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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-03-13 Evironmental Quality Commission Meeting MinutesEDINA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSION Meeting Notice Monday, March 13, 1972 7:30 P.M. AGENDA I. Call to Order and Rollcall II. Approval of Minutes of Meeting of February 28, 1972 III. Unfinished and Old Business A. Review Recommendation to Council concerning Minnehaha Cooperative Powers Agreement B. Meadowbrook Lake Trail Development C. Appointment of Committee on Disposable Container Studies D. Other Old Business IV. Reports A. Report on Edina and Bloomington Natural Resources and Environmental Commission's Meeting of February 29, 1972 B. Report on Edina League of Women Voters' Solid Waste Meeting of February 29, 1972 C. Report on Minnetonka Disposable Container Meeting D. Others V. Communications - Memo from Council - Appointments - Other VI. New Business A. Establishment of a Committee "Quality of Waters" B. Mud Lake Hydrological Study C. Other Committees and Our Plan D. Other New Business VII. Adjournment Minuter:: of -1-,11;,1 .1.i.;nvironraental C Eli e j. on 13, 1972, 7:30 p.m. C Oro/10 1100111f Edina Village Hall The meetng vas called to order by Bob Sandilial Chairman. The following ComMiseioners wore present: Robert Sandilla Ronald Hayes Carol Beim Jim Bentley Bob Johnson Clifford E. Johnson Village staff present: Gary West Greg Luce Earl. W. Careen Willard Morse, Jr. June Schmidt John Telfer Don Johnson Robert Dunn Harold Sand -James Bentley moved and Robert Johnson seconded the minutes of the February 23 meeting be approved as read. The motion carried unanimously. Resolution to Vill.sge Council on. Minnehaha Cooperative Powers Agreement Discuesion was held upon the format of the resolution to be sent to the Council reeom- mending the Village enter into the joint powers agreement with the Minnehaha Crook Governing Committee. Some discussion was held as to the merits of the legalistic or the informal form of resolution and some of the phrases that were contained in each. By a show of hands the legalistic format was selected. Mr. Sand: Ala suggested that the Commission center its attention on modifications that may be needed in the leva- istic resolution. Mr. Hayes expressed eoncern about the interpretation of para.{; a.ph 7 - which would apuear to eridcrse the sample joint powers agreement as proposed by the Minnehaha Creek Governing Comm:;.tteo. Yr. Heyesu concern bong that instead of endoreing a specific proposal, perhaps we should be concerned with conceptual approval. After further discussion Ron Hayes moved that paragraph 7 be changed to be more pemisoive by being changed to read ". . . into a joint powers aoreemont . . . and Minneapolis, _and with the Minnehaha Creek Governing Committee o . a " The motion was seconded by Jim Bentley. Motion carried by majority voice vote. John Telfer then offered the following resolution to be Torwerded to the Village Council:. RESOLUTION CF RECOMMENDATION 'WHEREAS: The Edina Village Council on January 17, 1972 requested the Environ- mental Quality Commission .to.review and recommend a course of act on on the proposal of the Ninnehaha. Creek Governng Committee for a joint powers agree- ment and the expenditure of not more than $2, 500 as the Village eontribution for the retention of planning s%aff to prepare initial grant applications for planning and development tondo to carry out such 1.m.provement projects as may be proposed by the MinnehT/ha Creek Governing CommAttee, and; WHERBAS: The Environmentol Quality Commission has listened to testimony offered by M:??. Ray Haik, attorney for -Lie Minnehaha Creek Watershcd DThtrict An eonnel:- tion with ths proposal, and.; c_.,-WHEREAS: The Environmental. Quality Commlssion hat oonedered the documents and. other material prepared by the W.nnehaha Creek Governing Ccamittoe in support of the proposed. joint nowers agreement, and, 1 N*nutes Environmental Qualit March 13: 1972 Page 2 COMM:,,0374C21 WHEREAS: The proposal was discussed and has been given consideration at the Environmental Quality Commission meetings of January 31, :TA)bruary 14, and Feb- ruary 28, and, WHEREAS: It has been determined in light of all available information that the joint powers agreement would give the Village of Edina the oppotunity to par- ticipate in the planning and determination of improvement projects for Minnehaha Creek at the first stage-of development and to reap the greatest possible bene- fit from such projects, and, WHEREAS: If the Village of Edina does not enter into the joint powers agreement, Village residents may be required to support through Minnehaha Watershed District tax levies improvement projects which may or may not benefit those residents, and which they may have little effective voice in the modification or abandonment of said improvement projects. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: The Edina Environmental Quality Commission recommends to the Edina Village Council that the Village enter into a joint powers agree- ment with the Village of Minnetonka, the Minneapolis Park Board, and the Cities of Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Minneapolis, and the Minnehaha Creek Governing Committee, further, BE IT RESOLVED: The Edina Environmental Quality Commission recommends that the Village authorize expenditures by the Village not to exceed $20500 for the reten- tion of planning staff to assist in the preparation of the initial grant appIi- cations for planning and development funds to carry out such improvement nrojects as may be proposed by the Minnehaha Creek Governing Committee. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED THIS Tith Day of March 1972 Resolution approved y vote. Secretary Meadowbrook Lake Trail Development Mr. John Telfer read portion6 of a letter from Mrs. Mattie Peterson of the St, Louis - Park Environmental. Commiepion addressed to Donald Bingham: Chairman of the Minnehaha :Creek Watershed District.- This letter invited 14r. Ringham and his, staff to the next -meeting of the St. Louis Park.Ehvironmental Commission, March 22, to discuss more fully the proposed nature 1 system at Meadowbrook Lake. Mr. Donald Ringhams Chair- man of the Board of Managere of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed Districts spoke from the audience and offered information on the Meadowbrook Lake Trail proposal. Although maps of this proposal were not available, Mr. Ringham explained the history and moti- vation for this proposal as being three folds 1. Recreational possibilities that could be developed. 2. The control of the floating bog, and the possibility of damming and resultant of flooding caused by the floating bog. 3. Educational prospects for the trails, using the site as a nature interpretive area. 0 0 Tionmentel Quality Comicsion Azi-pc,h 13, 1972 h Page 3 Mr, Ringham went on to state that this might be considered as one of the projects that could be undertaken under the proposed joint powers agreement with the Minne- haha Creek Governing Committee. Mr, Sandill.a suggested that perhaps it might be best for the Edina Commission to make a field trip to this' area sometime in the near future, and perhaps with the Environmental Commission from St. Louis Park and the Board of Managers and staff from Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, to actually view the site and see what the problems and posbiblitiee for development are. After further discussion as to reyethe date, Mr. Bentley moved, and Mr. Carson seconded that the Edina Commission in- vite the Minnehaha Creek Board of Managers and the Environmental Commission from St, Louis Park to meet with the Edina Environmental. Quality Commission March 26, at 2:00. Details to be worked out by staff. Motion carried unanimously by a voice vote. Reeert on Edina and Bloomington Natural Resources in Environmental Commesione Meeting February 29, 1972. Ron Hayes gave a report on the meeting between Edina and Bloomington Natural Re- sources Environmental Quality Commissions. The main topic of concern was Nine Mile Creek and the role of the Board of Managers of Nine Mile Creek and the Edina and Bloomington Environmental Advisory Commissions. Mr. Hayes expressed his con- cern over the frustrations he felt evident in both the Bloomington Commission and 'the -Nine Mile Creek Board .of Managers, and outlined his impressions of the positions taken by both parties. Mr. Sandilla asked that this report be duplicated for all members. Report on Edina League of .Women Voters Solid Waste Meeting., February 291 1972 Mr. Willard Morse gave a short report on the League of Women Voters meeting and the educational aspects of the information that was received. Mr. Bob Johnson suggested that the two movies that were shown at this meeting, one called "Reveling" and the other "Sanitary Land Fillee.0ne Part Earth to 4 Parts Refuse" be shown to the Com- mission at some future meeting date as part of their educational enrieement. Resort on-Minnetonka Disposable Container MeoILIIELEDleIy 24, 1972 Mr. John Telfer gave a ;Mort report on the Disposable Container Workshop hold in Minnetonka on February 24; .1972, This was a meeting of Environmental groups through- out the suburban area of Minneapolis at which they continued their discussion on ordinances banning noneratuenable bottles and containers. The pros and cons of this issue were discussed in.spme detail with the group deciding to continue their, efforts to draw up an ordinance banning non-returnable cans and betties, conduet a community survey, lobby for support of such ordinances in their individual communities, and to -talk with store owners to expedite support and expel any fears that they may have on ban the can ordinances. They set March 16 as their next meeting date, at the New - Brighton Village Hall. The Chair suggested that minutes of this, meeting bo duplicated and made lavailable to all members of the Commission. He also suggested that at least (me membee of the Commission plan to attend the New Brighton meeting if possible, Communications Mr. Sandilla 'Indicated a communications memo from the Council which had been received by the Commissioners in their packets. This memo was in answer to the requests of the Environinc,:ntal Com mission at their February 20 meetinge Minutes Environmental Quality Comeissioa March 13, 1972 Page 4 1. The designation "alternate" has been changed to "advisor" who may assist the Commission, but have no voting privileges. 2. Mr. Earl W. Carson was appointed to fill the unexpired 2 year term of Mr. George Nicholas. 3. Councilman Willis F. Shaw agreed to sit on the Commission as an ex officio member. Some discussion was held concerning the wording of staff memorandum to the Council by several of the Commissioners. Ho further action was taken. Mr. Sandilla formally announced the appointment of Mr. Earl Carson to the Commission to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Nichols. Mr. Telfer suggested that perhaps in the future we should have reports from the Plan ning Commission, and Park Board members to the Commission as to matters which they are presently considering which also affect the Environmental Quality Commission. NEW BIJSI/TESS Quality of Water Committee Mr. Sandilla announced his appointment of John Telfer as Chairman of a committee on the Quality of Water, subject to ratification by the full Commission. He expressed the desire that this committee should become functional in the very near future as there is a great deal of work for them to do. Mr. Telfer suggested that the name of the committee be changed to the "Committee on Water Resources", as perhaps this is more all-encompassing than the Quality of Water would suggest. Mr. Telfer named the following members as those he would like to have serve with him on this committee: Nancy Carlspn, Nine Mile Creek Citizens Committee Shirley Tggi, Minnehaha Creek Watershed Citizens Advisory Group Mts. Canny Wright, League of Women Vote•es Mr. Don Johnson also expressed willingness to serve on this committee. The Chair asked Mr. Telfer to prepare resumes on these persons. Approval was called for by the Chair. Approval given by majority voice Vote. Mud Lake Hydrological Study Mr. Sandilla advised the Commission that he was in receipt of preliminary hydrological study on Mud Lake. This study done in connection with the proposal before the Council to create a nature study area in Mud Lake. Mr. Robert Dunn, Village Engineer, then gave a short resume of Mud Lake Hydrological - Study, the reason for the study, and its impact upon the proposed Lincoln Drive along the western boarder of the Village. In this connection, Mr. Dunn mentioned the meeting that was held January 5, at Hopkins Eisenhower High School on the proposed construction of County Road 18, north from Fabri-Tek to the Village limits. The proposal presented by Hennepin County showed a bridge:over the old road bed through the marsh area north ( eof Fabri-Tek with a detached frontage road of Lincoln Drive crossing the creek and \-efunning parallel to County Road 18, but some distance from County Road 18. He further described Lincoln Drive and some of the ramifications that the various proposals for Mud Lake would have upon the Lincoln Drive area. Mr. Greg Luce, Village Planner, II Ms),nutes of Environmental Quality CemmjLssion Hare. h 13, 1972 Page 5 continued the discussion and pointed out several factors that must be considered, and trade-offs that are possible under either proposal for the development of Mud Lake, le, a large open body of water, or a nature study area. After further discussion by the Commission, Mr. Sandilla suggested that this could perhaps be one of the first iteme of consideration by. the Committee on Water Resources. Directions Committee The Chair related that after considerable thought on the appointment of various standing eommittees, he had come to the conclusion that perhaps the moot appropriate direction to take would be the appointment of a directions committee to assist in the establish ment of goals for the Environmental Quality Commission. He suggested that a committee of five to poll the other members of the Commission, Village officials, and other interested parties in the Village on subjects that should be studied, different geo- graphical areas that should be considered, and the possible committees to study these various items. The Direeti ons Committee could then oome up with some guidance for the Commission, particularly in that the Commission newly formed and does not really know where they are going or how to get there. Mr. Sandia, .a requested he be permitted to act as Chairman of this with members being, Robert Hayes, Robert Johnson, ifs r].Carson, and Willard Morse. Ho further suggested that they set a time limit of perhaps 30 days in which to come up with their recommendations. Mr. Robert Johnson moved, and Clifford Johnson seconded the approval of the aforo named committee: and commit tee members. Upon voice vote, the motion vas approved unanimously. There being no further business, Mr. John Telfer moved, and Mr. Robert Johnson seconded the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried. Commission Secretary