## CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS

## NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION WORK SESSION MEETING AGENDA

April 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM

## Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights

1.Roll Call

2.Call to Order

3.Discussion

a.Recycling and Sustainability Update

b.Preliminary 2027 Budget Recommendations

## c.Shoreland Management Ordinance Draft

## d.Paperless Meetings Discussion

4.Committee Reports

5.Adjourn

## Next Meeting

May 13th, 2026 at 6:00 P.M.

Information is available in alternative formats or with the use of auxiliary aids to individuals with

disabilities upon request by calling city hall at 651-452-1850 or by emailing

cityhall@mendotaheightsmn.gov.

Page 1 of 12

3.a

## Natural Resources Work Session Memo

## MEETING DATE: April 8, 2026

## TO: The Natural Resources Commission

## FROM: Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Manager

## SUBJECT: Recycling and Sustainability Update

## ACTION REQUEST:

Information only.

## BACKGROUND:

Courtney Selstad, the Recycling and Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Mendota Heights

will give an update on the city's recycling program, sustainability efforts within the city, and the

GreenSteps program.

Currently, the city is at Step 3 in the GreenSteps program. The Minnesota GreenStep Cities &

Tribal Nations program is a voluntary recognition program with five steps, or levels of

recognition. The program provides assistance and recognition to help communities achieve

their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. This free continuous improvement program,

managed by a public-private partnership, is based on a menu of 29 optional best practices.

Each best practice can be implemented, as decided by elected officials, staff and community

members, by completing one or more actions at a 1, 2, or 3-star level, from a list of over 180

actions. These voluntary actions are tailored to Minnesota, focus on cost savings and energy

use reduction, and encourage civic innovation.

There are five areas in which the 29 best practices are categorized:

•Buildings and Lighting

•Land Use

•Transportation

•Environmental Management

## •Resilient Economic and Community Development

## ATTACHMENTS:

## None

Page 2 of 12

3.b

## Natural Resources Work Session Memo

## MEETING DATE: April 8, 2026

## TO: The Natural Resources Commission

## FROM: Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Manager

## SUBJECT: Preliminary 2027 Budget Recommendations

## ACTION REQUEST:

Discussion only.

## BACKGROUND:

Staff and the Commission will review the existing 2026 Natural Resources budget. The

Commission should consider what items from the existing budget should remain, as well as

items that should be adjusted or eliminated. Staff and the Commission will also review the

goals and priorities set forth in the Natural Resources Management Plan, and the

Commission’s current work plan. The Commission may then discuss recommendations to

bring to the City Council for the 2027 calendar year. Recommendations may consist of funding

for goals, priorities, tasks, programs, or projects that the Commission would like the City

Council to incorporate into the City Budget for 2027. Available resources, timeline, feasibility,

and value of each identified item should be considered. Recommendations brought forth

should reflect the City’s goals, needs, priorities, and funding mechanisms.

## ATTACHMENTS:

## 1.2026 BUDGET

## 2.PRIORITY PROJECTS_Budget_5 YR Phasing_NRMP

Page 3 of 12

## DESCRIPTION2025 BUDGET2026 BUDGET

## VALLEY PARK POLLINATOR CORRIDOR (XCEL)$15,000.00$15,000.00

## VALLEY PARK FOREST ENHANCEMENT - SOUTH-CENTRAL$11,183.00$2,580.00

## VALLEY PARK - E FOREST ENHANCEMENT$12,252.00$1,220.00

## ROGERS LAKE SAVANNA/FOREST AND

## SHORELINE ENHACEMENT

$34,518.00$18,040.00

## COPPERFIELD PONDS ISTHMUS ENHANCEMENT$25,870.00

## FRIENDLY MARSH TURF-TO-PRAIRIE

$4,400.00

## NATURAL RESOURCE MAINTENANCE$37,670.00$40,500.00

## OHEYAWAHE/PILOT KNOB RESTORATION$15,600.00$16,000.00

## TREE SALE$10,000.00$10,250.00

## TREE CANOPY PROGRAM$27,000.00$27,600.00

## TREE REMOVAL$100,000.00$110,000.00

## TREE PLANTING$10,000.00$10,250.00

## TREE CARE (PRUNING, WATERING, DISEASE PREVENTION, ETC.)$52,000.00$53,300.00

## CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIANCY PLAN (GRANT MATCH)$5,000.00

## LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE DEVELOPMENT (CONSULTANT)$7,000.00

## TOTALS$325,223.00$347,010.00

Page 4 of 12

3.b.1.

Page 5 of 12

3.b.2.

3.c

## Natural Resources Work Session Memo

## MEETING DATE: April 8, 2026

## TO: The Natural Resources Commission

## FROM: Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Manager

## SUBJECT: Shoreland Management Ordinance Draft

## ACTION REQUEST:

Discussion only.

## BACKGROUND:

The Commission should continue to discuss the draft of the Shoreland Management

Ordinance for recommendation of approval by City Council. The Shoreland Management

Ordinance, if adopted, would be included in Title 15. Environmental Standards, of the Mendota

Heights City Code. A shoreland ordinance would help to protect natural water bodies within

the city that are not already protected under current city code. The Goal 1 Committee along

with the Commission as a whole discussed the draft at the March work session resulting in

edits, additions, and comments provided on the recommended example ordinance created by

the DNR. Updates include:

•The general opinion of the Commission was to not include lot size requirements and

instead focus on standards such as increasing buffer areas.

•The general opinion of the Commission was to not include structure height

requirements and instead focus on other standards.

•The Commission agreed to reference or follow terminology used in the existing

## Mississippi River Critical Corridor Area (MRCCA) requirements regarding intensive

vegetation clearing.

•In regards to vegetation clearing, the general consensus of the commission was to

adopt stricter standards than those included in the model ordinance (up to 50 feet or

1/3 of shoreline; whichever is less); but allow for flexibility for up to the model ordinance

standard in exchange for creating a larger buffer area. The Commission also agreed to

allow removal of invasive species with the approval of a native restoration plan.

•The general consensus of the commission is to explore implementation flexibility

standards, allowing up to 35% impervious in exchange for 1:1 buffer creation.

•A general consensus was reached to include Valley Creek in a future tributary buffer

ordinance as with other creeks/tributaries within the city.

Page 6 of 12

Items for discussion include:

•The topic was brought to the Goal 1 committee to propose to the DNR some way to

measure a setback for Lake Augusta that is more practical for the city to implement. If

a practical way to measure can be identified, is there a need to increase the setbacks

any further than the model ordinance?

•The Goal 1 committee is asking for feedback and discussion around the 10.5 Density

Determination section.

## ATTACHMENTS:

1.Section 10.5 Density Determination

Page 7 of 12

Page 8 of 12

3.c.1.

Page 9 of 12

Page 10 of 12

Page 11 of 12

3.d

## Natural Resources Work Session Memo

## MEETING DATE: April 8, 2026

## TO: The Natural Resources Commission

## FROM: Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Manager

## SUBJECT: Paperless Meetings Discussion

## ACTION REQUEST:

Discussion only.

## BACKGROUND:

At the Goal 5: Sustainability Committee meeting, the topic of paperless meetings was brought

to the committee for discussion. The committee then proposed to bring the subject to the

Commission as a whole. The topic was originally brought to the Natural Resources

Commission at its inception. At that time, the Commission chose to have printed copies of the

packet and other materials available for each member at the meeting, instead of using

personal electronic devices. All other city commissions as well as City Council also receive

printed copies of meeting packets. Some commissions have them available for individual

commissioners at the meeting, while other commissions and City Council have meeting

packets delivered to them.

Printing of Natural Resources Commission meeting packets generally uses 100–200 sheets of

paper per meeting, resulting in roughly 1,800 sheets per year, as well as the ink used in

printing. The Commission could choose to make packet printing optional for each commission

member, or go completely paperless. If members forgo paper packets, commissioners could

bring a personal electronic device to display electronic copies of the packet. Meeting packets

could also be displayed on screen in both the City Council Chambers and the large conference

room.

## ATTACHMENTS:

## None

Page 12 of 12