HomeMy WebLinkAbout#14 - LELA Matching GrantSTAFF REPORT
DATE: October 17, 2017
CONSENT
ITEM #: 14
AGENDA ITEM: LELA Grant Request
SUBMITTED BY: Kristina Handt, City Administrator
BACKGROUND: In 2016, the Environmental Committee requested $40,000 in the 2017 budget for matching
grants to the four recreational lakes for water quality improvements like treating invasive species. This funding represents a 50% match, up to the maximum amount of $10,000 per lake. A match is required by the Lake Associations and any grant amounts received would not be included as part of the Lake Association match amounts. That request was included in the final
2017 budget.
ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Does Council approve the grant request of $2,921 from the LELA? PROPOSAL: The Lake Elmo Lake Association (LELA) has requested $2,921 in matching funding to treat Eurasian Milfoil this summer on Lake Elmo. A copy of their letter requesting funds is included in your packet.
FISCAL IMPACT: $2,921from the budgeted $40,000. To date $4,577.50 has been spent from the fund. OPTIONS: 1) Approve $2,921 for LELA Eurasian Milfoil Treatment
2) Approve a different amount for LELA Eurasian Milfoil Treatment 3) Do not approve any funding for LELA Eurasian Milfoil Treatment RECOMMENDATION: If removed from the consent agenda:
“Motion to approve the LELA lake improvement grant request of $2,921.”
ATTACHMENTS:
• LELA Request Letter
Lake Elmo Lake Association
P.O Box 78
Lake Elmo, MN 55042
Lake Elmo Lake Association
Funding Request
___
Request
Lake Elmo Lake Association Funding Request September, 2017 Lake Elmo Lake Association (LELA) has been actively monitoring and mitigating Lake Elmo for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). To date LELA has received two county grants and has successfully removed approximately 12 acres of Eurasian Water Milfoil from many areas of the lake. Removing the weeds by harvesting has had an added benefit to the lake by removing more than 70,000 pounds of Biomass that if chemically treated would be left in the bottom of the
lake. Removing the plant material from the lake reduces unnecessary nutrients that promote AIS plant growth. LELA also monitors the lake for clarity and water quality as well as weed growth and location on a regular basis. (Approx. every two weeks). Lake monitoring is a required part of
the project and also advises our weed mitigation plans and DNR permitting requirements. LELA is responsible lake monitoring, hiring third party consultants to conduct pre and post weed
delineation reports as well as purchasing liability insurance and obtaining all necessary permits and lake owner agreements just to name a few of LELA’s administrative costs for the harvesting project. LELA has significant expenses to initiate the execution of weed harvesting grant that it
gets from Washington county. Below outlines the expenses to date and our request for available city matching funds:
LELA Monitoring and Mitigation Activities and Expenses
LELA Activities LELA Contribution Washington County Contribution Total Lake Elmo
Project
Request For City Match of LELA’s Expenses
LELA Weed Mitigation and Lake Monitoring $2,921 $8,000 (Milfoil Weed Harvesting Contract) $13,842 $2,921