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NRC Work Session minutes 10-16-2024CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION WORK SESSION MINUTES 6:00 PM Wednesday, October 16, 2024 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights 1.Call to Order Chair Swank called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. 2.Roll Call In attendance: Chair Swank, Vice Chair Knosalla, Commissioners Husbands, McCaslin, Stein, and Student Commissioner Trudeau. Absent: Commissioner Sheets. Commissioner Fahnhorst joined at approximately 6:20p. Staff in attendance: Natural Resources Coordinator Krista Spreiter. 3.Adopt Agenda Commissioner Stein moved to adopt the agenda. Commissioner McCaslin seconded. 4.Discussion a.Goal 1: Ordinance and Policy Development Update and Next Steps Staff gave a brief update on the proposed Urban Forest Preservation Ordinance and adoption progress. Commission discussed options for review and development of a next ordinance for recommendation. Commissioner Husbands discussed the importance of development standards for landscaping as a need in the city. Currently the city does not have standards. Commissioners Knosalla and Stein requested the Commission look at examples from other cities. Commissioner Stein asked the Commission what they thought was the greatest need. Chair Swank gave information regarding the Deconstruction Ordinance. Requested Commission begin discussion on such an ordinance as it is a significant way that demolition waste can be kept out of landfills. Commissioner Knosalla asked if it would be beneficial to partner with other entities and communities in the area. Asked if other cities were working on something similar. Chair Swank mentioned that her organization recently got a grant from the MPCA. Also spoke about Circularity Centers that offer recycled building material for reuse. Reuse MN is one such organization. Chair Swank suggested that the ordinance may not be appropriate at this time but wanted to start the conversation. Commissioner Fahnhorst asked what water bodies are considered public waters that would be included in a Shoreland Ordinance. Supports this as a next ordinance, though smaller streams and wetlands would not be considered public waters. Suggested to propose resolution that would include protections for water bodies and then hire a consultant to draft a shoreland ordinance. Chair Swank suggested working into future budgets an allowance for consultant to compose and walk through ordinance drafting and adoption process. Staff to research estimate of cost for consultant fee. Commission discussed definition of wetlands, vs. streams and other water bodies. Commission agreed that exploring a Shoreland Ordinance for recommendation would be a feasible next step. The Commission would also like to explore a resolution in the interim until the shoreland ordinance is adopted. b. Natural Resources Management Plan Priority Projects Update Staff gave an update on the Natural Resources Management Plan priority projects, including current projects, and projects budgeted for 2025. Commissioner Husbands asked if a plan for Valley Park had been discussed among the Strategic Planning Committee. Chair Swank stated that the committee had been focused on potential funding sources and exploring interest in a ‘friends of’ group that would support natural resources in the city, including Valley Park. c. 2025 Natural Resources Work Plan Commission discussed Goals for the 2025 Natural Resources Commission Work Plan. Each Goal was discussed with corresponding initiatives. Goal 2 was discussed. Commissioner Knosalla suggested adding collaboration with Sustainability on Partners in Energy. Chair Swank suggested removing ‘develop engagement materials’. The Commission discussed Goal 1: Ordinance and Policy Development Initiatives: Recommend Resolution for Shoreland Protection. Draft a Shoreland Ordinance for recommendation of approval by City Council. The Commission discussed Goal 3: Urban Forestry and Restoration. Commissioner Husbands suggested moving forward with converting turf to native vegetation for identified areas. Commissioner McCaslin suggested using one of the projects as a demonstration plot. Commissioner Knosalla suggested hosting another buckthorn removal event. Commissioner Husbands commented that removal events have failed in the past because the buckthorn grows back so quickly without diligent follow-up treatments. Suggested creating a work plan to restore the public parcel at Dodd and Marie. Commissioner Knosalla suggested creating an engagement event every year. Also suggested combining turf to native conversion project with community involvement event. Commissioner Knosalla suggested keeping ‘Host Tree Planting Event’. Commissioner McCaslin asked if additional emerging pest preparation/education was needed. The Commission discussed the initiative Develop a buckthorn removal kit for residents and what could be included in the buckthorn kit, including dobbers, educational materials on strategies and methods for removal, weed wrench, gloves, loppers, snippers, etc. Staff relayed that this initiative could be completed by end of 2024. Goal 4: Strategic Planning was discussed. Commission agreed the initiative Identify opportunities for Green Steps advancement is in process and can be removed for 2025. The Commissioner agreed to keep the initiatives Identify and explore funding sources for Natural Resources and Explore development of a Natural Resources Management Plan for Valley Park. Goal 5: Sustainability was tabled. 5. Old Business 5a. Partners in Energy Update Staff gave an update on the progress and process up until this point of the Partners in Energy Program. Commissioner Stein announced that the MN Legislature established a Geothermal Planning Grant Program to provide financial assistance to eligible applicant to examine the feasibility of installing geothermal energy systems. Eligible applicants include counties, cities, townships, and the Met Council. Grants will be awarded up to $150,000. Eligible systems include bored geothermal heat exchanger, groundwater thermal exchange device, and submerged closed loop heat exchanger. 5b. Preliminary Budget Update Staff gave an update on the current recommended preliminary budget. 6. Staff Announcements Staff relayed that the November Natural Resources Commission meeting date will have to be rescheduled. The Commission agreed that November 7th would be the best date. The Education and Outreach committee will meet the hour before the regular meeting on the 7th. 7. Commission Comments Commissioner Husbands would like regular updates from other partner agencies and programs. Also reminded the Commission that the Virtual Environment Commissions Conference is October 22nd, from 6:30-8p. The conference gathers volunteer city commissioners from environment, sustainability, parks and recreation, and Natural Resources Commissions from around Minnesota. The event is hosted by Conservation MN, Green Steps Cities, and Tribal Nations to help bridge connections between communities that are doing conservation work. 8. Adjourn 8:12pm. Motion made by Commissioner Knosalla, seconded by Commissioner McCaslin.