01/06/03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REVIEW ACTION ITEMS Releaf Grant Mr. Bacon informed the Task Force that the Releaf Grant is a funding source through DNR. There are 3 qualifying project categories: forest health protection, community forest assessment, tree planting. The grant limit per project is $7,500.00. The City has used these funds in the past for the oak wilt program. The preliminary application deadline is March 3, 2003; the funds would be available after the fiscal year commences on July 1. Mr. Bacon noted that the City did perform tree inventories in 1979 and 1992 by resident Rick Dahlman and Kunde Co., respectively. Both Mr. Dahlman and Kunde Co. are willing to meet with the EPTF regarding the scope of another inventory. Discussion ensued regarding the possibility of utilizing Releaf funds to ground truth various locations established in the ground cover survey that Anoka County Soil and Water District (ACSWD) is performing as part of the Metro Greenway Corridor grant the City received. Erika Sitz arrived at 7:07 p.m. Mr. Max noted that 2 issues relating to the dovetailing of Releaf funds for ground truthing the land cover survey are: 1) the releaf grant funds would not be available until July 1 and the ACSWD will be done with their ground cover survey by March; and 2) perhaps the results of the ground cover survey is all the detail the City needs; what more useful information would the City gain for that $7500? Mr. Max suggested looking at alternative uses for Releaf funds. Following Saturday's work on the ordinance, Mr. McDilda will put together the entire draft ordinance and bring it to the EPTF for review. Parking Lot Items Ms. Dvorak stated that two items on the Parking Lot List (developing a list of preferred, acceptable and unacceptable trees, and developing a maintenance manual) should be merged into one task, noting that the document will evolve into an educational document for distribution to the public. Tree List Mr. Max stated that the tree list document will be more than a list; it should encourage use of local nurseries, explain how to plant, how to prune, how to deal with construction and preserving trees, resources where additional information may be obtained, etc.. This endeavor will require funding and Margaret Connolly is working on that part of the task. Ms. Dvorak and Ms. Sitz volunteered to help Mr. Max with the booklet. Ms. Strommen said that she is sure Ms. Connolly would also like to help with this educational tool.