Minutes - Environmental Policy Board - 12/01/2014

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1. Supports the notion of incorporating or considering the emerging issues throughout the natural resource management process. 2. Recommends designating a water quality monitoring site along the Ford Brook, which is a tributary of the Rum River, the ACD's highest priority watershed. 3. Concerned with the potential drawdown effect on our lakes/wetlands and the desire to be regularly updated regarding potential strategies being considered and/or developed by the Metropolitan Water Supply Advisory Committee. 4. Recommends that the riverbank inventory that was completed in 2012 along the Mississippi River be extended west beyond the Coon Rapids Dam pool to the western boundary of the county. 5. Recognizes and supports their focus on education while encouraging the ACD to promote these educational opportunities and services more so that Ramsey (and other municipalities) can take advantage of them. City Planner Anderson stated he saw nothing of great concern but wanted to provide a summary and open it up for discussion with the Board. He stated the Planning Commission is also reviewing the 2015-2019 Comprehensive Plan draft and staff's draft response. The information will then be brought to the City Council for their direction and authorization to send it to the "ACD. Board Member Valentine commented that City Planner Anderson did a great job of summarizing issues in the draft. He expressed concern about the water table drawdown issues and asked who is on the Metropolitan Council Advisory Committee. City Planner Anderson said he did not know all the members of that Committee. Board Member Valentine encouraged the City to be as involved with that Committee as possible. He felt every community is in danger of catastrophic problems in the future, if this issue is not closely monitored. City Planner Anderson asked if Board Member Valentine wanted the language strengthened. Board Member Valentine stated that he would like to have someone participating in the issue so that the City will not be at the back end. City Planner Anderson explained that the City Engineer is a part of Northwest Metro Groundwater Group so there is a City representative actively participating in the groundwater issue and discussions. Board Member Valentine felt the City needed to stay close to the issue and what the DNR may have in mind. Board Member Bentz asked if the Committee was tied to the DNR because the City seems to always be over its water appropriations permit and asked if it would be an issue. City Planner Anderson responded that to the best of his knowledge the answer was no. The City does tend to be one of the top water users and has been over its allotment in the past. He does not Environmental Policy Board / December 1, 2014 Page8of12