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<br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Acting Chairperson OIds, Board Members Bentz, Harvey, <br />Max, and Sibilski. Voting No: None. Absent: Chairperson McDilda and Board Member <br />Freeburg <br /> <br />POLICY BOARD BUSINESS <br /> <br />Case #1: <br /> <br />Natural Resources Inventory Draft Report Presentation <br /> <br />Environmental Coordinator Anderson introduced Liza Gould and Amy Carolan, <br />Botanists/Plant Ecologists for Bonestroo & Associates. Bonestroo & Associates <br />compiled a draft Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) report. They completed a majority <br />of the ground-truthing work. <br /> <br />Environmental Coordinator Anderson explained that in March of 2007, the City hired <br />Bonestroo & Associates to complete the report. Ms. Gould and Ms. Carolan were invited <br />to present the draft report and answer questions from members of the EPB. The goal is to <br />schedule the draft report as an agenda item for an upcoming Council meeting after <br />receiving comments from the EPB. <br /> <br />Ms. Carolan stated the draft report was presented to the City on Wednesday. She <br />reported on the background and methodology. The goal was to get information to <br />provide guidance to the City on the location of quality natural areas, unique features, and <br />potential greenways to help guide growth and planning in the City. The overall vision <br />was to have this information for the quality and timing of the updated Comprehensive <br />Plan. She stated the City is fortunate to have good background information available. <br />The Anoka County Conservation District completed the Minnesota Land Cover <br />Classification System (MLCCS) mapping in 2000-2002. It was a great starting point but <br />none of the existing data in the MLCCS had been field verified. That presented problems <br />when using it for planning. The City also has a Wetland Inventory/Functions and Values <br />Assessment that was completed in 2006. That provided good information about the <br />higher quality wetland areas, but omitted ground information about lower quality areas. <br />Bonestroo & Associates captured the MLCCS information about those wetlands for some <br />of the low quality management areas. <br /> <br />Acting Chairperson Olds wondered if they found discrepancies in data for natural areas in <br />comparison to the aerial photos and field survey. <br /> <br />Ms. Carolan stated that there were discrepancies. Some of the polygon boundaries were <br />inaccurate; some discrepancies were due to development, some due to inaccurate <br />mapping based on the aerials. There are some things, such as forest type and vegetation, <br />which can only be picked up by walking the area and can't be found on aerial photos. <br />The ground field check adds good information. <br /> <br />Board Member Max asked if that data has been shared with the Anoka Conservation <br />District. <br /> <br />Environmental Policy Board! August 6, 2007 <br />Page 2 of 10 <br />