Nat'l Resources Conservation Board

10801 Town Square Drive City of Blaine Blaine MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes - Final Nat'l Resources Conservation Board The Natural Resource Conservation Board is an advisory body to the City Council. The Board is charged with recommending acquisition of lands for open space and developing a Natural Resource Plan which includes environmental policy and guidelines for the maintenance and preservation of Blaine’s existing and future opens spaces and trail corridors. One of the Board’s functions is to hold public meetings and make recommendations to the City Council. For each item, the Board will receive reports prepared by City staff, provide the opportunity for public response, conduct Board discussions and make recommendations. The City Council, however, makes all final decisions on these matters. Tuesday, February 17, 2015 7:00 PM Council Chambers 1. Call To Order 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call 1. Roll Call - Chair McKinley called the roll call. Those present include: Boardmembers Castillo (arrived at 7:03 p.m.), Perkins, Rafferty, Ruth, Truchon (arrived at 7:27 p.m.), Villella, Chair McKinley and Recording Secretary Debbie Wolfe. Absent -Boardmembers Anderson and Gunter and Staff Liaison Hafner Others Present - Jason Husveth, Principal Ecologist, Critical Connections Ecological Services Inc. Present: 7 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Ruth, Perkins, Truchon, and Castillo Absent: 2 - Gunter, and Comissioner Anderson 3. Approval of Minutes Motion Aye: 7 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Ruth, Perkins, Truchon, and Castillo City of Blaine Page 1 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final February 17, 2015 Board 4. Open Forum for Citizen Input No one appeared to address the Board. 5. Approval of Agenda Motion Aye: 7 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Ruth, Perkins, Truchon, and Castillo 6. New Business 6.a Presentation by Jason Husveth, Principal Ecologist, Critical Connections Ecological Services, Inc. Since Jason Husveth had not arrived at the meeting, Chairman McKinley moved to item 6.b. City of Blaine Page 2 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final February 17, 2015 Board 6.b Open House for Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Project Staff Liaison Hafner provided a written report and reviewed an important part of the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary open space improvements and wetland restoration is involving the residents of Blaine. If this is to be a successful project, not only do the residents need to know about and support the project but we must also create interest in using the open space for recreation and education. One of the components of the contract with Stantec is organizing and conducting open house meetings with the public. An open house has been scheduled for March 26, 2015 and will be held in the City Hall Atrium. Stantec will prepare displays to describe the project, its components, phases and timeline. Stantec team members and city staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide a short presentation on the project. NRCB members are encouraged to attend if possible. The March City Newsletter will have an article announcing this event. By way of update, a conference call was held with the Army Corps staff regarding their position on the wetland restoration project. They do think this is a good project but still need information to meet the criteria of their guidelines for wetland enhancement. Jason Husveth will be providing the necessary information as soon as possible. Their process can take 7 to 9 months but we are optimistic that work will begin next winter. Boardmember Villella asked what the time was for the Open House and no one present knew the time. Chairman McKinley will contact Staff Liaison Hafner and ask him to send out an email to the Board advising of the time. Boardmember Perkins also requested the date and time be added to the public calendar. City of Blaine Page 3 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final February 17, 2015 Board 6.c Discuss Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Kick-off Event The Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Kick-off Event is scheduled for May 30, 2015. The Stantec displays prepared for the Open House will also be available for the Kick-Off Event. Staff Liaison Hafner had requested Chairman McKinley request the Board write an article for the May Newsletter. Chairman McKinley stated she would prepare the article and email it to Staff Liaison Hafner upon completion. Boardmember Castillo stated parking may be a problem there and suggested the Lakeside Commons be utilized. The beach would not be open at that time. Boardmember Perkins also suggested it could be held at City Hall. Chairman McKinley stated she will discuss with Staff Liaison Hafner. It was the consensus of the Board that it would be favorable to have it outside if possible. Boardmember Truchon arrived at 7:27 p.m. City of Blaine Page 4 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final February 17, 2015 Board Presentation by Jason Husveth, Principal Ecologist, Critical Connections Ecological Services, Inc. Jason Husveth provided an update on Natural Resources Conservation and Restoration Projects in Blaine: 1. Site 7 Master Planning and Wetland Bank Proposal 2. Branch 3 Wetland Bank 3. Pioneer Park 4. Blaine Preserve SNA 5. Rare Species Surveys throughout the City of Blaine. Jason Husveth presented a PowerPoint presentation titled Natural Resources Conservation and Restoration Projects in Blaine, Minnesota. Blaine Site 7 · Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Master Planning o Moving from Concept to Implementation · ENRV Wetland Banking Proposal o Scoping Completed and BWSR Approved o Field Assessment Completed in 2014 o Preparing Concept for BWSR and US Army Corps Approval o Implementation Planned for Winter 2015-16 Branch 3 Wetland Bank · Entering Year 5 of 5 of Restoration, Management and Monitoring · Hydrologic Restoration and Monitoring Complete · Vegetation Restoration, Management, and Monitoring Continues · Herbiciding, Native Interseeding and Prescribed Burning are planned for 2015 · Restoration May Continue into 2016, as needed to Maximize Wetland Credit Allocation Pioneer Park · Improvements to the Natural Communities within Pioneer Park Continue to Expand. · Includes Forest and Wetland Restoration, Invasive Species Management, Prescribed Burning, Herbiciding, and Seeding (as needed). · Preparing Proposals for 2015 Scope of Work City of Blaine Page 5 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final February 17, 2015 Board Blaine Preserve SNA · Blaine Preserve was Dedicated as a State Scientific and Natural Area in 2013 · CCES is Contracted to Continue Winter mowing of Key Areas with Native and Exotic Brush · SNA Program will complete another prescribed burn in 2015 or 2016 Chairman McKinley thanked Jason for his presentation. 6.d Board Discussion on 2015 NRCB Goals Chairman McKinley stated she submitted an application for a table for the Board for the Green Expo April 25, 2015 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Schwan’s Center. She is collecting more information for the exhibit. Boardmembers are invited to participate. Earth Day will be at Laddie Lake Park on May 2, 2015. Tree planting and a pruning demonstration will be held. Chair McKinley stated she would like to have information on the Laddie Lake Park Prairie Restoration. Boardmembers are invited to participate. The Board will also participate in The Blaine Festival. A civic tent will be available for the Board to have a table. June 26 - 28, 2015. There needs to be one person in the tent at all times. Boardmember Truchon stated she will be meeting with Kathy Kolb regarding Open Space History. Boardmember Rafferty also suggested Bob Moffit and his wife be included in discussions. Boardmember Truchon suggested the Board continue their work on the brochures for the Open Space areas within the City. Boardmember Truchon stated at the last City Council Meeting there was discussion about the small area off Clover Leaf Parkway (east of the Sr. Housing) being possibly given to the Natural Resources Conservation Board. Chairman McKinley will check with Staff Liaison Hafner regarding the plan for that area. City of Blaine Page 6 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final February 17, 2015 Board 7. Other Business 7.a. Joint Meeting with the Park Board will be held sometime this summer. 7.b. A tour of the wetlands will be scheduled for the Board. 7.c. Chairperson McKinley stated the awards given to the volunteers by the Mayor at the last Park Board Meeting were much appreciated by the recipients. 8. Adjournment Adjourned Aye: 7 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Ruth, Perkins, Truchon, and Castillo City of Blaine Page 7