Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-08-17 ENR Minutes CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION August 17, 2009 7:00 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBERS - MAPLEWOOD CITY HALL 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Mason Sherrill indicated six out of seven commissioners were present; there is a quorum. 2. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Chair Carol Mason Sherrill Commissioner Judith Johannessen Commissioner Carole Lynne Commissioner Frederica Musgrave Commissioner Dale Trippler Commissioner Ginny Yingling Commissioners absent: Commissioner Bill Schreiner Staff members present: Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Kathleen Juenemann, City Councilmember Liaison 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Mason Sherrill asked for approval of the agenda, and ifthere were additions or corrections. Commissioner Musgrave requested an item be placed under Commission Presentations (Sustainable Article). Commissioner Yingling made a motion to approve the agenda as amended, seconded by Commissioner Johannessen. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. 4. APPROV AL OF MINUTES - July 2009 This item was tabled until September. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - a) Analysis of Waste and Recyclable Materials Collection Arrangements Environmental Planner Finwall introduced two guests, Sigrid Scheurle and Peter Sandei who work in the municipal division of the Metropolitan Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Mr. Scheurle has been working on solid waste matters since 1986, and his assignment was to move the state from a disposal site system to a recovery-based system, which is known as the Minnesota Waste Management Act. Peter Sandei works in another division ofthe MPCA, and is collaborating on organized collection and giving assistance and information to people regarding this. They presented the results of the study the MPCA completed in July regarding collection arrangements. The study reflected substantial environmental and economic benefits to organized trash collection. Commissioner Lynne asked what types of impacts do multiple trash haulers have on roads. She is on the trash hauling subcommittee and they have been trying to find documentation for their group on impact to roads. Mr. Scheurle suggested they could consult the University of Minnesota and MNDOT to see if they have models that are available. It is possible the League of Minnesota Cities could sponsor that kind of study as well. The information that is critical is what type of street and what specifications is that street built to. Mr. Scheurle stated that Maplewood's city attorney would have to determine which organized hauling process would best suit the needs ofthe city based on those specified in state statute. He also discussed the number of independent haulers today, and said there has been a lot of consolidation in the last few years and as a result fewer independent haulers. There are three large national companies. He pointed out that if Maplewood decided to go with four or five independent haulers, the independents could survive here. Commissioner Trippler asked ifthe MPCA has studied organized versus open collection service and has found that organized service uses less gas, produces less C02, produces better recycling rates, lowers unit cost, causes less damage to streets then why doesn't the MPCA support organized hauling over open collection? Mr. Scheurle stated that the MPCA would like the study results to speak for themselves. Councilmember Juenemann stated that Maplewood attempted to organize trash hauling in 1987 and again in 1993. Both times had been an uphill battle. No one with any significant responsibility wants to take a stand on organized trash hauling and take away a resident's choice of garbage haulers. However, she thought that in this more environmentally conscious era it seems as if the citizens are supportive ofthe concept because they are wondering why there are so many garbage haulers on our streets. She said Maplewood has 13 haulers right now. The haulers cause accidents, noise pollution, and air pollution. Diana Wanner, who works for the city council's office in St. Paul, introduced herself to the commission. Ms Wanner stated that the St. Paul city council recently passed a resolution to have staff complete a report on organized collection. They were very pleased to find out the work that the MPCA has done on this, and she was also familiar 2 with the Ramsey County study. Over the next month or so, policy analysts will be looking at this and drafting a report and presenting it to the St. Paul city council. For her part, she works in the city council office. Her role is liaison with the 17 neighborhood groups in St. Paul. A number of neighborhoods have decided on their own to look at this voluntarily, because oftheir concerns with road wear and tear and environmental issues. A number of neighborhood groups have environmental committees. She said she wanted to attend the meeting tonight to learn more about Maplewood's efforts. Commissioner Yingling asked Ms. Wanner about the neighborhood councils and had they put together any reports on what they have looked at. Ms. Wanner said there has been one individual that has done this, and she would send that name to the commission. Ms. Finwall stated that staff would continue to meet with the trash hauling subcommittee to discuss the next steps which would include a review of St. Paul's report. Commissioner Trippler made a motion to recommend that the Environmental Commission direct staff to draft a report on organized collection for review in the next three months. The report should include information on the environmental and financial impacts. Commissioner Yingling seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - b) Wind Turbine Ordinance Environmental Planner Finwall stated that Felicia Szott's wind turbine briefwas included in the environmental commission packet for review. The brief goes into the key factors that the city should look at when looking at wind turbines, looking at the differences between commercial and residential wind turbines, necessary permits for various turbines, set back requirements, insuring the safety, aesthetics, looking at the safety standards, design standards and other applicable standards such as noise, electrical codes and minimizing infrastructure impacts. Ms. Finwall stated that the City of Woodbury had recently completed a draft wind turbine ordinance, which was included in the packet also. Their ordinance has expanded to include other alternative energy sources including geothermal and solar. The wind turbine regulations in Woodbury would allow only residential property owners with 2-1/2 acres or more a wind turbine. Commissioner Yingling commented that the Woodbury ordinance doesn't give all residents and business owners an opportunity to use alternative energy sources. Ms. Finwall stated that the commission has reviewed a lot of research and data regarding wind turbines, and now it would be beneficial to discuss the true purpose of crafting an ordinance. Is it to promote alternative energy sources, or just ensure that they are regulated? Due to the lateness of the hour, Ms. Finwall suggested that the commission continue with this item at next month's meeting. 3 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - c) Surface Water Management Plan - Storm Water Ordinance Environmental Planner Finwall stated the commission reviewed the surface water management plan as part of the Comprehensive Plan, and on August 6th the Metropolitan Council completed its review ofthe plan. The Metropolitan Council submitted six minor comments on the plan, and stated overall that the plan has potential for the city to successfully plan its water resources. Staff is requesting comments and a recommendation on the final version ofthe plan which will then be reviewed by the city council in the coming months. In addition comment and recommendation on the surface water management plan, information on a surface water management ordinance was included for review in the commission's packets. The ordinance amendments are needed to meet one ofthe implementations required in the plan. The amendments will bring all areas of surface water management, including the city's engineering review, ordinances, and all watershed district rules, into one document. Ms. Finwall introduced a guest in the audience. Her name is Yanna Hedke. She is an undergraduate student with interest in studying surface water issues. She has offered to assist the city on the ordinance amendments on a pro bono basis. Ms. Finwall stated that there is a lot oftechnical information which needs to be reviewed on a surface water management ordinance. As such, she will invite Ron Leaf, storm water consultant, and Michael Thompson, city engineer, to the next meeting that this item is discussed. They are the experts and should lead the charge on these efforts. Commissioner Yingling made a motion to approve the final version ofthe surface water management plan, seconded by Commissioner Johannessen seconded the motion. The motion carried by a vote of five to six, with Commissioner Musgrave voting against the motion due to the fact that portions ofthe final version were missing in the commission's review. 6. NEW BUSINESS No new business 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS No visitors spoke 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Storm Water Subcommittee Commissioner Yingling stated that they were waiting to see how the storm water management ordinance moves forward before proceeding further with this item. 4 b. Greenways Commissioner Johannessen said the subcommittee had a meeting on August 11, 2009. The meeting centered primarily on developing ideas for encouraging conservation development in the city, and the subcommittee agreed at the onset that they were going to emphasize the idea of stewardship, rather than regulation in their comments and ideas. They felt that people needed to help conserve greenways and maintain them. Ms. Johannesson distributed a list ofthe ideas they had. Discussion and comments ensued. c. Trash Hauling Commissioner Trippler said the subcommittee did not have a current report. d. Fish Creek Commissioner Yingling stated the Fish Creek Ad hoc Commission has met twice since the last commission meeting. She said they went on a walking tour of the southern half ofthe Fish Creek corridor. The commission discussed the Libby property and the complications that will be presenting themselves due to the death of Mr. Jay Libby. The grant proposal the commission submitted was rejected. Their next meeting is August 28th from 1 :00 to 3 :00 p.m. in city hall. 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Slope Tour Environmental Planner Finwall suggested a date for the commission's slope tour. She said Steve Kumer, the slope expert, is not available until the end of September. The dates suggested were September 29th after 5 p.m. or other evenings toward the end of September and October. She suggested they meet at city hall and take a van. She said she would e-mail the commission with the dates. b. Calendar Environmental Planner Finwall followed up on a request by Commissioner Musgrave in regard to a yearly calendar for the commission. Ms. Finwall wanted to remind the group that they did go into some items that they need to address yearly in their goal setting meeting, and included those on a calendar. Some ofthe items were the year-end report, clean-up days, Arbor Day, Waterfest event, among others. Over and above these dates, staff does not know what will come up for review each month. The commission must react to current environmental issues. 5 c. Wetland Ordinance Update Environmental Planner Finwall gave a report on the wetland ordinance. She said they have a proposed timeline for review; and will have a public forum in September, 2009, because ofthe concerns expressed by residents. The date proposed to hold the public forum is September 28th, with the first reading November 9th, and the second reading November 23,2009. d. Upcoming conferences Ms. Finwall invited the commission to some upcoming conferences: the East Metro Sustainability Roundtable September 3, 2009 at Century College. The workshop for city leaders starts at 3:00 p.rn. There will be a reception at 5:00 p.m. with guest speaker polar explorer Eric Larsson; and then at 7:00 p.rn. they will be a public forum for neighbors. She said that if anyone is interested in attending, to please RSVP to the East Metro Sustainability (Alliance for Sustainability). She also said there is a workshop put on by the Watershed District at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. e. Maplewood Nature Center Programs Ms. Finwall announced the Maplewood Nature Center programs: there is a tree program with a cost share, and the nature center will reimburse 50% up to $100.00 per tree for up to four trees. There will be a children's program August 29th, which is called Magnificent Monarchs, Saturday from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Programming for adults includes a composting workshop, and the city has compost bins available for $45.00. There will be adult lawn seminars pertaining to low input lawn care; and creating a lawn that doesn't require a lot of water. Natural Resources Coordinator Ginny Gaynor wanted to announce a fall buckthorn program, which is a volunteer program where they request assistance for removal at Vista Hills Park. There will be a demonstration on how to remove buckthorn on Saturday September 26th, and finally, there will be a collaborative with the city of North St. Paul, Oakdale, and Ramsey Watershed to remove buckthorn at Silver Lake on November 14,2009. 10. ADJOURNMENT - 9:55 p.m. 6