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MaU—NDitSWEW City of Mounds View Staff R Item No: 6 Meeting Date: March 6, 2024 Type of Business: WS Administrator Review: To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Don Peterson, Director of Public Works/Parks and Recreation Item Title/Subject: Ardan Park Wetland Banking Proposal Project Background/Discussion: The Public Works Department has many responsibilities and one is to efficiently operate and manage the storm water system. The system was first constructed in the 1970's and as with other similar core functions, research, innovation and best management practices have changed over the years. In September 2022 Stantec Engineering Services completed a wetland delineation in Ardan Park (map attached) as part of a development proposal. Stantec also indicated that the current wetland area, in addition to other green spaces, could be developed into a wetland banking project. The Engineer estimated that the City could develop wetland banking and sell these credits to developers, these credits were estimated to value 1 million dollars. The City Council directed Staff to look into the option of creating wetland banking in this area. An application was submitted notifying the following agencies of the project and for these agencies to provide the City with feedback regarding the proposed project. MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD), Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), Ramsey County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Staff received comments from the Army Corps of Engineers, one of larger concerns in establishing this Wetland Banking close to the Anoka County Airport of potential bird strikes was addressed. The proposed wet land types (wetland meadow and scrub are typically attractive habitats for large flocks of potentially hazardous waterfowl. Both FAA and the USDA have determined the creation of the wetland banking will not increase wildlife hazards to the Anoka Airport. Staff and Stantec both believe the project is worth moving forward; there remains eight (8) additional comments that the City must address: 1) Potential Adjacent Landowner Impacts 2) Size of the Proposed Mitigation Bank 3) Road Authority 4) Easement 5) Encroachment 6) Long Term Management 7) Baseline Information 8) Buffer The next steps moving forward would be meeting with the various agencies to clarify and respond to the comments and placing shallow monitoring wells to better determine the hydrology of the current wetland and adjacent properties.