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02/26/02 LCEC AgP Notice Land Conservation & Environment Committee Will meet Tuesday, FEBRUARY 26, 2002 At 5:45 P.M. at City of Shorewood 5755 Country Club Road Shorewood, MN 55331 A G E N D A 1. Approval of Minutes of January 22, 2002. 2. Steven Hobbs, Hennepin County Conservation District 3. Reports ? MCWD Study Group (Woodruff) ? Update on Progress of Gideon Glen (Nielsen) ? Discuss Co. Rd. 19 Corridor Plan (Nielsen) ? Discuss Conservation Open Space Plan I. Discuss Criteria for Rating Open Space (Nielsen) 4. Discuss Garden Contest for 2002 (Kircher & Berndt) 5. Adjournment • NOTICE Land Conservation & Environment Committee Will meet Tuesday, February 26, 2002 At 5:45 P.M. at City of Shorewood 5755 Country Club Road Shorewood, MN 55331 AGENDA 1. Approval of Minutes of January 22, 2002 2. Steven Hobbs, Hennepin County Conservation District • 3. Reports e MCWD Study Group (Woodruff) e Update on Progress of Gideon Glen (Nielsen) e Discuss Co. Rd. 19 Corridor Plan (Nielsen) 1. Discuss Criteria for Rating Open Space (Nielsen) 4. Discuss Garden Contest for 2002 (Kircher & Berndt) 5. Adjournment • CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMITTEE (LCEC) MEETING 5:45 P.M. TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2002 MINUTES CONVENE LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Chair Schmid called the meeting to order at 5:55 P.M. A. Roll Call Present: Committee Members Woodruff, Kircher, Schmid, Ranallo, and Downs; Planning Director Nielsen Absent: Committee Members Berndt and Pini; Consultant Dan Dickel and City Council Liaison Mayor Love 1. Approval of the Minutes of October 16, 2001 Kircher moved, Downs seconded to approve the Minutes of October 16, 2001. Motion passed 510. Director Nielsen removed the Vacant land Inventory report from the agenda due to the absence of • Consultant Dan Dickel. He also moved the County Road 19 Corridor Plan discussion scheduled for this evening until the February meeting. Nielsen added a brief preliminary discussion over the 2002 Garden Contest. 2. Reports A. MCWD Study Group Woodruff reported that many items are under examination by the MCWD for 2002 and passed around a list of the items being reviewed. She pointed out that Steve Hobbs, of the Hennepin Conservation District, would be leading a task force on open space wetland preservation and restoration projects stemming from the precedent set by the Gideon Glen Project. Woodruff was pleased to announce also that the MCWD approved an additional $350,000, approximately, for the preservation and restoration of Gideon Glen. Woodruff informed the group of a Road Salt Symposium coming up on February 1st, from SA.M. until 4:30 P.M. She briefly cited two other potential projects, the possibility of a new 50-foot setback law for waterways called Rule M and a potential Carp Kill project for area lakes. Ranallo inquired over the permeable parking surface debate. Woodruff pointed out that experiments are being performed, including the parking lot exhibit at the Arboretum. Nielsen stated that he awaits the results of those experiments and hopes that a good example will be available for Minnesota that can withstand our climate. He pointed out that so far the infiltration basin seems to be the most promising, and in fact, is being considered by Cub Foods in its next proposal. The problem with the basin, however, is the balance between the deep-set basin and the need to provide a visual screen. 0 B. Update on progress of Gideon Glen LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2002 PAGE 2 OF 4 • Nielsen reported that indeed the MCWD had approved the $350,000 over the next two years needed to restore and preserve Gideon Glen. He added that at this moment Watershed engineers and staff engineers are elaborating the plan to include the County Road 19 intersection because it will runoff into the Gideon Glen site. Nielsen felt the need to reiterate to the committee how important it will be to get the word out to the public that the appearance of Gideon Glen will be changing. Once the buckthorn is eliminated and the water quality improvements made including, a grid chamber, NURP pond, rhizofiltration with plant materials etc. the project will change visibly. Open houses with the neighborhood residents will take place ahead of time to let them know what to expect. While a tasteful sign identifying the site will be added, interpretive signs or kiosks will be added along the trail portion explaining what each section of the project is responsible for. Nielsen noted that a copy of the concept plan will be put into the newsletter. C. Discuss County Road 19 Corridor Plan While Nielsen moved this discussion to the February meeting, he asked the LCEC to give thought to the type of landscaping to incorporate along the corridor. Similar to the uniform theme created in Wayzata with its formal gardens, ideas were addressed including native plantings, informal and formal gardens. Woodruff and Kircher liked the idea of choosing a central element like a red twig dogwood or sumac. D. Discuss Draft Outline for Conservation Open Space Plan • Nielsen introduced the outline, pointing out that it is the duty of the LCEC to prioritize the sites from the land inventory, and asked for input from the Committee. 1. Undeveloped/Underdeveloped Land Inventory and Data Base Based on the Land Conservation Committee Report criteria for the City of Maplewood in rating its open space, Nielsen asked the LCEC to examine those criteria to determine if Shorewood could use the same or modify the existing criteria. It was questionable whether several criteria, including the number of residents in the immediate area, public access, multiple open space use, and suitability of trails, were applicable. Downs asked for greater definition of the criteria before evaluating their pertinence. Nielsen stated that he would elaborate on the criteria and supply the committee with a copy soon. Nielsen continued that, while our parcels should be ranked by the unique natural resource they provide, Dickel hadn't found many parcels left with unique unaltered features in need of protection. II. Goals, Objectives and Policies (see Natural Resources Chapter of Comprehensive Plan) Nielsen asked the Committee to consider whether the Natural Resources Chapter of the Comprehensive plan was valid or in need of modification. III. Conservation Open Space Plan • A. Identify Land Protection Measures (see LCC Report and incorporate) B. Criteria for Priority LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2002 PAGE 3 OF 4 • As identified in the City of Maplewood Report, Nielsen asked the Committee to whittle down what is important to the City on the criteria list. The LCEC will then be able to devote each meeting to 1/3 of the parcels in Shorewood at a time. He noted that a finite number of parcels exist, approximately 134, which include all undeveloped - which are few, and underdeveloped pieces. Nielsen pointed out that staff can begin the process by making recommendations over which parcels meet the criteria chosen as most important. Kircher questioned whether this could be accomplished by June. Woodruff noted that staff will probably be able to immediately eliminate half of the parcels, which will leave the LCEC to spend its time prioritizing the pieces that are left. Nielsen did caution the LCEC, however, not to put many parcels on the high priority list because the money is not there to pursue them unless a bond referendum passes. He noted that those that are left will likely be expensive. Although Dan Reisen recently left his legacy by donating his conservation easements to the City, others such as the Reidinger property, a 17-acre parcel of beautiful pristine forests and wetlands would be worth examining. C. Prioritize Land Parcels for Protection 1. High Priority (purchase) 2. Medium Priority (partial compensation) Nielsen pointed out that the opportunity to partially compensate donors for their conservation easements • may be useful in many situations, for example, the properties that back up to the Gideon Glen plan. Creating an incentive for people to donate their easements may make it easier to get some to do it. 3. Low Priority (accept gift or easement) IV. Implementation A. Identify Funding Sources (e.g. grants, loans, referendums, etc.) Nielsen noted that, like everything else in the economy, funding, grants and budgets are limited. B. Open House Meeting - Affected Land Owners Nielsen viewed this as an education component, inviting people whose land could benefit the City and the landowner themselves (e.g. tax incentives, legacy etc.) to an open house to obtain their interest. C. Provide Resources to Interested Land Owners Offer a packet to interested landowners for them to take home and analyze or have examined by their accountants and lawyers to create interest and get people talking. D. Provide Preliminary Legal Documents (e.g. letters of interest, sample easements) As an objective resource, Dean Reisen would share his experience and point people to others they can talk • to about the process and benefits to them. The City could have sample easement documents available. E. Education LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2002 PAGE 4 OF 4 • 1. Resource Library 2. Conservation Handbook 3. Open Space Forums Kircher asked whether anything was printed in the paper about the Reisen Easement Donation promoting the process. She stated that this affords a unique opportunity to advertise the conservation easement donating process and could get other people thinking. Nielsen agreed, stating that he would be putting a piece in the newsletter about it. 3. Set Meeting Dates and Times - February 26, 2002, 5:45 P.M. March 12, 2002 April 9, 2002 * April 30, 2002, tentative date if necessary May 14, 2002 June 11, 2002 (to provide a final report) 4. Garden Contest for 2002 Nielsen stated that while the Garden Awards did not take place last year, he wanted to thank Kircher and Berndt for the honorable mentions they put together for the newsletter last fall. This year, Nielsen pointed out that the City would like to formalize the process by giving people a chance to nominate their neighbors, show off their gardens, and possibly vote for one another. He asked if Kircher and Berndt would be willing to organize the contest, perhaps using examples from other communities, and meet with • Julie Moore to have it printed up in the newsletter. Kircher said that she would help and that she would check with Berndt on her willingness to participate. The timeline would be to introduce the contest in the April newsletter if not before. 4. Adjournment Citing no objection, Chair Schmid adjourned the LCEC meeting of January 22, 2002 at 7:32 P.M. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Kristi B. Anderson Recording Secretary •