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05/14/2012 - 31347SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF FRIDLEY MAY 14, 2012 The Special City Council meeting for the City of Fridley was called to order by Mayor Lund at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL: MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Lund Councilmember-at-Large Barnette Councilmember Saefke Councilmember Varichak Councilmember Bolkcom OTHERS PRESENT: William Burns, City Manager Jack Kirk, Parks and Recreation Director Siah St. Clair, Director of Nature Center Jim Kosluchar, Public Works Director Malcolm Mitchell, Chair, SNC Foundation NEW BUSINESS: 1. APPROVE BERM PROJECT ALONG THE NORTH BOUNDARY OF THE SPRINGBROOK NATURE CENTER, GENERALLY LOCATED AT 100 — 85Tx AVENUE N.E. (WARD 3). Jack Kirk, Parks and Recreation Director, thanked everyone for coming to the special meeting and introduced Malcolm Mitchell, Chair of the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation, and Siah St. Clair, Director of the Nature Center. Mr. Kirk explained the berm was part of Phase I of the SPRING project at the Springbrook Nature Center. Late last year, Council approved the clearing of the berm area in order to take advantage of opportunities to collect fill from contractors in 2012. Mr. Kirk said the Coon Creek Watershed District had opened bids for a Coon Rapids project on May 2. The winning bidder promised to provide 9,600 cubic yards of fill material to the Springbrook Nature Center at no cost to the City. Park Construction has promised to provide earth moving equipment and an operator. Mr. Kirk said there were about $38,000 in other costs associated with the berm project. These include costs for things such as silt fence, an irrigation system, top soil, trees, and shrubs. He then pointed out that the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation has agreed to pay for these items. Finally, he said the contractor wanted to start as early as ne�t week and that it would take three or four days to deliver the fill. SPECIAL FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 14, 2012 PAGE 2 Mayor Lund asked if anyone had any questions. Councilmember Bolkcom asked if the material from the Coon Creek Watershed District had been tested. Mr. Kirk said it had. Councilmember Bolkcom asked what it was tested for. Jim Kosluchar, Public Works Director, said compaction. Councilmember Bolkcom asked if Springbrook Nature Center needed to apply for any City permits. Mr. Kosluchar said they might need to apply for a land alteration permit through the Rice Creek Watershed District. At this point, they do not think a permit is required. Councilmember Bolkcom asked if there would be any maintenance costs for the berm. Mr. Kirk said the cost of water for irrigation and those associated with minor maintenance of vegetation. Councilmember Bolkcom asked about staff time. Mr. Kirk said there would be very little. Perhaps some time for tree replacement. Councilmember Bolkcom asked where the tree replacement money would come from. Mr. Kirk said their operating budget. William Burns, City Manager, pointed out the absence of the need to mow the area would greatly reduce maintenance requirements. Councilmember-at-Large Barnette said in 1982, the City received soil for Fridley Community Park from a State highway project. It was very wet and held water. He does not want to repeat that problem. He also reiterated the City's pledge that tax dollars would not be used for the SPRING Project. He congratulated Malcolm Mitchell and the Foundation on their project and thanked Park Construction and the Coon Creek Watershed District for their help. Mr. Kosluchar also thanked Park Construction and the Coon Creek Watershed District. Councilmember Bolkcom asked what the berm would have cost if we had to have the material brought in. Mr. Kosluchar said $160,000 for the material and $28,000 for the grading. SPECIAL FRIDLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 14, 2012 PAGE 3 Councilmember Saefke said the soil the City received in 1982 had a lot of concrete and other debris in it. He asked if staff from the Coon Creek Watershed District had given us information about the type of soils we were getting. Mayor Lund said he was at the Coon Creek Watershed District preconstruction meeting, and learned that the soil was sandy. He said he was very confident we were getting good soil. Councilmember Varichak offered her support for the project. She said she appreciated the Foundation's efforts in trying to get shovel-ready projects. Councilmember Bolkcom said the letter from the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation pledged up to $34,000 plus 10% for the berm project. She asked Mr. Mitchell if the Foundation would provide additional funds if needed. Malcolm Mitchell, Chair of the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation, said they had additional funds and would provide them if necessary. Councilmember Bolkcom asked when the project would be completed. Mr. Kirk said the fill and seeding would be in place by mid-June. We will wait until fall or ne�t spring to plant the trees. Councilmember Bolkcom asked what impact the project would have on park use. Mr. Kirk said it would impact the use of the trails in that area. MOTION by Councilmember Bolkcom to approve the berm project along the north boundary of the Springbrook Nature Center. Seconded by Councilmember Saefke. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ADJOURN: MOTION by Councilmember Barnette to adjourn. Seconded by Councilmember Varichak. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, MAYOR LUND DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:50 P.M. Respectfully submitted, 7ack Kirk Scott 7. Lund Parks and Recreation Director Mayor