4.7. SR 01-20-2015
Request for Action
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 4.7
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
ConsentJanuary 20, 2015Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director
Item Description Reviewed by
Natural Resource Plan for Houlton Farm Property Cal Portner, City Administrator
and Bailey Point Nature Preserve
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Approve, by motion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Friends of the Mississippi
River and the City of Elk River to develop a Natural Resource Management Plan for the Houlton Farm
property and the Bailey Point Nature Preserve.
Background/Discussion
During early discussions to acquire the Houlton farm property, the need to develop a Natural Resource
Management Plan to improve the habitat of the property was discussed. Staff worked with the staff of
the Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) to obtain a grant of $160,000 from the State of Minnesota for
the development of a Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) for the Houlton Farm property and
Bailey Point Nature Preserve.
FMR will develop a document (NRMP) that describes the site features and potential for ecological
restoration. The general restoration and management recommendations will be described for each land
cover type, as well as the restoration potential, priority, and general cost estimates.
The NRMP will be developed under the guidance of staff and the Houlton Farm Planning Committee.
This will be one of the main responsibilities of the Planning Committee. City Attorney Peter Beck
reviewed the attached MOU.
Financial Impact
FMR requested the city make a financial contribution for their technical knowledge and experience to
develop a NRMP. They requested $5,000 for the Houlton property and $5,000 for Bailey Point for a
total of $10,000, which is in the 2015 Park Improvement Plan.
Attachments
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Friends of the Mississippi River
Memorandum of Understanding Between
Friends of the Mississippi River
And
The City of Elk River, Minnesota
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes a partnership between
Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) and the City of Elk River, Minnesota for the purpose
of developing a Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) for the Houlton Farm &
Bailey Point Nature Preserve.
Together, the Parties enter into this Memorandum of Understanding to mutually improve
the habitat of the Houlton Farm & Bailey Point Nature Preserve. Accordingly, FMR and the
City of Elk River operating under this MOU agree as follows:
I. Purpose and Scope
Whereas, FMR has an interest in improving the habitat values of the Houlton Farm & Bailey
Point Nature Preserve; and
Whereas the staff of FMR have the technical knowledge and experience to effectively
develop a NRMP for and to conduct ecological restoration on the Houlton Farm & Bailey
Point Nature Preserve; and
Whereas, the FMR has been awarded a $160,000 Outdoor Heritage grant from the State of
Minnesota, that can be utilized to cover some of the expenses associated with the
development of a NRMP for the Houlton Farm & Bailey Point Nature Preserve & to begin
to implement said plan; and
Whereas, The City of Elk River agrees to pay FMR up to $10,00 to complete a NRMP for
the Houlton Farm & Bailey Point Nature Preserve; and
Therefore, in consultation with Staff from the City of Elk River, FMR agrees to develop a
NRMP for the Houlton Farm & Bailey Point Nature Preserve.
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II. Deliverables
FMR will develop a document (NRMP) that describes the site features and potential for
ecological restoration. Existing natural resource information will include geology, soils,
wetlands, historic plant communities, plant survey information, and existing land cover as
well as context of the site from a landscape perspective. The ecological conditions will be
described for each land cover, with maps showing locations of exotic and rare species, and
ecological features and concerns. General restoration and management recommendations
will be described for each land cover type, as well as the restoration potential (relative ease of
restoration), priority, and general cost estimate.
III. Responsibilities
Each party will appoint a person to serve as the official contact and to coordinate the
activities of each organization in carrying out this MOU. The initial appointees of each
organization are:
Friends of the Mississippi River
Tom Lewanski, DPA
Conservation Director
360 North Robert Street, Suite 400
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-222-2193Ext. 12
tlewanski@fmr.org
The City of Elk River
Michael Hecker
Parks and Recreation Director
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
763-635-1161
MHecker@ElkRiverMN.gov
The partnering organizations agree to the following tasks for this MOU:
FMR will:
Develop a NRMP for the Houlton Farm & Bailey Point Nature Preserve and
provide copies of the plan to the City of Elk River and FMR.
Consult with staff from the City of Elk River while developing this NRMP.
Provide one invoice when the NRMP is completed. FMR will invoice the City of
Elk River directly for actual expenses devoted to the project up to the maximum
amount of $10,000.
The City of Elk River will:
Provide shape file(s) of all of the land included in the NRMP.
Review and provide comments on a draft version of the NRMP.
Pay the invoice promptly upon receiving it.
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IV. Terms of Understanding
The term of this MOU is for a period of 1 year. Changes to this MOU must be in writing
and signed by the official contacts from both organizations.
Authorization
On behalf of the organization I represent, I agree to fulfill my responsibilities outlined in this
MOU.
Whitney Clark Date
Executive Director
Friends of the Mississippi River
The City of Elk River Date
John J. Dietz
Mayor
Tina Allard Date
City Clerk
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