04/23/02 LCEC AgP
Notice
Land Conservation & Environment Committee
Will meet
Tuesday, April 23, 2002
At 6:00 P.M. at
Southshore Senior Community Center
5735 Country Club Road
Shorewood, MN 55331
A G E N D A
1. Approval of Minutes of February 26, 2002.
2. Discussion of Conservation Planning
3. Reports
?
MCWD Study Group (Woodruff)
?
Update on Progress of Gideon Glen (Nielsen)
?
Discuss Co. Rd. 19 Corridor Plan, Lighting, Sinage &
Landscaping (Woodruff)
?
Discuss Criteria for Rating Open Space (Nielsen)
4. Adjournment
DRAFT
• CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL CHAMBERS
COMMITTEE (LCEC) MEETING 5:45 P.M.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2002
MINUTES
CONVENE LAND CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
Commissioner Woodruff called the meeting to order at 5:52 P.M.
A. Roll Call
Present: Committee Members Woodruff, Kircher, Pini, Berndt, and Downs;
Planning Director Nielsen; Consultant Dan Dickel, and Steve Hobbs of the Hennepin
County Conservation District
Absent: Committee Member Ranallo and Chair Schmid; and City Council Liaison
Mayor Love
1. Approval of the Minutes of January 22, 2002
Kircher moved, Pini seconded to approve the Minutes of January 22, 2002. Motion passed 510.
2. Presentation by Steve Hobbs of the Hennepin County Conservation District
• Mr. Hobbs discussed seven highly effective steps to Conservation Planning.
1. Determining Important Natural Resources or Landscapes worth Conserving
A. By defining the term "open space", conservation can be evaluated by aesthetics,
science, or both
B. Hobbs suggested developing a GIS, or method of mapping, those areas
2. Determine a "Threat Analysis Matrix"
A. Hobbs cited this step, of determining the root cause for the elimination of key
natural resources, as the most important in the process. He advised sorting out
the "symptoms of the underlying disease".
3. Develop criteria of how to address the Threats
A. Set priorities for action
4. Map the Sources of Stress
A. Define the land area needed to be addressed to encompass the source of the
problem, as well as, the natural resource itself
• 5. Develop the Appropriate Tools that can Address the Site of Stressors in your
Jurisdiction
r
• A. Offer Incentives for Voluntary Conservation
1. Property tax incentives, income tax credits, developer credits...
B. Landowner Education
C. Purchase Interests in the Land - buy the conservation easements outright
6. Develop Registry Programs, using other examples across the Country
Woodruff questioned whether offering income tax credits was plausible. Hobbs pointed out that each the
House and Senate are currently working on a bill, which offers up to a 50% income tax credit for the
value of property donations for conservation.
Nielsen asked about the potential for property tax credits. Hobbs indicated that this is still being worked
on. He stated that Minnesota needs to take conservation easements into account, a relatively new concept
here. Adding that assessors need to be educated how to evaluate these when assessing a piece of
property.
Hobbs brought up Registry programs as one method to encourage people to voluntarily donate their
conservation easements. Communities, like Medina, have educated landowners and provided them with a
plaque to display with pride, in turn, the owners have voluntarily agreed to take care of their land. This is
not a legal agreement but it usually leads to a higher level of conservation. Hobbs noted that some states
have statewide registry programs with incentives.
Downs arrived at 6:17 P.M.
• Hobbs stated that next month, the DNR, Hennepin County Conservation District and the Minnesota Trust
for Public Land would be hosting a workshop to explain to the public what conservation easements are.
He promised to let the Commission know the particulars when they become available.
Hobbs went on to point out several examples from across the country. In fact, he shared examples of
PDR's, Purchase of Development Rights, programs which exist in as many as 18 states and dozens of
municipalities. In 1995, Virginia Beach, VA created a plan to acquire easements using zero coupons and
installment plans. Other regional planning efforts and watershed projects exist as well.
Woodruff maintained that while many of these efforts are admirable, Shorewood has just small chunks of
expensive land to work with.
Hobbs indicated that a MOU, Memorandum of Understanding, needs to be developed with the Met
Council. In addition, the Met Council will be holding a series of workshops in April, which again, Hobbs
promised to inform the Commission of Dickel maintained that it is important for the Met Council to
coordinate efforts with smaller communities, like Shorewood, to pool resources, compare efforts and
move forward together, rather than duplicate efforts. Regions are crying out for coordinated plans and
shared templates.
Downs asked Hobbs what he suggested, Shorewood for example, might do to move the process forward
with little or no budget. Hobbs suggested the City identify the choice spots, or gems, in the community to
focus its long term funding schemes on and acquire those.
7. Develop a Secure Funding Mechanism that can engage the tools you have chosen.
• 3. Reports
• A. MCWD Study Group
Woodruff reported that the MCWD would be holding a discussion on February 27th to discuss solutions
to Jennings Bay pollution problems.
B. Update on progress of Gideon Glen
Due to the hour, Nielsen had nothing new to report at this time.
C. Discuss County Road 19 Corridor Plan
While Nielsen had nothing new to report on the Corridor Plan, he did ask the Commissioners to give him
feedback on corridor treatments and landscaping at next months meeting. He asked them to bring their
comments on lighting, signage, and landscaping. The design itself is currently in the hands of the County
and Nielsen hopes to have a July start date for the project.
D. Discuss Criteria for Rating Open Space
Nielsen mentioned that the Commissioners would be provided with a scaled down list of potential open
space parcels to evaluate. He requested that members come prepared to discuss their opinions based on
the list. He added that part of the meeting might need to take place in the Conference Room if it goes
longer than expected.
4. Garden Contest for 2002
• Kircher reported that she and Berndt met with Julie Moore, from staff, to determine five different judging
categories for the Garden Awards. Nielsen added that an announcement of the Contest would be running
in the next newsletter.
I
5. Adjournment
Woodruff moved, Kircher seconded, adjourning the LCEC Meeting of February 26, 2002, at 7:13
P.M. Motion passed 4/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Kristi B. Anderson
Recording Secretary
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