NRC Packet 06.08.2022
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
Wednesday, June 8th, 2022- 6:00 P.M.
Mendota Heights City Hall-Council Chambers
AGENDA
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of the Agenda
4. Approval of the Minutes
a. Approve meeting minutes from the May 11th, 2022 Natural Resources Commission
Meeting
5. New Business
a. Communications Workshop
b. Introduction to the Natural Resources Management Plan
6. Staff Announcements
7. Commission Comments
8. Adjourn
Auxiliary aids for persons with disabilities are available at least 120 hours in advance. If a notice of less than 120 hours is
received, the City of Mendota Heights will make every attempt to provide the aids. This may not, however, be possible on
short notice. Please contact City Administration at 651-452-1850.
Guidelines for Citizen Comment Period: The Citizen Comments section of the agenda provides an opportunity for the public to
address the commission on items which are not on the agenda. All are welcome to speak.
Comments should be directed to the Chair. Comments will be limited to 5 minutes per person and topic; presentations which
are longer than five minutes will need to be scheduled with the Recreation Program Coordinator to appear on a future Parks
and Recreation commission agenda. Comments should not be repetitious.
Citizen comments may not be used to air personal attacks, to air personality grievances, to make political endorsements, or for
political campaign purposes. Commissioners will not enter into a dialogue with citizens, nor will any decisions be made at that
presentation.
Questions from the Commission will be for clarification only. Citizen comments will not be used as a time for problem solving or
reacting to the comments made, but rather for hearing the citizen for information only. If appropriate, the Chair may assign
staff for follow up to the issues raised.
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
Wednesday, May 11, 2022- 6:00 P.M.
Mendota Heights City Hall-Council Chambers
1.Call to Order – Coordinator Spreiter called the meeting to order at 6:02pm.
2.Roll Call – The following Commissioners were present: Commissioners Swank, Husbands,
Tupper, Stein, Fahnhorst, McCaslin. Absent: Commissioner Quick (note she listened into the
meeting). Staff present: Natural Resources Coordinator Krista Spreiter, Assistant City
Administrator Kelly Torkelson, City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Public Works Director
Ryan Ruzek.
3.Pledge of Allegiance – Pledge of Allegiance was recited
4.New Business
a.Commission Introductions
Commissioners shared introductions and discussed what about Mendota Heights
natural resources they were proud of, what about Mendota Heights Natural Resources
they were concerned about and what things they were excited to work on as a
commission.
b.Commission Orientation
Assistant City Administrator Kelly Torkelson presented a commission orientation
including outlining scope and charge for the commission from the city council, roles and
responsibilities of the commission, open meeting law, parliamentary procedure, and
data practices.
c.Comprehensive Plan: Chapter 7 Overview
Natural Resources Coordinator Krista Spreiter presented an overview of the
comprehensive plan: Chapter 7
5.Staff Announcements
Natural Resources Coordinator Spreiter: Shared that the tree sale and compost pick up is the
next weekend. In addition, she shared that the City Council was going to be accepting the
Natural Resources Management Plan at their upcoming meeting. The City also got a lawns
to legumes grant for neighborhoods.
Assistant City Administrator shared that the city was currently promoting No Mow May to
support pollinators in the city and she encouraged the commission to follow the city’s social
media and Friday News e-news newsletter.
6.Commission Comments
None
7.Adjourn
Commissioner Swank moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:45pm. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Husbands.
Auxiliary aids for persons with disabilities are available at least 120 hours in advance. If a notice of less than 120 hours is
received, the City of Mendota Heights will make every attempt to provide the aids. This may not, however, be possible on
short notice. Please contact City Administration at 651-452-1850.
Guidelines for Citizen Comment Period: The Citizen Comments section of the agenda provides an opportunity for the public to
address the commission on items which are not on the agenda. All are welcome to speak.
DATE: June 8th, 2022
TO: Natural Resources Commission
FROM: Kelly Torkelson, Assistant City Administrator
SUBJECT: Communications Workshop
Background
The communication workshop is designed to facilitate the team development of the commission, build
an understanding of individual and team communication styles, and build tools for navigating conflict.
We are incorporating this conversation into the commission orientation as a preface to conversations
about commission bylaws, workplans and the designation of chair and vice chair for the commission.
Understanding one’s own communication strategies and processes as well as the communication
dynamics of the commission as a whole will help to set the commission up for success moving forward.
The workshop will be facilitated by Barb Strandell and will incorporate analysis from the DiSC model.
Commissioners will have completed the initial assessment prior to the meeting and the workshop will
include reviewing personal and team profiles.
Requested Action
Informational Only.
DATE: June 8th, 2022
TO: Natural Resources Commission
FROM: Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Coordinator
SUBJECT: Natural Resources Management Plan Update - Draft
Background
As part of the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan process, the need for an update to the City’s
existing Natural Resources Management Plan was identified. City Council approved a contract
with Resource Environmental Solutions (f/k/a Applied Ecological Services) for completion of its
update to the Natural Resources Management Plan in two phases, over two years.
A NRMP Steering Committee was formed as a result of work done on the 2040 Comprehensive
Plan. It is comprised of four residents (Cindy Johnson, Leslie Pilgrim, Sue Light, and Will Stein),
who were assisted by the City’s Natural Resources Coordinator and Public Works Director. The
Steering Committee has been instrumental in providing insight and review of NRMP plan
elements.
The current NRMP draft is the result of the guidance of the Steering Committee and the work
performed by RES, including historical and existing information and data gathering, as well as
implementation approaches and future steps towards natural resources management,
restoration, and preservation throughout the City. The NRMP Update is intended to provide
vision, principles, and goals; as well as a framework and road map for enhancing, expanding,
connecting, and protecting the City’s natural resources into the future.
Requested Action
Informational Only.
Comments should be directed to the Chair. Comments will be limited to 5 minutes per person and topic; presentations which
are longer than five minutes will need to be scheduled with the Recreation Program Coordinator to appear on a future Parks
and Recreation commission agenda. Comments should not be repetitious.
Citizen comments may not be used to air personal attacks, to air personality grievances, to make political endorsements, or for
political campaign purposes. Commissioners will not enter into a dialogue with citizens, nor will any decisions be made at that
presentation.
Questions from the Commission will be for clarification only. Citizen comments will not be used as a time for problem solving or
reacting to the comments made, but rather for hearing the citizen for information only. If appropriate, the Chair may assign
staff for follow up to the issues raised.