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, October 20, 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 2. Roll Call - Staff Liaison Hafner called the roll call. Those present include: Boardmembers Anderson, Castillo (arrived at 7:04 p.m.) Gunter, Rafferty, Truchon, Villella and Chair McKinley Absent - Boardmembers Perkins and Ruth Others Present: Staff Liaison, Jim Hafner; Recording Secretary, Debbie Wolfe Present: 7 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Truchon, Gunter, Castillo, and Comissioner Anderson Absent: 2 - Ruth, and Perkins 3. Approval of Minutes A correction to the minutes was Boardmembers Anderson, Castillo and Perkins were absent and removed from those indicated as present. MOVED by Boardmember Truchon, seconded by Boardmember Gunter to approve the minutes of the September 15, 2015 Board Meeting as corrected. Motion carried unanimously. Aye: 7 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Truchon, Gunter, Castillo, and Comissioner Anderson City of Blaine Page 1 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final October 20, 2015 Board 4. Approval of Agenda MOVED by Boardmember Rafferty, seconded by Boardmember Villella, to approve the October 20, 2015 Board Agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Aye: 7 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Truchon, Gunter, Castillo, and Comissioner Anderson 5. Open Forum for Citizen Input There was none. Boardmember Castillo arrived at 7:04 p.m. 6. New Business 6.a Expiration of Term of Office Staff Liaison Hafner reviewed the terms of Boardmembers Gunter, Rafferty and Ruth will expire in March 2016. Letters have been sent and applications should be sent to the City Clerk. Chair McKinley noted the Members at Large may have terms expiring also. Staff Liaison Hafner will check with the city clerk. Informational; no action required. 6.b Discussion on recent MSR presentation Chair McKinley stated she and Boardmember Truchon attended the last meeting. Boardmember Truchon stated she mentioned about the plan for handi-capped accessibility and she was informed the important features of the project need to be accessible. Staff Liaison Hafner stated the developer is experienced in ADA requirements and noted out to the bridge it will be accessible and perhaps beyond that. The west trail coming out of East Leaf Park is paved and is ADA compliant. Boardmember Truchon stated it would be difficult to get full credit for ENRV wetland if we aren’t careful about where paths are put and what type of surface they have. Chair McKinley stated it was pointed out there will be a road going from The Lakes to Lexington Avenue and that street will include a trail. Staff Liaison Hafner stated when it comes to permitting the plan must show trail location and wetland impact. If there are impacts we won’t get credit for those areas. City of Blaine Page 2 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final October 20, 2015 Board Staff Liaison Hafner showed a drawing of the area. The new banking area is bound by the ditches on the east and north. He indicated the proposed area for a trail across the wetland. In the concept plan there were trails planned for the north and those most likely will not occur because of the impact on the wetland. Chair McKinley stated it needs to be decided what the trails will be made of (paved, fabric, woodchips, composite, boardwalk) and all have impacts and costs associated with the different construction materials. Chair McKinley asked about the boardwalk in Pioneer Park as it appears it has maintained well over the years. Boardmember Castillo asked if the NRCB can be advised as to which materials would not impact the availability of grants. Staff Liaison Hafner stated Jason had pointed out which areas should be avoided for the least amount of wetland impact. Any type of trail, with the exception of boardwalk would have an impact on the wetland depending on the type of supports for the boardwalk. The screw type of support would have the least impact but would be the most expensive. The boardwalk could be constructed of different materials such as wood, concrete board, etc. Staff Liaison Hafner showed some photographs he took at a nature center in Door County, Wisconsin. It is a one story building with very high ceilings. There is a small classroom area in the building. Mr. Hafner received a short tour from the landscape manager. Stantec was involved in this project. The parking lot is covered with pervious covering. Chair McKinley and Boardmember Truchon stated they like the design of the building however questioned the need for the high ceilings (wasted space). The center just opened in May 2015. Chair McKinley asked what MSR was saying about the building design for the BWS. Mr. Hafner stated the windows would be at waist level to look out over the wetland. The location of the windows would give different feelings of viewing the wetland. The plan was for a two-phase building one phase being 3000 and the second phase 3600. Boardmember Truchon stated she was hoping there would be a science room and a room for rental with a kitchenette type setup. Mr. Hafner stated unless the City comes into a large amount of money the building will be done in phases. Chair McKinley stated it is more important to showcase the wetland and the educational aspects. City of Blaine Page 3 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final October 20, 2015 Board The next meeting will be held in mid-November. Any boardmembers able to attend let Chair McKinley know. She encouraged any boardmembers able to visit other nature centers, take pictures and bring them to the NRCB meeting to share. Staff Liaison Hafner stated at this point it is important to determine the footprint of the building rather than what is included in the building. The concept amount was $2.5M. The nature center in Door County was $3.0M just for the building. He stated the longer time it takes to construct the higher the cost and a more approximate cost may be $4 - 5M. The parking lot and some of the trails would go in first. Boardmember Truchon suggested the most environmentally friendly methods be used in the construction. Staff Liaison Hafner stated more funds need to be raised and some of the ENRV could be possibly sold. Discussed. 6.c Initial discussion on 2016 NRCB CIP Staff Liaison Hafner presented the Current Open Space Fund Balance and Estimated Revenue and Expenditures. Staff Liaison Hafner reviewed the Current Open Space Fund Balance as of 10/16/15. He reviewed the items included in the report. Prairie Restorations will be out to do some work at Aquatore, Hidden Ponds, Laddie Lake, Sites 8,9,10, & 11, Oak Savannah and 131st. These are included in open space improvements in the amount of $15,000. There could be some additional revenues received this year. Available Funds total $1,038,864.00. There should be some additional expenses for BWS and Stantec. Staff Liaison Hafner reviewed the Estimated Revenue and Expenditures comparing revenues and expenditures from 2014 to 2020 projections. The ending balance for 2014 was actually $917,000. Revenue will be higher than $120,000 for 2015. Projected expenditures of $720,413 will not be that high due to some projects that were to be completed have not been started. The consultant will need to set firm schedules of when projects will be completed. The City has been disappointed that more has not happened this year. The unspent money will be carried over. Next year labor and materials will cost more. The additional cost due to delay in starting will be City of Blaine Page 4 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final October 20, 2015 Board discussed with the contractor. The total of the estimated expenditures from 2014 to 2020 is $3.7M. Boardmember Castillo asked what the NRCB should be doing now. Staff Liaison Hafner stated some design decisions will need to be made. Boardmember Truchon asked the size of Site 7 and Mr. Hafner stated 500 acres. Discussed. 7. Other Business Boardmember Truchon presented information on Bee Friendly Proclamations which have been passed in other cities in the area. She suggested the Blaine City Council pass a similar proclamation. MOVED by Boardmember Truchon seconded by Boardmember McKinley to recommend the Blaine City Council consider passing a proclamation concerning Blaine becoming a Bee Friendly City. Motion carried unanimously. Aye: 7 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Truchon, Gunter, Castillo, and Comissioner Anderson Adjournment MOVED by Boardmember Gunter seconded by Boardmember Truchon, to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m. The motion carried unanimously. Aye: 7 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Truchon, Gunter, Castillo, and Comissioner Anderson City of Blaine Page 5