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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-07-16 PACKET 04.A.ii. REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # � � • DATE 7/16/14 � •,. PREPARED BY: Engineering Jennifer Levitt ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR ***********�**��********�*********************** COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Receive and place on file the approved minutes for the Environmental Commission's meeting on May 14, 2014. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Receive and place on file the approved minutes for the Environmental Commission's meeting on May 14, 2014. BUDGET IMPLICATION: $N/A $N/A N/A BUDGETED AMOUNT ACTUAL AMOUNT FUNDING SOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION DATE REVIEWED APPROVED DENIED ❑ PLANNING ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PARKS AND RECREATION ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ HUMAN SERVICES/RIGHTS ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY ❑ ❑ ❑ � ENVIRONMENTAL 7/9/14 ❑ � ❑ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ❑ MEMO/LETTER: ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: � OTHER: Approved minutes of Environmental Commission meeting on 5/14/14 ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS , � �,; ? r�d � � City Administrator Date ***************************�******************** COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER City of Cottage Grove Environmental Commission Meeting May 14, 2014 A workshop meeting of the Environmental Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Parkway South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, in the Council Chambers and telecast on Local Government Cable Channel 16. Call to Order Vice Chair Klug called the Environmental Commission meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Attendees Members Present: Karla Bigham, Ryan Fleming, Rita Isker, Shauna Klug, Rosemary Palmer Members Absent: Thaddeus Owen, Brandon Smith Others Present: Jennifer Levitt, Community Development Director/City Engineer Ryan BurFeind, Graduate Engineer Emily Schmitz, Code Enforcement Officer Jen Peterson, City Council Liaison Approval of Agenda Bigham made a motion to approve the agenda. lsker seconded. The motion was approved unanimously (5-to-0 vote). Open Forum None New/Unfinished Business 5.1 Upper Mississippi River Bacteria Study and Protection Plan Barb Peichel, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, provided a presentation on the Upper Missis- sippi River Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Study and Protection Plan. Klug asked about controlling geese and wildlife around streams and storm sewer systems and what are the recommended treatments. Peichel responded that would be up to the individual cities, but she does not believe that for the Cottage Grove stream there is much of an issue. Levitt asked based upon the findings of this report, would the MPCA take legislative action for policy changes or rules and regulations, particularly for the agriculture component. Peichel responded not at this time. Isker asked who bears the cost of the cleanup due to issues with geese. Peichel responded that would be up to the local jurisdiction. Bigham asked if legacy money would be eligible for the impaired water list. Peichel responded that she is not sure if controlling geese on private property would be eligible. Fleming asked if there are load reduction goals for unnamed creek in Cottage Grove. Peichel responded no because there is not enough monitoring data to assess and it is not listed as impaired for bacteria. Levitt stated that the unnamed reach that flows into the Mississippi through Cottage Grove goes literally right out our back door into Cottage Grove Ravine Park, Environmental Commission Minutes May 14, 2014 Page 2 of 4 through the basin and to the 3M property. It flows through the 3M property and discharges into the Mississippi and actually picks up 3M's wastewater treatment plant priority discharge in the area known as the East Cove. Peichel stated that facility is regulated by the MPCA as a wastewater treatment facility and has effluent limits to ensure the water that comes out from their facility before it discharges into the creek meets water quality standards. 5.2 Minnesota Department of Health Report: PFCs in Homes and Gardens Levitt highlighted some of the items in the Minnesota Department of Health Report on PFCs in Homes and Gardens. Palmer asked if the 20 homes were a mixture of city water and private wells or all private wells. Levitt responded they were all private wells, and to her knowledge no homes with municipal water were used in the study. 5.3 East Metro Water Resource Education Proqram (EMWREP) Update BurFeind provided an overview of the annual report of the East Metro Water Resource Education Program. 5.4 Review Recvclinq Grant Levitt gave an update on the recycling grant that the City received from Washington County and what activities are being done this year. Klug asked about the cost for the compostable plates, napkins, and silverware. Levitt responded that there is probably a slight increase in cost, but it gives Public Safety the ability to provide additional amenities to the public for their block parties, and is a good way to bring awareness to the efforts of the Environmental Commission. Klug asked if those products are being used at City Hall and the Public Works building. Levitt responded that the City does not provide plates, silverware, or napkins for employees. Fleming asked if the max- imum eligibility amount is based on the number of households or on what the cities' proposed programs will be. Levitt responded that the maximum funding is $53,792; the base level of funding is based on the number of households in the city. Through incentive or project funds, which are based on the projects that are proposed, the City can get an additional $23,792 above our base level funding bringing us to the maximum of $53,792. Some communities may take the base funding but not do any additional projects. She reported that Cottage Grove is cutting edge in regards to Washington County's recycling efforts, and our recycling numbers demonstrate how strong our efforts are. 5.5 Recap of CLIMB Theater Performances at Elementarv Schools Schmitz provided a recap of the perFormances held in April at Crestview, Hillside, and Pinehill Elementary Schools by the CLIMB Theater, noting that the teachers provided positive comments about the performances. Bigham asked if the other schools in the city will receive perFormances. Schmitz responded that the City invited CLIMB Theater to provide the perFormances at three of the City's elementary schools. Levitt stated that staff reached out to the schools that have not the City has not partnered with recently, and we could target the other schools next year. Isker asked if the performances are available for the Commission to view. Schmitz replied that they were not recorded. Levitt stated that staff could invite the Commission to the next perFormances. Klug asked if future perFormances could be recorded and put it on the City's website for other schools to view. Levitt responded that there are challenges related to that, including student security, ensuring that none of the students are distinguishable, and copyrights for CLIMB Theater. 5.6 Open Meetinq Laws Levitt provided a presentation on open meeting laws and how it relates to the Environmental Commission. Environmental Commission Minutes May 14, 2014 Page 3 of 4 5.7 Strawberrv Festival Booth Planning and Siqn-Ups Schmitz stated that the Environmental Commission will have a booth at the Strawberry Festival. At the booth there will be flyers and trinkets to hand out, a recycling display, and the environmental banners. She asked that Commissioners sign up for a time slot to help staff the booth on Saturday, June 21. Bigham stated that last year the two most common questions were about rain barrels and the County's drop-off site for prescription drugs and we ran out of information on both those topics. It was also noted that all the flyers on rain gardens were given out. Fleming asked if those flyers were about rain gardens in general or the Watershed District's cost sharing programs. BurFeind stated that the rain garden pamphlets were provided by EMWREP and includes infor- mation about cost participation opportunities. 5.8 Adopt Environmental Commission Bvlaws Schmitz stated that the bylaws were amended following last month's meeting to add language regarding the two youth seats as requested by the Commission. Klug made a motion to adopt the 2014 Environmental Commission Bylaws. Fleming seconded. The motion passed unanimously (5-to-0 vote). 5.9 Environmental Commission 2014 Meetinq Schedule BurFeind provided the meeting schedule for the remainder of 2014. Klug asked if Commissioners could attend both boat tours. BurFeind responded yes. Peterson stated that the St. Croix River tour was very informative and encouraged the Commissioners to sign up. 5.10 Draft Permit — 3M Cottaqe Grove Abrasive Svstems Levitt summarized the memorandum from SEH on their review of the draft permit for the 3M Cottage Grove Abrasive Systems facility. Klug asked about the definition of minerals. Levitt responded since there are proprietary issues, there is probably no definition. Fleming asked about the significance of the insignificant threshold. Levitt responded that the MPCA has a definition of "insignificant," which defines what is measurable by actual technology and equipment. As shown in our air monitoring study, there are such huge variables in air data; it is not like testing a water sample that would consistently have a very finite reading. Approval of Environmental Commission Minutes from March 12, 2014 Fleming noted that the title says this is a"Workshop." Levitt stated that will be corrected to say "Meeting." Bigham made a motion to approve the minutes from the minutes from the March 12, 2014, Environmental Commission meeting as amended. Fleming seconded. Motion passed unanimously (5-to-0 vote). Reports 7.1 Citv Council lJpdate Peterson stated that the Sustainable City Award presentation to Werner Electric was well attended and they were very pleased to receive it. She reported that the City Council approved the Eastridge Woods 2nd Addition final plat; approved the final plat for Oak Cove; awarded the bid Environmental Commission Minutes May 14, 2014 Page 4 of 4 for the 2014 Pavement Management project, which will start after Memorial Day; authorized the sale of $1,435,000 in general obligation bonds, noting that our bond rating was increased to AA- plus stable; approved several Watershed District projects; and authorized the purchase of a jetter, which is used to clean out stormwater pipes and pond outlets. She stated that Schmitz has been busy with code enforcement including landscaping in commercial areas, parking lots, and sign ordinances. She the reported that on April 26, the Council dedicated the first Habitat for Humanity homes, welcoming four new families to the area. Klug asked if there is anything special about the new homes or the construction process that would be eligible for next year's Sustainable City Award. Levitt stated that BurFeind could monitor the construction techniques and best manage- ment practices during his inspections those to see if they could be candidates for next year's award. 7.2 Response to Commission Inquiries None 7.3 Environmental Commission Comments and Requests None Adjournment Bigham made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Palmer seconded. Motion passed unanim- ously (5-to-0 vote). The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.