HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-11-22 Agenda Packet Chair:
Aisha Elmquist (2023)
Secretary:
Renee Marino (2023)
Board Members:
Linda Hansohn (2023)
Tony Peleska (2023)
Kathy Johnson (2024)
Susan Johnson (2025)
Gary Gerding (2025)
Staff Liaison:
David Swearingen
Karth Lake Improvement
District Board
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday
October 11, 2022
1245 W. Highway 96
Arden Hills, MN 55112
651.792.7800
www.cityofardenhills.org
Agenda
Board Meeting Convenes at 6:30 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
4. PUBLIC INQUIRIES
5. OLD BUSINESS
5.1 Remediation of BMP #1 Site, Meeting with Kyle Axtell of Rice Creek Watershed: Kathy Johnson and
Board
5.1.1 Background: In 2021 the city completed installation of a storm drain at the BMP #1 site that transports
the runoff from parking lots and roads south of Karth Lake down a drain pipe that goes under the Cummings
Park walking path. This eliminates the source of silt into Karth Lake from the former above-ground flow. That
project did not address the flow of water from the walking path to the lake.
Action from 4/12/22 Meeting: Sue Johnson agreed to capture video of the water flow in Downstream BMP #1.
Kathy Johnson agreed to set up a meeting at the BMP #1 site with Kyle Axtell from RCWD and any board
members that could attend for his thoughts on Downstream BMP #1 mitigation.
5.2 Add Grit Chambers to storm drains that empty into Karth Lake and do not have Grit Chambers now.
Next Steps: Show map of existing storm drains and grit chambers that empty into Karth Lake. David
Swearingen
5.2.1 Background: This item was mostly resolved on 4/12/22 except David said he would obtain a map of the
storm drains and grit chambers to share.
5.3 Karth Lake water level modeling and management process progress report. Renee Marino
5.3.1 Background: Renee Marino’s Hypothesis: a revision to the pump management policy can reduce water
level bounce (i.e., range of high and low levels), which can improve lake quality and its environment while
appropriately mitigating risk of damage to shoreline properties.
Action from 4/12/22 Meeting: Renee to coordinate launching the modeling effort with Rice Creek Watershed
and work with the DNR to get a lake gauge installed and begin taking measurements. Measurements are now
posted here: www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/showlevel.html?downum=62007200
5.4 Plan for 2022 removal of excess lake weeds and debris and control of invasive purple loosestrife. Update:
Susan Johnson, Renee Marino and Kathy Johnson
Karth Lake District Board
October 11, 2022 Page 2
5.4.1 Background: Susan agreed to again manage lake weed removal efforts in 2022. Susan agreed to
coordinate on notifying lakeshore owners about Purple Loosestrife and Renee agreed to work with the City of
Arden Hills to post information on the city’s website. There were 21 locations on Karth Lake with Purple
Loosestrife in 2022. Because this could not wait until after the October meeting to address, the board was
notified by email in August of the combined efforts of Susan, Renee, Kathy and others to address this issue.
5.5 Open Meeting Policy: Susan Johnson, Steve Scott
5.5.1 Background: The City of Arden Hills’ position as of the April 2022 meeting was that, going forward,
all KLID board meeting should be in-person only and not offer a remote attendance option. The board was
concerned that such a policy could prevent board members and the public with immuno-compromised health
status from attending. Susan Johnson offered to prepare a brief written summary of open meeting laws and
their relevance to KLID board meetings. She will provide that write-up to Steve Scott before the next board
meeting.
5.6 Sediment Growth: David Swearingen
5.6.1 Background: Board members noted that sediment levels around street sewer outlets into Karth Lake
have risen in at least the past two decades. While past KLID board and City of Arden Hills efforts should
have reduced the rate of new sediment inflow, David noted that the City of Shoreview and Ramsey County
manage drainage into Karth Lake from Lexington. To begin addressing these sources, David agreed to share a
map of that drainage system at the next meeting.
5.7 Tour for new attendees: Steve Scott
5.7.1 Background: At his request, the new City Council Liaison, Steve Scott, was given a tour of Karth
Lake. We welcome his observations and follow-up questions to the board.
6. NEW BUSINESS
6.1 Planning process for replacing retaining wall on Karth Lake. David Swearingen
6.1.1 Background: The City of Arden Hills’ budget for next year includes funding to replace the Karth Lake
retaining wall at the pump site. Kyle Axtell told board members in May 2022 that there would be many
options to the design of such a retaining wall. The KLID board would like to understand the city’s plans for
the design process and assure that the KLIDB and the public has input within that process.
6.2 Boston Scientific Lexington Parking Expansion. David Swearingen, Steve Scott
6.2.1 Background: In August 2022, Boston Scientific removed trees along its Lexington boundary and is
expanding its parking lots into areas where there were previously trees. Some of the affected area is within the
Karth Lake watershed. David Swearingen responded to an inquiry about this work to say that Boston
Scientific received approval for that work in 2019 and that it addressed impacts upon the affected watersheds.
The KLID board would like a description of this project and likely impacts from the City of Arden Hills.
6.3 Possibility of initiating a new study to identify status and refresh list of BMPs for future management of
Karth Lake. KLIDB and David Swearingen
6.3.1 Background: The most recent Karth Lake study and BMP identification was performed in 2009. It
would be helpful to get an update reflecting the current state of the lake.
7. NEXT MEETING
8. ADJOURN
Minutes of Karth Lake Improvement District Board
Regular Meeting 6:30 PM, Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Approved April 12, 2022
Call to Order/Roll Call
The meeting convened at: 6:30 PM.
Present:
Board Members: Tony Peleska, Chair; Gary Gerding, Secretary; Aisha Elmquist
via Zoom); Linda Hansohn (via Zoom); Susan Johnson (via Zoom); Renee
Marino
Staff Liaisons: David Swearingen, Interim Public Works Director; David Grant,
Mayor.
Resident: Jim Elliott
Absent: Kathy Johnson; Kyle Axtell, Water Resource Specialist / Project Manager, Rice
Creek Watershed District.
1. Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved as written.
2. Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting: The minutes of the previous
meeting on July 13, 2021, were approved as written
3. Public Inquiries: None
4. Old Business
4.1 Remediation of BMP #1 Site
4.1.1. Progress Report - David Swearingen
David said the drain installation project has been completed and that grass has already
begun to grow on the displaced soil that covers the drainpipe.
Discussion:
Debris: Susan Johnson said there were some old tires near the upper grit chamber.
Jim Elliott noted that there was also a tire in the pond area and ladder in the lake.
Action: David S. said the city will clear this debris.
No-Trespassing sign needed: Susan J. said we still need a No-Trespassing Sign
to warn the public not to cross the land bridge from Cummings Park to the
residential area to the north. Renee M. noted that the sign was agreed to and
authorized in the July 14, 2009, KLIDB Meeting.
Action: David S. and Mayor Grant will review this history and decide what to do.
4.2. Add Grit Chambers to storm drains that empty into Karth Lake and do not
have Grit Chambers now. Next Steps: Plan to identify them; Identify likely dates
for adding Grit Chambers.
4.2.2. Grit Chamber Status Update - David Swearingen: There is only one storm
drain inlet to Karth Lake that does not have a grit chamber: the one on Karth Lake Circle.
This will be corrected when that road is repaved in about 2026.
Action: David S. will provide the board with a map of the locations of existing grit
chambers for storm drains that feed Karth Lake.
4.3. Proposed changes in lake level control process. Background: At the last meeting
Renee Marino proposed we stop the pump before we reach the target level to allow for
evaporation and avoid the very low levels that a drought could cause.
4.3.1. Define current process: when is the pump turned on and off? What is the pump
capacity? David Swearingen: DNR set the target high level at 936 feet and the target
low level at 934 feet. David will give Renee pump specifications the determine its
capacity in various conditions including lake level.
4.3.2. Karth Lake water level modeling process: Renee Marino’s Hypothesis: a
revision to the pump management policy can reduce water level bounce (i.e., range of
high and low levels), which can improve lake quality and its environment while
appropriately mitigating risk of damage to shoreline properties.
Action: Gary G. will ask Matt Kocian and others at the RCWD to work with Renee M.
on the modeling project.
4.4. Was the pump used at all in 2021? No, according to David S.
4.5. Results of removal of excess weeds and debris for 2021– Susan Johnson
23 residents contributed and had weeds and debris removed from the lake
adjacent to their property.
164 bags of weeds removed from lake.
Susan also removed garbage and logs from the lake.
Thanks Susan!
5. New Business
5.1. The City Council recently rezoned Little Johanna from a Recreational
Development Lake to a General Development Lake (see ORDINANCE NO. 2021-
007). (Karth Lake is classified as a General Development Lake.) What is the
significance, advantages, disadvantages, etc. of each of these classifications?
David Swearingen: The main difference is that a General Development Lake has a
greater housing density.
5.2. Discovery of a few specimens of purple loosestrife, an invasive plant, on the
Karth Lake shores and preliminary plan to remove them. – Susan Johnson
Susan found a single plant on their property. Tony reported that it is growing on his
neighbor’s property. Gary emphasized that we need to aggressively eradicate this
invasive plant before it takes over the lake. Here is some information that Gary gleaned
from the MN Dept. of Agriculture and DNR. See:
https://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/weedcontrol/noxiouslist/purpleloos
estrife
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticplants/purpleloosestrife/control.html
Purple loosestrife is found throughout Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources estimates that infestations have been recorded in 77 of Minnesota's 87
counties, covering 58,000 acres of lake, river, and wetland habitats.
Purple loosestrife negatively affects both wildlife and agriculture. It displaces and
replaces native flora and fauna, eliminating food, nesting, and shelter for wildlife.
Purple loosestrife forms a single species stand that no bird, mammal, or fish depends
upon, and germinates faster than many native wetland species.
Purple loosestrife can be cut or pulled without a permit in Minnesota. It is important to
dispose of the plants away from the water. Allow the plants to dry out, then burn if
possible. Pulling purple loosestrife by hand is easiest when plants are young (up to two
years) or in sand.
Flower:
Plant
Infestation:
6. Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 6:30 PM at City Hall.
7. Adjourn
Respectfully Submitted,
Gary Gerding