Nat'l Resources Conservation Board

Blaine City Hall City of Blaine 10801 Town Sq Dr NE Blaine, MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes 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, March 20, 2018 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 - Ms. Kunza called the roll call. Others Present: Recreation Manager Shari Kunza and Rebecca Haug, Co-Liaison, Water Resource Manager. Present: 8 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Perkins, Truchon, Castillo, Genet, and Theisen Absent: 2 - Ruth, and Lizakowski 3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Chair McKinley stated she would like to table consideration of items 6 and 7 until the April meeting since the new board members are not present. Boardmember Villella arrived at the meeting at 7:05 p.m. MOVED by Boardmember Castillo, seconded by Boardmember Villella to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously. Aye: 8 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Perkins, Truchon, Castillo, Genet, and Theisen City of Blaine Page 1 Nat'l Resources Conservation Board Minutes March 20, 2018 4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 20, 2018 Attachments: 02-20-18 Chair McKinley noted corrections to the minutes on page 7 first paragraph last sentence change to “Chair McKinley stated there was a wood chip trail that needs to be restored through the open space site”. Also, on page 7 under Site #7 the sentence should read “the ENRV site on the Northern end of the Sanctuary was purchased with the $3.5M Bond referendum fund. MOVED by Boardmember Truchon, seconded by Boardmember Perkins to approve the February 20, 2018 Minutes as revised. Motion carried unanimously. Aye: 8 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Perkins, Truchon, Castillo, Genet, and Theisen 5. Open Forum for Citizen Input No one appeared to address the Board. None. 6. HISTORY OF THE NRCB This item was tabled until the April 2018 Meeting. Tabled. 7. REVIEW OF 2018 GOALS This item was tabled until the April 2018 Meeting. Tabled. 8. BLAINE WETLAND SANCTUARY UPDATE Attachments: 3.6.2018_Figure1.pdf Ms. Haug provided an update on the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary. · The contractor, AES will be finishing required restoration activities which include winter mowing, winter raking/scarification, and herbicide applications in mid-March. · Additional tree removal will also need to be done but will not be scheduled until next winter. City of Blaine Page 2 Nat'l Resources Conservation Board Minutes March 20, 2018 · Next fall, a meeting will be scheduled to provide the timeline to finish the tree removals in the “restoration needed area”. · AES plans to use a bobcat and brush mower but may need to bring in other equipment but will not know until they start the work. · The trails will be closed during this time. Signs and Barricades will be installed at the trail heads. Boardmember Villella asked for a discussion about the email that was sent out relating to the additional cutting. Ms. Haug stated it was determined that the tree removal needs to continue as part of the requirements for the permit in order to have any of the credits released. The removal will be done in the fall for the trees. Chair McKinley noted this report has been passed onto the City Council along with the residents. Discussed. 9. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION UPDATE Ms. Kunza provided an environmental education update. The Summer Recreation Connection had been published and registration is now open. Program Offerings: With Growing Green Hearts: · Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Springs Alice - April 21 · Welcome Hike and Belly Biology - May 12 · Superheroes and Systems in the BWS - June 13 With Wargo Nature Center: · Introduction to Birding - May 16 · Wetland Habitat Hike - June 20 · Insect Hunt - July 18 · Wetland Ecosystem Diversity - August 15 American Wetlands Month: · An interactive display at City Hall focusing on wetlands. Displays will be provided by the Anoka Conservation District and the Rice Creek Watershed District. · Banner · Educational social media posts regarding the benefits of wetlands City of Blaine Page 3 Nat'l Resources Conservation Board Minutes March 20, 2018 and value of the resource in Blaine. · Resources promotion families to explore the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary on their own. · Open Space Passport. · Blaine World Fest - May 19, 1-4pm - In need of volunteers for the NRCB table. Chair McKinley stated she will attend along with Boardmember Truchon. Boardmember Perkins asked if there were pamphlets that would be available and Ms. Kunza suggested they get information online. Some flyers were distributed. The Board praised staff on their efforts on this. Discussed. 10. COMMUNICATIONS Ms. Haug provided an update on the following: Minnesota Seasons Website - The BWS information will be on the Minnesota Seasons Website and Ms. Kunza showed the website to the Board. Open Space Tour - Chair McKinley noted the new members will be sworn in at the April meeting. The tour will be most likely pushed out to May and all sites would be visited in one day. Boardmember Rafferty referred to an article in the newspaper regarding tree removal. He sent the link to the NRCB. Chair McKinley stated the City Engineer Jean Keely has been named Engineer of the Year. Boardmember Villella asked staff about the Open House being held. Ms. Haug stated on March 22 there is an Open House at City Hall from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. to review the Comprehensive Plan and Surface Water Management Plan. Discussed. Adjournment MOVED by Boardmember Perkins, seconded by Boardmember Castillo, to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m. Aye: 8 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Perkins, Truchon, Castillo, Genet, and Theisen City of Blaine Page 4