[0:28] Good evening. I'd like to call the September 10th, 2025 Natural Resources Commission meeting to order.

[0:37] And we will start with roll call.

[0:40] Thank you, Vice Chair Stein, Commissioner's President, Vice Chair Stein, Commissioner's tune, or sorry,

[0:50] commissioners McCaffslin and Dahl. Currently we do not have a quorum. Commissioners,

[0:57] they're not present. Our commissioners tuning husbands and sheets. I believe we still are

[1:05] expecting a couple commissioners. But Mr. Vice Chair, if we could move along with the agenda,

[1:12] but not take formal action unless we do get a quorum at some point.

[1:19] So the next item was to approve the agenda.

[1:22] We will table that at this time and just

[1:25] views the agenda that you have before you as sort of a draft or

[1:30] an unofficial agenda.

[1:33] And we'll still kind of follow that flow for the meeting.

[1:37] And same thing with the approval of the minutes from our last

[1:41] work session in which was in July.

[1:43] We will not take formal action on that at this time since we do not have a quorum, but please do review those minutes when you have time.

[2:00] And the next item is the citizen comment period. We don't have any in-service in-person visitors this evening.

[2:08] We would like to put out a warm invite for any citizens of

[2:14] Minnesota heights that would like to attend one of our meetings.

[2:16] We'd love to have you here to hear any concerns you have about the city's natural resources.

[2:21] Any positive things that you'd like to share as well.

[2:25] Another opportunity I'll mention is once or twice a year we do have like a field or a site visit.

[2:31] We just had one last month, two on the interstate Valley Creek Restoration Project.

[2:37] So that's another opportunity for citizens to come and meet the commission.

[2:43] Talk to us, see some really interesting and cool projects.

[2:48] So I just want to remind anyone that maybe watch an on-town square of that opportunity.

[2:55] Coordinator's writer, can we go back now and do those approvals?

[2:59] or is that the. Yes, that would be great. Thank you. Okay. So, we're going to go back and

[3:06] agenda to take care of a few items here. You should have the agenda in front of you and

[3:14] is there a motion to adopt tonight's agenda? So, the motion by Mr. Dowell is there a second.

[3:24] Second, second by Commissioner Sheets, any discussion on the motion?

[3:31] Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye.

[3:34] Aye.

[3:35] I'll post say no.

[3:37] We have an agenda.

[3:41] And then let's move back again a little to approval of the

[3:44] the minutes from the July 9th, 2025 commission work session.

[3:51] Hopefully you all had a little bit of time to review those minutes prior to the meeting.

[3:56] And,

[3:59] yeah, so is there a motion to approve the minutes from the July 9th work session?

[4:06] I hope to approve.

[4:09] So the motion is made by Commissioner Tuning.

[4:12] Is there a second?

[4:13] Thank you.

[4:14] Second by Commissioner Mackazzlin, you need a discussion on the motion.

[4:22] Okay, hearing none, all in favor of approving the minutes, please say aye.

[4:27] I, I, all opposed to you know, and the minutes are approved.

[4:35] So, going to item six on your agenda, new business, and this one has an action item

[4:44] of discussion, discussion of the trick or teen event, as well as a decision on our level

[4:53] of involvement in the trick or teen event and who specifically that might.

[5:00] If we choose to participate in that event. To kind of kick this off from my benefit, can you remind me, did we participate in that event?

[5:08] We did participate in that event last year.

[5:12] Yes, thank you, Mr. Vice Chair Stein.

[5:16] We did participate last year. Last year's participation was focused on stormwater education and promoting the doctorate and program.

[5:25] And

[5:30] I can, I can, if the commission is ready, I can present on that item.

[5:37] Yeah.

[5:37] Please do.

[5:40] So, this is an annual event.

[5:42] It's held at the Part 3 City Golf Course.

[5:46] And so, again, we will be having the event in 2025.

[5:52] It is scheduled for Saturday, October 18 from 4 to 6 p.m.

[5:57] it's open to the public. It's a free event. Each full on the golf course features giveaways

[6:04] and candy for kids and other participants. We have been discussing on how to incorporate partners

[6:15] in energy in city events as well as this one in the in the past and the commission has as

[6:24] So, some ideas proposed, including some ideas were also proposed by staff to move the commission

[6:35] to the first hole on the golf course, and then also incorporate waste and recycling

[6:42] organics and education on other sustainability efforts in the city.

[6:52] So one of the things from partners in energy standpoint would be promoting the home energy

[6:58] squads as well as other partners in energy programs for residents and businesses in

[7:04] So if the commission could please discuss the event and interest and ability to be involved or attend at this time,

[7:20] I think it's a great.

[7:21] Seems like you're going opportunity to get information out and would wondering in terms of the home energy squad.

[7:26] I know I think at one of the events we had a drawing for a free home energy audit would that be possible to do that again at this event.

[7:34] Yeah, thank you for the question.

[7:35] And I believe so, I will check with partners in energy.

[7:39] They might still be offering free home energy squad visits through the fall if not.

[7:46] I think we can sponsor, I think that wouldn't be an issue to sponsor.

[7:51] Another one.

[7:54] And I would add, we've got our materials for the partners in energy booth pretty well prepared.

[8:00] We've got a slide show for some of our events in the spring.

[8:04] We brought along some mon equipped pens and things like that.

[8:09] So I guess the preparation for that

[8:13] should be pretty minimalized with think to do a boot there.

[8:20] Is there any insights from doing this last year

[8:26] from the, I guess, the Education Outreach Committee here?

[8:30] Well, a piece of it is implementing whatever you're

[8:35] losing or talking about into the whole, right?

[8:38] That's a piece of it.

[8:41] So we'd want to think about how to be engaging

[8:45] at the whole with the materials that we have.

[8:54] It would be pretty much engaging with the adults

[8:57] that can with the child probably from the home

[9:00] and the sheep perspective, or is there a way

[9:02] to engage kids in that topic?

[9:05] It's a good question.

[9:05] I mean, I think we should adjust it.

[9:08] I was not present myself last year, but I can be on the state.

[9:14] So if we need people there, I can be there.

[9:21] I'm just, Commissioner Sheet's just, just to understand,

[9:24] because I've never been to this event.

[9:26] What does that mean by corny with the whole, is it deaft?

[9:30] Well, the idea that we have last year

[9:32] that our student commissioner Hannah was super instrumental

[9:37] and was we created a great setup to go over the whole to look like leaves and engage with talking

[9:47] about stormwater and cleaning leaves out from your, from the drains and like if you're on

[9:55] walks and you see that there are leaves you can do something about it so I created an engaging way.

[10:00] I don't know if you would say it differently, but it made a topic simple to talk about with kids and attendees, but also kind of fun.

[10:14] Yeah, I'm sure, because I think I had the

[10:17] trains to the river stencil on it, you know.

[10:21] Like, to help you recognize that where you'd see it in your neighborhood or around the city.

[10:28] And then the other holes are sponsored by like an orthodontist in the

[10:33] workplace in the end

[10:37] of the city.

[10:37] This is sponsored by the law.

[10:39] Quite certainly.

[10:40] And just to confirm all the material that was used last year is still available to use this year.

[10:48] Commissioner Tuting, yes, however the focus has changed to partners in energy and sustainability.

[10:55] So we probably could not reuse those materials.

[10:59] Okay, so that's your.

[11:00] Thank you.

[11:01] Yeah, and there's been some talk about costumes.

[11:05] If Commissioner is want to dress up in costumes, I think staff will be in costumes.

[11:11] vegetable costumes, it sounds like another waste and organics themed, so if there is something

[11:18] creatively you want to come up with for a costume for partners in energy or another sustainability

[11:26] topic or something else you don't have to dress up going to costume either.

[11:31] I mean I think perhaps our education committee and outreach committee could come up with something

[11:36] but in terms of educating younger people,

[11:40] I mean there's opportunities to educate about light bulbs,

[11:42] light switches, that type of thing perhaps,

[11:45] in terms of concerning energy.

[11:47] So I think we could probably come up with something to have on the whole,

[11:52] and then encourage whoever's there to dress up in a costume,

[11:55] appropriate to that.

[11:58] Just recently engaging with a young child on this.

[12:02] I found that there's, it resonated when talking about fossil fuels and dinosaurs and all of this.

[12:09] So maybe that could be an engaging way, looking at what is fossil fuel is in a very basic way.

[12:14] And then what do renewable energies mean in a very basic way.

[12:18] But considering that timeline is only a month or not quite sure,

[12:22] we have to just kind of discuss more logistics.

[12:24] How much we want to, how much capacity we have in the availability to create this material.

[12:30] I'd definitely agree with you.

[12:32] Commissioner Dahl, I think, education community committee could jump in on this, but maybe

[12:39] that's something that we can chat about.

[12:43] Yeah, and on that question, Corners, whether we have, do you need a commitment tonight that

[12:49] we are going to take a whole at this event?

[12:51] Or is this something we can have the education outreach committee put a little more thought

[12:57] into how we would, I don't know, decorate the area, whatever the word is there.

[13:06] Or do you need a, with the time, what is it, October, 18th, you need a firm commitment

[13:11] tonight that will be taking one of the slots.

[13:16] Thank you, Vice Chair, Vice Chair, I think that not maybe individual commitments, but maybe a commitment

[13:24] from the commission as a whole that they all put some effort into coming up with some

[13:34] things to have at the whole if they're not if you're not going to be able to make it to help promote

[13:40] partners in energy. I think that would be enough and then we can get individual commitments.

[13:48] I would like to have individual commitments by the end of the month for sure.

[13:56] Thank you for the

[13:56] prayer, prayer, prayer, prayer, prayer, prayer. And I would say as a whole, I think it

[14:00] sums up a great opportunity for our commission to engage with the public on an energy. So

[14:07] generally positive feedback. Okay. I would say.

[14:14] I would like to move then that we sponsor the whole

[14:17] I had, maybe this is a second portion, but that's the education and outreach committee

[14:23] design the whole for our committee.

[14:27] So I have a motion from Commissioner Dowl to sponsor a whole with some additional work from the education outreach committee on how to stage that the best.

[14:39] Is there a second to that motion?

[14:42] Second by Commissioner Sheets.

[14:45] Any discussion on the motion?

[14:49] Okay.

[14:49] I'll in favor say aye.

[14:51] Aye.

[14:51] I'll pose, you know.

[14:54] Okay.

[14:54] the motion passes, we will commit to that coordinator spreading.

[14:57] Thank you.

[15:02] And the next item on the agenda of new business is the geothermal planning grant.

[15:09] And I will kick this over to Coordinator Spiderman for an information on the update on this grant.

[15:17] Thank you Vice Chair Stein. The city had originally applied for a geothermal planning grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce back in March of this year.

[15:29] We were placed on a waiting list and then recently we're notified that we were taken off that waiting list and awarded up to $250,000 for the planning of a geothermal energy system.

[15:44] The plan would be to assess the city's public works facility with that grant.

[15:51] So I brought up this graphic from the Department of Energy for those not familiar with geothermal energy systems or geothermal energy in general, so this is kind of a nice basic graphic that shows how geothermal energy works.

[16:15] Basically, it's taking or utilizing the constant temperature of the ground and moisture

[16:24] water within the ground sometimes to heat and cool buildings.

[16:32] It's only maybe below 30 feet in depth where you reach that constant temperature of 50-59 degrees

[16:43] Fahrenheit and so wells are dug and it's on a lute system so the water moves through

[16:53] the well or the pipes. It doesn't take water from the ground. It's just passing through

[17:01] the ground and it can be installed vertically as well as horizontally these systems but we

[17:11] would then be using this grant to assess installing one of these systems at the Public

[17:18] Works facility.

[17:19] And eligible expenses through the grant include analysis, analysis of the heating and cooling

[17:26] demand of the building evaluation of equipment that's needed, analysis of the geologic

[17:34] conditions of the site and then preparation of a financial and analysis or final report for

[17:42] the project. So the city has about 16 weeks to enter into a contract with an insultant

[17:49] to lead an implement the project, more currently working on a request for proposals to go

[17:56] to qualified consultants and contractors for the project.

[18:02] And no action is needed, it's just an update to the commission.

[18:08] There are any questions by the commission.

[18:11] I can attempt to answer those at this time as well.

[18:16] I'll just start with the comment,

[18:18] which is we installed this exact type of system at our house back in 2010.

[18:25] So for 15 years, it's both heated and cooled our house.

[18:29] So we haven't used natural gas or any sort of combustion to do that.

[18:35] And it's been extremely reliable and efficient, low cost.

[18:43] The trick is that initial drilling of those loops

[18:48] is where the added cost is or the higher-up front cost.

[18:52] So that's kind of what's cool about this grant is like they'll analyze that, the economics

[18:58] of it, you know, the effort to drill those in and everything and see if this is something

[19:04] that makes sense for the city or not before you just jump into it.

[19:08] So really happy to hear that we've pulled off the waiting list and got the grant and just want

[19:16] to thank staff, Courtney and his writer, but also Public Works Director Rootset, you guys put

[19:21] lot of effort into just understanding all of this and talking to companies that have expertise

[19:28] to be able to submit that grant so thank you for doing that and it's really great that

[19:33] we got it.

[19:40] Congratulations.

[19:42] I have a question about how we will share those results back with the city for people who might

[19:49] be thinking about doing something like this at home and also of course how we will use it

[19:54] As a city going forward is that part of the plans later, once the...

[20:00] Project has been implemented and you have data to talk about.

[20:04] Yes. Thank you, commissioner. Sheets for the question. The report would be posted on our sustainability

[20:10] page after the project is complete, for sure. And then along the way we'll be sharing information

[20:17] as well through the usual outlets.

[20:29] Okay. We will move on next to old business. And the first item is the Shoreland Management

[20:35] ordinance development. Quarney to spread around if you want to kick this off or if you want one of the

[20:40] committee members to kick it off. Thank you, Vice Chair Stein. I can give some background for launching into

[20:48] discussion. So as an initiative of the Goal Won ordinance and policy development committee,

[20:58] there are 20 on their 2025 work plan, the committee is exploring and working to develop

[21:07] a shoreline ordinance for recommendation of approval by the City Council.

[21:12] Currently, the city does not have a shoreline ordinance, if adopted, there's a placeholder

[21:20] under Title 15, environmental standards of city code, and the surely ordinance would serve

[21:31] to protect natural water bodies within the city. They're not already protected under current

[21:37] city code, such as we already have a wetland ordinance, so it would be water bodies other than

[21:42] that would be a part of this proposed ordinance.

[21:49] In the past couple of work sessions,

[21:51] the Commission has briefly discussed the ordinance

[21:54] and Shorland ordinances in general.

[21:58] At the July work session, it was briefly discussed.

[22:03] There was a comment that we need to obtain

[22:07] more public information on water bodies

[22:10] with in Mendoza Heights, especially Lake Augusta, might pose a specific challenge because

[22:18] that water level continues to rise since it's a landlocked basin, so the established

[22:26] ordinary high water level, which is usually what we're basing setbacks and regulations

[22:31] on in a Shorlan ordinance would maybe not be relevant. So that's something that we will have to

[22:40] work out during discussion. I have reached out to the DNR to get advice and also will possibly

[22:51] be working with the WML who's been heavily involved in Lake Augusta as well to get some input from

[22:59] but that will possibly pose a challenge and then also at the July work session, the commission

[23:09] talked about including non-public water bodies, a couple of them into the ordinance,

[23:16] possibly such as Ivy Falls Creek and Interstate Valley Creek. So at this time, the commission

[23:24] is just asked to continue to the discussion, add any comments into the template or the draft

[23:33] ordinance that has been distributed and is in your packet. Committee members, school one

[23:40] committee members have already made some comments. Everyone is encouraged to continue to make

[23:47] comments including the commission as a whole as well and suggestions.

[23:59] And I guess I'll start out with a few comments from the, from the ordinance committee.

[24:05] You may remember some of this discussion from our work session, but I guess I think the view

[24:11] of the committee so far is that this model that the DNR has put forward is quite comprehensive

[24:18] and in my opinion, good, so we, at least our comments so far, we're not really suggesting

[24:28] too many changes to that other than they have some suggested ways to clarify and make

[24:34] it me be easier to enforce, or easier for the for citizens and the whole builders and

[24:39] others to understand. But for the most part, I think, we've been our read through this whole

[24:47] it is pretty long and kind of daunting. You look at the length of it. But I think it's quite

[24:52] comprehensive and quite clear. There's some pictures and graphics that help you understand

[24:57] some of the dimensions, the key dimensions, that's good.

[25:01] I see quorum newspaper has put in some of the put in the public water bodies that are in Mendoza Heights on page 21, right, which would be Rogers Lake, Lake Augusta, let me lake, unclub lake,

[25:19] and then on the next page has added those two creeks that she mentioned too.

[25:25] So again, this would have applicability only to public water bodies or if we choose to

[25:34] add any to those.

[25:38] That's what that's kind of a helpful to understand.

[25:41] I guess what the applicability of this is.

[25:53] It's just a jump in.

[25:55] Thank you for the summary.

[25:57] Thank you for joining me for reviewing it, I know it's a heavy lift, so appreciate that as well.

[26:08] Just reflecting on our July session.

[26:13] We also said with your recommendation saying that the optional text that isn't blue,

[26:19] I just want to return to that.

[26:22] I recall you said that a lot of those seem also quite reasonable.

[26:27] So maybe we could bring those up to speed.

[26:29] We're not there.

[26:32] Just address those.

[26:34] There are optional parts in blue.

[26:37] And get in the comments on those.

[26:46] Yeah, and there is quite a bit of,

[26:49] did you kind of flip through this?

[26:55] It is just a summary.

[26:56] throughout the entire text. There are sections that are highlighted in blue, which the

[27:02] DNR have said are stipulated as optional. So it's implemented, but it would go above

[27:09] and beyond. It's a very more conversational kind of looking at all those in pretty reasonable.

[27:16] So it sounded like we'd feel comfortable recommending keeping those optional texts inside of

[27:24] Yeah, and I'm trying to find a good example, maybe, as the best way to...

[27:34] Page 17, there's a big flu section that has a line for it to note that.

[27:41] The one I was looking for was the one related to, like, decks where there was some...

[27:49] In their basic language, it says decks that are, I think, set greater than three-foot above the ground line, right?

[27:59] And their suggestion was just like, just for simplicity, just make it all, all decks, right?

[28:06] So that's an example of that I think we should just...

[28:08] It's a team I think.

[28:10] Page 13?

[28:11] Page 13?

[28:27] I think that there's, you know, there are a lot of them.

[28:31] We should definitely include them for consideration.

[28:34] You know, probably a few that don't quite fit that.

[28:42] On page 48,

[28:44] As we get into 47, 48, 49, that also provides a lot of optional types of health and one thing that another conversation we had talked and brought to the table last week in the July session was around vegetation and so we want to make sure to tie our urban forestry land ordinance to this document because that's quite a robust ordinance so I just want to make sure to align that.

[29:11] And even 8.2.4 on page 48, we even said maybe that line A, 8.2.4 A vegetation to be maintained to screen structures, vehicles, or other facilities,

[29:30] at least 50% as viewed from the water and that was even proposed in the previous session

[29:37] that that could be maintained actually at 100% of leaving it be as where it was instead

[29:48] of allowing any vegetation removal.

[29:52] Do I remember that correctly from our discussion?

[29:55] Yeah, so to change this by at least or change the by at least 50% to a higher.

[30:00] That was the discussion, so that's, that's why I bring it here.

[30:07] Yeah, so I guess my suggestion, I guess at this point, because it is a pretty lengthy draft,

[30:14] is kind of go through those and, yeah, if you see anything like that, particularly where

[30:20] you think, you know, we should be more stringent.

[30:28] Yeah, those will be good ones to like flag

[30:31] and have some discussion on, I think.

[30:33] So yeah, in conclusion, because there's a word document or something

[30:37] or we're putting in comments.

[30:42] So yeah, I think that's a good way to do it.

[30:46] But we were also at a Google Doc, so I'm kind.

[30:51] But I think we're mostly operating within them.

[30:53] I forget what's fun.

[30:54] It's been a little while.

[30:56] We're a document or the Google Doc.

[30:59] Yes, and if I can just enter a jack,

[31:02] So the burden that is in your packet is the most recent version that I have with comments.

[31:09] So if commissioners have additional comments, such as Commissioner Tuning's comment, if

[31:16] you can send those to me in writing so I can incorporate them in the document if you don't

[31:21] if you can't or don't want to put them in the document yourself.

[31:26] So we can make sure to include everyone's comments for bringing it back to the group.

[31:32] Yes. I'm happy to look back. I think I also have notes on the computer from the July session,

[31:38] so I'm happy to review that and send it over at thank you. Of course.

[31:43] And that is a good point to make sure we add, I guess, cross-reference are other ordinances,

[31:48] like the tree preservation ordinance, the other one that's in here quite a bit is like impervious surfaces,

[31:53] which we have a separate ordinance for that too.

[31:56] So if that's, yeah, we'll just have to work on,

[32:04] I guess if that one is more stringent

[32:05] than some of this, maybe we just need to provide reference over to that.

[32:12] So there's some more work to be done there today to see how the impervious surface materialness

[32:19] ordinance measures or doesn't measure with what we've already adopted.

[32:28] The name of the ordinance is called impervious services ordinance.

[32:37] I will have to check if you just go to our city code online and put that keyword in, it will pop up.

[32:48] I can try to do that.

[32:51] All you are continuing to discuss and bring that back to you, the official.

[32:58] I want to look it up, though.

[33:00] You should make one subcommittee that looking for some of those cross-reference things might be a good,

[33:07] but whatever for us to do.

[33:10] That's your assignment for next thing.

[33:12] Yeah.

[33:14] And then the other part of that.

[33:16] I'm not sure what it's called.

[33:18] If it's called Improvis Service, but that's really what it covers is if you're, but it covers

[33:22] not just these lots that are along these public water bodies, it's city-wide.

[33:28] So it's how much, you know, of a lot can be covered by structure, driveway, sidewalk, you know,

[33:36] any impervious surface.

[33:38] So it's a little more applicable to more, basically, city-wide, whereas this is applicable

[33:45] to just certain lots along these water bodies

[33:51] and

[34:00] I know this is a long, long ordinance.

[34:03] But yeah, it's, I don't know any other way than kind of to slog through it, do you see what

[34:10] come in?

[34:14] I think there were a few, and I slogged through a couple of months ago, so in memory there were

[34:19] a few sections that were less applicable to our city.

[34:23] So that's also a point where we can look at removal.

[34:31] I mean, it appears that it gets more specific about, you know, the impervious surfaces or trees, that type of thing as you could deeper into it and I appreciate you leaving the blue sections in there, I think that makes sense if it doesn't, you know, is it redundant or contrary to what else is written in another variance?

[34:54] There's nothing.

[34:56] Cornelius Spider looks like he found.

[35:00] Yes, so it is 12, title 12, for a six, and it's entitled just impervious surface requirements.

[35:15] Yes, so to a clear answer.

[35:18] I think the committee should sort of compare this to what the requirements are in the shoreland ordinance,

[35:28] And kind of see which, you know, if the requirements in this are all more restrictive than what's in this, we could probably just

[35:37] provide a cross reference to this one.

[35:50] Thank you for doing that.

[35:56] So any other comments on the ordinance?

[35:59] I know it's kind of long and yeah.

[36:02] A lot of that.

[36:03] But importantly.

[36:05] Yeah.

[36:06] Thank you for your work.

[36:07] I think it'll be wonderful when it's complete.

[36:12] All right.

[36:12] Let's move on to.

[36:16] University of Valley Creek Stabilization and BMT, BMP Project Tour, Cornelian Schneider.

[36:24] Thank you, Vice Chair Stein. In lieu of our August meeting, as you know, we took a tour

[36:32] of the recently completed Interstate Valley Creek Stabilization and BMP project. We made it

[36:42] you all of the areas within the project except for one of the infiltration basins.

[36:51] But just as a brief overview again, the project included stabilization of two reaches of the

[37:02] in some remandering and it had also included installing a weir to create wetland habitat.

[37:17] So in the wetland by the ballpark.

[37:22] So the tour involved seeing all these different aspects of the project.

[37:27] I just have some pictures I was going to kind of click through.

[37:31] So this is Reach 1.

[37:35] This was a meandering and reshaping stabilization of the stream bank, where the erosion was

[37:45] the worst throughout the stream bed.

[37:49] There were over 10 foot vertical banks.

[37:51] So, they re-meandered the stream to help with rate and energy, just painting some of that energy.

[38:05] They also installed cross veins for different cross veins and stabilized the banks using bioengineering.

[38:12] So route rods from trees were taken and placed in the side of the bank as well as

[38:19] footer logs to hold the bank using natural materials. You can see the vegetation

[38:26] has already started to fill in quite nicely. There is another photo of the same

[38:39] at a three to one. And there's a photo of the group. Can that reach one? This is a photo

[38:48] of the weir that was taken so you can see the water backing up behind it. This area of the

[38:56] channel was downcutting quite a bit and so historically there was a weir in place a small

[39:04] place by the DNR that was wooden that had failed quite a few years ago, but the stream continued

[39:11] to downcut and no longer flooded its banks so that it no longer provided water to the

[39:18] wetland, the wetland was starting to dry up so this brought back a good amount of hydrology

[39:23] as you can see to that wetland, we've noticed a lot of waterfall and other wildlife taking advantage

[39:29] of it as well. So next steps for the project, we will be after so currently the public and

[39:42] and everyone has noticed that Valley Creek Park is under construction for the River

[39:47] to River Greenway Project. So the trail is currently torn up. They're replacing the bridges.

[39:52] So we are going to wait until that project is substantially completed before doing any

[40:00] More restoration work, there is more restoration work to be done, adding some woodie vegetation, tree plantings, with this project and also with the Greenway project.

[40:11] But we're going to wait on that and kind of do it all once so that we don't risk any more disturbance to new plantings.

[40:20] So that is kind of the next steps for that project, but the Greek project is substantially

[40:28] complete, minus those two things, plantings of the infiltration basin, well basins will

[40:35] also redone after completion of the Greenway project.

[40:39] We did have a inspection and walkthrough by the Army Corps of Engineers recently and they

[40:47] had only good things to say. So that was nice to hear as well. And that's all I have. It's

[40:53] just an update for the commission. The commission's willing to, or welcome to comment,

[41:00] but no action needed.

[41:04] Any comments from commissioners? I guess especially from CNN in person,

[41:08] And which was great a month, any impressions or comments?

[41:16] Just did it.

[41:17] Really came together quickly and a lot of good work

[41:20] got done for, it seemed like not a whole lot of budget.

[41:24] So, good project.

[41:27] That was just, yeah, just see it in person.

[41:31] I was just really impressed.

[41:32] Like this weird location here, just the amount of water

[41:37] that stores in a big, like, rain event.

[41:39] and can control the velocity of, you know, of the water, you know, going down that stream

[41:46] and causing so much erosion.

[41:48] Cornelian discrider is mentioned, you know, the water foul that she's starting to see

[41:52] in this sort of replenished wetland now that, because it had pretty much dried out correct,

[41:57] you know, from the, from the elevation, I guess, of the creek being kind of like, going

[42:05] down.

[42:05] So it kind of drained this whole wetland area, so yeah, just a really impressive project and it's really to me really satisfying because we do a lot of plants and natural resources management plan and the partners and energy plan and just to see

[42:19] See the fruits of that labor kind of come come to life is really cool. So it's is I was very impressed by the project.

[42:29] And I think it could be really satisfying for a lot of residents to know kind of what was before in

[42:35] what's after.

[42:36] And I maybe talked about this at our tour, but if there was even some kind of a placard with

[42:40] pictures that could be put up to say, this is how it used to look, this is how it looks

[42:43] now, and educating what was done and why it was done for the local community, because

[42:48] it is such a heavily used area trail.

[42:51] You know, once all the trail is completed and so forth, I think that could be really beneficial

[42:55] to the community in terms of education and just knowledge.

[43:03] I agree because there's like this area even as is a little bit hidden.

[43:07] And it's like there's so much good work that was done here and I just

[43:10] that was one one thing I was leaving the field visit with this.

[43:14] Like I wish more just more citizens from the city.

[43:17] You can see what was done here because it was really a great project.

[43:23] I also left thinking a lot about that.

[43:26] It's a really neat project.

[43:28] The scale is hard to see in pictures.

[43:31] This weir is massive project.

[43:35] And we'll make a large difference to the water flow in that area.

[43:42] And as a neighbor who walks through this area all the time,

[43:46] I know that the greenway project is going to be much more

[43:50] felt by people.

[43:51] It'll be experience as you're walking on the paths

[43:54] and you see that, but I do hope the visible parts can be appreciated, and so I do think

[44:03] there's storytelling that our committee can help in thinking about how do we help share

[44:09] this in a way that helps understand why this was important and how it will be seen for many

[44:19] years to come in the different ways that it continues to grow, especially the planting

[44:24] which already the wildflowers in one of the areas the screen were already quite lovely and it'll be fun to see the native plantings and

[44:36] trees as they continue to grow too.

[44:42] One other comment I would make is you can see from being out there just sort of the pressure of all the

[44:48] invasive species coming at it from all directions and that's why I think I'm proud of our commission that we've been

[44:56] supportive of.

[45:00] Maintenance funding to, you know, once the area is like the infiltration basins are seated in

[45:08] planet with native planings that we really prioritize maintaining those areas and kind of holding

[45:15] them because they're under a lot of a lot of pressure if you're not a kind of constantly vigilant.

[45:22] So, I think that's something that the commission has really been supportive of and I think I'm

[45:27] about that.

[45:32] Any other comments?

[45:34] Before we move on, thank you.

[45:37] And next item on the agenda, our staff announcements,

[45:40] Coordinator Spreiner.

[45:42] Thank you Vice Chair Stein.

[45:45] One of or I guess my only announcement is that we have posted

[45:53] an opening for a new student commissioner on our commission.

[46:01] very again very appreciative and impressed by the work that Student Commissioner Trudeau had

[46:09] done. She was with us for two years and so it has moved on and we'll be a senior this year

[46:19] and it's been busy with all things senior and so we are looking for a new student commissioner.

[46:26] The posting is on our website and you can go or interested students can go there to look for the application.

[46:39] They can also stop by City Hall. The term runs from October 25th to August 26th or I'm sorry.

[46:56] It is open to all high school students in grades 9 through 12 and student commissioners serve as non-boding members of the commission, but very valuable members and that they provide a youth and student perspective to the commission.

[47:14] So any interested students should submit the student commissioner application, which is different than the the adult or non student application, but submitting that to the city by 10 a.m. on September 19th.

[47:37] So I encourage anyone that's interested to apply or if anyone knows someone that would be a good fit and encourage them to apply as well, please.

[47:49] That is all I have.

[47:50] Thank you.

[47:54] Okay, next item is commission comments.

[48:00] Any comments from the commissioners on any other.

[48:03] Any other items?

[48:05] Okay, hearing none.

[48:06] Let's go to committee reports.

[48:09] Committee 1 is ordinance and policy development, which we've, I think, already covered anything else we need to, I mean, we're pretty much just on that shoreland ordinance right now.

[48:23] But we will, yeah, we'll kind of tackle some of those where they overlap with some of our other ordinances, maybe as the next step for the committee.

[48:32] Committee 2, education outreach.

[48:37] We've done that recently, but we will be meeting soon to discuss the T, the whole one project.

[48:47] The project.

[48:48] And the valley park project.

[48:52] We should talk about that.

[48:53] Great.

[48:54] I would also say, just as part of the commission, because it's outreach and education.

[48:58] I think it also be a lovely thing to hear from the public more on what they would like to see more from our commission.

[49:04] and really create a good channel of communication so we can gather your priorities as well and bring that back to the

[49:12] nature of your resources commission.

[49:15] So please public engagement, we'd like to hear from you.

[49:20] Okay, 23 year, I've been forestry and restoration.

[49:26] We may meet tomorrow to discuss a planning by the stormwater pond at the Mendoza Village.

[49:36] That's too easy to determine, but we're different meetings soon, so maybe look and add some

[49:43] involved in it.

[49:44] Okay, that's good.

[49:46] Committee for Strategic Planning?

[49:49] Yep, so we've had a busy year because we've got two line items on our work plan.

[49:55] One is Valley Park to create a site-specific strategic.

[50:02] So, we've been very fortunate to bring all of the stakeholders together in the last months, so that was the WMO, and to go to county and be able to do site visits as well with coordinators, brighter, to really get an idea of all of the different projects and the timelines, because there's a lot going on, and there's a lot of overlap between the different organizations.

[50:25] So we met with all the stakeholders a couple of months ago decide that it was helpful to meet again, so we'll plan to do that at the in December at the end of the year with hopefully an updated GIS file with all of the most recent updates on the different projects.

[50:47] So that has been great to bring everybody together and get everybody aligned on that park, the current status.

[50:58] And we also decided that it makes sense to delay the site specific natural resources management plan for Valley Park until after all of this work comes down and settles down.

[51:11] So we looked as delaying that until 2026, 2027.

[51:17] So in the meantime, we'll just continue the updates

[51:19] with the stakeholder groups.

[51:22] And then keep an eye on, of course, as you mentioned,

[51:25] invasive, it's like a non-going battle against invasive.

[51:30] So just keeping an eye on that as well.

[51:33] And coordinator, Sprite has been great about keeping

[51:34] us updated on the vegetation situation.

[51:39] Yeah, so that is Valley Park, the second point on our work plan is exploring potential funding

[51:46] sources. And so we have looked at, as mentioned in previous meeting, the Climate Action

[51:53] Planning Grant. And in our last meeting yesterday, we also started discussing other potentials,

[52:00] but important is also to make sure that we have a good idea of what we're wanting to, we're

[52:05] projects we're wanting to fund. So they're very happy to also open that up to the wider group as

[52:11] well as we move into planning for 2026.

[52:19] Commissioner to mean the the climate action planning grant

[52:23] you mentioned is that? Is that out or have a deadline? It's still out. It's still out. It's yet.

[52:29] Okay, as I said, okay.

[52:32] Thank you for that update. The sustainability committee, I think we're going to

[52:38] our video that was produced by Town Square, but I guess I just mentioned before that we are

[52:45] kind of in the initial stages of Commissioner Canoson, who's the other commissioner on this

[52:52] committee and we've had some initial discussions with Coordinator Sprider on possibly some more

[52:57] direct outreach with the businesses to try to get the businesses more engaged in this work

[53:02] maybe it's going to take some more kind of like face-to-face interaction. So just some discussion

[53:10] going on there. The little background on this video, which has been, I think, was finalized in July,

[53:20] I believe, and was put on town squares, website, the city's website, our social media feeds,

[53:27] and so if you didn't see that, it's just a few minutes long, so we're going to go ahead and play that.

[53:33] Thank you Vice Chair Stein, as you've mentioned, was done by

[53:40] Town Square TV as an Insight 7 story.

[53:45] And it was filmed at Vice Chair Stein's home.

[53:53] So it's only a few minutes long, but I will play it.

[54:13] water in 2024.

[54:16] The initial line right with the cell energy on the

[54:18] car is an energy flow.

[54:20] The cell energy flow is going to be flow now.

[54:22] This is program that cell energy flow.

[54:24] The water has to be as you are interested in developing

[54:27] an implemented cross-bite energy action plan.

[54:31] And the process that we use for that is we partner with local

[54:35] stakeholders and community leaders to identify

[54:39] about energy levels, cities, and physical activities.

[54:42] And then we actually develop an actual plan that will achieve those goals.

[54:47] For that energy actually, to any of those residents, commissioners, we have had some students,

[54:54] cities that have to form this actual plan.

[54:58] And on that we came up with three goals.

[55:03] The Court has said this was a good option.

[55:06] We are now in the Correscent for the Board of Justice.

[55:08] The State would say that the State would say that the State would say that the State would say that the State would never be in the Senate for a vote as to save the money as well.

[55:14] The State would say that the State would be action-man.

[55:16] I will also say that 1.6 million dollars in energy costs, and avoiding 9,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide,

[55:23] a cliddly, of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

[55:26] The approach I think we have taken here in our house, is like we really look for things that will just save us money,

[55:31] because all of us have better things to spend money on than utility bills, right?

[55:37] Natural resources commissioner will sign, has been making gradual upgrades toward energy efficiency around his home.

[55:44] Convenience of just not having to worry gas, not having to get oil changes.

[55:47] Over several years, the signs have upgraded to an electric car, electric lawn-care tools.

[55:52] The lawn more distinct, it's the same battery that just takes one.

[55:55] an induction stove. Preheats up the pan or the contents of the pan so that you need to be like

[56:01] staying still or whatever. A heat pump dryer. So instead of, you know, burn in natural gas or

[56:08] region electric resistance heat to create heat. It again uses heat pump technology. And more.

[56:14] So we've done a lot of upgrades but we haven't done them like all in like one time.

[56:17] It's like they've been really stretched out over 15, 17 years now.

[56:23] And I don't know how it's residents can qualify for home energy squad visits through Excel.

[56:28] So, they were here at our house for about two and a half hours.

[56:31] Shortly after that, they send you a nice written report that summarizes everything, recommendations, potential incentives and rebates

[56:38] that are out there available. If you're looking at doing one of the upgrades too, that would be the first step I would take.

[56:44] If you want to get more involved with this effort because they do a lot of the work for you.

[56:48] We've got inefficient lighting or other things I'll just go ahead and replace those things for you if it's with your permission obviously.

[56:56] Opportunities for businesses are also available through partners and energy.

[57:00] And those might be in the areas of energy efficient programs that they can participate in.

[57:04] They might be able to participate in renewable programs.

[57:07] Some companies have renewable goals, and we can help assist them in terms of how they need those renewable goals.

[57:14] Residents and businesses can learn more about partners and energy opportunities,

[57:17] including cost saving programs on the city's website.

[57:21] You know, there's different levels of people's, I guess,

[57:24] interest in environmental issues and things like that.

[57:26] And to me, that's not even the critical issue.

[57:28] I think if you just focus on the improvements that are going to save you money,

[57:34] make your life more convenient.

[57:35] If you implement those things, a lot of the rest of the benefits will come along for the ride.

[57:41] For insight 7, this is Carmen Talk.

[57:49] Yeah, so they really took a lot of video and took a lot of

[57:52] And so Kudos to Townsburg TV for putting all that together in a short, but I think I just think they did a really nice job putting all that together.

[58:05] So thanks for letting them into your house.

[58:10] And I think you also highlight the point that not everybody is motivated from the natural resources side, but the financial side is very important factors to take into consideration.

[58:22] Yeah. Yeah, in addition to that, I would add just some of the convenience of these, like,

[58:29] the EVs are the best example. It just saves you a lot of chores.

[58:34] For, like, that's what I like about some of that. It's just a simplified your life.

[58:39] And, yeah, it's definitely worth looking into some of these things.

[58:45] So that's all for committee reports.

[58:50] And that's the last thing on our agenda.

[58:53] Is there a motion to adjourn?

[58:56] The motion to adjourn by Commissioner McKazzlin.

[58:58] Is there a second?

[58:59] Second.

[59:00] Second by Commissioner Dawl.

[59:01] All in favor say aye.

[59:02] Aye.

[59:03] And we adjourn.

[59:04] Thank you, Paul.

Mendota Heights Natural Resources Commission

Agenda

Transcript