HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-11-15 ENR Minutes
MINUTES
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
7:00 p.m., Monday, November 15, 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 Trippler.
B. ROLL CALL
Dale Trippler, Chair
Randee Edmundson, Commissioner
Judith Johannessen, Commissioner
Carole Lynne, Commissioner
Carol Mason Sherrill, Commissioner
Bill Schreiner, Commissioner
Ginny Yingling, Commissioner
Present
Present
Absent
Absent (On Leave)
Present
Absent
Present
Staff Present
Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner
Ginny Yingling, Natural Resource Coordinator
Andrew Hovland, Forestry Consultant
Kathleen Juenemann, Councilmember Liaison
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Edmundson moved to approve the aqenda as submitted.
Seconded by Commissioner Mason Sherrill.
Ayes - All
The motion passed.
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Yingling moved to approve the October 18. 2010. Environmental and Natural
Resources Commission meetinq minutes as submitted.
Seconded by Commissioner Edmundson.
Ayes - All
The motion passed.
E. NEW BUSINESS
1. Emerald Ash Borer Draft Plan
a. Natural Resource Coordinator, Ginny Gaynor introduced the item and Forestry
Consultant, Andrew Hovland presented the Emerald Ash Borer draft plan.
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The ENR Commission stated that the most important element to an Emerald Ash
Borer Plan is to take action prior to Emerald Ash Borer arriving by increasing
diversity of our urban forest. The ENR Commission is strongly opposed to the use
of any type of chemicals for the treatment of Emerald Ash Borer. Other comments
received by the commission include:
o Volunteerism
o Cost of tree replacement
o Change of the food chain for insects
o Education about different tree species
o Identification of Emerald Ash Borer and ash trees
o Insecticides and how long the insecticide is retained in the tissue of the tree
o Native ash trees in Minnesota (Green, Black, and White Ash)
o Range of the Emerald Ash Borer and what neighboring communities are going
to do about this problem
o Educating Maplewood residents on the issue and how to treat the problem
o Companies taking advantage of homeowners and selling them products that
won't work
o Homeowners should ensure that the company they hire to deal with the
problem has a chemical tree care license and a pesticide applicator license
o Cost of treating the tree, cost of removing the tree, and cost of replacing the
tree
o Data on the stingless wasp
o Replacement trees for the diseased trees
o Strategic plan to move forward
Ms. Gaynor thanked the commission for their review and comments on the draft
plan. Staff will prepare a final strategic plan for dealing with Emerald Ash Borer
over the next few months with final review by the Environmental and Parks
Commissions and City Council sometime next year.
2. Annual Sustainability Report
a. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall gave the Annual Sustainability Report
Highlights of the report include 2010 accomplishments by the ENR Commission,
Green Team update (completion of an environmental purchasing policy),
Sustainable Operations (recommendations given for improving operations in the
following areas: trash hauling, building operations, turf management, snow/ice
removal, fleet operations, and complete streets policies), and finally a
recommendation for the city to participate in the Minnesota GreenSteps program.
This program was created by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as a way to
assist local governments in achieving state and local greenhouse gas and pollution
reduction goals. The program involves 28 best practices to assist cities achieve
these goals.
Commissioner Yingling moved to recommend to the citv council the adoption of
the resolution authorizinq the Citv of Maplewood to participate in the Minnesota
GreenSteps proqram.
Seconded by Commissioner Edmundson.
Ayes - All
The motion passed.
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f. UNfiNISHED BUSINESS
None.
G. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
None.
H. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
1. Subcommittee Reports
a. Collection System Analysis - Chair Trippler gave the report regarding the
November 15, 2010, Special city council meeting regarding the Collection System
Analysis. The city council has directed staff to do additional research on cities that
are organized and the types of contracts they have, price differences between
organized cities and open hauling cities, review of additional studies on organized
trash hauling, and a draft of goals and objectives for moving forward. This
information should be presented to the city council during a workshop in early
2011. If the city council chooses to go forward with Collection System Analysis,
the city council has indicated they don't want to re-invent the wheel with additional
studies by the city, etc. It is their goal to move forward with the statutory process
and be complete within one year.
b. Neighborhood Environmental Groups - Commissioner Edmundson reported that
the group held its first program, which was the energy efficiency workshop at the
Community Center in October. Xcel Energy and Metro Clean Energy Resource
Team joined forces to assist the group in presenting energy efficiency tips to
homeowners and outlining available energy efficiency programs and rebates
available through Xcel. The next meeting will include representatives of the
Nature Center, to begin a dialogue on how the group can partner with the
naturalists on some of their programming.
c. Greenways - Environmental Planner, Shann finwall informed the group of the
next meeting on November 19, 2010.
I. STAff PRESENTATIONS
Ms. finwall discussed programs at the Maplewood Nature Center and the friends of Maplewood
2011 Calendar that is for sale to benefit the Maplewood Nature Center and other environmental
programming in the city.
J. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Trippler adjourned the meeting at 9:08 p.m.
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