DRAFT MINUTES OF THE
CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
FOR THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT
6:00 p.m. on July 21, 2011
CAC Members Present: Mark Washa, Tom Aasen, Duncan Steinman, John Iacono, Nina Holiday Lynch, Marc Rosenberg, Tom Casey, Bill Bushnell, Patty Acomb, Jerry Ciardelli, Bob Eastman
MCWD Staff present: Eric Evenson, David Mandt, Steve Christopher, Aldis Kurmis, Joe Barten, Kelly Dooley, Will Hertel, Rob Brown, Erik Cedarleaf Dahl, Trevor Born
MCWD Managers present: Jim Calkins, Brian Shekleton, Lee Keeley, Richard Miller, Jeff Casale, Pamela Blixt, Bill Olson
I. Call meeting to order (Chair Eastman) at 6:05 p.m.
II. Attendance/Seating of Altermates:
- No alternates
III. Approval 5-19-11 minutes: Iacono moved, Casey 2nd, Unanimous approval
- Casey would like page numbers on minutes
IV. Approval of Agenda: Iacono moved, Casey 2nd, Unanimous approval
V. Old Business
- Dave Mandt – Watershed training rescheduled
- James sent out a revised schedule
VI. New Business
- Presentation of new website
- Mandt – Staff who built site will present at request of Board
Overview of process for creating website
Site is 98% complete, would like feedback from CAC
- Iacono – Banner photo moving on website is distracting
Mandt – Staff will consider alternatives
- Hertel – Explains new features of website
Casey – Does the RSS feed work with email
Hertel – It is designed for smartphones but can be linked to email
Bushnell – Will site work on different size screens?
Hertel – Yes
- Mandt – Minutes of meetings will be able to be searched and board can comment
Comments not public
- Dahl – Presents on Comprehensive Plan section of website
Mandt – Comp plan major accomplishment
Could have costed up to $60,000 if outsourced, but we did it in-house
Dahl – Presents on Projects section of website
Ciardelli – Are photos printable?’
Dahl – Yes, that function is coming
Eastman – Who will run staff updates?
Dahl – Many different people can do it
Mandt – Administrative rights will be decided later
Eastman – Likes that staff could do website build in house to save money
Iacono – Concerns about the site being hacked?
Hertel – Drupal protects against that with passwords
- Born – Presents on Education section of website
Casey – What is the webcam of?
Mandt – Lake Minnetonka. The search history of old site determined what was carried over
Eastman – Who keeps track of who uses site?
Hertel – There is automatic system, site is not live to public yet
Casey – Are conservation easements shown on site?
Mandt – Hasn’t been uploaded yet
Casey – Easements would be helpful, something similar to the tour of the District
Mandt – Site also shows maps of canoeing on creek and Lk Mtka
Born – Explains social media aspect of site
- Dooley – Presents on Data Center section of website
Casey – We need to consider what grade means for lakes and educate people and add explanations of lake grades
Dooley – We are trying to do that with this site. Current site doesn’t explain it well but the new site will link to full explanations of the lake grades
- Barten – Presents on Grants and Permits section of website
Iacono – Does site explain how much permits cost?
Barten – Yes
Bushnell – Does site explain timeline for obtaining permits?
Barten – We will add that to the site
- Mandt – Presents on the next steps for the website
- Hertel – Presents on the water quality database
Mandt – Interactive mapping coming to website, goal is end of year, now doing RFP’s
Aasen – Appreciates lake level and discharge info. Is it possible to add information on rapids downstream or information on when it is safe to paddle the creek?
Mandt – We will look into that, we don’t have info on rapids but could add more on status of canoeing safety
Casey – Would like to see more information on history of District, possibly from DVD
Mandt – Putting DVD on site was attempted, requires more work, will have some history information
Ciardelli – Is funding explained on site?
Mandt – Yes
- Kurmis - Cost Share Applications
- Kurmis – Proposal #1 - Permeable Paver Driveway - 301 W Minnehaha Pkwy, MPLS
Requests $2,500 in cost share funds
Total project is 50 to 60 thousand dollars
Gerarldi – Are pavers at end of drive? Or two locations?
Kurmis – There are two locations, some above and some below
Iacono moved, Bushnell 2nd, Unanimous approval
- Kurmis – Proposal #2 – Raingarden - 4048 Hull Road, Minnetonka
Requests $489.84
Eastman – Any questions?
Iacono moved, Bushnell 2nd, Unanimous approval
- Kurmis – Proposal #3 – Raingarden - 5153 Beard Ave S, Minneapolis
Requests $154.50
Eastman – Questions?
Casey – Is it big enough to do anything?
Kurmis – Yes, it will handle a 1.25’’ storm event
Iacono moved, Steinman 2nd, Unanimous approval
- Kurmis – Proposal #4 – Raingarden - 3230 15th Ave S, Minneapolis
Requests $484.85
Eastman – Is funding per SF of raingarden ever compared?
Kurmis – It is but different projects must consider walls and other conditions
Washa – Who does landscape plans?
Kurmis – Metro Blooms
Acomb – Is that how people find out about cost share?
Kurmis – People call for consultations, can do own design, recommend Metro Blooms
Iacono – Have total of $4,500 spent today. How does that compare with total budget?
Kurmis – We have approved large projects, we still have money in budget
Casey – Have gauge for us to see how much has been spent and how much is left?
Kurmis – We have approximately $100,000 left this year
Iacono moved, Washa 2nd, Unanimous approval
- Kurmis – Proposal #5 – 2 Raingardens - 5054 Vincent Ave S, Minneapolis
Request $810.90
Bushnell – Why does it cost more?
Kurmis – Retaining wall adds cost. People must show invoices for costs
Aasen – What type of wall?
Kurmis – Material information in plans. The existing wall is being extended
Iacono moved, Ciardelli 2nd, Unanimous approval
- Kurmis - Cost Share Program Update
Outcomes
Things going well
Issues to address
Kurmis – Lack of follow through on projects, need for intense help for homeowners, maintenance declaration requirements (don’t want to do it), limited movement on SSTS (people only want money because they are forced to do it).
Solutions to these problems: partnership with Metro Blooms, be upfront with people on maint. requirements
Jerry – What projects need maint. declarations?
Kurmis – Shoreline
Kurmis – Will send out survey to find out how to improve program
Want to work with planning to target areas for projects
Washa – Mayans built stormwater structures with little maint. Why can’t we do that?
Kurmis – Always looking for projects with little maintenance. Will consider suggestions.
Washa – Is sediment usually the problem?
Kurmis – Yes
Casey – Like idea of working with planning
Christopher – Some projects fall within MPLS study area
Washa – Is there an interactive portion of website for grants?
Kurmis – Will be something similar to permitting
Christopher – Should send survey to all people with possible projects, not just those who cancelled projects
Steinman – What about the people that backed out of SSTS?
Aldis – People didn’t back out, they were not qualified for funds because they were required to do it
Steinman – Are we considering getting rid of SSTS?
Aldis – It would be difficult to limit removal of programs to just SSTS, it is a possibility, but by doing so other programs could be affected
Lynch – In shoreline restorations, is first step contacting Metro Blooms?
Aldis – No, not with shoreline. I do consultation first, then schedule meeting with contractor and homeowner to discuss
- Christopher – Low Impact Development Permit Applications
- 8879 Minnetonka Blvd, St. Louis Park
Christopher – Is a 5 lot residential subdivision
Stormwater requirements are exceeded
Property owner will do maintenance
The site has Education and demonstration value
Is a good opportunity for a LID project
Proposed bioretention basins to handle 2,10, and 100 year storm events
Will handle most of the 100 year events
Staff recommends 50% funding not to exceed $41,000.
Iacono – What budget does this come from?
Christopher – Comes from LID fund, $500,000 budget
Tom – What motivates builder to do this?
Christopher – Engineer has done similar projects, helps encourage owner
Tom – Does city have benefits? Are they able to get higher density?
Christopher – Infrastructure costs are cheaper
Iacono – How do we know it costs more than otherwise?
Christopher – Engineers cost estimates are submitted to MCWD?
Rosenberg – Was there existing infrastructure?
Christopher – Only a single family home was on site
Washa – Do developments have higher costs for a development vs. an individual lot?
Christopher – Grading costs are higher to send to just one area
Rosenberg – Will development association take care of maintenance?
Christopher – A single entitiy will sign for maintenance requirements, usually it is the case to keep it that way
Bushnell – Is the development individual homes?
Christopher – Yes
Bushnell moved, Tom 2nd, Unanimous approval
- Tom – Please educate CAC on what motivates developers to go beyond requirements
Bushnell moved, Tom 2nd, Unanimous approval
- Eastman – Updates on subcommittees at next meeting
What does staff have for next meeting?
Christopher – Haven’t been told of any updates
Tom – Update on woodland cove?
Christopher – Can give timeline now:
Have complete permit application
Exceed SW rule both the old and new
Will go before board in August
Tom – Would like information to make recommendation
Christopher – Board won’t make decision until after CAC
Eastman – What recommendation is requested?
Tom – Would like the information that the board has on Woodland Cove
Christopher – I will send that out to CAC
Eastman – Will talk about woodland cove at next meeting
I do like the website, is well done and impressive to have been done by staff
Steve will update on Woodland cove at next meeting
Will have updates on subcommittees
Bushnell moved, Iacono 2nd, Unanimous approval to adjourn
VIII. Next Meeting: August 18, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
IX. Adjourn: 8:30 p.m.
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