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ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY BOARD CITY OF RAMSEY ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA On Monday, June 20, 2005, the Environmental Policy Board (EPB) met in the Conference Room at the Ramsey Municipal Center, 15153 Nowthen Boulevard N.W., Ramsey, Minnesota. Members Present: Acting Chairperson Joe McDilda Board Member Bob Bentz Board Member John Freeburg Board Member Jon Olds Board Member Bob Sibilski (arrived at 6:45 p.m.) Also Present: Zoning & Recycling Coordinator Chris Anderson Environmental Specialist Bruce Bacon Members Absent: Board Member Ron Hustvedt Board Member Michael Max City Council Liaison Sarah Strommen CALL TO ORDER Acting Chairperson McDilda called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. CITIZEN INPUT Mike Schelkoph, resident, expressed concerns stating that he was not aware that the City of Ramsey had a wetland issue coming up for consideration. He stated that this is one thing that the City of Ramsey has done in the past where they inform the committees but not the landowners. He stated that the landowners rarely get the opportunity to provide input and feedback on issues like this before it goes before Council for approval. He stated that he has not received a letter and others probably haven't either. He acknowledged that the Board has probably put a lot of hours in on this adding that he objects to the proposed 50-foot parameter around the wetland area and the confiscation of property to do it. He stated that this is property already owned by the property owners in the area and they are shouldering the protection of the water quality. Mr. Schelkoph stated that another of his concerns is with respect to protecting homes from wild fires. He stated that there have been three fires already this year and they have had no fire department to help fight this problem and now they are proposing 4-foot high prairie grasses right up to the backdoor of our homes. He stated that he is all for protecting the wetlands but it does not require the buffer that they are proposing. He explained that the wetlands are like natural chemical factories where it breaks things down as it filters into the river. He stated he is all for protecting the wetlands, but not with the buffers. He stated that when he purchased his property 30-years ago the area was all prairie land until the storm sewer and Alpine Drive was constructed. He stated that this created a land -lock problem until the City finally corrected it. He stated that the area turned into a wetland approximately 25-years ago when the storm sewer was installed. He expressed concerns that with this proposal every property owner would have Environmental Policy Board / June 20, 2005 Page 1 of 9