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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/27/2008 Environmental Board MinutesENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2008 CITY OF LINO LAKES APPROVED MINUTES DATE : February 27, 2008 TIME STARTED : 6:37 P.M. TIME ENDED : 8:40 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT : Mary Jo O’Dea, Martha DeHaven, Barbara Bor, Kimberly Brouillet, Peter Brown and Paula Andrzejewski MEMBERS ABSENT : None STAFF PRESENT : Environmental Coordinator Marty Asleson, 1. CALL TO ORDER Ms. O’Dea called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES November 28, 2007 Ms. O’Dea had the following changes to the minutes. Page 2, paragraph 4: take out the words at this time. Page 3, paragraph 1: change scrapping to scraping. Page 3, paragraph 3: take out the words I would again and add we. Page 3, paragraph 8: change the word Engineering to Engineer. Page 4, paragraph 2: change the word inputted to input. Page 4, paragraph 8: change the word verify’s to verifies. Page 5, paragraph 3: change Mr. Traylor to Mr. Brown. Page 6, paragraph one add: of area lakes after the word drawdown. Ms. Andrzejewski made a motion to approve the November 28, 2007 minutes with changes. Ms. DeHaven seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Change Discussion Item 6. A. Stream Water Health Evaluation Program (SHEP to Action Item 5. B. Change Item 5. B. Goals 2008 to Item 5. C. Change Discussion Items as follows: 6. A. Heron Status Report 6. B. Earth Day 2008 Add: 6. C. Comp Plan Update Add: 6. D. Middle School Update 1 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2008 Ms. Brouillet made a motion to approve agenda as amend. Ms. Andrzejewski seconded the motion to approve agenda. Motion carried unanimously 4. OPEN MIKE Open mike closed at 6:39 p.m. 5. ACTION ITEMS A. Foxborough Work Plan 2008 Mr. Asleson presented the expenditure review for Foxborough Development and yearly work plan. Mr. Mike Black of Royal Oaks Realty, developer of the Foxborough Development and Mr. Jason Husveth, Ecologist, from Critical Connections were present. Mr. Black and Mr. Husveth requested a board recommendation to spend the monies allocated for the restoration. Mr. Husveth presented a brief history of the site. He inventoried this site in 2005 to develop a restoration and management plan. Initially $40,000 was available for such things as invasive species management. There were also a significant amount of woodland species salvaged and transplanted into conservation areas as well as native seeding. The idea for restoration of this site is based on development over the years as lots are bought and sold. In 2007 Critical Connections burned 15 acres. Mr. Husveth stated he found a Blandings turtle and it is alive and well. Mr. Asleson asked what the most significant ecological items needed to be done this year. Mr. Husveth presented his report dated February 21, 2008 Restoration and Management Planning for 2007 and 2008. Mr. Husveth reviewed Task 1 through Task 4 of his Management Plan. Ms. O’Dea asked if there is enough money to cover the proposed restoration. Mr. Husveth stated he and Mr. Black went over numbers and found there to be more than $20,000 to work with as of this time. Mr. Black stated if the board so chose they could ask the City’s finance department to review the numbers. Mr. Husveth stated he does not see a need to exceed the budget. For instance, if there is not enough money at this time, the work will be done as the budget allows and next year work will continue on from where there. Ms. O’Dea asked if the restoration project has been continuing as planned. Mr. Black stated yes. Ms. Bor asked who holds the funds and who analyzed the success of these items. Mr. Husveth stated he envisions working hand in hand with Mr. Asleson, City of Lino Lakes Environmental Specialist. 2 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2008 Ms. O’Dea questioned when this site is transferred over from the developer to the homeowners association if the association chooses to hire someone not qualified in restoration can the city step in. Mr. Husveth stated it is the homeowner’s association responsibility to choose the contractor. Ultimately it is the city that will assess the quality. Mr. Brown questioned the costs for proposed restoration and thought it best to itemize more and state so many pounds per seed, so many hours for labor. Mr. Husveth stated the document is the result of a detailed report that was reviewed with Mr. Asleson and Mr. Black. He stated the invoice will be a breakdown. In the future he will include specific dollar figures. Mr. Asleson stated the invoice looked reasonable upon review. Ms. Bor thanked Mr. Husveth and Mr. Black for breaking the ground with this type of development. She stated that what has been created has set a change for the little bit of open land available in this community. Ms. Bor made a motion to approve the Restoration and Management Plan for 2007 and 2008 and for the finance department to release the funds. And for the City Environmental Specialist to continue to audit and follow the project. Ms. Andrzejewski seconded the motion. B. Stream Health Evaluation Program (SHEP) Mr. Gary Averbeck was present to present a short report on the findings of Hardwood Creek. There have been three teams working with Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD). There is one site in Lino Lakes. He presented a power point presentation to the board. The Hardwood Creed drainage area includes 24 square miles in the cities of Hugo, Forest Lake and Lino Lakes. The PCA found that Hardwood Creek is impaired due to sedimentation, low oxygen and nutrient enrichment. There have been three locations identified as having severe bank erosion. The locations have been stabilized. Mr. Averbeck reviewed different insects. The primary Amphipod group that looks like a Crayfish which are usually found in waters heavily polluted were at 43%. The group identified 162 different organisms. Family Biotic Index (FBI) assigned value of pollution tolerance is 7.2, 10 being the most polluted cease pool. This is very poor water quality. EPT rating was 4. The best place along Rice Creek is actually down by Lock Lake in the Mississippi. Mr. Averbeck asked if the board had any questions. Ms. DeHaven questioned the width of the creek. Mr. Averbeck stated it is about 10 feet at the widest and varies in different areas. 3 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2008 Ms. O’Dea questioned the team’s next step. Mr. Averbeck stated they are monitoring the creek at this time and will go out if they have the funding again in September of 2008. C. Goals 2008 Board members reviewed and discussed updates and changes they would like in the 2008 Environmental Board Goals. Below are the updated 2008 Goals per the board members with the changes. • Promote environmental stewardship with the citizens of Lino Lakes by: A. Communicating environmental initiatives in the city using various means of communication, i.e., City WebPages, newsletter, homeowner’s association meetings, the information kiosk, and press coverage. Pursue providing articles and information to the local media. Inform the Citizens of Lino Lakes about the National Wildlife Federation opportunities for involvement in Backyard Wildlife habitat. • Participate in Blue Heron Days, providing educational material to the public. • Participate in Earth Day activities in the community, promoting environmental awareness and collaboration with other environmental focused organizations. • Monitor all activity in the 35E and 35W corridor as well as other proposed development areas, focusing on the values Lino Lakes citizens have expressed in the vision for our city and the unique ecological aspects of our wetlands, lakes and streams and subsurface waters. Apply mitigation plan as defined for that area. • Perform an evaluation of past Environmental Board recommendations for development projects. Review a sampling of a variety of projects by site visits, discussion with city staff, and landowners, neighbors, on the outcomes of the Boards recommendations. Submit a summary of significant findings resulting from the review in writing to the Community Development Director and then forward report to city council. • Promote conservation development within the City incorporating the Open Space/Trail Plan, Resource Management Plan, Stormwater Management Plan, Comp Plan and Handbook for Environmental Planning and Conservation Development., Stormwater Management Plan, and Comprehensive Plan. 4 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2008 • To meet or exceed our City recycling goal of 50 percent or greater of our Municipal solid waste. Find innovative ways to promote and encourage recycling as a city. Add recycling materials to kiosk. • Continue to monitor the Heron rookery and water quality in the northern one third of Peltier Lake and to support the protection of resources in that area. • Participate in comp plan and process, as well as become a partner with Rice Creek Watershed District in Implementing the Resource management Plan. • Participate in school nature area and pursue connectivity and networking between schools and community with regard to the nature areas • Review Conservation Developments for conformance to yearly Conservation Easement work. • Support the start up of the Lino Lakes Garden Club. • Continue to support the Stream Health Evaluation Program (SHEP). • Establish a list of City Environmental Projects for Volunteers. Mr. Asleson stated he would like to present the 2008 Environmental Board Goals at the City Council Work Session scheduled for March 3. It was decided that there was not ample time and the 2008 Goals will be presented in April to the City Council Motion to approve 2008 Environmental Board Goals with updates and changes by Mr. Brown and seconded by Ms. Andrzejewski. Motion passed unanimously. 6. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Heron Status Report Mr. Asleson and Ms. Bor attended an informational meeting on the blue herons held at Eaglebrook Church. There were volunteers that were present at the meeting who volunteered airplanes for flyovers this spring to monitor heron progress. Mr. Asleson presented Mr. Andy VonDuyke’s thesis which is a brief overview of management activities at the Peltier Lake heronry from 2004-2007. Ms. Bor stated that Deb Barnes from The Citizen will be writing an article for the paper on the herons. 5 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2008 B. Earth Day 2008 Upcoming Earth Day Celebration is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 19 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. There will be a celebration open to the pubic at Wargo Nature Center from 12:30 – 2:30. Mr. Asleson asked board members about possibly volunteering to set up an education booth at Wargo. Ms. Andrzejewski volunteered to have an educational booth again this year. C. Comp Plan Update. Mr. Asleson updated the board on the progress of the Comp Plan. Ms. Bor stated the comp plan process has been a noble effort in planning. Mr. Asleson stated our Resource Management Plan interacts with our Comp Plan. There is a desire to bring new business to the city, create additional tax base, and not make this process burdensome. The whole green concept is intended to identify and produce a user friendly enhancement while still allowing growth in the community. Board members stated they would like to see a better name for what is called the “Green Infrastructure System Plan.” Board members feel the wording is not perceived in a positive way. It is all in the marketing and is concept that sells. It was stated that the comp plan is a reaction of how people feel about the community and the Environmental Board is a key player in this process. Board members stated they thought the presentation was balanced and overall the Comp Plan Process has been presented well. D. Middle School Update Mr. Asleson stated he inventoried and added trees into the Global Positing System (GPS) at the Middle School. He stated the Boxelder trees will be removed at no charge. 7. ADJOURN It was noted that the next meeting of the Environmental Board will be on March 26, 2007. There being no further business, Ms. Brown moved to adjourn at 8:40 p.m. Ms. Bor seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Transcribed by: Lisa Hogstad Community Development Secretary 6 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 27, 2008 7 DRAFT MINUTES