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12/12/00 LCEC AgP NOTICE Land Conservation & Environment Committee will meet Tuesday, December 12, 2000 at 5:45 P.M. at Shorewood City Hall 5755 Country Club Road Shorewood, MN 55331 A G E N D A 1. Approval of Minutes of September 26, 2000 and November 15, 2000 (Att.#1) 2.Report on Member Projects 3.Gideon Glen Update 4.Progress Report from Environmental Consultant Dan Dickel 5.Discussion on Lobbying Effort for Phosphorous Lawn Fertilizers 6.November 15, 2000 Open Space Meeting 7.Discussion on Backyard Composting (Att.#7)-Paula Berndt 8. Set Meeting Dates and Times 9. Adjournment y 1 • NOTICE Land Conservation & Environment Committee will meet Tuesday, December 12, 2000 at 5:45 P.M. at Shorewood City Hall 5755 Country Club Road Shorewood, MN 55331 AGENDA 1. Approval of Minutes of September 26, 2000 and November 159 2000 (Att.#1) 2. Report on Member Projects 3. Gideon Glen Update 4. Progress Report from Environmental Consultant Dan Dickel 5. Discussion on Lobbying Effort for Phosphorous Lawn Fertilizers 6. November 15, 2000 Open Space Meeting 7. Discussion on Backyard Composting (Att.#7)-Paula Berndt 8. Set Meeting Dates and Times 9. Adjournment CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD • LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMITTEE (LCEC) MEETING 5:45 P.M. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2000 MINUTES RA 1. CONVENE LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Vice-Chair Schmid called the meeting to order at 5:57 P.M. A. Roll Call Present: Tom Schmid, Donna Woodruff, Lucinda Kircher, and Anthony Pini; Planning Director Brad Nielsen Late Arrivals: Chair Fred Bruno, Paula Berndt, Council Liaison Mayor Love Absent: Joel Jurgens B. Review Agenda Agenda was approved. • 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Woodruff moved, Kircher seconded to approve the minutes of July 25, 2000 as submitted. Motion passed 3/0, with Pini abstaining. Chair Bruno arrived at 5:59 P.M. 3. REPORT ON MEMBER PROJECTS Bruno had nothing to report. Kircher had no new business to report but mentioned that composting buns would be ordered next spring. Nielsen reported that the LCEC budget was approved by the City Council, which included the subsidy for the compost bins. Pini inquired how the City would solicit the public to purchase the compost bins. Kircher replied that via the January and February newsletters, the public would be informed that a limited number of compost bins would be available to purchase at a reduced rate. She also suggested they coordinate the bin pickup with their spring open house. Berndt arrived at 6:05 P.M. Berndt was asked how long it would be expected to take for the bins to arrive once ordered. Berndt thought approximately two months. Nielsen reiterated that the idea of the subsidy was that the first 50 people to purchase bins would receive them at a discounted rate. Mayor Love arrived at 6:12 P.M. Nielsen suggested obtaining quotes from two reputable compost bin manufacturers, as well as, inquiring • about the possibility of reduced government pricing for them. W I LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2000 PAGE 2 OF 3 idea is to prioritize land conservation through classifying and ranking environmental space. The City could then decide how to go about acquiring those spaces. Mayor Love continued that it would be useful in the future to have an evaluation of these properties available. Bruno shared the term "land banking", as used by the MCWD. 9. SET MEETING DATES AND TIMES With no new business, Bruno asked for future meeting dates and times. Woodruff reported there were no scheduled meetings for October, however, the November meeting will be Wednesday the 15th, from 7 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. Woodruff explained that the evening will showcase several guest speakers and will be open to the public for a question and answer forum. The guests will include Eric Everson, from the Watershed District; Hannah Dunevitz, from the Natural Heritage Program; Steve Hobbs, of the Hennepin Conservation District; and Bill Penning, of Metro Greenways. Woodruff will be submitting an open invitation in the October and November newsletters inviting the public to attend. Next, the December meeting was scheduled for the 12th at 5:45 P.M., prior to the Park Commission meeting. At this meeting the LCEC will be looking for a progress report from the Environmental Consultant, Dick Dickel. Berndt and Kircher will also have a rough article to submit for the composting bins. 10. ADJOURNMENT Woodruff moved, Berndt seconded to adjourn. Motion passed 6/0. The Meeting adjourned at 7:13 P.M. • RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Kristi B. Anderson Recording Secretary • CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD • LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMITTEE (LCEC) MEETING 7:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2000 MINUTES R A F T 1. CONVENE PANEL DISCUSSION OF LAND CONSERVATION AND COMMITTEE Donna Woodruff called the meeting to order at 7:14 P.M. A. Roll Call Present: Donna Woodruff, Lucinda Kircher, and Anthony Pini; Planning Director Brad Nielsen; Council Liaison Mayor Woody Love; City Open Space Consultant Dan Dickel. Panel Guests: Steve Hobbs of the (HCD) Hennepin Conservation District; Eric Evenson of (MCWD) the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District; and Hannah Dunevitz from the DNR Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Absent: Joel Jurgens, Fred Bruno, Paula Berndt and Tom Schmid B. Review Agenda Agenda was approved. 2. PANEL DISCUSSION - Preservation of Open Space Woodruff introduced the panel of guests invited to discuss how to go about evaluating the City's open space and what to do with it. Having acquired the first true "open space", Woodruff asked where the City goes from here. A. HANNAH DUNEVITZ - DNR NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM First to speak was Hannah Dunevitz of the DNR's Natural Heritage Program. Dunevitz's job includes educating the public about ecological uses of land, as well as, how to manage and protect our natural resources. 1. Minnesota's Ecological History Dunevitz shared a Public Land Survey of the Natural Vegetation of Minnesota dated 1847 - 1907 as printed in the Natural Vegetation of Minnesota report. On a broad spectrum, this information collected portrays what the landscape of Minnesota was like during that era as early surveyors, loggers, and settlers t viewed it. Three major biomes existed in Minnesota at that time; tallgrass prairie, northern coniferous forest, and eastern deciduous forest. Shorewood is situated on the eastern edge of the deciduous forest area, otherwise known as the "Big Woods" containing a variety of wetlands. Since those early days the landscape has been greatly altered, with few remnants of the Big Woods remaining. Currently, only 7% • of the woods remains, which makes the preservation of that acreage very important. LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2000 PAGE 3 OF 5 • c) Conservation Partners Grant Program provided by the DNR is designed to improve fish, wildlife, and native plant habitats and to help fund research and surveys that might improve habitats for fish and wildlife. Again, a matching grant plan. Mayor Love pointed out, that in Shorewood, we have a great deal of lakeshore and asked what grant programs might exist for those circumstances. d Dunevitz identified the Wetland Restoration Program specifically designed for shoreland restoration. Evenson and Hobbs said they were familiar with these programs as used in Long Lake and Nuremberg Gardens, Wayzata. Evenson said the key to this program is to develop an ongoing wetland preservation effort like the one that exists here with the Gideon Glen property. Evenson continued that while the City and MCWD can purchase the property, the challenge may be generating more grant partners. The matching funds exist now to make the purchase, but will be gone after that, raising matching funds again will be extremely difficult. The timeframe to obtain grants is now, with closing to take place within one month. Dunevitz replied that the DNR has strict rules and deadlines it must follow; however, Metro Greenways via Al Singer, the District Manager, may be another avenue. The Trust for Public Land was brought up next. Dunevitz said she felt this is the sort of project they would be willing to put up money for. Dan Dickel agreed, saying the Trust could provide the pivotal financing needed. Knowing that we already have financing in place, they might put up money now and allow the City time pay them back once a matching grant is found. Dunevitz said the Trust is always looking for greenspace and may provide a good partner. The person to contact there is Susan Schmitt. Mayor Love shared his view that Gideon Glen could be a "model project". A very visible development • preserving habitat and restoring wetland, it would be located right off highway 19 near here. But once again, the City is in dire need of partners. Evenson added that while acquiring larger blocks is best, Gideon Glen is not a bad size site, especially when you consider what surrounds it. Certainly the "undisturbed edges" exist now, with large lots around and backing up to it. Administrator Nielsen agreed that this 6 acre purchase is actually protecting upwards of 15 acres. Dunevitz cited an additional program recently put together by the DNR, Neighborhood Wilds. This program was designed for groups of landowners to team up with experts to educate them about natural resources and help with ideas for grants. Grants like the Conservation Partners Grant, specifically geared to neighborhoods. Dunevitz mentioned that there are neighborhoods in Shakopee and Afton currently doing this. Contact Meredith Cornett at 651-772-7574 for more information. Woodruff pointed out that Shorewood is just one of approximately 7-8 small communities sharing "connections". Connections via the LRT for example. Dunevitz said that communities working together to preserve their natural resources is exactly what Metro Greenways encourages, in fact, almost insists on. B. STEVE HOBBS - HENNEPIN CONSERVATION DISTRICT Hobbs identified his branch as the soil and water conservation district for Hennepin County. As such, their job is to help communities perform natural resource inventories and come up with open space management plans. Currently, they are working with Medina, Independence and others. Via their GIS, digitized mapping system, they have inventories of all the wetlands within Hennepin County dating back • LfAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2000 PAGE 5 OF 5 • 1. QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE Administrator Nielsen asked what size basin the function and value assessment is based on in regards to Gideon Glen. Evenson replied that size does not always make a difference when you are looking to connect wetland basins. Hobbs added that the quality will make a great deal of difference, and based on their database, they can determine which basins connect the wetland and open space best. When determining the amount of money they were willing to put into a project like this, the MCWD looked at the larger picture and potential for other activities that could be done within this and neighboring communities to further wetland preservation and treatment. While Evenson was not clear whether an opportunity exists for the Watershed to provide additional funds to complete this project, he was pleased to see the partnerships forming tonight that could possibly tie-in additional funds. He also stated that due to the timeline, although they may be in a position to attain a very nice piece of property, it may take much longer to get the additional funds to complete the restoration. Dickel pointed out that due to the limited timeline, talking with Susan Schmitt at the Trust for Public Land becomes that much more important. Often they are willing to extend or loan the funds needed to complete a project. Mayor Love reiterated the fact that the City has been in a race with developers to purchase this land. Evenson asked Dunevitz if there was anyone at the DNR that could approve the use of the encumbered funds now, applying the grants when they are available. Dunevitz suggested they use Al Singer at Metro Greenways as a resource, but if they chose to, they could contact Wayne Sams at the DNR. Mayor Love brought up the feasibility questions of managing a bank for the wetland mitigation of funds. • Hobbs said it was viable, as a matter of fact, the HCD is exploring this option themselves. Hobbs said the problem is that no one points out to the various players the opportunities that exist to be able to do something like this, thus, the funds go untapped. There is an incredible opportunity to funnel money from resources who provide these funds to people who need it. Dunevitz added that there is a lot of information available, but it is changing all of the time. 2. CONCLUSION Woodruff thanked everyone for coming and asked for suggestions how the city could generate greater interest in the community as it moves forward. Mayor Love felt it would be beneficial to start by educating our lakeshore owners. Dickel mentioned the use of demonstration gardens is a valuable tool to teach people more about the importance of greenspace. Hobbs asked if any polls or surveys had been performed regarding environment and wetland preservation in the past. He indicated HCD is currently putting together just such a survey to circulate in the next three months countywide. Finally, Dunevitz suggested writing a grant to obtain some native plant materials to offer people who come to demonstrations educating them on lakeshore planting. 3. ADJOURNMENT Woodruff closed the meeting at 9:15 P.M. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Kristi B. Anderson Recording Secretary • Henne-p in County • An Equal Opportunity Employer November 15, 2000 i, Ms. Twila Grout City Of Shorewood NO 5755 Country Club Road Shorewood, Minnesota 55331-8827 Dear Ms. Grout: i RE: SWMCB Backyard Composting Pilot Project Enclosed please find the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) Backyard Composting Pilot Project information packet, including a model ordinance and resolution on backyard composting for municipalities to consider. The SWMCB is launching a backyard composting pilot project targeting organics and we are looking for a few cities to step forward to host a compost bin distribution event. Hennepin County has a limited number of composting bins available for municipalities to offer to their residents at a subsidized rate of only $15 per bin (actual cost is $30)! • The bins are available on a first come first served basis. Municipalities also have the option of subsidizing additional bins for its residents. Residents would be required to pre-order and pre-pay for the bins. If you are interested in hosting a distribution event, please contact me as soon as possible. If hosting your own event is not your flavor, Hennepin County is sponsoring a kick-off event for our sustainable landscaping demonstration site at the Hennepin County Recycling Center in Brooklyn Park in June 2001. We will take this as an opportunity to distribute compost bins in conjunction with this event. If you are interested in taking advantage of a limited number of bins at no capital cost to your municipality, I would be happy to discuss this with you in more detail. Please call me at 612-348-5893. Sincerely, Daniel Ruiz Sr. Planning Analyst Enclosure Department of Environmental Services is 417 North Fifth Street Recycled Paper Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401-1397 (612) 348-6509 FAX:(612) 348-8532 Environmental Info Line:(612) 348-6500 : n Hennep in County An Equal Opportunity Employer November 30, 2000 Ms. Paula Berndt 25855 Smithtown Road Shorewood, Minnesota 55331 Dear Ms. Berndt: I enjoyed speaking with you about a potential backyard compost bin distribution event in Shorewood. It is refreshing to see that there are others who recognize the benefit of keeping useful material out of landfills. As we discussed, I have enclosed two documents that you may want to use as planning guides. • I look forward to hearing if any neighboring communities are interested in a coordinated bin distribution event. Thank you for your interest and please don't hesitate to call me at (612) 348-5893 with any questions. Sincerely, Daniel Ruiz Sr. Planning Analyst Enclosures Department of Environmental Services • 417 North Fifth Street Recycled Paper Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401-1397 (612) 348-6509 FAX:(612) 348-8532 Environmental Info Line:(612) 348-6500 L SWMCB Back=yard Composting Bin Distribution Program Work: Plan and Timeline Draft: November 13, 2000 Activi Timeline Responsible Par 1. Staff recommends the type of bin to be October 2000 SWMCB Staff Team distributed through the program. 2. Develop and finalize materials for use by the November 10, SWMCB Staff municipalities or counties. 2000 Team/SWMCB Model ordinance attorney ➢ Fact sheet 3. Determine bin allocation formula by county. November 8, SWMCB Lead Staff 2000 4. Obtain competitive bids. Determine which November SWMCB Staff Team vendor to recommend to the SWMCB. 2000 /Marcus and Linda 5. Brief Lead Staff and Commissioner Reinhardt on December 4, Judy Hunter/Linda program plans. 2000 Gondrin er 6. Request Board Action for Issues Related to the December 13 Judy Hunter/Linda Program: Gondringer - ➢ Budget amendment to expand program from $30,000 to $90,000. ➢ Bin allocation by county ➢ Agreements with counties 7 SWMCB enter into agreement with Counties 8 Counties to select participating municipalities, if December 15, Each County Staff not a countywide program. 2000 Person 9 Finalize distribution date 10 Prepare advertisements for distribution 11 Advertise to residents February - March 2001 12 Residents preorder bins. Deadline: April 1, 2001 13 Develop evaluation tool/survey 14 Distribute bins Mid May 15 Prepare summary report to SWMCB \\Ntserver\company~swmcb\Food WasteMsc\workplantimeline.doc • c S` MCB Backyard Composting Pilot Project County and Municipal Roles Service/ Activitv Municipality Coun 1. Secure site for distribution 2. Advertisement content/ writing 3. Advertisement layout 4. Advertisement printing 5. Advertisement distribution 6. Bin delivery coordination • 7. Bin storage facilities 8. Coordination of volunteers 9. Distribution day site staff 10. Education site 11. Education curriculum 12. Education instructor/ demonstration presenter 13. Financial tracking payment arrangement to suppliers 14. Participant address/ information collection • October 12, 2000 • 30th Annual Meeting Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts December 2, 2000 MAWD Resolution #18 Phosphorus Resolution Whereas; It has been demonstrated in soil testing in the seven county metro area, that the use of phosphorus in turf fertilizers is an unnecessary waste of resources and, Whereas; Phosphorus is a major contributor to degradation of water quality in the seven county metro area and, Whereas; over two decades of public education has had minimal effect when in competition with corporate advertising and their refusal to formulate to local needs, • Now therefore be it resolved, that the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts support legislation restricting the sale of any lawn fertilizer, liquid or granular, within the seven county metropolitan area that contains any amount of phosphorus or other compounds containing phosphorous, such as phosphate except, small quantities may be sold when a soil test indicates added phosphorus is needed to support healthy turf growth, or during the first year when new area or turf is being established. In addition, displays of lawn fertilizer containing phosphorous shall be limited to ten percent of the quantity of non-phosphorous lawn fertilizer on display at any given time. Be it further resolved; that displays of such fertilizer must be clearly marked as containing phosphorous, and must be separated from the display of other fertilizers, and that for each sale of such fertilizer the seller must provide the buyer with a copy of the appropriate consumer information. MAWD supports statewide legislation limiting phosphorous in non-agricultural fertilizer (on a statewide basis). •