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Home My WebLink About#04 - LELA Letter of Intent for Priority 2 Grant STAFF REPORT DATE: April 1, 2025 CONSENT TO: Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Nicole Miller, City Administrator AGENDA ITEM: Support for Lake Elmo Lake Association to submit a letter of intent for habitat restoration through the Priority 2 settlement CORE STRATEGIES: ☐ Vibrant, inclusive, connected community ☐ Efficient, reliable, innovative services ☐ Responsive, transparent, adaptive governance ☐ Balanced Finances now and future ☐ Managed Growth ☒ Resilient Infrastructure BACKGROUND: The Lake Elmo Lake Association are looking for the City Council’s support to submit a letter of intent for funding to improve and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities in our community. As part of the 3M settlement, $20 million in grant money was set aside to compensate for losses to recreational and ecological resources resulting from PFAS released by 3M. The DNR and MPCA have elected to solicit project proposals directly from the organizations and communities via a public RFP process. The first part of the process is for the organization to submit a letter of intent. After review of all letters, this will be followed up with a full application of the proposed project. The lake association is interested in submitting a letter of intent to full removal of Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) and Curly-leaf pondweed (CLP) along with restoration of the native plant community. ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Does the council support the Lake Elmo Lake Association submitting a letter of intent to the 3M Settlement fund to remove EWM and CLP as well as restore the native plant community? PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: Included in your packet is the letter of intent drafted by The Lake Elmo Lake Association for full removal of Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) and Curly-leaf pondweed (CLP) along with restoration of the native plant community. The letter of intent would be reviewed by the DNR and MPCA and along with all other applicants for a sum of money which has been allocated strictly for restoration of wildlife and habitats, recreational fishing related projects and non-fishing related outdoor recreation projects. The lake association is proposing a three-year project including herbicide treatment, treatment of EWM and CLP and surveys to determine project success. The project is expected to cost $100,000. FISCAL IMPACT: At this time there are no financial obligations being sought from the City of Lake Elmo. . OPTIONS: 1) Support Lake Elmo Lake Association to submit a letter of intent for habitat restoration through the Priority 2 settlement. 2) Do not Support Lake Elmo Lake Association to submit a letter of intent for habitat restoration through the Priority 2 settlement. RECOMMENDATION: If removed from the consent agenda: “Motion to support Lake Elmo Lake Association to submit a letter of intent for habitat restoration through the Priority 2 settlement.” ATTACHMENTS: • Lake Elmo proposed fluridone treatment map • Priority 2 project area map • Letter of Intent 3M PFAS Settlement Priority 2 Grant Program 2024 Letter of Intent Proposal Form The purpose of the Letter of Intent (LOI) is to give the project proposer an opportunity to briefly explain the activities and outcomes of their proposed project. The Letter of Intent will allow DNR and MPCA to assess whether the proposed projects are eligible for Priority 2 funding, and provide feedback early in the application process. If a Letter of Intent satisfies the eligibility requirements, the proposer will be invited to submit a full grant application. Instructions: 1. Read the Request for Proposal before completing this form. 2. Completed proposal must be limited to the completion of this form. 3. Save the completed Letter of Intent locally, and email to 3MPriority2@state.mn.us. All submissions MUST be received by the deadline of 4:30 p.m. CST on Friday, April 4, 2025. PROJECT INFORMATION Project Name: Approximate latitude/longitude (decimal degrees; please approximate the project’s ‘center’): Attach a map of the project location. Be sure to include all areas in which the project will conduct activities. APPLICANT CONTACT INFORMATION Organization: Applicant Website: Name/Title of Primary Contact: Telephone: E-mail: Name/Title of Authorized Agent (if applicable): Telephone: E-mail: ☐ I have the authority to apply for this grant on behalf of the organization. Other collaborating organization(s) and their role(s): PROJECT CATEGORY Required: Select the primary project category (select at least one primary goal as required to receive funding) ☐ Restoration of wildlife and habitats ☐ Recreational fishing related projects ☐ Non-fishing related outdoor recreation projects ESTIMATED FUNDING REQUEST AMOUNT Anticipated Grant Request: Anticipated Total Project Cost: PROJECT SUMMARY Include a high-level description of the project, activities, goals, needs, and/or outcomes. Attach or provide hyperlinks to plans and other supplementary information, as appropriate. Please note that project details are not expected to be finalized until later in the application process, nor will the responses in this LOI form be factored into the final award decisions. However, a descriptive project summary will lead to better individualized feedback on this LOI from members of the DNR and MPCA Evaluation Team. LETTER OF INTENT SCREENING CRITERIA Based on the information provided in this LOI form and attachments, the DNR and MPCA will determine whether proposed projects meet each of the screening criteria. The eight pass/fail screening criteria are listed and described below. DNR will invite proposers to complete a full grant application if the LOI passes all screening criteria. 1. Lead applicant is an eligible organization. Check the type of organization applying: ☐ Local units of government (e.g., city, township, county) ☐ Soil & water conservation, watershed, and lake improvement districts ☐ Area-wide agency, including regional planning agency ☐ Nonprofit organizations ☐ Public school district and nonprofit schools ☐ Institutes of higher education (public and nonprofit) ☐ Port authorities ☐ Tribal governments ☐ Federal agencies ☐ State agencies (excludes direct funding to the DNR and MPCA; however, agencies may participate as collaborators) 2. Addresses losses of natural resources and services. Describe how the project will address one or more of the settlement goals for Priority 2: • Restore, protect, and enhance aquatic and terrestrial resources, wildlife, and habitats. • Increase understanding of fish tissue contamination, improve communication about PFAS-based fish consumption advisories, and identify and enhance alternative, non-contaminated fishing areas. • Improve and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities. 3. Is technically and administratively feasible. Please detail how the proposed project is technically and administratively feasible. Although project details are not expected to be finalized until later in the application process, the basic elements of the project should be developed to ensure completion given the time frame and funding proposed. Evidence of a project’s feasibility can include, but is not limited to, the following: • The techniques/approaches/methods being used are well-established; • Your organization, collaborators, or partners have relevant experience with the proposed activities; • Cost and time estimates are based on other, similar projects that have been successfully executed or described in recent planning documents; • The project has the ability to secure relevant landowner support for the project, as needed (required in full grant application). 4. Would not jeopardize public health or safety. Projects must not threaten public health or safety. For example, proposed fishing projects must include communications consistent with the current MDH FCA guidelines. ☐ I attest that the project will comply with all relevant public health and safety regulations. ☐ I attest that the project meets one of the following: a. Would NOT increase public access to fishing, OR b. Would increase public access to recreational fishing and would include communications about fish consumption related risks consistent with current MDH FCA guidelines. 5. Complies with applicable laws, regulations, and rules. Projects must be legal and adhere to applicable federal, state, local, and tribal laws, rules, and regulations, including meeting all State ADA requirements. ☐ I attest that the project will comply with all applicable federal, state, local, and tribal regulations. 6. Unlikely to be completed without Priority 2 funding. Priority 2 funds may not be used as a substitute for traditional sources of funding or for required actions. However, Priority 2 funds can supplement the traditional sources if the proposed project would demonstrate additional resource benefits. ☐ I attest that Priority 2 funding would not be used to supplant existing funding. 7. Located within the Priority 2 Project Area. If located in a Limited Project Area, proposed project is consistent with the qualifying project activities. The majority (>50%) of a proposed project area or a project’s activities must occur within the Priority 2 Project Area (see Appendix B of RFP). Limited Project Areas exhibit levels of PFAS contamination that are not compatible with certain types of project activities or are under active remedial investigation and other restoration initiatives. PFAS-sensitive activities include aquatic, wetland, or nearshore habitat restoration projects and recreational fishing projects. Projects involving PFAS-sensitive activities must take place only outside of the following Limited Project Areas (see Appendix B). ☐ I have attached a map showing the geographic location(s) of the proposed project 8. Not expected to be impacted by planned remediation actions. Proposed projects that are located in areas in which remediation is planned will not be eligible for Priority 2 funding. • MPCA and DNR will assess potential remediation taking place within ¼ mile of the proposed project based on information in the “What's in My Neighborhood” tool that identifies sites labeled as “investigation and cleanup” within ¼ mile of the project location. Imagery Source: Washington County (2023) 0 300 600 900 Feet !;N Barr Footer: ArcGISPro 3.3.2, 2025-03-14 15:04 File: I:\Client\VBWD\District\Work_Orders\Lake_Monitoring\Maps\Reports\2025\Lake Elmo Letter of Intent\Lake Elmo Letter of Intent.aprx Layout: Figure 1 - Lake Elmo Proposed Fluridone Treatment User: kac2 FIGURE 1 Lake Elmo Proposed Fluridone Treatment Lake Elmo (82010600) Washington County Valley Branch Watershed District D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D !. !. !. !. !( !( !( !(!(!( !( !( !( !(!( Treatment Area #1 129.01 acres Average Depth: 7.83 ft Fluridone: 15.5 ppb 456717 La k e E l m o A v e N 2 8 t h S t N 20th St N 2 5 t h S t N 32nd St N 24th S t N 30th St N 31st St N 20 t h S t r e e t C t N Eurasian Watermilfoil Survey Results (June 2024) D Not Observed !.Visual Only (None on Rake) !(Density = 1 !(Density = 2 !(Density = 3 !(Density = 4 Proposed Fluridone Treatment Area (Whole Lake Concentration = 4 ppb) Prepared by Margaret Rattei and Kelly Wild, Barr Engineering, for Valley Branch Watershed District based on results of a plant delineation survey done by Matt Berg, Endangered Resource Services, LLC on June 20, 2024. The Valley Branch Watershed District prepared this map to assist the Lake Elmo Lake Association. Background Imager: ESRI World Topo Basemap 0 3,250 6,500 9,750 Feet !;N Barr Footer: ArcGISPro 3.3.2, 2025-03-14 11:55 File: I:\Client\VBWD\District\Work_Orders\Lake_Monitoring\Maps\Reports\2025\Lake Elmo Letter of Intent\Lake Elmo Letter of Intent.aprx Layout: Figure 2 - Priority 2 Project Area User: kac2 FIGURE 2 Priority 2 Project Area Lake Elmo (82010600) Washington County Valley Branch Watershed District Afton Woodbury Lake Elmo Oakdale West Lakeland Township Newport Lakeland Denmark TownshipCottage Grove Maplewood North Saint Paul Lakeland Shores Lake Saint Croix Beach Maplewood Saint Marys Point Landfall Lake Elmo Lake Elmo Project Area Boundary 3M Settlement Priority 2 Communities MAP EXTENT Lake Elmo