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K:\019629-000\Admin\Permits\21.31 Oneka Elementary\replacement\MEMO_HugoCityCouncil_OnekaElementaryWetlandReplacement_042022.docx 178 E 9TH STREET | SUITE 200 | SAINT PAUL, MN | 55101 | 651.286.8450 | WSBENG.COM Memorandum <br />To: Tom Weidt, City of Hugo Mayor <br />Becky Petryk, City of Hugo Council Member <br />Phil Klein, City of Hugo Council Member <br />David Strub, City of Hugo Council Member <br />Mike Miron, City of Hugo Council Member <br />CC: Rachel Juba, Community Development Director <br />From: Tony Havranek, WSB <br />Date: April 20, 2022 <br />Re: City Project No. 21.31 Oneka Elementary School Wetland Replacement <br />WSB Project No. 019629-00 <br />I have drafted this memo regarding the White Bear Lake School District’s (ISD #624) application <br />to impact and replace wetlands as part of an expansion project for the Oneka Elementary. <br />Tim Wald, Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations for the White Bear Lake School <br />District, submitted a MN joint application for activities affecting water resources in Minnesota <br />requesting approval for wetland impact sequencing and replacement. The application was <br />considered complete on March 4, 2022, and a subsequent notice of application was iss ued on <br />March 18, 2022. <br />The purpose of the project is to provide an additional five (5) classrooms and support space along <br />with a storm shelter. <br />A wetland boundary and type application was approved on February 24, 2022 and was issued on <br />April 4, 2022, which identified two (2) wetland basins within the project area. Wetland 1 is a large <br />(13.71 acres) wetland complex consisting of shallow open water, deep and shallow marsh, and <br />wet meadow wetland types, while wetland 2 is a 2.72-acre shallow marsh and wet meadow <br />wetland. Wetlands 1 and 2 provide the following wetland functions: <br />•Surface water detention <br />•Nutrient Transformation <br />•Carbon Sequestration <br />•Sediment and Particulate Retention <br />•Other Wildlife Habitat <br />Four (4) alternatives were considered for this project as part of the wetland conservation act <br />(WCA) sequencing requirement. The first was the no-build alternative. This was rejected as it <br />would not accomplish the purpose of providing the additional capacity needed for students. The <br />second was to site the addition along the northeast corner of the existing building. This was <br />rejected as existing classrooms would need to be demolished and there would not be enough <br />space for a connecting hallway. The third was to site the building along the east side of the <br />existing building. This was rejected as the shape of the building would be dramatically different, <br />buried fiber cable would need to be excavated and a new location found, existing roadway <br />setbacks cannot be met, the walking trail would need to be eliminated, and equitable classroom <br />G.13