Nat'l Resources Conservation Board

Blaine City Hall City of Blaine 10801 Town Sq Dr NE 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, June 21, 2016 7:00 PM Council Chambers 1. Call To Order The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. 2. Roll Call Others Present: Staff Liaison Jim Hafner, Recording Secretary, Debbie Wolfe Present: 7 - Chair McKinley, Perkins, Truchon, Chair Rafferty, Chair Castillo, Chair Wilder, and Chair Lizakowski Absent: 3 - Villella, Chair Ruth, and Chair Gunter 3. Approval of Minutes MOVED by Boardmember Wilder, seconded by Boardmember Truchon to approve the minutes of the May 17, 2016 Board Meeting as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Aye: 7 - Chair McKinley, Perkins, Truchon, Chair Rafferty, Chair Castillo, Chair Wilder, and Chair Lizakowski 4. Approval of Agenda MOVED by Boardmember Perkins, seconded by Boardmember Wilder, to approve the June 21, 2016 Board Agenda as amended adding two items in Other Business. City of Blaine Page 1 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final June 21, 2016 Board Motion carried unanimously. 5. Open Forum for Citizen Input There was none. 6. New Business 6.a Update on Blaine Wetland Sanctuary (BWS) Project Staff Liaison Jim Hafner stated today was the bid opening for the trail project. The engineers estimate was between $800,000 - $900,000. The low bid was $1.2M. Staff will be discussing the bids with the low bidder to see if cuts can be made. There were addendum’s submitted for the trail on the upland area using aggregate or boardwalk as options to asphalt. Stantec is putting together the permit application for the parking lot for the nature center site. Great River Greening had contacted Jason Husveth regarding a grant application for the Anoka Sand Plain. Blaine has expressed an interest in being included in the grant application. If awarded, this would fund restoration work on the southern part of the BWS. There is a potential for $400,000 over 5 years with a $50,000 match by the city. Boardmember Truchon asked if there are grants available from the legacy money for trails. Mr. Hafner stated Stantec is watching to see if Blaine would qualify for any grant monies. Blaine would not qualify for monies on the banking project. There is a possibility of another grant through Great River Greening or Clean Water Legacy or LCCMR. Mr. Hafner reported Jason and he met with the Army Corps of Engineers, TEP, and other agencies and they indicated the BWS looks like a viable project. There is still some work that Jason needs to do to include a monitoring plan and the credit release schedule. There are just over 170 acres for the project. Hope is that approval of the MBI from the ACOE comes in September 2016. The open space fund is just under $1M. Mr. Hafner will research the proposed park dedication fees for the remainder of this year and next year. Chair McKinley asked if the EDA is currently getting credits and Mr. Hafner stated that project is completed. The Mayor had a conversation with Aveda and they appear to be very supportive of this project. Boardmember Truchon suggested borrowing some funds from the EDA. The Open Space Account will lose approximately $900,000 over the 5 years of reduced percentage of park dedication fees. Chair McKinley asked if the City Council could be approached City of Blaine Page 2 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final June 21, 2016 Board and Mr. Hafner stated he has attempted to bring it up and has been told it cannot be changed due to commitments made on paying off Parks Dept. obligations. The City Council is very supportive of the project. Boardmember Wilder asked if the potential new EDA and Councilmembers could be against the project. Mr. Hafner stated there are enough people on the Council who are supportive and he is optimistic. Informational; no action required. 6.b Water Conservation Report Staff Liaison Hafner stated at the Green Expo he spoke with the Mayor who is very interested in water conservation. The City is putting in 4 new wells. The appropriations permit approved through the DNR for pumping groundwater expires in March 2017. The DNR will be looking for water conservation efforts as part of the renewal process. Mr. Hafner provided an article he wrote for the City Newsletter on Water Conservation. The biggest use of water is irrigation systems. He is hoping to put together a demonstration on water sensors, rain sensors, etc. at next year’s Home Show and Green Expo. This article will be in the July Newsletter. Social media will be utilized to spread the word. Boardmember Truchon mentioned some other ways of conserving water. These ideas could be included in the communications. It was suggested that the NRCB Boardmembers speak with the City Council about water conservation. Boardmember Rafferty asked how many private wells are near City wells in areas that already have city water. Mr. Hafner did not have a number. He stated a survey was mailed 4 years ago to over 5,000 residents who live near the city’s municipal wells. 600 responses were received. Over 30 wells have been sealed over the past few years through cost share grants from the MN Dept. of Health. Chair McKinley will take information from the water conservation article to use for the Blaine Festival display. Mr. Hafner left the meeting at 7:40 p.m. Informational; no action required. 6.c Continued Discussion on Public Awareness of the BWS Chair McKinley stated she has a table reserved for the NRCB in the Civic Tent at the Blaine Festival and she will be focusing on BWS, wetlands, water conservation and backyard habitat and buckthorn. The Blaine Festival is Friday - Saturday - Sunday. Chair McKinley asked for volunteers from the Board to help man the tent on Saturday. City of Blaine Page 3 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final June 21, 2016 Board Chair McKinley reviewed at the last meeting there were a lot of good ideas on bring public awareness of the BWS but someone needs to get it started. Boardmember Truchon suggested boardmembers who are involved in other organizations spread the word as to what the BWS is and where it is located. Boardmember Perkins requested a large laminated copy of the drawing. Boardmember Wilder also requested something he could have to show residents. Chair McKinley will speak with City Staff on what might be available. Discussed. 6.d Discuss Recommendation on Pollinator City Statement Chair McKinley stated this was passed onto Staff to look at some time ago but Mr. Hafner is now willing to help get this going. Boardmember Truchon gave a brief description of what other Cities are doing to encourage pollinators and keep them from disappearing. Andover and Anoka have adopted resolutions making their cities a Pollinator Friendly City. Information was given to Mr. Hafner. The consensus of the Board was to go forward in helping Blaine become a Pollinator Friendly City. Boardmember Perkins suggested waiting until after the election. Chair McKinley will follow up with Mr. Hafner. Discussed. 6.e Discuss Recommendation for Trail Naming on Radisson Road Chair McKinley reviewed this was brought up a year ago and provided a summary of what had been done. Chair McKinley distributed a copy of what had been prepared. She is suggesting it being called the Heritage Trail (Radisson Road from 105th North up to Bunker Blvd.). There is a section on Main Street that does not have a trail yet. Boardmember Truchon suggested she liked the name Heritage Trail but thought small signs along the trail showing history of some settlers, etc. This is approximately a 3 mile trail. The City Council has the authority to name trails within the City. The consensus of the Board was to go forward with the Heritage Trail name. Discussed. 6.f Wetland Tour for July NRCB Meeting City of Blaine Page 4 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final June 21, 2016 Board Chair McKinley noted the wetland tour for July will not be held. She suggested September might be better. Chair McKinley will speak with Jason Husveth to set it up. Discussed. 7. Other Business Chair McKinley mentioned at the Green Expo she met Steve Olson, COO of National Sports Center. He would like to come and talk to the Board about STEM and Solar Panels. The suggestion was for him also to speak on pollinators and water conservation. Chair McKinley will ask Boardmember Ruth to follow-up with Steve Olson and obtain some more information. The Board can discuss at the July Meeting. Discussed. 8. Adjournment MOVED by Boardmember Truchon, seconded by Boardmember Wilder, to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m. The motion carried unanimously. Aye: 7 - Chair McKinley, Perkins, Truchon, Chair Rafferty, Chair Castillo, Chair Wilder, and Chair Lizakowski City of Blaine Page 5