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, October 16, 2018 7:00 PM Council Chambers 1. Call To Order The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call Others Present: Recreation Manager Shari Kunza and Rebecca Haug, Co-Liaison, Water Resource Manager. Present: 9 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Perkins, Truchon, Genet, Theisen, Varian, and Vedi Absent: 1 - Panning Approve Agenda MOVED by Boardmember Genet, seconded by Boardmember Truchon, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Aye: 9 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Perkins, Truchon, Genet, Theisen, Varian, and Vedi 3. Approval of Minutes 3.-1 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 Attachments: 09-18-18 nrcb.doc City of Blaine Page 1 Nat'l Resources Conservation Board Minutes October 16, 2018 MOVED by Boardmember Varian, seconded by Boardmember Genet, to approve the September 18, 2018 Minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Aye: 9 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Perkins, Truchon, Genet, Theisen, Varian, and Vedi 4. Open Forum for Citizen Input Mr. Larry Sable, 10806 Buchanan Street, commented he appreciates the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary. Everyone he speaks with also appreciates it. He is proud to be a citizen of Blaine and appreciates what the NRCB does along with City Staff. He knows there has been some negative pushback from neighbors living near the BWS. His neighbor just painted his home bright orange and he does not like it but he has a right to do it. 5. New Business 5.-1 COMMUNICATIONS Park Dedication Fee Split Between Parks and Open Space - Council met in workshop and discussed the park dedication fee split and in 2019 the fees will return to the 65% - 35% split between the Park Board and the Natural Resource Conservation Board. Block Party Recap - Ms. Kunza shared photographs from the Black Party. There were approximately 950 people in attendance. She reviewed some other statistics from the event. The event will be held in 2019 the last Wednesday of September. Chair McKinley thanked Boardmembers Varian, Panning and Truchon for helping in the booth. She also helped City Staff. Boardmember Villella asked how many years this has been going on. Ms. Kunza stated this is the third year. Site 7 Progress Report - Ms. Haug stated the City Manager signed the final document with the Army Corp of Engineers last year to begin selling wetland credits. The first 15% of credits will be received. She will appear before Council to review selling of the credits. Southern Section Report - Any work in the southern portion will be pushed out to 2019 and the neighbors will be communicated with as to the plan. Nothing will begin as far as tree removal until next winter. Boardmember Genet stated she would be willing to help with the communication to the residents. Boardmember Truchon stated any documentation on plans should be done carefully noting the concept plan is not set in stone. City of Blaine Page 2 Nat'l Resources Conservation Board Minutes October 16, 2018 Pioneer Park Update - Ms. Haug stated Jason Husveth put together a draft prospectus that went to the regulatory agencies to see if Pioneer Park was a viable wetland bank. Emerald Ash Borer Update - Ms. Haug stated the City is aware there are a number of trees with emerald ash borer. Staff is attempting to remove the trees as soon as possible with the help of Service to Serve. Photo Pole Update - Ms. Haug stated the Eagle Scout Gerad Wick installed 7 photo poles in the BWS. This is a work in progress. Mr. Larry Sable provided additional information on the photo poles. Chair McKinley asked what the poles are sitting in and Mr. Sable stated they are 2 ½ into the ground with some cement poured to keep them stable. He noted there are only 6 poles and the 7th location is a flat platform on one of the overlook sites. These were not mounted in the boardwalk as originally was discussed so they were installed in the ground. There are not actually three levels to take pictures from. A brand was added to the boards indicating “North”. Mr. Sable thanked City Staff for their help with this project. He is hoping some signage for the trailheads will be made. Chair McKinley stated she did not realize they would be put into the ground with cement. Ms. Haug stated they are located in the upland islands. Boardmember Genet asked if the framework is available for pictures to be uploaded. Ms. Kunza stated they are uploaded on social media and City Staff gets notifications. Boardmember Perkins asked how long the process took for the Eagle Scout and Mr. Sable stated it is not completed. Discussions began in May 2018 and not a lot gets done in the summer. Everything needs to be completed by November 24 when Gerad turns 18. Drone Project - Ms. Genet stated the footage from the drone is not available. Last week the drone flew over the BWS and the hope was to have the video available tonight but it will be available at the next weekend. Boardmember Villella asked if any resident can fly a drone over the BWS and Ms. Genet stated they cannot. Chair McKinley asked about the Spring Lake Park students who were doing research in the BWS. Ms. Haug stated last week she met with the group at the BWS and the students were taught the basics of soils and some of the plants. Future sessions will be held with the students. Chair McKinley suggested that be programmed into next year. Ms. Kunza stated similar programs have been held and could be repeated. Boardmember Truchon thanked Staff for their work on the educational opportunities provided. Boardmember Perkins asked if Staff knows how many students City of Blaine Page 3 Nat'l Resources Conservation Board Minutes October 16, 2018 have been at the BWS. Ms. Haug stated they have an estimate from the various events held which have not been compiled yet. Boardmember Perkins suggested that information be provided to the City Council. Ms. Kunza stated an end of the year report can be provided to the Board. Boardmember Varian stated many of the questions at the Block Party were from parents on the educational opportunities and suggested the report be available at next year’s Block Party. Chair McKinley asked if there was an update on the resident(s) that wanted to mow at the maintenance entrance and Ms. Haug stated she has not heard anything more from the residents. Ms. Haug stated there will be a prescribed burn at the BWS sometime before November 30 depending on weather conditions. There will be communication going out to the neighborhood and community and the trails will be closed during the burn. The plan is to burn the entire Site 7. 5.-2 RECOMMENDATION OF A SIDEWALK ADDITION AT LONDON PARK Attachments: London Park Sidewalk.pdf Ms. Kunza stated City Staff would like the NRCB to consider funding a section of sidewalk adjacent to London Park. The sidewalk to the west of the proposed section was just completed last year and the city is always looking to connect all sidewalks and trails wherever possible. The engineering estimate to complete this 206-foot sidewalk is $15,000 and funds would come from the open space budget. If recommended by the NRCB, Staff would put this $15,000 expenditure in the 2019 Open Space budget that will be approved by the City Council in December or January. Construction of the sidewalk would take place in the summer of 2019. On this development the park was there before the development. Boardmember Varian stated she drove past and it makes sense to put in the sidewalk. Chair McKinley stated she voiced her opinion and noted the NRCB funds were never used for sidewalks. Having a concrete sidewalk does not appeal to her. She feels there needs to be care in spending the funds. Boardmember Genet asked if it is described the difference between sidewalks and trails. Ms. Kunza stated this one would go through a neighborhood and will connect to 119th and connect to the trail system. Boardmember Truchon stated this project fulfills the purpose of the open City of Blaine Page 4 Nat'l Resources Conservation Board Minutes October 16, 2018 space and trails board. There is commitment to connect the neighborhood to the trail system. Ms. Kunza stated this would come out of the open trails budget. Boardmember Varian asked who paid for the south side of the park and Ms. Kunza stated she would assume it was the developer. Boardmember Perkins asked if the entire park is surrounded by trails in the dark color and Ms. Kunza stated that line shows the area of the park. Boardmember Perkins asked if any of the sidewalk needs repairs and Ms. Kunza stated she believes they are in good shape as one portion is new. Boardmember Theisen asked if the sidewalk could bow out to allow for trees to be planted on the west side of the sidewalk. Ms. Kunza stated there are no plans for landscaping. Boardmember Theisen asked to see the costs per linear foot for the sidewalk. Ms. Kunza stated this is an estimate by the engineering department. Boardmember Theisen stated he would not be against moving the sidewalk shortly to allow for some landscaping. Boardmember Varian stated she does not know if the Park Board would go for that since it would interfere with the line of sight for the playground. Boardmember McKinley stated she still has an issue with the NRCB paying for it. MOVED by Boardmember Truchon, seconded by Boardmember Villella, to recommend adding the $15,000 funds to the open space budget for the 206 section of sidewalk adjacent to London Park. Chair McKinley opposed. Motion carried with one nay vote. Aye: 8 - Villella, Rafferty, Perkins, Truchon, Genet, Theisen, Varian, and Vedi Nay: 1 - Chair McKinley Chair McKinley asked staff for clarification on how trails and sidewalks are being funded. Boardmember Theisen asked if bituminous was considered and Ms. Kunza stated it would be sidewalk connecting two portions of concrete. Boardmember Truchon stated the Cedar Creek Research Station’s name has been changed. Updates can be obtained by signing onto their website. She reviewed some of the work being done there. Boardmember Genet stated she has two students who did research projects at Lochness Park and she would like them to provide results to the City of Blaine Page 5 Nat'l Resources Conservation Board Minutes October 16, 2018 Board at the November or December NRCB meetings. Boardmember Genet suggested one presentation be done in November and one in December. Discussed. Adjournment MOVED by Boardmember Perkins, seconded by Boardmember Truchon, to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m. The motion carried unanimously. Aye: 9 - Chair McKinley, Villella, Rafferty, Perkins, Truchon, Genet, Theisen, Varian, and Vedi City of Blaine Page 6