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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/19/2008 Environmental Board MinutesENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 19, 2008 CITY OF LINO LAKES APPROVED MINUTES DATE : November 19, 2008 TIME STARTED : 6:33 P.M. TIME ENDED : 8:25 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT : Mary Jo O’Dea, Barbara Bor, Paula Andrzejewski, Pamela Hartley, Martha DeHaven and Peter Brown MEMBERS ABSENT : Kim Brouillet. STAFF PRESENT : Environmental Coordinator Marty Asleson 1. CALL TO ORDER Ms. O’Dea called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES September 24, 2008 minute changes: The last paragraph on page 4, after the word point add: but it would help to know what staff will suggest to the developer to further advance the green concept to city building. Ms. DeHaven made a motion to approve the September 24, 2008 minutes with changes. Mr. Brown seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Ms. Bor stated she would like add Green Building as a discussion item. Ms. DeHaven stated she would like to the Green Acre Law as a discussion item Ms. DeHaven made a motion to approve the agenda. Ms. Hartley seconded the motion to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously 4. OPEN MIKE Open mike opened and closed at 6:35 p.m. 5. ACTION ITEMS None. 6. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 19, 2008 A. Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) Rule RMP-3/Doug Thomas, RCWD Administrator Mr. Asleson was present and stated the Rule RMP-3 has been a collaborative effort with RCWD and the City of Lino Lakes. Mr. Asleson introduced Mr. Doug Thomas, Administrator from RCWD, who was in attendance to give a PowerPoint presentation to board members regarding the Resource Management Plan (RMP) Goals: 1. Long term protection of water quality 2. Prevent down stream and localized flooding 3. Wetland protection through a localized wetland management plan 4. Predictability for the management of public drainage systems. Mr. Thomas stated this plan gives some flexibility to how the Wetland Conservation Act is enacted. There currently is a lot of pressure and demands to maintain public drainage systems for today and long term systems well into the future. He discussed outcomes of the RMP including future conditions, a defined local permitting process and a defined federal permitting process. He stated permitting objectives still include avoidance, minimization and mitigation. He discussed how the new rule would address stormwater management including rate and value contribution. Mr. Thomas discussed the geographic scope of the RMP-3 Rule in that being the City of Lino Lakes without the City of Centerville and the small area of VLAWMO and stated city staff is working with VLAWMO to discuss the RMP-3 Rule applied there as well. He discussed applicability of the RMP-3 Rule which replaces the wetland and stormwater RCWD general rule and that other district rules would apply such as erosion control. He discussed the application review process and stated that the process encourages pre-application review. He discussed wetland replacement and banning process that the RMP-3 Rule would establish. Wetland banking would allow the creation of planning level Wetland Preservation Corridor (WPC) and City specific wetland impact and replacement ratios, local wetland banking, and replacement in City. Ms. Bor questioned if a developer wanted to put in a 10 acre parking lot. What would happen with this process? Mr. Asleson stated this is a code flexibility issue. Mr. Thomas stated there is a methodology applied on a site level. He stated this is a key part of wetland preservation. The corridor sets the precedence for impact ratios. 2 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 19, 2008 Ms. O’Dea questioned what legal authority allowed them action. Mr. Thomas stated that this is within the State Wetland Conservation Act. He stated what we are trying to do is to follow the state laws and create a mitigation plan. Ms. Bor asked if the RCWD’s rule is to establish a category or if it is the responsibility of the developer. Mr. Thomas stated each project submitted still has to be site specific as part of every project in the city. Ms. Bor questioned terms of banking credits. She questioned if a developer can swap, exchange or buy credits. Mr. Thomas stated the concept is to go between properties. This rule creates a local banking program within the City of Lino Lakes. This gives credit for things that the state would not necessarily do. The idea is that that one parcel could have many more credits than others. They could accumulate and sell credits to another property owner who has difficulty in obtaining those credits/goals. Right now the wetland credits go for between $80,000 - $83,000 an acre. Mr. Thomas went on to discuss wetland buffer and upland habitat areas and how wetland buffers would be required for WPC and replacement wetlands. These areas would be planted to native vegetation, and to include stormwater features and trails and credits for preservation of high quality upland habitat. Mr. Asleson stated a very good example of a wetland buffer is the Foxborough development. Mr. Thomas discussed stormwater management and how volume control would be similar to regular RCWD rules except: -0.5 inches of runoff must be managed via re-establishment of drained wetlands, re-establishment of floodplain meadows, upland restoration/conservation, impervious disconnection, soil amendments to improve infiltration, and volume credits and banking. Mr. Thomas stated all of the wetland corridors would be established under easements, sureties and bonds. QUESTIONS: Mr. Asleson stated this will become part of our Comprehensive Plan once adopted. He stated we can now modify the City’s zoning ordinance. What will likely happen is the City is required to have a local Surface Water Management Plan and the City will incorporate this plan. Ms. Bor questioned if there was an 80 acre parcel that was converted to a wetland in the early 1900’s and that individual does not want to farm anymore or build a development what are the possibilities for this person? Mr. Thomas stated Green Acres could help a little bit. He stated that if all the spots are drained wetlands, that person could develop a wetland banking plan and convert those areas by 3 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 19, 2008 plugging up ditches and plant area to native vegetation. If this is successful they would be able to enroll in state and local bank and market credits statewide if they choose. In addition they would receive volume credits. It would take three years to restore the property. The property would have to be put in a perpetual wetland use. Mr. Thomas stated if there is an interested party RCWD would sit down with that person or persons and give free technical advice. Ms. DeHaven asked Mr. Thomas his view point on the Green Acres law. There was a short discussion on this with Mr. Thomas and Ms. DeHaven. B. 2008/2009 Environmental Goals Mr. Asleson stated each year the Environmental Board establishes a set of goals. He stated this is the time of year to review the 2008 goals and look ahead at the 2009 goals. After discussions with Board members, below are the proposed 2009 Environmental Board goals: • Promote environmental stewardship with the citizens of Lino Lakes by communicating environmental initiatives in the city using various means of communication such as: • City WebPages • newsletter • homeowners association meetings • the information kiosk • press coverage • Earth Day • Arbor Day • Recycling Day • Direct Mailing (Anoka County & City of Lino Lakes) • Participate in Blue Heron Days. Provide public service educational material to the public. • Participate in Earth Day activities in the community, promoting environmental awareness and collaboration with other environmental focused organizations. • Monitor any activity in the AUAR as well as other proposed development areas, focusing on the values Lino Lakes citizens have expressed in the vision for our city and the unique ecological aspects of our wetlands, lakes and streams and subsurface waters. Apply mitigation plan as defined for that area. 4 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 19, 2008 • Perform an evaluation of past Environmental Board recommendations for development projects. Review a sampling of a variety of projects by site visits, discussion with city staff, and landowners, neighbors, on the outcomes of the Boards recommendations. If necessary, submit a summary of significant findings resulting from the review in writing to the Community Development Director. In 2008, the Environmental Board visited the following sites: 1. Legacy of Woods Edge 2. Marshan Meadows 3. Pine Glen 4. Eagle Brook Church Conservation Easement and planting areas 5. Oak Savanna and wetland restoration areas at the Middle School. • Promote conservation development within the City incorporating the Open Space/Trail Plan and Handbook for Environmental Planning and Conservation Development within the scope of the new Resources Management Plan, and the Resources Management Plan RMP-3 • To meet or exceed our City recycling goal of 50 percent or greater of our Municipal solid waste. Find innovative ways to promote and encourage recycling as a city. Add recycling materials to kiosk. • Continue to monitor the Heron rookery and water quality in the northern one third of Peltier Lake and to support the protection of resources in that area. • Participate in comp plan and process. • The Lino Lakes Environmental Board passed a motion to endorse and follow the RMP/RMP-3 rule as a guide to the Resources Management Plan and acknowledged the unique collaboration that it sets between the Rice Creek Watershed District and the City as a result of the Resources Management Plan. The Environmental Board, after review of the RMP-3 Rule for implementing the Resources Management Plan, endorsed and showed unanimous support for the RMP- 3 Rule and acknowledged the unique collaboration that it will bring between Rice Creek Watershed District and the City of Lino Lakes. Motion was made by Ms. Andrzejewski and seconded by Mr. Brown. All were in favor. City staff will be attending the public hearing and speaking in support of the proposed rule. C. Updates: J.R.’s Appliance Recycling tonnage information Mr. Asleson stated he will contact J.R.’s Appliance Recycling and find out from them if they would be interested in having another appliance recycling day in the future as well as our normally scheduled spring recycle day held in May. 5 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 19, 2008 6 DRAFT MINUTES Blue Thumb Update The Blue Thumb update has been postponed until our next meeting. Earth Day Earth Day will be held April 18, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Green Acres Ms. DeHaven stated she would like board members to call their legislature and request that they rescind the Green Acres bill. Other: Ms. Andrzejewski stated she would like to educate citizens on recycling issues. 7. ADJOURN It was noted that the next meeting of the Environmental Board will be on December 17, 2008. There being no further business, Ms. Bor moved to adjourn at 8:25 p.m. Ms. DeHaven seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Transcribed by: Lisa Hogstad Community Development Secretary