HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 02-10 City Council Manager Workshop PacketAGENDA
CITY COUNCIL/MANAGER WORKSHOP
Monday, February 10, 2003
Council Chambers, City Hall
6:00 p.m.
A. CALL TO ORDER
B. ROLL CALL
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
D. NEW BUSINESS
1. Open Space Presentation
E. FUTURE TOPICS
1. Exploring the Possibilities of a Sister City
2. Sidewalk Study - Overall City Plan
3. Street Scape Plan
F. ADJOURNMENT
City Council/Manager Workshop 11 -24 -03
Agenda
MEMORANDU
TO: Richard Fursman 6 Ma a e ir�
FROM: Bruce K. Anders arc arks# nd Re reation ,
DATE: February 3, 2003 for e F a ' 2003 'C ty Council Meeting
. i
SUBJECT: Open Space
Council member Juenemann has requested that staff provide an update on the open space
program. The open space program. is now ten years old since the successful referendum in
November 1993. The city has acquired 13 open space sites totaling 273 acres. Remaining open
space funds are approximately $156,000..
The transition from acquisition to restoration. has been successful. The city retained Ginny
Gaynor, open space coordinator, on a part -time basis in 1998. Under her direction, numerous
improvements, restoration efforts and long -range planning have been undertaken. The major
focus for the past three years has been research, site - analysis and master plan development.
Program accomplishments in 2002 included:
1.. Preparation and seeding of the 20 -acre Prairie Farm preserve.
2. Completed Priory Neighborhood Wilds program, including writing and receiving a
$15,000 grant involving 28 households.
3. Completion and installation of the open space signs.
4. Completion of the land management plan for the Beaver Creek corridor, including
acquisition- of the 8.9 -acre site.
5.. Conducted prescribed burns at the Priory and Joy Park sites.
6. Conducted an open space tour.for the parks and recreation commission and city council.
7. Buckthorn removal program at.Applewood and Priory preserves, as well as the entire
city.
City staff will provide a visual walking tour of the open space program and background
information at Monday's. city council meeting, including review of the open space acquisition
program, restoration efforts and future. directions.
Should you have any questions regarding the. enclosed information, feel free to contact me
directly at ext. 4573.
kMopenspacereview. mem
Enclosure
Open Space Properties Purchased with Open Space Funds:
❑ Applewood (Kayser 16 acres) $416,500 (2 -97 memo). (Open space 16 acres) ,
$221,000 (11 -95 memo) (park 8 acres)
13 Beaver Creek Corridor — 8.9 acres - $400,000 -- (2/03 purchase - X240,000 o.sp. money,
$150,000 state grant, $10,000 park dedication)
❑ Carver (formerly. Grandview)(Stiefow 12.6 acres) - $159,208. (settlement stmt.)
(Carver Ave 13.3 acres) - $120,000 (purchase agmt.) -- Total of 27 acres
o Fisher's Corner (Corbey) 18 acres - $144, - (8123/99 cc minutes).
❑ Gladstone Savanna (Frost/English) 23 acres - $808,300 (closing stmt.)
❑ Hidden Marsh (formerly Arcade)(Regnier) 6 acres - $78,300 (closing statement)
❑ Joy Park - 39 acres conveyed from Ramsey Co. - $0
❑
Kohiman Creek (formerly.. Hazelwood) (Pearson) 10 acres - $220 (closing stmt.)
❑ Prairie Farm (D & Woodlynn) 23 acres - $663. ( 11/95 &2/97 Craig Dawson memos)
$588 & $75,504 (closing stmts.)
❑ Priory (church parcel) - $1,205,600 (closing statement)
Priory (Bradley Oaks. parcel) - $151,000 (8/23/99 cc minutes & settlement stmt.) Total of
46 acres
o Spoon Lake (Kusli.ch/Gonyea/Pillsbury"- 17 acres) (Kuslich. 11 acres)
$378,000 (11 -95 memo) $224,715 (2 parcels -17 acres -from purchase agreement)
$258,800 — ( C.Dawson 2/97 memo)
❑ Trout Brook (formerly Tri- district) - 7 acres conservation easement - $0
o Jim's Prairie — 5 acres - $0 (park dedication funds)
Total of 13 Open Space Sites
Total Open Space Acreage: 272.9 acres
Total Open Space Acquisition Cost: $4,544,492.00
Remaining Open Space Funds: $
kdloscosts.frm12 -03
Together We Can
MEMORANDUM
TO: Ann Hutchinson, Bruce Anderson, Open Space- Task Force Members
FROM: Ginny Gaynor
DATE: January 6, 2003
_ Maplewood Neighborhood Preserves
Program Accomplishments - 2002
We had a very good year at the Maplewood Neighborhood Preserves. Highlights and major
accomplishments for this year include:
1. Pr _p, i lte; ` .ek� f_ acre • prairie at Prairie Farm Preserve.. In addition, Maplewood
installed its first section of the Lake Links trail at the farm (Engineering and Parks project .
2:. ' Co m leted Priory cg T �� �� s � an, including writing and rece�v�n
and restorationllandscap gp ro. m ects vv�t�28 households.
J
30 nstalled 4.ar , =q �. = p at the preserves.
4. Created .Restoration and ? n �3 h `~ for r_�e"7
�� xe f pi t � Qr and laid trail base.
5 . Completed site analyses • for Priory reserve and Gladstone Savanna Preserve,,
6'. Created GPSLGIS maps for 10. sites.
7.. Completed pre • i minary design for Gladstone Savanna Preserve.
8 Conducted prescrl`bed bur ns at Priory and at Joy Park (park area ).
9. Planted ramgarden at Gladstone Savanna.
10. Cleaned up ravines at Applewood. _
11. Started sedge nursery at Trout Brook Preserve with Tri- District school classes.
12. I volute onitorin rFin a at 4 sites_ lu and J• 's Prairie.
7 ' ! '- 3 k r + ° , .i:.•. -- '. •` . + J �• x- ?:.%r.. 5 . 4 X 7 -
r tied ctedopepe s r = an
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,; •c;.r. -f •v'x.+• b ..L'v ?m•Y.v". t ..- w.K3e. r e r.yq + �, a'' , i r _. .i` �. iA
14• Continued buckthorn removal at Applewood and Priory preserves.
Thanks to the many people have worked to make this happen:
• City staff, especially staff from Open Space, Nature Center, Parks, Engineering
• Open Space Task Force - members
• Parks Commission .and City Council members
Partners: Ramsey- Washington Metro Watershed District, MN DNR.
• Graduate Student Katie Thering
• Eagle Scout Tom Olson
• Consultants: Natural Resources Restoration, Inc., Prairie Restorations, Inc. Applied
Ecological Services, Inc., Boonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik. & Assocs., Critical
Connections, Inc.
• Volunteers: - Nature Center Volunteers, Century College, Tri- District . School, other
school groups, scouts, neighbors
MAPLEWOOD NATURE CENTER &
NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVES 651-738-93 FAX: 631.-730-61-69
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD - 2659 EAST SEVENTH STREET MAPLEWOOD, MN 55119.
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
Audit Trial Balance
For Year Ended 2002
410
OPEN SPACE LAND ACQUISITION
Beginning Balance Debits
Credits
Ending Balance
Assets
101.0
CASH IN BANK
- 5,037.90 431,679.80
5
421,570.55
1090
INVESTMENTS
404,845.00 0.00
404,845.00
0.00
1300
INTEREST REC ON INVESTMENTS
1 0.00
1,851.00
0.00
Total Assets
401,658.10 431.,679.80
411,767.35
. 421,570.55 .
Equities
2600
FUND BALANCE - UNAPPROPRIATED
- 401,658.10 0.00
0.00
- 401
3000.
REVENUE CONTROL ACCOUNT
0.00 .2,833.87
24,983.80
- 22
4000
EXPENDITURE / EXPENSE CONTROL
0.00 2
0.00
2
Total Equities
.-401,658.10 5,071.35
24,983.80
- 421,570.55
Total OPEN SPACE LAND ACQUISITION
0.00 436,751.15
436,751.15
0.00
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
Audit Trial Balance
For Year Ended 2.002
REVENUES
Current
YTD
Budget
Revenues:
Balance
0.00
22
- 22
0.04
22,149.93
- 22,149.93
0.00
.22,149.93
-229-1 49.93
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
Audit Trial Balance
r: Ended 2002
410 OPEN SPACE LAND ACQUISITION
.0.00 '
'000 -4480 FEES FOR' SERVICE
000 -4930 INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEES
Total '
Expenditures OPEN SPACE LAND ACQUISITION
1=Xp1=n1n1T1 iQ9:c
Current
YTD
Budget'
Expenditures
Balance.
0.00
8.00
-8.00
0.00
2,229.48
- 2
0.00
2,237.48
- 2,237:48
.. .' _ ..
Ob
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interoffice
O;R A N D U M
M E M
to: Bruce Anderson
from: Ann Hutchinson
s u b j ect: ' MNC Focus
date: Janux 7 2002
Bruce, attached is the report that you had asked me for reQardinc. evaluat' n •' c
• i and main _
suggestions for broadening our environmental base and at a minimum Ioo �'na at
consolidation
b etween nature center and neighborhood preserves into one division title chancre.
BACKGROUND: Recently, Naturalist Judy orsnell retired, and the N ature Cent i�r is n the
planning stages for new exhibits and roof. It seemed like ' a good o o - -
PP rruty to sake stocl, of our
direction, and examine possible shift in focus before hiring a new eis A re •;
p on and b..fo... d..�icng on
the new retrofit for the building, in case changes were needed.
Questions that have been nag zinc at-us are:
+ How successful have we been in muting our mission staternent see ^�a
_e "Z
Have our past methods of programming been enough to change the ublic ti•' --
mind set?
p en iro nn.... -- al
Do we need to do more educatin of adults P '- •
g lts to se., so short t�nn b..n ..tits, as we All as
continue the long term benefits of educating youth?
Could the city as a whole be doing a better job of addressing v u s .
` environm n .rn,.l.tal i.. s � %.
If so, what would the Nature Center and Preserves lay?
P .
Staff met with Bruce Anderson, Parks and Recreation director to brainstorm ainstorm ideas. Start had
internal discussion meetings to evaluate these and related uesti e l •
q ons, then open the disc �ssion
up to three groups: Parks and Recreation Commiss a core you of
nat ure re center volunteers.
and the Open Space Task Force .Advisory Committee. The uestions •
q that were discussed were.
What is the role of the city in administerinp, natural resources v
and environmental issues?
What are some of the key environmental issues facie the c i t y ?
t .
'+ Is it appropriate for the Nature center and Preserve to address so '
me of these issues, if so,
how?
DISCUSSION GROUP SUIViNL4RY
1. Parks Commission felt it was the role of the city o educate
ty and not to re that the
different layers of bureaucracy (county, state federal were confusing enou h. Folks would
probably be open to some sort of broad based coordinating r •
g oup that included the ti�anous
governing organizations. The group thought that it was ap ro nate for the cit to re '
P P ty gulate city
property and open space, and liked what we had done so far with the buc kthorn . kthorn pamphlet, and
M ��� . ���� � �. � • � ��•� •• '- � .mow � . �r.� �i � �� ..
r -
r'
f Bruce Anderson
Page 2
January 7, 2002
thought demonstrations' of native pl ant ant gardens or rainwater gardens on city ro e L • would e
" �' P P � b
very appropriate. They felt it was the role of the Parks ks Department and Commission to P romote
.education and to manage natural resources.
' 2. Nature Center and Preserve Volun '
nteers consisted of five volunteers whose main job are
trail guides for element a e children. _
�'Y g Comments vaned but felt that overall it was most
important to educate, because with out education eo •
p pie won't follow the l' i
law 'even if there s
one. They felt we have been very successful with lower eleme •
. ntary a w es, and are providing and
important long -term benefit of connecting eo Ie with the out o .
P P of doors. It is important that �� e
get people from the community involved a l e volunte .. P y They also felt the buckthorn
brochure was a good educational tool, that there seems t o be a nemd for that kind •
of education.
Thev do not see Nature Center and Neighborhood Presen7e �o .
� s as one entity, do not 1 zlh� at she
public know that the open space is there. The also erceive �-
y P city parrs as s vN7nars and ball zlelds,
not as nature pr..s,. rves. Vixen the idea of a new name.vvas discussed most felt ' v�• '
It aS L';lp O I'L2�'1I
to keep the terra'Nature Center, as they felt it was easily identif p - - •
y i able and people kn..� •rat to
expect. They did feel it was the role of nature center and reserves t Q
�' P • o rr�ana the r and
address environmental issues- but not at the expense of losing our highly succes
.. _ sful educational
programs for elementary. ages.
3. Open Space Advis' Task Force felt that our efforts r , •
s of educatinQ _ v ouch are �aluaole' and
should not be discontinued, but that it was also v important portant to address the ne..ds of adult
landowners. They felt it was essential that en�•ironm issues ssues and natural resources be
addressed at a city level - the most basic and local of all ley •
els. Members felt overall that a shift
in focus from primarily nature stud to a sustainability c •
. Y enter or house addressing kev
community environmental issues would be timely, necessary, and a market o 1
opportunity both for
the nature center and .the commuru ty as a whole.
The emphasis should also be im e
pl mented at the department head level, and the cit hould
incorporate . orate sustaina �
rp -sustainable codes, ordinances and programs that would identify '
• „ .. fy the city as
"' Sustainable". Inherent in sustainabili is the idea of e •
�' ef ficiency, and lowering tax dollars, and it
was felt that people would be attracted to sustainable ro •
p grams that make the city a great place
to work and live. one idea .was to get businesses would contribut
to some of their gross to a
"stewardship fund" that would help anae that idea of a new
P te
� city's natural resources. � when the i
name was proposed, people felt that Nature Center should be eliminated '
o t , as the idea of having to
g o a nature center to study nature promotes a myth that nature can only
y happen i n desi _nated
areas and has a "boundary ".
•
I
f '
(upgrade from clerk -tv ist in addition to •
P ) our current staff of Lead N aturalis one half
. t,
time naturalist, and one three quarter time naturalist, and a , co . of seasonal naturalists
turailsts
and interns.
Facilities include an outreach vehicle such a a v � .• •
s an or bus, a Iar er toolshed, and ti �sltor
center.
B. Broaden our base. Methods of educating shall include'
1. Core programs that occur on reserve sites on other city l '
P and, and In the
neighborhoods, that promote youth and adult aNxareness, app
reciation and stems• '
ardshlp of
natural resources:
.4. Service learning and stewardship oriented roar
p p ` arr s at preserves and in
community.
B. Most successful of our current rozrar�.s' including -
P Fur T1.3de, H411o��e�n
Haunt, Pond Study.
C. New programs addTeSSII1� the en% , tal issues I: to V
taw
s goo e.
D. - Increase the number of voluntee.s, and broaden the scope to include �-����
p or_..�..�., d
groups, and steu•ardsh: roara�n. and ^a-tne a in w it volunte°r or a. ' mot'
P P _ r ., h _ �Iiz�.6�ors
?. Interpretive exhibits
.4. Nature Center building models sustainable exhibits that inter r
- �� o ..t the na ~sl al
history and environmental stor v of e local area and orient v; to the
preserves.
B. Outdoor interpreti`•e signs on preser % cizv sites or ri� laid as
P
appropriate.
3. Demonstration Projects that model best rnanaQennent P ractices for business. homy
_
and ard.
.4. Nature Center building models sustainable building i
g an d II v ing practices such
as a green roof, solar shingles, composting, and recycling, etc.
v
B. City sites, Neighborhood Preserves (including nature center grounds ) and
private lands model native plant gardens, rainwater gardens, alternative lavu•ns.
storm %eater management, buckthorn removal, rairie and woodland restorations.
P
. 4. Educate through increased use of news media such as articles informational
brochures, u videos, TV and radio. J + L
50 N aturaI resource library at the interpretive building and ar~�nerinQ � a Local
P
library for a more extensive collection.
6. Increase artnershi s with Watershed Distric P
P P t, Ramsey County and others.
r
r
III. RECD: I'IE'D.�TIO'S F .
OR CE_�►.NGE.
♦ It is recommended that we increase - -
• the Open Space Naturalist position to full - time by
X00" Currently the position is a 60 - percent share "
P d with public ���orhs.
New naturalist osition should '
p Id remain at the nature center educatiney at our L
level.
., ; rassroots
We beiie%-e a name change w' o
ill emer from more discussion. There ��lil be a u bliclty
• p
opportunity to tie a name chancre into our � - - i
_nth a.�.nl� e.sar` event and new e�hlbits n
early 2 004.