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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-11-15 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, November 16, 2009 Council Chambers, City Hall 1830 County Road BEast A. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Acting Chair Trippler. B. ROLL CALL Carol Mason Sherrill, Chair Judith Johannssen, Commissioner Carole Lynne, Commissioner Frederica Musgrave, Commissioner Bill Schreiner, Commissioner Dale Trippler, Acting Chair Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Absent Present Present Present until 9:07 p.m. Present Present Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Steve Lukin, Fire Chief DuWayne Konewko, Community Development and Parks Department Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Trippler added November 9, 2009, city council meeting update under Commission Presentations. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the aqenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Schreiner. Ayes - All The motion passed. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Trippler said the October minutes are too brief. The first area is the presentation of George Johnson regarding the energy efficiency strategy. It would be nice to have itemized questions and issues that were discussed. Because they are an advisory commission for the city council, the minutes should reflect the discussion and recommendations of the commission. The second area is the commission handbook. Several changes were proposed to the commission's rules and ordinance based on the review of the handbook. These should be specified. Third, the Eureka Recycling contract item said commissioner Trippler and Musgrave thought the city should go through the RFP process. There were two basic reasons why he felt the process should not be approved. Those reasons weren't identified including the fact that the contract doesn't allow for an extension and the restriction of payment. He would like that information shown in the minutes. November 16, 2009 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 Commissioner Musgrave said the issue was whether or not the current contract allowed the city to just extend or amend, or if another RFP process would be required. This wasn't included in the discussion and she would like to see that in the minutes. Commissioner Trippler moved to table the October 19. 2009. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meetinq minutes so the minutes were more accuratelv reflected. Seconded by Commissioner Musgrave. Ayes - Commissioners Trippler, Musgrave, Johannessen, Lynne, Schreiner Abstain - Commissioner Yingling The motion to table passed. E. NEW BUSINESS 1. East Metro Regional Fire Training Facility -Informational Presentation (Located on the unused Minnesota Department of Transportation Highway Right-of-Way North of the Priory, West of Century Avenue, South of Holloway Avenue) a. Maplewood Fire Chief, Steve Lukin gave the informational presentation and answered questions of the commission. b. Storm Water Consultant with SEH in Vadnais Heights, Ron Leaf, gave a presentation and answered questions of the commission. The commission asked various questions such as: a. the size and height of the structure b. the chemicals and products used on the site c. the environmental impact on the site d. filtration on the site e. the effect on the wetland and retention pond f. what types of fire fighting chemicals would be used on the site g. the contaminated soils and the surface area of the site h. the levels of lead and arsenic contaminates on the site i. what year the Marsh Land group start meeting j. how much of the acreage would be for parking k. what percentage of the contaminants would be removed from the site I. where would the contaminants be relocated to m. how to control access to the site when fire exercises are being done Further information will follow if this project moves forward. F. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Energy and Conservation Strategy a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report. b. Senior Scientist, SEH, Vadnais Heights, George Johnson gave a brief update and answered questions of the commission. Mr. Johnson will work with staff and improve the report with the input from the commission. Environmental Planner Finwall stated the commission's comments will be included in the report, which will go to the city council for approval in December. 2. Wetland Ordinance a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave an update on the wetland ordinance report. b. Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor answered questions of the commission. November 16, 2009 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2 c. Community Development and Parks Director, DuWayne Konewko answered questions of the commission. Acting Chair Trippler commented that the city council had three first readings of the wetland ordinance on March 24, 2008, April 13, 2009, and November 9, 2009. Now the city council will have its second reading of the second reading of the ordinance scheduled for December 14, 2009. Acting Chair Trippler said on page 1, Section 1.a. in the last sentence of the first paragraph it states "properly managed wetlands are needed to support the city's efforts to reduce flooding and to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare." There is nothing in there about wildlife protection and he suggested it should say "reduce flooding, provide wildlife habitat and to protect public health, safety and general welfare." On page 3.j., under removal of non-native shrubs, it states if the site is flat or has only slight slopes, but it doesn't specify the amount of slope. There should be a cap such as not more than 4% so staff is something to go on. Acting Chair Trippler stated that it's referenced in several places in the document. On page 8, Section 4. D. under Buffer Wetland Classes for Wetlands Adjacent to Lakes, he asked where those figures came from for Manage A, Band C. Acting Chair asked if that doesn't negate the minimum buffer in Part A. Environmental Planner Finwall stated the city council wanted to have alternative buffers for wetlands adjacent lakes because lakes are used for recreational purposes, whereas wetlands are not. Commissioner Yingling stated she could understand wanting greater access to the lakes but it struck her odd that people are comfortable with the science behind the 50 ft minimum buffer for water quality purposes, and for all of the places to not have that buffer around our impaired lakes seems unreasonable. To reduce the buffer for a lake where there is open water is a bad thing in her opinion. It hadn't occurred to her that this would go down to a 25 foot buffer for some of the lakes. Environmental Planner Finwall stated of the five lakes in Maplewood with wetlands adjacent to them, all five are classified as a Manage A or B, with no Manage C. So the 25 foot buffer would not apply anyway. But she will share this recommendation with the city council and propose to add it to the ordinance in the event any of these wetlands are downgraded in the future. Commissioner Yingling moved to recommend to the citv council to chanqe Section 4. d. the Minimum Buffer Width for Manaqe C wetlands adiacent to lakes from 25 feet to a minimum of 50 feet. Seconded by Commissioner Schreiner. Ayes - Acting Chair Trippler, Commissioners Johannessen, Lynne, Schreiner, & Yingling Abstain - Commissioner Musgrave The motion passed. Acting Chair Trippler recommended that staff include something in the wetland ordinance such as the city has the final say in what constitutes the final buffer. November 16, 2009 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3 Commissioner Musgrave asked if the final version of the comprehensive plan had been approved yet. Environmental Planner Finwall stated the Metropolitan Council is still reviewing the document. It should come back to the city in January 2010. Commissioner Musgrave said she didn't see very much relating to the protection of habitat and wildlife in the ordinance. Commissioner Yingling asked if the commission should consider the best management practices issue. In her opinion, the city should respect the wildlife habitat element of the buffer. The reason there are buffers greater than 50 feet is because of the high quality wetlands the city has. There needs to be upland habitat for feeding and for nesting and other wildlife activities. She would oppose allowing for reduced buffers as an incentive to best management practices in the ordinance. The ordinance allows for sufficient use of properties within the defined buffers and she feels adding another layer of complexity such as this is going to make it harder for the city to manage and enforce the ordinance. Commissioner Musgrave said people bought their land and developed it. It's hard to get people to change and restore the property back. She understands people's financial involvement. It's tough when the city tells people what to do with their land. (Commissioner Musgrave left the meeting at 9:07 p.m.) Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the first readinq of the wetland ordinance with the amendments discussed durinq the meetinq. Seconded by Commissioner Johannessen. Ayes - All (5-0) The motion passed. G. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS 1. Ron Cockriel, 943 New Century Boulevard, Maplewood. Mr. Cockriel discussed the 2010 Friends of Maplewood Calendar and how to get an order form for one of the calendars. He also discussed the East Metro Regional Fire Training. 2. Will Rossbach, City Councilmember, 1386 County Road C East, Maplewood. Councilmember Rossbach spoke regarding the role of the commission and some of the items they have been discussing. H. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS 1. Subcommittee Reports a) Stormwater Environmental Planner Finwall said the commission will begin working on the stormwater ordinance in 2010. They will be working with Ron Leaf, the city's stormwater consultant from SEH. b) Greenways Commissioner Johannessen gave an update on the greenways and Fish Creek. c) Trash Hauling Acting Chair Trippler said staff has been overwhelmed with working on other ordinances and environmental issues. For this reason the trash hauling issue has been delayed. Director Konewko said staff does anticipate bringing the trash hauling issue before the city November 16, 2009 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 4 council for their feedback in January 2010. Once staff has obtained their feedback, the item will be brought back for the commission's review. 2. Fish Creek Greenway Ad-Hoc Commission - Update By Commissioner Yingling Commissioner Yingling said the neighborhood meeting was October 1, 2009, and there were 11 people that attended. On October 17, 2009, the Friends of Maplewood hosted a walking tour of Fish Creek. The ad-hoc commission will continue their work through December. 3. Capitol Region Watershed Management Plan - Update By Commissioner Schreiner Commissioner Schreiner said on October 10, 2009, the watershed district published their draft of the 2010 Wetland Management Plan. They are accepting public comment on the plan until December 24, 2009, and that will be followed by a public hearing February 3, 2010. 4. City Council Meeting Update Acting Chair Trippler gave an update on the November 9, 2009, city council meeting as well as the wetland ordinance and the recycling contract. I. STAFF PRESENTATIONS 1. Commission Terms a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall said five commission members' terms are going to expire December 31, 2009; the deadline for applying for reappointments will be November 30, 2009. The interviews will be in early to mid January 2010. 2. Maplewood Nature Center Programs a. Natural Resources Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor gave an update on programs held at the Nature Center and buckthorn removal. Ms. Gaynor gave 2010 calendars from the Friends of Maplewood and the nature center to the commission members. J. ADJOURNMENT Acting Chair Trippler adjourned the meeting at 9:50 p.m. November 16, 2009 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 5