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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/26/2008 Environmental Board MinutesENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING MARCH 26, 2008 CITY OF LINO LAKES APPROVED MINUTES DATE : March 26, 2008 TIME STARTED : 6:36 P.M. TIME ENDED : 7:45 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT : Mary Jo O’Dea, Barbara Bor, Peter Brown, Paula Andrzejewski, Kimberly Brouillet, Martha DeHaven and Pamela Hartley MEMBERS ABSENT : None STAFF PRESENT : Environmental Coordinator Marty Asleson 1. CALL TO ORDER Ms. O’Dea called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES February 27, 2008 Mr. Brown made a motion to approve the February 27, 2008 minutes. Ms. DeHaven seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Add: Action Item - Swearing in of new board members. Add: Action Item – Elect Chair and Vice-Chair. Ms. Andrzejewski made a motion to approve agenda. Ms. Brouillet seconded the motion to approve agenda. Motion carried unanimously. 4. OPEN MIKE Open mike closed at 6:37 p.m. 5. ACTION ITEMS A. Swearing in of New Board Members Mayor John Bergeson swore in reappointed board members Martha DeHaven and Mary Jo O’Dea. He also swore in newly appointed board member Pamela Hartley. 1 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING MARCH 26, 2008 B. Elect Chair and Vice-Chair Ms. Brouillet made a motion to re-elect Mary Jo O’Dea as Chair and to re-elect Barbara Bor as Vice-Chair. Motion was seconded by Mr. Brown. Motion carried unanimously C. Additional consideration to the 2008 Environmental Board Goals Ms. Asleson reviewed his staff report on the Blue Thumb Program. The Blue Thumb program is a project through the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) planting initiative that addresses clean water. This is an additional goal for the Board to consider to be added to their 2008 Environmental Board Goals. Ms. O’Dea questioned if Mr. Asleson thought the Blue Thumb goal would be hard for the Board to accomplish. Mr. Asleson stated the required goals should not be a problem. Mr. Asleson stated by signing the 2008 Partners’ Agreement the Board agrees to contribute a minimum of 30 action hours during 2008 or donate $1,500 to the program. Any combination of hours of monetary contribution is acceptable, i.e. 15 hours and $7.50. Each action hour is counted as a $50 contribution. Ms. O’Dea questioned how long of a term is the Board agreeing to. Ms. Asleson stated the contract is year to year. Mr. Brown questioned if Mr. Asleson was reluctant to join this program. Mr. Asleson stated no, he is very excited to do this, it is a real benefit. He stated we are the first city in Anoka County to be part of this program. Mr. Brown questioned if “we” means City and the Board or just the Board. Ms. O’Dea stated we are supporting involvement of the City as a Board. This is part of our Environmental Board Goals. The Environmental Board would like to initiate involvement with the Blue Thumb program with the city as a partner with RCWD. Ms. Andrzejewski made a motion to approve the 2008 Environmental Board Goals as amended. Mr. Brown seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. 6. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Restoration Updates: Buckthorn, Wollens Park and Middle School Oak Savannah Project. Buckthorn: Mr. Asleson stated over the past few weeks he and other City employees have been eradicating Buckthorn. Buckthorn eradication took place on West Shadow 2 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING MARCH 26, 2008 Lake Drive and south of Birch Street where the trail goes through. The eradication was done on City land. He stated this project has been quite extensive as the buckthorn was abundant. He stated the Buckthorn that was not able to be pulled out was sprayed with a chemical called Garlan to stop growth. Wollens Park: Wollens Park is part of a conservation development. On the NE side of the park down to the right is a fen. Mr. Asleson stated he and Mr. Jason Husveth, Critical Connections, have been testing the area. They have removed trees that died and with the use of a mechanical broom, Mr. Asleson and Mr. Husveth swept off thatch to see if they can get down to organic materials and allow ground to germinate and see what rare plants come up they will then submit the findings to the Bureau of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). Mr. Asleson and Mr. Husveth will try to establish this area as a high value natural resource area. Mr. Asleson stated he would like to have the Board go to the park for a tour. Ms. Bor questioned the size of the test area. Mr. Asleson stated it was roughly ½ acre. Middle School Oak Savannah Project: Mr. Asleson stated an Eagle Scout from Lino Lakes is in the process of raising money for the cost of seed for the Oak Savannah restoration project on Lake Drive and Elm Street. The seed costs roughly $2,000. Central Wood Products stated they would volunteer to take the existing trees down in the Oak Savannah project area at the Middle School that we don’t want. He also stated the Lino Lakes Lions donated $500 and the Eagle Scout is working on a Minnesota Greenway’s grant. Board members suggested ideas as to raising money to complete this project. B. Great Blue Heron Update Mr. Asleson included a Blue Heron update to the Board members written by The Citizen paper. Ms. O’Dea stated she saw three Herons on March 25. Mr. Asleson and Ms. Brouillet stated they each saw a Blue Heron in March. Mr. Asleson stated he was hoping to have Andy VanDuke participate in a flyover of Peltier Island again this year, preferably by the middle of April. Ms. Bor put out 11 bundles of sticks for the Blue Herons. OTHER: A. Earth Day 3 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING MARCH 26, 2008 4 DRAFT MINUTES Mr. Asleson stated he attended the Earth Day meeting on March 26. He stated the next meeting will take place April 8, at 5:30 p.m. at Wargo Nature Center. Mr. Andrzejewski stated she would be in charge of having a booth at the Earth Day Celebration at Wargo Nature Center again this year. Ms. Bor stated she and Al DeMotts will help out with the popcorn for the celebration. B. Recycle Day - May 3, 20008 Ms. Brouillet stated she will give Walter’s Recycling a call and see if they would donate a dumpster for Recycle Day. Mr. Asleson stated that Board participation would be appreciated. 7. ADJOURN It was noted that the next meeting of the Environmental Board will be on April 30, 2008. There being no further business, Mr. Brown moved to adjourn at 7:45 p.m. Ms. DeHaven seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Transcribed by: Lisa Hogstad Community Development Secretary