HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnvironmental Quality Committee Packet 04-10-2019
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE
AGENDA
April 10, 2019
WHERE: MEDICINE LAKE ROOM
Plymouth City Hall
3400 Plymouth Boulevard
Plymouth, MN 55447
CONSENT AGENDA
All items listed on the consent agenda* are considered to be routine by the Environmental Quality
Committee and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items
unless a Committee member, or citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from
the consent agenda and considered in normal sequence on the agenda.
1. 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER
2. 7:00 P.M. PUBLIC FORUM – Individuals may address the Committee about any item
not contained in the regular agenda. A maximum of 15 minutes is allotted for the Forum.
3. 7:20 P.M APPROVAL OF AGENDA - EQC members may add items to the agenda for
discussion purposes or staff direction only. The EQC will not normally take official action
on items added to the agenda.
4. 7:25 P.M. CONSENT AGENDA*
A. Approve March 13, 2019 EQC Meeting Minutes
5. 7:30 P.M. GENERAL BUSINESS
A.
B.
C.
Bass and Pomerleau Lakes Alum Treatment
Medicine Lake Boat Launch Closure
Green Steps
6. REPORTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
7. FUTURE MEETINGS: May 8
• Solid Waste Annual Report
• Drop-Off Day Summary
8. 8:00 P.M. ADJOURNMENT
DRAFT Minutes
Environmental Quality Committee (EQC)
March 13, 2019
MEMBERS PRESENT: Committee Members Paul Senne, Marky Williamson, Andy Polzin,
Marita Prokop, Clark Gregor, Joel Spoonheim, Laura Babcock
MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT: Water Resources Manager Vanessa Strong
1. Call to Order – 7:00 P.M.
2. Public Forum Jim Crider, Steve Japs, and residents from Plymouth representing
Northwest Metro Climate Action were present again to discuss climate change and its
effects on the environment, and what Plymouth can do to address the issue. He urged the
city to participate in the GreenStep Cities program and requested the EQC and the city
emphasize addressing climate change, and make it a priority of the GreenStep program
3. Approval of Agenda
Water Resources Manager Strong requested an item to be added to the Agenda. Item 3.1 Elect
2019 EQC Chair and Vice-Chair. It was recognized during review of the February 13th Minutes
that while all Committee Members were in favor of the 2019 EQC Chair and Vice-Chair
nominations, an official vote was not conducted. Motion by Committee Member Spoonheim,
seconded by Committee Member Gregor, recommending approval of the March 13, 2019
Environmental Quality Committee meeting agenda as amended. With all members voting in favor,
the motion carried.
3.1 Elect 2019 EQC Chair and Vice-Chair Motion by Committee Member Spoonheim and
seconded by Committee Member Polzin to nominate Committee Member Prokop for EQC Chair
and Committee Member Gregor for Vice-Chair. With all member voting in favor, the motion
carried.
4. Consent Agenda
A. Approve February 13, 2018 EQC Meeting Minutes
Motion by Committee Member Williamson, seconded by Committee Member Gregor
recommending approval of the Consent Agenda. With all members voting in favor, the motion
carried. With all member voting in favor, the motion carried.
5. General Business
A. LWV City Sustainability Panel
Committee Member Gregor provided a summary of the League of Women Voters
Sustainability Panel event
B. Select Adopt-a-Street Collection Day for May
Motion by Committee Member Gregor and seconded by Committee Member Williamson
nominating the first adopt-a-street day and time for May 18th, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. With
all members voting in favor, the motion carried.
Environmental Quality Committee Minutes
March 13, 2019
Page 2
C. Green Step Cities Introduction
Water Resources Manager Strong presented to the Committee an overview of Green Step
Cities, the process, and materials available on the Green Steps website, including a
resolution template that could be used to make a recommendation to Council. There was
discussion by the Committee that to make Green Step Cities successful in Plymouth several
other committees and staff would be integral in coordinating the program under the
direction and leadership of Council. The Committee discussed the idea to introduce green
Steps to the other Committees in order to help provide background education for the
program. Motion by Committee Member Polzin and seconded by Committee Member
Spoonheim directing staff to send the resolution template to the City Attorney for review
and reach out to Green Steps to see if a speaker would be able to attend an upcoming
meeting. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.
6. Reports and Staff Recommendations
7. Future Meetings April 10, 2019
A. Solid Waste Annual Report
B. Drop Off Day
8. Adjournment
Environmental Quality Committee adjourned at 8:41 p.m.
REGULAR
COUNCIL MEETING
April 9, 2019
Agenda
Number: 6.13
To: Dave Callister, City Manager
Prepared by: Vanessa Strong, Water Resources Manager
Reviewed by: Michael Thompson, Director of Public Works
Item: Approve Closure of the Medicine Lake Boat Launch for 2019
1. ACTION REQUESTED:
Adopt attached resolution approving the closure of the Medicine Lake boat launch for 2019.
2. BACKGROUND:
The City has been operating the Medicine Lake boat launch for approximately 25 years. The launch was
originally installed to provide a seasonal deep water access. The launch was closed for the 2018
season. The launch has been traditionally open for three weekends in May and three weekends in
September for a total of 14 days per year. Emergency access is available year round.
Staff intends to hold an open house this fall to gather community input regarding the possible
permanent closure of the launch. This would be a transparent and open public input process. The
results of that feedback would be brought back to the Council at a future date before a final decision is
made. Similar to the 2018 season staff recommends closing the launch for the 2019 season, for the
following reasons:
• In 2014 Three Rivers Park District made improvements to their public access making the City
launch unnecessary for deep water access.
• Starry Stonewort, a fast-growing, non-native algae, was confirmed in Medicine Lake in August
of 2018. Reducing the number of public accesses can increase the effectiveness of an aquatic
invasive species (AIS) inspection program and help prevent the spread of starry stonewort to
other local lakes, and/or bringing additional AIS into Medicine Lake.
• The Medicine Lake Homeowners Association (AMLAC) supports closing the launch again in
2019, and has requested the launch be closed permanently to help manage AIS.
3. BUDGET IMPACT:
The City contracts with Three Rivers Park District to have certified inspectors eight hours per day for the
six weekends the launch is open which equates to approximately $1,200 per year. The City opens and
closes the launch two times per week during this process and also resets the concrete planks.
4. ATTACHMENTS:
Map of launch location
Resolution
S our ce: Es ri , Di gita lG lob e, Ge o Eye , Earth star Ge ograph i cs,CN ES/Ai rbus D S, U SD A, U SGS, A er oGR ID, IGN, a n d th e GIS Use rCommunity
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2019 MEDICINE LAKE BOAT LAUNCH CLOSURE
WHEREAS, the Three Rivers Park District made improvements to their public access in 2014 making
the City launch unnecessary; and
WHEREAS, the reduction of public access may improve the effectiveness of Starry Stonewort
identification and response on Medicine Lake, reduce introduction of additional AIS to Medicine Lake, and
reduce the spread to other local lakes; and
WHEREAS, the Medicine Lake Homeowners Association (AMLAC) supports closing of the launch.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH,
MINNESOTA that closure of the Medicine Lake boat launch for the 2019 season is approved.
APPROVED by the City Council on this 9th day of April, 2019.