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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/25/2004 Environmental Board MinutesENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING AUGUST 25, 2004 CITY OF LINO LAKES APPROVED MINUTES DATE : August 25, 2004 TIME STARTED : 6: 35 P.M. TIME ENDED : 8:30 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT : Barbara Bor (arrived at 6:45 p.m.), Barbara Bauman, Constance Grundhofer, Rod Kukonen, Teresa O’Connell (arrived at 6:40 p.m.), Mary Jo O’Dea MEMBERS ABSENT : Dennis Smith STAFF PRESENT : Environmental Coordinator Marty Asleson 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Kukonen called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES July 28, 2004 Page 3, first paragraph: “An advantage to having a greenway would be the association would know they would continue to have the scenery.” Page 5, third paragraph: “He inquired of Asleson if there was any quality natural features on the East.” Page 5, fifth paragraph: “Grundhofer noted the wetland delineation would not tell the quality of the wetlands. Asleson added you have to go to MNRAM for the assessing functions and values on wetlands.” Page 6, sixth paragraph: “Asleson answered that there was a lot of information to consider.” Page 6, tenth paragraph: “Grundhofer commented that pelicans had abandoned their nests in North Dakota in a previous abandonment.” Page 7, second paragraph: “O’Dea noted that last year staff indicated he did not see evidence of predation on the nests. There was a successful breeding season last year.” Page 7, fourth paragraph: Delete the sentence “They were trying to get greenways.” Page 7, ninth paragraph: “Asleson added that the rare plant indicators probably extended into those areas.” O’Dea made a motion to approve the July 28, 2004 meeting minutes. Grundhofer seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The Board approved the agenda as amended. 1 APPROVED MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING AUGUST 25, 2004 4. OPEN MIKE No citizen comments were made. 5. ACTION ITEMS A. Speiser Acres Asleson reviewed the background and analysis. He directed the questions to the Speiser representatives. Marni Speiser Sawyer introduced herself, her spouse Jeffrey Sawyer and her brother-in-law Thomas Paulus. Grundhofer inquired about the location of the lot and the number of houses planned. Mrs. Sawyer responded that it was on the East and there would be one house on the lot. Bauman questioned the location of the depressional area. Asleson answered the depressional area was between the house and ditch. The depressional area appeared to be in the wetland delineation buffer area. Chair Kukonen inquired if the swale would be retained. Asleson responded it would be retained. Chair Kukonen questioned when the ditch was created. Asleson answered it was probably put in the early 1900’s, and has been maintained. Bauman asked if additional fill would be needed. Mr. Paulus confirmed that some would be needed. Chair Kukonen inquired if the aspen would be retained. Asleson asked if the house could be positioned differently. Mrs. Sawyer responded that the house could not be repositioned. He encouraged them to be careful to keep as much of the aspen stand as possible. Grundhofer added that they filter the water, so it was not merely a request to save the trees. Asleson discussed planting native grasses on site. The Board compiled their recommendations: • Staff recommendations. • Work with staff for native plantings for a buffer in ditch area. • No imported or exported soils without City approval. • Save as many aspens as possible. O’Dea made a motion to approve the recommendations of the Board. Bor seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. 2 APPROVED MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING AUGUST 25, 2004 B. Parks, Natural Open Space/Greenways and Trail System Plan Jeff Shoenbauer of Brauer and Associates introduced himself and indicated his presentation would be brief, and then he would open up for discussion. Jeff presented an overview of the new open space and trails plan. O’Dea recalled that when the developer for Fox Den Acres came before the Board, he was unsure that it would work and meet the City requirements. She inquired if they were things to strive for, or if they were requirements. Mr. Shoenbauer responded that the City continued to retain regulatory control. With the new approach, the developer would approach staff with a blank proposal. Staff would give expectations, and they give their economic needs. Mr. Shoenbauer stated that creative design could not be regulated. He had experience with other communities that have been successful. He stated staff understood the issue. Bor inquired about the endowment process, and wanted to be able to express it more effectively. Mr. Shoenbauer discussed his experience with setting up endowment funds in other cities. Mr. Shoenbauer discussed upfront monies set aside to set up the fund and a portion of homeowner association fees. Incentives are used to allow the developer to initiate the endowment fund. Chair Kukonen recalled that Mr. Black had not embraced the idea and inquired if it had changed. Mr. Shoenbauer indicated he had changed his view. There was a discussion of the starting point with Fox Den Acres. Mr. Schoenbauer stated that a MNRAM analysis of the wetlands will give function of values weight to wetlands on the site as a starting point. He recommended the City set aside seed dollars, about $40,000/year for land acquisition. If it was truly a community value, it would need a dollar amount assigned. Bor inquired if there could be an adjustment to the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Shoenbauer answered that his recommendation would be to see the City go through a couple of conservation developments working together with the developers, and clarify the rules afterward. Growth controls, by themselves would not ensure open space, but might be effective if used as one of the tools in the toolbox. Instead of phasing, a developer could save money by the economies of scale. Asleson stated that he did an action sheet on the plan, and was told that the Board should make a recommendation. Councilmember Carlson stated that it was approved on Monday night. 3 APPROVED MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING AUGUST 25, 2004 Mr. Shoenbauer indicated the approval was important. All people involved need to find a common center point. The plan was dynamic, and Asleson was doing a great job updating the greenway areas. He stated he looked at conservation in a broad sense. Chair Kukonen recommended that Asleson and the other staff needed to be utilized. Mr. Shoenbauer answered that the staff were integral to the process, otherwise the document would be over 500 pages. O’Connell expressed concern that Mr. Black not be led to believe that the Board was singling him out. She reiterated that the Saddle Club could be used as an example for Fox Den Acres because it was adjacent and had similar issues. Mr. Shoenbauer responded that the example was used. They wanted to know the City’s desire in protection, infiltration, buffering, and greenways. Mr. Shoenbauer stated Lino Lakes was fortunate that Rice Creek Watershed District was so progressive in conservation development and unique surface water treatment and management techniques. Chair Kukonen mentioned stormwater management in its natural state can be a community value, but he inquired about flood plains. Mr. Shoenbauer responded there was no catch all rule that gave regulatory strength, but the City needed to use reasonableness. He encouraged bringing the community's values and City’s needs as a starting point at the table. He reminded the Board that without the development community, the City would not obtain the greenways. Bor inquired if the Board was holding any given plan to the Comprehensive Plan, the zoning ordinance would limit the creativity. Mr. Shoenbauer answered that economies of scale in the larger developments could have benefits, and may warrant a lifting of the population caps in an instance where a developer would take a conservation development approach. O’Dea made a motion to approve the plan. O’Connell seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. 6. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Environmental Board Search O’Dea presented the updated information, and requested that Board members begin working on other cities. She noted that Barb Bauman obtained a considerable amount of information from Shoreview. O’Connell noted that the Minneapolis meetings were not held on a monthly basis, but more unstructured and occasionally. 4 APPROVED MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING AUGUST 25, 2004 O’Dea stated that if a City had been done, a member should list what was found, or state there was no group in that City. Bauman indicated that she believed it would be helpful to know there was no group. She recommended noting a contact person for the City as well. Marty mentioned that he would like to have the environmental groups get together. The Board chose cities to explore for environmental groups as follows: O’Connell -- Plymouth and Crystal Bor -- Woodbury Chair Kukonen -- Blaine and Lexington Grundhofer -- Centerville, Circle Pines, Fridley, and North Oaks B. Solid Waste Reports/County Advisory Committee Updates Asleson stated that Mary Eide was not present. Recycling Day would be October 2, 2004. He hoped there would be good weather, and requested help. C. Goals 2004 and 2005 Chair Kukonen reviewed the goals for 2004, and indicated that several had been met. Asleson stated the kiosk needed to be updated because residents have been interested, and mentioned he had money for copies if needed. He noted that Extension classes had been held, but few Lino Lakes residents had attended. The next class would be a turf class at Chomonix on September 2, 2004. The Extension was open to do more classes as well. O’Connell recommended putting the information in the Quad. Chair Kukonen indicated there would only be 10-25 spaces for the class. He noted that Chomonix used organic fertilizer, which could be compared with other conventional options. He also expressed concern that Lino Lakes would have difficulty being certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat. Grundhofer noted the National Wildlife Federation had the Community Wildlife Habitat program changed in May. There would be no new applications considered, until the new requirements were established in September. She also indicated that her E-Mail was not working, so she would need to be phoned if she was needed. The Board briefly discussed E-Mail concerns. 5 APPROVED MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING AUGUST 25, 2004 D. Other reports from Staff and Environmental Board Asleson stated there were two funding opportunities. The Friends of the Mississippi River have up to $50,000 available, and they are interested in reviewing our ordinances so that they work with the RCWD CWMP process. A research consultant would do the review, and would be meeting next week. The second was the Metro Wildlife Corridor would be meeting on September 16, 2004 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Coon Rapids Dam looking at unique parcels in Anoka County with money available for preservation. Either of these opportunities could help the City with conservation development. Bauman inquired if the DNR had any grants available. Asleson responded the Board’s efforts were having a snowballing effect that can help with future funding and that we are looking for funding opportunities to help. Grundhofer stated she had located an oil based floor paint for heron tracks. She had gone to a craft store and made a pattern of the left and right feet of a heron. She indicated she would probably present it to Council for possible application in City Hall. Chair Kukonen mentioned he and Grundhofer had a booth at the 5K Rookery Run. They handed out information and indicated the Jaycees wanted to make it an annual event. He inquired if anyone had gone to the parade. (No other Board members had attended.) Grundhofer added Chair Kukonen began the race with the starting gun. There was an update and discussion of the heron issue. Bor inquired about the amount of flashing necessary for the trees. Chair Kukonen questioned the placement of the flashing on the tree. Asleson responded that there was a concern about bridging to adjacent trees, although the trees seemed to be far enough apart to hinder it. Grundhofer stated that they should put a call out for adults to help with the flashing in the Quad. Chair Kukonen inquired if the heron films could be edited to make an educational video. 7. OTHER DEPARTMENT REPORTS A. Forestry This item was tabled to the September 29, 2004 meeting. B. Solid Waste Recycling 6 APPROVED MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING AUGUST 25, 2004 This item was tabled to the September 29, 2004 meeting. C. Environmental This item was tabled to the September 29, 2004 meeting. 8. ADJOURN It was noted that the next meeting of the Environmental Board will be on September 29, 2004. There being no further business, Grundhofer moved to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Bor seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Transcribed by: Brigette Blesi TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. 7 APPROVED MINUTES