01-03-2017 Council Closed Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION January 3, 2017 APPROVED 81 4. Wetland/Natural Resource Restoration Revolving Fund Plan - Community 82 Development Director Grochala noted the City's work in the area of Wollan Park with 83 the goal of establishing wetland credits. He briefly explained state requirements on the 84 replacement of wetlands. The Wollan Park project has resulted in credits owned by the 85 city which will be recognized by Minnesota Bureau of Water and Soil Resources 86 (BOWSR) and listed for use. The idea of having a city wetland credit bank is to use 87 credits first for city development and then as a funding source for future acquisition of 88 properties with high potential ecological value and restore them as part of the City's 89 greenway system. Director Grochala suggested that it would be appropriate at this time 90 to put together an official policy for the use of the credits or funds and he recommends 91 that the city hire WSB & Associates to provide that information at the cost noted. 92 Council Member Manthey asked if having land banked helps with the city's development 93 options. Director Grochala suggested that there could be value to developers having the 94 credits available and secondly it helps to have wetland replaced within the city and this 95 allows us to dictate that more so. Mayor Reinert asked where staff got the idea to use 96 this area for credits and Director Grochala remarked that Environmental Coordinator 97 Asleson initially identified the area as a possible wetland bank especially having 98 identified a number of special species in the area. 99 100 Mr. Grochala also updated the council on the work that is going on currently in the 101 Wollan Park area. Mayor Reinert asked what the wetland will look like finally and Mr. 102 Grochala said it will ultimately be a higher quality wetland with greater diversity of plant 103 life based on measurement. Mayor Reinert asked about the value of the park to the 104 residents of the city and Mr. Grochala said that there will be a trail eventually; this would 105 a passive park area with not much upland. Council Member Manthey recognized that 106 this is an early stage investment that will allow the city to utilize credits in the future and 107 then allow funding for other high priority uses. Mayor Reinert asked about the 108 topography of the site and Director Grochala explained the wet nature of the land and the 109 challenge of planning any development there. no 5. Council Updates on Boards/Commissions - 111 112 There were no updates on council activities on boards and commissions. 113 6. Monthly Progress Report — Administrator Karlson reviewed the written report. 114 115 Legion Parking Lot — Director Grochala noted that the American Legion is moving 116 forward on developing a plan to expand their parking and they have submitted plans to 117 the watershed district. He suggests that the City should begin it's consideration of details 118 for sale of the property and he recommends that the council hold a closed session in the 119 future. Also since the watershed review includes a city signature, he wants the council to 12o be kept aware. Mayor Reinert suggested a closed session after the next council meeting. 121 122 Veterans Memorial — Administrator Karlson remarked that the last discussion resulted in