2024.09.12 Work Session Packet
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
Posted: Sept. 6, 2024
City Council Work Session Agenda
Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024
6:30 p.m.
Conference Room A/Zoom
Pursuant to due call and notice given in the manner prescribed by Section 3.01 of the City
Charter, the work session of the Crystal City Council was held on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, at
______ p.m. in Conference Room A at City Hall, 4141 Douglas Dr. N., Crystal, MN and via Zoom.
The public may attend the meeting via Zoom by connecting to it through one of the methods
identified in the Notice of Sept. 12, 2024, Work Session.
I. Attendance
Council members Staff
____ Budziszewski ____ Bell
____ Cummings ____ Revering
____ Eidbo ____ Struve
____ Kamish ____ Sutter
____ Kiser
____ Onesirosan
____ Adams
II. Agenda
The purpose of the work session is to discuss the following agenda items:
1. Commission interviews.
2. Boulevard trees ordinance/policy.
3. Environmental Quality Commission – climate action update.
4. Municipal consent update for the Blue Line Extension.*
III. Adjournment
The work session adjourned at ______ p.m.
* Denotes no supporting information included in the packet.
Auxiliary aids are available upon request to individuals with disabilities by calling the city clerk at
(763) 531-1145 at least 96 hours in advance. TTY users may call Minnesota Relay at 711 or 1-800-627-3529.
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
Posted: Sept. 6, 2024
CRYSTAL CITY COUNCIL
NOTICE OF SEPT. 12, 2024 WORK SESSION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Crystal will hold a work session on
Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room A at City Hall, 4141 Douglas Dr. N.,
Crystal, MN and via Zoom.
Topic: Crystal City Council Work Session
Time: Sept. 12, 2024, 6:30 p.m. Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting:
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Auxiliary aids are available upon request to individuals with disabilities by calling the City Clerk at
(763) 531-1145 at least 96 hours in advance. TTY users may call Minnesota Relay at 711 or 1-800-627-3529.
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
Memorandum
September 6, 2024
Mayor and City Council
Adam R. Bell, City Manager
SUBJECT: Commission Candidate Interviews
____________________________________________________________________
The recruitment of volunteers to fill commission and board vacancies is ongoing. City
staff received three applications for new appointments. All background checks have
been completed and no issues were identified. The following interviews are scheduled
for the Council work session on Sept. 12, 2024:
Interview Time Applicant Board/Commission
6:30 p.m.; in-person Nicole Fernandez Inclusion & Diversity Commission
6:40 p.m.; in-person Octavia Treadway Inclusion & Diversity Commission
A recommendation sheet will be available at the work session.
6:50 p.m.; in-person Holly Knox Inclusion & Diversity Commission
Page 1
A PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO
REDUCE MUNICIPAL TREE COSTS AND IMPROVE BENEFITS
AN ORDINANCE REVISING CHAPTER VIII REGARDING PLANTING OF TREES IN
THE RIGHT-OF-WAY
WHEREAS, a single boulevard tree in the right-of-way returns over $115,000 of direct benefits
beyond their aesthetic, social and natural benefits in their lifetime;
WHEREAS, boulevard trees may increase motorized and pedestrian traffic safety by decreasing
crashes and reducing vehicle speeds;
WHEREAS, boulevard trees increase a sense of community and pride through placemaking;
WHEREAS, boulevard trees reduce stormwater runoff and prevent urban flooding by
evapotranspiration and rainfall interception;
WHEREAS, boulevard trees can significantly reduce air pollution by absorbing ultrafine particles
from vehicle and industrial emissions;
WHEREAS, trees in close proximity to the street absorb nearly nine times more pollutants than
those in peoples yards;
WHEREAS, boulevard trees screen unsightly vertical utility or light posts increasing the aesthetics
of the community;
WHEREAS, boulevard trees increase health by reducing blood pressure and improving
psychological health;
WHEREAS, boulevard trees increase property value;
WHEREAS, boulevard trees can increase the life of asphalt roads from 40% to 60% by reducing
daily heating and cooling cycles;
WHEREAS, Crystal has a history of supporting trees and the growth of its urban forest,
THEREFORE;
The City of Crystal ordains:
ARTICLE I. Right-of-way permit. Chapter VIII, Subsection 800.07 of the Crystal city code is
hereby amended by deleting the stricken material adding the doubly underlined material as follows:
800.07. Right-of-way permit.
Subd. 1. Required. It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following within a right-of-way
without first obtaining a right-of-way permit from the director:
(a)Obstruct, excavate, or place any facilities;
(b)Lay, construct, move, or modify any sidewalk, driveway approach, curb, or curb and
gutter; or
(c)Plant or place any new trees, shrubs, or bushes.
The placement of trees, shrubs, or bushes in the right-of-way will not be allowed, except under
unique circumstances where the plantings are part of a development approved by the city. The
planting of new trees will not be maintained by the city and are the responsibility of the
adjoining landowner. Species selection must comply with 520.11 Subd. 4. Adjoining landowner
must manage new trees in right-of-way according to 520.11. All trees within the right-of-way
may be removed at the director’s direction under 800.49 Subd. 5. No plantings may occur unless
the director determines they will not interfere with safety or the maintenance of the right-of-
way.
Memorandum
DATE: September 1, 2023
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Manager Adam R. Bell
SUBJECT: Environmental Quality Commission/Climate Action Update
____________________________________________________________________
Background
At the end of 2023, due to the lack of volunteer members on the Environmental Quality
Commission (EQC), the commission status was suspended for the purpose of reorganization
and realignment. During the past year, staff and the council have held several meetings to
discuss the future of the EQC and the desire to have Crystal develop a climate action plan and
increased focus on sustainability.
Staff is recommending the city rename the EQC to the Sustainability Commission. A few of the
immediate goals is to begin recruitment of new members, adopt a draft climate action concept
plan for the commission to review and finalize, and incorporate the MPCA Gold Leaf Challenge
program. The goal timeline is to have this done by the end of 2024.