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NRC Work Session 02-12-2025 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION WORK SESSION MINUTES 6:00 PM Wednesday, February 12, 2025 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights 1. Call to Order Vice Chair Knosolla called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. 2. Roll Call In attendance: Vice Chair Knosalla, Commissioners Daul, McCaslin, Sheets, Stein, Thuening, and Student Commissioner Trudeau. Absent: Commissioner Husbands. Staff in attendance: Natural Resources Coordinator Krista Spreiter and Community Development Manager Sarah Madden. 3. Discussion Staff requested item 3.e. Shoreland Ordinance, be moved to 3.b. on the agenda. a. Commissioner Resignation and Introduction of New Commissioners Coordinator Spreiter relayed that Chair Swank had to resign due to increased career responsibilities. With the resignation of Commissioner Fahnhorst in December, there were two open positions on the commission. Both positions were filled by new Commissioners Thuening and Daul, who were appointed by the City Council. New commissioners as well as standing commissioners and staff introduced themselves. The Commission discussed options to recognize former Commissioner Swank at a future meeting. b. Shoreland Ordinance Coordinator Spreiter gave an update on the Shoreland Ordinance development initiative of Goal 1 of the Commission’s 2025 Work Plan. Coordinator Spreiter gave an overview of what is required to be contained in a Shoreland Ordinance through state statute. Coordinator Spreiter gave an overview of the surface water regulations and regulating agencies that have jurisdiction over surface waters within the city. Coordinator Spreiter also gave an overview of past and current city ordinances pertaining to surface waters in the city. Gaps in surface water regulation were then discussed. Community Development Manager Madden stated that the current Title 15 Environmental Standards, contains a place holder that states that the city is currently deferring to state statutes until a shoreland ordinance is adopted. State statutes require a 75-foot structure setback for sewered lots adjacent to Recreational Lakes (Rogers and Lake Augusta) and a 150-foot setback for Natural Environment Lakes (Lemay and Pickeral Lakes). The state statutes do not apply to non-public waters, such as large portions of Ivy Falls Creek and Interstate Valley Creek. Vegetation standards were also discussed. Vegetation standards such as vegetation removal or buffer requirements are categorized as optional by state statutes. Community Development Manager Madden stated that the ordinance requirements contain several zoning elements and will need to be approved and recommended to City Council by the Planning Commission. Madden will work with the Planning Commission and Coordinator Spreiter on next steps on how both commissions can work together on a draft of a shoreland ordinance for city council approval. c. 2025 Workplan Committee Assignments Coordinator Spreiter gave an overview of the Commission’s 2025 workplan’s goals, and their corresponding committees and current committee members. Committee preferences for each commissioner were discussed for committee members going forward. The commission agreed to come up with tentative committees and then adjust according to Commissioner Husband’s preferences, as she was not in attendance. The proposed committees and members are: Goal 1: Ordinance and Policy Development – Commissioners Knosalla, McCaslin, and Stein Goal 2: Education and Outreach – Commissioners Daul, Sheets, Thuening, and Student Commissioner Trudeau Goal 3: Urban Forestry and Restoration – Commissioners Daul, Husbands, and McCaslin Goal 4: Strategic Planning – Commissioners Husbands, Sheets, and Thuening Goal 5: Sustainability – Commissioners Knosalla, and Stein d. 2024 Oak Award Recipients Coordinator Spreiter gave an update and background on the city’s Oak Awards program that recognizes individuals and organizations in the community that have made significant contributions to natural resources in the city. Spreiter then announced the 2024 recipients as follows: Acorn Award – Hannah Trudeau. Hannah led and coordinated a pollinator planting in Valley Park as part of her Eagle Scout project. The project included the planting of a 330 square-foot plot that included planting of 16 different species of native pollinator plants. Hannah designed a sign for the project site that promotes education and awareness of the project. Hannah also co-authored an essay, entitled “Creating Pollinator Pathways in Your Own Backyard”, which appeared in the May 24th, Mendota Heights City Newsletter. She has also served on the Natural Resources Commission as a Student Commissioner since 2023. Leaf Award – Kirsten Ramirez. Kirsten worked with City Staff to implement the program 'Fresh Air Fridays' which encouraged residents to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on Fridays throughout the summer. She provided content for social media, newsletters, and fliers educating residents on the benefits of reducing emissions and created incentives throughout the program to encourage participation. Canopy Award - Sue Light. Sue is a Dakota County Master gardener and has spent countless hours volunteering and coordinating volunteers to create and maintain native planting and pollinator projects throughout the city. Some of these include the City Hall Pollinator garden and raingarden, the Par 3 Golf Course native planting and raingarden, and the Victoria Road Boulevard restoration. She also volunteers and works with staff to plan and plant the city's curb-cut raingardens. Sue has also led the initiative to create and maintain a raingarden in her own neighborhood to help treat stormwater runoff before it enters Rogers Lake. She co-chairs the Rogers Lake Improvement association and is also a MN Tree Steward. Commissioner Stein added that Kirsten also helped create and coordinate the planting of an organic vegetable garden at Mendota Elementary. Recipients will receive their awards at the March 12th regular commission meeting. e. Partners in Energy Update Coordinator Spreiter gave an update on the Partners in Energy program. The Energy Action Plan (EAP) implementation phase kick-off meeting was held on February 4th. Several members of city staff were in attendance along with Natural Resources Commission members from the Sustainability Committee that had also served on the Energy Action Team, which helped develop the plan. Commissioners Stein and Knosalla gave updates from the meeting and additional background on the process. Coordinator Spreiter stated that a draft work plan had been developed that was included in the packet. During the kick-off meeting, it was discussed what role the Commission may have in carrying out the tactics and strategies included in the work plan. Some of these identified strategies were: • Residential Energy Efficiency – Strategy 2: Showcase local residential energy efficiency projects • Renewable Energy – Strategy 9: Explore residential and business funding opportunities for solar projects • Beneficial Electrification – Strategy 14: Facilitate peer-to-peer learning from residents who have already implemented electrification measures Commissioner Knosalla shared that hosting a workshop for community members that have implemented electrification measures to share their experience with others would be beneficial. Commissioner Stein stated that being able to share the details of the process is important, which would involve a possible presentation with photos, video, etc. Commissioner Thuening asked if a budget had been identified for PiE implementation. Coordinator Spreiter stated that there had not. Any specific implementation projects that required funds that the city had not yet budgeted for would have to be approved by City Council. The Commission also discussed ‘quick wins’ of the program that the Commission may be able to help with. One suggestion was education and outreach on rebates offered by Xcel Energy to discontinue usage of second refrigerator/freezers in residential homes that are not being utilized. Xcel Energy currently has a haul away and recycle program for residents for old appliances. Minnesota residents also receive a rebate for the program. Commissioner sheets brought up the subject of communication seen on social media, and how the commission and city can clearly communicate about the PiE program to avoid future confusion in communication. Also discussed residential negative reactions to door-to-door strategies. The Commission also discussed ways to list accurate resources for residents, including solar energy. The strategy of peer-to-peer communication regarding solar resources was also discussed. Commissioner Stein asked about the Geothermal Planning Grant that the city is exploring. Coordinator Spreiter stated that staff had met with Darcy Solutions, a geothermal consultant and contractor, to find out more about the process. Coordinator Spreiter relayed that the next Natural Resources Commission meeting will be held March 12, 2025 at 6:00PM in the Council Chambers. A new seating chart was given for 2025 regular commission meetings in the Council chambers; however this may be adjusted once new officer elections are held. Coordinator Spreiter relayed that officer elections will be held at the beginning of the March meeting. 4. Adjourn Vice Chair Knosalla adjourned the meeting at 8:19pm.