Environmental Management Commission

AGENDA Environmental Management Commission REGULAR MEETING August 15, 2022 7:00 PM Oakdale City Council Chambers 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. May 16, 2022 5. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION REVIEW a. NEW BUSINESS i. Bike and Pedestrian Plan facilitated workshop ii. Summary of Stewardship Grant open house 6. OTHER i. Monthly review of the 2022 EMC Editorial Calendar ii. Grow Solar Twin Cities solar group buy program update* iii. Commissioner update(s)* iv. Council liaison update(s)* 7. ADJOURNMENT *Items marked with an asterisk have no accompanying materials The next regular Environmental Management Commission meeting will be held September 19, 2022 @ 7PM in the Council Chambers at Oakdale City Hall.  REGULAR MEETING OAKDALE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MAY 16, 2022 CALL TO ORDER The Oakdale Environmental Management Commission (EMC) held a meeting on Monday, May 16, 2022 at Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale, Minnesota. The meeting began at 7:00PM with the Pledge of Allegiance. CALL OF ROLL On a call of roll, the following were present: Chairperson: Keith Miller, Chairperson Commissioners: Noah Gerding, Vice Chair Connor Brown Bonnie Wilson Also Present: Kevin Zabel, City Council Liaison Shannon Reidlinger, Sr. Community Development Specialist Quorum Present: YES ☒ NO ☐ APPROVAL OF MINUTES A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILSON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BROWN, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 18, 2022 AS WRITTEN. 4 AYES 0 NAYS MOTION CARRIED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION REVIEW a. NEW BUSINESS i. Bike and Pedestrian Plan project update Ms. Reidlinger delivered an update on the Bike and Pedestrian Plan Update project. Mentioning that the EMC will provide feedback on the project as it progresses, she summarized project work completed to date in order to establish context for the Commission’s future involvement. She explained that the project was first launched in 2019, and three project phases were completed before the onset of the pandemic placed the project on hold in 2020. Environmental Management Commission Draft Minutes May 16, 2022 Page Two Ms. Reidlinger clarified that work completed in 2019 and 2020 would be incorporated as much as possible in the project relaunch. She noted that staff are working with the project consultant, Toole Design Group, to update the work plan for the project relaunch. She highlighted that project steps moving forward include gathering public feedback through conducting focus groups and having conversations with members of Oakdale’s City Council and advisory bodies. ii. Summary of 2022 Environment Commissions Conference Ms. Reidlinger shared that members of the EMC attended the 2022 Environment Commissions Conference hosted by Conservation Minnesota at the Ridgedale Public Library on April 30, 2022. Commissioner Gerding summarized that the conference was a valuable way to meet peer commissioners serving on advisory bodies in neighboring communities, present what the EMC has achieved in Oakdale, and hear about shared goals across cities and counties regarding environmental management. Commissioner Wilson recounted a conversation at the conference pertaining to climate action plans, and highlighted that Oakdale completed a Population Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Adaptation Framework in 2017. She explained that the document contains quite a bit of detail and suggestions concerning climate adaptation, but wondered whether the information needed to be updated. In response to Commissioner Gerding’s question regarding whether the Population Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Adaptation Framework would be reassessed over time, Ms. Reidlinger will review how the document currently functions from an administrative standpoint. Chair Miller emphasized that the GreenSteps Cities program was taken into consideration when preparing the climate adaptation framework, and agreed that the framework may need to be updated. Commissioner Gerding summarized additional topics covered at the conference, including adding GreenCorps members to municipal staffing as a capacity-growing strategy; how best to create and launch communication strategies to educate residents and business owners about environmental issues; incorporating student representatives on commissions; how to partner with multi-family dwelling owners to increase access to electric vehicles (EVs); and how to encourage green building standards. In response to Commissioner Gerding’s question regarding whether staff are aware of EV-ready certification standards that Oakdale could apply for and achieve, Ms. Reidlinger stated that she did not know of any current certification related to EV-readiness but would research the topic. In response to Commissioner Gerding’s question regarding whether Oakdale has a sustainable building policy that is used in planning conversations or with other property owners, Ms. Reidlinger will research the City’s history with green building policy. Chair Miller commented that cities must comply with Minnesota state building code and cannot have stricter requirements around building standards unless the City offers an incentive to a builder. He noted that efforts to pass more stringent statewide Environmental Management Commission Draft Minutes May 16, 2022 Page Three green building standards have not progressed past the state legislative level. Commissioner Gerding shared that the Resilient Community Coalition is coordinating local clusters comprised of commissioners across cities and counties to convene conversations around climate action. He noted that a conversation for Washington County would take place on May 31, 2022. b. OTHER ITEMS i. Monthly review of the 2022 EMC Editorial Calendar The EMC reviewed the themes and dates relevant to the 2022 environmental communications strategy for the months of May, June, and July. The Commission discussed the idea of recapping social media engagement data during the monthly review of the 2022 EMC editorial calendar to understand themes and posts that are most popular among local social media users. Commissioner Gerding expressed interest in seeing data on direct engagement, overall reach, and number of shares for social media posts (to Facebook in particular). In response to Commissioner Wilson’s question regarding whether environmental topics are pushed through the City’s email news blasts, Ms. Reidlinger will check with the City’s Communications Manager on how email list serves are used to communicate with the public. ii. Draft EV-ready ordinance and guidelines update Ms. Reidlinger shared that the EV-ready ordinance amendments supported by the EMC and approved by the Oakdale Planning Commission were reviewed during the May 10, 2022 regular meeting of the Oakdale City Council and passed on consensus motion. iii. Commissioner update(s) Chair Miller provided an update on the 2022 Grow Solar Twin Cities solar group buy program. He explained that the solar installer for the program would be decided in May, and that Solar Power Hour workshops will kick off after the selection is made. He noted that the EMC would co-host a virtual Solar Power Hour on May 31, 2022 at 6:30 PM via Zoom. Commissioner Wilson shared that there was no debris in the storm drains that the EMC has adopted in Walton Park when she went to clean them, and wondered whether the Commission should adopt other drains. In response to Commissioner Wilson’s question regarding whether Oakdale’s Public Works crew cleans the drains, Commissioner Gerding mentioned seeing street sweepers out on the roads recently. He suggested that the drains might have more pollution after community events at Walton Park like Summerfest and Touch a Truck. Environmental Management Commission Draft Minutes May 16, 2022 Page Four iv. Council liaison updates Council member Zabel acknowledged the success of the 2022 Arbor Day Tree Giveaway and shared that Summerfest will be held on June 24 and June 25, 2022. Next, he explained that new police officer Corey Pudil was sworn in during the May 10, 2022 regular meeting of the City Council. Then, he thanked the EMC and the Planning Commission for their work on the EV-ready ordinance amendments adopted at the May 10, 2022 regular meeting of the City Council. Finally, Council member Zabel commented on numerous road construction projects occurring throughout the city. NEXT MEETING DATE Commissioner Gerding reminded the Commission that the next meeting of the EMC will be Monday, June 20, 2022 in the City Council Chambers. ADJOURNMENT A MOTION WAS MADE BY CHAIR MILLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BROWN, TO ADJOURN THE MAY 16, 2022 REGULAR MEETING OF THE OAKDALE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AT 7:41 P.M. 4 AYES 0 NAYS MOTION CARRIED Meeting Adjourned Respectfully submitted, Shannon Reidlinger Sr. Community Development Specialist TO: Environmental Management Commission FROM: Shannon Reidlinger DATE: August 11, 2022 SUBJ: Bike and Pedestrian Plan facilitated workshop As part of the Bike and Pedestrian Plan Update Project, the project consultant – Toole Design Group – will facilitate a workshop with the EMC to gather commissioner feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of Oakdale’s current bicycle and pedestrian system. The purpose of this memorandum is to summarize the format of the facilitated conversation. The facilitated conversation will open with a presentation of the Bike and Pedestrian Plan Update Project background, including the purpose of the project, steps in the planning process, and an overview of the draft public engagement plan. Then, the EMC will identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats regarding biking and walking in Oakdale. Next, the Commission will be able to ask questions and provide comments on the draft existing and planned Oakdale facilities maps, draft summary of existing local and regional bike and pedestrian plans, and draft public engagement plan. Finally, the EMC will discuss ideas regarding the convening and makeup of focus groups relevant to the project’s draft public engagement plan. Materials provided to the EMC for educational purposes in advance of the facilitated conversation are attached. City of Oakdale Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Photo Credit: Carrie Wilmot Today’s Meeting  Project background for the Environmental Management Commission (EMC)  Phase 1 (2019 – 2020)  Phase 2 (2022 – 2023) Today’s Meeting  Project background for the EMC  Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats regarding bicycling and walking in Oakdale  Review materials submitted  Focus group ideas Project Purpose Help achieve two of the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan transportation goals: Chapter 3, Goal 1: City roadways shall be safe and functional for pedestrians, bikes, automobiles and trucks. Chapter 3, Goal 4: Sidewalks, trails, and bikeways shall be connected within the city and between adjacent cities. Project Purpose Help achieve one of the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan parks and trails goals: Chapter 5, Goal 3: Parks shall be integrated into the City’s pedestrian system. Planning Step 1: Understand Existing Conditions and Future Plans  Draft existing facility maps  Version A: Crosswalks* *Under review by Oakdale staff and available for EMC review Planning Step 1: Understand Existing Conditions and Future Plans  Draft existing facility maps  Version A: Crosswalks*  Version B: Bus stops* * Under review by Oakdale staff and available for EMC review Planning Step 1: Understand Existing Conditions and Future Plans  Draft existing facility maps  Version A: Crosswalks*  Version B: Bus stops*  Draft planned facilities map* * Under review by Oakdale staff and available for EMC review Planning Step 1: Understand Existing Conditions and Future Plans  Draft existing facility maps  Version A: Crosswalks*  Version B: Bus stops*  Draft planned facilities map*  Destination analysis** *Under review by Oakdale staff and available for EMC review **Destination analysis map is from Phase 1 of the project Planning Step 2: Seek Public Input Draft public engagement plan* *Available for EMC review Planning Step 2: Seek Public Input Public engagement plan* 4 EMC meetings with additional input from other Oakdale advisory bodies *Available for EMC review Planning Step 2: Seek Public Input Public engagement plan* 4 EMC meetings with additional input from other Oakdale advisory bodies 3 City Council presentations  At the July 26, 2022 City Council workshop, Council:  Sought clarity on the Destination Analysis map to understand weighted destination intensity scores  Discussed how focus groups are different than an open house or pop-up event  Expressed a desire to make sure that the engagement process is as inclusive as possible  Suggested adding additional targeted audiences at the focus groups if those targeted audiences are underrepresented at other events  Recommended offering food as an incentive to encourage attendance at focus groups  Expressed a desire for quickly yet intentionally finishing the Plan update *Available for EMC review Planning Step 2: Seek Public Input Public engagement plan* 4 EMC meetings with additional input from other Oakdale advisory bodies 3 City Council presentations 1 Open house *Available for EMC review Planning Step 2: Seek Public Input Public engagement plan* 4 EMC meetings with additional input from other Oakdale advisory bodies 3 City Council presentations 1 Open house 2 Pop-up workshops *Available for EMC review Planning Step 2: Seek Public Input Public engagement plan* 4 EMC meetings with additional input from other Oakdale advisory bodies 3 City Council presentations 1 Open house 2 Pop-up workshops 3 Focus group meetings. Ideas discussed to-date:  Youth  Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities  Members of the business or disability communities  Seniors  General community residents *Available for EMC review Planning Step 2: Seek Public Input Public engagement plan* 4 EMC meetings with additional input from other Oakdale advisory bodies 3 City Council presentations 1 Open house 2 Pop-up workshops 3 Focus group meetings Online questionnaire and map *Available for EMC review Note: This interactive map is from Phase 1 of this project. Planning Step 3: Make Plan Recommendations Goals and strategies Planning Step 3: Make Plan Recommendations Goals and strategies Network recommendations Note: This map is an example from another community’s project. Planning Step 4: Create an Implementation Strategy Develop criteria for prioritizing projects Note: This table is an example from another community’s project. Planning Step 4: Create an Implementation Strategy Develop criteria for prioritizing projects Map with project IDs and phasing Note: This map is an example from another community’s project. Planning Step 4: Create an Implementation Strategy Criteria for prioritizing projects Map with project IDs and phasing Spreadsheet with planning level details Note: This table is an example from another community’s project. Planning Step 5: Publish Draft and Final Plan  First round of review is for City commissions and staff  Second round of review is for City Council then greater public  Edits will be made after each round of review Project Schedule June July August September October November December January February March Task 1: Project Management 1.1 Project management plan 1.2 Conference calls Task 2: Review of Existing Facilities and Plans 2.1 Update existing facilities map 2.2 Plans and other resources, including planned facilities map Task 3: Demand Analysis (Optional) 3.1 Demand analysis Task 4: Public Engagement 4.1 Public engagement plan * * * 4.2 Environmental Services Commission 4.3 Open house, pop-up workshops, focus groups, and online survey 4.4 City Council presentations Task 5: Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan 5.1 Goals and strategies 5.2 Network 5.3 Implementation 5.4 Draft and final plan Share Your Thoughts  What are strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats regarding biking and walking in Oakdale? Share Your Thoughts  Strengths: What are you  Opportunities: Are there proud of? organizations doing work, or  Weaknesses: What things upcoming projects we should drive you nuts? know about?  Threats: What are the external forces that will make it difficult to make Oakdale more friendly for bicycling and walking? Development of Goals, Objectives & Policies • Policies • Refined SWOT • Goals Public Goals • Walking Plan and Analysis • Objectives Input • Refined Bicycling Objectives Network Questions & Feedback on Materials Submitted to Commission  Existing and planned facilities maps  Summary of existing plans  Public engagement plan Focus Groups Overview  3 focus groups, about an hour each  Individuals from each group will be sent a special invitation, and the locations may vary  The goal is to get more open-ended, uncategorized feedback from the community  The format would be a roundtable discussion Focus Group Ideas  Ideas discussed to-date:  Youth  BIPOC residents  Members of the business or disability communities  Seniors  General community residents Questions? Feedback? Thank you! Shannon Reidlinger 651-730-2723 shannon.reidlinger@ci.oakdale.mn.us MEMORANDUM August 11, 2022 To: Shannon Reidlinger, Andy Gitzlaff Organization: City of Oakdale From: Shaun Murphy-Lopez, Ciara Schlichting Project: Oakdale Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Re: Draft Public Engagement Plan Process Overview and Goals Throughout the planning process, Toole Design and the City of Oakdale (called the project team in this memo) will engage the people of Oakdale through meaningful and creative public outreach. The Public Engagement Plan (PEP) serves as a guiding document for sharing and gathering feedback from the public. The PEP will be a living document and will be updated throughout the planning process as needed to reflect the specific dates for each meeting and event that is part of the engagement process. The public engagement process will be anchored in the following goals: Provide an Open and Transparent Process: The process of engaging with the public will be transparent to all members of the community. At key public engagement events, the project team will share process updates, results from existing conditions analyses, and other relevant information. Findings that emerge in the planning process will also be accessible to the public. Listen First: Oakdale’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (the Plan) will be successful only if it seeks to address the community’s concerns. Activities and events will be structured so that people have multiple options (see Public and Engagement Strategies in the next section) to share their experiences, interests, and concerns related to walking and biking. Feedback from these activities will be the starting point for the infrastructure and policy recommendations in the final Plan. Additionally, the Plan will capture people’s stories (see Tell the Story section under Public Events) and share them in a narrative format throughout the document. Create Inclusive Opportunities: To be an effective guiding document, the Plan must be rooted in diverse perspectives that accurately represent the makeup of Oakdale. The people engaged through the planning process should be reflective of the people who make up Oakdale’s community. Because equity, inclusion, and accessibility serve as guiding principles for the project team, the planning process is designed to be as welcoming as possible. Encourage Walking and Biking in Oakdale: Each public outreach event will incorporate educational opportunities for people to learn about existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and resources. Give Proper Notice of Activities: The project team will provide adequate notice (preferably 10 business days) for scheduled events and activities, ensuring that staff and community members have time to prepare for and attend events. It is paramount that Oakdale staff feel they are well-equipped to host public events, so the project team will also coordinate with and support staff accordingly. Be Nimble in the Face of Uncertainty: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted daily activities around the world, including how planning processes and projects engage the community. The project team will remain flexible in scheduling in-person, virtual, or combination events to ensure that outreach is conducted efficiently,  authentically, and meaningfully while maximizing the health and safety of community members and the project team. Public Engagement Strategies The project team will engage Oakdale residents creatively and effectively. This process will make use of three public engagement strategies: the Environmental Management Commission (serving as the Plan’s primary advisory committee), public events, and an online questionnaire. Each tool intends to solicit unique types of feedback, all of which are vital to creating a successful final Plan. Environmental Management Commission: The Environmental Management Commission (EMC) has a role of advising City Council in all matters pertaining to air and water quality and energy conservation in Oakdale. The EMC will provide high-level vetting and strategic guidance for the planning process, meeting with the project team at several project milestones. Input from the EMC will be augmented with input from the Economic Development Commission, Parks & Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council. Public Events: A mixture of one open house, two pop-up workshops, and three focus group meetings will be held during the planning process. Different types of meetings allow for different types of people to attend and share their thoughts about bicycling and walking in Oakdale. Public events serve both to gather information about existing conditions and community opinions and to inform the community about the planning process. Online Questionnaire: Online interactive questionnaires allow for another layer of engagement, targeted at people who may not participate at in-person or virtual (i.e., Zoom) planning processes. Online tools allow people to share their experience and preferences without needing to attend meetings in person. Details about each of these engagement strategies are included below. Environmental Management Commission The EMC will provide oversight and guide development of key aspects of the City of Oakdale Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. This group will guide the project team’s analyses and public engagement strategies. Additionally, the commission will help create goals and give feedback on the contents of the draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The EMC will meet four (4) times over the course of the project. Dates are subject to change. Target Months/Dates for EMC Meetings Toole Design City Staff Responsibilities Responsibilities Meeting 1 (Kickoff) – Monday, August 15th: Review project Agendas, Send agendas and scope and schedule. Discuss project goals and materials, materials to members strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats for bicycling presentations, and Location reservations and walking in Oakdale. Review public engagement plan meeting summary for any in-person and summary of existing plans. Solicit ideas on focus meetings. group participants. Meeting 2 – September: Review and give feedback on open house and focus group meeting materials. Meeting 3 – December: Review community feedback from engagement activities. Present a list of projects and develop prioritization criteria. Solicit ideas on priority projects. Discuss implementation strategies. Meeting 4 – February: Discuss and give input on final Plan draft. 2 City of Oakdale staff will also solicit feedback from the Economic Development Commission, Parks & Recreation Commission, and Planning Commission. Subsequent to each meeting with the EMC, staff will present an abbreviated version of materials and presentations to each respective commission. Feedback from these groups will then be channeled to Toole Design staff to be incorporated into project deliverables. The project team will solicit feedback from the City Council in July, December, and February. First, findings from existing conditions and demand analyses will be presented at the kick-off meeting, and information about the upcoming public engagement process will be shared. Next, the check-in meeting will be used to gather feedback on criteria to use for prioritizing projects and programs. Finally, the close-up meeting will serve as an opportunity for the City Council to comment on the draft Plan before final adoption. City of Oakdale staff will take the final Plan to the City Council for adoption after City Council feedback has been incorporated. Public Events Open House The project team will organize materials and logistics for one (1) formalized in-person open house and two (2) pop-up workshops. Participants will be invited into a casual environment in which they will guide themselves through various stations of informative and engaging material. The proposed open house meeting location is the Discovery Center at the Oakdale Nature Preserve. Examples of the types of materials used during the public open house include questionnaires, interactive maps/boards, and a story-telling station. These materials will mimic an online questionnaire. Project team members will be present for the open house to field questions and direct participants. Interests and concerns that emerge from public comments at this meeting will shape the strategic direction of the Plan. Goals of the open house are as follows: Explain the purpose of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan to the public Introduce the public to the planning process Share the goals of bicycling and walking for Oakdale as identified in the City’s Comprehensive Plan Glean information about the state of bicycling and walking: interests, concerns, gaps, and safety issues Present findings from the preliminary existing conditions analyses Seek input to craft a vision for bicycling and walking in Oakdale Explain the process used to develop a proposed network of facilities Target Date for Open How Promoted/ Toole Design City Staff House Advertised Responsibilities Responsibilities Mid October Email to EMC members Attendance, exhibits, Location reservations asking for help in handouts, presentations, Social media posts on promoting newsletter article content, City pages social media content, City of Oakdale social email content, and flyer Email to contact list media channels content Print and post flyers Email to those interested in the project and other City contacts Flyers posted at city hall, library, parks, etc. 3  Article in the Fall/Winter edition of the Oakdale Update newsletter Bulletin on the electronic message board Pop-up Workshops The project team will organize materials and logistics for two (2) pop-up workshops (a workshop held where people already gather on a regular basis). The proposed locations for the pop-ups are the Oakdale Farmers’ Market and the Oakdale Library. People at the Farmers’ Market and the Oakdale Library will have the opportunity to participate in the planning process. An abbreviated format of the open house materials and questionnaires will be available, including information about the Plan. Project team members will staff the table to invite participation and answer questions. Goals of the pop-up workshops are as follows: Engage with people as they go about their day vs. asking them to attend a special event Interact with harder-to-reach groups that typically don’t attend planning events Explain the purpose of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan to the public Introduce the public to the planning process Share the benefits of bicycling and walking for Oakdale Glean information about the state of bicycling and walking: interests, concerns, gaps, and safety issues Seek input to craft a vision for bicycling and walking in Oakdale Target Date for Pop-Up How Promoted/ Toole Design City Staff Workshops Advertised Responsibilities Responsibilities Late September to mid- City of Oakdale social Attendance, exhibits, Location reservations October (last farmers’ media channels handouts, social media Social media posts on market is Wednesday, content, email content, Email to those interested City pages October 12th) flyer content, in the project and other Email to contact list City contacts Print and post flyers Flyers posted at city hall, library, parks, etc. Focus Group Meetings Focus group meetings are formal meetings with specific interest groups. Attendees are community members who likely have opinions and valuable information about bicycling and walking. These meetings create additional opportunities to gather information and advertise the Plan; in doing so, focus groups can curate feedback from people who would not typically come to an open house as well as more in-depth feedback from people who might be likely to attend an open house. This is another method we propose for connecting with residents. The project team will host three (3) focus group meetings during the information gathering phase. At each meeting, the project team will be equipped with similar information from the open house and pop-up workshops 4 (e.g., questionnaires, maps, general information about the Plan, directives to online engagement materials), as well as a list of conversation starters for a large group discussion with attendees. Proposed focus groups include: Focus Group #1: Youth - Middle and high school students and parents - North St Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District staff Focus Group #2: Racial Minorities - Black residents, or - Spanish speaking residents, or - Residents of Hmong descent Focus Group #3: Businesses or Seniors/People with Disabilities - Oakdale business community, or - Seniors/People with disabilities Special invitations will be made for and sent to members of focus groups. For example, flyers may be made for apartment complexes with racial minority residents and commission/City Council members could be asked for contacts within those communities for Focus Group #2. The project team could work with the Chamber of Commerce to identify members of the business community for Focus Group #3. Toole Design has Spanish- speaking staff that are available to translate materials for Spanish-speaking residents. Focus groups may also be designed to be family friendly, to invite children of Hmong or Spanish-speaking families who may serve as interpreters. The location for meeting with these groups is flexible. Oakdale City Hall is an option, but we propose an approach where the focus group meeting may be held at a location (e.g., school, park, business, or residence) where attendance could be greater. Target Date for Focus How Promoted/ Toole Design City Staff Groups Advertised Responsibilities Responsibilities Mid-October – Email EMC and Council Focus group recruitment Focus group recruitment members; ask for help in Mid-November Facilitation, Location reservations, if identifying people to questionnaires (including applicable serve on focus groups Spanish translation as Identification of people Email to those interested needed), exhibits, and invitations to serve in the project and other presentations, and focus on focus groups City contacts group summary Flyers posted at relevant schools, parks, businesses, or residences Tell the Story The project team recognizes that it is important to accurately represent people’s experiences bicycling and walking in the community. Narrative is a powerful and engaging tool for helping decision makers and residents 5 learn about why bicycling and walking is important in the community. The project team will solicit narratives from stakeholders at the public open house, pop-up workshops, and focus group meetings by asking them for reasons they want Oakdale to be bike- or walk-friendly, as well as stories about the people in their lives who would benefit from more bicycling and walking routes. These narratives will be included in the final Plan. Online Engagement Project Website and Social Media The project team will draft the content that City staff may place on the project webpage (located within the City of Oakdale’s website) and social media pages. Online Questionnaire The project team will create and distribute two online questionnaires: one via Survey Monkey and the other via WikiMap. This two-platform format allows participants to first answer multiple choice questions, and then gives them the ability to draw and comment on route and spot improvements. The team will build off the previous questionnaire given to the public in 2020, making a decision in September as to whether we retain the question format in the previous questionnaire or alter that format. The questionnaire will be open to the public for one month. Target Dates for Online How Promoted/ Toole Design City Staff Engagement Advertised Responsibilities Responsibilities Live by October 10 Email to EMC and City Content for City project Share project webpage Council members asking website, newsletter, flyer, with selected for help in promoting online and social media content stakeholders questionnaires/engagement prior to target date in first Update City of Oakdale column Social media posts prior to website and social media target date in first column Online questionnaire creation and summary Flyers posted at city hall, library, parks, etc. Article in the Fall/Winter edition of the Oakdale Update newsletter 6  Existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Existing Facilities Shared Use Path Sidewalk North Star Bicycle Route Marked Crosswalk Future Gold Line Stations School City Boundary Parks Waterbody Existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Shared Use Path Sidewalk Bus Stop Future Gold Line Stations School City Boundary Parks Waterbody  Existing and Planned Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities B B Existing Facilities Shared Use Path B Sidewalk North Star Bicycle Route B School City Boundary Parks A B Waterbody C Planned Facilities* Regional (MnDOT, Metro B Transit, Washington County, Ramsey County) B City Of Oakdale Comprehensive Plan Neighboring Community B B B Comprehensive Plans C Future Gold Line Stations B Route Types (Facilities without labels were not specified) A Bicycle Lane B B Shared Use Path C Sidewalk * Planned facilities may or may not be currently funded in capital B improvement programs. B B B B B B B C B C B B B MEMORANDUM August 11, 2022 To: Shannon Reidlinger, Andy Gitzlaff Organization: City of Oakdale From: Shaun Murphy-Lopez, Mitch Coffman Project: Oakdale Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Re: Draft Summary of Plans Toole Design has conducted a comprehensive review of existing local and regional plans related to bicycling and walking. This memo provides a draft summary of local and regional bicycle and pedestrian goals and policies as well as recommended network routing and projects to consider and/or incorporate into the Oakdale Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. City of Oakdale Comprehensive Plan This 2018 Comprehensive Plan provides overall guidance for community development and the Oakdale Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan should help achieve the goals of the Comprehensive Plan and be consistent with its policies. The Comprehensive Plan lays out bicycle- and pedestrian-related goals and policies under the transportation and parks/trails subject areas. Transportation  Goal 1 – City roadways shall be safe and functional for pedestrians, bikes, automobiles and trucks  Policy 1 – Study intersections and corridors to address issues such as traffic calming and congestion mitigation.  Goal 2 – Highway 120 shall be safe, functional, aesthetically pleasing and support redevelopment and transit at certain locations.  Policy 1 – Establish safe bicycle and pedestrian access along the corridor with connections to neighborhoods along the corridor.  Goal 3 – Future road infrastructure planning shall be performed collaboratively with adjacent cities, Washington County and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.  Policy 2 – Support a new multimodal bridge over Interstate 94 connecting Helmo Avenue North with Bielenberg Drive in Woodbury.  Policy 3 – Support the construction of a new interchange at Highways 36 and 120 to include pedestrian and trail access.  Goal 4 – Sidewalks, trails, and bikeways shall be connected within the city and between adjacent cities.  Policy 1 – Update the 1995 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan to incorporate the expansion of the existing trail and sidewalk network.  Policy 2 – Request Washington County complete trails identified in the County Transportation plan, specifically along County Road 14.   Policy 3 – Support the construction of new sidewalk and trail connections identified in the Gold Line BRT Helmo and Greenway Station Area Plans.  Policy 4 – Collaborate with adjacent cities to plan and construct trail connections between cities.  Policy 5 – Establish wayfinding signage that promotes intercity trail system connections between Oakdale, Maplewood, Woodbury, North St. Paul, the Gateway Trail, and the Gold Line BRT Stations.  Policy 6 – Support the rehabilitation and reconstruction of complete streets that enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities.  Policy 7 – Support the rebuilding of the 4th Street bridge over I-694 to include space for a dedicated pedestrian walkway and Gold Line BRT guideway.  Policy 8 – Support the addition of a pedestrian walkway adjacent to the 4th Street Bridge over I- 694 to improve access to Helmo Station from the west side of I-694.  Goal 5 – Transit service shall provide mobility options for residents, workers, businesses, and transit dependent persons.  Policy 2 – Collaborate with Metro Transit to assess and improve transit facilities and sidewalk and trail connections to and from transit facilities. Parks & Trails • Goal 2 – Recreational programming, park facilities, and open space shall be accessible to all physical abilities and incomes.  Policy 2 – Develop a plan to ensure the public use of open space, including wetlands, is open to all pedestrians and bicyclists. • Goal 3 – Parks shall be integrated into the City’s pedestrian system.  Policy 1 – Develop a plan to connect parks to each other via the City’s trail and sidewalk system. How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan All overall policies and geographic-specific projects should be included in the Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan. 2 Figure 1 The paths and trails map from the Oakdale Comprehensive Plan shows existing and planned bicycle and pedestrian facilities in relation to the City's park system 3 City of Oakdale Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) The 2022-2026 CIP establishes “a framework for planning the preservation and expansion of capital including equipment, facilities, and infrastructure. It sets the estimated schedule, timing, and details of specific improvements by year, together with the estimated cost, the need for the improvement, and sources of revenue to pay for the improvement.” In addition to the framework, it also includes capital projects programmed for construction over the next four years. The CIP includes a summary of Standard Operating Policy FR-010 as it relates to “Bikeway/Pedway/Sidewalk Improvements.” A. The city will install bikeway/pedways and sidewalks according to the Comprehensive Bikeway/Pedway Plan for the community. The bikeway/pedways should be an eight (8) foot wide asphalt surfaces separated from the roadway surface a minimum of four (4) feet. Sidewalks shall be five (5) feet wide concrete surface separated from the roadway surface a minimum of four (4) feet. B. The city will consider omitting sidewalks when 80% or more of the abutting property owners oppose the sidewalk improvements. C. Financing: 1. Bikeway pedways can be financed as part of a roadway reconstruction assessment; park dedication fees; Municipal State Aid funds or Capital Improvement funds. 2. Sidewalks along Municipal State Aid streets shall be financed with Municipal State Aid funds or Capital Improvement funds. Bicycle- and pedestrian-related projects programmed in the CIP include the following: Project/Equipment Year Amount Notes CSAH 14 (34th St N) Trail 2022 $68,947 Fills trail gap on the south (Hadley Ave N to east side side of I-694) 40th Street N 2022 $3,099,546 (larger project Includes sidewalk and Reconstruction (I-694 to cost) trail Ideal Ave) Ideal Avenue (34th St N to 2022 $515,932 (larger project Includes trail 44th St N) cost) improvements #2 MT Trackless 2023 $128,800 Used for snow removal on trails Oakdale Park Trail 2023 $360,000 Trails will be repaved to Repaving improve condition, ADA compliance, and extend the life of the trail system 2025 Street 2025 $6,986,628 (larger project Includes 6’ wide concrete Reconstruction and cost) sidewalk on Greenway Overlay Project Avenue between Hudson Boulevard and 7th Street 4  Eberle Park Trail 2025 $100,000 Repaving 2026 Street 2026 $7,667,248 (larger project Includes 8’ wide Reconstruction and cost) bituminous path and Overlay Project pedestrian bridge over I- 694 along 40th Street How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan The policy on bikeway/pedway/sidewalk improvements should be considered and restated or amended in the Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan. Programmed projects should be included in the list of recommended projects, noting that funding sources have already been determined. Figure 2 The Oakdale CIP includes many bicycle- and pedestrian-related projects and equipment upgrades 5 Gold Line – Greenway Avenue Station Bus Rapid Transit Oriented Development (BRTOD) Plan The 2019 Gold Line Greenway Avenue BRTOD Plan by the City of Oakdale, City of Landfall, and Washington County Regional Rail Authority recommends creating a continuous biking and walking trail parallel to the BRT guideway. It also recommends strategic biking and walking improvements along existing, planned, and newly identified routes near the future Greenway Avenue station. Metro Transit’s Gold Line Project Office will construct the “Corridor Trail” between Greenway Avenue and Hadley Avenue with the following elements: • Trail lighting • Landscaping between the trail and auto lanes • Relocation of overhead utilities away from the trail • Wayfinding signs The project will also add the following: • A new 10-foot trail along Hadley Avenue between 4th Street and Hudson Boulevard. • A new 10-foot trail along the west side of Century Avenue between Hudson Boulevard and Brookview Drive in Woodbury. Construction is scheduled to begin late in 2022 and take approximately two years to complete. The plan recommends the following additional items which will not be built by the Gold Line Project Office: • A future I-94 pedestrian and bicycle bridge between Hadley Avenue in Oakdale and Weir Drive in Woodbury. • An extension of the trail on the east side of Century Avenue from 4th Street N to 10th Street N. • A 10-foot trail along the west side of Greenway Avenue between Hudson Boulevard and 10th Street N. • A study of the possibility of a trail on the south side of 7th Street N between Century Avenue and Hadley Avenue. • A study of the possibility of a trail on the south/west sides of 5th Street N and Granada Avenue between Grovner Avenue and 7th Street N. • The possibility of a walking and biking route along Greystone Avenue and 4th Street N between Hudson Boulevard and Hadley Avenue. • The possibility of a trail along 2nd Street N and 5th Street N, to connect Tanners Lake Park with Greenway Avenue and Granada Avenue. • Streetscape plans for the Corridor Trail and Greenway Avenue Trail including amenities such as benches, fencing, wayfinding, landscaping, lighting, and overlooks • A study for a Tanner’s Lake perimeter trail A map from the plan illustrating these recommendations is shown in Figure 3. How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan The Oakdale Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan should consider including routes in the BRTOD Plan that provide access to the new Greenway Avenue Station. The plan should also note the facilities that will be constructed by Metro Transit’s Gold Line Project Office between 2022 and 2025. 6 Figure 3 The Greenway Avenue Station circulation plan for bicycling and walking 7 Gold Line – Helmo Avenue Station Bus Rapid Transit Oriented Development (BRTOD) Plan The 2018 Gold Line Helmo Ave Station BRTOD Plan by the City of Oakdale and Washington County Regional Rail Authority develops a circulation framework that fosters a pedestrian and bicycle friendly mixed-use development. Responsibility for completion of the walking and bicycling network is to be determined between the City of Oakdale, Metro Transit, and other BRT partners. As shown in Figure 4, this non-motorized framework includes 3 components: • Multimodal Corridor – A shared walking and biking trail adjacent to the bus rapid transit route. o A 12-foot-wide trail along the west side of Helmo Avenue between 4th Street and Bielenberg Drive in Woodbury (including a new crossing of I-94). o A 12-foot-wide trail along 4th Street between Helmo and Hadley Avenues. • Primary Access Routes – Pedestrian and bicycle emphasis streets that provide direct station access. o A 10-foot-wide pair of separated bike lanes on the north side of Hudson Boulevard (realigned) and sidewalks on both sides of Hudson Boulevard between Helmo Avenue and I-694. o A 12-foot-wide multi-use trail on the east side of Hudson Boulevard between I-694 and 4th Street. • Neighborhood Access Routes – A fine-grained street grid supporting pedestrian and bicycle access within a half mile of the station. o Widening the existing 8-foot-trail to 12-feet along the north side of 4th Street between Helmo Avenue and Radio Drive. o Adding a 6’ sidewalk to the south side of 4th Street between Helmo Avenue and Radio Drive. o Adding a 10’ multi-use trail to the north side of 3rd Street between Helmo Avenue and Ideal Street. o Adding a 6’ sidewalk to the south side of 3rd Street between Helmo Avenue and Ideal Street. o Adding 6’ sidewalks on both side of any new streets near the station. The multimodal corridor and primary access routes will be built by Metro Transit’s Gold Line Project Office beginning in late 2022, with construction expected to last approximately two years. Neighborhood access routes will not be built by Metro Transit. How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan The Oakdale Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan should consider including routes in the BRTOD Plan that provide access to the new Helmo Avenue Station. The plan should also note the facilities that will be constructed by Metro Transit’s Gold Line Project Office between 2022 and 2025. 8 Figure 4 The Helmo Avenue Station circulation plan for bicycling and walking 9 Washington County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan This 2021 plan has a goal of creating a bicycle and pedestrian network that focuses on creating longer segment connections between cities and regional parks at 2-mile intervals. The plan notes Washington County’s cost participation policy, which determines the division of cost between municipalities, MnDOT, and the County. The following projects along County highways in Oakdale were prioritized and are shown in Figure 5: • 34th Street N (Washington County Highway 14) – high priority off-road facility, filling gaps in the existing shared use path on the south side of 34th Street N from Century Avenue across Oakdale into Lake Elmo. • Stillwater Boulevard (Washington County Highway 6) – high priority off-road facility between Century and Hadley Avenue • 50th Street N/Olson Lake Trail/Ideal Avenue (Washington County Highway 13) – medium priority off- road facility between Helmo Avenue and 34th Street N How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan The above projects should be included in the network plan, with Washington County noted as a project partner. Figure 5 High- (dark blue) and medium- (light blue) priority projects from the Washington County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan in Oakdale are located along 34th Street N, Stillwater Boulevard, and 50th Street/Olson Lake Trail/Ideal Avenue 10 Ramsey County-Wide Pedestrian & Bicycle Plan This 2015 plan contains a Connecting Ramsey Communities network, which has two types of regional facilities (as shown in Figure 6): 1. Major County-wide Corridors – These routes provide long-distance travel between communities, with wider-than-standard bikeway widths, separate pedestrian space, and protected traffic signals. Adjacent to Oakdale, the following are considered major routes: a. Minnehaha Avenue in Maplewood, becoming 10th Street in Oakdale 2. County-wide Connector Corridors – These routes provide links between major routes, and do not have the high-capacity design elements on major routes. Adjacent to Oakdale, the following are considered connector routes: a. Century Avenue b. County Road C (17th Avenue) in North St Paul, becoming 50th Street in Oakdale c. South Avenue in North St Paul, becoming 40th Street in Oakdale d. Larpenteur Avenue in Maplewood e. Stillwater Road in Maplewood, becoming Stillwater Blvd in Oakdale The plan recommends that local communities prioritize both types of routes as “an important part of their bikeway network and aim to construct the routes to a high quality that serves all ages and abilities.” How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan The above projects should be included in the network plan, with Ramsey County noted as a project partner. 11 Figure 6 The Connected Ramsey Communities Network highlights routes of regional importance in shades of blue (major routes) and brown (connector routes) 12 MnDOT Metro District Bicycle Plan The 2019 MnDOT Metro District Bicycle Plan identifies State Bicycle Route Network priority corridors that link destinations throughout the state by bicycle. These corridors are aligned with the Metropolitan Council’s Regional Bicycle Transportation Network (RBTN). Cities, counties, and the state are encouraged to plan and implement future bikeways on the RBTN to establish a seamless network of bikeways connecting regional destinations with local bicycle networks. As shown in Figure 7, four corridors in Oakdale are in MnDOT’s plan: 1. 10th Street N 2. Century Avenue between 10th Street and Stillwater Boulevard 3. Gateway State Trail 4. Stillwater Boulevard In addition, the North Star Bicycle Route (US Bicycle Route 41) skirts near the northwest corner or Oakdale on the west side of Silver Lake. This route connects St. Paul with Grand Portage on the Canadian border using a combination of trails and roads with shoulders. How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan The above projects should be included in the network plan, with MnDOT noted as a project partner. The North Star Bicycle Route should be noted on maps as a corridor of regional importance. Figure 7 MnDOT's Metro District Bicycle Plan shows routes of regional importance in and near Oakdale 13 MnDOT Statewide Pedestrian Systems Plan This 2021 MnDOT plan is a detailed path for the agency to “maximize its role in making walking safe, convenient, and desirable for all.” The plan also seeks to “prioritize investments in a way that supports equity, safety, infrastructure, health, and land-use contexts.” As part of this plan, a Priority Areas for Walking Study (PAWS) was conducted across Minnesota, dividing the state into ½ mile wide hexagons. Each hexagon received a score based on 19 factors that indicate demand for walking and need for improvement to the walking environment. The plan says, “MnDOT District planners and designers may find the District-level scoring helpful in identifying areas to invest in walking. The PAWS map should be consulted in the initial phases of project planning for any transportation project . . . projects in higher ranked areas especially should prioritize comfort and safety for people walking over convenience for people using other modes of transportation.” The top 0.2% of hexagons across Minnesota received a Tier 1 ranking. As shown in Figure 8, Oakdale contains 9 of these Tier 1 hexagons. The highest PAWS ratings are parallel to Century Avenue (Minnesota State Highway 120) and I-694 in the southern part of the community. How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan During the development of the Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan, the PAWS map should be considered for use along and across state highways and freeways in Oakdale. MnDOT should be listed as a potential project partner where projects are recommended in these areas. Figure 8 Tier 1 PAWS scores in the Oakdale area indicate where pedestrian improvements will likely be the highest priority during MnDOT design work 14 Metropolitan Council 2040 Thrive MSP Transportation Policy Plan: Chapter 7 – Bicycle and Pedestrian Investment Direction This 2020 plan uses the Regional Bicycle Transportation Network (RBTN) to prioritize federal transportation funding. Tier 1 RBTN corridors are given the highest priority, and Tier 2 corridors are given the second highest priority. Oakdale has one Tier 1 RBTN corridor, with an alignment that runs parallel to the Gold Line BRT along Hudson Boulevard, Hadley Avenue, 4th Street N, and Helmo Avenue. Oakdale has four Tier 2 RBTN corridors, as shown in Figure 9: • 10th Street N between Century Avenue and Inwood Avenue • Stillwater Boulevard, between Century Avenue and Ideal Avenue • Century Avenue between Stillwater Boulevard and 10th Street N • Gateway State Trail How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan The above projects should be noted as those that may be prioritized for federal transportation funding, with the Metropolitan Council noted as a potential project partner. Figure 1 The Regional Bicycle Transportation Network guides the Metropolitan Council's prioritization of federal funding for bicycle facilities North St. Paul 2040 Comprehensive Plan 15 This 2019 plan establishes overall goals supportive of bicycle- and pedestrian-related improvements. Some specific projects relevant for Oakdale include: • A proposed trail along Century Avenue (MN State Highway 120) between 50th Street N and 40th Street N, as well as between Highway 36 and I-694 • A proposed trail around Silver Lake • A more park-like Gateway State Trail with modern restroom facilities • Bicycling and walking improvements at the intersections of: o Century Ave & Hwy 36 o Century Ave & 50th St N o Century Ave & 40th St N How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan The above projects should be included in the network plan. Project timing coordination with future City of Oakdale facilities should be researched with the City of North St. Paul. City of Maplewood 2040 Comprehensive Plan Bicycle- and pedestrian-related goals in this 2019 plan include: • Connect pedestrian and bike routes with transit facilities. • Create a network of uninterrupted trails. • Tie parks together into a comprehensive park and trail system, and tie the City trail system with those of adjacent cities and counties. • Bike routes should be off-street, however when not feasible, streets should be designed for safe bicycle passage under all conditions. This includes providing dedicated space for bicycles that is clearly marked, with signage for bicycle awareness. It also includes clearly marked intersections where trails cross roads, trimmed vegetation at intersections, and a thoughtful integration of on-street parking where necessary. • Create a safe, multi-purpose, and all-season walking and biking network. Bicycle and pedestrian project priorities shown in Figure 8 include: • Century Avenue as a priority project corridor between Larpenteur Avenue and Conway Avenue • Harvester Avenue as a missing segment from Century Avenue to the west • Farrell Avenue and Conway Avenue as a missing segment near Lions Park along Century Avenue The plan also notes that the current policy of the City is to install sidewalks on both sides of arterial streets and one side of collector streets. How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan The above projects should be included in the network plan. Project timing coordination with future City of Oakdale facilities should be researched with the City of Maplewood. Maplewood’s sidewalk installation policy should be compared to Oakdale’s and consistency between the two municipalities should be considered. 16 Figure 2 Pedestrian and bicycle priorities in the Maplewood Comprehensive Plan 17 Woodbury 2040 Comprehensive Plan This 2019 sets a key goal of enhancing non-motorized elements of Woodbury’s transportation system to improve transportation sustainability. The approach is to expand the trail network in two ways: 1) along all arterials, collectors, and certain local streets in newly developing areas; 2) close gaps in the existing network. As shown in Figure 11, proposed trails near Oakdale include: • A perimeter trail around Battle Creek Lake • A trail along the west side of Weir Drive • A trail along both sides of Bielenberg Drive, as well as the completion of a missing gap between Bielenberg Drive and the existing trail on Hudson Road • Priority trail retrofits along Landau Drive and Woodduck Drive How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan The above projects should be included in the network plan. Project timing coordination with future City of Oakdale facilities should be researched with the City of Woodbury. Woodbury’s trail installation policy should be compared to Oakdale’s and consistency between the two municipalities should be considered. Figure 3 The existing and planned trail network in Woodbury 18 Mahtomedi Comprehensive Plan The Mahtomedi Comprehensive Plan includes a map (shown in Figure 12) which shows a new trail connection over I-694 connecting 56th Street in Oakdale with 60th Street in Mahtomedi. The plan notes this new connection is part of the proposed Mahtomedi-Oakdale Trail Corridor, which is one component of the larger Lake Links Trail network. How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan The above projects should be included in the network plan. Project timing coordination with future City of Oakdale facilities should be researched with the City of Mahtomedi. Figure 4 The existing and proposed bicycle and pedestrian network in Mahtomedi Other Comprehensive Plans Comprehensive plans for Lake Elmo, Landfall, and Pine Springs were reviewed. None of those plans include any planned bicycle or pedestrian-related projects along their shared borders with Oakdale. 19 Lake Links Trail Network Plan This 2001 plan by Washington County Parks and Ramsey County Parks lays out a vision for the Lake Links Trail Network in Washington and Ramsey Counties between White Bear Lake, Silver Lake, the Bruce Vento Trail, the Gateway Trail, and Stillwater. Two levels of trails are identified as shown in Figure 13, and they include regional and local trails. The Mahtomedi-Oakdale Trail Corridor is shown as a local trail and connects the two communities via a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over I-694 between Highway 120 and Highway 36. How the Recommendations Should Be Considered/Used in the Oakdale Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan Since this plan is over 20 years old, its current relevance should be researched with Washington County and Ramsey County. Project should be included in the Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan network if the Lake Links Trail Plan is still active, with Washington County and Ramsey County noted as partners. Figure 5 The Lake Links Trail Network Plan envisions a trail connection between Oakdale and Mahtomedi 20 TO: Environmental Management Commission FROM: Shannon Reidlinger DATE: August 11, 2022 SUBJ: Summary of Stewardship Grant open house This memorandum summarizes key takeaways from the Stewardship Grant open house and invites conversation about covered topics relevant to the 2022 EMC Work Plan. POLICY IMPLICATIONS Established in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the City of Oakdale has a goal of responding effectively to climate change by implementing adaption and resilience strategies; these strategies include promoting water conservation programs to protect groundwater resources (Chapter 8, Goal 2, Policy 4), and promoting water infiltration techniques such as raingardens and pervious pavers to replenish groundwater resources (Chapter 8, Goal 2, Policy 5). The City’s goal of responding effectively to climate change is impacted when residents and businesses in Oakdale who own land in the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD) undertake natural property improvements that leave a lasting legacy on the environment. GRANT SUMMARY Hosted by RWMWD on July 12, 2022 at Sun Ray Library, the Stewardship Grant open house provided a broad overview of how public and private landowners in the District can qualify for reimbursement of environmental stewardship projects that benefit water quality and natural resources. Eligible grant projects are designed to filter and reduce runoff, protect groundwater, restore native ecosystems, prevent flooding, and lessen the effects of drought. Examples of eligible grant projects include: • Rain gardens • Native landscaping • Shoreland restoration • Pervious pavements (i.e. driveways, patios) The Stewardship Grant provides project funding of up to $15,000 for homeowners or $100,000 for commercial/church/school association/government entities. Grant funds cover 50-100% of the project, depending on the project type and location. Grant requests under $5,000 are reviewed and approved by RWMWD staff on a rolling basis. Grant requests over $5,000 must be approved by the District Board of Managers; RWMWD publishes a yearly application and monthly timeline calendar for interested applicants. Once a grant-funded project is completed, maintenance grants may be available to grantees; maintenance funding covers up to 50% of annual maintenance costs for a new project with a maximum of $5,000 over five years (not to exceed $1,000 per year). Maintenance grants may cover grant-funded projects completed within the last five years. KEY TAKEAWAYS EMC Commissioner Noah Gerding attended the free RWMWD Stewardship Grant open house and experienced how commissioners can benefit from attending events that are aligned with the Commission’s goals, both as residents of Oakdale and as ambassadors to the city. Additionally, by voluntarily attending community events, commissioners are more equipped to share cross-municipal engagement opportunities with others in Oakdale and neighboring cities. Finally, the EMC can influence achievement of the environmental goals outlined in the 2022 EMC Work Plan and City of Oakdale 2040 Comprehensive Plan by learning from community partners that offer relevant environmental protection programs like the RWMWD Stewardship Grant. TO: Environmental Management Commission FROM: Shannon Reidlinger DATE: August 11, 2022 SUBJ: Monthly review of the 2022 EMC Editorial Calendar The 2022 Environmental Management Commission (EMC) Editorial Calendar is designed to generate public outreach and communication about the Commission’s priorities related to solid waste, recycling, composting, air and water quality, and energy conservation. Topics of interest, dates of note, and relevant community resources may vary as the calendar is refined and updated; consequently, the EMC shall provide a recommendation to staff on the messages and resources of highest importance month-to-month. This memorandum seeks to open discussion on the message and resources of focus in August, September, and October of 2022. 2022 EMC Editorial Calendar August: Water Conservation Dates related to monthly topic Resources related to monthly topic • Adopt-A-Drain National Water Quality Month • Adopt-A-Wetland • Rain barrels and rain gardens September: Electric Vehicles Dates related to monthly topic Resources related to monthly topic Zero Emissions Day – Sep 21 •EV-ready amendments to Oakdale’s Code of Ordinances Car Free Day – Sep 22 • Drive Electric Minnesota • Shift2Electric National Drive Electric Week • Touch-A-Truck • Ride and Drive event October: Renewable Energy Dates related to monthly topic Resources related to monthly topic Energy Efficiency Day – Oct 5 • Home Energy Squad (home energy audit) National LED Light Day – Oct 7 • Clean Energy Project Builder National Solar Tour • Battery recycling Energy Awareness Month • Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Social media posts are scheduled and subject to review by Communications staff. Proposed social media posts in the month of August include: • Recognition of National Water Quality Month, including its background and purpose • Water protection tips and tricks, including: o Using a car wash instead of washing a car at home o Picking up pet waste  o Sweeping instead of hosing down a driveway or sidewalk o Refraining from flushing or draining water-polluting substances o Using a rain barrel to collect rainwater o Planting native plants and rain gardens to help keep groundwater clean and provide a natural habitat for pollinators  Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District Stewardship Grants  Valley Branch Watershed District Best Management Practices Grant Program  South Washington Watershed District Water Quality Cost Share Program  Blue Thumb  Building a rain garden • Promotion of private well water testing services available through Washington County • Promotion of the Adopt-A-Drain program with EMC-specific photos • Promotion of the Adopt-A-Wetland program with Oakdale-specific photos