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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-18 ENR Minutes CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENIVRONMENT AL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION February 18, 2009 (Continuation of February 3, 2009 meeting) 515 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBERS - MAPLEWOOD CITY HALL 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Mason Sherrill indicated five out of seven commissioners were present, so there was quorum. 2. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present Chair Carol Mason Sherrill Commissioner Judith Johannessen Commissioner Frederica Musgrave (arrived at 6 p.m.) Commissioner Bill Schreiner Commissioner Dale Trippler Commissioner Ginny Yingling Commissioners Absent Commissioner Carole Lynne Staff Present DuWayne Konewko, Community Development and Parks Director Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator Jennifer Haskamp, Consulting Planner Council Liaison Present City Councilmember Kathleen Juenemann 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The meeting was a continuation of the February 3, 2009 meeting. The agenda had been approved on February 3. Chair Mason Sherrill stated the Environmental Protection Ordinance will be on the agenda for March 2009. Agenda items 4 and 5 were covered in the previous meeting on February 3. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 5. NEW BUSINESS 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. PROPOSED STOP GAP ORDINANCE (SOUTH MAPLEWOOD) 1 Jennifer Haskamp provided an update on the Stop Gap Ordinance for south Maplewood. The Conservation Ordinance (R1 R) moved forvvard to the City Council on February 9, 2009. The Council discussed the "draft" ordinance at that meeting. She said there were several recommendations made which will be discussed at the second reading at the February City Council meeting. Ms. Haskamp had made changes to the document; the major change being in the "Slope Buffer Preservation" section. She said staff is cross-referencing this with the existing slope ordinance, which is being updated. Ms. Haskamp has divided the conservation principals into two groups. The first was Natural Resources characteristics, and the second was Design characteristics. She stated when developers bid for a project they must have natural and design characteristics in their plans. She also changed the reference to City Council as the "approval body", and the commissions as "recommending bodies". Commissioner Trippler's recommendations were included in the document. There were some properties that would be re-zoned from "farm" designation to "R1 R" in south Maplewood. She said they designated this area with the same zoning in order to treat everything equal in raising conservation principles. When the Comprehensive Plan is adopted, they will determine the best zoning for south Maplewood and then review all the zoning throughout the city. After the Comprehensive Plan is updated, the farm designation will cease to exist. Ms. Haskamp said on December 8, 2008 the City Council sent their draft of the Comprehensive Plan for review to the cities that border the community, school districts, and MNDOT (Minnesota Department of Transportation). Adjacent jurisdictions have six months to review the document and return with comments. It is then sent to the Metropolitan Council for review and sent back to the city vvth comments. The City Council then makes changes and recommendations, and adopts the Plan. It is approximately six months before the formal Comprehensive Plan is fully adopted. Once this is done, the "clock starts ticking" for getting official controls updated. Ms. Haskamp felt that new recommendations should be held off until comments are received from the Metropolitan Council. She said the commission members received a copy of the Comprehensive Plan and vvll be able to determine how other chapters fit in with the new Natural Resources Chapter. Chair Mason Sherrill stated that the commission would finish their discussion on the Stop Gap Ordinance and review the draft of the Comprehensive Plan. She was concerned about residents being apprehensive about the value of their land and additional taxes. Director Konewko said a representative from Ramsey County will be present to articulate the tax issue at the next Council meeting and City Council was working with residents regarding value of their land. Commissioner Trippler asked for an explanation of what staff expects from the commission on these items. Director Konewko said they would appreciate support from the commission and motions made on the Stop Gap R1 R Ordinance and the Comprehensive Plan. Based on the information given to the commission tonight, Commissioner Trippler stated that he is supportive of the approval. 2 Commissioner Trippler made a motion to recommend approval of the R1 R Stop Gap Ordinance, seconded by Commissioner Yingling. The motion carried by a vote of five to O. B. DRAFT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVIEW Jennifer Haskamp provided an update on the Comprehensive Plan. Chair Mason Sherrill questioned whether the section on Road Construction under "Chapter Highlights" should be included in discussing development and redevelopment. Ms. Haskamp stated this paragraph was not included in the Natural Resources Chapter; it was part of her summary of the Comprehensive Plan. She said there is a stronger focus on ecological significance in the Natural Resources Chapter, such as development and redevelopment (low impact design techniques, natural area greenways ). Commissioner Johannessen asked if renewal and redevelopment referred to public and private property becoming part of the greenways. Ms. Haskamp said these issues have more to do with zoning; however it would also apply to private land. Chair Mason Sherrill stated she felt Maplewood streets were not pedestrian or bike friendly. She is interested in better designs for sidewalks encouraging more walking and biking. Councilmember Juenemann stated it is the goal of the city to develop more sidewalks and tie in sidewalks that go "nowhere". Commissioner Musgrave (arrived at the meeting at this point - 6 p.m.) stated that the implementation strategies do not clearly address all of the challenges pointed out in the Natural Resources Section. Natural Resources Coordinator Gaynor stated that the commission should send the types of questions and comments that Commissioner Musgrave poses to her. The next step would be sending the document to the Planning Commission. C 2008 ANNUAL REPORT Environmental Planner Shann Finwall had included a draft 2008 annual report in the commission packet. Director Konewko stated that further comments and feedback should be sent to Ms. Finwall. 7. NEW BUSINESS 8. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS 9. COMMISSIONER PRESENTATIONS 3 A CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURES COMMISSION Chair Mason Sherrill stated it was an honor to serve as the new Chair of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission. She said she wanted the commission to engage one another intellectually and socially, with mutual respect and civility. She distributed an article by the author of Robert's Rules of Order which she requested everyone read to foster a spirit of camaraderie and purpose within the commission. She also asked the commissioners to read the commission's mission statement. B. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Trash Haulinq Commissioner Trippler said he and Commissioner Lynne met with a city engineer regarding trash hauling and the impact of having multiple trash haulers in Maplewood. He said having 8 to 10 haulers comes with a high cost. In terms of the impact on the streets, garbage trucks account for 78 percent of the deterioration. If the city had just one garbage and one recycling truck, the life expectancy of a street would increase greatly. A full street reconstruction costs a million dollars per mile, resulting in $6,000 per resident. Maplewood designs roads that need reconstruction every 35 to 40 years. With 8 to 10 haulers, a road would need complete reconstruction every 20 years. Commissioner Trippler asked if staff preferred they continue to pursue this Issue. Director Konewko said it is worth pursuing to educate and engage the public. Commissioners Trippler and Lynne will present more on the issue at the next commission meeting. Storm Water Commissioner Schreiner asked to move this item to the next meeting. The storm water subcommittee members met in December 2008 and were not able to meet since then. Natural Area Greenwavs Commissioner Johannessen said they have established goals and strategies for the natural area greenways. She discussed the strategies and objectives they would be concentrating on. They vvll discuss processes at the next meeting. Director Konewko stated there is a workshop on Conservation Easements and Wetland Ordinances on March 2, 2009. The commission is invited, and asked as many commission members to attend as possible. C LEGAL AND PROTOCOL ISSUES Commissioner Musgrave said the issues she wanted to bring forvvard are the minutes of meetings, Parliamentary Procedure, and the Open Meeting Law She said she had taken this to a higher level because these issues had not been resolved. She said 4 her contributions during commission meetings are either cleansed or purged. She has legal concerns about subcommittees; she has received legal advice, and the city attorney's advice is contradictory. She believes subcommittees are in violation of the Open Meeting Law 10. STAFF PRESENTATIONS Natural Resources Coordinator Gaynor stated she will share information regarding the University of Minnesota Urban Tree Management Project at the next meeting. She vvll give an update of Nature Center programs in March. The Wetland Ordinance and the Dog Park Subcommittee will be discussed in March. There will be a guest speaker to talk about the Wind Turbine Ordinance in March, April and May, 2009. Commissioner Musgrave said the Maplewood Water Fest and the Taste of Maplewood should be on the agenda for next meeting. Natural Resources Coordinator Gaynor said they have a calendar that vvll be distributed to the commission members to keep them up to date vvth current events. 11. ADJOURN Chair Mason Sherrill stated they would hold a short recess before the joint meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission. She asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Musgrave made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Schreiner. The motion carried by unanimous vote and the meeting adjourned at 645 p.m. 5