2012-2013 Work Plan

As outlined in City Code, the primary objective of the Environmental Policy Board is to review, consider, initiate and recommend to the City Council such policies, plans or projects which will enhance and preserve the natural environment of the City. The Board’s scope shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, matters of the preservation of the community forest, water quality, wetland preservation, ground water protection, control of soil erosion and air, noise and light pollution. The Environmental Policy Board shall prepare an annual work plan subject to the approval of the City Council.

Some potential topics that the Board may wish to consider would be tree preservation replacement standards and restoring native plant communities within transmission line corridors.  Both topics in some aspects relate to the vegetation removal within the transmission line easements that drew attention this past year.  Tree replacement standards is an area within the Tree Preservation Ordinance that is somewhat silent, meaning that there is no required replacement for trees removed to facilitate development.  As for the native plant communities topic, a collaborative concept project has been proposed to a number of different entities, including the City of Ramsey, in which some benefit could be reached after the large-scale tree removal within the easement corridors.  This may be a project that is of interest to the Board should it come together.  An introductory letter that Staff received has been included to provide some background information to the Board.

The Board should be prepared to consider and discuss possible topics for inclusion in the 2012-2013 EPB work plan as well as how to present this information to City Council for consideration.

Based on discussion.