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Houlton Farm Planning Committee Meeting 2015-05-11ERiver` I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER 2. CONSIDER AGENDA 3. CONSIDER MINUTES Regular Meeting Houlton Farm Planning Committee AGENDA Monday, May 11, 2015 5:45 p.m. Elk River City Hall Meeting Protocol ■ No sidebar discussions ■ No interruptions ■ State your concern ■ Ensure you understand ■ Don't take things personally ■ Adhere to time limits ■ Come prepared ■ Ensure all are heard 4. DISCUSSION ITEMS No action to be taken now. Action may be taken in the future. 4.1 Introduction of City Environmental Technician Kristin Mroz to Committee 4.2 Hunting Plan 4.3 Naming Contest Update 4.4 House Removal RFP 4.5 Buildings Disposition 4.6 Friends of the Mississippi (FMR) Update rnolo.3 4 5. ACTION ITEMS 5.1 None 6. ADJOURNMENT This agenda is available in alternate formats upon a 72 hour advanced notice. Auxiliary aids and services are also available upon a 72 hour advanced notice. Please contact the City Clerk at 763. 635.1000 to make a request Examples of alternate formats may include: large print, Braille, audio tape, etc. Examples of auxiliary aids may include a sign language interpreter, assistive listening device, etc. �®rEBEr �r [NATURE] -Houlton Farm Planning Committee Draft Minutes April 28, 2015 Present: Chair Wilson, Members Olsen, Anderson, Seeger, Benkofstke, Hecker Other in attendance, Mitch Sladek from MN DNR, Fred Bengtson MN DNR Area Wildlife Manager and Bob McGillivray from the Trust for Public Land Wilson called the meeting to order at 5:45 pm. Wilson added 4.7 FMR Update to the agenda. The minutes from the March 30 meeting were reviewed. Agenda item 4.1 Introduction of City Environmental Technician Kristin Mroz Hecker told the committee that Kristin is being recommended to replace Jeremy Barnhart on the Committee. She could not make this meeting but will attend the next meeting in May. 4.2 Hunting Plan Proposed site maps and a draft plan were handed out to members. It was discussed that the East boundary should be moved back to line up with the site line of the nearby SNA Island. #7 in the hunting plan discussed that the city will build an unpaved parking lot to hold 12 —cars. The issue of over flow parking for additional hunters and non -hunters was discussed. It was agreed that over flow parking on city streets may occur and would be difficult to control. #5 in the plan archery hunting for deer will be permitted and administered by the city using the same framework currently being designed for archery hunting to reduce deer herd in city parks. McGillivray commented that with a permit system we need to be careful not to clamp it down or make it seem like it is limited. #4 in the plan mentored youth and handicap shotgun hunts would be organized, conducted and monitored by volunteer organizations experienced with the specifics for these types of hunts. These are special hunts closed to the public that could happen twice per year led by volunteer organization such as the National Wild Turkey Federation and Capable Partners. The details of these hunts would be worked out with the volunteer organizations. Additional uses on the land were discussed. It was agreed that dogs on a leash in this type of wildlife habitat area do not work well because owners typically release the dogs from the leash Running dogs and nesting wildlife do not mix. Riding horses on the land would also not be permitted as horses can tear up the plants and soil with their hooves, especially in wet conditions. It was agreed that dogs and horses would not be allowed. However, dogs would only be allowed in the shotgun waterfowl zones for hunter's actively hunting waterfowl. When these dogs are coming to and from the property they need to follow the city's ordnances which currently require they be on a leash. N:\Departments\Parks and Recreation\Parks\Houlton Property Elk River Nature Preserve\Committee Agendas- Packets\Minutes%nutes 428-15.docx It was discussed that the draft hunting plan should be discussed at an upcoming City Council work session meeting. Hecker mentioned that a June meeting might work best — Most of the members in attendance felt that June 1, 2015 would work best. The second option is June 15. The best strategy is to present a recommended plan to City Council to receive feedback and direction. Then it can be forwarded to the DNR Commissioner. Once the Commissioner approves the plan then it would be brought back to City Council for their final approval. The DNR representatives commented that consistency and repetition on signage will be important for the property. Rules and ordinances related to the property should be posted at the parking lot. It was recommended to list the rules with maps posted on site. 4.3 Bee Keeper Heckertold the Bee Keeper last Novemberthat he could stay on the property until May. The beekeeper has been on the property for several years maintaining beehives. It was discussed that bees and pollinators should be good for a conservation area. Wilson discussed consulting with the FMR to get their opinion if bee hives on the property would be advantageous for the pollination of the native plants as part of the natural resource management plan. McGillivray commented that a bee keeper on the property could raise some issues with the Lessard-Sams Council. It was decided during the transition period while the property is closed to the public that the Bee keeper could stay. It was also decided to review the outcome of the FMR management plan and McGillivray would ask the Lessard Sams staff later this summer about the bee keeper. 4.4 Naming Contest Update Names are coming in with some interesting names the committee will need to review. The contest ends on May 8. These will be reviewed at the May 11 meeting. 4.5 House Removal RFP The House removal solicitation was advertised in the local newspaper and the deadline to submit interest is this Friday May 1. 4.6 Archeology Dig Staff and some members on the committee have been approached by the idea to do a latrine dig and an archeology dig sponsored by a university. It was decided that although digs are interesting that they are outside of the scope of work for the committee. It was decided that the committee should stay on task and that no digs should be considered until after the area is open to the public. It was discussed that treasure hunters or people with metal detectors could be an issue. Currently no ordinance prohibits such practices on city property. This needs to be considered for future discussion. 2 4.7 FMR Update The FMR plans to work on the conservation management plan this week. Their new Ecologist will beat the site this week. This will be the next project that the Committee should focus on after the hunting plan is recommended. Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm Houlton Farm Property Hunting Plan Background The Houlton Farm property was acquired by the Trust for Public Lands with funds from the Outdoor Heritage Fund and then donated to the City for the express purpose of being managed for high quality native habitat for wildlife. The property is currently closed to the public and will remain so until the anticipated opening in the fall of 2016. Once opened, it will be open to the public year round for passive, non -motorized recreational uses such as hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, bird watching, fishing, and hunting. Hunting opportunities will follow MN DNR seasons and be additionally regulated in adherence with a hunting plan approved by the DNR specifically tailored to this unique property. Since the property was acquired, the details of the hunting plan have drawn the most interest from the public, City staff, the Park and Recreation Commission and the City Council. The primary concern relates to the safety of the surrounding neighbors and the non -hunting recreating public using the property. In response to these concerns, the city has embarked on a systematic and cautious planning process in the development of the hunting plan. This process started with a public open house on September 24h, 2014, where interested neighbors were able to share their concerns. On February 5a', 2015, MN DNR Area Wildlife Manager Tim Marion, local MN DNR conservation officer Mitch Sladek, and Bob McGillivray with the Trust For Public Lands toured the property. Later that same day, they met with Stewart Wilson and Dave Anderson of the Houlton Farm Property planning committee, and Michael Hecker to begin discussion of a hunting plan. On February 19a', Tim, Mitch, and Bob met with MN DNR Area Wildlife Manager Fred Bengtson and Deputy MN DNR Commissioner David Schad. The outcome of this meeting was the proposed framework of a hunting plan for the Houlton Farm Property that would fulfill the requirements associated with the funding, while being sensitive to community concerns for safety. See Attachment 1. On March 30a`, Tim and Fred presented the framework for the hunting plan to the Houlton Farm Property planning committee. The planning committee met again on April 13a' to discuss the hunting plan in detail and to refine the MN DNR framework into a recommendation to the City Council. That recommendation is included as Attachment 2. Once this Hunting Plan is approved, it will be sent back to the MN DNR for their final approval. Following that there are many specific details that will need to be worked out in the coming year. Once implemented, it is expected that the plan will undergo periodic review and modification if circumstances at the time require it. The DNR hopes that the Houlton Farm Property will become a model for future hunting opportunities in areas adjacent to residential areas in other parts of the state. Attachment 2 Houlton Farm Property Hunting Plan 1. All hunting will follow the current year MN DNR Hunting Regulations, with the following additional restrictions. 2. Archery hunting of small game, waterfowl, turkey and deer throughout the property will be allowed. Firearms are prohibited throughout the property for the hunting of small game, turkey and deer, except during special hunts discussed in #4 below. This follows the DNR recommendation without change. We were very pleased to see that their recommendation excluded the firearms for the hunting of small game, turkeys and deer throughout the property. This will provide for both a unique and safe hunting opportunity. It is expected that there will be only limited hunting of small game and waterfowl with bow and arrow. 3. Migratory waterfowl shotgun hunting will be allowed along the Mississippi River in the area highlighted on the attached map. This also follows the DNR recommendation with a slight modification to the designated hunting area. The Houlton Farm Property planning committee recommends that the designated waterfowl hunting area along the Mississippi River be shortened by 500 feet on both the east and west ends to move the hunting a safe distance from adjacent neighbors andpublic uses. Also, to clarify the DNR map, Houlton Farm Property Islands will be included in this area. 4. Allow for the possibility of mentored youth and handicap shotgun hunts for turkeys and deer. This follows the DNR recommendation and in an important component of the unique hunting opportunities allowed on this property. These hunts are already held at various locations throughout the state and are managed by experienced volunteer organization such as the National Wild Turkey Federation and Capable Partners. The details of these hunts will be worked out well in advance of the hunts. Each hunt will require city approval and the number of these hunts per year will be limited to a yet to be determined number. 5. Trapping is closed on the entire property. Nuisance animals may be trapped by permit only. This follows the DNR recommendation. 6. Small game, turkey, deer and waterfowl hunting will be on a first come basis and will be limited by parking space availability. The city will build a parking lot capable of holding only 12 cars and after the lot is full, hunters will have to wait for available parking space prior to entering the property. This follows the DNR recommendation. In addition, the committee recommends that the parking lot be next to Main Street for maximum visibility. This plan also reserves the maximum amount of space for habitat and is similar to parking lots on MNDNR Wildlife Management Areas and the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. 7. No internal boat access. Accordingly, there will not be a road leading from the parking lot down to the river for motor vehicles to bring watercraft to the river. Access from the site for watercraft will be carry in only. While this is not a hunting issue, the DNR included the boat access on their list because it was apart of our original concept for the property. In out meeting with them, they did point out several potential issues with control of an internal access. In separate action, the committee also discussed and recommended no internal boat access for similar reason. Houlton Farm Property Naming Contest The City of Elk River has recently acquired a 335 acre parcel of land that is just west of downtown. It is currently being referred to as the Houlton Farm property. The land area is about 1/3 forested and 2/3 open farmland and has over 2 %Z miles of combined Mississippi and Elk River frontage. The city is currently working on a management plan for the property in conjunction with the Friends of the Mississippi River. The Houlton Farm property was acquired with funds from the Outdoor Heritage Fund with the express purpose of being managed for high quality native habitat for wildlife. The property is currently closed to the public and will remain so until the anticipated opening in the fall of 2016. Once opened, it will be open to the public year round for passive, non - motorized recreational uses such as hiking,snowshoeing, cross country skiing, bird watching, fishing, and limited hunting. Hunting opportunities will follow MN DNR seasons and be tightly regulated in adherence with a hunting plan approved by the DNR specifically tailored to this unique property. The City of Elk River is seeking the public's assistance in the naming of the property and is having a contest to solicit names. The rules of the contest are listed below. The contest is open to everyone. 2. A $100 prize will be given to the winning entrant. 3. The winning entry will be the name that is approved by the Elk River City Council. 4. If more than one individual submits the name that is ultimately selected for the property, a winner selected at random from the pool of identical names will be the sole contest winner. 5. The word "park" may not be used in the name. Naming should be sensitive to the properties primary use. 6. If an appropriate winning entrant cannot be picked from the submitted names, the Houlton Farm property planning group will propose a name for the property and forward it to the Parks and Recreation Commission for its recommendation to the Elk River City Council for final approval. 7. Members of the Houlton Farm property planning committee, the Elk River City Council, members of City Commissions, and City of Elk River Employees may submit names, but are not eligible for the contest prize money 8. The contest will run from April 13, 2015 through May 8, 2015. - P- roperty Naming Contest Name Entries: Two &V -C 1Vature 1're � William H. Houlton Conservation Area �LS l ver oo sand ater Nature Area River's�)V_o,Qd Edge Conservation Area William H. Houlton Nature Preserve ` Elk River Woods Nature Area Riverview Refuge Elk Sanctuary Houlton Heritage Enclave Walter's Fields Riverside Destiny Houlton Meadow Recreation Area Houlton Meadow Nature Preserve THE HISTORIC SAM HOULTON RED BARN RESERVE River Refuge & Recreation Area Freedom Valley Walter's Fields Down town nature trail Elk River Homestead Two Rivers Recreation Area Houlton's Century Farm Nature Preserve Houlton Acres Nature Preserve l I '.ton Homestead Reserve (or Preserve) Houlton Homestead and Reserve "Battle Point" Houlton Farm Sportsman's Preserve Monarchs by the river Houlton Farm Nature Preserve Houlton Farm Conservation Area Houlton Recreation Preserve Elk River Houlton Farm Orono Wildlife Recreation Area Houlton Wildlife Recreation Area Houlton Recreation Area Houlton Landing Houlton Farm Landing Orono Recreation Area Orono Dam Recreation Area Orono Dam Wildlife Area Mississippi -Elk Nature Preserve Orono Dam wildlife Preserve Mississippi Landing N `ssippi-Elk Landing Elk River Landing N:\Departments\Parks and Recreation\Administration\Property Name Contest