Mendota Heights panel drafts stricter water protection rules
The Mendota Heights Natural Resources Commission discussed a draft ordinance Wednesday that would impose stricter environmental standards for properties near lakes and streams, while also reviewing next year's budget and considering going paperless to reduce waste.
The commission, meeting at City Hall, continued work on a Shoreland Management Ordinance designed to protect the city's water bodies. The draft rules would require larger vegetation buffers around lakes and streams, allow removal of invasive plants if property owners submit native restoration plans, and explore flexibility on impervious surfaces like driveways and patios. The commission decided against including lot size restrictions, choosing instead to focus on environmental standards. Valley Creek will be addressed in a separate tributary buffer ordinance in the future.
In a separate discussion, the commission reviewed the 2026 natural resources budget and began preliminary work on 2027 recommendations for the City Council. The review will consider funding for restoration projects at several city parks, including Valley Park, Rogers Lake, Copperfield Ponds, Friendly Marsh, and Oheyawahe/Pilot Knob.
The commission also heard from Courtney Selstad, the city's Recycling and Sustainability Coordinator, about Mendota Heights' participation in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities & Tribal Nations program, a voluntary initiative helping communities achieve sustainability goals. The city currently ranks at Step 3 of the five-level program.
Looking inward, the commission discussed reducing its own environmental footprint by transitioning to paperless meetings. Currently, the commission uses 100 to 200 sheets of paper per meeting—roughly 1,800 sheets annually. Members weighed making printed packets optional for individual commissioners against a complete shift to electronic devices and on-screen displays. No decision was made on any of these items; all discussions were informational only.
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Votes (4)
Recycling and Sustainability Update
Krista Spreiter introduced Courtney Selstad to provide updates on Mendota Heights' recycling program, city-wide sustainability efforts, and the city's current status (Step 3) in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities & Tribal Nations program. The GreenStep program's voluntary nature, five recognition levels, and 29 best practices categorized into five areas were highlighted.
Preliminary 2027 Budget Recommendations
Staff and the Commission reviewed the 2026 Natural Resources budget. The discussion focused on identifying items to retain, adjust, or eliminate for the 2027 budget, and ensuring alignment with the Natural Resources Management Plan and the Commission’s work plan. The goal was to formulate recommendations for the City Council, considering funding for goals, priorities, tasks, programs, and projects.
Shoreland Management Ordinance Draft
The Commission continued deliberations on the draft Shoreland Management Ordinance, which aims to protect unprotected water bodies and integrate into Title 15. Environmental Standards. Prior consensus included avoiding lot size and structure height requirements, and aligning vegetation clearing terminology with MRCCA. The Commission favored stricter vegetation clearing standards with flexibility for larger buffers, allowing invasive species removal with native restoration plans, and exploring impervious surface flexibility. Valley Creek was slated for future inclusion in a tributary buffer ordinance.
Paperless Meetings Discussion
The Natural Resources Commission considered options for transitioning to paperless meetings, a proposal from the Goal 5: Sustainability Committee. The discussion noted that current practices consume 100-200 sheets per meeting, totaling about 1,800 sheets annually. The Commission weighed making printed packets optional for members against a full transition to electronic devices and on-screen displays.
Notable Quotes (10)
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.
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.
Currently, the city is at Step 3 in the GreenSteps program.
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.
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.
The Shoreland Management Ordinance, if adopted, would be included in Title 15. Environmental Standards, of the Mendota Heights City Code.
The general opinion of the Commission was to not include lot size requirements and instead focus on standards such as increasing buffer areas.
The Commission also agreed to allow removal of invasive species with the approval of a native restoration plan.
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.
Ordinances & Resolutions (9)
Agenda for the meeting
Draft ordinance under discussion for approval and inclusion in City Code
Section of Mendota Heights City Code where the Shoreland Management Ordinance would be included
Plan whose goals and priorities are reviewed for 2027 budget recommendations
Voluntary recognition program for cities and tribal nations to achieve sustainability goals
Full name of the GreenSteps program
Attachment reviewing the existing natural resources budget
Attachment detailing priority projects for budget phasing
Attachment for discussion regarding density determination within the Shoreland Management Ordinance
Source document
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Other Topics from This Document
Preliminary 2027 Budget Recommendations
Shoreland Management Ordinance Draft
Paperless Meetings Discussion
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