Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-09-21 ENR Minutes CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION September 21, 2009 7:00 p.rn. COUNCIL CHAMBERS - MAPLE WOOD CITY HALL 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST 1. Call to Order - 7:00 p.rn. Chair Mason Sherrill stated six out of seven commissioners were present; there was quorum. 2. Roll Call Commissioners Present Commissioner Carole Lynne Commissioner Frederica Musgrave Commissioner Bill Schreiner Chair Carol Mason Sherrill Commissioner Dale Trippler Commissioner Ginny Yingling Commissioners Absent Commissioner Judith Johannessen Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Bill Priefer, Recycling Coordinator 3. Approval of Agenda Commissioner Musgrave requested adding an agenda item under number 8 regarding Sandy Lake and the S1. Paul Regional Water Services. Ms. Finwall requested to add two items under Staff Presentations regarding chickens in the city, and an update on the wetland ordinance. Commissioner Musgrave made a motion, seconded by Bill Schreiner, to approve the revised agenda. The motion passed by a vote of 6 to o. 4. Approval of Minutes July 20,2009. There were corrections made to the minutes and Commissioner Schreiner made a motion to approve as amended, seconded by Commissioner Yingling. The motion carried by a vote of6 to O. August 17,2009. There were corrections made to the minutes and Commissioner Yingling made a motion to approve as amended; seconded by Commissioner Trippler. The motion carried by a vote of 4 to 1, with Commissioner Musgrave voting against the minutes and Commissioner Schreiner abstaining. 5. New Business a. Eureka Recycling Contract Amendment Tim Brownell, President and Chief Operating Officer, and Christopher Goodwin, of Eureka Recycling were present at the meeting. Bill Priefer, the city's Recycling Coordinator, was also present and gave a short summary on the current recycling program in Maplewood. He reviewed the current contract and the new proposal, which would change the city collection from a per-ton to a per-household basis. He said this would cause cost increases to the city; however it should stabilize over the next three years. Mr. Brownell talked about changes over the past few years, and the economic reasons behind these changes. Ms. Finwall proposed to extend the current contract with Eureka Recycling to 2012. Commissioner Trippler stated that there is no language in the contract that allows for an extension or an amendment. To be fair and transparent, the city should probably go out for proposals rather than just amending the existing contract. Environmental Planner Finwall recommended that the item be tabled to allow the city attorney time to review the contract and determine if an extension or amendment is event feasible. Commissioner Trippler made a motion to table this item, seconded by Commissioner Musgrave. The motion carried by a vote of 6 to o. b. Kohlman Lake Total Maximum Daily Load Draft Report Environmental Planner Finwall introduced Cliff Aichinger, the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District Administrator. Mr. Aichinger said the watershed district has completed a TMDL study of Kohlman Lake over the last year. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has reviewed the study and has issued the study for public comment, which ends September 30, 2009. The report reflects that Kohlman Lake is impaired with excess phosphorous. A phosphorus reduction of38% during the growing season will be required to clean up the lake. The 2 watershed district will be implementing several projects over the next ten years to reduce phosphorus entering into the lake. Other contributors, such as cities and the Department of Transportation, will also be reducing phosphorus loads to the lake as road and development improvement projects are made. Mr. Aichinger ended by giving contact information for the Pollution Control Agency stating that the report and study are on the PCA Web site. The commission posed several questions regarding the study. In particular the commission was interested to know why Kohlman Lake was chosen as the first lake to complete a TMDL study. Mr. Aichinger stated that the watershed district had grant money available for the study along with the carp study they are conducting in the lake. In addition, Kohlman Lake is the first lake in the Phalen chain oflakes. 6. Unfinished Business a. Wind Turbine Ordinance Environmental Planner Finwall stated during the last several months the city has received inquiries from schools and commercial businesses about wind turbines. She stated Maplewood does not have a wind turbine ordinance; however the city has a cell tower ordinance that she suggested the commission review as a guideline for regulating towers. Ms. Finwall included the American Wind Energy Association model wind turbine ordinance for review by the commission. The commission discussed aspects ofthe model ordinance and determined it may be too lenient for an urban setting. The commission agreed that they would like to include other alternative energy sources in the ordinance, not just wind. Commissioner Musgrave stated that since the wind turbine regulations deal with zoning and setbacks that perhaps the best place for such an ordinance to start would be with the planning commission. Commissioner Musgrave made a motion to forward information gathered by the Environment and Natural Resources Commission to the Planning Commission, and request recommendations to come back to the commission. The motion failed for lack of a second. Commissioner Yingling stated that she sees Commissioner Musgrave's point about review by the planning commission. However, since the alternative energy piece is really an environmental issue, the original policy should come from the Environmental Commission first. Ms. Finwall stated that she will continue to modifY the ordinance to include other alternative energy sources and bring it back for review by the commission at a later date. 7. Visitor Presentations 3 Elizabeth Sletten, 2747 North Clarence Street, made comments about a detailed application report pertaining to runoff from the old Ramsey County compost site into Kohlman Lake. She said this report includes permit numbers, organizations, and resource names and dates. She gave the commission permit numbers and dates, and she encouraged the commissioners to research this information. She said it is available to the public, and anyone can contact the Department of Natural Resources for this information. 8. Commission Presentations Subcommittee Reports Stormwater: Environmental Planner Finwall said that the city engineer and the city's stormwater consultant SEH will be putting together a draft stormwater ordinance for review by the stormwater subcommittee and full commission in the future. Greenways: Chair Mason Sherrill said the greenway subcommittee is planning a second greenway tour ofthe Battle Lake/Holloway greenway on September 30. It is the subcommittees hope to have toured all four greenways by the end ofthe year, and then begin reviewing policies on how best to preserve and enhance those greenways. Trash hauling: Commissioner Trippler said at the last meeting they directed staff to put information together regarding the subcommittee's findings, and possibly at the October, 2009 meeting they will have information to share. Fish Creek Ad-Hoc Commission Report: Commissioner Yingling said there will be a public meeting on October 1,2009. She said letters will be sent to the residents who live in that greenway area. The meeting will be in the council chambers from 7:00-9:00 p.rn. and will include a brief presentation of what the greenways are, and opportunities and challenges in terms of protecting the land. Environmental Planner Finwall showed a brochure of A Hike of Fish Creek which will be sponsored by the Friends of Maplewood Nature. It will be held on Saturday, October 17,2009 from 1:15-3:00 p.m. For additional information, she said to call the Maplewood Nature Center at 651-249-2170. Sandy Lake/St. Paul Regional Water Services: Commissioner Musgrave said she watched part of the last city council meeting and asked why the Sandy Lake issue was not brought before their commission. Ms. Finwall said a conditional use permit was issued to the S1. Paul Regional Water Services in order to crush and process old pavement from water main projects on the Sandy Lake lime beds. However, before operations could begin they had to complete capping the Sandy Lake lime beds. The capping ofthe lime beds included hauling of dirt and fill to the site, which was apparently causing a nuisance to surrounding residential properties. One ofthe neighbors had expressed concern during city council visitor presentations which spurred an entire conditional use permit review be brought back to the city council. 4 9. Staff Presentations Slope tour: The slope tour is scheduled for September 29,2009, at 5 p.rn. Fall clean up day: Fall clean up day is scheduled for October 24, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.rn. at Gethsemane Church. Joy Park Buckthorn Pull: The joint buckthorn pull at Joy Park is scheduled for November 14, 2009 from 9:30 a.rn. until noon. Nature Center Programs: Ms. Finwall announced upcoming programs. Chickens: Ms. Finwall said Commissioner Musgrave posed the question about whether Maplewood allows chickens in residential areas. Currently, the city prohibits chickens or any other poultry in residential zoning districts. Two residents have also inquired about the feasibility of allowing chickens in their yard. Ms. Finwall will do some research and bring the item back for review by the commission in the future. Wetland Ordinance: Ms. Finwall said there will be a public forum on this ordinance on September 28,2009 at 7:00 p.rn. in conjunction with the city council meeting. 10. Adjourn Commissioner Schreiner made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Musgrave. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. 5