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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 23, 2024 Page 5 1 Central Park — Mr. Sonterre showed an aerial representation of the hill around the existing 2 bioswale. This would be planted from the existing vegetation to the top of the hill, which will 3 eliminate future mowing by City Staff. The restoration project will continue to the East, 4 essentially doubling the native and natural landscape of the existing bioswale. Hennepin County 5 has agreed to place interactive stations along the walkways, allowing the public to scan QR 6 codes and view information about the species within. Additionally, the school district will be 7 able to utilize aspects of the project for environmental science opportunities as they see fit. 9 Silver Point Park — An aerial representation was shown and the restoration areas on the north 10 side of the park will extend six feet north of the asphalt path up the hill and to the edge of the l l park property, ending six feet from the property line. On the south side, the same six foot setback 12 from the path will be maintained and the restoration will again be maintained and the restoration 13 will again continue up the slope, ending six feet from the property line. The project will continue 14 to the west as the path curves back to the north. The restoration will continue from the Southwest 15 corner of the park to the north, parallel to the hockey rink. Like with the Central Park Project, the 16 restored areas will eliminate future mowing of these sloped areas. 17 18 Both projects would have informational stations placed along the paths for education and 19 informational opportunities. This project was presented to the Parks & Environmental 20 Commission at their June 3, 2024 meeting and the commission expressed unanimous support for 21 the project. 22 23 Staff recommends approval of the EIP. Should Council approve the project, agreements between 24 the City and Hennepin County will be executed and Hennepin County public works will add the 25 project to their Ecological Improvement Plan calendar, with a spring of 2025 expected start date. 26 Also provided for Council consideration was the Ecological Improvement Plan, Right of Entry 27 Agreement, Partnership Pledge and Resolution 24-051. 28 29 Hennepin County Land Conservationist/County Agricultural Inspector Matt Stasica was also 30 present to address any questions on this project. 31 32 Councilmember Doolan stated she appreciates Mr. Sonterre bringing this opportunity to the City. 33 34 Councilmember Randle left the meeting at 7:45 p.m. 35 36 Councilmember Doolan asked about the distinction between Central Park and Silver Point Park. 37 When the demonstration gardens were put into Silver Point Park solarization was used. Mr. 38 Stasica stated size and variability of methods. Councilmember Doolan stated there are some 39 plants planted there right now. She assumes this is not part of what will be done there. Can those 40 plantings be relocated by residents. Mr. Sonterre stated the garden that is there would not be 41 affected. The question did come up whether the current gardens should be incorporated into this 42 project. She asked if other groups would be asked to do service work for maintenance. Mr. 43 Sonterre stated that decision will be for future Staff and Council. Mr. Stasica stated this is 44 ongoing and the County is here for ongoing support. She asked if the scope can be expanded to 45 take care of the hillside downslope which has acquired some aggressive weed seeds. Mr. 46 Sonterre stated when the project area was determined, we did not want to remove recreational