Houlton Farm Planning Committee Meeting 2015-06-29Elver
I . CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. CONSIDER AGENDA
3. CONSIDER MINUTES
Regular Meeting
Houlton Farm
Planning Committee
AGENDA
4. DISCUSSION ITEMS
No action to be taken now. Action may be taken in the future.
4.1 Hunting Plan Status and Update
4.2 Naming Status and Update
4.3 Building Dispositions
4.4 Friends of the Mississippi Update
4.5 Land Management
a. Water Buffers
b. Roads
b. Agricultural Lease Agreement
4.6 Island Sanctuary
S. ACTION ITEMS
5.1 None
6. ADJOURNMENT
Monday, June 29, 2015
5:45 p.m.
Elk River City Hall
Meeting
Protocol
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No sidebar discussions
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No interruptions
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State your concern
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Ensure you understand
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Don't take things personally
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Adhere to time limits
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Come prepared
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Ensure all are heard
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,
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p I I I R I I II
NATURE
-Houlton Farm Planning Committee
Draft Minutes
May 11, 2015
Present: Chair Wilson, Members Olsen, Anderson, Seeger, Benkofstke, Hecker, Mroz, Femrite
Bob McGillivray from the Trust for Public Land was available via the telephone
Wilson called the meeting to order at 5:45 pm. Anderson added 4.7 Mowing to the agenda.
The minutes from the April 28 meeting were reviewed.
Agenda item 4.1 Introduction of Cit Environmental Technician Kristin Mroz
Mroz introduced herself to the Committee. She will replace Jeremy Barnhart on the Committee.
4.2 Hunting_ Plan
Wilson, Anderson, Hecker and Femrite met with City Administration last week to discuss the
proposed hunting plan. City Administration is not recommending a permit system. The
Committee discussed the need for managed hunts.
Anderson recommended proposing two hunting plans to City Council. For example, Plan A with
a managed hunt and Plan B not managed. It was discussed that the approval process would
start with the committee making recommendations to City Council and then the hunting plan
would go to the DRN for their approval. Once the DNR formally approves the plan then it would
come back to the Council for final approval.
It was discussed that the parking lot will regulate the hunting. It was talked about in initial
discussions last fall that the Houlton property needs to be an open public area regulated with a
parking lot.
Femrite mentioned to keep the plan simple with fewer rules. Seeger asked him if he means a
more democratic approach managed by parking spaces. Femrite concurred. The size of the
parking lot is for the limitation of hunting.
It was discussed that however presented, it is important to avoid the appearance of not
managing the property. Seeger felt the city needs to show that it is responsible. It was then
discussed that adequate signage would be very important to show how the city is managing the
hunt.
It was agreed by a majority of committee members that the hunting plan would be regulated by
parking. The draft plan will be presented to City Council in June - preferably June 1.
N:\Departments\Parks and Recreation\Parks\Houlton Property Elk River Nature Preserve\Committee Agendas-
Packets\Minutes\Minutes 5-11-15.docx
4.3 Naming Contest Update
The committee discussed if it was important to convey hunting or conservation in the naming of
the property. It was important not to convey the following in the name - park, recreation,
sports, or sportsman. It was agreed that conservation was important in the name- it serves as a
value and purpose of the property.
A list of names that the public submitted has handed out to committee members. The history of
the property was discussed with many of the names bearing the "Houlton "name. Hecker
mentioned that the naming should follow the city's naming policy. This means that it will go
before the Parks and Recreation Commission and then to City Council for final approval. After a
brief discussion of the names the name "William H. Houlton Conservation Area" was
recommended.
4.4 House Removal RFP
Michael stated that one proposal was submitted for the house removal. It was approved by City
Council. The house should be removed this July. The City will be responsible for filling in the
basement and any concrete pads or pipes left behind.
4.5 Buildings Disposition
The buildings on the property were discussed. Bob commented that the city may receive
resistance from the Lessard Council if more than one building was kept on the property.
Currently, the main buildings discussed are the old barn, the newer large barn and the Quonset
building. The buildings cannot attract from the main purposed of the property which is habitat
and conservation. Using any of the buildings for purposes such as education or meetings will be
a problem.
Hecker discussed that the Fire Department can burn the buildings for training purposes. The
option of demolition and its costs will be researched. The city and committee have some time
to decide on the final fate of the buildings. It might be best to do an RFP to remove the
buildings. The city will continue to use the Quonset building for storing city vehicles and
equipment during the summer months, including equipment from the Fire Department.
4.6 Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) Update
It was mentioned that the FMR has been reviewing the property. The next major project for the
Committee will be working with FMR on a Conservation Management Plan.
4.7 Mowing
It was discussed that it is not necessary for the city to mow grass on the property.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm
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