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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20251125 Environmental Board Minutes Environmental Board November 21, 2025 Page 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING DATE: November 21, 2025 TIME STARTED: 6:31 p.m. TIME ENDED: 7:15 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Alex Schwartz, Julia Nelson, Lindsay Buchmeier, Shawn Holmes MEMBERS ABSENT: Mary Jo Stevenson, Jonathan Parsons, Elizabeth Larkin STAFF PRESENT: Thomas Hoffman, Liam Cronin, Jennifer Alderink 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Schwartz called the Environmental meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. on November 25, 2025. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. PUBLIC COMMENT Chair Schwartz declared open mike at 6:31 p.m. Chair Schwartz closed public comments at 6:31 p.m. 4. SETTING THE AGENDA: Addition or Deletion of Agenda Items Chair Schwartz took a motion to set the agenda. Ms. Buchmeier voted to set the agenda. Motion was seconded by Ms. Holmes. Motion carried 4-0. Environmental Board September 24, 2025 Page 2 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Schwartz took a motion to set the October 29, 2025 minutes. Ms. Buchmeier motioned to approve the meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by Ms. Nelson. Motion carried 4-0. 6. ACTION ITEMS A. Motion on Annual Work Plan and Ongoing Tasks List for 2026 The Environmental Board serves to provide aid and advice to the Council in its efforts to encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between people and their environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and stimulate the health and welfare of people; to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the city; to advise the city in the use and management of its natural resources in order to preserve and enhance the environmental amenities for present and future residents, and to improve and ensure a lasting quality of life within the city. (City Code Chapter 217.01) 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, including forestry, natural resources, water, and solid waste management. Staff has also prepared a list of ongoing tasks to highlight the distinction between the Annual Work Plan and standard operating procedures/ongoing tasks. Tom Hoffman, City of Lino Lakes Environmental Coordinator, presented the Annual Work Plan and Ongoing Tasks and was available for questions. Ms. Holmes inquired about organizing an edge of the waterway cleanup event similar to what they do with Minnehaha. Mr. Hoffman said that they talked about doing something like that with an Earth Day with volunteer groups. Mr. Hoffman also talked about wanting to get another volunteer list together to help with things like the storm drain cleanup, stenciling, pond and park clean up, education and outreach, etc. He stated that once that volunteer list is -summer or at the end of the year. APPROVED MINUTES Environmental Board September 24, 2025 Page 3 Chair Schwartz inquired about having a small facility, or even just a garbage can or bags available at some of our parks and waterways, similar to a doggy bag station, where people could take a bag with them while they kayak and help collect pieces of trash. Mr. Hoffman stated that the Chain of Lakes is primarily within county parks, so we could reach out to them with ideas, but it would ultimately be their staffing and their money. Ms. Holmes inquired as to where the turf grass is located that is proposed to be replaced by more native grass. Mr. Hoffman replied that it would primarily be in residential yards. He also noted that the City does not treat a lot of our city parks with pesticides and herbicides because they want to keep the natural pollinator habitat. He said that he would like to have some of the turf grass restored to either gardens with mulch and native plantings or to native prairies and wildflowers, similar to what they do in Vadnais Lake. that with more education, residence will be open to it. her hope that we can continue to improve \[our community\]. Chair Schwartz asked how many irrigation controllers we currently have on hand. Mr. Hoffman noted that we have about two dozen left and that we will most likely order looking at alternative ways to spend that money. Chair Schwartz commented that he would be a big proponent to keeping the money and cash for other rebates such as appliances or allowing people to choose their own \[irrigation\] controllers. Mr. Hoffman agreed that the rebate program is a good choice, because the new irrigation controllers being purchased right now are already required to be the smart irrigation controllers. He said the City was looking into the rebate program for things such as dishwashers, toilets, laundry machines, and more. Chair Schwarts commented that he thinks the 2026 Annual Work Plan is a worthwhile expansion of the Environmental Boards previous goals. Chair Schwartz makes a motion to approve the Annual Work Plan and Ongoing Task List for 2026. Ms. Buchmeier seconded that motion. Motion passes 4-0. APPROVED MINUTES Environmental Board September 24, 2025 Page 4 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Recycling Updates Liam Cronin, City of Lino Lakes Recycling Intern, presented the Recycling Update and was available for questions. lot of sense to invest more money into improving our current facilities if we are going to have curbside organics. -off program will end in 2030 when the State will start the organics pickup program. She also brought up that some people may not want to pay and use the organics pick-up option but instead continue to drop off their organics with the City for free. Mr. Hoffman said -off program will end in 2030, and that all residents will be required to pay for the organics pick-up program as a part of the state statute. Mr. Hoffman also said that each resident has the choice whether they want to use the program but will still be billed for it regardless. B. Shenandoah Park Stormwater Improvements Mr. Hoffman presented the Shenandoah Park Stormwater Improvements and was available for questions. C. Centerville Lake Alum Treatment Update Mr. Hoffman presented the Centerville Lake Alum Treatment Update and was available for questions. 8. ADJOURN Chairman Schwartz took a motion to adjourn. Ms. Holmes motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 p.m. Ms. Buchmeier seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0. Respectfully submitted, Jennifer Alderink Office Specialist APPROVED MINUTES