Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 11/19/2018

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Board Member Madison referenced a relation of flat lots that use sump pumps and soggy lawns and asked if there is a requirement for drain tile for flat lots. City Planner Anderson replied that the City does not have that requirement. Board Member Fetterley asked if there are unintended consequences that could arise from changing the topsoil requirement. City Planner Anderson stated that Capstone is not requesting to eliminate the topsoil requirement but is asking to eliminate the MnDOT certified soil requirement and instead use a standard topsoil mix. He stated that standard topsoil would have between one and three percent organic material s specification requires at least five percent organic material. He stated that the perception could be that additional watering is required but did not believe homeowners think along those lines. He stated that in relation to erosion control, that is considered to be met once sod is installed or if grass seed is used, once grass has been fully established. He did not think a change in the topsoil specification would result in greater erosion concerns. Board Member Fetterley stated that if there is less quality soil, people may water more frequently or not water enough to maintain grass/sod. City Planner Anderson stated that multiple professors at the University of Minnesota have said that grass does not truly die, as it only goes dormant and once watered again, most will start growing again. Chairperson Valentine referenced the regulations of neighboring communities and whether they have a soil type specification as well as depth. City Planner Anderson confirmed that he would obtain that information from neighboring communities prior to the next time this topic is discussed, specifically what the definition of topsoil is, the amount of topsoil that is required, and the manner in which topsoil is required to be applied. He was unsure that any other communities have identified the premium topsoil specification that Ramsey has identified. City Council Liaison LeTourneau asked if there would be a different definition of base soil for neighboring communities, specifically whether their base soil is also sand or perhaps clay. Chairperson Valentine agreed that it would be important to compare other communities that have a similar sandy base soil that Ramsey has. City Planner Anderson stated that Plymouth has clay soils and therefore comparing their more important to focus on areas like Elk River and Andover as those are similarly growing communities that also have sandy soils. He stated that although Blaine is more developed, they also have sandy soils and perhaps that would also be a good comparison.