Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-04-19 ENR Minutes MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 19, 2010 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 Chair Mason Sherrill. B. ROLL CALL Carol Mason Sherrill, Chair Randee Edmondson, Commissioner Judith Johannessen, Commissioner Carole Lynne, Commissioner Bill Schreiner, Commissioner Dale Trippler, Commissioner Ginny Yingling, Commissioner Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Bill Priefer, Recycling Coordinator Kathleen Juenemann, City Councilmember and Liaison C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Staff added "Solid Waste Panel Discussion" under Staff Presentations. Commissioner Yingling added "Mississippi Critical Area" under Commission Presentations. Commissioner Lynne added "Aesthetic Value with the Alternative Energy Ordinance" 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 Schreiner had a correction under 13. Commissioner Terms eliminate the word "not" expire. Commissioner Trippler stated he wants the ENR minutes to be more detailed. April 19, 2010 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 1 Commissioner Trippler moved to table the March 24. 2010. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meetinq minutes so that the minutes can be further hiqhliqhted to include more details. Seconded by Commissioner Lynne. Ayes - Chair Mason Sherrill, Commissioners Edmundson, Johannessen, Lynne, Schreiner, & Trippler Abstention - Commissioner Yingling The motion passed. E. NEW BUSINESS 1. Oath of Office a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall swore in the commissioners and they signed the Oath of Office form. 2. Election of Chair and Vice Chair a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall gave a brief report regarding electing a chair and vice chair for 2010. for the position of chair, Commissioner Johannessen nominated Commissioner Mason Sherrill, seconded by Commissioner Schreiner. Commissioner Schreiner nominated Commissioner Trippler, seconded by Commissioner Yingling. A vote was taken and Commission Trippler obtained five votes and Commission Mason Sherrill obtained two votes. Commissioner Trippler is the new chair for the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission for 2010. for the position of vice chair, Commissioner Schreiner nominated Commissioner Mason Sherrill and Commissioner Yingling nominated Commissioner Schreiner. A vote was taken and Commissioner Schreiner obtained four votes and Commissioner Mason Sherrill obtained three votes. Commissioner Schreiner is the new vice chair for the commission for 2010. Chairperson Mason Sherrill turned her chair responsibilities over to Commissioner Trippler who took over as chair. 3. Annual Report a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall gave the report on the 2009 ENR Annual Report. The commissioners asked questions regarding the annual report and suggested changes to the report before it goes to the city council. Changes include verifying term limit dates and adding additional information to three of the agenda items the commission reviewed in 2009 including Silver Lake Herbicide Treatment funding, Emerald Ash Borer, and University of Minnesota Study on Maplewood's Tree Policies. April 19, 2010 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 2 Commissioner Johannessen moved to approve the 2009 Annual Report with the revisions. Seconded by Commissioner Schreiner. Ayes - All The motion passed. F. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Recycling Contract Request for Proposal a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the recycling contract request for proposal. This is the third review of the RFP by the commission. b. Recycling Coordinator, Bill Priefer answered questions of the commission regarding the recycling contract. c. Mary Chamberlain with R.W. Beck addressed the commission and answered questions of the commission. d. Council Liaison, Kathleen Juenemann addressed the commission regarding the recycling RFP. The commission recommended a few additional changes having to do with how the point system for reviewing proposal is distributed and weight limits for recycling vehicles. Ms. Chamberlain noted the changes to be made to the RFP, which goes to the city council for final review in May. Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the recvclinq contract RFP as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Johannessen. Ayes - All The motion passed. 2. Alternative Energy Ordinance a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report regarding the alternative energy ordinance and answered questions of the commission. b. George Johnson, Senior Scientist with SEH in Vadnais Heights, addressed and answered questions of the commission. The commission discussed various issues regarding alternative energy sources such as the aesthetics of wind turbines, roof- top technology, community wind turbines, and the effect wind turbines would have on a neighborhood. Staff will bring this back to the commission in May. 3. Chickens in Residential Zoning Districts a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave an update on the proposed ordinance to allow chickens in residential zoning districts and answered questions of the commission. b. George Johnson, with SEH in Vadnais Heights, answered questions of the commission regarding the impacts of chickens in residential zoning districts. Mr. Johnson was a St. Paul Planning Commission during that city's adoption of a similar ordinance. April 19, 2010 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 3 The commission discussed concerns with the ordinance and issues with having chickens in residential areas. The commission discussed if they should continue to review this ordinance. It was determined that there is support for such an ordinance and they should continue the review. Staff will modify the draft ordinance based on the commission's comments and bring it back for further review in May. G. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. H. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS 1. Mississippi Critical Area Commissioner Yingling said she attended the first orientation meeting of the DN R Task Force on the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Rule Making Process. The next meeting is to be held at the end of June. Commissioner Yingling will bring further information back to the ENR at that time. 2. Aesthetic Value with the Alternative Energy Ordinance Commissioner Lynne stated she had been thinking of the wind turbine in North St .Paul and she wondered what type of aesthetic impacts wind turbines would have in Maplewood. Commissioner Lynne shared pictures of her neighborhood with the various utility and electric poles, and the aesthetic impacts those have. The commission needs to ensure the aesthetic issues are addressed with such an ordinance. I. STAFF PRESENTATIONS 1. Environmental and Natural Resources Commission 2010 Goals a. Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall discussed implementation strategies for the ENR Commission 2010 Goals. Chairperson Trippler asked commission members who wanted to volunteer to work on subcommittees for each goal. Trash Haulinq: Commissioner's Lynne, Schreiner, and Chair Trippler Greenwavs: Commissioner's Yingling and Johannessen, and Chair Trippler Neiqhborhood Environmental Groups: Commissioner's Mason Sherrill, Edmundson, and Johannessen Commissioner Schreiner moved to approve forminq subcommittees for 2010 to work on trash haulinq. qreenwavs and neiqhborhood environmental qroups as part of the qoals for 2010. Seconded by Commissioner Yingling. Ayes - All The motion passed. April 19, 2010 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 4 2. Spring Clean-Up Day (April 24) a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall stated that the spring clean-up is Saturday, April 24, 2010, at Aldrich Arena from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Staff is looking for volunteers to handout recycling handouts and other materials. Staff went over the fees that would be charged as a Maplewood resident bringing items to the spring clean up event. 3. Rainbarrel and Compost Bin Sale (May 1) a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall said the rainbarrel and compost bin sale is Saturday, May 1, 2010, at Central Park 2555 Dale Street in Roseville. The fee is $45 for the compost bins and $55 for the rainbarrel. The Maplewood Nature Center is sponsoring this event and is looking for volunteers. 4. Waterfest (May 22) a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall said Waterfest is sponsored by the Ramsey Washington Watershed District and is held Saturday, May 22,2010, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake Phalen. The Maplewood Nature Center will have a booth's for live animals, the extreme green makeover event, and for tree care. 5. Maplewood Nature Center Programs a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall said there is a "Treemendous" celebration, Saturday, May 1, 2010, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 East 7th Street. You can take home a tree seedling, learn about tree care and taste tree treats. 6. Solid Waste Panel Discussion a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall said the City Planner with the City of Golden Valley is hosting a Solid Waste Panel Discussion which will be held for commissions in the twin cities which is held Monday, April 26, 2010, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Chair Trippler stated he planned to attend the event. J. ADJOURNMENT Chair Trippler adjourned the meeting at 9:52 p.m. April 19, 2010 Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes 5