HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 6 - 20141021 Sunfish Lake Park Forestry Management Plan
MAYOR & COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
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DATE: October 21, 2014 CONSENT ITEM# 6 AGENDA ITEM: Sunfish Lake Park Forest Stewardship/Management Plan
SUBMITTED BY: Alyssa MacLeod, Taxpayer Relations & Communications Coordinator
THROUGH: Dean Zuleger, City Administrator
REVIEWED BY: Mike Bouthilet, Public Works Superintendent
SUGGESTED ORDER OF BUSINESS:
- Introduction of Item .............................................................. City Administrator
- Report/Presentation…………………………………………City Administrator
- Questions from Council to Staff ............................................. Mayor Facilitates
- Call for Motion ............................................................... Mayor & City Council
- Discussion ....................................................................... Mayor & City Council
- Action on Motion .................................................................... Mayor Facilitates
POLICY RECOMMENDER: Park Commission FISCAL IMPACT: $6,300 in parkland dedication funds
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED: The City Council is respectfully being asked to consider the expenditure of no more than $6,300 to commission a Forest Stewardship and Management Plan for Sunfish Lake Park.
If removed from the consent agenda, the recommended motion for this action is as follows: “Move to approve the expenditure of $6,300 in parkland dedication funds to develop a Forest Stewardship and Management Plan for Sunfish Lake Park”
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Lake Elmo Park Commission has requested that action be taken to address remaining storm damage, and long-term forest management in Sunfish Lake Park. As a park protected by the Minnesota Land Trust, a forest management plan must first be reviewed and approved by the
Land Trust in writing before taking action, as outlined in Section 3.3 of the conservation
City Council Meeting [Consent Agenda Item 6]
October 21, 2014
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easement. Members of city staff and the park commission met with certified forester, Steven
Kunde, in May 2014, to discuss objectives. Kunde presented a comprehensive project proposal at a cost of $6,300 (attached). The plan includes:
• A listing of long term goals.
• Complete soils report.
• Ecological Classification of the land and how the land fits into the MN Landscape level long term goals.
• Identification of, and mapping of all major cover types present within the park.
• Description of all major forest cover types, which includes species present, density, volume estimates, etc.
• Invasive Specie identification and location of major problem areas and possible control strategies.
• Management options for the major cover types identified, based upon the City's goals. These options could include some form of harvest, fuel reduction, hazard mitigation,
actions needed to preserve various forest types, riparian area protection, erosion control, etc.
• Management timeline which looks at long term management over the years to come.
• Short term recommendations, to deal with the blow down problem combined with implementation of long term management options, to achieve an economically viable option to clean up the park.
• Completion of the above listed bullet items along with meetings with the DNR and UofM participants.
• Associated meetings, mileage and travel time Once complete and approved, next steps will be taken to implement the plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Park Commission recommends that the City Council approve the expenditure of $6,300 in parkland dedication funds to develop a forest stewardship and management plan for Sunfish Lake Park.
If removed from the consent agenda, the recommended motion for this action is as follows:
“Move to approve the expenditure of $6,300 in parkland dedication funds to develop a Forest Stewardship and Management Plan for Sunfish Lake Park”
ATTACHMENT: 1. Forest Stewardship/Management Plan Proposal