Minutes - Council - 08/13/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Case #3: Metro Greenways Planning Grant Parks/Utilities Supervisor Boos stated that the purpose of the case was to announce that the City and the Anoka Conservation District were successful in receiving funding for the DNR Greenway Grant. The $35,000 grant, ($17,500 cash from the DNR, the balance, in-kind contributions from the District and the City) has several objectives and "deliverables". Mr. Boos explained that the City Council authorized applying for the Greenway Grant on January 22, 2002. A large part of Ramsey's contribution will be the public work sessions as part of the Master Trail Plan process. These meetings have been scheduled, which will be included in the next issue of the Ramsey Resident. City Council, staff and most residents are very interested in natural resource protection strategies that are reasonable and manageable with Ramsey's long tenn development. There are a number of significant outcomes to this planning grant, which are expected to assist in achieving this goal, some of which are bulleted below.: · A comprehensive inventory is conducted of natural resources and landcover of all 29 square miles of Ramsey. · Landcover is mapped using digitized DNR standard protocol, which will be of benefit to all City Departments. · Significant natural resources are identified, which include wetland typing and detailed information on soils and existing land use. · Wildlife corridors with significant natural resources and habitat diversity are identified. · Plans can be developed to enhance, protect or restore the above habitats. These habitats can be potentially connected to one another, to improve their function along public trail routes, ditches or private lands if desired. Rich Biske, Anoka County Conservation District, explained that the grant will provide for a land cover mapping of the City, which will then be placed into a coding system established by the Mim~esota DNR that would identify things such as how many houses per acre, the species of trees in an area, etc. Mr. Biske explained that the information is included in the GIS, which becomes very beneficial to the City. Councihnember Zimmerman inquired if the $17,500 is split between the district. Parks/Utilities Supervisor Boos explained that the City's contribution is the meetings the City will be holding for the master trail plan and staff time. There will be no cash contribution required from the City. There was no action required. Case #4: Authorization for an Agreement with MnDOT for the Park and Ride Facility City Administrator Norman stated that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) operates the NORTHSTAR COMMUTER COACH demonstration project along Trunk Highway #10 between Elk River and downtown Minneapolis. The demonstration project currently has City Council/August 13, 2002 Page 10 of 25