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TASK FORCE BUSINESS <br /> <br />Case #1: Draft Purpose Statement For The Ramsey Wetland Buffer Ordinance <br /> <br />Ms. Connolly stated that she liked Plymouth's intent statement, but Ramsey's should reference <br />quality of life. Ms. Sitz agreed and stated that Ramsey's also needs more text on the relationship <br />between wetlands and groundwater. <br /> <br />Chairperson McDilda referred the purpose statement for the Minnesota Wetland Conservation <br />Act as being very succinct: he likes the practice of avoid, minimize, replace. <br /> <br />Ms. Frolik was asked to make note of the following question for the guest speakers in April, May <br />and June: <br /> <br /> 1. Because wetlands are not always wet, and they are more wet in some years than in <br />others, where do we measure the wetland buffer from: the change in vegetation, the ordinary <br />high water mark, the 100 or the 500 year flood elevation? <br /> <br /> 2. In Ramsey the wetland must be delineated and encumbered with a drainage and utility <br />easement. How do we encumber or protect the 'buffer' area? <br /> <br />Mr. Bacon suggested that a healthy ecosystem for the community and individual should be the <br />opening statement in the purpose section and everything else should spin off of that. The <br />Committee directed Mr. Bacon to draft the opening paragraph for the purpose statement to <br />establish a healthy ecosystem as the basis for the ordinance. <br /> <br />Ms. Sitz was directed to draft a statement on the whole issue around stormwater and <br />groundwater, utilizing the 1st and 3rd paragraphs of Plymouths intent statement as a model. <br /> <br />Ms. Connolly was directed to merge and rewrite the 2nd and 4th paragraphs of Plymouths intent <br />statement to address Ramsey's concerns with erosion control, nutrient loading into wetlands, and <br />wildlife habitat. <br /> <br />Mr. Olds was directed to draft some text regarding regulating land use around wetlands to protect <br />shorelines from erosion, filter pollutants, and benefit wildlife habitat. This section should also <br />reference the Wetland Conservation Act of 1991 and the intent to avoid wetlands and require <br />mitigation when wetlands are altered. The 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th paragraphs of Plymouths intent <br />statement shall serve as a model. <br /> <br />Mr. Bacon, Ms. Sitz, Ms. Connolly, and Mr. Olds should forward their drafts to Ms. Frolik, who <br />will then merge them into one draft document to be reviewed by the Task Force at their April 19 <br />meeting. <br /> <br />A discussion ensued regarding the possibility of extending the 'avoid, minimize, replace' intent <br />of the Wetland Conservation Act to all wetlands in the community, not just the DNR protected <br /> <br />EPTF March 1, 2004 <br />Page 2 of 4 <br /> <br /> <br />