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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260225 Environmental Board Minutes Environmental Board February 25, 2026 Page 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING DATE: February 25, 2026 TIME STARTED: 6:33 p.m. TIME ENDED: 7:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Kelli Damiani, Lindsay Buchmeier, Mary Jo Stevenson, Danielle Berger, Jonathan Parsons, Elizabeth Larkin MEMBERS ABSENT: Alex Schwartz STAFF PRESENT: Thomas Hoffman, Jennifer Alderink 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Ms. Buchmeier called the Environmental Board meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. on February 25, 2026. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. PUBLIC COMMENT Ms. Buchmeier declared open mike at 6:34 p.m. There were no public comments. Ms. Buchmeier closed public comments at 6:34 p.m. 4. SETTING THE AGENDA: Addition or Deletion of Agenda Items Ms. Buchmeier asked if there were any questions regarding the February 25, 2026 agenda. There were no questions. APPROVED MINUTES Environmental Board February 25, 2026 Page 2 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES th Ms. Buchmeier took a motion to approve the January 28, 2026 minutes. Ms. Stevenson motioned to approve the agenda. Motion was seconded by Ms. Daminai. Motion carried 6-0. 6. ACTION ITEMS Otter Crossing South 2nd Addition Preliminary Plat The applicant, Tyme Properties, LLC is proposing a Preliminary Plat for Outlot B of Otter Crossing South. Outlot B will be subdivided into two commercial lots as part of Otter Crossing South 2nd Addition. The site was platted as part of the Otter Crossing South development. The parcel was platted as Outlot B, located on the SE corner of I-35 and Main Street. The site is 2.23 acres of existing agricultural property with a fairly flat terrain towards the center. The parcel will be split into two commercial lots. Tom Hoffman, Environmental Coordinator for the City of Lino Lakes, presented and was available for questions. Mr. Parsons asked for more details regarding the underground storm sewer line that goes into the development. th Mr. Hoffman noted that they have a trunk storm sewer on 70 Street and will go into that storm sewer and then be conveyed to the regional stormwater pond. He goes on to say that it is not like an underground storage or infiltration like other ones It will just go into the trunk storm sewer and then go into the pond. Mr. Parsons asked where the sumps would be and what they would include. Mr. Hoffman said that the sumps are required to be the last structure prior to discharging into th our system, so most likely it would be at the edge of 70 Street at the connection where the water is getting the pre-treatment and settlement before it enters our system. Mr. Hoffman also noted that that they like to keep those either in a road or on an impervious so that the City or developer has easy access. In this case, the storm sewer is private up to that point so they are able to get in and vacuum so they can get that sediment out. Mr. Parsons asked if it was common practice to have a guard to catch that sediment. Mr. Hoffman responded that some of the structures do have a SAFL Baffle that they put inside of the structure and those tend to do better for trash, debris, and sediment. For the storm sewer itself, the catch basins will have the standard grates to catch larger material. The pond guard does have a trash guard on the outlet pipe. Mr. Parsons asked who maintains those guards. Mr. Hoffman said that the ones in the parking lot would be the storm sewer for the development and would be private. The pond outlet would be maintained by the City. APPROVED MINUTES Environmental Board February 25, 2026 Page 3 Mr. Parsons asked if the whole thing would be draining to the South. nd Mr. Hoffman confirmed that all of 2 addition would be draining to the Southeast. Ms. Damiani asked if the developer wants to fill in those wetland areas. Mr. Hoffman confirmed that the developer does want to fill in those wetland areas. Ms. Damiani asked if there were migratory birds that will be going through that area. Mr. Hoffman responded that the wetlands were pretty tiny (1/10 of an acre) and being farmed, so there is very low-quality habitat for them. As a part of the wetland conservation act, the developer is allowed to fill them in. Mr. Parsons asked if the developer is still filling in the wetland area, should they have to do a 2- 1. Mr. Hoffman responded that approved through Rice Creek. The City needs to sign off on that too. He noted that the developer submitted an application, but the application was incorrect because it included some -submit their application for review. Mr. Hoffman thinks that based on the quality and size of the wetland, that the new application will most likely get approved. Ms. Larkin noted that the developer has not given a list of plants yet. She said that the soil on the site is sand based, so she would like to know what the process is when the developer chooses plants and if it will be viable for that type of soil. Mr. Hoffman responded that the developer does have a planting schedule for their trees and shrubs in the document. They do not have the vegetation listed near the bottom of the plat. He said that the plants that are submitted are generally pretty tolerant of their conditions. Mr. developer replace them. Mr. Parsons inquired about the storm water in the recommendations. Mr. Hoffman responded that the storm water will be reviewed by the City Engineer. Mr. Hoffman also said that the site is not deemed as a Blandings turtle habitat. Ms. Buchmeier inquired if there are any other endangered species in the area. Mr. Hoffman said that the developer did the IPaC through US Fish and Wildlife and based on the habitat, there was no impact to wildlife. Ms. Buchmeier makes a motion to approve the recommendations for the Otter Crossing South 2nd Addition Preliminary Plat. Ms. Stevenson seconded that motion. Motion passes 6-0. APPROVED MINUTES Environmental Board February 25, 2026 Page 4 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Peltier Lake Heron Rookery Event The Board also discussed the upcoming Peltier Lake Heron Rookery Event which will be held on th Friday, March 13, 2026. During the event, staff and volunteers will be doing Heron nest counts to see how the heron colony is growing and will also perform maintenance of existing flashing to protect the nest locations from predation. The island is one of the largest heron rookeries in the state. B. Other Discussion Items The Water Conservation grant is live. We will be accepting applications for 2026-2028. City-wide tree sale still going on until the end of the month. The city gets a discount from the nursery and then sells them to Lino Lakes residents to plant. The Recycling Intern, Liam Cronin, will be done with his position by the middle of March. The position was offered and accepted by someone else, and she will be staring mid-May. th Earth Day is April 18 at Wargo Nature Center. The Environmental Board typically volunteers for this event by helping with face painting, as a bounce house attendant, snacks, and answering questions at booth. th There is also be a volunteer project on April 18 prior to the Earth Day festivities. There will be a park and pond clean-up, invasive species pull, and other opportuities. 8. ADJOURN Ms. Buchmeier took a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m. Ms. Stevenson motioned to adjourn. Ms. Larkin seconded the motion. Motion passes 6-0. Respectfully submitted, Jennifer Alderink Office Specialist APPROVED MINUTES