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PRM 04/02/2001 CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING – APRIL 2, 2001 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Kondrick called the April 2, 2001 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:02p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Dave Kondrick Marcy Sibell Dick Young Others Present: Jack Kirk, Director of Recreation & Natural Resources Paul Lawrence, Public Works Superintendent Scott Hickock, Director of Community Development APPROVAL OF MARCH 5, 2001 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell to approve the minutes of the March 5, 2001 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR APRIL 2, 2001 MOTION by Ms. Sibell, seconded by Mr. Young, to approve the agenda for the April 2, 2001 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON kONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 1. STAFF REPORT a. Program Update Mr. Kirk stated that the Program Update was a report of the activities sponsored by the Recreation and Natural Resource Department in the past month. He called attention to the Springbrook Nature Center Volunteer Recognition event and pointed out that over 10,000 total volunteer hours were recorded in 2000. That is the equivalent of having over 4 full time employees working regular hours. Mr. Kirk reminded the Commission members to complete the Council-Commission survey as soon as possible and return them to the City Manager’s office. Their input is very valuable. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - March 5, 2001 Page 2 b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Lawrence stated that park maintenance workers did ice maintenance activities through the rd 23 of February. He felt that the City was able to provide very good skating facilities during the past skating season. He further stated that during the past couple of weeks, the workers have been cleaning the shop and garage areas and converting equipment from winter to summer needs. 2. NEW BUSINESS Moore Lake Buffer Strip Proposal a. Mr. Kirk stated that the City of Fridley has been asked by the Association of Metropolitan Soil Conservation District to consider allowing the installation of a demonstration project- lake buffer strip at Moore Lake. The project is designed to help improve lake water quality over time and this location is very visible and could serve to educate the public on this good environmental practice. Mr. Kirk introduced Gregg Thompson, Landscape Restoration Specialist with the Soil Conservation Districts, to explain the project and answer any questions that the Commission members might have. Mr. Thompson stated that the buffer strip is the planting of native plants along and into the waterfront of lakes and ponds to essentially filter runoff water. When parkland or lawns are mowed right down to the lake’s edge, water moving across the turf picks up nutrients and washes them directly into the lake. With the buffer strip, the nutrients are filtered out as the water moves through the various plants and the water is much cleaner when it finally enters the lake. Mr. Thompson stated that there is a need to educate the public on this practice and Moore Lake would be an excellent location, because of the high visibility of being on Highway 65. This particular demonstration project would be located on the southeast part of the lake, on the strip of land between the new retaining wall and the water. The length of this piece of land is just over 300 feet and there is about 8 feet between the wall and the water. There would be some plants out into the water as well. The Conservation District would put up some signs identifying the project and explaining the environmental impact of these buffer strips. Mr. Young asked how high the plants get that are planted in these buffer strips. Mr. Thompson responded that some of them get 3 to 3 ½ feet high, but it is not a thick, dense vegetation cover all at this height. There are a variety of plants that get put in and some only get a foot tall. Mr. Solberg stated that this will change the look of the lakeshore at Moore Lake and it will be easier to sell this project if we can state that it is going to improve the lake quality. Mr. Young asked if the plants that go in are going to be in bloom all summer long. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting -March 5, 2001 Page 3 Mr. Thompson stated that most of the plants bloom for only a two to three week period, but at different times of the summer. A variety of plants are used, as they want this area to look good through out the season. Mr. Thompson stated that in addition to helping to clean the water entering the lakes, the buffer strips are a deterrent to geese on the park land and lawns. The geese do not want to travel through the higher vegetation while going to and from the water. They cannot see if there are predators. Some communities are using the buffer strips to help deal with the goose problems. Mr. Thompson stated that the demonstration project would cost $1,663. There is normally a 50% match by the agency they work with, but in this case he has enough money in his budget to cover all of the costs. Mr. Young asked how much the labor costs would be for the installation of the plants? Mr. Thompson stated that labor costs can often run as much as the materials, but in this case he would be using volunteers to complete the project. Mr. Young stated that he would like to make sure that Siah St. Clair, City Naturalist, reviews the project plans and offers an opinion. Mr. Young asked when the planting would take place. Mr. Thompson stated that they would plant in June and some of the plants would reach normal height by August or September. Mr. Thompson stated that an erosion blanket is laid down and a cordless drill used to prepare the holes for planting. Plants are put in 18 inches apart. The plants need to be watered regularly during the first two to three weeks after planting. Mr. Young asked who would be doing the watering? Mr. Thompson stated that he would like the City to help with that task. Mr. Kirk asked what type of commitment is expected from the city with this demonstration project? Mr. Thompson stated that the Conservation District would require a ten-year written agreement to continue the project. Mr. Solberg asked what would happen if the City did not want to continue the project after a couple of years, would they have to pay back the installation costs? Mr. Thompson stated yes that was what would be required by the agreement. Mr. Young asked how much maintenance is required in the project area. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - March 5, 2001 Page 4 Mr. Thompson stated that there was not much maintenance as these plants are allowed to grow and the area is not mowed. There will occasionally be some bull thistle that might start to invade and that should be weeded out. Mr. Kirk asked that if the City and/ or the Conservation District wanted to expand the buffer strip area at Moore Lake in the future, does the Conservation District help with funding or are there potential grants for this? Mr. Thompson stated that the DNR has some cost sharing grant money and that the Conservation District will also cost share. Ms. Sibell asked which of the several existing projects has been in the longest. Mr. Thompson stated that Gervais Lake in Ramsey County has been in three years and is doing very well. Mr. Young asked if the retaining wall would have an impact on the plants drying out or getting too hot, because of sun reflection off the wall? Mr. Thompson stated that he did not think this would be a problem because of the orientation of the wall. Ms. Sibell asked if there would be any permits required to proceed with the project? Mr. Thompson stated that a DNR permit would be required. Mr. Thompson proceeded to show slides of the various types of vegetation that would be planted with this demonstration project. Mr. Kirk asked what timeline he was under to get an approval from the City of Fridley in order to proceed with the project this year. Mr. Thompson stated that he would like to know by the end of May. He would set aside the dollars to complete this project in Fridley. Mr. Solberg stated that Mr. Thompson has brought up many good points in favor of doing this demonstration project and with the low risk (having to pay back a relatively small amount if we removed the plantings), he thought the City should support the project. Ms. Sibell stated that she would want to make sure that the installation was coordinated well with our park maintenance staff. Mr. Kirk stated that he would want any proposed signs for the project to be brought back to the Parks and Recreation Commission for review and recommendations. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting – March 5, 2001 Page 5 MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Ms. Price to enter into an agreement with the Association of Metropolitan Soil Conservation Districts to install a Buffer Strip demonstration project at Moore Lake. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON YOUNG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 2. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Showmobile Rental Request – City of Blaine Mr. Young stated that we now have the completed application form and deposit from the st City of Blaine for renting the showmobile for their City celebration on July 1. Mr. Kirk stated that the City of Blaine has used the showmobile for several years in a row now and staff would recommend approval of the request. MOTION by Ms. Price, seconded by Ms. Sibell to approve the Showmobile rental request by the City of Blaine for July 1, 2001. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE VICE-CHAIRPERSON YOUNG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Ms. Sibell, seconded by Ms. Price to adjourn the March 5, 2001 meeting at 8:37p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON YOUNG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE MARCH 5, 2001 MEETING ADJOURNED