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NRC Packet 02142024NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION AGENDA MENDOTA HEIGHTS CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS Wednesday, February 14, 2024 6:00 p.m. 1.Call to Order 2.Roll Call 3.Adopt Agenda 4.Approval of Minutes a.Approve meeting minutes from the January 10, 2024 Natural Resources CommissionMeeting 5.Citizen Comment Period (for items not on the agenda) 6.New Business a.New Commissioner Introduction b.2024 Commission Officer Elections c.Committee Appointments d.Presentation: ‘Fresh Air Fridays’ 7.Old Business a.Approve Urban Forest Preservation Ordinance Draft b.Committee Reports•Ordinance and Policy Development •Education and Outreach •Urban Forestry •Green Steps •Sustainability 8.Staff Announcements 9.Commission Comments 10.Adjourn 1 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION AGENDA MENDOTA HEIGHTS CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS Wednesday January 10, 2024, 6:00 p.m. DRAFT Meeting Minutes The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Natural Resources Commission was held on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at Mendota Heights City Hall; 1101 Victoria Curve. 1.Call to Order Chair Swank called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. 2.Roll Call Natural Resources Coordinator Spreiter called the roll. Commissioners present: Swank, Husbands, McCaslin, Knosalla, Stein, and Student Commissioner Trudeau. Commissioners Absent: Commissioner Fahnhorst. Staff present: Natural Resources Coordinator Krista Spreiter and Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek. 3.Adopt Agenda Motion to approve the agenda by Husbands, second by McCaslin. Motion passed 5-0. 4.Approval of Minutes a.Approval of December 13, 2023 Natural Resources Commission Work Session Minutes Motion to approve the minutes by Knosalla, second by Stein. Motion passed 5-0. b.Approval of December 13, 2023 Natural Resources Commission Regular Meeting Minutes Motion to approve the minutes by McCaslin, second by Knosalla. Motion passed 5-0. 5.Public Comment Period (for items not on the agenda) 6.New Business a.Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization Presentation Natural Resources Coordinator Spreiter introduced the guest speaker; Joe Barten of the Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (WMO). Mr. Barten shared a presentation regarding the partnership between the WMO and the City. Commissioner Stein asked if the WMO also looks at smaller lakes for impaired waters. Mr. Barten stated they focus on larger lakes, not the smaller wetlands and ponds. Commissioner Knosalla asked if there is any harm in leaving Lake Augusta as it is, a landlocked basin. 2 4a. Page 2 of 4 Mr. Barten stated that leaving it as is the problem is kept in place, as opposed to spreading to the river. The City has some responsibility to make improvements since the right of way is adding some water to the lake. Residents are pushing to see action and improvements at Lake Augusta. Commissioner Husbands would like to receive regular updates regarding the water in the City. Regarding Lake Augusta, she noted the Cemetery has a huge input and asked if they have been in communication with them. Mr. Barten stated the consultant noted there was not much concern from the Cemetery. They did receive some data from the Cemetery regarding landscaping and management. He also noted they used historical data to look at changes in lake levels over time, as well as some anecdotal data. Chair Swank asked if the concern is due to the people interned at the Cemetery. She suggested looking at data from the southern states who may face similar issues. b.Zoning Code Update Presentation: Chapter 4., 12-4A-6 Impervious Surface Requirements Natural Resources Coordinator Spreiter introduced the guest speaker; Jennifer Haskamp; a consultant from Swanson-Haskamp Consulting, regarding the update to the zoning ordinance. Ms. Haskamp shared a presentation regarding Impervious Surface Requirements in the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Husbands asked what studies and sciences they using to determine this is the right direction to study. Ms. Haskamp noted they didn’t want to create non-conforming parcels per the City Council’s direction. She ventured to guess there aren’t studies that support this situation, since the City is fully developed. The objective is to determine the current development pattern and what matches with current infrastructure. Commissioner Husbands asked if there would be oversight on the best management practices (bmp) in perpetuity. Public Works Director Ruzek noted it depends on the system that’s proposed. He shared an example that a new raingarden must have a bmp managed in perpetuity, but that the City doesn’t have resources to manage these regularly. Coordinator Spreiter noted that the current policy is to have a certified inspector do an annual inspection per the required private bmp maintenance agreement. Chair Swank asked if this issue can be associated with Code Enforcement practices. Commissioner Knosalla noted that certain situations that might not be overall non-conforming, but might have to implement some level of bmp action, might still have to implement something down the line, and she sees this as a benefit still. Ms. Haskamp noted that the triggering point will be the action of a new permit, which would require a demonstration of impervious surface, and then potential obligation of a bmp. 3 Page 3 of 4 Chair Swank would like to see the City scale back more of the impervious surfaces; for example, when a property sells if it’s not conforming it would need to adjust get under 50%. Ms. Haskamp noted that might be a difficult one to propose, manage, and enforce. She noted her presentation is still in draft form, so adjustments in the conforming numbers can still be discussed. Commissioner Husbands asked why the Natural Resources Commission wasn’t in on the conversations with the Planning Commission along the way. Public Works Director Ruzek stated the Planning Commission is statutorily required to do the zoning code updated; the Natural Resources Commission isn’t. He noted they’ll work together as much as possible in the future. Ms. Haskamp noted all of the commission’s comments and feedback will be passed on to the Council. She noted the zoning ordinance is primarily focused on land use, but there are several factors that went into the analysis. Chair Swank suggested for future projects, having more public input at the beginning of the process so that residents can be heard twice. c.2024 Meeting Schedule Natural Resources Coordinator Spreiter shared the proposed 2024 meeting schedule, with meetings still planned to be held on the second Wednesday of each month. Motion to approve the schedule by Husbands, second by Stein. Motion passed 5-0. 7.Old Business a.2024 Work Plan Discussion and Approval Natural Resources Coordinator Spreiter shared the goals and initiatives established at the last work session. She proposed a timeline to go along with the initiatives. Motion to approve the 2024 Work Plan by McCaslin, second by Husbands. Motion passed 5-0. b.Residential and Commercial Shade Tree Program Natural Resources Coordinator Spreiter shared a proposed program based on funds from the 2023 Tree City fund, as well as funds available in 2024; around $26,000 total. This would include a full- service tree sale and planting for residents and non-profit organizations. Residents would be required to sign an agreement that would ensure they maintain the trees. Commissioner Husbands suggested prioritizing the criteria piece of heat island effect over the emerald ash borer replacements and environmental justice areas, in commercial zones. Commissioner Knosalla asked how the prioritization will actually play out. Motion to approve the proposed Commercial Shade Tree Program by Stein, second by Knosalla. Motion passed 5-0. 8.Staff Announcements 4 Page 4 of 4 Natural Resources Coordinator reminded the commission of officer elections at the next meeting. She noted some upcoming calendar notes. She added that City Council has made an informal decision regarding the new Commissioner to be joining the group soon. 9.Commission Comments Commissioner Husbands shared appreciation for the presentations at the meeting, and asked that more groups be scheduled to present to the Commission in the future. 10.Adjourn Motion to adjourn the meeting by Husbands. Motion passed 5-0. Chair Swank adjourned the meeting at 7:51pm. 5 DATE: February 14, 2024 TO: Natural Resources Commission FROM: Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Coordinator SUBJECT: New Commissioner Introduction Background At its regular meeting on January 23rd, 2024, the City Council appointed Liz Sheets to the Natural Resources Commission. Commissioner Sheets will fill the open position on the Commission previously held by Commissioner Tupper, and thus will reside on the Commission for the period of that term which expires January 31st, 2025. Liz Sheets works in integrated communication and marketing as a senior advisor; and has previously served as a commissioner on the Creative Placemaking Commission for the City of Bloomington. Commissioner Sheets has been a Mendota Heights resident since 2018, where she lives with her husband and two children. She enjoys native plant gardening and exploring the many natural spaces in Mendota Heights. Action Requested: Commissioners are invited to introduce themselves to the new Natural Resources Commissioner. 6 6a. DATE: February 14, 2024 TO: Natural Resources Commission FROM: Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Coordinator SUBJECT: 2024 Commission Officer Elections Background The Natural Resource Commission’s bylaws set election of the roles of chair and vice chair at the annual meeting for the commission which takes place in February of each year. If a commissioner is interested in the position of either chair or vice chair, they are welcome to express their interest to the group as a whole during discussion of this item. The chair and the vice chair elections will be separate items. The election of a chair will be the first order of business. After a chair has been selected from the commission, the new chair will take over the meeting proceedings. The chair will then ask the commission for nominations for vice chair. Following nominations, the chair will then call the vote for the vice chair. Requested Action Approve the appointment of _______________ to be chair of the Natural Resources Commission. Approve the appointment of _______________to be vice chair of the Natural Resources Commission. 7 6b. DATE: February 14, 2024 TO: Natural Resources Commission FROM: Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Coordinator SUBJECT: Committee Appointments Background The Natural Resources Commission established goals for the 2024 calendar year at its work session on December 13th as part of the Commission’s 2024 Workplan. The 2024 Work Plan consists of five goals: Goal 1: Ordinance and Policy Development Goal 2: Education and Outreach Goal 3: Urban Forestry and Restoration Goal 4: Strategic Planning Goal 5: Sustainability Committees are to be established to aid the Commission in the accomplishment of the goals of the 2024 Workplan. Commissioners may opt to continue in their role of their current committee(s), or request to join another committee if space allows. The following committees have been established in 2023: Goal 1: Ordinance and Policy Development – Commissioners: Fahnhorst, McCaslin, Stein Goal 2: Education and Outreach – Commissioners: Swank Goal 3: Urban Forestry Awareness and Opportunities – Commissioners: Husbands, McCaslin, Knosalla Goal 4: Green Steps – Commissioners: Swank, Knosalla Goal 5: Sustainability – Commissioners: Husbands, Knosalla, Stein Committees will meet as deemed necessary. For each goal, committees will focus on potential next steps to be brought to the Commission for discussion, as well as proposed action items. The Commission can then accept or deny proposed action items brought by committees. Committee reports will also be given to the Commission by each committee at all regular commission meetings. If a committee has nothing to report, that can simply be stated by the committee. 8 6c. Requested Action The Commission should establish committee members for each Goal. It is recommended that a maximum of three commissioners per committee be allowed, to comply with open meeting law. Commissioners may opt to continue in their current committee, or request to join another committee if space allows. 9 DATE: February 14, 2024 TO: Natural Resources Commission FROM: Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Coordinator SUBJECT: ‘Fresh Air Fridays’ Presentation Background The Commission will hear a presentation from Kirsten Ramirez, a Mendota Heights resident and University of Minnesota Public Health graduate student. As part of her graduate work, Ms. Ramirez is proposing an initiative for "Fresh Air Fridays" in the city of Mendota Heights. Fresh Air Fridays will encourage residents to make an intentional choice on Fridays to reduce their carbon emissions by carpooling, teleworking, biking, walking, etc. This initiative's target implementation will coincide with the week of Earth Day in late April 2024. The proposal will be presented to both the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission and the Natural Resources Commission to obtain support for a recommendation to be presented to the City Council for approval and implementation. The goal of the project is to reduce emissions in an effort to address climate change, which in turn provides health benefits for the residents of Mendota Heights including improved air quality, reducing heat stress, improved water quality, reducing infectious diseases, and many more. Requested Action Information only. The Commission is invited to ask questions, discuss details of the potential program, and provide any feedback. 10 6d. DATE: February 14, 2024 TO: Natural Resources Commission FROM: Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Coordinator SUBJECT: Urban Forest Preservation Ordinance Draft Background As part of Goal 1: Policy and Ordinance Review and Development, the Goal 1 Committee along with the Commission has developed a draft of an Urban Forest Preservation Ordinance, receiving and incorporating feedback from the Commission. The Commission also held a work session on September 27th, 2023 to review the draft and give feedback, working towards a final draft of the document for recommendation to City Council. The Commission is asked to review and approve the current draft of the ordinance (attached). Once a draft is approved, the draft ordinance may be submitted to the Planning Commission and City Council for review and comment at a future work session or regular meeting. Requested Action The Commission is asked to review and approve the current draft of the proposed Urban Forest Preservation Ordinance to be brought to the City Council for recommendation of adoption. 11 7a. 127a1. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23