Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 04/15/2019

Home

Environmental Policy Board (EPB) 5. 4. Meeting Date: 04/15/2019 By: Chris Anderson, Community Development Information Title: Review Current EPB Work Plan Purpose/Background: The EPB has a City Council approved Work Plan for 2017-2019. As the City Council is beginning to wrap up their strategic planning for 2019, Staff thought it would a good time to briefly review the current plan and begin brain storming topics for future consideration. The intention is not to develop a new work plan this evening, but rather to initiate some discussion on possible topics of interest or importance to the EPB. Observations/Alternatives: Pollinator Initiatives The City did complete a 'Monarch Trail' in 2018, which converted about seven (7) acres of land along a segment of the Lake Itasca Trail to native prairie vegetation. There was a greater emphasis placed on vegetation favored by monarchs, such as milkweed. The City also joined the Mayors for Monarchs program, with the former Mayor signing the official proclamation. Additionally, the City also partnered with the city of Andover in 2018 in a self -guided native landscape/garden tour. There were three (3) properties in Ramsey that participated and those property owners were able to showcase their landscapes and talk to those that took the tour. Mississippi River Shoreline Stabilization Late in 2015, the Anoka Conservation District (ACD) completed a shoreline inventory of the Mississippi River through Ramsey to identify areas of concern related to bank erosion. This information will be useful if and when grant opportunities arise for stabilization projects. While there has not been much progress on this item, the City does have the data and, as time permits, Staff will begin to develop a strategy on how best to proceed. Reduce Demand on Groundwater In 2017, the EPB recommended the City amend its regulations to eliminate the requirement for in -ground irrigation systems, as it seemed counter intuitive to reducing the demand on groundwater. However, the recommendation was to also require any new irrigation system be equipped with some sort of water efficient technology, such as a weather based smart controller, soil moisture sensor(s), etc. The City Council supported that recommendation and amended City Code. More recently, the EPB supported a modification to the topsoil standard with the caveat that the City research and implement an incentive program to retrofit existing irrigation systems with better technologies that are now available. In fact, this topic came up during the City Council's strategic planning sessions, and appears that it is now on their radar as well. This is a topic that will continue to be explored with the potential of implementation in 2020. Organics The City has implemented a drop-off organics recycling program. It was rolled out in the summer of 2017 and participation has steadily grown over the first year and a half (approximately 150 participants). Through the drop-off program to date, participants have recycled 15,146 pounds of organic waste (7.57 tons). Staff has been utilizing the website, Ramsey Resident, and Ramsey Recycler primarily as a means to promote the program. Furthermore, Anoka County also does some promotion of organics recycling as well. Action: