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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-20 PACKET 04.A.ii. REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # � • . DATE 5/20/15 .14e�, . 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 April 8, 2015. , STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Receive and place on file the approved minutes for the Environmental Commission's meeting on April 8, 2015. 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 5/13/15 ❑ � ❑ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: ❑ MEMO/LETTER: ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: � OTHER: Approved minutes of Environmental Commission meetings on 4/8/15 ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS: " .��` .. � _. `t i�~ i J~ City Administrator Date * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * � :� * * * * * * * * * * * � COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER City of Cottage Grove Environmental Commission Meeting April 8, 2015 A meeting of the Environmental Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Parkway South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Wednesday, April 8, 2015, in the Council Chambers at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Parkway South. Call to Order Vice Chair Imdieke called the Environmental Commission meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Attendees Members Present: Ryan Fleming, Joseph Johnston, Rosemary Palmer, Brandon Smith Members Absent: Rita Isker, Shauna Klug Others Present: Jennifer Levitt, Community Development Director/City Engineer Ryan BurFeind, Project Engineer Emily Schmitz, Code Enforcement Officer Dave Thiede, City Council Liaison Approval of Agenda Fleming made a motion to approve the agenda. Palmer seconded. Motion passed unani- mously(4-to-0 vote), Open Forum/Additional Agenda Items None Unfinished/New Business 5.1 Solar Incentive Plan Kim Havey, Minnesota Department of Commerce, gave a presentation on solar energy production incentives. Smith asked if any of the different production-based incentives mutually exclusive. Havey responded that the solar rewards and the Made in Minnesota program are exclusive of each other; you cannot receive both. Fleming stated that programs like this have created jobs in Minnesota and asked if programs like this across the nation have boosted the technology with the solar panels. Havey responded that the technology has been rapidly changing and we are actually seeing efficiency gains of 10 to 20 percent in the last several years on the amount of energy being produced from the same square footage of panels. The incentives has some impact but he be- lieves the overall massive demand for solar energy nationwide and the worldwide are the driving factors. Solar modules are becoming commoditized, which means they are similar no matter who is manufacturing them, which really drives down the price per watt, so it becomes a very compet- itive market. The intent, for example, of the Made in Minnesota market is to be able to build com- panies who are based here up to a certain size that they are able to produce panels that are competitive pricewise worldwide; it is meant to ramp them up to the volume that is needed to be able to get the price per watt competitive with other world markets. Environmental Commission Minutes April 8, 2015 Page 2 of 3 5.2 GreenCorps Application Schmitz summarized the memorandum regarding the City's application to host a Minnesota GreenCorps Member for program year 2015-2016. She explained that the GreenCorps member would work on stormwater conservation projects as well as projects that would meet the BMPs within the MS4 permits as well. The City Council, at their April 15 meeting, will be asked to support this application. Palmer made a motion to recommend that the City Council support the GreenCorps appli- cation. Fleming seconded. Motion passed unanimously(4-to-0 vote). 5.3 Sustainabilitv Award Schmitz reported that the 2015 Sustainability Award will be presented to Diane Bezdicek and Pine Hill Elementary School for their Tower Garden project. The awards will be presented on April 22, 2015, which is Earth Day, at Pine Hill Elementary at 7:30 a.m. Commissioners are invited to attend the presentation. 5.4 Draft 3M Cottaqe Grove Specialtv Additives Permit Levitt summarized the report regarding the draft 3M Cottage Grove Specialty Additives Permit. Staff is recommending that this information be provided to the City Council and does not see that it is necessary to provide any written comments to the PCA regarding this draft permit. Fleming made a motion to support staff's recommendation to forgo commenting on the draft 3M Specialty Additives Permit. Palmer seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5.5 Draft Air Permit: Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend Refinerv Levitt summarized the report on the Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend Refinery draft air permit. She noted that the comment period on this draft permit has closed. The draft permit was on the City Council agenda on January 21, 2015, to verify if they wanted to provide comments. The City did not provide any comments to the MPCA as this would be an improvement and reduction to air emission standards. 5.6 MS4 Permit Ordinance Amendments — Update BurFeind provided an update on the Municipal Separate Stormwater System (MS4) ordinance amendments that were approved by the City Council on March 4, 2015. Fleming asked with the sediment removed from the ponds if there are protocols for due diligence and where the sediment ends up going. BurFeind responded that the MPCA does have testing requirements so if more than 100 cubic yards is removed, testing would be done. If it meets certain criteria, it has to go to a specific landfill approved to take that material. 5.7 Metro WaterShed Partners & Clean Water MN 2014 End of Year Report BurFeind stated that the 2014 End of Year Report for the Metro WaterShed Partners & Clean Water MN was provided to the Commission for their information and no action is needed. 5.8 Strawberry Festival Booth BurFeind reported that the Environmental Commission will again have a booth at the Strawberry Festival in June. There will be handouts at the booth. This year there will also be a tower garden from Pine Hill and a raffle for a rain barrel. He stated that there is a signup sheet for Commis- sioners to sign up to staff the booth. Fleming asked if there is information that can be provided to Environmental Commission Minutes April 8, 2015 Page 3 of 3 be displayed at the booth about the solar incentives that are available. Schmitz stated that Havey will provide some pamphlets on those programs. 5.9 East Metro Water Resource Education Proqram BurFeind stated that the reports were provided to the Commission for their information. Approval of Environmental Commission Minutes of January 14, 2015 Smith made a motion to approve the minutes from the Environmental Commission Meeting on January 14, 2015. Palmerseconded. Motion passed unanimously(4-to-0 vote). Reports 7.1 Citv Council Update Thiede reported that at the March 18 City Council meeting, the Council approved the ordinance amendments regarding the MS4 permits. Thiede asked if the Commission provided input on the groundwater management area plan letter that the Council authorized. Levitt responded that be- cause there was not a quorum for the March Environmental Commission meeting, staff solicited comments from the Commission prior to the Council meeting, and none of the responses received from the Commissioners changed the response letter. Thiede stated that at the April 1 meeting, the Council approved a City Code amendment prohibiting land spreading of septage within the Cottage Grove municipal boundaries. Levitt explained the background of the ordinance and what was changed. Thiede welcomed Joseph Johnston as a youth member the Environmental Commission, who was appointed by the Council on March 4. 7.2 Response to Commission Inquiries None 7.3 Environmental Commission Comments and Requests Palmer stated that in the packet materials there was mention of various workshops put on be organizations in Washington County, on topics such as creating rain gardens, and asked if there is a possibility of Cottage Grove also offering workshops. Levitt responded that the City is working with the County to host a turF inanagement workshop at City Hall in July and also providing a similar workshop at the Public Works Open House in September. She stated that if the Commis- sion has any suggestions for workshops, staff would be happy to try to program those. Palmer suggested a workshop on rain gardens as that was the topic most were interested in at the Commission booth at last year's Strawberry Fest, along with information on rain barrels. 7.4 Annual Meetinq: Accept Environmental Commission Bylaws Palmer made a motion to accept the bylaws. Fleming seconded. Motion passed unani- mously(4-to-0 vote). Adjournment Fleming made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Palmerseconded. Motion passed unanim- ously(4-to-0 vote). Meeting adjourned at 7;54 p.m.