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, October 18, 2016 7:00 PM Council Chambers 1. Call To Order 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. 2. Roll Call Roll Call - Chair McKinley called the roll call. Those present include: Boardmembers Castillo, Lizakowski, Rafferty, Ruth, Truchon, Villella, Wilder and Chair McKinley Absent - Boardmembers Gunter and Perkins and Staff Liaison Jim Hafner Others Present: Recording Secretary Debbie Wolfe Present: 8 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Truchon, Rafferty, Ruth, Castillo, Wilder, and Lizakowski Absent: 2 - Perkins, and Gunter 3. Approval of Minutes MOVED by Boardmember Wilder, seconded by Boardmember Rafferty to approve the minutes of the September 18, 2016 Board Meeting as amended. Motion carried unanimously. Aye: 8 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Truchon, Rafferty, Ruth, Castillo, Wilder, and Lizakowski City of Blaine Page 1 Nat'l Resources Conservation Board Minutes - Final October 18, 2016 4. Approval of Agenda Boardmember Truchon noted for item 6.c. Boardmembers Truchon and Rafferty are presenting. Boardmember Wilder has an announcement under Other Business. Chair McKinley also has an announcement under Other Business. MOVED by Boardmember Wilder, seconded by Boardmember Truchon to approve the October 18, 2016 Board Agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously. Aye: 8 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Truchon, Rafferty, Ruth, Castillo, Wilder, and Lizakowski 5. Open Forum for Citizen Input There was none. None. 6. New Business 6.a Update on Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Project Chair McKinley noted Staff Liaison Hafner will not be present this evening and she read a prepared statement. The Parking lot project has been out to bid for about two weeks. The permit application is on the Rice Creek WD agenda October 26. We anticipate approval at that time. Bid opening is being scheduled for Nov 8. We would then seek Council approval to award the project on Nov 17. The trail project will be rebid this week. Bid opening and Council approval for award is the same as the parking lot project - Nov 8 and Nov 17. Permits are already in hand for this project. We are anticipating better costs/bids given the time of year and the ability for contractors to have work scheduled right away next year or to keep some of their people working with whatever winter work can be done. There may be some work that can be accomplished over the winter but the bulk of the work will be done in spring. The expectations is to have the east/west trail and the parking lot completed by next summer. The wetland banking project is still awaiting the final okay form the Corps of Engineers. We remain optimistic that will come in the next month or so. Critical Connections is prepared to begin work this winter once the final City of Blaine Page 2 Nat'l Resources Conservation Board Minutes - Final October 18, 2016 okays are in hand. This would put the project on target to have credits ready for sale by sometime in 2018, summer/fall timeframe. Boardmember Wilder asked if all the funds are available for the project and Chair McKinley stated she will request a financial update from Staff Liaison Hafner for the next meeting. Corporate donations and/or grants may be available. The restoration of Park Dedication Fees for Open Space will also be helpful. The letter signed by the NRCB in September 2016, requesting that park dedication fees be reinstated (35%) to the NRCB will be presented to the Council at their October 20 Work Session (6:30 p.m.). Chair McKinley plans to be present at that meeting. Boardmember Wilder stated he will also plan to attend. Disussed. 6.b Further Discussion on Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Sign Chair McKinley provided a sample of the quality of the aluminum sign that Allegra could provide for the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary. The bid received from Allegra was for $622 for a 4 x 6 foot sign. Boardmember Truchon suggested more wording and graphics be included on the sign. Boardmember Villella suggested the “Future Home of the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary” and the City logo. Something in the background of the sign showing a wetland would be desired. The quote received includes a logo and a few words. Boardmember Wilder stated he could obtain a second quote from ABC Signs. Boardmember Ruth suggested getting a second bid. Boardmember Truchon showed a picture that she feels would be suitable for the background. Chair McKinley read a report prepared by Mr. Hafner as follows: Input from staff would be to order only one temporary sign for now. The trailhead off 109th will not begin for at least two years given the current state of the budget. It would be premature to place a sign at that location this early in the process. Another reason to order only one sign now is that the sign could be moved to the 109th location, reusing that sign rather than spending money on two signs. Once the parking lot is completed in 2017, a permanent monument sign could be considered. The temporary sign could then be moved to 109th Avenue. Staff recommends that the Board reconsider their previous motion to order two temporary signs for the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary and vote to only order one at this time. City of Blaine Page 3 Nat'l Resources Conservation Board Minutes - Final October 18, 2016 Boardmember Villella stated he does not agree with Staff’s recommendation. He does not believe Lexington is as well traveled as 109th. The consensus of the Board was to stay with two signs. Boardmember Castillo asked the maximum the NRCB can spend without Council approval. Boardmembers Villella and Wilder will call Mr. Hafner to discuss tomorrow. Boardmember Wilder stated since the Council has removed 15% of the NRCB budget and the Council may be changed after November 8, 2016 could Council be requested to pay for the signs. This would need to be presented to the Council by Staff Liaison Hafner. Otherwise it could be brought up during Open Forum at the Regular Council Meeting. Boardmember Wilder will obtain a second bid by Friday October 21, 2016. Discussed. 6.c Report on Past Studies and Inventories Boardmembers Truchon and Rafferty presented the report on past studies and inventories. The citizens committee for 2020 planning was presented. That committee recommended their ideas were included in the Comprehensive Plan. American Viewpoints conducted a city-wide survey. A green corridor study and green space studies were done in 2000 and 2001. Boardmember Truchon showed rare animals found in Blaine on a map. Boardmember Truchon will try to find her copies of the studies and make them available for other Boardmembers to review. The 2000 report included many sites and detailed information on each is included in the report. Boardmember Truchon provided some information on Andover’s Open Space initiatives. Boardmember Truchon mentioned the Management Plan done by Great River Green. Chair McKinley will bring in her copy of the Management Plan for new boardmembers to review. Boardmember Ruth mentioned all of the reports are available online. Discussed. 7. Other Business Boardmember Wilder announced there will be a Pumpkin Give-Away at the National Sports Center on Sunday, October 23, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The new building site for the Coon Creek Watershed has been approved to be constructed in Coon Rapids off Coon Rapids Blvd. The Home and Garden Show will be held February 2017. City of Blaine Page 4 Nat'l Resources Conservation Board Minutes - Final October 18, 2016 Boardmember Wilder mentioned some fund raising ideas for the NRCB. There was a discussion about fund raising by the NRCB. Chair McKinley announced next month will be the last meeting for 2016. At that meeting there will be a review of what has been done the past year. She will ask Mr. Hafner to provide a detailed financial update and any information on fundraising activities. Any suggestions for agenda items should be directed to Chair McKinley. Informational; no action required. Adjournment MOVED by Boardmember Villella, seconded by Boardmember Castillo, to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m. The motion carried unanimously. Aye: 8 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Truchon, Rafferty, Ruth, Castillo, Wilder, and Lizakowski City of Blaine Page 5