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Attachment D <br />Commissioner Hunt questioned if in using compost, does it have to be a special type of compost. <br />City Engineer Himmer stated the garden type compost could be used, however, using compost on <br />a large scale would be difficult because obtaining large volumes of compost would not be <br />feasible. <br />Commissioner Dunaway stated he likes the fact that we have a standard of soil now and <br />questioned how readily available it was. <br />City Engineer Himmer stated this is the highest specification MnDOT has and far exceeds other <br />communities, but the city wants to set the bar high. The material is available, and the person can <br />choose what supplier they use. It is not as strict as what was required in the previous ordinance. <br />Commissioner Dunaway questioned why increasing the depth to six inches. <br />City Engineer Himmer stated staff's recommendation was to have 4 inches of this material, <br />however, City Council decided if there was less of a specification, decreasing the organic <br />content, then there needs to be more depth. <br />Discussion ensued regarding the savings of watering less and possible loss of new sod with the <br />cost of the topsoil. <br />Motion by Commissioner Van Scoy, seconded by Commissioner Dunaway, to close the public <br />hearing. <br />Motion Carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Levine, Commissioners Van Scoy, Dunaway, Brauer, <br />Cleveland, Hunt, and Rogers. Voting No: None. Absent: None. <br />The public hearing closed at 8:18 p.m. <br />Commission Business <br />Chairperson Levine questioned whether we are setting the bar too high. <br />Planning Manager Miller stated that last year the Public Works Director looked at water usage in <br />the metro area and the City of Ramsey ranked second in water usage in the entire metro area. For <br />a community our size having the second highest water usage, setting the bar high is where we <br />need to be to have water conservation. <br />City Engineer Himmer stated that most cities reference MnDOT, with the organic range being <br />two to five percent, the City is requiring five to 15 percent. MnDOT does not set these standards, <br />they partnered with the University of Minnesota Agriculture. <br />Motion by Commissioner Brauer, seconded by Commissioner Cleveland, to recommend that City <br />Council adopt the ordinance amending the required depth of topsoil form four (4) to six (6) <br />Planning Commission/March 4, 2010 <br />Page 5 of 8 <br />