HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-08-08 PACKET 04.J.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION
COUNCIL
MEETING
DATE 8/8/12
Parks and Recreation
AGENDA
ITEM #
Zac Dockter
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Consider recommending approval of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Friends of
the Mississippi River to restore and enhance the natural communities of the Gateway North
Open Space areas with a project expense of up to $70,000 with up to $10,000 match from
City.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommend approval of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Friends of the
Mississippi River to restore and enhance the natural communities of the Gateway North Open
Space areas with a project expense of up to $70,000 with up to $10,000 match from City.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
❑ MEMO /LETTER:
❑ RESOLUTION:
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
❑ OTHER:
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
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H: \Grants \GNOS - FMR \Council Action Form.doc
DATE REVIEWED
APPROVED
DENIED
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PLANNING ❑
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PUBLIC SAFETY ❑
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PUBLIC WORKS ❑
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PARKS AND RECREATION ❑
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HUMAN SERVICES /RIGHTS ❑
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ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY ❑
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SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
❑ MEMO /LETTER:
❑ RESOLUTION:
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
❑ OTHER:
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
P d
H: \Grants \GNOS - FMR \Council Action Form.doc
City of
Cotta Grove
Minnesota
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director
CC:
Date: July 24, 2012
Subject: Gateway North Open Space Restoration
Introduction
The City of Cottage Grove Parks Commission and City Council approved the Natural Resources
Management Plan for the Gateway North Open Space public property located north of 80 Street and
west of Hardwood Avenue (aka; Camel's Hump Park Area) during the spring of 2012. Since that time,
staff has been seeking grant and other funding opportunities towards implementation of the plan's
restoration recommendations.
Background
The City has been working closely with the Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) organization on the
management of this land. Staff recently met with FMR to discuss continuing this partnership in the area
of native plant restorative work. As such, FMR was able to secure $60,000 from the Lessard -Sams
Outdoor Heritage Council (part of the Metro Rivers Big Habitat Partnership) which can be used to
restore and enhance the natural communities within the Gateway North Open Space area. The City
would be responsible for expenses of up to $10,000 as a match to execute the grant. If the grant
moves forward, this funding would likely complete the work outlined as phase 1 of 3 in the Gateway
North Open Space Natural Resources Management Plan. The work would utilize both hired services
as well as volunteer programming to eliminate invasive species and enhance habitat for native species.
Work to be performed would include but is not limited to cutting, trimming, brushing, burning, spraying
and disease control. All services will come under the direction of the FMR ecological staff and City
staff. Work would take place as early as fall of 2012.
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Recommendation
Recommend approval of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Friends of the Mississippi River
to restore and enhance the natural communities of the Gateway North Open Space areas.
Draft
Memorandum of Understanding Between
Friends of the Mississippi River
And
The City of Cottage Grove
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes a partnership between
Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) and the City of Cottage Grove Minnesota for the
purposes of conducting restoration and enhancement activities within the Gateway North
Open Space Area, as described in the Gateway North Open Space Natural Resource
Management Plan.
Together, the Parties enter into this Memorandum of Understanding to mutually improve
the natural communities within the Gateway North Open Space Area. Accordingly, FMR
and the City of Cottage Grove operating under this MOU agree as follows:
I. PURPOSE AND SCOPE
Whereas, the City of Cottage Grove has an interest in improving the natural communities
within the Gateway North Open Space Area and providing access to its residents; and
Whereas, FMR has an interest in improving the natural communities within the Gateway
North Open Space Area; and
Whereas the staff of FMR have the technical knowledge and experience to effectively
manage the ecological restoration and enhancement at the Gateway North Open Space
Area; and
Whereas, FMR has been awarded a grant from the Lessard -Sams Outdoor Heritage
Council, as part of the Metro Big Rivers Habitat partnership, which can be utilized for
restoring and enhancing the natural communities within the Gateway North Open Space
Area; and
Whereas, The City of Cottage Grove agrees to contribute up to $10,000 toward the
Draft
restoration and enhancement of the natural communities within the Gateway North Open
Space Area;
Therefore, in consultation with Staff from the City of Cottage Grove, FMR agrees to
enhance 4 acres of prairie /savanna and 26 acres of forest, for the total sum of no more
than $70,000.
II. Deliverables
Using the Gateway North Open Space Natural Resource Management Plan, FMR will
conduct activities to enhance the natural communities within the Gateway North Open
Space Area. These activities include: hiring a contractor(s) to remove exotic invasive
woody species from forested portions, remove woody plants from and conduct a
prescribed burn on prairie portions of the area and organizing a volunteer stewardship
event. Using an adaptive management approach to enhancing the natural features of the
site, FMR may find it necessary to use other techniques to achieve the goals. FMR will
consult with city staff prior to utilizing other techniques not specifically identified in this
MOU.
III. RESPONSIBILITIES
Each party will appoint a person to serve as the official contact and to coordinate the
activities of each organization in carrying out this MOU. The initial appointees of each
organization are:
Friends of the Mississippi River
Tom Lewanski, DPA
360 North Robert Street, Suite 400
St. Paul, MN 55101
651- 222 -2193 Ext. 12
tlewanski @fmr.org
The City of Cottage Grove
Zac Dockter
Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Director
8635 W. Pt. Douglas Rd.
Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Phone: 651- 458 -2847
Fax: 651- 458 -6080
zdockter @cottage - grove.org
The partnering organizations agree to the following tasks for this MOU:
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FMR will:
• Conduct the activities described in this MOU in accordance with applicable
standards in a workman like manner.
• Notify the city's designated contact when they plan to be on -site to conduct
activities associated with this project.
• Secure all permits, variances, and/or official permission required to conduct the
activities
• Submit invoices in timely manner.
The City of Cottage Grove will:
• Assist FMR in obtaining any necessary permits.
• Be available to consult on the project.
• Pay invoices promptly.
• Grant permission to Friends of the Mississippi River to conduct enhancement
activities at this site.
• Conduct outreach required to inform neighborhood/community of the activities
associated with this enhancement project.
• Not undo the enhancement activities performed by FMR.
IV. TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING
The term of this MOU is for a period of 2 years. Changes to this MOU must be in
writing and signed by the official contacts from both organizations.
Authorization
On behalf of the organization I represent, I agree to fulfill my responsibilities outlined in
this MOU.
Thomas Lewanski, DPA Date:
Conservation Director
Friends of the Mississippi River
Myron Bailey Date:
Mayor
Draft
The City of Cottage Grove
Caron Stransky Date:
City Clerk
The City of Cottage Grove
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