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<br />with the direction of creating this inventory; it will be brought back at a future meeting with firm <br />dollars attached. <br /> <br />Zoning & Recycling Coordinator Anderson explained the concept of a natural resources <br />inventory has been discussed with the EPB over the past couple of months. A comprehensive <br />inventory and assessment of the City's natural resources would benefit the City in many ways, <br />but especially with regard to future land use decisions and long-range planning. The City has <br />taken steps to protect some of their natural resources, and has adopted two ordinances over the <br />past several years intended to protect natural resources or individual resources overall. However, <br />this has been almost a piecemeal approach because they do not have the big picture, which is <br />what this type of inventory would provide. Mr. Anderson stated a natural resources inventory <br />would provide a blueprint for the City to guide more sustainable development; it would highlight <br />open space with significant natural features and potential greenway corridors. The inventory <br />would hopefully locate areas for natural community restoration, and would identify unique <br />species and/or habitats, as well as state listed threatened or endangered species found within the <br />City. The results of a natural resources inventory could be incorporated into the Comprehensive <br />Plan when it is updated. <br /> <br />Mr. Anderson stated there are existing data sources that could be integrated into a natural <br />resources inventory including the MLCCS (Minnesota Land Cover Classification System), the <br />Greenways Draft Study completed by the ACD, and the soon to be completed wetlands functions <br />and values study. A thorough review of existing data will determine what other pertinent <br />information is still lacking and will help limit, or even reduce, the overall cost of a natural <br />resources inventory. Mr. Anderson indicated at this time, staff does not have any definitive cost <br />estimates for a natural resources inventory. However, a natural resources inventory would be an <br />eligible expenditure of monies from the Landfill Tipping Fee Fund and staff would recommend <br />utilizing that fund to cover the expense of the inventory. If directed to proceed, staff will <br />cultivate the scope of the project and then draft an RFP for Council review. Once proposals have <br />been submitted, staff would provide Council with an anticipated cost to complete the inventory. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec commented there has been a lot of concern over things like the wetland buffer <br />ordinance. He inquired if this inventory would involve an open meeting. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen explained this inventory will provide the baseline of information that <br />is needed to formalize the City's policies and ordinances. She stated this inventory is long <br />overdue. An important piece of the scope will be for someone to think through the <br />implementation of the inventory, and that it becomes routine to check the inventory for <br />information. <br /> <br />Councilmember Elvig concurred. He clarified that at this point there will be an RFP prepared. <br />He noted the EPB has recommended the inventory be periodically maintained to be certain it <br />remains valuable. He suggested the maintenance portion of this be included in the specifications <br />for the RFP, possibly as an add/alternate. <br /> <br />Councilmember Cook concurred. <br /> <br />City Council / October 24, 2006 <br />Page 9 of 20 <br />