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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnvironmental Quality Committee Minutes 06-12-2019APPROVED Minutes Environmental Quality Committee (EQC) June 12, 2019 MEMBERS PRESENT: Committee Members Marky Williamson, Paul Senne, Andy Polzin, Marita Prokop, Clark Gregor, Joel Spoonheim, Laura Babcock MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: City Engineer Chris LaBounty, Senior Engineering Technician Ben Scharenbroich 1. Call to Order – 7:00 P.M. 2. Public Forum Resident Carole Rydberg attended the meeting. She had previously attended an EQC meeting when the Green Step Cities program was discussed. She is interested in the EQC as she has concerns for the sustainability of the planet. 3. Approval of Agenda Senior Engineering Technician Scharenbroich indicated he had a verbal update on the Water Efficiency Grant Rebate Program. Committee Member Senne inquired if there was an update to share with the committee about department staffing. City Engineer La Bounty said he could update the committee. Both added items were placed under Staff Reports and Recommendations. Motion by Committee Member Polzin, seconded by Committee Member Williamson, recommending approval of the June 12, 2019 Environmental Quality Committee meeting agenda as amended. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. 4. Consent Agenda 4.1 Approve May 8, 2019 EQC Meeting Minutes Motion by Committee Member Williamson, seconded by Committee Member Babcock recommending approval of the Consent Agenda. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. 5. General Business 5.1 Green Step Cities - Next Steps City Engineer LaBounty recapped the program and talked about staff recommendations for potentially implementing the program in Plymouth. He restated the five primary categories created by the MPCA and other stakeholders for municipalities to implement best management practices (BMPs) to achieve sustainability: • Building and Lighting • Transportation • Land Use • Environmental Management • Economic and Community Development Environmental Quality Committee Minutes June 12, 2019 Page 2 LaBounty gave an overview of the steps involved and the tasks required in each of the five categories. He also gave examples of what other cities with the program are doing and the various approaches they are taking and how cities prioritize the five categories. He indicated that if the City Council passes the resolution at the June 25, 2019 meeting, staff would identify which BMPs are currently strong, and work with other departments to gather data and develop BMPs for each step. A report would be presented to the EQC for review before submitting it to the MPCA. The report would show what is currently being done in the city. Motion by Committee Member Spoonheim to begin consideration of the program and open the floor for discussion including any modification to the resolution or instruction to staff, seconded by Committee Member Gregor. Members of the committee and staff informed Committee Member Spoonheim that a motion would not be needed for a discussion, but a motion would be necessary to recommend moving forward with the program and approve that the resolution be presented to the City Council. • Committee Member Polzin questioned the process of selecting BMPs and expressed desire for the EQC to be the voice of the public and provide some insight into what is pursued. • Committee Member Babcock said it would be wise to review where the program is at in two years to see what was done that worked well and what has been provided back to the city. She suggests the outcomes be tracked and quantified, and urged staff to get baseline data to work from. • Committee Member Spoonheim urged that the program not only document goals that have already been completed by the city but to have specific goals going forward that a city of Plymouth’s size would have the opportunities to complete. City Engineer LaBounty summarized his understanding of the committee’s discussion and offered a proposed course of action if the City Council passes the resolution: • Put together a roadmap of the BMPs currently being done, with summaries and data as proof for the MPCA. • Have EQC review the BMPs and give feedback before submitting to the MPCA. • Provide annual report to EQC what has been done and what is foreseen for the next year. Resident Carole Rydberg commented that she would like to see more frequent assessments and reports to show not only the areas the city is doing well in, but also where there needs to be improvement. City Engineer LaBounty indicated this would be an ongoing item at the EQC meetings with updates and discussions. Committee Member Spoonheim made amendment to his original motion to approve moving forward with the Green Steps Cities program, and to bring the resolution to the City Council and if approved by the MPCA to amend the resolution and strike language in item 6 of the resolution, removing “any 8” and “Step Two”. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Environmental Quality Committee Minutes June 12, 2019 Page 3 5.2 Wetland & Stormwater Ordinance Update City Engineer La Bounty informed the committee the ordinance is being revised to align with what the Surface Water Management plan was approved for, as all watershed districts have already approved the plan. Committee Member Polzin asked if there were any major changes to the ordinance. La Bounty replied that the wetland buffer distances have changed. 5.3 Adopt a Street Event Rescheduled Due to thunderstorms on May 18th, the event was rescheduled to Saturday, June 15th at 9:00 a.m. 6. Reports and Staff Recommendations 6.1 Water Efficiency Grant Program Update Senior Engineering Technician Scharenbroich updated the committee that 53 devices have been purchased, the majority of which are irrigation controllers, and currently $9,200.00 of the $15,000 budget has been allotted. Scharenbroich noted that many applicants have not been completing the gallons of water saved on the application, so he is not able to provide that number at this time. He also noted that later this year he will be compiling a report of residents that had received grant money to update to a water sense system in 2016-2017 to compare their 2016-2017 water usage with their current water usage. 6.2 Staffing Update City Engineer LaBounty shared that Senior Engineering Technician Scharenbroich will continue to be the EQC staff liaison. He also shared that an offer has been made for a new Water Resources Senior Engineering Technician, who is tentatively starting in July. The vacant Water Resources Manager position will be addressed at the end of the year. 7. Future Meetings July 10, 2019 7.1 MS4 Annual Public Hearing 8. Adjournment Environmental Quality Committee adjourned at 8:24 p.m.