exist-remaining grasslands are small and support only a few species. Three streams-Battle Creek, Fish Creek, and Snake Creek- flow from Woodbury through Maplewood and then to the Mississippi. In places their banks are eroding and water quality is poor because the headwaters are in developed areas. Despite the problems they support a variety of aquatic insect and fish life. There are few natural areas of high quality in Maplewood. Most have lost plant and animal species because they are small and suffer serious edge effects-invasion by non-native species, for example. However, in several places in the city there are large, continuous habitats well suited to preserving a wide variety of wildlife and plants if restored and managed. In many local habitats native plants and animals persist despite the small size of the habitat. Maplewood faces the following challenges in managing its natural resources: 1. How to integrate a developed city and dense population with natural resource conservation. 2. Howto protect and restore ecosystems in the city so that ecosystem services will continue. 3. Howto retain and attract animal species that need high quality or large habitats (e.g., specialist species). 4. How to protect and restore the quality of upland and lowland plant communities, wildlife habitats, lakes, and streams. 5. Howto generate funding for natural resources and associated infrastructure. 6. How to prioritize projects. Natural Resources Plan Page 4 7. Howto involve city residents and businesses with city staff and officials in carrying out the vision and goals for natural resources. Natural Resources in Maplewood The City of Maplewood intends to achieve its vision and goals for natural resources using a comprehensive approach. Maplewood's framework for protecting and managing natural resources focuses on four levels. . Natural Area Greenways. Natural Area Greenways are large contiguous areas of habitat that cross ownership boundaries. They protect and expand ecosystem services and habitat. Because they are large they have the potential to provide habitat for both generalist and specialist species. Maplewood has identified four greenways. . Local Habitats. Local Habitats are individual natural areas and backyard habitat connections. They serve the needs of people wanting to enjoy and learn about wild habitat near their homes and also provide ecosystem services and wildlife habitat locally. Because they are relatively small, they are typically not able to provide habitat for specialist species. Local habitats may be public or private lands. . Active Parks and Trails. Active Parks and Trails connect Natural Area Greenways and Local Habitats and give people places to play sports, picnic, and bike. . Natural Resource Issues. Some natural resource issues are addressed city-wide through individual programs, such as stormwater management. Natural Area Greenways Maplewood defines Natural Area Greenways as large contiguous areas of habitat that cross ownership boundaries. The purpose of Natural Area Greenways is to protect, connect, and restore large scale ecosystems and ecosystem services and provide habitat for species that need large natural areas. Greenways contain large natural areas, high quality plant communities and wildlife habitat, and provide a wide, continuous corridor for animal movement. In general, a corridor in a greenway should not be narrower than the habitat size for a species that needs the corridor. Scientific studies vary tremendously in their recommendations for corridor width. For Maplewood a reasonable minimum corridor width in a greenway is 660 feet (200 meters). This width tries to balance the limitations on natural resources in cities with the needs of animals that use corridors to survive. It is unlikely Maplewood will be able to achieve this minimum width throughout a whole greenway due to existing roads and development, however it is a goal to reach for where feasible. Four Natural Area Greenways exist in Maplewood (Figure 7.2). They were selected by mapping and connecting large, better quality natural areas and avoiding major roads and watershed divides that are barriers to many species (Appendix 7.1). The two northern greenways are mostly lowland ecosystems (lakes and wetlands) north of 1-94. The two southern greenways consist mostly of upland ecosystems (forests, grasslands) with small wetlands and streams south of 1-94. Greenways provide stopovers for the hundreds of bird species that migrate through Maplewood each spring and fall. But birds also use Local Habitats and backyards if food and shelter are present. Bird and insect migrants (e.g., monarch butterfly) move through Maplewood along a broad front. They may concentrate in some places due to local Natural Resources Plan Page 5 geography and vegetation. The Mississippi Flyway, for example, is wider than the Mississippi River. Waterfowl, waterbirds, and shorebirds generally orient to it and use its open water in the spring while waiting for ice to melt on lakes and wetlands in the surrounding area. Once in Maplewood, these birds choose migratory stopover habitat based on size, quality, and isolation, not geographic location. Migrating songbirds from the tropics and subtropics also move on a broad front, but descend from flight elevations and move through vegetation eating insects as they journey north. As they move through Maplewood, these birds concentrate in woodlots, dense tree patches in developments, grasslands and brushland, and in the vegetated edges of wetlands and lakes. The more patches of permanent vegetation there are, the more opportunities these birds have to feed as they migrate. 1. Phalen-Casey Chain-of-Lakes Greenway composition and regional barriers This large, lowland greenway consists of a chain of lakes in formerly extensive wetlands. Stretching from Phalen Lake to Casey Lake, it includes Round, Keller, Gervais, Kohlman Lakes and Kohlman Creek. Most of the greenway is open water with a narrow wetland fringe. More wetlands are east of Kohlman Lake. This greenway extends into North St. Paul, Little Canada, and St. Paul. Regional barriers to the movement of fish, freshwater mussels, crayfish, and some other aquatic life are the urban development south and west of the greenway, and the major watershed divides to the north and east. Water leaves this greenway from Phalen Lake and travels in a large storm sewer until it discharges to the Mississippi River at Mounds Park, St. Paul. Eleven constrictions (pinch points) with greenway width of <660 feet (Figure 7.2) restrict wildlife movement in the greenway. Pinch points are mainly at road crossings (Frost Avenue at Round Lake, Highway 61 at Keller Lake, Highway 36 at Keller Lake, Highway 61 east of Kohlman Lake, west side of Hazelwood Park, and White Bear Avenue). Other pinch points are the outlet of Lake Gervais, the outlet of Kohlman Lake, a narrow wetland west of Hazelwood Park, and a drop structure at the outlet of Casey Lake. Greenway challenges . Reduced infiltration due to high percentage of impervious surface in the watershed causes a lower water table and reduces groundwater inflow to lakes and wetlands. . Poor water quality in lakes and wetlands due to large amount of surface runoff from impervious surfaces and turf grass brings sediment, nutrients, and pollutants to waters. . Narrow lake and wetland buffers reduce the filtering and cleansing effect of vegetation at the water-upland edge. . The small size of upland habitats next to lakes and wetlands prevents some wetland animals from completing a life cycle that includes using uplands (e.g., Blanding's Turtle). . Over-abundance of reed-canary grass and cattail degrades wetland habitat. . Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has designated several lakes in this greenway as impaired Kohlman, Gervais, Spoon, Keller, Round, and Phalen. 2. Holloway-Beaver Lake Wetlands Greenway composition and regional barriers This large, lowland greenway is more or less continuous wetland habitat from the marsh lands north of Holloway Avenue, southwest to wetlands and uplands at Priory Neighborhood Preserve, and continuing southwest along wetlands and Beaver Creek to Beaver Lake. This greenway extends into North St. Paul, Oakdale, and St. Paul. Natural Resources Plan Page 6 Beaver Lake has a narrow wetland fringe. This is a historical wetland area, containing wet prairie, wet meadow, and marsh. The lowland forests with ash, elm, cottonwood, and silver maple that exist in this greenway were not here historically. Regional barriers include a major watershed at the east edge, dense urban development in St. Paul, and minor watershed divides to the north and south. The greenway drains out of Beaver Lake and the water flows in a large storm sewer west to Phalen Creek. The movement of fish, freshwater mussels, crayfish, and some other aquatic species are restricted by these barriers. Seven pinch points with greenway width of <660 feet (Figure 7.2) restrict wildlife movement in the greenway. Pinch points are where roads (Century Avenue, Maryland Avenue, and Lakewood Drive) and a railroad cross the greenway. The narrow wetland between Maryland Avenue and Lakewood Drive is also a pinch point. Greenway challenges The challenges are the same as for Phalen-Casey Chain of Lakes above. 3. Battle Creek Forests Greenway composition and regional barriers This large, mostly forested greenway includes Battle Creek Regional Park and connects to the Mississippi River bluffs in St. Paul. This greenway includes the Ponds at Battle Creek Golf Course, the forested portion of Highwood neighborhood, and Applewood Neighborhood Preserve. The largest, best quality forests are in Battle Creek Regional Park. Battle Creek is part of this corridor and begins in Tanner's Lake in Landfall, then flows to Battle Creek Lake in Woodbury, and then through a narrow stream valley to Battle Creek Park. This is a historical forest area of oak forest, oak-maple-basswood forest, and aspen-oak woodland. Regional barriers around this upland greenway are the major divided highways US61, 1-494, and 1-94. These highways prevent the movement of small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and ground-dwelling insects that are an important part of the forest's food chain. They also pose a significant risk to other mammals, birds, and flying insects (e.g., butterflies, dragonflies) attempting to cross them. Two pinch points in the continuous forest are on Battle Creek and Lower Alton Road west of McKnight Road. A pinch point in the greenway exists at Lower Alton Road between Battle Creek Regional Park and the golf course. Battle Creek is pinched where it crosses under 1-94 between Tanner's and Battle Creek Lake, at the outlet of Battle Creek Lake, and at Century Avenue. Only two pinch points are within the City. Greenway challenges . The large forests are far from each other and connected by poor quality corridors. . Development at the edges of the large forests affects habitat quality inside the forests. Edge effects shrink the actual size of interior forest habitat, reducing breeding area for forest songbirds (e.g., warblers, vireos) and other forest animals. . Low quality forest habitat is due to over-abundance of European buckthorn and invasion by other non-native plants (e.g., garlic mustard). . Groundcover plants, trees, and shrubs were affected by cattle grazing in the past, and are today affected by abundant white-tailed deer. Grazing and browsing affects some plant species but not others, reducing forest plant diversity. . The forests were protected from severe fires historically, but not from all fire. . Feral and free-roaming cats affect small mammal populations and shrub nesting birds. Natural Resources Plan Page 7 . Two- and four-lane roads inside the greenway prevent movement of some species. . The challenges described for the lowland greenways affect Battle Creek, a mostly developed 114 square mile watershed. Battle Creek is a typical urban stream, with very low flows at times and with very high flows after rainstorms3, but water quality and aquatic life are fair to good. 4. Fish Creek Forests Greenway composition and regional barriers This large, mostly forested greenway includes four units of Ramsey County's Fish Creek Open Space. It is at the north end of a large, mostly forested greenway that includes forests in Newport, St. Paul, and Cottage Grove. Fish Creek is part of this corridor and begins at Carver Lake in Woodbury, then flows through the Fish Creek Open Space and beneath 1-494 and US61 to the Mississippi River. A smaller creek, Snake Creek, begins in the Bailey Nursery grounds and also flows to the Mississippi. This is a historical forest area of oak forest, oak-maple-basswood forest, and aspen-oak woodland. A portion of this greenway is in the Mississippi River Critical Area and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The Critical Area was designated and established by two governors and the Metropolitan Council between 1976 and 1979. Executive Order 79-19 requires that municipalities and agencies coordinate planning and management in the Critical Area using common guidelines' In 1991 the legislature made the National River and Recreation Area (part of the National Park Service) a critical area under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 116G. The legislation also made the boundaries of the Critical Area and the National River and Recreation Area the same. Regional barriers to this upland greenway are the major divided highway 1-494 and development to the east in Woodbury. These barriers prevent the movement of small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and ground-dwelling insects that are an important part of the forest's food chain. The highway poses a significant risk to other mammals, birds, and flying insects (e.g., butterflies, dragonfties) attempting to cross it. The main pinch points in the continuous forest are near Sterling Street at 1-494 and on the Bailey property. Greenway challenges . The challenges are the same as the challenges for Battle Creek Forests above. . Loss of private land to development will decrease the amount of natural land in this greenway. . Unwise development may degrade habitat. . Developers and landowners are often not knowledgeable about or are not receptive to conservation design strategies. . Fish Creek and Snake Creek are reported to have eroding banks and beds. Local Habitats Local Habitats are individual natural areas and backyard habitat connections (Figure 7-3). The purpose of Local Habitats is to protect, buffer, and manage small, isolated wild habitats and protect local ecosystem services outside the Greenways. Local Habitats will be difficult to enlarge and connect and will usually benefit generalist species but 3 See Met COlmcil monitoring reports for 2001 and 2003 at: httn:/lwww.rnetrocOllllcil. om:/enviromnentlRiverslakes/Streams/Reuorts/Battle.udf, http://www.rnetrocOllllcil. org/enviromnentlRiversLakes/Streams/Reports12003 _ Reportl03Battle.pdf 4 For guidelines see: http://fites.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/watenngmt_section/criticat_ area/execord.pdf Natural Resources Plan Page 8 not specialist species. These lands may be private or public. Private lands are included to show the natural resources that exist in the city. These private lands are not open for public use and these sites may be developed someday. Many of the public sites provide access and opportunities for people to enjoy and learn about wild habitats. Local Habitats include . Some Maplewood Neighborhood Preserves; . Natural areas within active parks; . Neighborhoods that have contiguous backyard habitat; . Natural areas that are used for stormwater management; . County and city open space sites that have natural vegetation; . Private sites that have natural vegetation. Two Local Habitats are significant because of their size and arrangement. 3M Lake Wetlands This is the largest concentration of Local Habitat in Maplewood. It contains 3M Lake and wetlands identified by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as regionally significant. It is at the top of a watershed and runoff comes from nearby. This improves chances to manage runoff and protect or restore water quality in the lake and wetlands. Highwood-Vista Hills Wetlands The Highwood and Vista Hills neighborhoods are unique in Maplewood due to the dozens of small, kettlehole wetlands formed by the glaciers melting in place here (Le., an ice-stagnation moraine). It is at the top of a watershed and runoff comes from nearby lawns, driveways, and streets. This improves the chances to manage runoff and protect or restore water quality in the wetlands. The Highwood-Vista Hills Wetlands overlap with the Battle Creek Forest Greenway. Small forested wetlands provide excellent habitat for frogs and other aquatic life. Local Habitat Challenges . Small habitats are affected more than large habitats by edge effects. Edge effects include invasion by non- native plants (e.g., European buckthorn, garlic mustard) and animals (e.g., European Starling, House Sparrow) and predation on wildlife by feral and free-roaming cats. . Many native species do not survive in small habitats for very long because they have small populations, and small populations can easily go extinct. . Small habitats can be over-used by people because the impacts are concentrated in a small area. In small habitats vegetation is easily trampled and lost, erosion is quick to start, and dumping of trash, lawn clippings, leaves, and debris often happens. . Small lakes and wetlands are easily polluted because the runoff from impervious surfaces and turf grass is large and overwhelms the ecosystem's ability to absorb and treat it. When they are at the top of a watershed, small lakes and wetlands tend to have better water quality because less runoff reaches them. Active Parks and Trails The purpose of active parks and trails is to provide easy access for people's recreational enjoyment. These places provide fewer ecosystem services than greenways and Local Habitats because they usually have turf grass, compacted soils, and impervious surfaces, and are poor wildlife habitat. However, some parts of active parks, trails, and golf courses could be used to expand habitat and reduce edge effects in greenways and Local Habitats. In Natural Resources Plan Page 9 addition, areas within active parks that are not needed for active recreation may be restored to native plant communities. The Parks Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan covers parks in detail. Challenges in Active Parks and Trails . It is necessary to understand which parts of active parks and trails have an effect on greenways and Local Habitats, positive and negative. . Some specialist wildlife is disturbed by human activity. This is more important in greenways than in Local Habitats. . Wheels, shoes, and dogs spread seeds of non-native plants to natural areas (e.g., garlic mustard). . Maintenance activities in parks and along trails can affect greenways and Local Habitats. Herbicide drift is one example. Special Natural Resource Issues Some natural resources issues are widespread in the city and are addressed by topic through city-wide programs. Existing programs include . Stormwater Management Program; . Maplewood Tree Program; . Buckthorn Management Program. Additional programs should be established to address natural resources issues such as: . Invasive plants and animals (other than buckthorn); . Wetland buffer improvements; . Sustainable landscaping and yard care; . Toxic waste sites; . Impaired waters. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has designated the following Maplewood Lakes as impaired Kohlman, Gervais, Spoon, Keller, Round, Phalen, Wakefield, and Beaver; . Stream restoration. This natural resources plan provides a new framework for protecting natural resources in Maplewood. It addresses regional, city-wide, neighborhood, and site levels. It encompasses both public and private lands. This comprehensive approach will enable Maplewood to protect and manage natural resources. Implementation strategies are discussed in the following section. Natural Resources Plan Page 10 Implementation Strategies for Natural Resources The city's present and future residents will benefit by using Maplewood's natural resources in a sustainable way. The city's reputation and its quality of life will be enhanced, residents and visitors will see beauty and variety in the environment, and healthy ecosystems will provide services and benefits that keep the city's lakes and streams clean and its wildlife populations diverse. This is a large vision with many ambitious goals for protecting, restoring and managing natural resources in the city. It will take many years of discussion, planning, budgeting, and other work to make it a reality. The implementation plan for natural resources has the following strategies. The city will need to review and update the plan as priorities and resources change, as new strategies and opportunities arise, and as staff and officials learn about new approaches to sustainability. Education . Educate residents about nature, natural resources, and protection and management of resources. . Adopt both city-wide and neighborhood-based educational programming. . Give annual progress report to city council and the community. . Organize public tours of the greenways and Local Habitats. . Develop educational materials and create a natural resources page on the city's website. Post natural resources plan, maps of greenways and Local Habitats, brochures, technical information for stewardship work by residents, etc. . Present workshops to explain the natural resources plan. Answer questions: What are greenways and Local Habitats, why are they needed, where are they, and how do they affect residents? . Develop programs and events to involve citizens in inventorying and monitoring species. Maplewood currently has citizen-monitoring programs for bluebirds, frogs, and for the Neighborhood Preserves. Develop additional citizen-based inventory and monitoring programs to gather information throughout the year. In addition, consider hosting events such as "BioBlitz Day" to involve citizens in inventorying species on a single day. . Provide training on natural resources management for staff. City Planning and Zoning . Integrate natural resources (e.g., greenways and Local Habitats) into the city's comprehensive plan, zoning, ordinances, development review, daily operations, capital budgeting, and bonding initiatives. . Investigate options to encourage preservation and management of Natural Area Greenways such as educational programs, zoning overlays, or incentive programs for private landowners to adopt certain approaches to construction and land treatment that improve natural resources in the greenway. . Modify the city's operating procedures and annual budgets to implement feasible strategies identified above. . Hold brain-storming sessions with city leadership to identify strategies for implementing the natural resources plan. Discussion should focus on three things 1) integrating all public lands, across all uses and owners; 2) integrating the public and private use of land and waters, where feasible; and 3) integrating the existing stormwater infrastructure and management approach with the vision for natural resources. Ideas for stormwater may include: Natural Resources Plan Page 11 . Wetland and Floodplain Buffers. Set water quality buffer width using best available science and incorporate in city ordinances and standards. . Storm water Utility Incorporate in the city's stormwater utility the locations for stormwater management that benefit greenways and Local Habitats. Implementation is ongoing, but focus should include regional view and the integration of greenways and Local Habitats. . Update the city's zoning and ordinances to implement win-win strategies such as: . Conservation Design Ordinance. Create an ordinance or zoning overlays that encourage low impact development and conservation design practices. Examples include City of Uno Lakes, rural residential cluster development ordinance of Chisago City and Marine on St. Croix, and St. Croix County, WI. Examples of conservation development designs and approaches are widelyavailable.5 This type of ordinance preserves large natural areas, manages stormwater ecologically, minimizes land clearing and grading, reduces infrastructure costs (sewers, curb and gutter, irrigated turf grass, pavement extent, utility run lengths), and promotes stewardship of natural resources. Incentives to landowners might include accelerated permitting, exemptions, and increased housing density. . Alternative Storm water Standards. This tool is part of a conservation design ordinance or can stand alone. Its focus is to promote low impact development practices for stormwater management, and integrate those practices with existing stormwater management infrastructure operations and maintenance. Many examples of low impact practices exist, such as rain gardens, bioswales, porous pavement, and narrow streets.6 Protection and Restoration Inventory and Evaluate Natural Resources . Conduct land cover inventory for city using Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS). At a minimum, MLCCS should be done for the greenways and for all city-owned Local Habitats. . Identify parcels with high ecological quality that need protection. . Identify areas in active parks that could be restored to natural habitat. . Identify locations in active parks, golf courses, and recreational trails that are part of greenways and Local Habitats and their buffers. . Identify locations in active parks, golf courses, and recreational trails useable for alternative, ecological stormwater management. These areas can manage runoff from the parks, golf courses, and trails, or can intercept and manage runoff from other land. . Identify other locations on public land (e.g., school property, county land, City Hall) that benefit greenways and Local Habitats. . Assess natural resources city-wide, identify opportunities, and prioritize conservation and management initiatives. Protect Natural Areas . Develop and adopt a land protection plan for Fish Creek Forests Greenway using strategies outlined in this section and the section below on Protect Natural Areas on Private Land. 5 Applied Ecological Services: httn:llwww.auuliedeco.comlConservationDev.cfm; Urban Land Institute: htto:/lminnesota.uli.om:/ContentlN avillationMenu18/ConservationDesillnlConservationDevelournentFramework.udf 6 Low Impact Development Center, Inc.: htto:llwww.lowirnuactdevelournent.om:;National Stormwater Center: htto:llwww.storrnwatercenter.org; USEPA NPDES Stormwater Program: httn:/lcfoub.eua.2:ov/nudes/stormwatermonth.cfrn; Minnesota Erosion Control Association: httn:/lwww.rnnerosion.om:; Applied Ecological Services: httn:/lwww.auuliedeco.comlStormWaterMlrt.cfrn. Natural Resources Plan Page 12 . Pursue protection options initiated in 2007-2008 for city-owned parks and natural areas, including ordinances, no-net loss policy, zoning, conservation easements, and Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan should define special land use conditions for the Maplewood Neighborhood Preserves, active parks, and other city open spaces. The Comprehensive Plan should also define conditions and policies such as no-net loss in Neighborhood Preserve acreage. . Convene a budgeting session with city leadership to identify the strategies to fund protection and restoration of greenways, Local Habitats, and their buffers. Budget for the 5-year and longer term planning horizons. Strategies include . Park Dedication. Transfer dedications from other parts of city to greenways and Local Habitats. Increase amount of park dedication required. . Grants. Seek grants for greenways. (E.g., Minnesota Department of Natural Resource's (MNDNR) Regional Park or Natural and Scenic Areas grant with 40% match for Regional Park or 50% for Natural and Scenic Areas'- MNDNR Environmental & Conservation Partnerships Grant program for up to $20,000, with 50% municipal in-kind/cash match.) . Private Easements. Encourage private landowners to enter into conservation easements with a group such as Minnesota Land Trust. . Donation of Land or Easement. Seek donation of land or donation of conservation easement. Trust for Public Land can be intermediary. Donations can reduce federal and state taxes. Identify key messages and incentives to landowners on tax benefits of donation. . Acquisition. Consider a bonding initiative for greenway and Local Habitat acquisition8 . Collaboration. Collaborate with adjacent communities, county, and agencies in development and implementation of plans for Natural Area Greenways. Protect Natural Areas on Private Land Protecting natural areas on private land is complicated and requires a willing landowner. Each property needs a different approach. Implementing the natural resources plan will lay the groundwork for approaching landowners with ideas for protecting natural areas in greenways and Local Habitats. There are several tools for approaching landowners: . Educate landowners about the resources on their particular site and in their neighborhood. . Provide stewardship training to residents. . Encourage landowners to enter into conservation easements with a group such as Minnesota Land Trust. . Develop incentives for landowners to donate conservation land to city. . Adopt zoning and development ordinances with incentives to protect open space. Natural Resources Management Plans . Develop and implement management plans for Natural Area Greenways and city-owned Local Habitats. . Develop and implement site-specific management plans for each Maplewood Neighborhood Preserve. . Develop and implement management plans addressing city-wide management issues such as invasive species. . Develop and implement a Maplewood Tree Plan to cover boulevard trees, park trees, woodlots and forests. . Modify park and trail operations to adopt environmentally friendly maintenance practices and to 7 See htto://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/tand/naturat scenic.htmt 8 See http://conservationcampaign.org Natural Resources Plan Page 13 minimize edge effects to nearby greenways and Local Habitats. City-wide Natural Resources Issues Storm water Management . Alternative Storm water Standards. Discussed above. . Identify Target Locations. Complete a study to identify and prioritize areas with existing conditions that create problems for downstream lakes, streams, and wetlands in the city. . Blue Storm water Program for Existing Developments. Create a program to deliver technical advice and assistance about low impact retrofit practices to improve ecosystem services involving stormwater (vegetation filtration, infiltration, recharge, and water level stability). These include rain gardens, bioswales, infiltration plantings (e.g., butterfly and botanical gardens, prairies), tree boxes, created wetlands, cisterns, and many more practices. . Inspection of structures. Continue city's inspection program, which inspects all stormwater pollution control devices annually. Street and Boulevard Design and Maintenance . Investigate alternative road de-icing options. Options range from new formulations of calcium chloride to a solution containing sugar beet juice. . Sweep streets on annual schedule. Currently the city sweeps most streets two times per year; streets in sensitive areas are swept more often. . Identify erosion-prone street shoulders at lakeshores, streams, and wetland edges and take corrective action. This is being implemented, and will include a focus on Natural Area Greenways and Local Habitats. . Develop guidelines for environmentally friendly street design such as plantings in cul-de-sac center islands, tree boxes in boulevards, and innovations such as Portland's Green Street program9 Urban Tree Management . Develop and implement an Urban Tree Management Plan for the city that addresses boulevard trees, park trees, and woodlands. . Monitor tree disease and pest outbreaks and implement control program (Dutch elm, oak wilt, emerald ash borer, etc.). Expand to include other diseases and pests as they occur. . Consider adapting the Minnesota Forest Stewardship whole-site planning model for the city1D Non-native Invasive Species Management . Educate city staff and residents on threat of invasive species and management options. . Develop a volunteer program to help monitor city-owned land for new invasions. . Partner with adjacent cities and agencies in controlling invasive species regionally. . Monitor developments in control methods for buckthorn, garlic mustard, reed canary-grass, Siberian elm, and other target species and revise outreach materials as needed. Urban Wildlife Management 9 See http://www.porttandontine.com/BES/index.cfm ?c~44407& 10 http://na.fs. fed. us/stewardship/index. shtm Natural Resources Plan Page 14 . Educate residents about the value and stewardship of urban wildlife. . Participate in Ramsey County's deer management program. . Explore options to reduce populations of bird and mammal species that compete with or prey on native songbird populations (feral and free-roaming cats, raccoons, starlings, house sparrows, crows and grackles, etc.). Mississippi River Critical Area Corridor and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area . Update city's planning, development review, zoning and ordinances to be consistent with guidelines for these areas. . Identify parcels of land in these areas that have high ecological quality and need protection. . Educate landowners in these areas about the designations and what they mean. Natural Resources Plan Page 15 Implementation Schedule for Natural Resources Plan The Natural Resources Plan proposes a new approach to managing Maplewood's natural resources. One of the first steps in achieving the goals is to gain a better understanding of Maplewood's resources. To do this, the implementation plan recommends that Maplewood conducts a land cover classification survey of the whole city. This work will lay the foundation for planning and management. It should be completed before the city attempts to prioritize protection and restoration projects. Therefore, the implementation schedule focuses on planning, not on specific restoration and management projects. Category Date Key Activities Cost Est im ate Planning 2008- 1. Develop policies, zoning, and ordinances to Staff 2009 implement natural resources plan 2. Develop land protection strategies for south Staff Maplewood 3. Determine staffing needs for implementation of Staff natural resources plan 4. Determine role of Environmental and Natural Staff, ENR Resources Commission (ENR) in implementation of Natural Resources Plan 5. Conduct MLCCS inventory for entire city ($10,000 $25,000 grant received) 6. Assess and prioritize protection and management Staff proj ects 7. Develop funding strategies Staff 8. Develop Maplewood Tree Plan Staff 2010 1. Develop management plan for each greenway $40,000 2. Develop general management plan for Local $10,000 Habitats 2010+ 1. Develop individual management plans for individual $30,000 total Neighborhood Preserves when funding is available to begin restoration at site 2. Develop programs that address natural resources staff city-wide (ex wetland buffers, sustainable landscapinq) Education, 2008- 1. Develop natural resources workshop focusing on $5,000 grant Outreach, 2009 protection and stewardship of neighborhood Community resources Engagement 2. Present natural resources workshop in four Staff neighborhoods (two in 2008, two in 2009) 3. Enhance natural resources section of website Staff 4. Present community-wide programs on sustainable Staff landscapi ng and natural resources 5. Conduct "BioBlitz" for one site Staff 6. Develop strategies for citizen-based inventory and Staff monitori ng programs 2010 1. Present natural resources workshop for four Staff neighborhoods 2. Present community-wide proQrams on sustainable Natural Resources Plan Page 16 landscapi ng and natural resources 3. Conduct "BioBlitz" for one site 4. Implement one new citizen-based inventory or monitori nq proqram 2011 1. Present natural resources workshop for four staff neighborhoods 2. Present community-wide programs on sustainable landscapi ng and natural resources 3. Conduct "BioBlitz" for one site 4. Implement one new citizen-based inventory or monitori nq proqram 2012 1. Present community-wide programs on sustainable staff landscapi ng and natural resources 2013 1. Present community-wide natural resources staff proqrams Restoration 2008- See Parks Chapter for restoration and management and 2013 projects at Neighborhood Preserves. Management Natural resources management activities are conti ngent upon assessment and prioritization which is scheduled for 2009 (after MLCCS data compiled). Land 2008- 1. Develop policies, zoning, and ordinances that help Protection 2009 protect natural lands and 2009- 1. Acquire non-buildable land for preservation $25,000- Acquisition 2013 $100,000/acre 2. Acquire buildable land for preservation $100,000- (Cost-share grants available for land in Mississippi $300,000/acre Critical Area) 3. Acquire land throuqh donation $10,000/transaction General costs for restoration and manaaement: Per acre Buckthorn removal $1000-$10,000 Prairie restoration (includinq three years manaqement) $4000-$8000 Woodland restoration $2000-$20,000 Wetland restoration $2000-$8000 Yearly mai ntenance of restored areas $100-$250 Natural Resources Plan Page 17 6. Figures Figure 7.1. Natural and Semi-Natural Land in Maplewood Figure 7.2. Natural Area Greenways Figure 7.3. Local Habitats Figure 74. Maplewood's Natural Resources, Parks, Trails, and Open Space 7. Tables Table 7.1. Status of Selected Historical and Current Species in Maplewood Natural Resources Plan Page 18 Attachment 3 (Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Grdi nance) MAPLEWOOD CODE DIVISION 4. ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Sec. 18.180. Established The city council estabtishes for the city an environmental and natural resources commission as an advisory board to the city council, as provided in MilID. Stats. SS 462.351-462.365. (Code 1982, S 25-17) Sec. 18-181. Advisory body; exceptions All actions of the advisory environmental and natural resources commission shall be in the nature of recommendations to the city council, and the commission shall have no final authority about any matters, except as the council may lawfully delegate authority to it. (Code 1982, S 25-18) State law reference- City environmental and natural resources agency to be advisory, except as otherwise providcd by state statute or charter, Minn. Stats. S 462.354, subd. I. Sec. 18.182. Composition; appointment; qualifications; terms (a) The environmental and natural resources commission shall have seven members appointed by the council. The members shall be residents of the city and may not hold an elected city public office. When possible. the council shall select commission members to represent the various areas ofthe city and to help meet the needs ofthe residents. (b) The city council shall appoint members of the environmental and naturat resources eommission for three-year tem1S. If the appointment is to fill a vaeancy. the appointment would be to finish the unexpired part of the vacated terms. (Code 1982. S 25-19) Sec. 18.183. Chairperson and vice-chairperson. The environmental and natural resources commission shall elect a ehairperson and a vicc-chairperson at the first environmental and natural resources commission meeting in January eaeh year. The chairperson shall be responsible for calling and presiding at meetings and shall have an equal vote with other members of the commission. [fthe chairperson is not at a meeting, the vice-chairperson shalt assume the duties of the chairperson for that meeting. If the chairperson resigns from or is otherwise no longer on the environmental and natural resources commission, the vice-chairperson shall become the acting chairperson until the environmental and naturat resources commission can hold an election for new officers. (Codc 1982 S 25-20) 1 Sec. 18.184. Vacancies. (a) Any of the following may cause the office of an environmental and natural resources commissioner to become vacated: (I) Death or removal from the city (2) Disability or failure to serve, as shown by failure to attend three meetings in any year, may be cause for rcmoval by council majority, untess good causc can bc shown to the council. (3) Resignation in writing. (4) Taking public of1ice in the city. (b) Vacancies shal1 be filled by the council for the unexpired portion of the vacatcd term. (Code 1982, () 25-21) Sec. 18.185. Officers; meetings; rules of procedure. (a) The environmcntal and natural resources commission shall elect its own officers, establish meeting times, and adopt its own rules of procedure to bc reviewed and approvcd by thc city council. (b) All mcctings of the environmental and natural resources commission shat! be open to the public and published on the city's website. (Code 1982,925-22) Sec. 18.186. Duties and responsibilities. Tn order to protect, preserve and enhance the environment of the City of Maplewood, the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission will: (I) Establish environmental priorities for the city in partnership with the City Council. (2) Recommend to the Community Design Review Board, ptanning Commission and City Councit changes necessary to existing policies, operating procedures and ordinances that control, protect, preserve and enhance the city's environmental assets. (3) Recommend to the Commtmity Design Review Board, Planning Commission and City Council new policics, operating proccdures and ordinances that control, protcct, prescrve and enhancc the city's environmental assets. (4) 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 (5) Pro-actively promote greater use and appreciations of the city's environmentat assets. (6) Revicw the rote of other city groups and how they might assist, support and advise the Environmental and Naturat Rcsources Conmlission. (7) Sponsor environmcntal projccts to enhance, repair, replace or rcstore negtected or deteriorating environmental asscts of the city. (8) Develop educational programs and materials that foster the mission to the Environmcntal and Naturat ResolU'ccs Commission. (9) Develop and promote the use of"sustainablc practices" for city policies and procedures. (Code 1982, S 25-23) Sec. 18.187. Compensation; expenses. All members of the environmental and natural rcsources commission shall serve without compensation. Howcver, approved expenses of the environmcntal and natural resources commission shall be paid from available city funds. Sec. 18.188. Responsibilities of tbe Environmental Manager. Subject to the direction ofthc city manager, the environmental and natural resources commission and its chairperson, the environmental manager who reports to the city engineer shall: (I) Conduct all correspondence of the commission. (2) Send out all required notices (3) Attend all meetings and hearings of the commission. (4) Keep thc dockets and minutes of the commission's proceedings. (5) Keep all required records and files. (6) Maintain the files and indexes of the commission. (Code 1982, S 25 -25) Sec. 18.189. Duties of city engineer, city attorney and otber city employees. (a) The city cngineer and the city attorney shall be availabtc to thc cnvironmental and natural resources commission. Thc city engineer and attorncy shall have the right to sit in with the commission at all meetings, but shall not be entitled to vote as members of the commission. (b) All city cngineering department employees and other regular employccs or personnel of the city shalt cooperate with the environmental and natmal rcsources commission and make thcm self avaitable and attend meetings when requested to do so. (Code 1982, S 25-26) 3 This ordinance shall be effective on October L 2006. Passed bv the City Council of the City of Maplewood on this 11'h day of September, 2006. Diana Longrie, Mayor ATTEST: Karen Guilfoile, City Clerk 4