Planting Deciduous Trees for a Changing Local Climate Approx 3 minute read Adding trees to your landscape is a great way to help fight climate change. But the already changing climate has affected the choices you make in local tree selection. Diversity is key, which is why Hennepin County forestry discourages the planting of some tree species. If the large number of ash trees in Shorewood that will likely be lost due to the Emerald Ash Borer has taught us anything, it is that we must be educated on our tree choices. Hennepin County forestry currently discourages the planting of many maple trees due to the abundance of the tree present in the current landscape.

Western Shorewood Stormwater Drainage Plan The Western Shorewood Stormwater Drainage Plan is the most expensive series of public works projects in Shorewood history. This plan has not been properly vetted, the cost vs. benefit has not been analyzed, alternatives have not been considered and, most disturbing, the backers are intent on leaving Shorewood residents in the dark. Cost Overview At a cost of over $5.5 million, Shorewood’s Western Stormwater Drainage Plan will tax the wallets of Shorewood taxpayers and continue the City’s policy of draining Shorewood of its natural heritage of woods, wildlife, and quite green neighborhoods. Here’s how the City plans to spend $5.5 million+ of our taxpayer money An industrial project in a

Transparency “…transparency is government’s obligation to share information with citizens.” — ballotpedia Government should be transparent at all levels Transparency promotes accountability and enables residents to understand what their Government is doing Shorewood’s non-transparency to resident document requests Planned Unit Development (PUD) documents, including Minnetonka Country Club, are not easily accessible to the public (Conversation starts at 1:40 regarding “extreme” resident data requests that are “demanding and unreasonable” The City Council struggles to find a way to safely communicate with residents during these “crazy times.” (Conversation starts at 1:40) “We were bullied into having this meeting on Zoom.” – CM Saikel On 9.12.21 the Council agreed to discuss communications with residents at their retreat. A

Consistency …means adhering to the governing documents in each case and treating each non-compliant issue in the same manner  Provide consistent and equal treatment for all Lack of clarity in zoning violation enforcement process. Shorewood’s policy is to enforce code violations on a “complaint only” basis. This policy has been enacted without resident conversation Resident confronts council (starts at 7:20) on special treatment regarding the Mayor’s dock violations Inconsistency in variances granted: Smithtown fence (see p. 7) Smithtown Circle (see p. 9) accessory shed (required to move a building that did not comply) and a dock (allowed to keep a dock that did not comply.) Investment groups are buying homes and renting them. According to Shorewood’s

Managing Natural Resources: How is Shorewood Doing? Bee Safe program, pesticide use, phosphorous Shorewood’s violation of its Bee Safe Resolution City Council Discussion of the violation of the Bee Safe Resolution on January 24, 2022 and February 28, 2022 Proposal from IPM Institute of North America for pest management policies (Page 44-) The Western Shorewood Stormwater Drainage Plan / Smithtown Pond Project issues Despite the plan’s $4 million+ price tag, the City has not performed a cost benefit analyses and has not obtained second or third opinions/reviews on the system design The City has opted to rely on a city engineer who is employed by the contracting firm awarded the project It is unclear who