Minutes - Environmental Policy Board - 02/28/2022

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Senior Planner Anderson stated that the site will need to account for stormwater management, both in terms of infiltration and retention. He noted that the developer could choose to utilize underground stormwater management. Board Member Hiatt asked if a retention pond would need to be on the subject site or whether that could be on the property to the east. Senior Planner Anderson explained that it would need to be accounted for on the subject property. Chairperson Moore commented that it is important to take citizen input into consideration as the Board does not often receive public input. Motion by Board Member Little and seconded by Board Member Bernard to recommend that the City Council deny the Comprehensive Plan Amendment to reguided the subject property from Low Density Residential to Public/Institutional. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Moore, Board Member Little, Bernard, Fetterley, and Hiatt. Voting No: None. Absent: Board Member Valentine. Motion by Board Member Little and seconded by Board Member Hiatt to recommend that the City Council deny the rezoning from R-1 MUSA-80 to Public/Quasi-Public. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Moore, Board Member Little, Hiatt, Bernard, and Fetterley. Voting No: None. Absent: Board Member Valentine. 5.02: Consider Opportunity to Reapply for Funding Through the Metropolitan Council's Water Efficiency Grant Program Senior Planner Anderson presented the staff report. He stated that in 2019, the City of Ramsey applied for a Water Efficiency Grant through the Metropolitan Council and was awarded $28,000. The grant funds have been used to provide rebates to residential and commercial property owners that replaced water using devices with WaterSense or Energystar rated devices. The Metropolitan Council has announced that it is once again offering a Water Efficiency Grant. Applications are due by March 31, 2022 and grant recipients will be announced by April 29, 2022. The grant program will run from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024. Board Member Hiatt referenced the remaining funds the City has from the last grant allocation and asked if those funds would carry over. Senior Planner Anderson replied that any funds not used by June 30th will need to be returned to the Metropolitan Council. He hoped to receive applications from residents this spring related to irrigation. Motion by Board Member Hiatt and seconded by Board Member Little to recommend that the City submit a grant application to the Metropolitan Council for Water Efficiency Grant Program funds. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Moore, Board Member Hiatt, Little, Bernard, and Fetterley. Voting No: None. Absent: Board Member Valentine. Environmental Policy Board / February 28, 2022 Page 4 of 5