Nat'l Resources Conservation Board

Blaine City Hall City of Blaine 10801 Town Square Dr 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 16, 2016 7:00 PM Council Chambers 1. Call To Order 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. 2. Roll Call Others Present: Staff Liaison Jim Hafner, Recording Secretary, Debbie Wolfe Present: 6 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Perkins, Truchon, and Gunter Absent: 3 - Ruth, Castillo, and Comissioner Anderson 3. Approval of Minutes Chair McKinley noted a change to the first sentence in item 6.a. changing the word “between” to “with”. MOVED by Boardmember Gunter, seconded by Boardmember Villella to approve the minutes of the January 19, 2016 Board Meeting as revised. Motion carried unanimously. Aye: 6 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Perkins, Truchon, and Gunter 4. Approval of agenda MOVED by Boardmember Rafferty, seconded by Boardmember Perkins, to approve the February 16, 2016 Board Agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously. City of Blaine Page 1 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final February 16, 2016 Board Aye: 6 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Perkins, Truchon, and Gunter 5. Open Forum for Citizen Input There was none. 6. New Business 6.a Discussion on BWS Plans from Consultant Staff Liaison Hafner reviewed the last meeting with Stantec and MSR. A close to a 90% plan was provided at the January 8 stakeholder meeting. Discussion was more on location and appearance. Copies were provided to the Board at the January NRCB meeting. There is time to have further discussions about what would be inside the building. The location of the restrooms among other things will need some adjustment. The architects were attempting through the plans to pull visitors from the inside to the outside. The building plan was to be located further from the parking lot to allow for a buffer which would result in wetland impacts and may require mitigation. Avoiding wetland impacts is critical on this site. Stantec and MSR were instructed the buildings need to be out of the wetland. The design would allow for future buildings after the first building was constructed. There is sufficient upland space to accommodate the additional buildings. Approval from the Corp of Engineers has been received on the prospectus for the wetland banking project. Mr. Hafner reviewed the Army Corps mitigation bank instrument (MBI) process. Two years were planned to get through the permitting process. The overall cost for the BWS project has been increasing due to several factors. The boardwalks for the trails added to the cost. Boardwalks are generally considered non-impacting the wetland depending on the supports used for the boardwalks. If helical screws are used they would be the most expensive but have the least impact to the wetland. Permits should be submitted by the end of February. Jason Husveth is working on the wetland projects. This year the parking lot and the east-west trail from East Lake Park trail loop across to the nature center site are hoped to be completed. Monies will need to come out of the budget for the trail and parking lot and there will need to be enough to cover Jason Husveth’s costs for the banking project. Prairie Restorations owes the City some work which will be utilized for management at other open space sites. Some additional cost may be incurred there as well. Prairie Restorations City of Blaine Page 2 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final February 16, 2016 Board has offered seed and plantings at little to no cost to fulfill their contractual obligation with the city. The biggest obstacle to the BWS project is funding. A concrete plan is needed to bring before potential investors. Boardmember Truchon arrived at the meeting at 7:22 p.m. There has been a reduction in revenue from the park dedication fees for the past few years. Work on the banking project will not begin until November or December 2016 and credits would not be available for sale until 2018. Boardmember Truchon stated she has not been happy with the vision of the architect at this point. Mr. Hafner stated the City is under contract with Stantec and MSR is part of their team. Mr. Hafner stated he has not been happy with the responsiveness of the design team. The City is the client and any plans can be rejected. Boardmember Perkins asked if Stantec can be told to provide a couple different options for one building. Mr. Hafner will call to set up the next meeting. Boardmember Villella asked if Stantec has been paid and Mr. Hafner stated they have been paid for the work they have done. Boardmember Villella stated there is time and he would rather see it done right. Boardmember Truchon asked if a non-profit foundation could be established for the project and Mr. Hafner stated that could not be done by the NRCB. Boardmember Rafferty asked about the trail that would be done and which trail would be selected. Mr. Hafner stated the trail will stay as much out of the wetland as possible going from the east to the west. The wetland crossings will be boardwalk. The NRCB will have input on the materials used. Boardmember Perkins asked Mr. Hafner to have the Park and Rec Commission look at the small park off Rodeo Drive for upgrading. Staff Liaison Hafner left the meeting at 7:45 p.m. Discussed. 6.b Suggestions for American Wetland Month Activity - May City of Blaine Page 3 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final February 16, 2016 Board Chair McKinley asked for suggestions from the Board for activities for American Wetland Month in May. Boardmember Villella suggested a tour led by Jason Husveth starting at East Lake Park. Publicity should be done prior to the event inviting area businesses (potential investors in the project). Boardmember Truchon suggested some amphibian watching portion of the tour. Boardmember Truchon suggested having a band like we did last year. Boardmember Rafferty suggested having food. Chair McKinley will check with staff to see if this would be feasible. 6.c Discussion on Other Activities for 2016 Chair McKinley provided a flyer for Earth Day Neighborhood Park Clean-up. Residents are asked to organize an Earth Day Clean-up event at any of the City’s 64 parks. The City provides the supplies. Informational; no action required. 7. Other Business There was no other business. Adjournment MOVED by Boardmember Gunter, seconded by Boardmember Truchon, to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m. The motion carried unanimously. Aye: 6 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Perkins, Truchon, and Gunter City of Blaine Page 4