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HomeMy WebLinkAboutConservation Commission - 02/13/2007 APPROVED MINUTES CONSERVATION COMMISSION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2007 7:00 PM, CITY CENTER Prairie Room 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Eapen Chacko (Chair), Jan Mosman (Vice Chair), Ray Daniels, Rita Krocak, Geneva MacMillan, David Seymour STUDENT COMMISSIONERS: Alesia Casanova, Lauren Mosman, Mark Mu ston CITY STAFF: Leslie A. Stovring, Staff Liaison Janice Curielli, Recording Secretary VISITORS: Mark Casanova (Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District Representative) September Steinolfson I. ROLL CALL Chair Chacko called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. Rita Krocak was absent. Student Commissioner Mark Muston was absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Daniels added Item VIILB. Hydrogen Fuel Society Newsletter and Item VIILC. Updates on Global Warming Issues MOTION: MacMillan moved, seconded by Jan Mosman, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. December 12, 2006 MOTION: Daniels moved, seconded by Seymour, to approve the minutes of the December 12, 2006 meeting as published. Motion carried 4-0, with Mosman abstaining. B. January 16, 2007 MOTION: Jan Mosman moved, seconded by Daniels, to approve the minutes of the January 16, 2007 meeting as published. Motion carried 5-0. IV. REPORTS FROM STAFF A. Phase II NPDES Non-Desradation Plan—Status and Recommendations Speaker—Joe Bischoff, Wenck Associates Eden Prairie Conservation Commission February 13, 2007 Page 2 Stovring introduced Joe Bischoff of Wenck Associates who gave a presentation on Phase 11 of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Nondegradation Plan. Due to a lawsuit brought against the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has to rewrite the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit to add non-degradation. These additional requirements were implemented for thirty (30) cities. Basically, they need to look at their stormwater discharges and compare them to the rates for 1988, which is when the state statutes for nondegradation were written. Eden Prairie is one of the thirty cities. A loading assessment for stormwater discharge is the first step in preparing the nondegradation plan. The assessment must look at 1988, the current year, and 2020 (or build-out) for Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Volume and Total Phosphorous (TP). The City must develop a non-degradation plan based on these results and incorporate Best Management Practices (BMP) into their Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) to the maximum extent practicable to return water quality to where it was in 1988. Bischoff reviewed the key issues involved in the assessments including changes in impervious cover, changes in pollutant loading, reviewing current BMPs such as rules for stormwater pond construction, installation of sump manholes and conducting street sweeping on a regular basis. New BMPs, particularly regarding volume, will need to be evaluated also. Bischoff presented graphics showing the models they developed for the city by watershed and sub-watershed areas and evaluated on a receiving water basis. He said they used the amount of impervious surface for various development types in creating the models. He noted the models show that the current practices are mitigating much of the volume, TP and TSS on average across the City. Daniels asked if the models assume the ponds will be maintained. Bischoff replied the assumptions were per design, so they will be maintained. A discussion followed regarding phosphorous sources and how the remaining base amounts of phosphorous could be reduced. Stovring noted the data represents city-wide averages and as a result some sub-watershed areas will likely need more help than others to meet the nondegradation requirements. MacMillan asked what is done with the sand that is swept off the streets. Stovring said much of it is being used to build berms at the new maintenance facility. Other uses would include such things as landfill cover. Stovring added that, while it is not toxic, neither is it good soil. Seymour asked if the City is working on reducing phosphorous sources. Stovring said we are looking at using less sand and more salt on the streets and increasing our street sweeping program. Bischoff then reviewed the schedule for developing the non-degradation plan. He said we need to develop a plan to address increased loads, propose measures to get loads back to 1988 levels, schedule time to review and comment on the plan, and add the new and revised BMPs to the SWPPP. Stovring noted that the Commission's Work Plan for June includes the non-degradation report Eden Prairie Conservation Commission February 13, 2007 Page 3 presentation at the Commission meeting. The agencies and watershed districts involved in the permitting process would be invited to attend this meeting. B. Prospect Road Alternative EAW—Project Status Stovring reviewed the final schedule for the Prospect Road Alternative EAW. She noted that the public comment period will extend from February 26 to March 28 and there will be public hearings on March 12 at the Planning Commission and March 20 at the City Council. She reminded Commissioners to email their comments to Chair Chacko if they did not bring them to tonight's meeting. Daniels asked where he should send questions that are outside the EAW. Stovring said he should send them to her or to Gene Dietz, the Public Works Director. Chacko asked if some of the work done by Bischoff for the non-degradation plan might be useful for this project. Stovring said the non-degradation plan data is broader and deals with watershed issues, not individual projects. C. Round Lake— Status Report Stovring said Steve McComas of Blue Water Science will be giving his presentation to the Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District representatives on March 7 in the City Hall Council Chambers at 7:00 PM. She encouraged all Commission members to attend in order to hear the presentation and to meet the Watershed District representatives. D. Goose Management Plan—Status Report Stovring distributed a memorandum summarizing the Goose Management Program. She noted the collection numbers have increased since 2003 when Environmental Services took charge of the program. She reviewed some of the details of the program, adding that collection only occurs in spring during molting season when geese that are unable to fly are collected and given to local food shelves. MacMillan asked if the program allows the beach at Round Lake to be used more now. Stovring said the geese do come back later in the summer but it has helped to some extent by reducing fecal coliform loads to the lake earlier in the year. Daniels asked if a 20-foot buffer of tall grass was considered for the Round Lake problem. Stovring said that isn't practical for the beach area; however, because quite a bit of the lakeshore around Round Lake is publicly owned, we are able to do more there than at other lakes. She said all new development in the City must provide a conservation easement along shorelines, but we can't go back to past development and force a similar easement as that would be considered a taking of land. She noted that education is a very important part of the plan. Stovring stated she is still working to have Dr. Cooper come to the next commission meeting and that the Commission would need to review and comment on the plan before it goes to the City Council. V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS Eden Prairie Conservation Commission February 13, 2007 Page 4 A. Cities for Climate Protection—Eapen Chacko Stovring distributed a list of ICLEI members. Chacko said he had spent some time searching the ICLEI website. It lists the actions required to become part of the group, including conducting an inventory of greenhouse gas as the first step. He thought the types of actions required after the inventory is completed might keep many cities from starting the process. Jan Mosman asked if we are going to join the group. Daniels said we have not done the basic inventory. He thought that would be a positive step,but after that it becomes more difficult. B. 20-40-15 Program Evaluation—Eapen Chacko Chacko said he met with City Manager Scott Neal on the 20-40-15 program and they discussed using the Conservation Commission as the reporting body for the program. They also discussed some of the improvements made to the City fleet and reviewed other potential ideas to implement to reach the goals. Jan Mosman suggested the improvements made to the City fleet be publicized so that people could do the same on their vehicles. Chacko said we haven't come up with a marketing plan yet. Jan Mosman thought we could offer our services as a Commission when they decide how to market the program. The other Commissioners agreed with her suggestion. Stovring said City staff will come to the July Commission meeting to report on the 2006 results. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Campaisn Idea—Replace an Incandescent Bulb—Eapen Chacko Chacko said he found out that the Change a Light Campaign is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since 2001. The country is divided into regions, and an organization is chosen within each region to implement the project. Our region is directed by the firm Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA), headquartered in Chicago. Between May and July each year MEEA contacts area stores and selects a partner to work in the territory. In our area it is usually Xcel Energy. They identify stores, put out an RFP to bulb manufacturers, and ask for contributions. They also place advertising, issue press releases and keep in touch with the retailers. He noted in 2005 GE gave 50 cents per bulb in cost reduction and also gave coupons to consumers. Chacko said we are not able to do anything until they select Xcel again as the area partner. He did contact Xcel to let them know we are interested. He noted that the national campaign is very visible. In addition, more types of light bulbs are being developed all the time, providing more variety for customers. B. Conservation Commission Work Plan for 2007—Eapen Chacko Eden Prairie Conservation Commission February 13, 2007 Page 5 Chacko thought the Work Plan is a good plan. He thought it would be better to leave it as is rather than adding more items and potentially overextending the Commission. Stovring said Gene Dietz and Scott Neal were very happy with it and they want it to go to the City Council for approval. Chacko said City Manager Neal suggested in their meeting that the interns he gets in the summer could look at recycling programs and marketing for those programs. They also discussed how we might strengthen our ties to the Watershed Districts since they have money for certain types of projects. VII. NEW BUSINESS/DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Environmental Times—Springy Articles Stovring handed out copies of the draft Spring 2007 Environmental Times. She also noted that she has received two nominees for the Commendation for Conservation. Stovring asked for other suggestions for the newsletter, possibly something on paper recycling. Daniels thought we could put in an overview of global warming. Jan Mosman thought global warming is getting a lot of press in other media. Chacko suggested using some of the material we have on the website such as the item on savings available with different kitchen appliance models. Lulu Mosman suggested listing tips to save electricity such as having dishes air dry in the dishwasher. VIII. INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS/HANDOUTS/COMMUNICATIONS A. Goose Management Plan (cd-rom) Stovring provided CD's for those who were not able to download the plan. B. Hydrogen Fuel Society Newsletter Daniels distributed copies of the Hydrogen Fuel Society of Minnesota newsletter. C. Updates on Global Warming Issues Daniels said the Senate passed the renewable energy standards bill, and the bill is in committee in the House. He read several essays written by local sixth graders on the issue of global warming. IX. UPCOMING EVENTS A. February 12, 2007—Planning Commission Presentation on Infiltration Stovring said she gave a presentation on stormwater infiltration and porous pavements to the Planning Commission last evening. She encouraged Commissioners to watch the reruns of the meeting on cable. A discussion followed regarding the schedule for items shown on cable and the possibility of adding the presentation to the website. Eden Prairie Conservation Commission February 13, 2007 Page 6 B. March 7, 2007 — Round Lake Presentation to the Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed C. March 24, 2007— Chamber of Commerce Yard & Garden Expo Stovring distributed information on the Chamber of Commerce's Yard & Garden Expo that she printed from their website. Jan Mosman noted that it was also in the newspaper. Stovring suggested we think about coordinating with them next year. Jan Mosman suggested we ask for free space at the Expo. Stovring said we could ask them, but Commissioners would have to volunteer for the work. Jan Mosman thought we could use the information we had from previous booths, have applications for the Conservation award, copies of the newsletter and a list of things we promote. Jan Mosman thought the Chamber might be interested if it would help increase attendance at the event. Chacko asked if we participate in the Living Green Expo that is held at the State Fairgrounds in St. Paul on May 5 and 6. He said it is organized by the Pollution Control Agency (PCA) and they have expert talks and exhibitors. Jan Mosman thought it would be interesting to circulate the information. Chacko thought it might be a source for speakers. X. NEXT MEETING A. March 13, 2007 XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: MacMillan moved, seconded by Daniels, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Chair Chacko adjourned the meeting at 8:55 PM.