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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/27/2021 EB Packet CITY OF LINO LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING Wednesday, January 27, 2021 6:30 p.m. Meeting to be held electronically Pursuant to MN Statute 13D.021 AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 4. SWEARING IN OF BOARD MEMBERS 5. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR 6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 28, 2020 7. OPEN MIKE 8. ACTION ITEMS A. Smart Irrigation Controller Program 9. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Heron Colony Funds 10. GENERAL UPDATES 11. ADJOURN How to Join the Meeting Phone: Dial 1-312-626-6799 Meeting ID: 854 9074 6163 Web link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85490746163 DRAFT MINUTES CITY OF LINO LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING ZOOM I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Mr. Sullivan called the Lino Lakes Environmental Board meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. on October 28, 2020. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The Agenda was approved as presented. IIII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES August 26, 2020 Ms. Andrzejewski made a MOTION to approve the August 26, 2020 Meeting Minutes. Motion was supported by Ms. McNulty. Motion carried 7 - 0. V. OPEN MIKE Mr. Sullivan declared Open Mike at 6:33 p.m. Open Mike was closed at 6:34 p.m. DATE : October 28, 2020 TIME STARTED : 6:31 P.M. TIME ENDED : 7:49 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT : John Sullivan, Paula Andrzejewski, Eric Flower, Shawn Holmes, Ella McNulty, Wendy Nelson, Alex Schwartz MEMBERS ABSENT : None STAFF PRESENT : Andy Nelson, Janele Waterman Environmental Board October 28, 2020 Page 2 DRAFT MINUTES VI. ACTION ITEMS A. Bald Eagle Addition Preliminary Plat The project consists of a new lot created by splitting a lot with an existing residence located at 202 Elm Street. The area is currently zoned R-1 and also in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan R-1, low density residential. Staff recommends • A storm drain inlet protection be added to catch basin in front of 7150 2nd Avenue • Prior to any construction activities tree protection fence at 1 foot radius of any trees near the construction zone should be established. • Any ash trees on the site that are not intended to be treated for emerald ash borer in the near future, should be removed. • Ground cover type should be specified for any areas of exposed soil. Mr. Sullivan wanted to know about the ground cover type. Mr. Nelson would like to see what the applicant has in mind. Seed mix 25151 or sod would be preferred. Ms. Holmes would like to add to the recommendations that the applicant tries to preserve as many trees on the south perimeter as possible. Ms. Nelson made a Motion to recommond for approval the Bald Eagle Addition Preliminary Plat with the Environmental Boards recommendations. Ms. Andrzejewski seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0 B. EAB Injection Program Mr. Nelson presented an updated Elm Ash Borer (EAB) plan for the city to treat with insecticide injections, remove boulevard ash trees and replace with a diverse mix of species. Mr. Nelson would like to hit a target of treating 100 trees a year. With treating the trees with treatment every other year. The city will need assistance to hit that goal One way to do this program is to enter into an agreement with a contractor that provides injections. This program is currently used in Moundsview. Program Details/Benefits: 1. Discounted rate for injections of City and residents’ trees. 2. Distributes a postcard to all residents informing them about EAB, the benefits of injections, and providing a clear option for injections with contact information. Environmental Board October 28, 2020 Page 3 DRAFT MINUTES 3. Establishes a website/landing page where residents can sign up for free appointments/consultations and find more information about EAB. 4. Provides the City with mapping and GIS data for all trees injected (public and private) to assist in our EAB response planning. 5. Frees up our seasonal workers to work on other tasks, such as natural area restoration In the summer of 2020 it took two workers about a month to treat 101 trees at a cost of $3,353.89 for wages, chemicals, and injection equipment. Mr. Nelson stated that the city plan is for park and boulevard trees. In treating the boulevard trees is to help stager the removal of the remaining boulevard trees. Mr. Nelson mentioned that the replacement budget is what is holding us to 30 trees a year. The trees replacements are lager caliper. This size tree holds up to wind better, survivor rate is better and there is less maintenance which frees up city workers for other projects. Mr. Nelson also mentioned that with this program the homeowner and not the city makes the contact with the company. And also the city can still do some of their own injections to the park and boulevard trees if necessary. Mr. Flower suggested that before going to the council you could have some testimonials, data and a sample postcard. Also put a valve to the cost saving of sending out the postcards. And free up the city workers to do other projects. Ms. Sullivan made a Motion to recommend to forward this plan to City Council for their consideration. Ms. Holmes seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0. VII. UPDATES A. Recycling Updates Mr. Nelson mentioned that there are two more Recycling Saturdays left for the year. Mr. Nelson is having Ms. Maxon get the numbers together of how many households are with what garbage hauler, how many residents are in the organic drop off program and how many people are coming to Saturday Recycling. Mr. Nelson is looking at what we are doing and what the cost are. Mr. Sullivan would like to know at the next meeting if we have reach our tonnage goals. Environmental Board October 28, 2020 Page 4 DRAFT MINUTES VIII. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Andrzejewski made a MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 7:49 p.m. Motion was supported by Mr. Schwartz. Motion carried 7 - 0. Respectfully submitted, Mary Fogarty 1 ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AGENDA ITEM 8A STAFF ORIGINATOR: Andy Nelson MEETING DATE: January 27th, 2021 REQUEST: Motion to recommend program TOPIC: Smart Irrigation Controller Program BACKGROUND: Fresh water is a finite resource. In our area, over 60% of water usage for a typical home is used for outdoor irrigation during the growing season. Of that water use, roughly 50% is wasted on overwatering, evaporation, and non-target watering. Depending on the assumptions plugged in to the water use calculator below, wasted fresh water could easily reach 150 gallons per house per day. One of the most powerful and easy to implement options to improve our water conservation efforts in the City involves increasing the efficiency of outdoor irrigation. Home water use calculator: https://www.home-water-works.org/calculator EPA-certified WaterSense smart irrigation controllers greatly reduce overwatering by tailoring irrigation system operation to local weather, plant type, soil type, slopes, and other factors. We have the ability to purchase around 100 Rachio 3 controllers using $20,000 from the Water Utility Fund. These controllers usually cost $230, but we’ll be able to purchase them for $190 at a bulk-rate discount. Residents will be able to purchase these controllers at a discounted rate of $38 each (20% of our cost). The Rachio 3 controllers were selected based on Wi-fi compatibility, the quality of the customer help-line, and ease of installation and operation. The City of Woodbury offered several controllers in their program and surveys returned by residents showed the Rachio 3 as the clear choice. The City of Hugo also offers Rachio 3 controllers and they have received positive feedback. This program could possibly be expanded in the future through acquisition of Met Council Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment Grant funds, which would provide a 75% match and allow for the purchase of many more controllers. There is also the possibility of including an ordinance in City Code requiring that all irrigation controllers installed in new homes bear the WaterSense certification to further bolster our water conservation efforts. 2 Program Details: 1. The City will purchase 100 controllers using $20,000 from the Water Utility Fund. 2. These controllers will be available to residents on a first-come first-served basis at the discounted rate of $38 each. 3. We can compare water usage for properties that participate in the program to measure the program’s impact. ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTION: Environmental Board motion to recommend purchase of Rachio 3 Smart Irrigation Controllers. 1 ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AGENDA ITEM 9A STAFF ORIGINATOR: Andy Nelson MEETING DATE: January 27th, 2021 REQUEST: Discussion only TOPIC: Heron Colony Funds BACKGROUND: In 2012, the Blaine Jaycees donated $2,000 to be used for management of the heron colony on Peltier Island. Since 2012, these funds have been used primarily for the purchase of metal flashing and hardware used to deter raccoon predation of young herons. At this point, we have several rolls of flashing and plenty of hardware in stock. There is $1,321.63 remaining in the fund. At the February 28th, 2020 meeting of the heron colony volunteers, we discussed future needs on the island, including a need for updated signage for the perimeter of the island, and a need for trees to replace the many ash that will soon succumb to emerald ash borer. This discussion item is intended to determine if the board approves using the remaining funds for signage (a cooperative effort with Anoka County), and for replacement trees to be planted in the future. ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTION: Discussion only.