Minutes - Council - 01/13/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Ramsey called the regular City Council meeting back to order at 10:00 p.m. Case #7: Introduce Ordinance Establishing Topsoil Requirements; Case of City of Ramsey Assistant City Engineer Rimmer stated that the City of Ramsey has been identified as one of the largest users of non-consumptive water in the metro area. The City has implemented various conservation measures over the years in an effort to reduce this water usage. There have been several iterations of a topsoil requirement considered by both the Public Works Committee and the Environmental Policy Board, dating back to January 2006. At the July 15,2008 Public Works Committee meeting, staff was directed to prepare a topsoil ordinance requiring a minimum of four inches of topsoil, meeting MnDOT specification 3877.2C (premium topsoil borrow) in landscaped areas of all new developments (residential and commercial/industrial). Since then, staff has done additional investigating and modified the recommended topsoil specification slightly. The modifications will more specifically address the soil conditions found in Ramsey by restricting the allowable sand content and will also be more in line with surrounding communities that have a similar requirement, such as Blaine, St. Francis and Andover. Currently Ramsey's top soil was 80 to 90% so adding 60% to that did not make sense. MnDDT's specification includes a range of allowable sand content (25-65%); the proposed ordinance will limit the allowable sand content to a maximum of thirty-five percent (35%). The Planning Commission is in agreement. Mr. Rimmer stated that he had a discussion with an organic dirt maker, John Enstrom. We continue to use MnDDT's specs, but Mr. Enstrom is not in agreement with those. Mr. Enstrom felt the minimum should be 40, upwards of 60%; however, MnDDT felt that was high and would be cost prohibitive. Mr. Rimmer stated that no one else in the area has this level and it would be difficult to find. Re stated that he wanted to introduce this ordinance as stated and then discuss it more at a Public Works Committee meeting prior to bringing it back to the City Council for adoption. Mr. Rimmer stated the proposed revisions are summarized as follows: Chapter 9: Zoning and Subdivision of Land - Section 9.02 (Definitions) · Definitions were added for Natural Area, Organic Matter, and Topsoil Section 9.11 (Performance Standards) · Repetitive information, related to grading and ground cover, was taken out of each specific zoning district and combined into the general performance standards for all districts. · The timing to complete the required landscaping was reduced from one (1) year to six (6) months from the date the Certificate of occupancy is issued. · The required tree and sod escrow, which is $600.00 and is collected at the time of building permit issuance, was eliminated from the building permit process and replaced with an amount to be determined if the builder/property owner is requesting a Certificate of occupancy prior to having the required landscaping, including topsoil, installed. Sections 9.50.30 (Subdivision Design Standards) and 9.50.50 (construction of Improvements) City Council7January 13,2009 Page 22 of31