MCWD Board of Managers Members Present : Lee Keeley

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE
CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
FOR THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT

Wednesday, November, 17, 2010

6:33 pm – 8:46 pm`

Members Present: Bill Bushnell, Tom Aasen, Duncan Steinman, Tony Goldenstein, John Iacono, Neil Weber, Steve Mohn, Tom Casey, Gerald Ciardelli, Robert Eastman, Marc Rosenberg

MCWD Board of Managers members present: Lee Keeley

MCWD Staff present: Julie Westerlund, Chandi McCracken, Aldis Kurmis, Becky Houdek, Steve Christopher

1. CALL TO ORDER:
   Chair Tony Goldenstein called the meeting to order at approximately 6:33 PM
   
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
   Moved by John Iacono, seconded by Robert Eastman. Unanimous approval.
   
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
   Moved by John Iacono, seconded by Neil Weber
   
4. OLD BUSINESS:
   None.
   
5. NEW BUSINESS

Staffing changes:

Introduction of Aldis Kurmis, Cost share specialist

Julie Westerlund announced that she is leaving MCWD for the DNR.

Shoreline Streambank Grant Application

Becky Houdek provided a presentation about the Shoreline Streambank Grant Application for a channel on Minneapolis Ave. draining to Jennings Bay in the City of Minnetrista . The city wants to repair an eroded channel using a bioengineering approach with a 50% cost share from MCWD. Wenck is the engineer on the project and they propose to clear brush along the channel and make brush bundles for the base of the slope, with erosion control blanket above with live willow stakes. It would also include 5-6 rock grade control structures with woody debris.

Questions arose about plans to grade the vertical slope, who is doing the work and property ownership. Becky Houdek explained that at this time there is no plan to grade the slope, as the engineer has worked on stream restoration projects and determined that grading for this project should not be necessary. An application has been submitted to the Conservation Corps for 5 workers for this project, and that approval will be determined in January 2011. The City of Minnetrista has a type of easement over the property, which is privately owned.

Tom Casey asked about what the cause of erosion is upstream and what can be done to prevent this project from eroding away in the future. Becky responded that they are mostly private residences, overland flow and there could be potential for education about stormwater management.

Becky explained that the Grant Criteria is covered in that the project as follows:

Reduce sediment build up in bay

Stream/channel restoration is not done much by the district

Collaboration between the city and conservation corps

The City will provide public works labor, staff work with MCWD to oversee project.

Public outreach – pictures will be taken and placed on the website potentially. Map of all grant projects eventually listed on the website.

Staff recommends for approval.

In response to questions Becky said the length of project is about 350’, and the number of properties in the channel watershed is unknown, but it covers a fairly large area. A maintenance agreement would be included.
Neil Weber requested that staff bring Wenck’s information and design back after the project is completed to show how they determined the correct design for the project.

John Iacono moved and Neil Weber seconded approval with the condition that information is brought back to the CAC about design and a recommendation that education about stormwater practices is implemented upstream to prevent this erosion from occurring at the site in the future. - Unanimous

Cynthia Krieg

Questions were asked about how this was advertised for and Julie replied that they are included in press releases, community newsletters, partners, website, but we don’t want to advertise too broadly because it is a limited audience because it is not for personal , individual residents.

The CAC wanted to know if what is presented to the board is actually a representation from CAC, and not edited into staff recommendation. Julie replied that the CAC is advisory to the board, may submit both recommendations if necessary for the CAC and staff. The point of starting with the staff recommendations is that we wanted to give a starting point for discussions. The comments provided are to give applicants a reason about why their application did or did not get approved.

Start with general comments about each application:

Freshwater Society – like this proposal for at least partial funding. They were fairly general in who they were targeting. This is a society that we know can deliver.

Metro Blooms – CAC liked this proposal and we know they do a good job from previous projects.

Mpls Public Schools – in general the CAC liked this proposal.

Hamline – like this proposal, especially that they were getting good match. We have worked with them before on interactive software and many of our teachers have attended the Rivers Institute.

Armatage Montessori – Concern about Metro Blooms being partners. They should show us their financials. Julie pointed out that we do receive an annual year-end report. Also concerns about whether Metro Blooms is dependent on us to continue their organization. Julie pointed out that long term funded programs are better so they can develop a good track record.

Alliance for Sustainability – CAC likes finding a new group to target.

Lake Minnewashta – CAC commented that it would be more appropriate for this kind of plan to be at an infected lake. Julie pointed out that the proposed temperatures are not high enough to eliminate zebra mussels and dangerous for the public to use and they don’t have a plan to drain into sanitary sewer. The CAC would like to partially fund for the education portion.

MN Landscape Arboretum – CAC was not sure about this one as it seemed expensive and it is “preaching to the choir.” Julie said it would just be reducing the arboretum’s cost, they will likely still put up some signage, but these prices are the same as the MCWD pays for high-quality signs. Interpretive signs along boardwalk trail, huge reach, but no way to track outcomes.

Central States Water – There were concerns that this was just a way for businesses to promote themselves and wanted to know how partial funding was decided. Julie commented that it is a consortium of private and public organizations and staff believes that it is important to recognized that something needs to be done about our failing infrastructure. We dicided to go with an amount that did not make MCWD a major contributor because that would require that we have more involvement than we have time to put in. Also donors cannot dictate what the documentary covers, as long as it stays within the scope of the project. Partial funding would be acceptable.

Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis – most did not see a clear outcome for this project.

Kenwood Elementary – There is only a minimum number of people this is reaching and difficult to work with single teacher instead of at a higher level within the school.

Field Regina Northrup Neighborhood Group – CAC would like to fund this project since it is a small amount and it is good to establish a relationship with neighborhood groups.

City of Shorewood – CAC would not like to fund this grant and see that the current grants are completed first, especially since this proposal was poorly put together.

South Lake Excelsior Chamber of Commerce – CAC did not just want to fund the art fair, there is little benefit for the district in the project.

Twin Cities Chapter of Wild Ones – not interested in funding as it doesn’t appear to describe how the video and presentation will be distributed, so no definite clean water outcomes.

John Iacono made the motion to accept the following funding amounts and Tom Casey seconded with unanimous approval.

Wild Ones $0

South Lake Excelsior Chamber of Commerce - $0

City of Shorewood - $0

Field Regina Northrup Neighborhood Group - $1,027

Kenwood School - $0

Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis $5,000

Central State Water Environment - $3,000

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum - $5,000

Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association - $5,000

Alliance for sustainability - $5,000

Armatage Montessori School - $3,000

Hamline University CGEE - $20,000

Metro Blooms – $21,000

Freshwater Society - $23,750

Minneapolis Public Schools - $20,000

1. ACTION ITEMS
   None
   
2. NEXT MEETING
   The next CAC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 15
   
3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
   Feedback – It was good to have Staff make recommendations to work off of and move things along.
   
4. ADJOURN
   Iacono moved to adjourn meeting, second and unanimous approval followed. The meeting adjourned at 8:46 pm.