Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/26/2015 Environmental Board MinutesCITY OF LINO LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING DATE TIME STARTED TIME ENDED MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT . STAFF PRESENT August 26, 2015 6:30 P.M. 8:08 P.M. Barbra Bor, Steve Heiskary, Paula Andrzejewski, John Sullivan, Nancie Klebba, Liz Kaufenberg Alex Schwartz Marty Asleson, Aubrey Fonfara 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Chair Heiskary called the Lino Lakes Environmental Board meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. on August 26, 2015. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Marty Asleson, Environmental Coordinator, suggested Item 6B be discussed before Item 6A. Ms. Bor suggested an item be added to the agenda to discuss future opportunities to improve the Blue Heron Days Parade. Ms. Bor made a MOTION to approve the agenda. Motion was supported by Ms. Klebba. Motion carried 4-0 (Ms. Andrzejewski and Ms. Kaufenberg abstained.) 3. SWEARING IN OF NEW MEMBER The swearing in of Liz Kaufenberg was postponed until the next meeting. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 24, 2015 Mr. Heiskary made a MOTION to approve the June 24, 2015 Meeting Minutes. Motion was supported by Ms. Bor. Motion carried 4 — 0 (Ms. Andrzejewski and Ms. Kaufenberg abstained). 5. OPEN MIKE APPROVED MINUTES Environmental Board August 26, 2015 Page 2 Mr. Heiskary declared Open Mike at 6:34 p.m. There was no one present for Open Mike. Open Mike was closed at 6:35 p.m. 6. ACTION ITEMS B. AUAR Update Mr. Asleson gave an overview of the proposed Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) update. The document is up for review and comment, a process which occurs every five years. Ms. Bor requested a paragraph from the original AUAR, which emphasizes an integrated approach to development, be retrieved and included in the revision. Andie Moffatt spoke on behalf of WSB & Associates, Inc. and defined the AUAR as a form of required state environmental review. The document is a hybrid between Environmental Assessment Worksheets (EAW) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and is especially useful to know the environmental impacts of developing large areas and put long-term mitigation measures into place. It also prevents the need for development projects to do environmental impact statements each time a project begins. The 2005 AUAR document was adopted and still stands, but it must be updated every five years in order to remain valid. Ms. Moffatt outlined the following developments: - The three original development scenarios from the original document have not changed - All mitigation methods from the original document are still valid but have been streamlined (i.e. turned into a checklist) for ease of staff. - Rice Creek Watershed District changed their rules to meet the standards of Lino Lakes. - Language from the original AUAR has been pulled forward into the mitigation list. The AUAR was sent out per state requirements to about 30 review agencies, which have 10 working days to comment. Comments from Anoka County Highway, City of Hugo, Metropolitan Council, DNR, and MNDOT did not require any changes. Anoka County Highway requested a traffic study but the City is not required to comply. Lino Lakes has planned its next traffic study for 2018. Ms. Bor advised that some farms locations which indicate archaeological sites not be listed in the public document to prevent digging. Ms. Kaufenberg asked whether the AUAR takes into account sustainable building designs. Mr. Asleson said there is some language about storm water treatment and conservation development. Sustainable building can be negotiated in the individual proposal when the developer comes in. APPROVED MINUTES Environmental Board August 26, 2015 Page 3 Ms. Bor requested that a statement be added to the "Purpose" of the AUAR to emphasize that this was originally meant to be a mixed use concept. Ms. Andrzejewski made a MOTION to take the AUAR to City Council. Motion was supported by Ms. Klebba. Motion carried 5-0 (Ms. Kaufenberg abstained). A. Borrow Pit/Century Farms Mr. Asleson gave an overview of the proposed Borrow Pit/Century Farms project. Century Farms developer Gary Uhde wishes to move soil from the borrow pit area to Century farms for the purpose of restoring structure to poor soil. The pit is not in a drinking water service management area. Mr. Heiskary inquired about the long term -plans for the project, especially when the borrow pit fills with water. Mr. Asleson responded that this decision would be made by Mr. Uhde, although he could fill it in. Ms. Klebba pointed out that a wetland is close to the location of the pit, where she has seen Pied -billed grebe, ermine, and otters nesting in the pond. She cautioned that the pit is part of a corridor for wildlife. She recommended that surrounding residents be notified about the project and subsequent noise. Ms. Bor asked about the circumference of the pit in regards to safety. Mr. Asleson used a map to show a planned 3:1 slope with a three foot bench at the top. Board members made the following recommendations: - Mr. Uhde should develop a long term plan to fill-in the pit. - Restored park areas should be fenced off during the project. Ms. Bor made a MOTION to allow Mr. Asleson to make progress with the project. Motion was supported by Ms. Andrzejewski. Motion carried 4-1 (Mr. Sullivan opposed). C. Lino Lakes Free Store Mr. Asleson introduced new Recycling Intern Aubrey Fonfara. Ms. Fonfara gave an overview of the proposed Lino Lakes Free Store project. Ms. Fonfara suggested sponsoring a Free Store Website would help keep reusable items within the community and help elderly residents give away items they may not be able to transport themselves. Ms. Bor asked whether the City will be able to report the weights of items collected. Ms. Fonfara responded that she will need to check if weights can be reported to the APPROVED MINUTES Environmental Board August 26, 2015 Page 4 County for funding, but that the City can collect this information to determine the amount of waste diverted from landfills and/or incinerators. Ms. Andrzejewski pointed out that some items, such as a bow and arrow, cannot be donated to thrift stores but the website may provide an opportunity for another resident to reuse them. Ms. Bor asked what premium features entailed if the City chooses to pay $5-$10 per month for the service. Ms. Fonfara said paying would remove the ads from the website and allow the City to choose its own domain name. Ms. Klebba suggested talking with the Eureka Free Store administrators about potential difficulties of the website to help anticipate any future problems. Mr. Sullivan pointed out that it may be impossible to weigh certain items, such as washing machines. Mr. Asleson suggested the website include a list of items and their approximate weights. Mr. Sullivan also suggested recommending a safe zone for residents to meet in a public area to exchange goods. Ms. Klebba suggested the website be reviewed by a legal team and include a disclaimer to prevent liability. Ms. Kaufenberg asked how the website would be promoted. Ms. Fonfara said it would be advertised on the recycling Facebook page, the City website and in newsletters. Ms. Bor suggested advertising in local newspapers. Ms. Andrzejewski made a MOTION to present the Free Store to City Council. Motion was supported by Ms. Klebba. Motion carried 5-0 (Ms. Kaufenberg abstained). 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Recycling Updates Mr. Asleson informed the board that on August 24th, City Council approved increasing fees for furniture and mattress collection at Recycling Saturdays. Mr. Asleson and Ms. Fonfara attended the Solid Waste Abatement Advisory Team meeting at Integrated Waste Management to discuss drop-off sites for Organics Recycling collection. They are considering ideas for beginning an organics collection program at parks locations, possibly by partnering with Anoka County, Wargo Nature Center, or the Correctional Facility. Ms. Andrzejewski suggested distributing a Google Survey to residents as a method to connect with neighborhood groups. Ms. Bor encouraged stronger stewardship in schools and churches to educate residents and promote organics recycling. Mr. Sullivan suggested holding an open information session for residents to learn about composting and recycling. APPROVED MINUTES Environmental Board August 26, 2015 Page 5 There was organics recycling collection at Corn Fest and Blue Heron Days. Corn Fest had an 88% waste diversion rate. B. Blue Heron Days Review This year, board members walked through the parade early to collect items before the end of the event and found this very successful. Board members asked that contact be made with the parade organizer to provide the following observations:Q-. - More candy was distributed at the parade than could be picked -up or consumed. - Candy should be handed to parade -goers rather than thrown to prevent children from running into the street. - Tootsie rolls were melting and sticking to the pavement, making clean up more difficult. The board suggests tootsie rolls be banned at future parades. - Many attendees did not recycle because of a lack of recycling bins along the parade route. Board members suggest there be an identifiable recycling bin paired with each garbage bin along the route. 8. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Sullivan made a MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:08 p.m. Motion was supported by Ms. Bor. Motion carried 5 — 0 (Ms. Kaufenberg abstained). Respectfully submitted, Aubrey Fonfara - Recycling Intern APPROVED MINUTES