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Home My WebLink About2008-055 Council ResolutionCouncil Member 0' Donnell introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: CITY OF LINO LAKES RESOLUTION NO. 08-55 RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AGREEMENT WITH THE RICE CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE BLUE THUMB PROGRAM WHEREAS, The City of Lino Lakes has a need to educate residents, and is required to provide public education regarding water quality the City's Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit, AND WHEREAS, ; The Blue Thumb program was started by the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) as an outreach program to help residents do their part to protect water and to help cities meet strategic water quality improvement goals and federal Clean Water Act mandates. The program will address the public education requirements under the City's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan 411 AND WHEREAS: The Blue Thumb Program was adopted as one of the City of Lino Lakes Environmental Board Goals; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LINO LAKES, MINNESOTA: Join as Partners with the Rice Creek Watershed District in the Blue Thumb Program Adopted by the Lino Lakes City Council this 27thday of May , 2008. The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Council Member Gallup and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: O'Donnell, Gallup, Reinert, Stoltz, Bergeson The following voted against same: none Whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted. • • STAFF ORIGINATOR: MEETING DATE: TOPIC: VOTE REQUIRED: BACKGROUND AGENDA ITEM 6B Marty Asleson May 27, 2008 Consideration of Resolution No. 08 -55, Approving Agreement with The Rice Creek Watershed District for Membership in the Blue Thumb Program. 3/5 The Blue Thumb project is a Rice Creek Watershed District planting initiative that addresses clean water. City participation in the program was included as one of the 2008 Environmental Board goals. The Blue Thumb program is an online outreach program with A to Z information to help residents plan and plant native gardens, rain gardens, and shorelines with native plants. The Blue Thumb program was started by the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) as an outreach program to help residents do their part to protect water and to help cities meet strategic water quality improvement goals and federal Clean Water Act mandates. This includes providing online A to Z information to help residents plan and plant native gardens, rain gardens, and shorelines with native plants. The program will address the public education requirements under the City's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirements. By participating in the program we can avoid duplication of educational efforts and provide our residents with a greater wealth of water quality information. The Blue Thumb partnership combines resources and helps partners present a unified, public education message that saves both water resources and tax payer dollars. Blue Thumb is specific to water - quality friendly gardening activities, but the model can be easily transferred to other areas. • • • Blue Thumb partners are a group of professionals from local governmental units (watershed and conservation districts, cities, counties); non - profit and community organizations; the University of Minnesota Extension; and nursery and landscape professionals. Blue Thumb partners are expected to donate $1,500 each year or complete a minimum of 30 "action hours" during 2008. "Action hours" are defined as any action that promotes or furthers the development of the Blue Thumb program. Partner action hours can be satisfied in a wide variety of ways such as, but not limited to: participating in Blue Thumb work groups, putting up a Blue Thumb sign at a project, promoting Blue Thumb in conjunction with your business' /organization's display, hosting or participating in Blue Thumb workshops, writing articles, press releases and /or advertisements that relate and /or promote Blue Thumb goals. Should the City have a need to provide monetary support in lieu of action hours, the monies would be taken from the Surface Water Management fund. RECOMMENDATION Adopt Resolution No. 08 -55; Approving Agreement with Rice Creek Watershed District for membership in the Blue Thumb program ATTACHMENTS 1. Blue Thumb Agreement 2008 Blue Thumb Standards Manual and Partners' Agreement December zo, 2007 Oi 'VC PLANTING FOR CLEAN WATERTh Glue Thumb Standards Manual and Partners' Agreement Blue Thumb Program Goals & Strategies Program Goal The Blue Thumb program was created to improve water quality and habitat. The program will promote the use of plants, primarily through retailers, as an alternative to turf, to reduce stormwater runoff and as a method for stabilizing shorelines. Strategies to Be Implemented in 2008 to Reach Program Goal I. Outreach and Education on Native Gardens, Raingardens and Lakeshore Stabilization using Native Plants a. Promote Blue Thumb via website b. Promote Blue Thumb via a minimum of 5o workshops and presentations to residents and stakeholder groups in 2008 c. Implement a "train the trainer" program on giving presentations d. Promote Blue Thumb via a minimum of too press releases e. Promote Blue Thumb via a minimum of 3o newsletter articles f. Promote Blue Thumb at a minimum of 6o events (e.g. State Fair, county fairs, "green" fairs, lawn and garden shows, etc.) g. Promote Blue Thumb in libraries, city halls, yard signs, Blue Sky Guide, media campaign, 2009 calendar II. Private Industry a. Collaborate to effectively promote native plantings and raingardens b. Develop various display and promotional methods that fit the needs of private industry partners c. With retailers, monitor marketing techniques and adapt accordingly d. Collaborate to identify methods that make it easy for residents to purchase plants (e.g. plant drop -offs, plant sales etc.) e. Incorporate Blue Thumb plantings in public spaces (with signage from the private company as well as Blue Thumb) - schools, city halls, libraries, parks, shops... f. Have the "The Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens" available for retail III. Work with other agencies to expand the Blue Thumb program: a. Give presentation(s) to other agencies to introduce concept b. Have cities and other MS4s use the Blue Thumb program to help satisfy their federal Clean Water A mandates (SWPPP requirements). IV Website Development a. Create a page where partners can enter their action hours b. Blue Thumb "library" page for partners only c. Create a virtual tour of the Blue Thumb projects d. Create a new online video for the "how -to's" of native gardens and lakeshore stabilization Blue Thumb Standards Manual and Partners' Agreement so • • 1. Blue Thumb Logo: The Blue Thumb — Planting for Clean Waterm logo was created to be an attractive, visible, and memorable component of the Blue Thumb program. Promotional materials used for the Blue Thumb program all bear the logo and the same signature colors, look and style as outlined previously in this document. 2. Sharing Materials: A courtesy copy of all Blue Thumb promotional materials created by partners shall be shared so we create a collection of materials for all partners to utilize. Directions for Sharing Large Files that Cannot Be Emailied - FTP upload: Go to ftp: / /data.ricecreek.org Type in username: rcwd_ftp password: ricecreek Put the materials you are sharing with the Blue Thumb logo on it in the Blue Thumb Share folder within the "upload' directory. They will then appear at http : / /data.ricecreek.org/upload Email Dawn at dpape @ricecreek.org when you're done uploading so she knows it's there and she can transfer it to the "library ". You can find other partner materials at bluethumb.org/files. Click on "Partner Materials:' 3. Definitions and Terminology: It is important that we are all giving a consistent message to the public. Therefore, the definitions and terminology outlined in this Blue Thumb Standards Manual must be adhered to in order to be a Blue Thumb partner in good standing. 4. Continuing Education: Partners will be expected to continue their education in native plants, raingardens and shoreline stabilization by attending trainings on these matters. 5. Program Support: To ensure that the Blue Thumb program keeps moving forward and we achieve our goals for zoo8 outlined on page 8, partners will be expected to use their strengths to support the Blue Thumb program and incorporate Blue Thumb activites into their normal activities. Partners will need to complete a minimum of 3o action hours during zoo8 or donate $1,500 to the program. Any combination of hours or monetary contribution is acceptible, i.e 15 hours and $7So. Each action hour is counted as a $5o contribution. "Action hours" are defined as any action that promotes or furthers the development of the Blue Thumb program. Partner action hours can be satisfied in a wide variety of ways such as, but not limited to: participating in Blue Thumb work groups, putting up a Blue Thumb sign at a project, promoting Blue Thumb in conjunction with your business'/ organization's display, hosting or participating in Blue Thumb workshops, writing articles, press releases and /or advertisements that relate and /or promote Blue Thumb goals. B[ue Thumb Standards Manual and Partners' Agreement • • For AU Blue Thumb Partners: The below signatures indicate that has agreed to become a partner to the Blue Thumb — Planting for Clean Waterrm program in accordance with the terms described in this Partner Agreement. Improper use of the Blue Thumb program as outlined in this Blue Thumb Standards Manual and Partners' Agreement may result in suspension from the Blue Thumb Partners. By: By: Partner representative Date RCWD Representative Date For Nurseries and Garden Centers, Installers & Designers Only: Nurseries and garden centers selling native plants will be expected to supply and /or use native plants as defined in the Blue Thumb Standards Manual: sales of "native plants" must be local ecotype native plants. This means plant material propagated from original sources no farther than Zoo miles (30o for trees and shrubs) from the projects. Improper use of the Blue Thumb program as outlined in this Blue Thumb Standards Manual and Partners' Agreement may result in suspension from the Blue Thumb partnership. The below signatures indicate that has agreed to become a partner to the Blue Thumb — Planting for Clean Water programTM in accordance with the terms described above. By: By: Partner representative Date RCWD Representative Date Blue Thumb Standards Manual and Partners' Agreement erne n Ive Ttwr PLANTING FOR CLEAN WATER' 9 Name Company /Organization Address City State Zip Phone Fax Website Email Description of organization and logo to be included on the website (You may email this section to dpape@ricecreek.org):