Agenda - Council - 06/09/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE # 5 APPROVE CONTRACT FOR SEDIMENTATION BASIN IMPROVEMENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR MISSISSIPPI WEST REGIONAL PARK By: Mark Riverblood, Parks Supervisor Background: In the early 1990' s the Rivenwick subdivision was platted along the Mississippi River, east of the proposed Mississippi West Regional Park. As part of this platting the city and county gained public land along the river in exchange for developable land nearer highways # 1 0 & # 169. As part of this agreement, the City gained a trail along the river and also a sedimentation pond (by easement) within some of this county park property. This case addresses ecological improvements within approximately 20 acres of county land between the abovementioned subdivision and the river. Ramsey's sed basin consists of one acre within this 20 acre space, and also serves the same subdivision. Observations: The proposed ecological improvements to the county park land will be accomplished by collaboration between the Anoka Conservation District, Anoka County Parks, Great River Greening, and the City of Ramsey - funded by a grant from the Board of Soil and Water Resources (BSWR). There are two primary values to facilitating the work proposed within the attached contract and work plan, and will be addressed somewhat separately below: Sedimentation basin All sed ponds require periodic maintenance, generally consisting of vegetation management and occasionally excavation or removal of silt, sand and debris that is washed via the stormwater system into these holding areas. In the case of the Rivenwick sedimentation basin, Public Works staff has been cutting and chipping brush in this one-acre pond approximately every other year. This activity requires a minimum of two workers more than one half day. According to the adopted rates and charges table, this is a cost greater than $1,300 per event, or an expense of$650 annually. The primary purpose of organizing the collaboration between Great River Greening and the other parties named above is that the City may embark upon the normally scheduled pond maintenance, and thereafter turn over the vegetation management to Anoka County Parks to be performed with their adjoining vegetation management in this larger park space. Over a timeframe of 25 years, this will save Ramsey approximately $16,250 (in 2009 dollars). The added value is that the way this grant was organized, the City will also be compensated $3,000 for brush and stump removal already planned for, and another $1,265 dollars for administration related time and expenses for 'passing through' the grant monies from the Conservation District to Greening and Anoka County Parks.