Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 10/09/2014

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also state how solid waste from park users is recycled and disposed of consistent with applicable laws. • Public engagement and participation: A process to engage the public and involve affected municipalities in the development of the master plan. The community engagement process must seek to mitigate existing racial, ethnic, cultural or linguistic barriers and include diverse races, ethnicities, classes, ages, abilities and immigrant statuses. Additionally, regional park implementing agencies are encouraged to include transportation and transit planners in the development of a master plan. The process also must include timely notice to the affected municipality with an opportunity for the public to be heard. The master plan should include a summary of comment received, with emphasis on issues raised. • Public awareness: Plans for making the public aware of services available when the regional park is open, including how to access the park by transit, if applicable. • Accessibility: A plan that identifies special populations to be served by the facility and addresses accessibility, affordability and other measures designed to ensure that the facility can be used by members of special population groups. • Natural resources: As part of the master plan, there should be a natural- resource management component that includes: A Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) as a part of the master plan process. An NRI should include a land cover inventory that is consistent with the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System developed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the MetroGIS - a consortium of government entities in the region that create, manage and share digital geographic -based data in a geographic information system (GIS). The natural resource inventory should include native plant communities mapped in the Minnesota County Biological Survey and listed species (rare, endangered, and threatened) that are documented in the Natural Heritage Information System. The natural resource inventory may include other land -based information. The Council has created the Natural Resources Digital Atlas (NRDA) - an easy -to -use mapping application designed to assist communities and other organizations and users in the Twin Cities metropolitan area to identify and protect locally or regionally significant natural resources. Using consistent, region -wide information based on the above data or tool will assure compatibility with other natural resource inventories that have been completed or will be done in the metropolitan region. The Natural Resource Inventory should be a basis for projects /proposals to restore degraded resources and maintain high - quality natural resource features, including the estimated capital costs of natural resource restoration projects. Regional park implementing agencies should consult with natural resource professionals in the design and final construction of park facilities, especially trails, that are adjacent to or cross over natural resource areas. The final design and construction should allow the public to view and enjoy these natural habitats with minimal adverse impact on that habitat. Information on how surface water and groundwater resources in the unit, including wetlands, will be protected. This should include standards and requirements that are consistent with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's best management practices for stormwater management. The master plan should include provisions to, first, avoid wetland impacts;