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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-04-24 Agenda Packet Chair: Susan Johnson (2025) Secretary: Linda Hansohn (2026) Board Members: Gary Gerding (2025) Kent Stennes (2026) Melissa Jannakos (2027) Joel Gerich (2027) Andrew Elmquist (2027) Staff Liaison: David Swearingen Karth Lake Improvement District Board REGULAR MEETING Tuesday June 4, 2024 1245 W. Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 651.792.7800 www.cityofardenhills.org Agenda Board Meeting Convenes at 6:30 PM CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL 1. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES of the previous meeting April 23, 2024 3. PUBLIC INQUIRIES 4. OLD BUSINESS 4.1. Lakeshore owner outreach and education. Kent Stennes 4.1.1. Background: The KLIDB has reached out to KLID members in the past with flyers, events and door-knocking to increase awareness of what the KLIDB does, provide information to assist members in managing their shoreline and to recruit new board members. Several lakeshore properties have or are soon expected to have new owners that have not benefited from past communications and an update on the lake’s current status to continuing owners would be helpful. 4.1.2. Action: Possibly have a summer Karth Lake gathering at the Cummings Park shelter this summer, combining Karth Lake related information and a social aspect to help draw more participation. Kent spoke with the Arden Hill's Naturalist, Kerri Seemann, and she would be willing to attend an event to provide information on such topics as plants suitable for erosion control, plants to attract bees and butterflies, plants for different growing conditions, etc. Some information could also be provided on the purpose of the Karth Lake Improvement District, on Purple Loosestrife and Buckthorn identification and removal, lake weed control, types of algae, water levels, overall Karth Lake health, etc. Consider sending out educational information and let folks know who to contact if they see something that shouldn’t happen and what things are good for them to do to and plan for outreach to new residents. 4.2. Karth Lake water level modeling and management process progress report. Renée Marino 4.2.1. 6.2.1 Background: 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. Renee has a meeting in June with RCWD and Houston Engineering. 4.2.2. Action: Provide updates, if any. 4.3. Bylaws review and possible modification. Susan Johnson 4.3.1. Background: A preliminary review of the bylaws questions who is a member of KLID, how elections should be run going forward and who can vote. 4.3.2. Action: Provide updates, if any. 4.4. 4.4. Possibility of initiating a new study to identify status and refresh list of BMPs for future management of Karth Lake. Joel Gerich and David Swearingen 4.4.1. Background: The most recent Karth Lake study and BMP identification was performed by the Rice Creek Watershed District in 2009. The board would like to identify a plan for a follow-up assessment of Karth Lake’s current health and opportunities for improvement (BMPs). In April 2023, David Swearingen had described possible grant opportunities that the City of Arden Hills could pursue. 4.4.2. Discussion: Joel Gerich will share historical information about Karth Lake with a Ramsey County environmental resource scientist that writes lakes water management plans and hopefully get recommendations. Rain gardens were Karth Lake Improvement District Board April 23, 2024 Page 2 installed as a part of the Nursery Hills PNP Road project to help filter water but probably won’t be required for the 2026 project. The Nursery Hill rain gardens that are not in individuals’ yards are in poor shape because they have not been maintained. The KLID board could potentially ask the city council for funding to buy plants and have volunteers to do the work. Parks and Trails committee has a subcommittee for rain gardens (Liz and Nancy). We could potentially work with them to determine what needs to be done to get those rain gardens functioning again. David commented that the city is attempting to revamp their rain garden plan. 4.4.3. Action: Joel will work with David to meet with Liz and Nancy to develop a plan that identifies the rain gardens and what needs to be done 5. 7. NEW BUSINESS 5.1. Filamentous Green Algae. Linda Hansohn 5.1.1. Background: For the first time we have seen a significant amount of filamentous green algae. This algae was identified from photos by Matt 5.2. Water level monitoring. Renee Marino and David Swearingen 5.2.1. Background: The significant May rainfall has resulted in a dramatic rise in the water level. The DNR water level stake is getting replaced with another that is higher. 5.2.2. Action: The stake that shows the water level is not the same as the stake that indicates when the pump needs to be installed. Discuss the indicators that the city uses to determine when the pump gets put in and turned on. 5.3. Water quality monitoring for Karth Lake for 2024. Gary Gerding 5.3.1. Background: The KLIDB has participated in the Citizen-Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP) with the Metropolitan Council by coordinating volunteer sampling of Karth Lake’s water quality since 2006. 5.3.2. Action: Provide updates for 2024 sampling program. 6. NEXT MEETING 7. ADJOURN Draft Minutes for Karth Lake Improvement District Board Regular Meeting 6:30 PM, Tuesday, April 23, 2024 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The meeting convened at: 6:30 PM. Present: Current Board Members (at start of meeting): Aisha Elmquist, Chair; Renée Marino, Secretary; Gary Gerding; Linda Hansohn; Susan Johnson; Kent Stennes; Joel Gerich New Board Members (after elections): Susan Johnson, Chair; Linda Hansohn, Secretary; Gary Gerding; Kent Stennes; Andrew Elmquist; Joel Gerich; Melissa Jannakos Staff Liaison: David Swearingen, Public Works Director Visitors and Karth Lake Improvement District members: Brian Horvath; Anna Henry; Dave Yauch, Aaron Wallace, Jim Elliott 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: The agenda was approved with no changes. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the previous meeting on Jan 23, 2024 were approved with no changes 3. BOARD MEMBER ELECTIONS: Aisha announced that she will be retiring from the Board and Renee indicated that she is retiring as secretary and would only run for the Board if there were not others that were interested. There were 2 lake residents present that were interested in joining the Board: Melissa Jannakos and Andrew Elmquist. Joel Gerich indicated that he would like to stay on the Board for a new term if possible. There were 3 expiring terms (Aisha, Renee, Joel). The results were as follows. All votes were unanimous. Joel Gerich – term expiring 2027 Melissa Jannakos – term expiring 2027 Andrew Elmquist – term expiring 2027 4. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND SECRETARY: Susan Johnson was unanimously elected as Chair, Linda Hansohn was unanimously elected as Secretary. Terms are through April 2025 5. PUBLIC INQUIRIES: None. 6. OLD BUSINESS 6.1. Lakeshore owner outreach and education. Susan Johnson and Joel Gerich. 6.1.1. Background: The KLIDB has reached out to KLID members in the past with flyers, events and door-knocking to increase awareness of what the KLIDB does, provide information to assist members in managing their shoreline and to recruit new board members. Several lakeshore properties have or are soon expected to have new owners that have not benefited from past communications and an update on the lake’s current status to continuing owners would be helpful. 6.1.2. Discussion: Susan Johnson hosted a “Love your Lake” party. There were about 20 people. Lots of new people. It would be nice if this could be an annual event. 6.1.3. Action: Possibly have a summer event at Cummings Park shelter this summer, combining Karth Lake related information and a social aspect to help draw more participation. Kent was looking at doing planning for this event. Possibly plan to have another Wintertime Love you Lakes. Still plan to send out educational information and let folks know who to contact if they see something that shouldn’t happen and what things are good for them to do to and plan for outreach to new residents. 6.2. Karth Lake water level modeling and management process progress report. Renée Marino 6.2.1. Background: 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. 6.2.2. Discussion: Renee will continue to work with the model and follow up with RCWD and Houston Engineering when ready. She has a June meeting scheduled. This is the final meeting that is provided as part of the agreement with Rice Creek Watershed. She plans to run the NOAA rain data from 2002 through the model. In 2002, the lake reached its highest recorded level and temporary pumping initiated. With that rain data, the model should, ideally, predict lake levels close to the recorded levels and be helpful for modeling alternative pumping strategies. Renee has a presentation that discusses the historical records and information about the history of this lake since 1975. Renee tracks the lake levels every Sunday and would appreciate volunteers to take a month or a couple weeks. 6.3. Bylaws review and possible modification. Susan Johnson 6.3.1. Background: A preliminary review of the bylaws causes there to be questions regarding who is a member of KLID, how elections should be run going forward, and who can vote 6.3.2. Discussion: Susan Johnson is continuing to review. She has not had time to meet with David Perrault or discuss with the City Council. The wording in the founding documents is not completely clear. 6.3.3. Action: This topic may be moot since there has not historically been more than one candidate for an open board position during annual elections. Never-the-less, Susan will follow up with David Perrault for any further guidance he may have and get closure on this topic. 6.4. Open meeting laws update. Susan Johnson 6.4.1. Background: Susan reached out to David Perrault for guidance on process that needs to be used for involving board between meetings for urgent issues that arise. Note: There are no longer Zoom calls allowed. 6.4.2. Discussion: The board can coordinate events, but no official decisions can be made via email or phone. Some boards have small committees to make decisions about urgent business but that has never been an issue for this lake. The board can have emergency meetings, if needed. 7. NEW BUSINESS 7.1. Water quality monitoring for Karth Lake. Gary Gerding. 7.1.1. Background: The KLIDB has participated in the Citizen-Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP) with the Metropolitan Council by coordinating volunteer sampling of Karth Lake’s water quality since 2006. Water sampling is done every 2 weeks at the deepest part of the lake. 7.1.2. Action: Provide updates for 2024 sampling program and present 2023 sampling results if available. 7.1.3. Discussion: Gary presented the 2023 results (attached) that he received from Rice Creek Watershed District (data was analyzed by Met Council labs) and there was a general discussion of the results. We have exceeded the state standards in all three categories (Total Phosphorus, Chlorophyll-a, Secchi disk depth) in every year since 2009. There was an improvement in all three values in 2023 compared to 2022. Although weeds close to shore appeared to be thicker than usual, the clarity of the water at the deepest point where the samples are taken did improve. This improvement may have been in part due to the BMP #1 project that was completed last year. That project was designed to reduce silt runoff from surrounding business parking lots. 7.2. Possibility of initiating a new study to identify status and refresh list of BMPs for future management of Karth Lake. Joel Gerich and David Swearingen 7.2.1. Background: The most recent Karth Lake study and BMP identification was performed by the Rice Creek Watershed District in 2009. The board would like to identify a plan for a follow-up assessment of Karth Lake’s current health and opportunities for improvement (BMPs). In April 2023, David Swearingen had described possible grant opportunities that the City of Arden Hills could pursue. 7.2.2. Discussion: Joel Gerich will share historical information about Karth Lake with a Ramsey County environmental resource scientist that writes lakes water management plans and hopefully get recommendations. David Swearingen gave updates on developments since this topic was tabled in April 2023: Site inspections are starting for 2026 PMP Street and Utility Improvement projects for the Northeast side of Karth Lake and on Karth Lake Circle. Repaving includes storm water enhancements. This set of projects includes budgeted replacement of the retaining wall in Cummings Park and Phase 2 of BMP #1. The latter will create a pond to filter the water from the walking path to the lake, a section of the flow of water which is owned and maintained by the City. Additionally, they are reviewing the 2009 Rice Creek BMP plan to see if there are any other BMPs that would make sense at the same time. They will apply for grant funding from Rice Creek watershed. The plan may include some lake dredging if recommended and will upgrade grit chambers, as needed. This board will be asked to provide input for these projects and to recommend the finalized project proposals to the City Counsel. Rain gardens were installed as a part of the Nursery Hills PNP Road project to help filter water but probably won’t be required for the 2026 project. The Nursery Hill rain gardens that are not in individuals’ yards are in poor shape because they have not been maintained. The KLID board could potentially ask the city council for funding to buy plants and have volunteers to do the work. Parks and Trails committee has a subcommittee for rain gardens (Liz and Nancy). We could potentially work with them to determine what needs to be done to get those rain gardens functioning again. David commented that the city is attempting to revamp their rain garden plan. 7.2.3. Action: Joel will work with David to meet with Liz and Nancy to develop a plan that identifies the rain gardens and what needs to be done 8. NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 6:30 PM at City Hall. 9. ADJOURN Matt Kocian, Rice Creek Watershed District 4/22/2024 Notes: • Our last rigorous statistical test of trend (Mann-Kendall) was completed in 2018. At that time, no statistical trend in TP or Chl-a was found. Looking at the data since then, I’m confident that no statistical trend has emerged – Karth Lake continues to have no statistical trend, up or down. • 2023 was a good year – all parameters were better than their 10-year averages. TP was 12% lower, Chl-a was 71% lower, and Secchi was 32% higher than their 10-year means, • Overall, Karth Lake continues to have very good water quality. It easily meets all State Standards (e.g. not impaired).