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, September 20, 2016 7:20 PM Council Chambers THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION BOARD WILL MEET AT THE EAST LAKE PARK PARKING LOT AT 6:30PM FOR A SHORT TOUR OF THE ADJOINING WETLAND, PART OF THE BLAINE WETLAND SANCTUARY PROJECT. THEY WILL THEN MOVE TO CITY HALL FOR THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING, BEGINNING ABOUT 7:20PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. 1. Call To Order The NRCB Board met at East Lake Park at 6:30 p.m. for a tour of the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary. All members except Boardmembers Ruth and Gunter were present. Tour was conducted by Jason Husveth, Critical Connections Ecological Services, Inc., consultant for the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary wetland restoration and banking project. Following the tour, the boardmembers adjourned to city hall for the regularly scheduled monthly meeting. 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. 2. Roll Call Others Present: Gretchen Sable, Jim Olson, and Aaron Jarson of the Andover Open Space Advisory Commission; Carrie Taylor, Conservation Specialist for the Anoka Conservation District Present: 8 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Perkins, Truchon, Rafferty, Castillo, Wilder, and Lizakowski Absent: 2 - Ruth, and Gunter 3. Approval of Minutes City of Blaine Page 1 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final September 20, 2016 Board Corrections: Delete the word “me” from item 6.c, first paragraph, third line. MOVED by Boardmember Perkins, seconded by Boardmember Truchon to approve the minutes of the August 16, 2016 Board Meeting as amended. Motion carried 7 – 0, Boardmember Wilder abstained. Aye: 8 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Perkins, Truchon, Rafferty, Castillo, Wilder, and Lizakowski 4. Approval of Agenda MOVED by Boardmember Truchon, seconded by Boardmember Perkins, to approve the September 20, 2016 Board Agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 5. Open Forum for Citizen Input There was none. 6. New Business 6.a Presentation on Blaine Wetland Projects by Jason Husveth, Critical Connections Ecological Services, Inc. Mr. Jason Husveth, Critical Connections Ecological Services, Inc. provided a presentation on the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary and the surrounding area. A Q&A followed the 50 minute presentation. Appreciation was expressed for his devotion and dedication to this work. (Boardmember Wilder had to leave the meeting at 8:25 p.m.) Informational; no action required. 6.b Follow Up on Letter to City Council, RE: Park Dedication Fees and Open Space Fund The letter to council has not been presented as yet due to the full schedules of the council meetings and workshops. The plan is to present the letter to the council in a workshop as part of a BWS project update in the near future. Informational; no action required. 6.c Further Discussion on Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Sign Chair McKinley reported contacting Allegra Design regarding the sign size, material, wording with city logo and color, and a cost City of Blaine Page 2 Nat'l Resources Conservation Minutes - Final September 20, 2016 Board estimate. The recommendation was for a 4 foot by 6 foot aluminum panel printed on both sides with full color for a cost of $622. Boardmember Perkins thought the cost was very reasonable and recommended moving forward. Other boardmembers agreed. Boardmember Villella was firm on having two signs, one at the Lexington Ave. location and one at the proposed 109th Ave. location, due to the heavy volume of traffic on both roads. A question was raised as to whether or not Open Space funds could be used. Several boardmembers expressed willingness to install the signs themselves if necessary. MOVED by Boardmember Truchon, seconded by Boardmember Villella to request two signs of the recommended material, size and cost. Motion carried unanimously. Aye: 8 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Perkins, Truchon, Rafferty, Castillo, Wilder, and Lizakowski 7. Other Business Chair McKinley read the August 19, 2016 e-mail message sent by Staff Liaison Hafner to all NRCB boardmembers regarding his follow up to Boardmember Perkins concern about Pioneer Park. Informational; no action required. Adjournment MOVED by Boardmember Castillo, seconded by Boardmember Perkins, to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Aye: 8 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Perkins, Truchon, Rafferty, Castillo, Wilder, and Lizakowski City of Blaine Page 3