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B Interview for Environ Comm CITY OF CHANHASSEN )(} City CmltT DriV(, PO Box 147 ChanhasJm, Minn(Jota 55317 Phone 612.9311900 GmtTal Fax 612.937.5739 fng/nming Fax 612.937.9152 "ublie Safety Fax 612.934.2524 Web www.ci.ehanhasJm.mn.us -f J 13 - MEMORANDUM TO: Scott Botcher, City Manager FROM: Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resource Specialist DATE: 19 July 2000 SUBJ: Environmental Commission applicant Currently, there is one vacant seat on the Environmental Commission. It has been open since the last term expired in April 2000. The Commission has received one application for the position since that time and requests that the City Council review the applicant and appoint him if appropriate. APPLICATION FOR CHANHASSEN COMMISSION City of Chanhassen 690 City Center Drive Chanhassen, MN 55317 RECEIVED ~ JUL 1'3 2000 DATE: ::r~ 10, 2..c9'tTÐ CtTYOFCHANHASSt.N COMMISSION APPLYING FOR: E....v¡'('-(!1>'\ ~ ALTERNATE: '7to-..-"'-Ì.O NAME: '"?~ \4, _ C9'''I: E ~ ON ADDRESS: 't"1-\)U LA.1~.';.....~ Co\" CITY: c....~ssø-.- ZIP: !7"Ç'3 \ 1- HOME PHONE: 'tD(.,-~'ì'L WORK PHONE: /"!7\ - 1.'1" - 3::.- 3 <¡ HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A RESIDENT OF CHANHASSEN?: IV 5" ð" .r~ HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ATTAINED, PLUS DEGREES, IF ANY: k.5 . 1-\'1'~or~1 L;..........."'l0ðd- CURRENT EMPLOYMENT: (State position, employer & brief description of duties. If with present employer for only a short time, list previous employment as well.) Iv\ ì'^-"'. ì) N Je. '1);,,¡~\~ot w~.!.o-t",. "ro\o<¡?,,-\- IV :LO-r 'rS w.d!l··\..~~"""""o.. ...""a..n.i- ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS: (Include elective offices, honors and recognitions received, ¡fany.) N~ /'. ~. ~. W.e.. ~ t:L 2. '; ^ ~ ~L..~ ~ ~\\ ....L-\iV·L~ .e...-.o7..e.,J REASONS FOR SEEKING THIS POSITION AND YOUR QUALIFICATIONS: ""'it ~ ~<- ."<1:..... ~...........:,~ g.......,.......9-sL.ir l $............."'" 6fO<,)~, ~:) . G,¡,~ "'-'e- -\'D ~.Jr;,''J :r:. ~ 6e.~ ~ \"'-~ !...>.. -(... if OW""- ~~'L t;J l IN FILING THIS APPLICATION, I UNDERSTAND THAT A COMMITMENT OF MY TIME, ENERGY, INTEREST AND PARTICIPATION Wll..L BE INVOLVED, AND I AM PREPARED TO MAKE SUCH A COMMITMENT IN TIlE EVENT I AM APPOINTED TO TIlE ABOVE COMMISSION. ~:~~ SIGNATURE -;i 8750 Lake Susan Court Chanhassen, MN 55317 July 5, 2000 , ;¡ J 1¡ !l 't ~ '~ r Jill Sinclair Environmental Resources Specialist City of Chanhassen 650 City Center Drive, P.O. Box 147 Chanhassen, MN 55317 RFCEiVEn JUL 0 6 2000 CITY Ür l.of1f\I~HASSEN Dear Ms. Sinclair: 1 am interested in the current vacancy on the Environmental Commission. 1 am a hydrologist with the Department of Natural Resources where 1 have been involved with environmental issues and water for the past 20 years. Various duties in the past have included work as area hydrologist in NE Minnesota, supervisor of the statewide shore land management program, coordinator for DNR Waters environmental review and Project WET (Water Education for Teachers ). Currently, I am in Community Stewardship where I am helping to implement DNR's emerging efforts on Smart Growth and Conservation Connections. 1 also served a stint with the Ground Water Section where I did some work on public water supply and the need for conservation. The City of Chanhassen has an approved emergency water supply and conservation plan. I believe that there is a "teachable moment" associated with the lawn watering restrictions that will be going into place in mid-August during the reservoir repairs. Instead of just telling people when they can and can't water, I believe the City should be pushing information and education on proper lawn maintenance that will help to reduce the need for both water and fertilizer. I have enclosed a photo copy of a page from the Freshwater Society's "FACETS of Fresh Water," Spring, 2000, as an example of what 1 have in mind. Two years ago, I attended an excellent class at the Arboretum on Sustainable Landscaping. Through them and the Minnesota Extension Service, I believe there could be cooperation in perhaps doing a seminar specifically aimed at Chanhassen land owners and developers that might help get over the unhealthy co-dependency of bluegrass turf, fertilizer and water. Perhaps the City could help by not only encouraging shade trees as it has done in the past, but also seed mixtures and demonstration plots of prairie plants and other native vegetation more suitable to our clay soils and climate. Having mentioned both the Extension Service and Freshwater Society, I would also like to reference the excellent shore land workshops that they have teamed up to do in partnership with some of the Metropolitan conservation districts and parks. The one I attended in Bloomington this spring was excellent. It would be great if Chanhassen could also spQnsor such a workshop, but if not, at least its citizens should be encouraged to attend one of the other workshops. Please let me know what you think about these suggestions and my interest on the env. commission. Sincerely, ~.o..I.- ~ Peder Otterson 7.s. ".l: cJ¡.....d~ o...!:>'~ ~~'"'-~ <;>oc.<",ry ~ ~...... ....." l'L'S>""\c...'ñO---.-\'t> ~C)fq"d- ~ r ~...,.... ~ ~'ol'c.... ~~"fV',"',,-\ì<>"'-<- - ~ 'I.. o~Q.....·~ -~ .... '"-- "'?<<>-~ ~ ",,,--,< c.o~ ~~ be. ~¡~. ~ (¡:> .~ @1POOG)1]i)~ \:'fflJii'I!l ©G)¡N¡ m[l)@ ~~~ for a green lawn and a healthy environment... According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Americans spend more than $6 billion annually on chemicals for lawn care. The fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides that make up the lawn care purchases also create weak, dependent lawns with shallow roots, weeds that out compete grass, soil absent of worms, and poisoned run-off to our water supplies, lakes, ponds, and oceans. Avoiding chemicals and adopting organic practices into your lawn care routine will be beneficial for your lawn and the environment. There may be a little more work involved at the start, but once the soil is healthy, your radiant green lawn will be the envy of the neighborhood. The grass roots will grow deep where natural fertilizers await in the aerated soil, which absorbs and contains water and produces less run-off. Beneficial insects, nematodes, and other soil organisms have a chance to thrive and feed on the few pests that attempt to invade the thriving, organic ecosystem. Earthworms carry material, such as mulched grass clippings, deep into the soil, producing thousands of tiny tunnels, which make the soil very porous. If you follow these organic lawn care tips, you'll eventually find yourself watering less and spending less on lawn maintenance. Mowing- Set your mower as high as it will go, usually three to four inches. This allows the grass to shade the weeds, and shade to plants is death, as sun is the food source for all plants. Therefore, the shade of tall, dense turf grass will prevent essential sunlight from reaching most weeds, and will aid in the destruction of new baby weed seedling, such as the infamous dandelion. In addition to preventing weeds from taking over your yard, tall grass is much healthier. Grass requires grass blades for photosynthesis to convert sunshine into sugar. When grass blades are cut, the plant rushes to make more blades to produce sugar for the roots. It then grows extremely fast, which requires much of the grass's stored sugar, weakening the plant. A weak plant is vulnerable to disease and pests. Tall grass is healthier and can use the extra sugar to produce more plants, thus thickening the turf. When mowing, be sure to leave the clippings on the lawn. These grass pieces help add nutrients back into the soil. Watering- Infrequent watering will cause the grass roots to grow deep into the soil. past the roots of most weeds. Weeds and their seedlings love daily watering, particularly during the warmest, sunniest part of the day. Avoiding the sprinkler during these times w.ill benefit grass most and also be the most efficient use of water. A good method to determine when your grass requires water is to keep a close watch on the color and shape oi the blades. When the grass starts to curl, before it turns brown, is the best time to water. If the grass does become brown, it will need an intensive watering treatment of 1/2 inch, and after three hours, another inch. A normal watering should be 1/2 to 1 inch at a time. Fertilizing- Obtaining a soil test will give you a nutrient profile of your soil. With this information, you can purchase the fertilizer that will have the most benefit on your lawn. Soil test kits are very easy to use, cost only $7, and are available from the University of Minnesota Extension Service at 612·374-8400. If the soil test results show a nutrient deficiency, fertilizer should be carefully chosen. Phosphorus·free fertilizers are the best for this part of the country, as Minnesota soils generally have high levels of phosphorus. Applying more phosphorus on an already phosphorus- rich lawn will have detrimental affects on the environment. According to the MPCA, phosphorus is the primary pollutant associated with the eutrophication of Minnesota's surface waters, a condition in which excess nutrients promotes algae growth. Nuisance algae blooms can turn a blue lake green, damage or kill the lake's ecosystem, and cause waters to be unsuitable for swimming or other activities. Phosphorus also affects downstream areas, making it a pollutant of regional, statewide, and national concern. Aerating- Aeration will remove small plugs of grass and loosen the soil. This will promote healthy root development. . Following these organic lawn care tips will improve the health of your grass and give you a beautiful area to enjoy the Minnesota summer you've ~een waiting for! Yard.&. . . Garden Line Have a question on gardening or landscape plants~ Insects or wildlife? PLmt diseases? Soil testing or water quality? CALL TOLL FREE: 612-624-4771 Metro 888-624-4771 Greater MN · Leave a question for a Master Gardener. · Talk to a University expert at the Yard and Garden Clinic. · Get help with wildlife questions from the Bell Museum of Natural History. · Discuss water quality questions with Water Line Staff. · Listen to INFO U tapes. · Learn how to submit plant, insect, or soil samples. All services are free except sending samples or calling the Yard and Garden Clinic. Visn the Yard and Garden Line at www.extension.umn.edulyardand garden Visit the University of Minnesota Extension Service site at: www.extension.umn.edu FACETS Sprin¡l 2000 .