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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230301 EB Meeting MinutesEnvironmental Board March 1, 2023 Page 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Sullivan called the Environmental Board meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. on March 1, 2023. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. SWEARING IN OF BOARD MEMBERS Mayor Rafferty was present to swear in Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Holmes, and Ms. Nelson to the Environmental Board. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as presented. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ms. Holmes made a MOTION to approve the January 25, 2023 meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by Ms. Buchmeier. MOTION carried 6-0. DATE: March 1, 2023 TIME STARTED: 6:30 p.m. TIME ENDED: 8:04 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: John Sullivan, Shawn Holmes, Julia Nelson, Alex Schwartz Lindsay Buchmeier, Jonathan Parsons MEMBERS ABSENT: Cassie Cavegn STAFF PRESENT: Andrew Nelson, Tori Philippi, Dana Rozan, Mayor Rafferty Environmental Board March 1, 2023 Page 2 APPROVED MINUTES Chair Sullivan shared a study done by the University of Minnesota which found that mowing your lawn is essential for different species of plants to flourish. 6. OPEN MIKE Chair Sullivan declared open mike at 6:37 p.m. There was no one present for open mike, therefore it was closed at 6:37 p.m. 7. ACTION ITEMS A. 2023 Annual Work Plan and Ongoing Tasks List Mr. Andy Nelson, Environmental Coordinator, presented the staff report. Each year, the Environmental Board prepares an Annual Work Plan that will be presented to the City Council for approval. This plan includes a list of initiatives concerning current environmental issues in the major areas of focus of the Environmental Board that are time sensitive, including forestry, natural resources, water, and solid waste management. Staff also prepared a list of the Ongoing Tasks to highlight projects that Staff works on day-to-day. The discussion at the meeting will introduce new Environmental Board members to these plans and provide updates on work in progress to the Board. Mr. Nelson started with presenting each item on the Ongoing Task list. The Board suggested adjustments to the Ongoing Tasks list as follows: • Add Buckthorn management to the heron rookery on Peltier Island. • Elaborate and provide examples to the general ongoing task item about what kind of projects the Board is involved with. • Include actual goals to achieve regarding water conservation. For example, Staff could tie in some numbers to the Irrigation program. • Include a mission statement to the general task item. Ms. Nelson asked if the City uses goats to manage buckthorn. Mr. Nelson responded that the City cuts and stumps trees. He added that the City has to be selective with what areas they manage buckthorn due to limited resources. Mr. Schwartz asked if there is anyway the City can partner up with schools to gather volunteers to help with managing buckthorn. Environmental Board March 1, 2023 Page 3 APPROVED MINUTES Mr. Nelson added that volunteer opportunities are part of the Annual Work Plan. The Annual Work Plan will be presented to City Council at the April 3rd work session. Mr. Nelson also commented that the Board will need to make a vote on this list if there are any changes they would like to make. Mr. Nelson went on with presenting each item on the Annual Work Plan. The Board suggested adjustments to the Annual Work Plan as follows: • Promote projects and helpful tips for the environment on the City’s social media and website, and possibly the local newspaper. • Offer Recycling Saturdays coupons to residents to increase recycling tonnage. • Include context of projects the Board reviews and recommends and add it to a page on the City website. • Provide a work plan item about the greenway system into the list, possibly under natural resources. Chair Sullivan suggested the Board meet up with Mr. Nelson to discuss what could be included in the City newsletter. Mr. Nelson responded that the Newsletter Committee puts together the newsletter, and there is a page limit. Mr. Nelson agreed that the Board’s input would be helpful for the next newsletter edition. Ms. Holmes suggested to include context that the Board reviews and provides recommendations to development projects to ensure water quality and wildlife quality under the general work plan item on the list. Mr. Nelson responded that the Annual Work Plan is geared towards projects that are specific to this year. For example, Emerald Ash Borer is something the City wants to get done by the end of the year. Mr. Nelson suggested to the Board that they can keep adding to the Ongoing Tasks list at a later date, but the Annual Work Plan would need a motion before the April 3rd City Council work session. Ms. Buchmeier suggested adding more context to the broader items, such as initiating more volunteer project options, in order to make it clear what the Board does. Mr. Nelson responded that the Board’s support is essential to move a project along to Council. Environmental Board March 1, 2023 Page 4 APPROVED MINUTES Mr. Nelson concluded that the Annual Work Plan list is not exhausted and they are always adding to it. Mr. Nelson suggested that a vote to make a motion to recommend the two lists can be done at the March 29th Environmental Board meeting. 8. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. 2022 SCORE Report Reimbursement and Tonnage Review, Tori Philippi Ms. Tori Philippi, recycling intern, presented her report. Ms. Philippi presented the SCORE report. Every municipality is assigned a recycling goal established by Anoka County. The goal for 2022 was 2,334 tons, and the City collected 1,919 tons of recycled materials, which puts the City at 82.2% of the goal. Mr. Schwartz suggested weekly curbside pickup instead of bi-weekly to help increase the tonnage collected to reach the set goal. Mr. Schwartz added that weekly pickups would reach the goal by 24%. Ms. Nelson asked if households have to pay for the weekly curbside pickup. Mr. Nelson responded that the bi-weekly curbside pickup is currently a City ordinance, so if they were to switch to weekly curbside pickup to increase tonnage, then the City would have to have a resolution on the ordinance, and residents would have to pay according to what waste management company they have. Ms. Holmes suggested posting to social media to promote not only organics but recycling as well. Chair Sullivan asked when was the last time the tonnage goal was increased by Anoka County. Ms. Philippi replied that it was 2019. 9. UPDATES A. Recycling Updates In the month of February, 85 cars were present for All Appliance Disposal, and 49 cars for First Choice Document Destruction at Recycling Saturday. There are now 477 people signed up for the Organics Program. B. General Updates Mr. Nelson updated the Board that City Council decided not to pursue No Mow May because the City already has some programs to benefit native plants and pollinators. The City Council supported the Board’s decision to keep the Boulevard Tree Policy as it is. Environmental Board March 1, 2023 Page 5 APPROVED MINUTES The new enclosure project has the grant but Staff must find a location by the end of the year. Ms. Nelson asked why no one supports placing the enclosure at Sunrise Park. Mr. Nelson explained it was mainly because of residential concerns. He also explained there is certain criteria for where the compost bin can go. Mr. Nelson explained that Marshan Park cannot have the enclosure because there is a setback requirement of 4-8 feet near a property line. Staff is hoping to place the enclosure at Lino Park as it would bring in more organics because of Recycling Saturdays. Ms. Nelson suggested looking into using the parking lot of Target, Kohls, etc. Mr. Nelson agreed that would be a good idea since it has a big parking lot and there would be less traffic. The Board discussed other possible locations to place the enclosure structure. 10. ADJOURN Ms. Holmes made a MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m. Motion was seconded by Mr. Schwartz. Motion carried 6-0. Respectfully submitted, Dana Rozan – Office Specialist