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NRC 03-13-2024NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MENDOTA HEIGHTS CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS March 13, 2024 Mendota Heights Natural Resources Commission Page 1 of 4 Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 2024, 6:00 p.m. Meeting Minutes The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Natural Resources Commission was held on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at Mendota Heights City Hall; 1101 Victoria Curve. 1.Call to Order Vice Chair Knosalla called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2.Roll Call Natural Resources Coordinator Spreiter called the roll. Commissioners present: Commissioners Fahnhorst, Husbands, Knosalla, McCaslin, Stein, and Student Commissioner Trudeau. Commissioners Absent: Chair Swank 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 Stein. Motion passed 6-0. 4.Approval of Minutes a.Approval of February 14, 2024 Natural Resources Commission Meeting Minutes Motion to approve the Regular Session Minutes by Fahnhorst, second by McCaslin. Motion passed 6-0. 5.Citizen Comment Period (for items not on the agenda) No one appeared to address the Commission 6.New Business a.Earth and Arbor Day Celebration Planning. Natural Resources Coordinator Spreiter reviewed the 2024 Mendota Heights Earth and Arbor Day Celebration will be held on Monday, April 22 through Friday April 26. In past years the celebration has included a city-wide clean-up event, as well as educational opportunities, drawings, giveaways, and volunteer tree and pollinator planting events. The purpose of the celebration is to gain awareness and educate the community on natural resources issues and topics, as well as to encourage participation and connect with residents, business, and other community groups in Mendota Heights. The Commission is requested to discuss the Earth and Arbor Day Celebration March 13, 2024 Mendota Heights Natural Resources Commission Page 2 of 4 and offer any feedback or suggestions on possible events to include in the 2024 celebration. The Commission is also asked to volunteer at events throughout the celebration as they are able. Natural Resources Coordinator Spreiter asked the Commission on what they would like to see included and noted the plan now is to include City-wide volunteer clean-up event, Fresh Air Fridays, and Oak Award. Vice Chair Sheets asked if there is opportunities to extend through the weekend for an event and Ms. Spreiter stated it could be extended into the Saturday at the end of the week (April 27, 2024). Commissioner Stein suggested volunteer tree and pollinator planting events and Ms. Spreiter stated in the past there were not many volunteers and that is not planned for 2024. Vice Chair Sheets stated April is not the best for planting events and said the clean-up would be a good weekend project at a certain park. Commissioner Husbands asked if there are bags provided for the clean-up from City Hall. Ms. Spreiter stated a table is set up in City Hall with giveaways and groups or individuals are able to pickup the cleaning supplies and recommendations on where to clean-up. Commissioner Husbands asked if Student Rep Trudeau could reach out to the Live Green groups to help with the clean-up. She suggested school announcements be done and contacting Ms. Bernard. Commissioner Husbands stated she will contact Ms. Bernard. Vice Chair Sheets stated the Boy Scouts will be stenciling on the drains and perhaps the students could assist. Vice Chair Sheets suggested the Education Committee do some planning and Ms. Spreiter stated there needs to be a plan in place before the April meeting. Commissioner Stein asked if there are specific areas where the Commissioner volunteers are needed. Ms. Spreiter stated it is good to have Commissioners at the volunteer events. b. Proposed Living Streets Policy. Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek reviewed in March of 2021, City Council previously directed staff to join the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program; a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program that provides framework to help cities achieve their economic, environmental, and quality-of-life goals based upon 29 best practices. As part of this best practice framework, cities are encouraged, but not mandated, by Minnesota State Statute §174.75, to adopt a Complete Streets Policy. Complete Streets is defined as the “planning, scoping, design, implementation, operation, and maintenance of roads in order to reasonably address the safety and accessibility needs of users of all ages and abilities. Complete streets considers the needs of motorists, pedestrians, transit users and vehicles, bicyclists, and commercial and emergency vehicles moving along and across roads, intersections, and crossings in a manner that is sensitive to the local context and recognizes that the needs vary in urban, suburban and rural settings”. Living streets include all elements and considerations of complete streets with an additional emphasis on environmental impacts and quality of life aspects. Mr. Ruzek presented a Power Point including GreenStep Cities Overview, Living Streets Overview and Benefits, Living Streets Policy, Implementation Plan and Next Steps. A proposed policy was provided and is intended to provide guidance for the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of all streets within Mendota Heights. The Commission is asked to discuss the proposed Living Steets Policy and offer any feedback. Commissioner McCaslin stated a number of the residential streets do not have a sidewalk. When would the worksheet be completed. Mr. Ruzek stated sidewalks are not a standard city-wide and would be considered when redoing the street. Commissioner McCaslin asked what types of living March 13, 2024 Mendota Heights Natural Resources Commission Page 3 of 4 street features would be employed and Mr. Ruzek stated we would like all of our parks to be connected by a trail system. Curb cut raingardens and sump manholes are being added and done currently. Commissioner Stein thanked Mr. Ruzek for his presentation. He asked about using sustainable modes of transportation. Mendota Heights does not have a lot of public transportation options. Has there been any collaboration with other entities. Mr. Ruzek stated there are two routes currently. Metro Transit is looking at a Metro Mobility type service. There is a 2016 corridor study that looked at the feasibility of constructing a trail. To add a trail would involve condemnation of private property or easements along Dodd Road. The Delaware Avenue Trail is planned for 2025- 2026. Commissioner Sheets asked about crosswalks. Dakota County is taking over the Valley Park Trail as a greenway. The design is currently being worked on from Marie to Lilydale. The bridges would be replaced. Commissioner Stein stated this is an excellent policy and commented on safety #3 under guidelines. He noted some statistics on traffic deaths nationwide and in Minnesota. There has been an increase in pedestrian fatalities due to speeds of vehicles. He is hoping to include speed management in the project. 7. Old Business a. Tree Sale Update Natural Resources Coordinator Spreiter reviewed Mendota Heights again has partnered with Tree Trust in 2024 to offer its annual spring tree sale with the purpose of providing high-quality trees to residents at a subsidized rate, and to provide the community with the many benefits of a healthy and diverse urban forest. Some of these benefits include replacing trees lost to disease such as the Emerald Ash Borer, reducing the effects of climate change, providing energy savings, reducing stormwater runoff, erosion, and water pollution, and providing habitat and food for wildlife, as well as adding to the aesthetics of the community. Mendota Heights began its 2024 tree ale as an online sale at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 4, 2024. The trees offered to residents in 2024 include: • Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry • White pine • Pagoda dogwood (multistem) • Princeton Elm • Bur Oak • Sentry Linden • Northern Acclaim Honeylocust The cost per tree is $60 to residents for a 10-gallon container tree, which also comes with a bag of mulch. Ordering is limited to two trees per resident. Residents will pick up purchased trees on Saturday, June 1st, from 9:00 a.m. – Noon at the Mendota Heights Public Works Facility. There are still some Northern Acclaim Honeylocusts that are available. Commissioner Sheets asked if there are opportunities for more trees to be available since they went so fast. Ms. Spreiter stated for this year the budget did not increase for the tree sale. Residents can also get trees through the City’s Tree Canopy Program. Vice Chair Knosalla suggested March 13, 2024 Mendota Heights Natural Resources Commission Page 4 of 4 limiting it to one tree per resident. Mr. Ruzek stated another option would be to increase the cost per tree to $75. Commissioner Sheets suggested when residents are looking at adding trees to their property this is a great suggested tree list. Dakota County also has a tree sale going on. b. Committee Reports • Ordinance and Policy Development – Commissioner Fahnhorst stated their meeting was postponed this month as they were getting some comments from the City Attorney on the Ordinance. • Education and Outreach – Student Rep. Trudeau stated they brainstormed ideas about the Earth and Arbor Day Week and talked about the physical awards. • Urban Forestry and Restoration – Commissioner Husbands stated they met prior to this meeting and decided on planting materials for the demonstration garden in Marie Park. • Strategic Planning – Vice Chair Knosalla stated they will have their first meeting in a couple weeks. • Sustainability – Commissioner Stein stated they had their second workshop for Partners in Energy last night. It was a good meeting. There were additional members added to the Committee. The focus of the meeting was a dive into the energy use data within Mendota Heights. Ms. Spreiter stated the Committee memberships are full at this point. 8. Staff Announcements Natural Resource Coordinator Spreiter stated Coffee with Council will be March 14, 5-6 p.m. at McDonalds. The City is taking applications for the Tree Canopy Program. $185/tree for residents and $259/tree for commercial property owners. The application and list of available trees is on the website. There may also be a Fall program. Information is available on the website. Information on the Earth and Arbor Day Celebration can be found on the City website and through social media. 9. Commission Comments Commissioner Husbands thanked Commissioner Knosalla for chairing the meeting this evening. 10. Adjourn Motion to adjourn the meeting by Fahnhorst, second by Stein. Motion passed 6-0. Vice Chair Sheets adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m.